Entries from: November 2008
Random Acts of Kindness
November 21st, 2008, Comments (13)
"One kind word can warm three winter months" –Japanese Proverb
Random acts of kindness. That's the theme of Soul Coaching today. You see it a lot on the internet, called RAK for short. And what an amazing place the blogging world can be for spreading the message about a need and watching the kindness of others who jump at the chance to help out.
Today, Patti Digh at 37 Days is spreading the word about Glen Edward Chapman, a man who was found innocent and released after being in prison for 15 years, and yet he was given no assistance for his re-entry into the world. From the News & Observer: "He was released from death row with 10 minutes' notice, one outfit, no counseling, no money and no assistance from the state after being incarcerated for over 15 years for crimes he did not commit." Patti has pointed out how you can help this man, by writing a letter to the Governer of North Carolina asking that he give Glen Edward Chapman an official pardon of innocence so that he may receive compensation for the 15 years that he lost in prison to help him get back on his feet again.
Looking for other ways to connect with kindness?
- Operation Nice is a blog all about how a little niceness goes a long way.
- A super cute Something Nice poster you can download and post in your community.
- Try putting a quarter in a parking meter that has expired and save a stranger from a parking ticket!
- Leave little love notes for others to find.
- Visit the Random Acts of Kindness organization for ideas and inspiration.
- Send a special note to someone.
- Smile.
- Write an inspiring message in chalk on the sidewalk.
I'm imagining send loads of love out to all of you today. Do you feel it? I actually love doing that. Even before I studied Reiki, I used to imagine a sort of loving energy emanating from me at certain times. I first tried it at my cousin's funeral and then sometimes on a crowded train that seemed like it needed some love. It's a lovely practice to try out, even if like me, you are a bit skeptical about these things. It can never hurt to try and send the love out there and it does feel fabulous too.
I'm off for now. I'll be back this evening with some artwork!
Art Every Day Month, November 21st
November 21st, 2008, Comments (10)
Today is the 21st day of Art Every Day Month. You are doing fabulously! Keep your focus on your successes!
The box below is a widget that I provide each day as an optional place to share a direct link (blog post or flickr image) to that day's creation. If you don't have something to share today, don't worry about it! Share when you can. In the meantime, be sure to check out what other participants are creating! Check out the links from today's post, the previous day's posts and the links in the sidebar for instant inspiration. You can also see lots of great work in the AEDM flickr group. Feel free to share your work there too!
If you use the widget, please link to a specific blog post (or specific image if you're linking to a flickr page or other website) instead of your main blog page or website. If you want to share, but don't have a specific page to link to, feel free to use the comments section of this post to share what you're working on. If you're posting less than once a day, no problem! Simply use the latest one of these posts to share a link to your creation! For some, it's too much to keep up with posting every day, but don't let that get you down. Do it if you can and if you can't, just keep on creating, that's the most important part. If you get off track and miss a few days of creating, don't let that freeze you up either. Just pick up where you left off and keep moving forward. One foot in front of the other. You are making your life a more creative one with each step.
If you're new to Art Every Day Month, check out the before you use the link widget to share your creations.
Creativity is an essential part of being human, a vital force without which we can exist, but not truly live. -Ann Cashman
A Work in Progress – Lantern
November 20th, 2008, Comments (23)
I've been drawing an image in my sketchbook of a woman in the woods, a couple different versions this month. Today I was thinking maybe I'd use a 14"x14" wood panel that I'd prepared, but wasn't sure. I still get this moment of hesitation when working with materials that I might find precious, a larger canvas or panel, or an expensive art supply. I was thinking that doing art every day helps lessen that feeling and then I had a funny bit of synchronicity. I had brought in the mail and saw a new Anthropologie catalog. On the last page was a picture of a woman standing in the woods holding a lantern, much like the images I'd been sketching. And the dress she wore was called the Lantern's Glow dress. Well, that does it, I thought! I set to work collaging the panel, here you can see the panel at that stage.
In the afternoon, I began to paint in the image. I'm not done yet, but here it is so far.
I'll work on it more tomorrow. I'll write more about my Soul Coaching journey tomorrow as that's all the energy I've got for computer time at the moment. Toodaloo for now!
Art Every Day Month, November 20th
November 20th, 2008, Comments (14)
Today is the 20th day of Art Every Day Month. Another beautiful day to create!
The box below is a widget that I provide each day as an optional place to share a direct link (blog post or flickr image) to that day's creation. If you don't have something to share today, don't worry about it! Share when you can. In the meantime, be sure to check out what other participants are creating! Check out the links from today's post, the previous day's posts and the links in the sidebar for instant inspiration. You can also see lots of great work in the AEDM flickr group. Feel free to share your work there too!
If you use the widget, please link to a specific blog post (or specific image if you're linking to a flickr page or other website) instead of your main blog page or website. If you want to share, but don't have a specific page to link to, feel free to use the comments section of this post to share what you're working on. If you're posting less than once a day, no problem! Simply use the latest one of these posts to share a link to your creation! For some, it's too much to keep up with posting every day, but don't let that get you down. Do it if you can and if you can't, just keep on creating, that's the most important part. If you get off track and miss a few days of creating, don't let that freeze you up either. Just pick up where you left off and keep moving forward. One foot in front of the other. You are making your life a more creative one with each step.
