The Truth About Fear

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Be afraid and do it anyway.” Have you been in a place where you stopped yourself from doing something because of fear? What exactly are we afraid of? If you’re afraid of heights you might not choose to go jump out of an airplane. But would it stop you from flying to a vacation destination? There’s a difference isn’t there? One scenario means you will be plummeting toward Earth faster than feels comfortable. The other is that a qualified professional will get you from point A to Point B and you will have a seat belt, beverage and a snack.

So, maybe it’s not the fear that is the problem. (Hint: it’s really not the fear.) Maybe it’s the story we have concocted in our head that is the problem.

Speaking from experience, there was a time that all my work was small. When I started out, I didn’t want to “waste” materials so I made small pieces. Even though I had an abundance of fabric, I didn’t want to use it up on something that might not turn out good. And to be fair, most of my art quilts start out as two relatively small pieces of fabric stitched together and they end when I feel that I have added enough little pieces to make a big piece. Here is one example that was made one square at a time. I didn’t know where this was going at first, but it gave me directions as I went along. One piece at a time.

“Bridges” 30” X 46”

The thing that I learned in the process of making this piece is that the fear of making something big disappeared once I was actually making it. You see fear is a mile wide but only an inch deep.

“Let’s Get Takeout” 24” X 30”

Here’s another piece that is reasonably large. I was making a lot of smaller collage pieces and I came across a larger canvas. Granted, it’s not huge but when compared to the 12” X 12” pieces I was focused on, it was a stretch. In the end, I saw a lot of chopsticks in this piece and so it called itself “Let’s Get Takeout”. It started with two layers of dark grey paint and one piece of vintage book page. Once I had one piece in place, I stood back and added another piece and another until I arrived at what you see here. I learned a lot about collage with this piece. The smaller pieces helped me get comfortable with the process but, having a bigger landscape to play with broadened my vision of what was possible. How was I going to make it all come together? One piece at a time until I stood back and said, yes. That’s everything I want to put on there. And along with losing the fear of making something bigger, I built my confidence in my ability to do so.

You can be afraid to do a lot of things. Meet new people, show your art, hike 45 miles in the backcountry carrying all your necessities, travel to foreign lands, start a new job, public speaking, and on and on. Yes, fear is a mile wide.

Here’s the thing. Once you dip your toe in the fear, you will find it’s only an inch deep. Meeting new people seems intimidating until you are involved in a conversation and find out that you have some things in common. In all my travels I have discovered that when you are really lost, someone will notice and they will help you. In fact, in many times that I have felt a bit fearful the arrival of intuition, divine redirection or assistance has arrived.

My latest fear that I have tackled is the backcountry backpacking trip I am preparing for. A few years ago, a friend asked me if I wanted to hike The Hundred Mile Wilderness section of the Appalachian Trail. I turned her down. Part of me believed that I could hike it but, fear kept me from going. What if I couldn’t do it? What if I bought the gear and never used it again? What if the other three people had to help me carry my gear? What if I wasn’t strong enough? And on and on.

That turned into a real regret for me. I should have trained. I should have tried. And so, as this regret festered in the back of my mind as an opportunity lost, I figured out how to overcome it. I have been training for over three months now for a backpacking trip where I will carry all my necessities for 5 days, traveling approximately 45 miles in backcountry Utah. As I researched how to prepare every single concern I had began to dissolve. What to pack? Check. How to train? Check. Logistics? Check. One thousand little decisions that has brought me from carrying 15 pounds for two hours to carrying 33+ pounds for 4 hours at a time. My fear has been transformed into confidence because when I stepped into the fear, I found that it was not that deep. I could take the first step and then another. I could carry 15 pounds and then 16. I could hike for two hours and then two hours and 15 minutes.

Getting back to creativity and making art. A lot of artists are a bit fearful of creating big art. I used to be like that with my art quilting and I still have a little trepidation about making a really big painting. I mean really big. I see these artists making painting that are 6 feet by 6 feet and think holy cow! That would be cool. But, I haven’t done it yet. Why? The canvas would be expensive and what if I mess it up? What if the painting doesn’t turn out well? What if I use up a lot of expensive paint? Here’s what I think about that now. What if I just get one canvas and give it a try? Treat myself. Use my less expensive paint on the first few layers? Figure out how to make bigger marks or maybe make myself some big brushes. As I ponder the project the fear slowly fades until I reach the point of feeling just enough confidence to give it a try.

Once you take on a challenge, it’s a good ideas to stop and look back at what you’ve done. Afraid to carry 33 pounds? Look back at 15 and 20 and 27 and realize that each of those felt heavy. Now I head out and 33+ feels pretty comfortable.

Afraid of making a big painting? Look back at the smallest work and then the next size up and the next size up and so on. Looking back at what you believed you could do and realizing that you are capable of so much more lives on the other side of fear. So before you stop yourself from trying that thing that piques your interest or replays itself over and over again in your mind, think about the smallest first possible step. Do that. Then do the next smallest possible step. Because the truth about fear is that letting it stop you will be one of your biggest regrets.

The Excitement of Not Knowing

I believe there is a thrill in not knowing what is going to happen or how something might turn out. Planning a vacation and leaving room for exploring and seeing what turns up in your path has brought me some really cool surprises. Watching a movie that you haven’t read the story line or watched the trailer helps hold your attention, especially if you have no idea how it ends. Putting fabric, paper, paint or any other art supply together with no defined direction creates opportunity for new inspirations. All of these things and so many more leave you open to the possibility of something new.

Decades ago I used to make my own clothes. I chose the pattern, picked the fabric and voila - I knew what it was going to be before I even started. Having the finished product was satisfying but after a while it wasn’t exciting. It was a process that left no room for exploration. I think that’s why I left that practice behind and started art quilting.

I knew how to sew and a little bit about quilting. I had some fabric scraps to play with. But, I had no idea what I was doing or where I was going. It added a little excitement to what was otherwise productivity. I became less productive but more curious. What if?

When I got several years of art quilting under my belt, I left it to the side (knowing I could always return) for collage. And then for painting. And now I add collage to my paintings and paper to my art quilts and the excitement is in the trying new things.

Some things work out, some don’t. But that’s not the point. Often the thing that doesn’t work out as I had hoped leads to something I hadn’t thought of. It’s a rabbit hole perhaps. But it is so much fun to go down that hole. Why? Because I don’t know where it will lead. The new ideas and inspiration can be at any turn.

If you are feeling bored with your art practice, (or any aspect of your life for that matter) try something else. Add something, take something away, change your setting or your color palette. Try out a new material and see what it can add to your work. If you’re really looking for inspiration pick up something you have never used before. Perhaps someone gave it to you or it was bestowed upon you from someone’s deceased relative. (I have had a lot of fabric and art supplies given to me this way) It gives you free materials to use in any way you choose without the concern of how much money it cost. That free freedom to play.

If you like what you do and it’s your groove, carry on. But, if you want to spice it up, I highly recommend you have a go at doing something for the first time. It will either confirm that you want to go back to what you did before (ie comfort zone) or it will open your creative mind to something new.

Either way, it’s about embracing the unexpected and being open to the thrill of not knowing.

Thanks for reading and feel free to leave a comment.

5 Simple Steps to Open Your Creativity

There are as many ways to be creative as their are people who create. If you are looking for ways to start or restart your creative endeavors, I have some suggestions that may prove very helpful to get you on track or speed your creative journey.

1. Make Space

Making space for creativity applies to quite a few things. First, you should have a physical space that you call your own and claim it for your creative projects. The spare bedroom, garage, closet that once decluttered could house your materials and work table, back porch. It doesn’t matter what the space it. It doesn’t matter what size the space is. What matters is that you have planted your flag and claimed it. You might need to clean it out first, but I bet you can find a place to call your own.

Along with a physical space, you need to make space in your schedule. Everybody is busy. Take a look at your calendar, your commitments and your time usage. Where can you find space to create. Go to bed earlier and wake up before anyone needs you? After breakfast? After dinner? After the kids are in bed? Saturday mornings? If you think you don’t have time, I suggest you watch one less thing on TV, scroll less on your social media and find the time. You deserve to give that time to yourself.

The third thing you need is to make head space. Are you worrying? Comparing yourself to someone who made space and has been creating for a long time? Telling yourself it’s all been done before? Stop it. Making things is human. Making things is unique. You making things is as essential to your well-being as it is to your universal contribution. The words “I made this” have brought joy to our souls since we were little kids making things to put up on the fridge. Find that joy again. It’s waiting patiently.

2. Show Up

Once you have a place, time and idea the only thing missing is applying your skills and getting down to the actual doing of things. Go in your place, at your scheduled time and clear your mind of expectation so you can just make something. None of these preparations matter until you actually show up. Exchange scrolling and time wasters for something that brings you joy.

3. Simplify

Start with as few materials as possible. This reduces your fear of wasting materials. It also reduces decision fatigue about what to do. It increases the amount of time you are interacting with creative materials and shaping your ideas into physical form.

