Stay-cation continued

Enjoying my stay-cation so far ... filled with bustling activities, beginning with my invigorating jog/walk beneath a jaw-dropping, bright crescent moon, hung low in a twilight sky and seen with a foreground of embracing trees.


I spent some of the morning cleaning the area I watercolored yesterday (on the floor - see pic below:) . To prevent the extra work, a big priority is to set up a work space in my artroom; after all, that's what it's for.

I tutored myself on watercolor via reading and watching a sample video. I found myself with some ah-hah moments, but mostly moments thinking "Uh-huh, easy for them to say." As much as the impatient side of me just wants to put brush, color and water to paper, I will refrain until I get more instruction.

I initially entertained the idea of staying in a Bed & Breakfast, but decided to create my own tailored to me. I got this bedspread (in pic below) to jumpstart my feel of being in (a cottage-y) one.

I also got my first pet, Theodore (darker bear in picture above), who was sold at the same place, Tuesday Morning (that's not only open Tuesday mornings, lol). He's awesome. He's soft and doesn't fuss or eat much ;)

I also prepared my own fare. Yes, I cooked. For those who know me, know this is quite a feat. What I found interesting was that it was more do-able than watercolor. It could be because I bought an indoor grill (thanks, Laura for the tip), the ease of which made all the differerence. I made a grilled eggplant and portobello sandwich. Trippy to learn how to de-gill mushrooms. Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome, not only in appearance, but in taste.

And now I must take leave to clean up the kitchen and meet with Tammy for some Kava. Too bad this "Bed & Breakfast" doesn't have a cleaning lady apart from the tenant, lol.

Be good to you and have a Happy remainder of your Labor Day weekend ♥

The Art of Becoming

Hear Ye Hear Ye! : I have water colored! ... -- and into day whatever, intending to finalize a painting I started weeks ago, it has conquered! ... me ... kicking my daring ass and diffusing an already-intimidated sense of art-y confidence. It's the painting I worked on with Laura yesterday on our Creative Saturday ... >sigh< ... She started a piece the night before with acrylics, and it's breath-taking amazing already! The emotion, the colors, the impressionistic look ... Well, you'll see it yourself soon ...

I digress. Anyway, my deflating art experience made me want to run back to the familiar arms of digital art, where "undo" is my Fairy Godmother.

Shortcuts ... sometimes simply do not pay off. I was working from a do-it-yourself kit, where the steps outlined are scanty for those who have never dared to pick up a brush before.

Why didn't I listen to Laura who said this medium is unforgiving? Or the two painters from an art store who gave me a you're brave or crazy look when I shared my endeavor as a neophyte watercolorist.

I have options. I could elect to sell all my supplies and books, with the knowing I gave it a shot. But since I did so without taking the time to get proper instruction, I can't really say I gave it my best shot. So for now, this is where I am.

Besides, in The Artist's Way, she gives rules of the road. One asking us to "Remember that even if you have made a truly rotten piece of art, it may be a necessary stepping-stone to your next work. Art matures spasmodically and requires ugly-duckling growth stages."

Also, "Never ask whether you can do something. Say instead, that you are doing it. Then fasten your seatbelt. The most remarkable things follow."

I am also in-between jobs right now. I gave notice, and this week is the break between jobs. As I didn't really have time to plan for a vacation, I decided to plan for a stay-cation. Filling it with a schedule of self schooling via books on art on some days, with a trip or two to museums or whatnot on the others. Although I have a full week, I'm feeling like it's not enough to do all I'd like to do ... I'm trying to squeeze in all that's possible, including un-fun stuff, like getting my car done and my boobs thermographed.

Below are pics of those from my prior employment:

~ Here's Diane (friend and prior boss) and her daughter, Sophia ~

~ Me and Alexis (the adorable 20-year old I'd love my son to date :) ~

~ Me and Enid (of whom I shared my highs and lows) ~

~ Me and Celeste (who is good at laughing in the face of all kinds of adversity) ~

~ Balloons (Good Luck and Butterfly-shaped) my co-workers gave me the eve of my last day, accompanied with an affectionate attack of silly string ~

Lastly, circumstance has brought me to the forefront of being solo again.

