Looking at goals

I saw this quote on someones blog this morning.

"If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten. "

This quote has always resonated with me. I won't say I have always been on the correct side of it though, I do want to be though.

When I think of goals I have this year they don't seem to be any different than last year. That worries me a little but that I am into the trap of living the same year over and over. Or perhaps it is my approach to the goals that needs to change.

If I take my Art goals which are one to further my skills and really be able to paint faces. Now how did I work to foster those goals last year. I took online painting classes with Paulette Insall and Suzi Blu. I participated in the Big Draw and drew faces for 31 days. Throughout the year I painted some faces in my art journal and some on canvas. I have learned what I know through those efforts and just observing what other artists do on their blogs. What is it that I could do this year that would be different, that might further me along on my goal. As I ramble about this I realize one I want to paint faces and two I want them to be good, for people in my life to say wow you are getting good at that. I want to feel this inside too, I want to be able to be happy with a face when I am done with it. Ok now after this ramble I have thought of a couple things that I could do:

1. Paint a face a day for a month. Then see where I am at.
2. Release my expectations on what is a successful painting.
3. Practice mixing paint for face colors, I could be doing this if I just do step 1.
4. To stop judging my work in comparison with Misty, Sharon, Zorana, Judy or Dj and all the other artists whose work I love.
5. To finally understand that I will never paint like them but I can paint like me. It really is an expression of myself and that is so much better than trying to emulate someone else. They can be starting points on an artistic journey but I will make it my own.

If I look at my writing goals, in the past year I attended a week long writers retreat and I participated in Nanowrimo again. I read a lot, studied some, worked on revising last years Nano and worked on the book about my Grandparents. They were all things starting projects but its clear that I have not finished anything and I want this year include finishing something.

It seems clearer how to define my Art goals and coming up with a plan for them than it is for the writing. They are just such big projects, that I find a hard time breaking them down into a more manageable plan. Perhaps a mind map would help. I've read about these and know Violette uses them a lot. Perhaps with this goal that is a step to try that might be helpful. I think its time to pull out some paper and markers and play with the idea.

You are worth the time

I found this video today and love what she says about creating. Enjoy,

More Bird Pages

It feels so good to have gotten some things done today. I did all the pages the in the Round Robin book that is due later this month. I was going to wait till I got back from Sedona but I know then I will be rushed so I took the time today and did them. This is another theme on birds.
















Before I could even work on them I had to clean my studio. There was not a surface anywhere to do any work on. What a mess it has become. I can work in a mess only so long before something has got to give. The rest of my day has been spent doing all these little things for my trip. Its amazing how much time all these little things take.

Fantastic Concert

The Barrage Concert was beyond fantastic. The band consisted of 6 on violin, 2 on guitar and a drummer. The fiddlers danced incredibly while they were playing. It was quite incredible. If you ever have a chance to see them perform go for it. You won't regret it. I'd go see them again in a heartbeat.













These are my final pages for the RR book. They are done and off in mail.













I have been working on a painting. I am taking some in progress pictures that I will post when its done. It will be fun to see how much better I get after taking Paulette's class.
















This is after my first session of working on the face. Here you get to see the new easel in use. I love it by the way.

















This was the second session. I want to make the neck bigger, its pretty skinny I think. Do some more work on the hair and the face and the background too. I'll be changing the dress color and more. Yes, needless to say It still needs a lot of work.

Great Finds at $1.50

We got some snow today, just when there was no forescast for it, its only a couple inches but it still looked pretty.

My friend Amy called to say that the thrift store she works at had something I want, so I stopped in to look.















I bought this little board book to alter, I chose it beacuse it was in really good shape --- price .50















Next was what I came for, an old suitcase. I plan to decorate the outside and use it to store craft supplies when I go to classes. I wished it had been this gorgeous leather like others I have seen but since it will be covered up anyways that does not matter at all.
















The inside had this beautiful silk lining. I look at it and wonder just who used the suitcase and I wonder all the places it may have traveled, I like to think they were exotic and the woman who used it had grand adventures. If any of you have seen altered suitcases anywhere would you share the link with me?

I did this little video on the 100 day challenge and I am also showing the art from a couple days ago and some new backgrounds too.

Wow what a book

This came in the mail and oh its wonderful. It will take some time to absorb even half of it. Some books have enough visuals but not much explanation or thought provoking narrative and some are too wordy with not enough visuals. This book has a great balance. I will be inspired for a long ti with it. I can't wait for a block of time to spend with it. Then of course my friend Violette is in it, that makes it even better. If you are hesitating buying this book. don't its amazing.

Now its back to cleaning the house. I have 8 people coming over tomorrow to participate in the waulking or fulling of the blanket. Of course I am not ready so I am off to finish vacuuming up all those tiny threads.

Quote of the Day: The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched but must be felt with the heart. - Helen Keller

They forced me

Well blogger forced me to do it. They wouldn't let me access the old version anymore. So I upgraded to the new version so I hope I do not have any major problems.

Last night LOST was great, I was happy to be back on the island. I ended up making around 75 braids of the fringe on the blanket last night. There are a total of 128 braids that have been made, yikes no wonder my hands are sore.

I mailed all the valentines, Anna I have no clue how long it will take to get to you. The rest of you should get them in a few days.

I spent lunch with my friends Ginger and Kay and we talked about The Secret and how we are using it in our lives. I got some great ideas and then last night I watched the DVD again and am inspired once more. I will use the techniques outlined in the movie like the gratitude list and rock and vision board to work on healing myself and other areas in my life. This is the one single thing that is making a difference for me right now.

I found some great crow embellishments at Ben Franklin(craft store) yesterday. I am ready to get back to working on this crow book. I am also going to tackle a new project I saw it here . Its called the Art Journal Challenge and it lasts all year. Basically you start with a deck of playing cards and do 1 card each week. The prompts for the week are list on the website. I have gotten as far as getting the deck of cards and doing a background for the first one. They are already on week 5 but I think I can catch up. I figure this is a great way for me to be doing art at least once a week. I'll post them when I get several done.

Quote for the day: People who allow themselves to create, who wake each day with songs in their hearts, primed canvasses in their studios, fresh pages in their journals, know that Art is truly about - Joy-Celebration-Beauty-Love-Humor-Real Life.... Danny Gregory