4. Focus

You want to try clay, fabric, collage, acrylic, sculpture and watercolor. The problem is that you will spend time shopping, deciding, organizing, and ruminating. Focus on one thing at a time. Learn watercolor deeply or sculpt with clay for fifty projects. But stop trying to create a painting, a sculpture, a quilt and a poetry book at the same time. You will make very little progress in any one direction. The lack of progress leads to abandoning the creative endeavor entirely. Failure does not breed success. Small successes build more success.

5. Embrace Progress

However small, accept with grace and gratitude what you learn, how you grow and any time you invest in making something. The minutes add up. They fuel the desire to put in hours. They also create momentum that keeps you coming back. It doesn’t look like a giant occasion with lots of fanfare. It is the little inner smile you get when you mix colors and get something unexpected that makes you say wow. It’s the way you notice the materials on the table and see a new possibility. It’s the magic of time passing without you even noticing. Joy, like progress, is a collection of small things that fill you up like one marble at a time in a jar.

I hope something in this post helped you clarify why your creative endeavors are important. I also hope that you will invest in your happiness and take steps to create whatever your heart desires. Find that space, time, pursuit and go. Even the slowest pace lets you linger in the creative joy. You deserve it.

Finding Magic in Your Life

What is it that you want to accomplish with your life? This question can be a real show stopper because sometimes we really don’t know. Many answers can come to mind and you think you should want these things. To get promoted at work, to raise children, to be fit and look great, to be a good… friend, spouse, parent, sibling… the list goes on.

What do all of these have in common? They are tainted with the visual cloud of what other people think you should do, or what would make you look good to other people or what might make someone else happy if you did this, or the dreaded would it impress others?

But, that wasn’t the question. What do you want to accomplish with your life? Without the input or opinion or anyone else. Disconnected from any judgement or what other people might think. Regardless of what anyone around you is striving for (because you don’t know if it’s a true calling for them or just something they think will make other people take notice.)

Here are some questions that may be helpful if you want to embark on a journey of personal fulfillment. As you work through them, see what comes up for you and if it shines a light on something you haven’t considered before.

First, take a look back at your life. Not in the form of a doctoral dissertation but, in general terms. What have you accomplished so far in your life? Anything from levels of education, skills for any activity or relationships of any kind.

I bet that list is pretty long. Which is proof that if you want to achieve something, you have already proven time and time again that you are capable. Put a big check in the belief in yourself box. You’ve already done all those things. So if you are telling yourself that you are too young, old, unskilled or incapable of something, you have already proven yourself wrong by accomplishing all the things you have already.

Moving on. So you want to do something and you know you can learn what you need to in order to realize that goal. Here are some other questions that can be a useful guide.

Sit with your thoughts and see if you can boil down what you want. Really, really want. Write it down. Say it out loud. Repeat it a few times. How does your body feel when you tell yourself these desires? A true want will feel exciting, maybe even a little scary. It will bring a smile to your face or lift your spirit at the thought of it. A false want will include how it will impress others, make someone else notice you, how it will look out there, or how it would really make your mother happy. But, it will not excite you. It will feel like an obligation or even like a burden.

Next, clarify what you want to the clearest terms you can find. I want to paint is not as helpful as I want to create landscape paintings using watercolor and paint them on location. I want to learn Italian is not as helpful as I want to travel to Italy and have enough fluency in Italian that I won’t have to rely constantly on a phone app to be understood or to understand others.

The first version of what you want might have a direction but, a clarified version will have a direction and a definition of what success looks like for you. It gives you a place to go and a point where you feel you have arrived.

I strongly encourage writing these ideas down and reading them aloud to yourself. When you hear it and see it at the same time, it either activates your motivation or puts on the brakes and lets you know that that isn’t quite right.

How will realizing this goal feel for you? Ultimately, if you set out to do something and then you work toward accomplishing it when you meet with success, you grow your self-worth, self-respect and sense of pride in yourself. Regardless of what anyone else thinks of your accomplishment.

Along the way, you may run into a few negative beliefs. I’ll never be able to do this, achieve this, realize this or be successful in this quest. Write these down and say them aloud. This might sound counterintuitive but, when you shine a light on the unhelpful things that rattle around in your head, they begin to sound absurd. Because as you have already determined, you can accomplish lots of things so you can also accomplish this goal. Remember all the things you’ve done already. You’re living proof in your capacity for growth.

Celebrate every small step to make. You bought the paint, picked the location, picked out a sketchbook, read the blog, watched the video, whatever you do to move you along your path - see it for what it is - A WIN!

When things don’t go as planned (and that is something you should know going in - not everything goes smoothly all the time.) be nice to yourself about it and let it go. We live our lives with enough baggage from other people, don’t add rocks to your suitcase when you are trying to move along on your journey.

How will you create the circumstances to make your desire possible? But the language program? the art supplies? read the book? When will you create the time to invest in your desire? On the weekend? after work hours? after dinner? These real nuts and bolts are the difference between a wish and a plan.

If you haven’t already seen my video about time and place. Here it is as a refresher.

How will this benefit my life? Consider that everything we learn applies to something that perhaps we didn’t expect. As a twenty-five year classroom teacher, I fielded the question “Why do we have to know this?” so many times. I had some stories for my students around this question and basically, it comes down to this. If you learn something that you consider useless at the time, there may come a moment where that knowledge can save your life, your relationship, your sanity or your most valuable resource, time.

Get clear on how this goal is a benefit for you. After all, with time at a premium who want so invest time in something that makes life harder, sadder or less fulfilling. If your goal brings you peace and happiness, that’s awesome. If it brings you abundance in any form, also amazing. If it builds your self-confidence it allows you to try more things and grow even more. I don’t see a losing side to pursuing what brings good things to you.

Here’s that last thing I want you to consider about this subject. Can you pursue this goal and let go of trying to control how you accomplish it? If you are so focused on making the landscape painting that you miss the feeling of sunshine on your face, the breeze in your hair or the song of birds around you, you may make a wonderful painting. But, you will have missed the magic that was all around you in the process.

Have a goal is awesome. Preparing and working toward achieving it builds confidence. Realizing your vision is fantastic. However, noticing the small bits of magic and serendipity that accompany your every step is what makes it worth your effort. You are magic and all the other magic wants to make friends with you. Let it.

3Cs of Creativity & Life

So, you want to make art. (or music, or fancy cuisine, or amazing adventures) It doesn’t matter what you want, there are three simple things to help you get there.

The first one is clarity. If you don’t know what you want, anything you get will feel okay. It might not feel great, or inspiring or amazing, but you will be okay with it. Without clarity life is a series of days, events, problems or activities that fill your time but can leave you feeling unfulfilled. Like eating a meal and thirty minutes later you’re perusing the pantry.

When you find yourself always looking for something more, I suggest you stop looking. Just sit for a bit and figure out what you want. Knowing that you want to work in clay and make imaginary animals can be a very clarifying realization. As can painting with any medium. Or deciding that what you really, really want is to just explore in sketchbooks. Investing some time sorting through all the options and narrowing it down to one thing is a super effective way to save a lot of time, energy and money. Instead of being okay with whatever comes along, you have thoughtfully chosen one target and you are aiming all your resources at it.

Once you take the time and make the effort to clarify what you want to pursue, the next C is confidence. This is where you listen and even write down all the reasons (pronounced excuses) you have for not moving forward with your inspired idea. You already have a different project started, you need to buy a few things, you have never tried it before, blah, blah, blah. The greatest of these is what is people think. I beg you, please - live your life in a way that makes you happy and stop worrying about what other people will think of your favorite activities. It’s not your job to make them happy. It’s your job to live the happiest life possible. No one else has the time or energy to do that for you.

If you are worried about what other people will think - they are too busy with their own stuff to give it that much thought. If they feel the need to comment, feel free to just give a long silent pause. The longer the pause the more uncomfortable they will feel and the less likely they are to make any other comment. While they are getting uncomfortable, you can mentally review your reasons for diving into your desires.

Once you have your list of reasons in front of you, read them aloud to yourself. Are they true? Are they insurmountable? Are they comfortable and you want to fight to keep them? It is impossible to argue with anyone who holds their limiting beliefs so tightly. Instead, try writing the opposite of the statement and see it that seems possible. For example: I can’t draw well. vs. I can practice drawing until I can draw well. The first sentence gives you an out. You don’t have to do anything. The second one inspires you toward a particular focus. It gives you the direction in which to put your energy. That’s what clarity and confidence look like.

The final C is courage. Once you figure out what your thing is - do it. You have taken the time to figure out what you want and why it is important to you. You have quieted all the inner critics saying but, what if you fail. (no such thing by the way) Now, the only thing left is to get in motion. An idea that no one acts upon is great if you are a philosopher. But if you want to be great at something, you need to move toward that target. Courage is the act of getting up, getting in motion, chasing the goal and making tiny steps of progress. Maybe no one else will notice. But you will.

