Blog – Page 20

DAY 4: Feathering the Nest

March 14, 2015 by riasharon

Day 4 of #48dayscreative

It’s SPRING, right?

DAY 3: Nautical Party Decorations

March 13, 2015 by riasharon

#48dayscreative

DAY 2: 48 Days of Creative Devotion

March 12, 2015 by riasharon

I know, I know… one more thing?!
I’m telling you, I’m serious about #CRAFT!

What Leigh of All Creativelike said on her blog post really resonated with me:

I learned that sometimes when you really, really don’t feel like making anything, you make your best work. I learned that the combo of consistency and visibility lead to greater prosperity. I learned that creative devotion allows for new ideas to bubble up and new threads to be explored. And, I learned that just showing up and starting was a huge part of an artist’s job.

So, I’m in. This is actually DAY 2:

My DAY 1 is here.

DAY 1

March 11, 2015 by riasharon

Day 1 of #48dayscreative is a design/illustration I did for Minted’s Moving Announcement Challenge.

Chapter 8: Recovering a Sense of Strength

March 10, 2015 by riasharon

Here I am, writing my morning pages day after day (for the most part). Ninety nine percent of the time they make no sense. Mostly, they are a brain dump of to-do lists and even grocery lists. Sometimes they are total rants about stuff that frustrates me but would be completely unproductive to say out loud. They are not “creative,” they are not intentionally about nurturing creativity. But something is happening.

I think of the shift as mostly internal but in fact, things are actually happening… like, in the real world!
1. I am slowly and surely creating a body of work.
2. I have an Etsy store now (which I started just for accountability) with 50+ listings.
3. I am establishing a unique recognizable style.
4. I have sold 40+ prints online and off and even more exciting, my customers are so happy with the end product. I’ve even had a few repeat customers!
5. I also earned my storefront on Minted, which is still in process but getting there.

I’m getting a lot of validation—which is huge for my baby artist. It’s probably the most I’ve ever received for my art. And truly, that began… with me… and the morning pages… and the artist’s dates… and the fake-it-tip-you-make-it-faith-in-myself enough into making this thing as a priority.

All of this came up for me in Chapter 8—the realization of how much I have subjugated my passion to anything and anyone that has ever asked (or demanded) my time, energy and attention. I can see my pattern of wanting to please and wanting harmony and wanting to be supportive and wanting to do “the right thing” for what it is also—an excuse for me not to face my fear of rejection and keep that Art Dream up high on the shelf to save for later when I’m old and have time for such foolishness.

It’s not so easy, when there is the serious task of “being a grown-up” to attend to, especially a grown-up with my own kids to nurture. But the truth is, it is not impossible either (although the world/culture/people like to say otherwise). But first off, I have to want this dream and I have to really protect it. I’m finding that whatever issue I’m working out in this process is giving me the strength to stick to it.

In Chapter 8, Julia invites us to re-parent ourselves. That’s HUGE! In all the self-development/healing circles I’ve been in, this is it. Our early foundational relationships color everything.

Perhaps this is why I take my job as mom so seriously. I want to give my kids their best chance. That’s what it was all for… the divorce, the cultivation my tribe, the move, the job… and the extreme discomfort of working out my own crap. Truly. Even this art thing is for this purpose to some extent. I mean, how can I tell them to go for their dreams if I won’t do it for myself?!?!?

Funny, what you do for offspring.

So our marching orders for Chapter 8 are as follows:
1. Name your dream
2. Write down a tangible/measurable goal (that signifies that you have achieved it)
3. Do ONE thing. Every. Day. To move yourself closer to that dream.
Go!

Some of my stuff so far…

The Artist’s Way Posts

Week 1: Recovering a Sense of Safety
Week 2: Recovering a Sense of Identity
Week 3: Recovering a Sense of Power
Week 4: Recovering a Sense of Integrity
Week 5: Recovering a Sense of Possibility
Week 6: Recovering a Sense of Abundance
Week 7: Recovering a Sense of Connection
Week 8: Recovering a Sense of Strength
Week 9: Recovering a Sense of Compassion
Week 10: Recovering a Sense of Self-Protection
Week 11: Recovering a Sense of Autonomy
Week 12: Recovering a Sense of Faith

Chapter 7: Recovering a Sense of Connection

March 4, 2015 by riasharon

Ahhhhhhhh! Recovering a sense of connection. THAT is what this week’s chapter is about and that explains all sorts of things that are happening in my life re: what’s really really important to me and what are non-negotiables for my family, my relationships, my daily experience. It’s so good. And yet so hard! There’s the added bonus of doing The Artist’s Way, friends! Eek!