Being a self-help book slut, I read this book called SINGLE The art of being satisfied, fulfilled and independent - by Judy Ford, and will post some excerpts below for future reference.

When you’ve been coupled and are single again, it’s as if you’ve been plopped into the middle of a foreign culture. The rules have changed, and everything is unknown. You might not know the language or the customs, but you can learn. And once you conquer the beautiful secrets, you’re in for a blessed surprise. A single life is, if you embrace it, filled with incredible magic and meaning.

Ask: "Do I want to wait for happiness to come along, or do I want to make my own?"

Living single, satisfied, fulfilled and independent is an art. It’s not a birthright, an inheritance, or a windfall … It requires inventiveness, imagination, determination, awareness and skill. A satisfied single, like a poet, a musician, or a dancer, is committed to a celebration of all existence. They see beauty in it all. She dances to the beat of her own drum.

Taking responsibility for one’s happiness is a big part of the art.

Be a good role model by honoring your limitations and celebrating your strengths.

Ask: “How can I live a meaningful, flourishing life? How can I thrive on my own? How can I have satisfying connections?"

Remind yourself that you have everything that’s important and worthwhile -- friends, art, music, laughter, good health, the love of our children and meaningful work.

Suppose that you discovered that you would be single for the rest of your life, that you’ll never have another relationship, What would you do? Is there anything that you’d do differently. One person indicated “I’d stop putting any energy into thinking about a relationship, planning, waiting or looking. I’d try harder to find fulfillment in the things I already do.”

Happily ever after begins with me.

“To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.” -- Oscar Wilde

Alone time is the elixir of the artist

The journey from my last entry to now has been a walk through personal confusion and inner struggle ... For now, I'm resting on a sense of clarity and a bed of smiles.

"If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you." ~ Gospel of Thomas

Alone time is the elixir of the artist -- and alone time is what I've had a lot of. Despite the frustrations of sketching, I pushed through to finish the sketch of a walnut (thanks Laura, for giving me a deadline, lol):

Reading excerpts from The Artist Way has helped me, some of which are:

For all shadow artists, life may be a discontented experience, filled with a sense of missed purpose and unfulfilled promise.

Remember, your artist is a child. Judging your early artistic efforts is artist abuse. Mistakes are necessary! Stumbles are normal. These are baby steps. Progress, not perfection, is what we should be asking of ourselves. Too far, too fast, and we can undo ourselves.

The need to produce a great work of art makes it hard to produce any art at all.

Give yourself permission to be a beginner. By being willing to be a bad artist, you have a chance to be an artist, and perhaps, over time, a very good one ... The grace to be a beginner is always the best prayer for an artist. The beginner's humility and openness lead to exploration. Exploration leads to accomplishment. All of it begins at the beginning, with the first small and scary step.

"But do you know how old I will be by the time I learn to play the piano/act/paint/write a decent play?" "Yes ... the same age you will be if you don't." So let's start.

I ♥ Operation Beautiful

In keeping with my Artist's Way contract, my session started early (after Morning Pages and exercise) with a pencil in hand, as I experimented with basic hand positions. It takes some getting used to, but I'm excited about the learning process. I'm not sketching anything in particular right now; I'm just enjoying the sensory, pencil-to-paper experience.

As I get more comfortable with the hand positions, I'll practice increasing the speed of switching back and forth without interruption.

In my book, it says "Pencil is the basis for all other media. It is important, therefore, that every artistic person learn to draw. As you master this medium, other creative fields will open up to you."

The media I'd like to explore as I get more adept at sketching is watercolor. While at Michael's yesterday, I got more supplies to ensure I had most of the tools necessary for that endeavor:

On another note, I found this book called Operation Beautiful written by Caitlin Boyle. It really resonated with me, and I imagine it will for most women.

Here's what the author says:

I began Operation Beautiful by leaving positive messages on the mirrors of public restrooms — at work, at the gym, at the grocery store. I scribble down whatever comes to mind — "You are beautiful!" or "You are amazing just the way you are!" My personal goal is to leave as many Operation Beautiful notes as I can. Maybe some people read them and just smile, but I bet some people are truly touched by the effort of a random stranger.