Knowing what you want is a gift. Believing you can get it is a dream. Working for it is a journey. That journey becomes the moments of joy that make up your life. Please make it as joyful as possible. You don’t have to ask anyone else what you want. You already know but, you have to take the time to ask your quiet inner self. That’s time well spent.

Sunk Costs

If you are anything like me, you probably have some supplies you purchased with the intention of using in a new and exciting project. And then you got busy, it got pushed to the side, went to the bottom of a pile and eventually forgotten.

We hold on to that stuff once we rediscover it. Perhaps you remember why you bought it or that idea is a distant and faded memory. Either way, you have this stuff - paint, tools, canvases, fabric, clay or whatever it is taking up room in your creative space.

This applies to some of the things in your closet. The dress you thought you’d get a lot of use out of, the pants that are just a little bit uncomfortable or the sweater that was a gift and you don’t want to hurt their feelings by giving it away. It’s taking up space in the closet and eventually it is likely to get moved to the bottom shelf, back of the rack or the hard to reach place in there. And if you are never going to wear it, it is taking up valuable open space.

These are known as sunk costs. Sunk costs are expenses that have already been spent and cannot be recovered. They are things like past investments of money or time that are no longer recoverable. Yet we hold on to them. This set of pastels, paints, fabric from past projects are all too good to throw out. So, we hold on to them and they become heavy. That project you started and then lost interest in is lurking in the dark back corner of the closet or drawer. You think it’s no big deal. But, I’m here to remind you that the weight of it is weighing you down. Perhaps it’s even keeping you stuck.

Why are you keeping it? Was it a gift? Regift it. Obviously, tell the new recipient that it is a regift. This avoids feeling guilty for giving it away and under the guise that it was purchased specifically for the new owner. Is it no longer of interest to you? Woefully out of style? Hanging around because you might wear it or use it some day? Guess what. You won’t. If you have projects that you have completely lost interest in and have no intention of finishing, recognize this as sunk cost of time and stop bumping into it and reminding yourself of the time investment. It wasn’t wasted time if you enjoyed it. But, the creative party is over. Let it go.

These are all sunk costs. The price? Our headspace, physical space, wallet impact and emotional baggage. The money you spent is gone. The time you spent is gone. What’s left is a feeling that you need to keep it for reasons like, she gave it to me, it was expensive, I might use it someday or it’s not in the way so just leave it in the back of the closet.

Trust me, these seem like good reasons and if you are one to kick the can down the road instead of dealing with it, it seems easier to just shut the door and ignore the stuff you don’t need, want or use.

However, making it a creative project to lighten your load is a great way to jumpstart your creativity. Think of the stuff as a problem to solve. Where can I take it? Who do I know who might appreciate having it? Where could it be donated to benefit a teacher, student, charitable thrift shop or even an animal or rehab center.

I used to have a closet of fabric that had a lot of leftover scraps from projects I had completed. Why did I keep these oddly shaped and basically useless pieces of cloth? Honestly, I have no idea. Perhaps it’s the fear that I wouldn’t have enough and at least I had this stash of scraps. When I looked them over, I found a lot of stuff that was taking up space but, had no real usefulness. Clearing out the closet has left me with mostly empty shelves. Which allowed me to reorganize what I was keeping and arrange it neatly and with plenty of open space so that I can use it and return it without having to play a game of Jenga to make everything fit back in the small closet.

So, instead of telling yourself Aunt so and so would be upset if you gave away the itchy sweater, take a moment to realize that she probably doesn’t even remember she gave it to you. There was an occasion. She wanted to give you a gift. You received it with gratitude. If it’s something you love great. If it is feeling like an obligation, then it’s not a gift. Holding on to it is investing in sunk costs.

The lesson in clearing out a closet or tossing out artwork that you don’t want anymore is not only about creating the space for clarity. It’s about using the clearing as a reminder that when making future decisions, it's important to disregard sunk costs and focus on the potential benefits of future investments of time and money.

Let go of what you cleared away. Focus on what you want to create next. Do you want a really great wardrobe? Get rid of everything you don’t wear for all the reasons you don’t wear them. Invest in things you love and want to wear. You can actually own fewer things and be happier with them. If you consider what you wear now and really pare it down to your favorites and go to pieces, you could actually have a lot fewer things to store.

Perhaps you started with watercolor so long ago and you’ve moved on to a bunch of stuff. Now you mostly work in clay and have no interest in painting. The creative act of painting led you to something else. Holding on to what got you here tethers you to the past. It doesn’t leave a lot of opportunity or freedom to move into a creative endeavor you really want to try. The mindset that you might go back wards in time some day (as if we could reverse the clocks) is ridiculous. You created, you grew, you learned and you aren’t supposed to keep being the same person. Thank goodness we change. Otherwise we’d all be stunted in the mindset of our younger years. Yikes!

I encourage you to invest some time in defining what you have purchased that was a great investment. The quality sewing machine you always use or the easel that you paint on all the time. Those are investments. The supplies that haven’t seen the light of day in years, those are sunk costs. Don’t lament the money spent. Just use the lesson to help you distill down what you really want to buy because you genuinely want to use it. It takes practice and sometimes it takes a pause of a day or two or a week or a month. If you still want it in a month, you know the item has some staying power. If you forgot about it the day after you left the store or the website then you have avoided sunk costs.

I wish you the time to get clear of what needs to go in order to create renewed energy to your life. And then I wish you great enjoyment of the things that you choose to keep. May they make a meaningful impact of your life.

Book Review: The Spark & the Grind by Erik Wahl

I promised myself to dedicate more time to reading this year. And along with some well chosen fiction, I have a long list of books that are designed to facilitate personal growth. The first one that is art related is what I am reviewing here. The Spark and the Grind: Ignite the Power of Disciplined Creativity, by Erik Wahl.

As I shared over the last year, I became more consistent in my studio practice by just showing up more often. Low and behold, I made quite a bit of work, played in some sketchbooks and sparked some really good ideas to keep me going in both areas of my work, fiber and paint.

Here are a few take aways from the book that I noted as I read. The first is that there are people who are “sparkers” or igniters. They are creative people who swim in new and novel ideas. They are dreamers and have a role in finding the good ideas that move innovation forward. There are also other people who are grinders. These are the hardworking people who will diligently sift through the details and do the mundane tasks because they are driven by knowing what to do and what the final outcome looks like.

I think I used to be an igniter. I started a lot of things that never came to fruition. Lots of unfinished objects in the studio and often stuck in drawers or out of sight places so I didn’t feel the “failure”.

Recently, I had a conversation with a long time friend. He was at the house and asked to see my studio and the work I was doing at the moment. He marveled at how I could take a blank paper or canvas and then create without knowing where it was going. You see, he’s a grinder. He has a woodworking workshop. He will diligently do the tasks required to make a piece of furniture as long as there is a plan, a photo and a specific end goal. I think traditional quilters can be like this. There’s a pattern and I saw it in fabrics that were a nice color combination. I know what the end product should look like and so they set to their cutting tables and sewing machines. They know where they’re going.

I tried traditional quilting once. It was a loooooong project. I abandoned it for improvisation and not knowing what size it would be, or shape or what the final piece would look like. Unlike grinders, I am more comfortable with ambiguity. (I also think this is why a lot of people had a really hard time with the pandemic. There was no certainty, end game or target for success.)

As Erik points out in the book, in order to have consistent creativity you have to oscillate between sparking and grinding. Once you get a good idea, you have to be willing to do the work to see it through. I think this is key if you are an artist. I also think that people quit making art because they have the ideas but, have trouble mustering the drive to do the tedious, mundane and laborious tasks.

Here’s some points he makes about growing your ability to move back and forth between finding the ideas and acting on them all the way to fruition.

1. Embrace the creative process without attachment to a specific outcome. Keep open to new ideas and course corrections.

2. Attach who you are with what you do. When you align your inner being with your outward actions what you do work becomes play.

3. Practice courage and everything else will follow.

4. Look for creative sparks where you are and within your circumstances. Don’t wait for the perfect time or place. Maximize the certainty in your life (financial, personal, emotional) and leverage that to embrace uncertainty. Don’t separate your reality and circumstances from your creative work. See opportunities where you are.

5. Create a routine that allows creativity to flourish. The boundaries of your routine allow you to focus and go deep into experimentation, exploration and creative work. Having a routine with decisions already made allows you to maximize your creative capacity.

6. Defamiliarize the ordinary. Change how you perceive things. Look for ways to innovate your daily environment. See differently or see differently things. Originality has a better chance in unfamiliar locations and circumstances.

7. What you already know will not ignite creativity. Looking into the unknown generates sparks and builds intuition. Blend efficiency and novelty to create innovation.

8. Be curious. Let go of mediocrity and embrace uncertainty. Learn to create a bit of chaos in your day so you practice opportunities to be creative.

9. Stay foolish. The more you think you know the less you look for creative solutions to problems, projects and challenges. The beginner mind is about thinking. Staying foolish is about acting in a state of wonder and curiosity.