So the great thing about doing these posts is not only that I actually do them (although a few days late) but that I actually reflect on the chapter. How does that saying go? It’s not “You teach what you most need to learn, although that is true.” It’s more like teaching forces you to learn! ;P

I love what Julia says in this chapter about creativity NOT being about thinking something up as much as getting something down… dipping into the river of all this stuff just waiting to be written/drawn/painted/danced! Listening.

I experienced that this week. I gave myself a “minted-style” assignment to design an invitation and was totally and completely stuck. Until I stopped trying to think it up! Thinking was exactly the thing that was holding me back. When I get in my head, there’s all sorts of chatter up there that tries to analyze why something is not good enough or calculating and analyzing a hundred different ways to do it that will protect myself from doing the wrong thing so that I end up not doing anything at all!!! You don’t do that, do you?

I can totally see how being a Creative Director killed my creativity — in the name of excellent client service! It’s why the thought of being a corporate designer again makes me kinda want to puke in my mouth. This is why I really, really love my day job. It saves me from sabotaging my art. Does that make sense?

I don’t want to turn that part of my brain on in that way. I have to hold this art thing so lightly — like a little bird in my hand.

So here’s the question for the week: what would you do if you didn’t have to do it perfectly? And my own litmus test, what feels like a good idea?

I really liked some of Julia’s hit-and-run tasks too… things that you do quickly without much thought and then reflect on later. It’s a fabulous way to unearth patterns and hidden drivers and I love stuff like that.

1. Getting a stack of random magazines and tearing out pictures that reflect your life and interests. Set a timer for 20 minutes and rip away, collecting things that you are drawn to intuitively.
2. Quick, list your 5 favorite movies. Your five favorite songs. Your five favorite books.
3. List your favorite topics to read about (what headlines do you click on online)? 🙂

Little exercises like this are ways that we connect with our intuition. It’s nice to let our intuition drive the car once in awhile. For me, I hardly ever let that part get any air-time so when it happens, I’m actually a little surprised where she takes me.

The Artist’s Way Posts

Tougher than you think.

February 27, 2015 by riasharon

My latest design, listed on Etsy tonight. A good reminder for my teen girl. And for me. ;P

Chapter 6: Recovering a Sense of Abundance

February 24, 2015 by riasharon

This week you tackle a major creative block—money. You are asked to really look at your own ideas around God, money, and creative abundance. Th essays will explore the ways in which your attitudes limit abundance and luxury in your current life. You will be introduced to counting, a block-busting tool for clarity and right use of funds. This week may feel volatile.

There you have it. Week 6 is rich!!!! ;P

Our morning pages assignment is to write about the God we believe in.

Who is the God I believe in?
I believe that God actually does listen. And that’s what freaks me out. I feel like God answers prayers and it’s my own limited perspective and/or limitations or brokenness or whatever that messes me up. God gives me what I ask for sometimes… that’s the problem… I get enough rope to hang myself! 🙂 … which is why I am so gun shy on wishing. Be careful what you wish for, and all that.

Of course, there are times when I’ve prayed so earnestly for something and have NOT gotten what I’ve wanted. In those times, I wonder if that’s because God knows better (see above). So my issues around God are not exactly the ones Julia talks about in Chapter 6 re: God’s will and ours being at opposite ends of the table.

What kind of God would I like to believe in?
The kind that has my back, that isn’t just going to let me all crazy in the candy store. You know, Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans that I have for you….” one that reassures me all I need to do is keep showing up in the world as myself, staying true to my values and that somehow, the lights will stay on, I can put food on the table, straighten my kids teeth and buy them both ponies! Just kidding about the ponies.

I want a God on my side. I wonder what what choices I would make if I believed this, for reals.

Tasks
1. Counting: Write down every. single. penny you spend. See how long you can do this… maybe for the next month. Notice the patterns and what this reveals about you to yourself. What do you value in terms of your spending? How does that align with your values. Remember your boundaries… what’s inside and outside of your circles? Are you surprised that you spend money on things that you don’t cherish? And deny yourself things that are important to you?