I so love the idea and will occasionally put a note here, to you ... starting now :)

If beauty is in the eye of the beholder - be the beholder!

I will also start periodically putting a motivating post-it note in public places, like bathroom mirrors -- and if I'm brave, on the windshields of cars (to spread the love :).

Discover ... Rediscover your creative self stroke by artistic stroke

... words taken from author, Julia Cameron's website. She wrote The Artist's™ Way. Which more or less is an aid in overcoming the denial or suppression of your creativity.

THE ARTIST'S WAY CONTRACT

I, Lita, understand that I am undertaking an intensive, guided encounter with my own creativity. I commit myself to the four-week duration of the course.

I, Lita, commit to weekly reading, daily Morning Pages, a weekly Artist's Date, and the fulfillment of each week's tasks.

I, Lita, further understand that this course will raise issues and emotions for me to deal with. I, Lita, commit myself to excellent self-care - adequate sleep, diet, exercise, and pampering - for the duration of the course.

In the course of following the Artist's Way and healing my artist within, I have discovered that I have a number of creative interests. While I hope to develop many of them, my specific commitment for the next four weeks is to allow myself to more fully explore drawing and/or watercolor.

My concrete commitment to a plan of action is a critical part of nurturing to my artist. For the next four weeks, my planned, self-nurturing action plan is:

Read, learn and put into practice what I've learned, less any associated guilt.

Acclimate to and firmly put into place my new schedule of waking as early as 4 every morning to have the fresh mind to accomplish my personal tasks before I undertake employment-based tasks. Which means I must religiously ensure I reach slumber no later than 8 at night.

Two basic tools of the Artist's Way is Morning Pages and and the Artist's Date.

I've read Morning Pages is for brain clearing ... To write about the things bothering you and to recognize the truth about what's working or not in your life.

The purpose of the Artist's Date is to be receptive so as to "fill the well" of your creativity. It's a date with yourself (inner-artist/child) every week. It must be done solo, otherwise, one will act differently, do different things, and not listen to one's inner voice. It's a time to adopt a mindset of mischief more than mastery.

Both actions together can be likened to breathing, a rhythm of in (artist date) and out (morning pages).

Basic spiritual principles for creative recovery and discovery:

It is suggested that these principles be read once a day. Keep a watch for changes in your attitudes or beliefs as you read.

1. Creativity is the natural order of life. Life is energy: pure creative energy.
2. There is an underlying, in-dwelling creative force infusing all of life -- including ourselves.
3. When we open ourselves to our creativity, we open ourselves to the creator's creativity within us and our lives.
4. We are, ourselves, creations. And we,in turn, are meant to continue creativity by being creative ourselves.
5. Creativity is God's gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God.
6. The refusal to be creative is self-will and is counter to our true nature.
7. When we open ourselves to exploring our creativity, we open ourselves to God: good orderly direction.
8. As we open our creative channel to the creator, many gentle but powerful changes are to be expected.
9. It is safe to open ourselves up to greater and greater creativity.
10. Our creative dreams and yearnings come from a divine source. As we move toward our dreams, we move toward our divinity.

I used to have this book at one time, but never took the time to delve into it. I may have to buy it again and will also look for Marry Your Muse: Making a Lasting Committment to Your Creativity by Jan Phillips.

Photo Walk

Last Creative Saturday, Laura and I attended an event for photographers called PhotoWalk in Hollywood, Florida. Here’s a recap of what I saw, via the pictures I took:

~ Picaso had the coolest temperament and behaved like a dog ~

~ Laura and I ~

~ Lunch at TGIF's ~

~ Inside Barnes & Noble - our outings are incomplete without a visit to one :) ~

We awoke at 4:30 am that day, and despite going on little sleep, we had so much fun, as always :)

After Barnes & Noble (where I $pent more than Laura this time), we went to Michael's Arts and Crafts  (for watercolor supplies), and then Home Depot to get paint chips for our next Exploration project.  We grabbed stacks of chips, allured by the delicious colors and their corresponding names.  As our stacks increased, so did our paranoia about getting kicked out, so our time there was brief ;).