10. Know that in order to do what you have never done before you must face fear. Accept that it’s there. You got this. Go.

11. Take small steps and you will see progress. Create big steps and you will be strategizing instead of creating.

12. Fall in love with your creative work. (that’s a verb) Don’t fall in love with every painting you create. Fall in love with the actual act of painting, sculpting, baking, gardening, or whatever is your creative pursuit.

13. Be obsessed with the creative process and don’t focus on creating the perfect environment. You will find unique solutions to fix the issues within your surroundings and you won’t even notice the imperfections while you are engaged in your creative work.

This was an interesting book to help reinforce what I am doing well and a nice way to review what I can tweak to invite more creativity into my daily life. I got a copy from the library and if you are so inclined, you can probably get a copy from yours.

I hope something in here resonated with you. This post was taken from the notes I took as I read. The ideas here were the ones that spoke to me. If you read the book for yourself, surely other ideas will jump out for you.

Thanks for being here. It was a long read. I hope you will take a look at your imperfect circumstances and find an innovative way to make it work with your creativity. Look from a different perspective and it will always be more interesting.

How I Think About Manifesting

Perhaps you have heard about the Law of Attraction and Manifesting from people who want to teach you how to get all the money, notoriety, job titles or whatever else you want. Unfortunately, a lot of folks think that if you use the Law of Attraction you can think about what you want and it will appear. Like a million dollars in your bank account or a fancy new car or a promotion and accompanying pay raise. It’s a very convenient way to justify not doing a whole lot. You can simply wrap your inaction in a shiny package and say the Law of Attraction will take care of it. Things will manifest and arrive on your doorstep just because you want them to and you think about them everyday.

Every once in a while, you get lucky and something unexpected happens and the Law of Attraction gets the credit because, after all, you were thinking about something exactly like this.

Here’s how I like to think about manifesting. At least this is how I think it works for me. Perhaps there is something useful for you in here too.

During the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve I spend some time paging through my paper planner and reviewing what things have happened over the past year. Here is a short list that I jotted down:

• 52 newsletters written

• 8 blog posts

• 2 podcast interviews

• 28 YouTube videos

• 2 weekend art fairs

• 4 group exhibitions

• Acceptance into the National Association of Women Artists

• Travel to Hawaii, Peru, Machu Picchu, Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

• 1 Teen Arts Workshop

• 1 Award from NAWA at the group show

• Over 25 art quilts completed

• Over 20 Collages completed

• Over 275 visits to my studio(and counting)

• Several rejections to submissions and applications

• Several creative tangents that didn’t really get much traction

• Several art themed outings

These things did not happen because I thought about them. They did not happen because I wished for them. They happened because I got in my studio and worked, made videos and edited them, found opportunities and applied to them. I manifested all the good stuff and the lessons in humility by practicing my creative work, writing out applications, sharing my efforts with people like you and putting my work out for exhibit.

Manifesting, for me, is not a mysterious force from the Universe coming down and giving me what I want. It is the act of catching an inspirational spark and fanning it into a flame. It is the grind of pushing through the production of work once the spark has ignited. Manifesting does not come from somewhere else. Art, opportunities and creative endeavors appear because I have made it a regular practice to look for them and then act on the ones that interest me most.

If you are waiting for something to appear just because you want it, you are letting time pass you by. I believe that taking a look at what you have achieved, created or accomplished over the course of the past year is a great place to start looking as you direct what you want to manifest in your life this coming year. If you were able to manifest all the things on your annual review list, then you are holding proof that you are able to manifest what you want. Now that you have proof that you can manifest things into your life, you can review what actions you took that made these things possible. If you got a promotion, you probably upped your skills and excelled at your job. I doubt you did it sitting on the sofa wishing for it.

I hope you will take some time to clarify exactly what you want. Having a direction is essential to taking action toward achieving what you set out to do. I am taking this week to look at what I have manifested through action last year and what I would like to manifest in the coming year. I already have proof that I can accomplish things I once felt were out of my reach. I believe you can do those things you want to accomplish too. Focus on your habits and how you invest your time and energy. What you want is within your reach when you take it one step at a time.

I wish you a Happy and Fulfilling New Year!

Paying & Collecting

See the World

I would like to use modern day banking as a model for the sake of this blog post. Anyone who has a bank account or investment account understands that when you put money in there, you receive interest. The financial institution gives you money just for entrusting your money with their organization. Some places give you more interest than others depending on the amount of risk you want to take. Personally, I think this sounds like creative output.

For every deposit you make, your value grows and you also gain interest. For every withdrawal you make, your value decreases and you lose potential interest or profit. Simple. Now let’s apply this to our creative endeavors. More importantly to the three resources that make your creative endeavors possible - time, energy, and headspace.

First, let’s address the things that have you paying interest, essentially losing value in your three key resources - time, energy, and headspace.

Time, your most precious non-renewable resource, is stealing value when you work in a disorganized space. Don’t get me wrong, I have made a lot of things on a table that is loaded with a stash of fabric or pile of hand painted papers. What some call a creative mess. What I am referring to is the disorganization that steals your time because you are searching for things and cannot readily find them. The inconveniently placed items or stuff that is located in places where you aren’t planning to use them. If every time you need scissors you have to look under piles of stuff or open five drawers until they appear, that is interest you are paying on your creative time. Consider how you could get this time back.

Energy, what makes your world go around, is renewable. (I hear you fellow science nerds - Yes, it cannot be created or destroyed. As a former physics and chemistry teacher I wholeheartedly agree.) You get a good night’s rest and you are ready to go. We’ve all had the experience of get a terrible night’s sleep or taking a red eye flight home only to be completely exhausted. How productive are you that day? Not taking time to rest and renew is paying interest on your creativity. Having low energy that is self-inflicted (pronounced late night TV binge), is stealing from your energy resources. Here’s another thing that can be a real thief of your energy supply - complaining. When I was working full time, I often came across people who would complain about everything from the weather to world problems. If I could, I would turn and walk away. But, I often watched people join them and go from feeling just fine to being miserable. The act of complaining is a voluntary decision to give away your energy and lower your energetic vibration. I suggest you stay away from complainers. We have all had a bad situation that we want to vent about but, when it’s relentless, it steals your creative energy. Let it go, walk away, write it down and burn it. Do whatever it takes to renew your energy and don’t pay interest on it.

Headspace, is something that is really impacted by what you put in there. Just like complaining, procrastination can be an uninvited visitor to your peace and clarity. You want to go in and paint but, first you should empty the dishwasher, fold the laundry, mow the lawn, paint the kitchen and on and on. You keep thinking about the thing you want to do and find excuses for not doing it. Here’s the real kicker. All the while that you are busying yourself with other tasks, your brain is on repeat and you are never going to enjoy anything else until you stop procrastinating on what you want to get done. I don’t know why we do this. We should on ourselves. Now, if you know that you will have a clearer head once the laundry is folded, go fold it. But if you are using it as an excuse not to go do the creative work, you might want to have a think about why you are stealing joy from yourself.

Personally, I think that my time, energy and headspace are best used on creative tasks first. I can fold the laundry in the evening when I am lower on my energy reserves and don’t want to make any more decisions. I can also unload the dishwasher while dinner is on the stove. I don’t worry that it will never get done. I just try to align a task with what amount of energy and clarity I want to bring to it. I prefer to bring my highest energy, clearest mind and least rushed time to my creative practice. Whenever that time is for you might be something to consider.

If you want quiet time to work on your art, perhaps after the kids are in bed is best. If you are a morning person and you want to write poetry, maybe getting up before everyone else is your best bet.

Now, let’s take a moment to discuss how you can collect interest and gain value to your time, energy and headspace.

First, your time. A non-renewable resource. You can’t make more but you can make the most of what you have. Invest in organizing your work space. Just like you wouldn’t look through your dresser drawers for a spatula, put things where they make the most sense and where you will look for them when you need them. Yes, it will take you some time and energy to organize your space. However, it pays you back in interest of time saved not searching. I would like to add that organizing your time in the day to help you collect interest on your creative work is also important. If you work best at a certain time of day, dedicate that time and reserve some energy and headspace to do your best work. The world wants to see your best work. In fact, that’s why you’re here to add your best to the collective whole. When you do this, you collect interest in the way of inspiration, motivation, self-worth and happiness. Who doesn’t want more of that?

Energy is collected in being fully engaged with doing the thing you love. Time flies by unnoticed and you are renewed by being fully present mind, body and spirit in your creativity. You are not procrastinating on making something, you are engaged in it. You feel the flow or energy. Your headspace is aligned with where you are and what you are doing. That’s what is so rewarding about getting down to it and not making excuses that stop you. We all have things to do, scrolling your phone or bingeing on TV are not helping you gain value and collect interest. Prioritize what you want to accomplish and the other distractions will fall into place, probably on the bottom of the list if they make the to do list at all.