2. Luxury: What feels luxurious to you? A bath, a piece of chocolate, clean sheets, listening to music? I listened to an interview with one of the richest men on the planet who, not surprisingly, lived very simply. He said something along the lines of the things he enjoyed most of all were free: reading a book, listening to music, engaging in interesting conversations.

Along these lines, one of Julia’s tasks for us is to receive some natural abundance: find an interesting rock, one each day. It’s winter so flowers won’t be easy to find in most of North America right now but maybe seed pods or acorns. Send cards to five friends you’d love to hear from—yes, with a stamp.

We cling to our financial concerns as a way to avoid not only our art but also our spiritual growth. Our faith is in the dollar.
~Julia Cameron

p.s. A scan from my sketchbook. I little preview of things to come…

The Artist’s Way Posts

Still Here.

February 21, 2015 by riasharon

It’s been a crazy week. Everyone was sick. But for accountabilities sake, I wanted to post what I’ve been up to. I finished this piece last weekend:

I also asked Henry to help me with new product shots for my Etsy store. These are just a couple. It’s a different kind of creativity but it was really fun trying my hand at merchandising and “display.” I tried to think of my shop as an actual storefront… and what would draw shoppers into the store.

Take a look at the new storefront. Oh yeah, I made a new banner too.

Chapter 5: Recovering a Sense of Possibility

February 17, 2015 by riasharon

“Pray to catch the bus then run as fast as you can.”

Creativity is a spiritual issue. This.
This here, my friends, is the crux of Chapter 5. And probably why I’m having all sorts of issues writing about it. The title of the chapter is Recovering a Sense of Possibility and that is tied up with all sorts of other things like worthiness and propriety and faith….

This may be where I throw in the towel and say, yeah, you should go buy the book because I’m not going to come close to doing it justice. I’ll do my best.

I supposed there’s no way to write about creativity without reference to the Creator–with a capital C. Perhaps you know this feeling too when you are writing, singing, painting, dancing—of not being the only one it the room. According to Julia, this is where our sense of possibility comes from, the belief that we are not limited by our own abilities. Through our connection to Source, we are truly unlimited! Our job is to tap into that river of possibility.

In order for me to recover this sense of possibility, I have to accept that I have access to this unlimited supply, just like you or anyone else does. Any limitations I have are based on a belief system of scarcity and lack that I’ve inherited or learned. This, Julia says, is not natural and not real.

But I do get some kind of secondary benefit(s) from maintaining this belief system. So the task of this chapter is to unearth the ways I sabotage myself to stay stuck. Hmmmm.

If I stay stuck then…
I suppose I wouldn’t have to put my art out there and have it be rejected.
I wouldn’t have to turn my art into work.
I wouldn’t have to take this thing that I loved and “produce it” to death (as Ira Glass says).
I would have to be a grown-up artist, whatever that is.
I might have to embrace an artist’s life, and you know I had/have all those ideas about what that is.
I also might have to give up some stuff… like acceptance and belonging. Whut?

Our culture puts a lot of value in being nice, good, unselfish, helpful. We give up so much of ourselves, our energy, our time just so that we can be perceived by our spouses, children, co-workers and parents as… those things. But at what cost? If we are not conscious of it, at the cost of our art and that true self of ours. I guess that’s why so many artists are known for being curmudgeony hermits! This is all in the book, I swear.

So if I were to pretend for a minute that I’m NOT nice or good but rather selfish and unhelpful, what would I do?

These are the questions Julia asks of us. If you are doing this, speed write your answers — quickly, answer as fast as you can, no editing allowed!

• What are five things I would try if they weren’t so crazy?
• What are five things I would do if they weren’t too selfish?
• What are 5 things I love and would love to do but am not allowed to do.

And, finish this sentence…. 20 times!

I wish ___________________________________________

This list of “forbidden joys” is your true self talking. Is it surprising? Julia says she’s astonished at how mean and miserly her students are to themselves!!!

So by doing stuff like writing down wish lists down and entertaining possibilities (yes, daydreaming) Julia says we begin to reconnect with Source and thus, creativity. I know, I keep saying “Julia says” because in all honestly, I’m a work in progress on this. I am a teeter totter, going from extremes of faith and doubt.

The only thing I seem to do consistently is just show up: writing, drawing, making.

“Pray to catch the bus then run as fast as you can.” I can do that. This is, after all, my theme word for 2015: Craft.

I can keep running.
When the bus shows up, I’m always a little surprised. 🙂

The Artist’s Way Posts

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