character strengths & making art

hi everyone!

ok, i have a few things on my mind these days...

First of all, like many people on the planet,

i feel overwhelmed these days.

The good news is, right now,

i'm overwhelmed with good stuff.

In the past year or so,

i've read everything i could get my hands on about

creativity.

I've also taken a few wonderful e-courses

that have really helped me grow as an artist

and helped me become confident enough

to not only find my own voice,

but listen to it.

For once.

These are some of the notes i took

while i took the fabulous e-course called

Do what you love for life,

with Beth Nicholls.

That first e-course 

was a turning point for me.

(thank you Beth!)

Creativity has become a habit for me now.

If a day passes where i can't express myself

through words or paint (for whatever reason!),

i'm out of sorts.

i don't feel grounded.

i feel like something's missing from my day.

I'm a pain in the ass. ;-)

So being creative is not a problem for me,

because it is who i am.

Skills can always be improved,

but being creative is not something i need to learn how to do

- it comes naturally.

Many of you are in the same boat, i'm sure.

However - the business side of creativity

knowing how to make moolah with my art, 

understanding the marketing side of things,

now that's a problem for me - 

because it is not who i am naturally.

So i need to work on that stuff

a little harder,

by taking e-courses,

by reading books,

by learning from others.

Some of you may be marketing geniuses.

Woot! Woot!

Buy yourself a balloon.

I'm not.

;-)

This is why it's such an exciting time for artists right now

because we have everything at our fingertips,

and there are so many wonderful ressources out there!

There's so much we can learn from others

and it never ceases to amaze me

how quickly others are willing to share.

Whether we choose to take advantage of this or not

is up to us.

But it's there.

Hence... feeling overwhelmed at times. :-)

There's so much information out there,

it's easy to get caught up in the trap

of comparing ourselves to others...

I don't have enough

I don't do enough

I'm not cool enough

I'm not young enough

I am not enough...

Trust me, even if you're not plugged into social media 24-7,

you'll be ok!

So if i comment on your blogs a little less often

or post on my own blog a little less often

it's not for lack of love. ;-)

It's probably because i'm painting

or writing

or walking at the beach,

trying to absorb all this awesomeness around me

without losing myself. 

As artists,

i think it's important to remind ourselves now and then

of our own character strengths

and not let ourselves be swallowed

by others.

What makes YOU tick?

What are YOUR strengths?

Where do YOU shine?

When are YOU at your happiest?

Do that.

As

often

as

you

can.

Life is short.

Years ago, I remember telling a writer friend of mine,

that i wanted to be a writer someday.

"Then write", he said.

It really is that simple.

You wanna be an artist, you say?

Then make art.

xoxo

groovy pants

hi folks.

A quick little groovy pants sketch.

I just wanted to make something

that would make me smile.

:-)

Sharpie markers on card stock.

I may add more "groovy-ness" to it,

and by "groovy-ness", you just KNOW i mean dots!

For now though, I'll just share my happy pants

and hope they make you smile too.

:-)

I found this wonderful quote and want to share this as well:

A master in the art of living

draws no sharp distinction

between his work and his play;

his labor and his leisure;

his mind and his body;

his education and his recreation.

He hardly knows which is which.

He simply pursues his vision of excellence

through whatever he is doing, 

and leaves others to determine

whether he is working or playing.

To himself,

he always appears to be doing both.

******

Wishing you all a great week!

xoxo

woman at train station and blue waves...

hi everyone!

I'm linking this to Illustration Friday,

another weekly challenge that encourages art.

The word for this week is: HURRY!

:-)

It's always so inspiring

to see some of the fabulous work there...

(this is mixed media - acrylic on paper, charcoal, micron pens.)

I've made a conscious decision in the past few weeks

to spend less time on the computer,

and more time with art.

I am determined to make a decent living as an artist

if it kills me, dammit. 

:-)

A few posts ago, I wrote about  how i believe

it takes a lot of courage to be an artist. 

It also takes hard work.

It may look easy,

but it's not all sparkles and rainbows.

Besides the naysayers

and the awkward feeling of never fitting in to society,

some things may happen sometimes

that cause us to question

the value of our own work.

In the past few years,

I've sent my work to several magazine publishers,

and have been rejected.

I've sent my paintings to a juried show -

rejected.

I've sent my writings to book publishers -

rejected.

I've sent more paintings to another juried show -

again, rejected.

I've sent paintings to a gallery,

rejected,

just in a more chi chi poo poo kinda way. 

;-)

See where the courage comes in handy?

In addition to courage, it also takes

perseverance

and hard work

and determination

and vision

and confidence

and clarity

and patience.

Yes, above all, patience.

Chocolate and wine don't hurt either.

;-)

I am comforted by the fact

that many successful artists and writers

had their walls plastered with rejection slips

at one time or another.

I am also comforted by the fact

that I know this is where my heart belongs.

I know this is my truth.

This is where my love lies.

And so, i will carry on -

regardless of who likes or doesn't like,

regardless of who approves or not,

regardless of sales,

and i hope that those of you

who are struggling sometimes,

all do the same.

If it means getting yourself a part time job somewhere

to allow yourself to keep creating,

do it.

You'll find a way.

Keep making good work.

Keep sharing it.

Your art needs to be put out in the world...

because that's where it belongs.

Your songs need to be shared

because that's how they become songs...

Don't die with your songs

still in you.

He who has a why to live for

can bear almost any how.

Nietzsche