It's August and 100 Days of Creativity Challenge!

It's now August and although I haven't been cataloging things here, I have been "mostly" on the ball when it comes to this challenge.

I know in the last post I stated that if I missed a day that I would start from scratch...day 1. However,  it dawned on me that that would be sort of counterproductive. So what did I decide to do? I decided to tack on the days that I have missed onto the end of the 100 days. That way I'm not looking back, but constantly moving forward!

And who doesn't like the idea of moving forward?!?!

So from here on out I will be posting what I have in number order for your viewing pleasure! There will be quite a bit in this post...well...because I haven't posted in a while.

Here goes:

Day 31: Micron Pen Abstract

 Day 32: Pencil Abstract Line

 

 Day 33: Micron Pen Paisley

 

Day 35: Micron Pen and Crayon Abstract

 

 Day 36: Micron Pen Abstract (The beginning)

 

 Day 37: Micron Pen Abstract (finished)

 

Day 38: Micron Pen Abstract

 

Day 43: Micron Pen and Sharpie Abstract

 

 Day 46: Leather and Cotton Cord Bracelet

 

 Day 52: Metal and Cotton Cord Earrings

 

Day 53: Hand chain

 

 

Welp...there you have it! I will be updating sooner than later...I do promise!

 

Corner of Gratitude:
For love, joy, and peace

Pearls of Wisdom:
"Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead."
~Oscar Wilde

Your Thoughts:
Where do you find love, joy and peace?

Until next time...



 

 

Week 1 Progress - 100 Days of Creativity

Day 1: Commemorating the start of a new journey!

Day 2: Practicing hands...I could stand to get better!

 

Day 3: A watercolor view from Starbucks!

 

Day 4: A simple sketch...how I was feeling!

 

Day 5: My spot of relaxation on a mini vacation!

 

Day 6: Photography was on deck! I am working on the edits!

Day 7: The start of a late mother's day gift for my auntie!

Day 8: The finish of the mug without power!

 

 

Whew....I have successfully completed my first week of the 100 days of creativity challenge. I almost didn't complete yesterday. We (those in South Jersey area) had an awful storm that left us with several trees down (check the pic out below) and powerless! We aren't sure when the power will be back on, so for now I am stationed at a satellite office (another Starbuck's other than my own) in order to get business taken care of.

 

 

 

It was such a liberating week...a successful week...a week where I felt totally accomplished. It was a week that I gave myself some room to just relax a bit. Things weren't perfect...drawings, sketches, and paintings weren't without flaws, but I pushed through! Ahh...the sweet feeling of knowing that I refuse to give up! I'm looking forward to keeping up the momentum!

 

 

Corner of Gratitude:
Feeling of accomplishment!

Pearls of Wisdom:
"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments."
~John Rohn

Your Thoughts:
Does discipline play a large part in making sure you accomplish your set goals?

Until next time...

And the Greats Did Too!

In the beginning of the year I was on fire! I mean I was fired up about the things that were manifesting themselves. Work...abundant, creativity...flowing, future endeavors...on lock, motivation...insane!

Mid February hit and all of the oomph that I had in the beginning of the year managed to dwindle down to a fraction of what it was. I'm working really hard to not only change my circumstances, but the circumstances of those that are around me. It has proven to be extremely challenging. So much so that I have had thoughts of throwing in the towel several times.

It's now June (July for all intents and purposes), which means that it has been a solid four months since I last posted. I have started this leg of the journey over and over again (blogging), and sincerely thought to myself this time, "What is going to make this time so different than the rest, and how will I insure that this time will be different?"

I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to accomplish staying on track and motivated until a dear sister-friend suggested that I do a 100 day challenge. She is on a journey of her own and asked some of her closest friends to join in the fun. And of course I signed right up!

What I decided to do is to spend at least 30 minutes each day on drawing, painting, crafting, anything tangibly creative. I will post here at least once a week, which makes that a weeks worth of fun stuff for you ladies and gents to view! I have also decided that if I miss one day, I will start the whole challenge over again from day 1. It's a hefty price to pay for missing a day, but it is worth it! It will help me to become regimented and hopefully STAY regimented.

So there you have it...a new leg of this journey. Prayerfully it is one that lasts!

Corner of Gratitude:
Fresh Starts

Pearls of Wisdom:
"If at first you don't succeed, join the club."
~Karen Salmansohn

A small reminder that the greats including Theodore Roosevelt, Walt Disney, Henry Ford, Dr. Seuss, Fred Smith, and George Lucas' (to name a few) had major setbacks!

Your Thoughts:
What's your game plan for picking yourself up for greatness after a major setback?

Until next time...

My Tube...You Tube

 

I've played around with YouTube once before a few years ago. My experience is quite limited, but I'm looking to change that ASAP!

 

I posted a video with a drawing from an art show that I had about 2 years ago and that was it. I used the video recorder on my Canon snapshot camera. The quality wasn't horrible, but it was by no means great. So this time around I would like to do things a bit differently.

 

I want to get started like yesterday, and although in admit I should learn a few things first, I believe this process is part of what in want to share with you all.

