Studio Refresh

I'm so excited to share my studio improvements with you! 

A bit of background – I'm working towards doing reproductions of my art and opening an Etsy shop, and over the months it became clear that my current studio layout wasn't supporting this goal as well as it could be. In the past most of my art has been large scale, and I used an easel when I painted (a beautiful hand-crafted easel made by my talented husband by the way). But in the last year I've shifted to smaller canvases and more mixed media elements. I needed a dedicated flat surface to work on, and a dedicated area for printing and shipping prep. 

So I put my easel away (for now) and brought in a big long table to work at. It's really simple, but that's all I need. I'm working on getting everything organized now, and I'm thrilled to have all this surface space separated out from my design work area. At the same time there is some fear there too – making these changes means I'm moving closer to my goal. What if I'm not good enough? Well, we'll leave that thought for now and in the meantime I'll continue on, growing my passion and creating beauty! Next step is to do an inspired art evening with one of my great artist friends. There's plenty of room for two.

See photos of my studio before – http://redpearcreative.blogspot.ca/2012/10/my-cozy-attic-studio.html


Here's to taking small steps to overcome our fears and reach for our dreams! Every little step adds up. What are you working on? Leave me a comment below and tell me about it.

p.s. check out more posts on the topic of fear, from other creatives in the "fearless fridays" blog group:

Port Townsend Art Retreat

Since the new year hit I've had my head down, brewing new designs for all my wonderful clients. Today as I was working away I popped over to my email for a quick second and voila, there in my inbox sat an invitation to the Sugar & Spice Art Retreat in Port Townsend, Washington!  It looks amazing. A quaint Victorian town on the water, and three phenomenal artists teaching over three days – Danielle Daniel, Juliette Crane, and Mindy Lacefield. These lovely mixed media artists have come onto my radar in the last year and are all incredibly talented and soulful in their work. I admire them so, and would be delighted to spend a handful of days learning from them in-person! How neat is that?

So, a new goal is set. I yearn to go to this retreat. I've dreamed about some of the retreats offered in exotic places like Morocco and the South of France, but it just hasn't been a reality for me yet. I have a small son at home, and a fabulous group of clients counting on me, so it's been hard to wrap my head around traveling too far. Port Townsend is ideal for a gal like me who just loves Victorian architecture and a small quaint town setting. And did I mention not too far from home?

The dreaming and planning begins!

My Very Inspiring Blogger Nomination

Thank you to Jean Wagner at jeanfwagner.blogspot.ca for nominating me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. I am delighted and honoured.

Per the rules of the game, here are some tidbits about me, and my own nominations of other bloggers for the award:
 

7 Things You Might Not Know About Me:

1.   I wholeheartedly believe in simple living.

2.   Without hope there's not much else.

3.   I love hiking in lush vibrant nature, especially with my husband and son.

4.   I need equal parts of spontaneity and organization.

5.   I am happiest when I am creating something.

6.   I'm yearning to travel to India and Morocco next - the colours, textures and patterns are calling to me.

7.  Sleep… nine hours just isn't enough.


My Chosen 15 Creatives Who I Nominate For the Very Inspiring Blogger Award:

1. Danita - http://danitaart.blogspot.ca

2. Stephanie Ryan - http://www.stephanieryandesign.com/blog/

3. Amanda Blake-Soule, Soule Mama - http://soulemama.typepad.com/

4. The Minimalists - http://www.theminimalists.com/

5. Melissa Thorpe, Hilltop Haus Frau - http://hilltophausfrau.blogspot.ca

6. Reni, Bliss and Tell - http://www.blissandtellblog.com/blog/

7. Christy Tomlinson - http://christytomlinson.typepad.com/

8. Curly Girl Design - http://www.curlygirldesign.com/blog/

9. Anahata Katkin - http://anahata.typepad.com/

10. Christina Minasian - http://christinaminasian.blogspot.ca

11. Tiffany, Fancy Farmgirl - http://www.thefancyfarmgirl.com/

12. Hannah Marcotti - http://hannahmarcotti.com

13. Alisa Steady Art - http://alisasteadyart.blogspot.ca

14. Juliette Crane - http://juliettecrane.blogspot.ca/

15. Carolyn Rubenstein - http://carolynrubenstein.com/blog/

16. Valeri Blossom - http://awesomama.blogspot.ca

17. Kelly Rae Roberts -  http://kellyraeroberts.blogspot.ca/


I tried to stop at 15, but there are so many bloggers I am inspired by... it was tough to narrow it down.