The last thing I want to discuss is your headspace. Call it whatever you want - mindset, inspiration, thoughts, etc. If you want to get in a creative headspace and raise your energy, apply gratitude. Be thankful for the day you have, the time you have, the materials you have and the ideas you have. Rather than think about the material you wish you had or what you consider a time shortage, be grateful for whatever you have. Fifteen minutes - GREAT! Your child’s practice is running late and you have a pencil and sketchbook - GREAT! You can’t justify the expensive paint but, you have some very nice colored pencils - GREAT! Stop looking at what isn’t there and just focus on what you have been given. Appreciate it and every small thing can be just what you needed at this moment.

I hope there was something in this post that makes you stop and think about how you could be happier and more fulfilled. And just to support you here are a couple more posts that might also benefit you.

Here’s an older blog post that might be helpful if you want to organize your studio and collect interest on your time.

Here’s another previous blog post about building a creative mindset.

Long Time

The Myth of Inspiration

As an artist, I am often asked where I find my inspiration. To be fair, I describe myself as a nature inspired artist. But, to be honest, most of my work is not about trees or landscapes or any specific natural phenomenon. However, I find that when I spend time in nature, my creative source is renewed. A hike, trail ride or a trip to the beach all wake up some part of me that comes out as physical art.

The longer I work at this creative process, the more mystical it seems. When I look for inspiration I am rarely successful. Waiting around for it show up is definitely not the answer. So, where do I find inspiration?

A couple of years ago, I probably would have had a different answer. But with the unfolding of recent events, I have received so much clarity about how inspiration works for me. I thought I’d share it with you. It might be helpful if you’ve ever been fully unmotivated and caught in a creative slump.

About 2 months ago, I was living in that slump. Perhaps it was more like a small dip. Either way, I wasn’t really making a lot of progress. So, I decided to just go make something. It didn’t have to be good. It didn’t have to be experimental. I just had to be engaged in creating something that hadn’t existed before.

I picked a color palette, had a very loose plan and reduced the friction of getting started by making the art quilts small and simple. Nothing larger than 24 inches in any direction. Some of them were more like twelve inches or less.

Next thing I knew, I had made eleven of them. I was having fun. And that was all I needed to keep going. I changed color palette and carried on. Another seven were done in about a week. Picked another palette and off I went. Another eight small pieces came together so easily and I was happy with what I saw. Mostly, I was happy with how I felt. Free, loose, joyful and maybe even a little bit productive.

While this body of art quilts was forming, I was also doing my morning practice of starting my day in the studio. It was good to get in there and just draw or collage or mess around before my inner critic was awake. When I heard the voice say things like “What the heck are you doing? Don’t waste time or materials. Blah, blah, blah.” I cleaned up and left the studio.

However, the act of starting my day creatively, primed me to return later and keep going with my little project. Twenty-five pieces later is when inspiration came knocking.

I kept making art without any specific goal and then during my morning practice the voice appeared. Instead of saying “What are you doing?’ It said “So, you’ve been busy and perhaps you could combine the process of your art quilts with this process you’re involved in over here.” It was the voice of inspiration that had replaced my inner critic. It came when I was happy. It came when I was working on my art.

I think that my persistence in the process summoned that inspiration. I certainly would not be on the path I am now if I had avoided my studio and stopped creating altogether. The inspiration showed up after 25 quilts and probably 30 drawings and 30 collages. It showed up because it knew I was serious. And it showed up because I was having fun.

I don’t think it shows up when you’re feeling frustrated or searching for it. It arrives when it knows that you are dedicated to creating something. It shows up because once you put in the effort, it joins you and brings for forces of the Universe along with it.

My advice to you if you are looking for inspiration, GO HAVE FUN. Keep at it and stop tapping your foot waiting for inspiration to show up. Shut the world out and go inside to that place of deep contentment. Once you are there, inspiration will join you. In the meantime, feel free to invite inspiration. Set the stage, clean the studio, prepare the materials, start moving. It is a powerful force. If it came when you weren’t ready you might get bowled over.

In closing, it’s probably not accurate to say that artists find inspiration. We get busy and inspiration finds us. The more you work, the more likely it is to show up and lend a hand. If you are waiting for inspiration to strike, you might be missing the mark.

A Creative Life

Bennett Bean has been alive for 83 years. For most of that time he was been making things. He loves making things - beautiful things, useful things, delicious things and all kinds of things.

Touring his home was absolutely inspiring. Every corner and room was curated in such a way as to create a visual feast. There was art, collected rocks, textiles, one-of-a-kind rugs and so much more. It was full of inspiration and yet, spacious with room to breathe and admire everything.

Each room had comfortable seating and took advantage of the light and view. It made me pause and when I got home, I had a review of some furniture placement. Was I getting the best view from each seat? Was I displaying my work and collections in ways that inspired me? Bennett didn’t put things in specific places to be showy. He placed them where they could be enjoyed in his daily life. If you’ve ever taken something beautiful and put it in a cabinet to save for company, you might want to consider keeping it out and enjoying it. Because even if your company is special, so are you. No one needs permission to enjoy life, but how much you enjoy your home depends a lot on how you choose to curate what you see on a daily basis.

Once we toured the house, we had a look at the grounds. He lives on about four acres. But it felt so much bigger simply because of how it was positioned in the landscape.

Leftover granite from tombstones that Bennett traded for field stones.

Finally, we toured the studio and his office space. It was packed with supplies, finished artwork, unfinished artwork, beginnings and things that had run their course but were still hanging around. I’d like to say it made me want to collect more stuff but, the opposite was true. It made me appreciate all of my art supplies. However, seeing all the unused stuff that he had no plans for made me realize that having more stuff is not the answer to boosting your creativity. Instead, I reinforced for myself that having limited supplies helps you get to the act of creating more quickly. You don’t have to decide what to use from a huge stockpile of unlimited materials. Instead, you get to look at what you have and then discern what materials you want to work with and get going. If I had that much stuff, I’d probably be paralyzed with indecision.

Bennett sharing about a series of clay work that he has a lot of on hand. Unfortunately, it was all made just prior to March 2020 and the big shut down. But, he’s thinking about where to sell it and if you are interested you can reach out to him.

His office has his fabulous artwork, as well as art he has collected. But, it also has a really cool curved ceiling. It’s remarkable in design and captures the view and light so beautifully.

I asked Bennett how long he’s lived here. Fifty years. Which makes sense because he has accumulated a lot of things over that time. I also told him that I was inspired by what a remarkable life he has lived. He said the secret to it was that he found ways to be happy most of the time. Which isn’t the same as having an easy or privileged life. He just chose to be happy. When winter was coming and their home didn’t have a furnace, he didn’t worry. A sale of his work came at just the right moment that he and his wife could buy a furnace. When people told him to follow the art trends, he did. Sometimes it worked out. But, he was so happy making the work that when it didn’t work out, he didn’t hang his happiness on the sales or lack of them. He just enjoyed the process.

There’s something to be said for that. Happiness is, after all, a choice. It isn’t contingent on having everything. In time, maybe fifty years, you’ll have amassed things. The secret I guess is to curate what you keep according to how much joy it brings you to have it. The other side of course, is to let go of things you feel obligated to keep, guilty about throwing away or that drain your energy by filling space that you need to keep open and breathe in.

If you get the chance to see an artist’s studio or perhaps their home, I highly recommend you take the opportunity. The stories he shared and energy of his space were really powerful. The take aways - if you are lucky enough to be creative - you are luckier than many. If you do things that make you happy, you are fortunate. If you do all things in a way that makes you happy, you are wiser than most. Ultimately, your small daily choices are what make a remarkable life.

You can check out his work at his website. My pictures were taken with my phone and don’t do the work true justice. Perhaps you will see something you want to bring into your space there.

Marking Time

Inspired by petrified wood in Arizona

I have a quilt in my studio that reads “The time spent in your studio gets added to the end of your life.” I love that idea. The more time you spend doing things that make you happy, the longer (and more fulfilling) your life will be. It makes sense doesn’t it? The happier we are, the less stressed we feel. The less stress we feel, the better our overall health. The better our health, the longer our life.

Yet, how many times have you said to yourself, I wish I could get into my studio more? Or walk in nature more? Or eat healthier foods more? Or travel more? What is it that you want more of? Because I promise you that if you make the effort and commit the time to doing things that make you happier - you will actually be happier. Who knew?

So this year I started to think about how I could give myself a visual time marker to remind myself of my commitment to creating more happiness. Or at least to my commitment to engaging in activities I love doing. Here is what I came up with.

I wanted to spend more time in my studio. I thought about marking a calendar with an X or a heart each day that I worked in my studio. It didn’t inspire me. I wasn’t going to purchase a special calendar for this practice and it felt like a prisoner awaiting their release would do the same thing. The needle on the happiness meter didn’t move. I thought about what I love. I love color. I love circles. I love collecting things.

