pondering creativity, process, and making art
I logged out of IG and guess what happened? I can’t tell you how many times I found myself tapping that damn icon just to land on THIS screen:
Yep, total mindless habit. And if I had NOT logged out, I surely would have spent at least five minutes scrolling through the feed. I deleted the Facebook app on my phone but somehow, can’t quite go cold turkey on Insta yet.
Yesterday, we got back from a 7-hour road trip. No smartphone, no Google maps. My 17yo daughter gasped out loud when I told her.
We’re gonna WHUT?!?!
She looked at me like I was dangerous.
I can understand that for someone who has no memory of traveling without the blue line, this probably feels dangerous.
Obviously we made it. I only missed ONE exit. 😀
Observations: 1) my kids don’t know how to read maps 2) I don’t really need any map at all to go somewhere I’ve been going for twenty-five years. I was just using Google as a blankie.
For the past 8 months or so… I’ve been feeling the tension between the pressure to be present on social media versus the desire to be present in my physical world. Serendipitously, I chanced upon Vitamin Water’s Scroll-free Year Challenge, which asks the question of what you would do without a smartphone for a year. It felt like the sign I was waiting for.
Even if I don’t HAVE TO give up my smartphone, what would my life look like without the endless scrolling? It would be an interesting experiment, at the very least. Perhaps I would just find some other mindless activity to replace the scrolling and it wouldn’t make any difference at all other than I’d have to run by an ATM occasionally.
I’m gonna at least try. And document how it goes.
Stay tuned!
After devoting the last couple of years to drawing animals and creating The Animal Guidance Project, I got a sudden impulse to make a shift. If you’re wondering what guidance feels like, my story will be a good example.
Last week, I had a “walk the talk” moment. During my morning meditation and journaling session, the words “wild and precious” appeared on the page.
Up until that point, I had been perfectly okay with The Animal Guidance Project as the name of this collection.
It was clear and descriptive. I had no inkling that it was a placeholder name until the minute I saw WILD+PRECIOUS.
Immediately, I knew. The words felt so correct! Hearing them out loud felt amazing!
Instead of WHAT, they resonate with WHY!
The WHY behind this collection is the celebration of what is wild and precious–our animal kindreds and that within us that is untamed and unlimited. WILD!
Our connection to our inner wisdom is PRECIOUS.
The wisdom itself and the traditions and rituals of connection that have been passed down, generation to generation, spanning back to prehistory is precious.
And of course, I simply love the homage to the poem by Mary Oliver, which ends with the question, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
Within hours, I had a vision for what the logo had to look like and within 24 hours, I was able to register the new URL and update the site without a hitch. Talk about alignment! It was all so clear that it felt like magic!
So it is with joy that I turn the page and begin an new chapter for my work. Introducing…
I invite you to visit the new website! More than anything, I’m most proud of having listened to that quiet voice and ignoring the “practical” side of me that kept pointing out all the ways that such a move would be a pain in the… bum! ;P
To celebrate all the ways that JOY, FAITH, and DREAMING made this milestone possible, I’m offering 4 one-of-a- kind pairings:
I only have ONE of each so if any of them speak to your heart, head over to the WILD+PRECIOUS SHOP or click the links below and grab them. The last offering was gone in less than a minute!
Hummingbird + Find JOY in the journey
Thank you so much for being part of this work. For me, when I dream of what I want to do with this one wild and precious life of mine, I think… THIS—sharing this art and guidance with you! These days, it feels like I’m dreaming with my eyes wide open!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdsWPnwFFCK/
I’m delighted to share that I’m participating in my first group art show!!! The show is called Black and White and Art All Over, hosted by Art on the Square, Racial Harmony and Lindenwood University.
If you’re in the St. Louis area, please come join me for the exhibit on September 22 and 23, 2017 at Art on the Square in Belleville, IL, the #1 Art Fair in the country.
I’ll have limited edition prints from my collection, Adarna: Art of a New Mestiza for sale…
as well as animal guidance pendants made specifically for this show.
Here’s a little background on the show…
In 2016, Art on the Square (AOTS), Racial Harmony and Lindenwood University joined forces to present the second co-sponsored art show in response to events in our communities. In the previous year, the threats of racial divisiveness and negativity created an environment of mistrust.
The show, “Black and White and ART All Over” was and is predicated on the strong desire to begin “Healing Hearts Through Healing Arts.” With the support of the artist community we delivered powerful and relevant messages of hope.
The message then and now is that art has the power – the voice, to communicate healing, inclusiveness and community. The reception by attendees past two years has been overwhelmingly positive and warm.
On September 22nd and 23rd 2017, we will continue this journey. There will again be an exhibit of a wonderful artistic tapestry woven with the display of works from local artists. Exhibits will originate from a culturally diverse pool of gifted artists.
Works on display will reinforce the sponsors’ philosophy of community and inclusiveness – that art transcends all boundaries and acts as a primary force to pull communities of people together for good.
The art exhibit can be viewed on September 22, from 4-8 PM, September 23, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Some artwork will be for display only, while other pieces will be offered for sale. There will also be a silent auction.
This is a family event for the entire community that will provide an opportunity for you to speak with the artists and to add to your art collections.
As you might wish and expect, there will be live music and refreshments. It will be a wonderful opportunity to visit and revisit with neighborhood and community friends.
I’m a horrible blogger! I must admit my neglect of this space but in my defense, I’ve been making stuff… which was the original intent of the blog… to keep me accountable in some way to making art every day.
Right now, I’m laser focused on The Animal Guidance Project. It’s been steady progress… making the animals, reaching out to retail partners, dreaming of new products, lining up shows as the collection gets ever closer to completion, and probably most significantly, getting real clarity on the personal significance of this project.
So expect that my presence here will continue to be slim… but I’m a pretty good Instagrammer. 🙂 Please, please do connect with me there. Because, you know, filters! ;P
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVpC00cFjUn/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BU9yg9elhB-/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUbxfsLlHkO/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUZOLEVFOkk/?taken-by=riasharon