Anyway, I've been in cocoon/hermit mode this week, trying to get a foothold on myself.  Self-discovery is liberating (enlightening) and at times painful (confronting old demons) ... and frustrating (impatiently waiting for everything to click into perfect place) ... Breathing and Gentleness will get me through ... This "quest" is partly inspired from reading Eat, Pray and Love.

Must. Sleep. Tonight.

Just got done taking a De-Tox bath and am feeling wilty and sub-human ... Feeling the grip of my mortality at the moment, and it's not pretty ...

Taking Valerian. It's early ... Will chase that down with Tylenol PM. I. Must. Sleep. Tonight. Or else.

I started writing last night so I'd have a blog entry for my Tuesday deadline, but after taking time to process pics, it got too late and I was too tired to fiddle with finalizing it.

Will try to get it up tonight so I could mark it off as done.

I've been spending the last week reading about writing novels, and the consensus is one must routinely write without fail, and one must read lots and lots to learn writing style and whatnot.

I don't know if I'm more excited about learning how to write than actually doing it. I started a novel years ago but got lost in Chapter 1. I was intrigued with how characters came to exist ... of the cornucopia of plots that were suddenly handed to me mentally ... But now, the characters and plots are a distant memory, and my desire to weave them back into being has dwindled.

So I've realized writing a novel is something I'd like to do ... I just don't have a must-do feeling about it right now ...

My limited amount of time and energy can only be reserved for pursuing compelling must-do's. The extent of my "must-do" where writing is concerned shall now be reserved for journaling exclusively.

Here, I can write in bite-sized pieces, expressing only those things pertinent to this moment and my current reality.

Anyway, to recount my weekend, it started with me revisiting old flames, like belly dancing and drumming; scanning and processing pictures; and then taking care of chores.

The first part of Sunday was spent taking pics at Green Cay. We were under cover most of the time to avoid the Sun's pummeling heat. Fortunately, we were still able to get shots, as wildlife is always nearby there, regardless of where you stand.

~ Taken within the shaded refuge of a gazebo ~

A last minute craving for Kilwin's brought disappointment when we discovered the store was closed for the holiday ... but the trip to the neighboring Barnes & Noble made up for it!

I brought my tripod in anticipation of getting fireworks shots. Alas, the show was canceled. All was not lost, as we had a blast preparing a faux tuna dish from a recipe in one of my raw food books from Carol Alt. This was done while listening to his Sound of Music CD. It tickled me to know he owned the CD and knew more of the songs and lyrics than I did, lol!

Our dish turned out pretty good. One ingredient was seaweed, so we were apprehensive about how it would affect taste and texture. It was surprisingly palatable ... We agreed the only thing we'd change is the amount of white onions ...

Several hours later it was Monday morning, and we headed to Palm Beach to take architecture shots of the Bethesda Church. We had to work around unsightly scaffolding and rain drizzle, so spent most of our time under cover. After playing on the church's playground we went in search of nourishment.

We dined at a restaurant called Field of Greens in Downtown, West Palm Beach. We intended to eat wraps, but they gave us salads instead. After getting our fill of photo ops in Downtown, we balanced our healthy lunch with the unhealthy Iced Frappucinos at Barnes & Noble and the sweets at Duffy's, where dessert was our our main course ... We tried waiting out the rain to continue our photo excursion at Lox ... only it didn't recede ...

~ Taken under an arid waterfall ~

~ Our Main Course at Duffy's ~

It was jolting to wake to a work day after a sleepless night. ... Took it slow and steady as I put in a full day's work, shop at Publix (yes, I actually went, and right after work, no less ;), and conclude with using the remaining mental and creative wherewithal I have to blog and process corresponding pics.

I pushed aside exercise and chores for another night ... and am still working on getting caught up on on E-mails ...

I. Must. Sleep. Tonight. Or else. So gotta' run!

p.s. I'm so excited that more and more of my girlfriends are starting to blog ... :)