An Image a Day

An Image a Day

Transition

 

I have been feeling the pinch lately of not living up to my own commitments to myself always,  and I have observed that I feel much better when I do.  One instance that I have been fairly engaged for a good long time is the Daily Napkin project.

I’ve also looked sidelongingly at friends that have maintained a discipline for a goodly amount of time. I decided that this year, I am going to follow suit in my own fashion. This year, I intend to present a new image every day. It doesn’t matter whether it is something I drew, a photograph I took, or even a book cover I designed, as long as it is an image that I somehow created. This sounds like fun! I’m excited about the prospect of it.

Yesterday was the first day of this year. I didn’t post this image because I did not have access to a computer. I’m going to make it clear right here and right now that I will not be approaching this “fun” project in an compulsive fashion, so if I can’t make it to a computer, it is ok for me to post when I can. I’m glad that I broke that ground right off the bat. Just to clear the air.

I saw this lovely lush moss growing up through the astroturf on the stoop/step of the Grange Hall where our band – Souls Journey – played music New Years eve. It speaks volumes to me of how nature transitions even our most unnatural parts with grace and ease.  Lovely.

Art in the Pit

Adding a new discipline to my schedule sometimes takes a bit. A few days ago, I fell into the pit in the middle of the street (metaphorically). I didn’t even realize it until that evening, when I became aware that I had not drunk any water (or any other liquid) all day, nor had I eaten anything. I didn’t go for the intended walk that I had committed to, and I only managed to get in 5 minutes of painting ( I have committed to 15 minutes per day no matter what) that day too.

I sat at the computer all that time, working at tedious and stressful things, in extreme discomfort and even pain. That is the dysfunctional pit that I used to get stuck in. I learned how to get out of it quite a long time ago, and even started taking a totally “different road” but suddenly this week I discovered that I had sleep-walked right back in there.

I am choosing to look at this setback as a growth challenge. I still have not walked, however I am prodding myself into active consciousness. These little lapses of self -discipline are a gentle reminder to me to open up to guidance – the Muse, higher power, whatever word works for you – because if it’s up to me to manage myself , I get too cerebral and mess things up. I begin to think that it’s up to me to figure it all out, and I literally drive myself crazy. And my art suffers. I can manage my art right into “dead”.

So I have dug myself back out of the pit, again, and I’m trying to find that different road once more.

Moving into Thrive

Today, I am singing praises for artists like Melissa Dinwiddie at the Thriving Artists Project who seem to have dedicated themselves to changing the world with courageous impetus. Even more than that, they are sharing the thought processes behind their hutzpah. I joined Thriving Artists Project with intrepid heart, truly ready to move into a different experience. Melissa has provided a brilliant intervention and has been a huge catalyst of growth in me and my artistic self. I will be ever grateful for the artistic jumpstart.

In one of her many interviews with other successful artrepreneurs, she introduced me to Ann Rea, another thriving artist. They both share the life-changing practice of doing daily diligence (my words) in your art. I make my living doing graphic design and illustration. I love what I do, and yet my heart, my center is in expression through fine art practices. I had gotten so busy doing my (graphics) work that I did not allow myself the (fine art) work time. So, I was touched deep inside reading the suggestion that I commit to a minimal amount of engaging in art practice every day. I am a changed woman, certainly a changed artist.

Ever since I made the promise to myself that I would paint or fully engage in another inspired creative endeavor for a minimum of 15 minutes everyday, things have been changing for me. First, it hardly ever ends at only 15 minutes, as once I am engaged in the process, I will stay there until I feel complete. I am developing a fresh body of work. I have started a whole new series of acrylic and mixed media paintings. It is my intention to have a major show at a gallery this year. And I will do it.

Second, the daily discipline opens up my creative thought processes so that I am much more engaged and effective in my graphic design work as well. As I read in The Artists Way and Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain years ago, tapping daily into the well of creativity will impact all areas of your life.  I am deeply grateful for the nudge back into the experiential remembrance of  this understanding.

Flow and the Creative Urge

Today has been just one of those days that I love. Most of the day was really pretty uneventful, however the whole day was extraordinary. Like many days I spent an inordinate amount of time alone, on the computer and designing. So what was different? The energy, the energy in me, the thrill in my gut.

I stayed up until almost 2am last night working on a project. I was exhausted. This morning I woke up before 6am, and just jumped out of bed. I’ve stood and danced most of the day at my computer. I accomplished a lot. The ideas were flowing. I started a new blog, created a few jobs for clients, began a book, listened to lots of my favorite music and continue to have the urge to just create more and more.

I don’t know where this burst of creative energy came from except that it has something to do with being in the flow of walking my walk. I think I’ll come back later to this. I feel like painting!

Designing – Art or Craft?

I met with someone yesterday who wants me to completely redo his website. He’s an engineer and very good at writing php and software. He’s definitely not a graphic designer, however. Yet I’ve got to say he is one of the most creative individuals with whom I’ve been acquainted. His enthusiasm and passion for life are contagious. He has that priceless skill of being able to incite epiphany. I am sure the collective IQ of a roomful of any people raises when he walks in.

It’s my belief that each and every one of us has some art form, some natural outlet for our creative urge that makes our heart sing. Whether it be a fine arts expression like painting, dancing or playing a musical instrument, or the valuable art of uplifting someone’s psyche, the urge to express has been exercised, and the world is a better place for it.

To me, it’s the infusion of spirit – the touch of the muse – inspiration that makes it art. Craft is the accumulation of skills. You can be an artist without having developed any level of craft at all. Spirit expresses through you, your heart pours out and art is the process. You can also practice your craft without creating art. Mathmatical formula may produce something quite beautiful, yet if it is not borne of a conscious connection I have perceived some distancing or coldness about the outcome.

Of course all of this is simply semantics. As was pointed out in yesterday’s stimulating conversation, even quantum physics has concluded that it is all one, we are all One. So, you can’t art without craft, and you can’t craft without art. Nevertheless, contrary to what I always believed (we are all artists), I’ve discovered that it is rare to find someone with both old world art skills as well as techno graphic designer skills in this world of specialization.

I’ve found it to be such an enriching combination in my life. I wish it for everyone. It seems to me we could use an infusion of old world skill training in the graphic design world. Wouldn’t it be great if students regularly learned how to really draw before learning Illustrator and designing? Both Art and Craft would benefit.