Rules for Accepting the Very Inspiring Blogger Award
1.  Display the award logo on your blog.       
2.  Link back to the person who nominated you.     
3.  State 7 things about yourself. (see below)
4.  Nominate 15 other bloggers for this award and link to them. (see below)
5.  Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the award’s requirements.  

Cheers,

A New Year and Gratitude

Happy New Year everyone!

I'm excited to be starting a fresh new year, to dig in to new challenges, to create beauty. I'm ready to feel my soul grow again this year.

Last year was a big one for me. My son turned 3, and I came out of my parent-focused shell. I launched myself onto a creative growth path that has been quietly dancing around to me for years (for most of my life I guess, I just wasn't quite ready to understand what it all meant). I just knew that it was time. Time to find my creative self, to trust my instincts, to follow those callings and leap towards everything that felt right to me. I did just that. I put logic aside. I sacrificed a lot. And I felt alive for the first time in years. Over the next six months I took two online mixed media courses, a creative business class, started blogging about my journey, designed and launched a new and improved website for my creative business, launched a company page on facebook, painted more than I have in the last 5 years, started exploring doing prints of my art, and am now I am working towards opening an Etsy shop to sell my art & reproductions. I have come alive. I am buzzing with creativity, calm with strong confidence, quiet as I listen to myself and trust that I know the way, and grateful for this life I am creating.

I am serious, excited and scared.

I've only ever felt whole when I was creating. As a youngster I lived on a rural acreage, immersed in nature, usually alone and outdoors. I had a vivid imagination and was always working on something. I started with drawing, gluing, crafting, doodling and storytelling. My dad got me started painting when I was about 5. Then handmade floral jewelry and hair clips when I was about 8. Then it was book-making, book-marks, art cards. Then as a pre-teen I was writing stories; mostly unfinished novels. I figure skated, took dance lessons. And through it all I was painting. I took every art-related opportunity that was available to me in a small town, and I relished in every lesson. I danced, skated, glued, pasted, brushed, wrote. It poured out of me. I distinctly remember feeling more at home in my high school art room than anywhere else.

And when I grew up I tried to keep art at the centre of my life but slowly it drifted off to the periphery. It was a once-in-a-while hobby. My design work is wonderfully creative, but still something was always missing in my life. I traveled and explored and tried to fill that quiet void, but it wasn't until last summer that my life exploded with the joy I always knew was waiting. I had been admiring the works of Anahata Katkin and Papaya Art for a few years and then one day in the late spring of 2012 I looked up their website on a whim. It led me to a whole new world of art - mixed media art -and my world immediately expanded, as though I had taken a huge breath. I knew instantly that I had found my place. It was then my mixed media art course with Danita, and a book called Taking Flight by Kelly Rae Roberts that had me riveted and in no time I was changing the whole course of my life, knowing with complete certainty that this with the path for me.

And here I am today. Embarking on a new year, ready for all that it brings and feeling grateful. And feeling, finally, at home.

With renewed energy, and gratitude, thank you for sharing this experience with me.

Slowing Down

It's that time of year when everything slows down. Out of necessity. We need more time to sleep, to hibernate, to rejuvenate. It's cold out, and cozy in. I'm reflecting on what I want to get out of this winter.

Slow down. Be in the present. Use my hands to make things. Show my son how to. Taste my food when I eat. Hike in the fresh air and ferns, and notice the trees and beauty around us. Feel my body working when I hike. Look at each other when we talk, rather than speaking over our shoulder as we walk away. Enjoy silence. We don't need to fill every space with conversation. We can fill it with quiet love. Play music together and sing along, making up the words as we go. Let our son lead. Run, tumble, chase, hide. Let the squeals and belly laughs fill us up and feed our souls. This is life. Slow down. Participate. Enjoy. We don't want to miss this. 

 

 

[a page from my art journal]

From my cozy home on a snowy winter's eve,

Hope

Hope has always been my word. Right now it's keeping me strong as I navigate uncomfortable and exciting change while I expand my creative business. In the past it kept me going as I tackled my studies and daunting career launch, then when I explored new careers, when I stepped onto a life path with my husband, when I became a mother, and especially when I sat with the question "who am I?" Hope has always kept me going. Here are a few little reminders that hope is always at hand.

 

my favourite christmas ornament, front and centre on the tree!

flowers from my husband and son. xx

 

photo credit: http://www.etsy.com/shop/thedreamygiraffe

  

 photo credit: http://www.etsy.com/listing/89688802/green-white-art-print-hope-is-alive

photo credit: http://pinterest.com/kgistheboss/

with hope and joy,

Fear and Courage

Most of my life has been driven by fear. Of failing, not being enough, making mistakes and being judged, of being irrelevant. 