 

I am an artist! I am an artist who is on this amazing journey to help myself and others. I am an artist who is looking for my artistic community, my artistic niche...one I belong in! And that is exactly what my channel will be about. A wild ride of lots of ups and some downs and ultimately victory because I am doing exactly what I was built and created to do!

 

I hope you will come along...share the enjoyment, laughter, and perhaps the occasional cry. The ride is sure to be epic just as life is if we look at it through the proper lenses!

 

Corner of Gratitude:
Life.

Pearls of Wisdom:
"To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it."
~Kurt Vonnegut

Your Thoughts:
Do you have a YouTube channel? What was your reason for starting your channel? What tips do you have for those that are just getting started?

Until next time...

 

Being Aware...

 

It's funny...I had in mind all weekend to tell you good people all about something that I am going to be embarking on and all that happened since the last time I posted last. However, events from this morning changed all of that.

 

A dear sister-friend lost her father yesterday. My heart aches for her as I remember all too well the dreadful day when I lost my own. She will inevitably go through an assortment of feelings. I pray that she and her family receive an abundance of love and support, but the feeling that I pray remains present most is the overwhelming peace that only God could supply!

 

It made me increasingly aware of the need to pursue my purpose with an undeniable passion. It made me know that every moment is a moment to do something great, and that great can be large or small!  It reminded me to be my authentic self regardless of the cost. It reminded me to love fiercely, forgive regularly and live without regret!

 

So I encourage you my friends to live without fear from here on out! Have the courage to do great things, mess up, get up, and start all over again if need be. Complete your process (whatever that process may be), and enjoy the ride (although sometimes bumpy) while doing it! Success is not always about completing a project, but the lessons you learn, people you meet, and the contributions you make to this beautiful Earth while on the journey!


Corner of Gratitude:
More than enough for the day

Pearls of Wisdom:
"Friends can help each other. A true friend is someone who lets you have total freedom to be yourself - and especially to feel. Or not feel. Whatever you happen to be feeling at the moment is fine with them. That's what real love amounts to - letting a person be what he really is."
~Jim Morrison

Your Thoughts:
What is the thing that helps you remember to live each moment with purpose and without regret?

Until next time...

 

To Follow and Be Followed!

I recently read a caption to a picture by a fellow instagramer that I follow named Dallas Clayton. The caption read as such, "We raise children to believe that life is not a popularity contest, and yet here on all sides of us we find ranking, calculating, listing from best to worst. [It] Doesn't show any signs of slowing down, near as I can tell. Popularity contests are in fact as popular as they've ever been. Ha! So how do we reckon with it? I suspect the answer has something to do with embracing that thing you love knowing that who you are and what you are doesn't have to be popular to matter. Celebrating, in the face of all this projected desire to sit in the number one spot, the idea that the small and simple things can have just as much impact as those designed [to] blanket the masses. Play your song, raise your banner, love your love, find your worth, and be yourself, no matter who's listening."

His words had me thinking of my own reasons for wanting to follow and be followed! I peered inside...took a hard and honest look, and found that at this point in my life my need for community is strong. I've talked about everyone needing their prospective communities here before, but it really ties into why I follow the folks that I do.

I follow because I feel that there is something that I can learn from those I follow. There is something that they have done or are doing that I am working towards. There is something about them that I can relate to. They sometimes offer me hope that the next phase of my purpose and journey is achievable. It's a modern way of keeping in touch with those we consider greats in our prospective fields. A way to connect without physically connecting.

In some ways I hope that others follow me for reasons that parallel. I hope I can be a source of encouragement. A place where people can find an open and candid look at a journey that they can relate/connect to, and perhaps the courage to embark on a journey of their own as a result. I hope that there is a sense that struggles are meant to overcome and are present so we can claim to be victors instead of victims. I hope that folks always see optimism at its best in what I post...always glasses full (notice I put an es at the end of glass and there is no half in front of full)! I pray that people can find a sense of passion, compassion, love, and joy in following my journey and as a result finding these perks in their own journey.

I will continue to follow those who I admire, respect and find inspiring. Whether those you follow are friends who you know personally or strangers you have come to know via cyberspace; hopefully they are ones that invoke your creative being like never before.

Corner of Gratitude:
For those I follow who inspire me to be great

Pearls of Wisdom:
"Moral authority comes from following universal and timeless principles like honesty, integrity, treating people with respect."
~Stephen Covey

Your Thoughts:
Why do you follow and want to be followed?

Until next time...

Again

It's been a long while since I have last posted...yet again!

The "here we go again" faces...lol

There has been an immense amount of stuff going on with me in the last 7 months...all good! I have been working my tail off in order to become a bit more financially stable. I have a long ways to go as I have just begun the journey. The journey is looking super bright though, and the good thing is as of right now all of the jobs that I have been working are looking towards the ultimate goal.

So we will be starting off a bit fresh here, and I am looking forward to what me being open to documenting this leg of the journey will bring. I am looking forward to it will connect me to, and how it will enhance me as a creative individual!

With that said, here is a quick view of some of the doodles I have been doing for an online doodle class that I have been taking.

Corner of Gratitude:
Openness

Pearls of Wisdom:
"Faith is a state of openness or trust."
~Alan Watts

Your Thoughts:
What have you been closed to that may be the key to what you desire and/or have prayed for?

Until next time...