The Joy Diet - Play

Well as usual I did not think that the Play chapter would be what it was really about. That Martha Beck is a little tricky writer.

One of the first things we are to figure out what our real career ia. After thinking about this for awhile I decided that I just went through this discovery when I did the coaching with Jamie. I had decided my real career is creativity. All my life I have explored it in many forms. I think I move from mouse vision to eagle vision all the time. I'd have to say its mostly mouse vision. I often forget to look at the big picture, the big dream. that sometimes all these little things do make the dream possible.

Then we are to go on and discover ways to add play in ever aspect of life. Seems simple enough. This morning I added play to cleaning my house by putting on wonderful upbeat music. It did make the time go by fast and it was fun.

Now I have to figure a way to add play to doing Nanowrimo. Some days its fun, I know I try to make the write ins I host fun by giving away little gifts and always having chocolate on hand. Other days I don't know what to write and I stress about the word count and all. So today I am going to look for ways to make it fun. Maybe using rewards will help make it fun, wearing a silly hat while I write or some other prop to let the silly in.

How will you invite play into your life today....

the Artist Way - Week 12

Its week 12 of my artist way journey. I made it through the whole process and thatr feels so great. I have done morning pages almost every day. I may have missed a day but I don't recall it. I'd have to go through my notebooks to see how many days i missed and they are in another room. Yes I am being a little lazy.

One of things that we do in this final week is to recommit to our creativity. She has us fill a creativity contract just like we did in the beginning of this journey. We we still do morning pages and artist dates and so on.

I plan to recommit and to continue to do morning pages and artists dates. They work so well that I can not see stopping them.

Its been quite a journey, I can't say I completed every task that Julia set out for us but I did what I needed to do and yes I have learned a lot along the way. The Artist Way is a continuing process and its a spiral path as Julia says. I'll be coming back to the beginning and starting again. This journey as an artist is always an interesting one.

I am so thankful for all the women in my artist way group, you've made the journey easier and more rewarding than if I had done it alone. Here's to us a fantastic group of artists.

Some more videos to share

I saw the fact that Teesha Moore has a whole series of videos on several blogs earlier this week. I am just getting around to watching them. They are pretty fun to see. Click on her name to go to her blog or you can go directly to YouTube and see them there. Her work is collage orientated but the videos are pretty informative of her style. I have seen those pan pastels being used before but I haven't tried them yet. They really look like fun. I always learn something from watching other artists work.

Nanowrimo is going fairly well I have over 8400 words and need to do today's allotment but I am not behind so that feels good.



Here is a video I did for a friend showing the crow book from several years ago.

Artists Painting

I love being able to see other artists paint even if its in fast forward. With so many doing videos now its fantastic to be able to see these from your home.

Kelli Rae posted this video a few days ago. I know you will want to see her fun painting style. Enjoy

The Artist Way - week 11 - A sense of Autonomy

Week 11 is all about discovering a sense of autonomy. Julia talks about how we insist on a straight and narrow path but the artist way is a spiral path. I really resonated with that. We seem to travel the path and then begin again over and over. If we lose that beginners mind we lose out on so many things.

Having just started doing Nanowrimo again I particularly found this quote to be helpful "You are lost the instant you know what the result will be" - Juan Gris. Such a hopeful thought when writing a novel when you haven't a clue whats going to happen next. I think that will be a quote for my writing desk. Of course the quote really applies to painting and journaling too. If you knew what the end result would always be, would you take the time to create. I think its that journey we take that is so important.


















I think a great example of taking that journey is this painting in my gut art journal. When I started out I knew there a face hidden in there but I had no clue on where it would take me. I had a journey of discovering how to do more ethnic faces and skin color. First she was in a blue dress but I initially wanted yellows and reds to dominate. This is done mostly in Golden fluid acrylics.

I had my blue dress which I didn't like so I put gesso over it and thought I'd paint the dress yellow. My first thought, was would the fluid yellow that I had cover it? Many fluid acrylics are transparent. Then I thought of using heavy bodies acrylics instead and it worked perfectly. In not knowing how this would end I really learned a lot of things that I wouldn't have otherwise. All art is a journey of some sorts. I am really glad I took this one. Now I will incorporate both kinds of acrylics in my paintings.

Nano nonsense has begun

Well the Nanowrimo nonsense has begun. Its only day 1 and I already think my story idea sucks. it doesn't take long for the inner critic to rear his ugly head. I just have to remind myself that I go through this every year and it always turns out so it will be fine. I have abour 500 more words to write today to make my quota and that should be easy.

I have already made the food run to town. What made me think I could do this without treats. Now that is insanity. So now I have a stash of chex mix, Cheetos, red licorice, milk duds. It covers the salty, chewy, crunchy and chocolate categories. My idea is little portions and more exercise. OOPS, i just realized I put some meat on to cook for tacos, I hope its not burned... Oh I caught it on time. That won't be the first time put something on the stove to cook and went to do something else....

Anyone out there who is doing Nano, what are your favorite snacks to get your through the month?










I got an award from Lisa She thought it approp for the Queen of Creativity to get the Kreativ blog award. I concur and thank you very much Lisa. You have to read Lisa's post she is a very fun lady from across the pond.

The Joy Diet - Treats

The subject for this week on the Joy diet is Treats. Marhta asks us to give ourselves 3 treats a day. When I first think of a treat chocolate somes to mind. Truffles to be exact. I like Lindor truffles but even more so are the white chocolated/machademia nut truffles I can get from a local candy shop.

Now theres no way of course that I am going to have 3 truffle a day even though I might enjoy it. So that leads to more thought on what else can I consider a treat. What small little things can I do everyday to give myself pleasure. I guess its time to make a list. Lists are one way I make sense of things.

contaneous smile sparkers

* hearing my daughters voice, a friends voice
* when the UPS driver brought me my new computer
* seeing my dogs face as we took a long walk
* sunshine coming through my window
* the taste of home made mac n cheese


list several things that delight your senses:

* sight - family, sunrise , birds, rivers, ocean, wolves
* hearing - celtic music, listening ladies in lavender soundtrack, wolves howling, birds singing
* touch - hugs, kisses from those I love, feeling my body move when dancing, anice warm scented bath
* taste - chocolate, white chocolate, fresh juicy peaches, good red wine, my apple pie
* smell - lavender, scented candles, incense, fresh cut hay, ocean, newly shorn fleece

My collage this week is just full of fun treats. This was a fun chapter I am all for giving myself treats. I don't do three a day though but I could work into that practice. I am going to be on the lookout for simple things to do just for me.

My New Computer Arrived Today

My new computer arrived today, don't I look happy. I have been on it most of the day. Downloaded a trial word processor, uploaded some pictures, watched some tutorials and generally worked on figuring out how to use it. There will be a bit of a learning curve in learning to use a Mac but worth it I think.

Nanowrimo( National Novel Writing Month) is about to begin. I have a day to figure out how to use Pages the apple version of Word, but I think it will be ok. I may also download the free version of Scrivener and use that. It is supposed to be a really great writing software. Hey I have 24 hours to make up my mind. That should be enough time I think

I hope you are having a great Saturday.