I rummaged through the studio and found a very large bag of marbles. Then I found a clear glass vase. Each day when I go into the studio, I take a marble and add it to the vase. It seems simple, but it’s a colorful reminder that sits at the entrance of my studio. In January it was kinda sad to see only a couple marbles. And I traveled for three and a half weeks so no marbles got added. But, now there are a fair amount of marbles in there. And I see that the accumulation of marbles is also an accumulation of time. Not surprisingly, I also have completed eleven pieces of art and have several other ones in process.

Here are some other ways I give myself a reminder of happy things. I have a bowl of stones I’ve collected from various places I’ve travelled. Everything from the red rocks of the American southwest to stones from Watertown, Ireland and everywhere in between. I love looking at them. Travel is one of my favorite things to do and bringing home a rock from different places feels very satisfying. Once my husband complained and I asked him if he’d prefer I bought myself expensive jewelry from every place we travelled. I never heard a complaint about the rocks again. I will say that one rock I wish I had was volcanic rock from Hawaii. But, local lore there is that if you take any volcanic rock off the island, Pele, the Godess of fire will cast bad luck your way. I didn’t take any chances.

Here are some other things I am considering. How do I mark each time I take a hike or spend time in nature? I’m currently looking for a reasonably long stick that is fairly straight and not too skinny. I’m thinking I would paint a ring of color around it each time I return from an adventure out and over time I would have a really colorful reminder of my many walks. Then when I run out of room for paint rings, I get to go on the adventure of finding another really good stick.

I already have an extensive shell collection. It seems that I can’t go the the beach without looking for sea treasure. I would like to find a way to use the abundance of shells for something as a reminder of all my seaside adventures. I’m open to suggestions if you have any.

Last night we had friends over for dinner. I made a simple supper - no standing over the stove for hours. They appreciated the meal and we got to have a really good catch up on each other’s lives. It inspires me to do it again and invite some people who I haven’t had a chance to see in a while. Because friends are the people who make your life happier. I’m not sure how to mark every time I host friends for dinner or brunch or whatever. But I’m thinking about how I could mark the time well spent in some way. Not because I’m competitive, because I am soooo not. But just because the visual record of good times and friendships seems like something worth remembering.

What is it that you love to do? How often do you make the effort and commit the time to doing it? I get it. We’re busy and making another effort can seem like too much. But, I swear that you will be rewarded with more joy. You will thank yourself and have more to be grateful for.

Thanks for being here. Writing is something I enjoy and this blog is a public reminder of my thoughts around creativity. I hope you find a way to remind yourself of your favorite things. I wish you inspiration and happiness in each day.

Inspired by a night hike under a full moon on the Winter Solstice

The Power of Stories

Contemplations Acrylic on Cradle Board 10” X 10”

At my recent art show I had the opportunity to meet and speak with a lot of people. There were a few conversations that really stood out that I wanted to share with you.

A young woman, with a concerned look on her face, was looking at my scarves. These are really lovely scarves. I can say that because I dye them using snow and I don’t control the results. It’s not vanity that I think they are beautiful. It’s preparation and a little magic from mother nature. This woman was carefully looking over my selection and could not decide which one to buy. I asked her if she wanted a mirror so she could look at herself with each one. She looked at me and said she was making this purchase for her mother who was undergoing chemotherapy. Without her saying so, I realized they were to use as a head wrap. I assured her that her thoughtful selection would be appreciated no matter which one she gifted her mother. She made her decision and left both happy and a little sad. In that moment, I realized that what I make matters. If you ever wonder if what you do makes a difference, know that it does. You may never hear about how it made someone’s day happier, but surely when you share your gifts others are grateful.

Late in the day on Sunday I was feeling a little tired and quite frankly, tired of hearing my own voice talking about my work. An older man walked into my booth and really took in my work. He leaned in and made close observation of my textiles and collage. I shared my story and a little about process. And maybe because I was tired of hearing myself, and maybe because he seemed a little lonely I asked him how he was doing. How was he enjoying the show? What was his favorite type of art to look at? He began telling me that he had been visiting the show for over 20 years and he always came with his wife. She had died a few years ago but he still comes to the show. I remarked that walking these aisles must feel like a little visit to memory lane. I hoped that when he came he remembered her fondly because this was something they enjoyed doing together. Then we had a lengthy conversation about life now and how he found something that helps him stay active and social. Pickleball. I’ve been wanting to try pickleball. I am interested because it’s very popular so there must be some fun in it. Giant ping-pong? Baby tennis? I’ve also been hesitant because I am the least competitve person I know. I love to play games but, I have no interest in winning. The enjoyment of playing is enough for me. Would pickleball be an environment where I would be surrounded by people who wanted to win and were poor sports if they didn’t? He assured me that if I gave it a try I would find the right group of people. I thanked him. A while later he stopped in at my booth. He wanted to thank me for the conversation and say he’d be back in December. I asked if he would stop in again and said I would be looking for him. It was so simple. Never underestimate the power of a simple conversation to brighten the day for someone. He certainly brightened mine.

Along with these two encounters, I had the opportunity to see pictures of people’s home and where my artwork was being displayed in them. I got to see collages made by a woman who started creating to help her get through stressful times. I talked about my meditation practice and gratitude journal to people who wanted to talk about these practices. I met someone who is training for a marathon that she will do at the age of 65. The purchases they made, or didn’t make, weren’t the point. After three shows, I felt the connection that was made through the conduit of art.

I make art because I love to make art. The gift is in the process. But now, I am receiving more from the sharing of myself through art. When I take the risk to bare my creative expression, people take a risk to share their story. It’s simple and profound.

If you don’t want to show anyone what you made, that’s your choice. I offer that taking a risk to be vulnerable can lead to surprising encounters.

Contemplations Acrylic on Cradle Board 10” X 10”

Considerations of Selling Your Art

So…. You want to sell your artwork. I’ve been at that for a while now and I have some insight about how to make it work for you rather than the other way around. Here are some (I hope) helpful things to consider if you want to start selling your art or make changes about how you sell your work.

1. What do you want to sell? Hand made greeting cards, small matted originals, framed originals, sculpture, large originals, custom murals. The possibilities are endless. If you are working on the unused side of the dining room table it will affect what you make and what you are capable of making. If, however, you have your own dedicated space that is reasonably large in size, this will also affect what you are capable of making. So, think about what you love to create and where you make it. This is a good place to start when considering how you could sell your work.

2. Where are you being seen? Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, the local eatery or coffee shop, local group shows, high end galleries? Where you show your work matters. If you are making 4’ X4’ paintings and you are showing them at the local coffee shop, prepare to have them in your collection for a while. Most people who are ordering a cup of coffee (perhaps pre-ordering on their phone) might really appreciate your work but, aren’t planning to drop a couple thousand dollars when they were coming in for a morning caffeine fix. The contrast is that if you are making works on paper, unmatted, unframed and requiring the purchaser to factor in the framing costs, there is no need for you to start looking at galleries. Not only does what you make matter, but where you show it should be the appropriate fit. Coffee shop= Handmade greeting cards and small items. Galleries=Large paintings, sculptures, well framed and professional presentation of art. There’s a lot of stuff in between. I was in a co-op gallery. It cost money for rent of the space. I gave up commission on each sale and I had to gallery sit a considerable amount of hours. I left because I refocused my personal time and energy budget and decided that I wanted to invest my time and energy elsewhere. I started doing shows and got a lot of time back. But, I still pay booth fees and had to buy my own display system.

3. Who is your ideal client? Friends, family (this is a limited well to dip into), people with average homes and a small amount of disposable cash, art collectors, art lovers? If you love to photograph horses, then people who own and ride them are your ideal client. If you paint southwestern landscapes, then find shows, galleries, locations, group shows that focus on the region. The people who love the southwest are there - visiting or living there. Put your art in front of them and you have a better chance of selling it. Figure out who wants your work and then figure out where they are and then go there. It’s a simple formula - although not always easy.

4. What is your capacity for creating your art? Do you have a full-time job and create a little in the evenings or on the weekends? Part-time and more time to be in the creative flow? Full-time artist. Retired. Hobbyist. Professional. I have done a lot of these things. I started while I worked full time. Utilized free time whenever it came along. Took it on as a hobby. Started selling at a small local show. Joined two different co-op galleries, I’ve shared about these in my newsletter and on this blog. Now, I have my own website - self-created and managed, a YouTube channel, do two shows a year and submit to a few group shows a year. It’s plenty for me. I am at my current capacity. Because remember, the important thing is that I have time in my studio to explore, experiment, create and complete artwork. If I am not doing those things, the rest is irrelevant. Take a moment to consider what your time, energy and financial budgets are for your art right now. These factors can change but I recommend you take time to direct your energy instead of thinking you have to do it all.

5. How does selling art make you feel? Happy, stressed, overwhelmed, frustrated, energized? Some people love to get out there and engage with people and talk about their work and share their stories. Others would rather have a gallery owner do it. If you plant on selling your work, I recommend you get very comfortable knowing what your work is about. And get clear on your inspirational story about why you make each piece. What do they represent or express? Getting clear on how your art makes you feel while you make it and when you look at it will help you convey this energy when you talk about it. Conveying this energy to the potential buyer can be the difference between not only a sale and good conversation. It can turn a buyer into a collector.