Tonight I sat in Sweet Revenge, a decadent dessert patisserie with my girlfriend sharing stories of our lives and dreams and ambitions. I was rambling on about all the things I want to do to leverage my art; open an etsy shop, sell prints & cards & artful products, spend more of my days creating. I rattled off excuses for why I'm not ready yet and everything that needs to happen first (I had a list for sure). She simply said "you're waiting for perfection. You need to just go for it. Do it and deal with what happens after." I rattled off more excuses but she was having none of it. Set me to task and promised to harass me every day until I take the next step and launch a shop, or something equivalent. She gave me until the end of the month. I better get busy :)

But really, the topic of fear hasn't been far from my mind in, well forever. It's a demon of mine and we keep doing the same dance. It's time for me to be brave despite my fears. I have accomplished much in this life, and there is so much more to do. My heart soars when I am creating beautiful artwork, designs and illustrations. I know what I love to do. And I am proud of my boutique company which I have poured my heart into for nearly ten years. I'm on a path, and I'm doing it, fear aside. 

Sweet Revenge Patisserie - I didn't take any photos when we were there, so I grabbed these from google. I believe credit is due to Jube's Comic Blog and Vandiary.

With courage and delight, I wish you a great night. 

Snowy Morning

A new piece I just finished... born from my wishes for a quiet snowfall with me drinking tea at the window.

Mason Jar Candles

I saw this idea for mason jar candles today on pinterest and tried it out. So quick to make, and I love how they turned out! Here is the original picture from pinterest where I got the idea - http://pinterest.com/pin/224898575113379145/

 

Chasing Dreams

My newest piece, Chasing Dreams – "She set her dreams free so she could begin to chase them."

I've been holding onto certain dreams, tucked away safely where they can stay in tact and reality can't creep in and taint them. Recently I've found myself setting them free and seeing what happens. Maybe they will be crushed in an instant. But maybe, just maybe they will soar and transform and become something beautiful. First I must set them free, so I can begin to chase them. So, I am speaking my truths and sending my dreams into flight.

My dreams...

1. Sell more art & reproductions of my art – thus affording me more time in the studio CREATING beautiful and meaningful things.

2. Be diligent and devoted to maintaining my studio routines, doing what it takes to keep my creative flow going, and striking a good life/ work/ family balance. Nothing is perfect - I vow to be okay with this and do my best.

3. I'm so lucky to work with many like-minded clients on projects I'm passionate about. I want to attract even more of these great clients, and attract more creative design projects that take advantage of my artistic strengths.

4. Do more illustration work. I got this nifty pen tablet, Wacom Intuos - have you tried it? It's wonderful. I'm having a great time experimenting with all the possibilities. I just love hand-illustrated elements contrasted with clean design.

5. Explore surface pattern design and create something authentic and great.

6. Feel good about where my creative business is at, and where I'm at.

It really is a journey, and one I'm so grateful to be on. I stumble, I have setbacks, and goodness do I ever have "off days". But I truly feel I am contributing something important. I am growing, I am being a role model for my son by pursuing my dreams, and ultimately I am sharing love and beauty. I hope I can inspire you a little and bring something positive into the world.

Surrender

I choose to surrender. I am letting go of "it". Whatever it is. I seem to be holding on to so much. It's exhausting trying to control everything, not to mention fruitless. This new piece I'm working on is my commitment to myself to make this change, to surrender to life and all its messiness, to find the beauty in it. Will you surrender with me?

Wholeheartedly,

Posters & Postcards for Thara

I've just completed a crisp and beautiful series of print designs for local Naturopath and Yogini Thara Vayali. Earlier this year we created an organic minimal website for her, and now I'm feeling so pleased knowing she has a series of refreshing print marketing pieces to promote her events and share her wealth of knowledge about health and wellness. Plus there's a bonus treat - she has included a recipe on the back of her postcard (and it will change on every print run so you can collect all of them for your recipe box).

If you're looking for a taste of inspiration, Thara's inspire gallery is always full of great reflection, health discussions, yoga wisdom, recipes and more – www.tharavayali.ca/inspire

 

All the best to Thara!

Friday Art Journal

My son asks me often "How do you know?" It's a good question. I find myself asking the same thing. How do you know... you're enough? How do you know... you're on the right track? How do you know... this is what you want? The answer must lie within. I have to trust myself. We all have to trust ourselves. Tonight's art journal page is my little reminder.

artfully,