If you're new to Art Every Day Month, check out the before you use the link widget to share your creations.
p.s. The widget has been appearing and disappearing in the last 24 hours. It may be some coding bug and hopefully will be resolved soon. I'm seeing the widget now (at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.) But if you don't see it, simply leave your link in the comments. Thanks!
You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. -Maya Angelou
Lollipop Trees
November 19th, 2008, Comments (18)
Oh weird, the new typepad upgrade (not visible on my site, the upgrade is an update to the post editor) finally made it to my blog. It'll take a little getting used to I suspect, but so far I'm liking it!
Above is a quick playful piece with ink and acrylic on 9"x12" watercolor paper that I'm calling, "Lollipop Trees." It was inspired in part by receiving a book of The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss in the mail today. His private paintings are so amazing!
I'm posting late again today. I spent the afternoon doing some babysitting for my bff's little girl, who calls me Lala (ack, the cuteness!) I totally admire all you moms (and dads!) who can take care of your little ones and do creative things for yourself too!
For Soul Coaching today, I really loved the focus on saying yes to everything in your life...the traffic, the sniffles, the chilly weather...a big, holy yes! I don't know what it was exactly, but it totally gave me an extra boost today to say an enthusiastic yes to everything. There was also an exercise that encouraged returning and re-returning to the present moment throughout the day. I'm loving listening to author Denise Linn's recordings that go along with each day's exercises, especially the meditation that she includes at the start of each day's entry.
The hubster just returned from a business event, so I'm off to relax with him. Happy creating everyone!
Art Every Day Month, November 19th
November 19th, 2008, Comments (21)
Today is the 19th day of Art Every Day Month. Another day in which we can pick up our pencil, paintbrush, pen or any other tool for creating and bring into this world something from within. I'm SO proud of all of you for the amazing work you've done on this creative journey. It thrills me to no end.
The box below is a widget that I provide each day as an optional place to share a direct link (blog post or flickr image) to that day's creation. If you don't have something to share today, don't worry about it! Share when you can. In the meantime, be sure to check out what other participants are creating! Check out the links from today's post, the previous day's posts and the links in the sidebar for instant inspiration. You can also see lots of great work in the AEDM flickr group. Feel free to share your work there too!
If you use the widget, please link to a specific blog post (or specific image if you're linking to a flickr page or other website) instead of your main blog page or website. If you want to share, but don't have a specific page to link to, feel free to use the comments section of this post to share what you're working on. If you're posting less than once a day, no problem! Simply use the latest one of these posts to share a link to your creation! For some, it's too much to keep up with posting every day, but don't let that get you down. Do it if you can and if you can't, just keep on creating, that's the most important part. If you get off track and miss a few days of creating, don't let that freeze you up either. Just pick up where you left off and keep moving forward. One foot in front of the other. You are making your life a more creative one with each step.
If you're new to Art Every Day Month, check out the before you use the link widget to share your creations.
The creative act is not hanging on, but yielding to a new creative movement. Awe is what moves us forward. - Joseph Campbell
Mandalas and Shadows
November 18th, 2008, Comments (15)
Posting a little late tonight. I went to take pictures of my art of the day, only to realize that my camera's battery was out of juice. It worked out well though, because while it was charging, I got motivated to bring to life a second piece of artwork that had been in my head all day.
The first piece I created is above. Last night I had gessoed over an old record, so I knew that I wanted to paint on it today. I wasn't sure exactly what I was going to paint, but I thought maybe I'd do a mandala. I ended up squirting red paint directly onto the record and then going from there. Around the edges, I put little blue elephants that I think are pretty darn cute. I put it up on the wall with a clear pushpin and I'm loving how bright it is.
So even though I'd done my art for the day when I finished the mandala, I had a strong urge to follow through on an idea I'd had in the morning when I read the entry in Soul Coaching. There were some intense exercises in the book today and yet it really resonated with me. I even had a feeling as I read, that the art I'd submitted to Jamie for the group blog would be up there today (and it was). Also, today was day 17 in the book, and 17 is my lucky number (I say lucky, but I really mean it's the number that I see everywhere and consider to be a wink from the universe.) So with all these little synchronicities, I felt like I had to honor my idea-spark from this morning and bring it to life. And I'm so glad I did!
The idea came as I was reading Denise Linn's discussion of the shadow, the darker side to our psyche. She asks the reader to look out for places where we might be projecting our shadows onto others. I don't know where I read about this originally, but it's a great practice. Basically, the idea is to notice when you're annoyed with or judging someone or something. And when you notice, you stop to think about whether this someone or something is reflecting a part of you that you are annoyed with or judgmental of (whether that part of you is part of your past, present, or perhaps your future.)
I'm calling this piece "Shadow Self" and it's done with acrylic on 12"x16" watercolor paper. I was imagining this sort of vivid and active shadow self down below, while the real self is somewhat subdued because it is trying so hard to ignore the shadow. (I'm really liking this size right now!)