Whoa! That’s a lot of stuff to think about. It’s only a start though. Once you have a think about your personal reasons for selling or not selling your artwork the answers about what to pursue and what to leave alone will become much more obvious.

I hope this was helpful. If you ever want help with getting clear on your art process, selling your work or changing your creative goals, I do offer extremely reasonable personal coaching sessions. You can read about them by clicking the button below. If the answers to the queries above have helped you clarify it for yourself - that’s awesome and I am glad I could be of service. Have a deeply insightful day!

Snowy Range Acrylic on Canvas

Milemarkers

I have used up all the storage on my phone. Do I buy storage or edit my stuff to keep what truly has meaning? I have decided to go through my phone and delete a lot of stuff. Things that seemed important at the time, stuff that is no longer necessary like my boarding passes and QR codes are all going in the electronic trash.

What I’ve noticed as I go through this process is how many images are milemarkers for remarkable events in my life. The birth of our grandsons. The 7-person pyramid on a high wire led by Nik Wallenda was spectacular. Important events in the lives of people we love. It’s all in there. And what I have come to realize is that some images are just that, images. But, some images are a record of milemarkers in our lives.

I had a milemarker day in Hawaii. We kept postponing our snorkel trip because of the Pineapple Express weather pattern that was making the seas unusually active. On our last day we finally had a chance to do some snorkeling in Molokini Crater. It is a volcanic crater that has been partially eroded so you can enter the semi-circle on one side. It was beautiful. But, what makes it a milemarker for me is that at the end of the trip the boat captain drove around to the back of the crater in what is called the Deep Blue.

The color of the water is an indescribable blue. It’s about 225 feet deep so you can’t see the bottom. The light from the sun and the quality of the water itself is breathtaking. I felt like I was on another planet. It was a floating, diving, immersive experience. I was without words.

We were staying with friends and one of them is, well there’s only one way to put it, obsessed with the color blue. He tricked out his car with blue lights, his porch has a blue light, he has surrounded himself with attempts to recreate the color of the deep blue. Finally, after knowing him for years, I got it. There’s so many colors out there but, then there’s BLUE.

The experience of floating in the Deep Blue is magical. If you’ve had the chance to do it, you know what I mean. It has been added to the list of many of my life’s milemarkers as a remarkable experience.

I highly recommend having a wander through your images. Take note of the ones that take your breath away. The significant people, events and experiences of your life. They are not milestones - stationary objects that you pass, such as a specific birthday. They are milemarkers. They mark a time that you were forever changed.

The Year in Review

Mysterious Forces

You can pick any day to look back and see what you did over the course of a year but, the start of a new calendar year seems like as good a time as any. It’s when I take some time to reflect on what I have accomplished and then figure out where I’d like to go. It’s not as much as a New Year’s resolution as it is an annual performance assessment. But when you are your own boss, you have to do it yourself or decide to wander aimlessly.

Here are a few questions that I find useful and if you find them (or your own version of them) useful, I hope you will take the time to sit down and have a think about them.

1. What went well for me this year? What did I consider wins? What felt really good to do (or not do)?

2. What made these things possible? (Risks, boundaries, problem solving, commitment, focus)

3. Which of these things do I want to continue? Which of these things have served their purpose and I am ready to move on?

4. What do I want to explore, add or experiment with this coming year?

5. What would I have to do to make these possible?

Personally, I had a few wins this year. First, I committed to this newsletter and it arrived every week for the entire year. Each week I had content in the form of a blog post, YouTube video, new work, or (hopefully) inspiring content. I also increased the number of shows I did from one to two. Sounds like a small jump but, this year I am considering making it three. Rather than overwhelming myself, I’m adding (and subtracting) things in small increments. I know that if I overcommit, I might burn out. Slow growth will lead me to the tipping point of my capacity without leaving me exhausted and creatively blocked.

To make these things happen took commitment, organization, systematizing tasks, time management and risking rejection from submitting to bigger shows. For now, I am comfortable with one weekly newsletter and looking at three shows. But creativity dies in the comfort zone, so next year I will be looking at adding some things. I’m not ready to drop the newsletter, the videos or blog posts. But I am ready to explore new creative projects in my studio. I’m lining up some ideas and will see where they take me.

As far as exploring and experimenting, I have a lot of old work that I no longer like. Some will get tossed. Others will get reworked and still others will get sanded down, gessoed and painted over. I want to explore a different style of collage and I plan to purchase as few supplies as possible in order to give myself some boundaries. We’ll see where it takes me - and honestly, I’m excited to find out.

In order to make room for the new experiments and ideas, I have been decluttering my house, mind and schedule. It’s amazing how clearing out a drawer, closet or unused item brings in space for creative output. I also have cleared, as much as possible, my time spent doing things or being with people who drain my energy. This leaves me with a lot more time and energy to delve into my own interests and spend time with people who energize and uplift me.

I realize I have answered these questions relative to my art practice. However, they suit just about any aspect of your life. I hope they inspire you to reflect on what has been serving you well and ditch what has been an unnecessary drain on your time, energy and attention. It takes awareness and a mindful review. Only then, with a bit of discernment, can you make the upcoming year a time you are moving into with an energized commitment.

Snowy Range Acrylic on Canvas

The Danger of Selling Your Art

Effervescent 16” X 16” Acrylic on Cradle Board

The dangers in selling your work are many. My top ones are:

• What if no one likes it? (If you are going to get offended if people don’t resonate with your work, you should really, really consider a different line of work. No art or artist is loved by everyone.)

• What if it doesn’t sell? (If I stopped creating when my first few pieces didn’t sell right away, well, let’s just say I would have gone back to sewing my clothes and would have donated all my paint.)

• What if people think it’s too expensive? (They aren’t your people. There’s a sweet spot where your art resonates and your price is within reach. Lowering your price or chasing the sale is what makes people think artists are starving and will take lower amounts of payment for their work. If you have to make sales to pay the rent or feed yourself - find what works and do that on repeat.)

Here are a couple examples of how selling your work can be a detriment to your personal growth and evolution.

I know an artist who began creating art with the primary intention of selling her work. The season of exploration was short, less than a year. Her work was fine. It had nice colors and she was able to sell small pieces shortly after she started putting it up in shops.

Fast forward about five years and I had the opportunity to see the work she was creating now. It’s remarkably similar, if not exactly the same as it was when she began selling it. I didn’t ask if there was still a market for it. I asked if she was still in love with the process of making it. The answer was a response you might get from a politician. Not a direct answer, rather a change of subject.

I had a ponder on that interaction. After all, my goal as an artist is to continually evolve, grow, explore and improve. So, is it just that she has found something she likes to do and is happy to repeat it? Are the sales the driving force behind her work? Has she found her destination and is not looking to explore any new mediums, methods or colors? I don’t know her answer to any of these questions. I only know what my own creative intentions are.

Another quick story about chasing sales comes to mind. When I started making art, I didn’t think it was very good. I had good instincts on that point. But, it got better and people who saw it wanted to purchase it before I even considered selling it. That went a long way with building my confidence to start exhibiting my work.

With some encouragement, I found a local co-op of artists and submitted my work to the jury. I was thrilled to be invited to join the gallery. I could hang anything I wanted and set the price. I learned how to curate and exhibit my work and I made some very nice sales. Then, after a few months, the gallery owner began encouraging me to make work that he thought people would buy. There’s a yoga studio across the street - paint some Buddhas. There’s a dance event coming - learn to paint ballerinas.

At the time this didn’t feel like pressure, but very quickly it caused me to freeze up. I avoided my studio. I stopped exploring. And when I realized that all of the joy that I felt be going into my studio and creating was being drained by the simple idea that whatever I made had to sell. I left the gallery and spent the next several months getting my confidence back.

The very place that caused me to muster my courage to even submit my work, had broken my confidence to even make work in the first place. Thankfully, I didn’t quit creating all together. I just recognized that I was letting external voices into my head and replaying the comments.

If you want to sell your art, my advice is to consider why you want to sell it. I started selling my work when I had learned enough (read - failed enough) to start making better art. I don’t think about selling it while I’m making it. Often I’m not sure it will even turn out and be something I would consider showing to anyone. I also have stopped attaching value to the number of sales I get. Obviously I’d love to exhibit my work and have every piece sell. Who wouldn’t? But at least now when I put something out in the world and say this is the best I can do right now, I’m happy with myself. The act of creating something that only I could do buoys me up and helps me return again and again to the process.

If it sells, great! I welcome an exchange of my creative energy for your financial energy. If it doesn’t sell right away, I know that I had the joy of making it and I learned something. I solved problems and resolved design issues. The piece that never sells is just a step on the long path that leads my work forward. The destination? I’m not sure. The discovery is what brings me back - not the money.

