Art Slam

Aren’t they beautiful? Art journals in progress and old ones awaiting a new purpose. I recently discovered I love how art journals look from the side when they are closed. All the layers of paint and papers and stuff are like a work of art in themselves. It is completely spontaneous and I like that.

This is one of the spreads from my business plan journal. I did not finish it because I changed my mind about the original concept. Even still, doing a business plan this was an excellent exercise. I was able to get my ideas out and organize them in a way that made sense. This is something I will be doing again in the very near future to help me keep the online classes I am developing on track. A little bit of planning never hurts.

I came across this page purely by accident this week and this drawing reminded me of some of the best shoes I ever had. I miss them dearly. Just about as much as I miss drawing on a regular basis. I figure if I can fit in twenty minutes of drawing for the next 21 days, I can reestablish the habit. Definitely doable.

The word, sanctuary means a sacred or holy place. That is how I see my heart and my relationship with God. I had a place I would spill whatever was on my mind, a sanctuary of sorts that I have used for years. It was a comfort, familiar. When what is familiar to you changes, it can be uncomfortable. You almost feel lost because your familiar became your routine, your habit. I am not much on coincidences, but I believe that when something changes your familiar, it is not always a bad thing. It may seem like it at first, but in the end, there is opportunity for growth and a new understanding.

I have a new understanding and I am learning that sanctuary does not have to be a physical or material space. It can be spiritual and it can live in your heart where it is always safe and there is peace.

I am loving coming up with my own affirmations. This is definitely a favorite and a good one to start the weekend. This new journal is truly becoming a joy to work in.

I started a new art journal a month ago. It is much smaller than what I normal journal in and it is very simple in design. For this one, I am creating my own affirmations. I am a huge quote collector, but rarely do I collect my own words in this way. The pages are very simple in design. Sometimes, art needs to be uncomplicated, calming and that is exactly what this new journal accomplishes for me. It is a new sanctuary.

It blows my mind that such a clear image was taken with my iPhone. That just sparked an idea…

Anyway, I seem to find myself in this rather comfortable space of unknown and I have not had as much time to embrace all that can be learned here. I am used to making decisions quickly. Be it for work or at home or for play. I make a decision and get on with it. But, lately, I have found I need to simply be still. Not because I am afraid to make mistakes, but to experience the wisdom of this moment. There is much wisdom in non-action.

I wouldn’t call myself a shoe fanatic, but I do like them. A lot. I am slightly more obsessed with bad ass boots than anything else. I picked up a pair of very bad ass medium brown boots for the fall and it would thrill me to pieces to find a pair of boots in some funky color to spice up my wardrobe. I am not a flats girl. I own one pair, in turquoise blue. The rest of my shoes are heels or sandals and I do have a couple of pairs of running shoes.

Honestly, I am really not that bad. I know men who have more shoes than I do.

For real.

One of these days, I am going to grow a vegetable garden and not just talk about it or draw pictures about it. For real. I am going to do it. I love drawing veggies. It is what I am drawing right now to ease myself back into drawing everyday. I did find out I can plant garlic right now and by this time next year, I should have one heck of a harvest. Maybe I will do that.

Originally, I was not going to share this page. This particular day, I saw that my oldest was no longer a baby and the realization of that moved something in me. Regardless of how old your children get, you can not help but want to protect them. Period. When I wrote this, she was practicing with her softball team and she had improved so much from the previous year. I did not intend to write about her when I started doodling, but seeing her interact so easily with the older girls on the team made me see that I was going to have to loosen my grip and let her grow.

Three years later, I am still learning to loosen my grip. Only now, it is a little harder than when she was younger. I see the young lady she is becoming, yet I also see that she is still a child. I see how she does not need me as much as when she was younger, yet I look forward to her greeting me at the door and telling me about her day…without me having to ask. I can not help but wonder if this will continue when she branches out on her own and I am not there everyday. But, instead of dwelling on loss, I am enjoying the now I have with her and her siblings. You have to. Times moves so quickly when you are not consciously aware of what is going on around you. I don’t want to miss my kids growing up. I still check my son’s hands to see if he has the dimples. I want to know the exact day they are no longer there. I am not going to miss that moment.