Other bits of today's exercises from the book included turning your "shoulds" into "coulds" (something I like to do and was glad to be reminded of), looking at our sexual history, getting our skeletons out of the closet, and then dancing out our dark and light aspects. It was all a cathartic experience, especially the dancing piece which I surprised myself by really digging into. So, all in all, today was a super expressive day, one of those days it was just pouring out of me. And with that, I'm off so that I can get this posted!
p.s. Thanks for the interest in the calendar I'm creating! I'm waiting for a sample copy to arrive, so I know that the quality is excellent before I start to sell them. As soon as they're ready to go, I'll let you know!
Art Every Day Month, November 18th
November 18th, 2008, Comments (18)
Today is the 18th day of Art Every Day Month. Another opportunity to begin again.
The box below is a widget that I provide each day as an optional place to share a direct link (blog post or flickr image) to that day's creation. If you don't have something to share today, don't worry about it! Share when you can. In the meantime, be sure to check out what other participants are creating! Check out the links from today's post, the previous day's posts and the links in the sidebar for instant inspiration. You can also see lots of great work in the AEDM flickr group. Feel free to share your work there too!
If you use the widget, please link to a specific blog post (or specific image if you're linking to a flickr page or other website) instead of your main blog page or website. If you want to share, but don't have a specific page to link to, feel free to use the comments section of this post to share what you're working on. If you're posting less than once a day, no problem! Simply use the latest one of these posts to share a link to your creation! For some, it's too much to keep up with posting every day, but don't let that get you down. Do it if you can and if you can't, just keep on creating, that's the most important part. If you get off track and miss a few days of creating, don't let that freeze you up either. Just pick up where you left off and keep moving forward. One foot in front of the other. You are making your life a more creative one with each step.
If you're new to Art Every Day Month, check out the before you use the link widget to share your creations.
There are many accidents that are nothing but accidents - and forget it. But there are some that were brought about only because you are the person you are... you have the wherewithal, intelligence, and energy to recognize it and do something with it. -Helen Frankenthaler
Red Balloon
November 17th, 2008, Comments (23)
I've been busy, busy all day, putting together a 2009 calendar of my artwork (I'll let you know as soon as it's ready!) In the process, I've also prepped some more artwork for prints which I hope to have up on my art website soon. These things always take longer than I expect them to, but I feel good about the progress I've made nonetheless.
Taking a break from the computer this afternoon, I set to painting in a completely intuitive fashion, upon a 12"x16" piece of watercolor paper. I wet the paper, letting some paint flow into the water, creating shapes and lines in a fluid way. Things were flowing again, unlike yesterday, which was a relief. When I stepped back, I saw what was the woman's hair and started bringing that out, eventually seeing that she was wearing a grand red dress and holding a red balloon which is why I'm calling "Red Balloon." I used some ink in the end to draw in her face and give some highlights to the dress and the feather headpiece in her hair. It was fun to play with paint, with no particular end in mind.
This playful method fit right in with one of the focuses of Soul Coaching today, which was to find ways to experience more fun and joy. I plan on having a lovely, fun night to myself this evening while the hubster is out. Heck, it's fun just thinking about the variety of things I can do to make it a fun evening!
In need of a laugh? It's perhaps my love of all things cat, but I find this incredibly funny. It makes me laugh out loud every time. So, if you need a giggle, be sure to check out Guster's a cappella "Carol of the Meows."
Thanks to Wendy for pointing out that AEDM got mentioned on the Liz Massey's blog, Creative Liberty. Liz also mentioned the amazingly talented, Tammy Vitale in the same post. And I have to mention that Tammy created a drawing named after me, called Leah Dancing as part of AEDM, that I just totally love. I've never had a piece of art named for me before. What an honor! It made me all giddy.
Art Every Day Month, November 17th
November 17th, 2008, Comments (18)
Today is the 17th day of Art Every Day Month. Another day in which you can carve out a bit of time to be creative, to express yourself in some way, no matter how small.
The box below is a widget that I provide each day as an optional place to share a direct link (blog post or flickr image) to that day's creation. If you don't have something to share today, don't worry about it! Share when you can. In the meantime, be sure to check out what other participants are creating! Check out the links from today's post, the previous day's posts and the links in the sidebar for instant inspiration. You can also see lots of great work in the AEDM flickr group. Feel free to share your work there too!
If you use the widget, please link to a specific blog post (or specific image if you're linking to a flickr page or other website) instead of your main blog page or website. If you want to share, but don't have a specific page to link to, feel free to use the comments section of this post to share what you're working on. If you're posting less than once a day, no problem! Simply use the latest one of these posts to share a link to your creation! For some, it's too much to keep up with posting every day, but don't let that get you down. Do it if you can and if you can't, just keep on creating, that's the most important part. If you get off track and miss a few days of creating, don't let that freeze you up either. Just pick up where you left off and keep moving forward. One foot in front of the other. You are making your life a more creative one with each step.
If you're new to Art Every Day Month, check out the before you use the link widget to share your creations.
"Creativity takes courage."
-Matisse