Fountain of Youth 16” X 16” Acrylic on Cradle Board

Finding the Time for Inspiration

I’ve just returned from Nova Scotia and my head is full of ideas. One thing that truly inspires me is travel. I try to fit in some travel as often as possible. It can be an overnight, a week, or a few weeks but, getting away from home and seeing new places definitely gets my creative juices flowing. I take notes on my phone about artists’ work I see and their websites that I want to explore when I get home. I try to find local foods that I’ve never had before. I have taken on the habit of wearing a baseball cap instead of sunglasses so I can experience the true color of the environment. This often inspires me to try new colors and color palettes.

Another thing I do almost everywhere I go is pick up stones that I find interesting. Sometimes it’s because of the shape but, more often it’s because I want an accurate representation of the colors in the landscape. The painting at the top of this blog post was inspired by pieces of petrified wood that I collected, legally, just outside of Petrified Forest National Park. The colors of those small bits of rock led me to create an entire series of paintings and then some collages. Those half a dozen stones were creative fodder for probably six months.

I also notice that I am very curious about little things in general. If there’s a food I haven’t tried, I’ll get some and look up how to cook or prepare it. I like to try new recipes too, Pinterest is great for that. If I see textiles that I find intriguing, I will buy some to play with and see how they go with my stash at home. It’s about finding new things and then seeing how they connect or disrupt your ideas about art.

I think it all boils down to differences. I am endlessly curious about new places and the surprises I find there. I will go in small shops just to see what local craft items or kitschy souvenirs are in there. I don’t usually buy them - after all, my suitcase is already full of stones! But just seeing things I’ve never seen before can get my mind working.

What inspires you? If you are creating anything from food, art, music or writings, what makes you get motivated to keep at it? Finally, when was the last time you took the opportunity to feed your inspiration? We are all pressed for time and fitting in time for curiosity can just be something you put on your to do list - that just doesn’t get crossed off because it’s not a priority. I get it. The laundry, errands, dinner and family obligations are important. But what can you let go of to make time to fuel your curiosity and creativity?

Here’s how I did it. I started playing guitar at the age of seventeen. I played for 30 years. I was good. I wasn’t great but, I could keep up and I liked playing. I earned the skills like every musician. Practice. But, practice takes time and I realized that I was playing other people’s music. I wasn’t writing music. I wasn’t creating songs - although I was riffing around a bit and on occasion I would play with other people. I had a few public shows. But I wasn’t creating music. I was repeating what had already been done.

I took stock in what role I wanted music to play in my life. I wanted to continue to appreciate the work of people who were born with the music inside of them and fulfilled their purpose by letting it out for the rest of us. You know it when you see it. The look of utter joy on their face as they sing, play, collaborate and perform. It’s their magic and we get to enjoy it. I wasn’t born with that. I was just playing around because it was fun. But, I wasn’t driven to write song lyrics or chord progressions. Instead, I decided that I wanted to create visual art. The only way I could do that was to either invent more time - which seemed a bit daunting. Or I could let go of playing guitar and free up that time to explore art quilts. Which led to collage and then to painting.

When I tell you that you have more time than you think to explore your creative pursuits, you may resist. However, if you look at how you spend your time and look for ways to invest in your curiosity and creativity, the time will appear. But, you might have to let go of something that is not serving your creative spirit. It might only be 15 minute bursts. I started with 20 minutes after the kids went to bed - now my kids are in their 30s. I have amassed a lot of creative output and learned a lot in short burst that have gotten longer as life permitted.

If you are wondering how to do it - examine your time. If you want help, I do personal coaching which you can find at the button below. Either way, I hope you find the opportunity to feed your curiosity and have more fulfilling days.

Thank you for being here. I hope that you find the time to bring into the world the thing inside of you that is waiting to be released. You deserve the happiness and we deserve to receive your gifts. Making art is not selfish - keeping your talents to yourself - that’s unfair to the rest of us.

Canyon Walls Acrylic on cradle Panel 12” X 12” X 1.5” in Solid Maple Floater Frame

Flickers & Flames

Suspended 6” X 6” X 2”

There are moments of awareness that can create small sparks of creativity. The colors of a sunset, the luster of a textile, something you see in random places can all serve as tiny sparks that ignite your imagination. These sparks with a little added energy can really fuel your creativity and lead you to a lot of exploration and experimentation.

The last time I had a spark like this was when I was exploring some ideas in a sketchbook and it led me to a series of work that allowed me to play in my studio for months. I fanned the little ember until it grew into a flame.

Over the decades of creating art, I have learned the value of small sparks. I have also learned the value of a controlled flame. By controlled flame, I do not mean controlling the outcome of my artwork. I mean using my time and energy (fuel) in a sustainable way.

In order for me to sustain my art practice, I need a few things. I need to be sleeping well. I need to be eating healthy. And I need to be balancing my time in the studio with my time outdoors, exercising and moving. When I sit, I stagnate. When I move, everything in me flows.

The other way of working is by starting with a flame. Some people find this useful. I do not. When I start with a flame, you have to keep it fueled. You have to continuously add energy to sustain it. It’s easy for the flame to grow. The larger and larger the flame becomes, the more fuel it burns. The more energy expended to keep it going. The problem I see with the growing flame is that it can become a bonfire.

If you have endless energy and infinite time, you can work like this. I have neither of these resources. And so, I manage my health, rest and movement. I create in a way that I can sustain the small flame and keep it lit. If the flame becomes too large, I run out of fuel and I burnout.

Neither way is better than the other. I am only sharing what I have discovered about myself over the past 25 years. I have noticed, explored and gotten out of my system many little flickers. Every now and again one of them grows into a flame and I protect that flame. I fuel that flame and keep it going. However, as I gain more experience, I avoid the bonfire. It seems really exciting but it takes a lot of energy to keep going. I think the reason I have been making art for so long is that I look for flickers.

Flickers are everywhere and if you miss one, another will come along. If you are constantly looking for bonfires, you will miss the sparks of inspiration. Look closely. Be open to small wonders. Explore the little idea that you think might be interesting. It often is. Starting small let’s you build. Trying to take on too much makes you overwhelmed.

Celestial 6” X 6” X 1.5” in black floater frame

Art that Matches the Sofa

I know a woman, Claire, who’s sister, Marie, was an avid art collector. Nothing over the top - no Picassos or Rembrandts in Marie’s collection but, some very nice original art. Upon Marie’s death, the siblings came to sort out the house and deal with the usual possessions that anyone would have in their home. Wanting to having something to remember her sister by, Claire took home one of the paintings from the collection.

When I saw the piece of art in Claire’s home, I remarked that I had never seen it before. She proceeded to tell me that it was from her sister’s collection. There was a piece of art that she liked a lot more than the one she brought home and she really wanted to have that piece instead but….. It didn’t match the sofa, or the furnishings or the color scheme of the place she wanted to hang it.

This made me sad for her. After all, this was to be a remembrance of her sister and she wanted one that was abstract yet, made her think of an angel but, instead she settled for one that matched the couch. It didn’t move her, it served a function. It decorated a wall and she filled the obligation of remembering her sibling.

I encouraged her to see if the other piece was still available for her. She could put it somewhere else, she could replace the one that was a place holder. She didn’t have to match the sofa. She could see it and remember her sister in a way that made her happy, rather than out of obligation. But the deed was done and the painting had been donated.

Have you ever done this? Really wanted something that was easy to have or well within your budget and talked yourself out of it for some practical reason. I don’t need it. Where would I put it? It seems frivolous. Or the dreaded - I don’t deserve it.

And then you think about it over and over again and the opportunity is missed. I did this once with a bracelet. We were traveling through Native American Reservation country and a silver artist had a beautiful bracelet for sale at his somewhat ramshackle roadside shop. It was perfect and I loved it. And I didn’t buy it. We never traveled that road again and I still lament not having bought it. It wasn’t even very expensive. Instead I bought a less expensive one at a shop in town and I have barely worn it. It was the answer to my regret of not buying the lovely one on the road. The difference in price was something like $20. Fifteen years later, as I write this post, it still bugs me.

This post is to remind you that you deserve to surround yourself with things that make you happy. They don’t have to be expensive - the free artwork for example. Buying art to match the house is fine if everything in the house is authentic to your taste. But you don’t have to make excuses about buying what you like. You don’t have to justify it to anybody but yourself. You don’t have to color coordinate art with your room. In fact, if the colors of the art are the same as the furniture you will barely notice the artwork.

What would make you truly happy? A tube of paint? A bouquet of flowers? An ice cream sundae? A walk on a woodland trail? Stop talking yourself out of it. You deserve to be happy. Every time you deny yourself a little happiness, you fill the space of regret with something else that doesn’t make you so happy. There’s no place for that in a creative life. There’s no place for that in any life. Living life in way that matches the sofa doesn’t make anything you experience stand out. You deserve to stand out because YOU ARE OUTSTANDING.

Thanks for being here and sharing your gifts with the world. Remember that the Universe has a lot to share with you and wants you to be happy. Really happy.