Why Art?

For as long as I could remember as a child I wanted to be a Veterinarian. I liked the idea of caring and healing animals although growing up I only had one pet. She was a guinea pig and once she was gone, it was a hard sell to get my parents to get me any animal larger than she was.  

In college, I ended up studying the arts. It seemed like a random pick for me as I started out as a Zoology major. I don't remember when the light clicked on in school that art was what I wanted to do, but my mother says she remembers clearly. She says I came home in my sophomore year and blatantly stated that I was changing my major to art. 

Back then, and sometimes like now (although I'm working to change this) I was a perfectionist. I wanted great grades and to be the best at what I was doing. The preliminary classes that I needed to take for my major were difficult and meant to serve as weed out courses. You know the courses that would separate those that could make the cut and those that couldn't. Well, I suppose I was one of the ones that couldn't, and it ate at me badly on the inside. 

I was studying harder than I had ever studied, had tutors and still wasn't getting the grades I thought I deserved. The information just wasn't sticking. The truth is, I was having trouble concentrating. It wasn't until years later that I understood my attention span to be about the size of a flea, and in science, that just doesn't cut the mustard. 

Again, I am unsure of what would make me want to resort to art as a major. I had taken a few classes in high school, which I loved. I took everything from drawing to jewelry making to sculpting. Each class was freeing to me. I was able to use my hands, be creative and socialize all at the same time. Time spent in class seemed to fly by and in the end, there was always something for me to take home that could be displayed. It was rewarding and sometimes useful. 

The transition from Zoology to art was fairly simple outside of having to stay a few extra semesters. Art classes were laid back and long...typically three-hour time blocks. The length was great because when creative juices started to flow three hours felt like twenty minutes. It was good for my attention span and I was all around a happier individual. My stress level surrounding my academic load was low and my grade point average was high. 

It was meant to be...art and me. It hasn't always been an easy and smooth ride for us, but a ride I don't mind taking to this day!!!

Corner of Gratitude:

Being able to have options

Pearls of Wisdom:
"If you want to achieve something, you're going to run into roadblocks, but you have to learn how to pivot and explore your options."

~ Hannah Bronfman

Your Thoughts:
What options have you chosen for the better?

Until next time...

Melanated Magic Tea Party

It's Monday and this weekend had its share of things to get done (hence a few entries missing).

Yesterday was hectic, but such a breath of fresh air. I was able to vend at a dear friends event. It's a new venture for her. She is an amazing nutritionist who traded her profession to make more time to spend at home with her family. The trade didn't seem to be a difficult decision for her to make since she is a nurturer and entrepreneur at heart. 

The first business venture I can remember of hers outside of nutrition is her PAWSE body care line. She makes everything from body butter to eyelash serum, and all of it is handcrafted and made with natural products. But this venture was a bit different in nature. 

She touts a lot about her 3 beautiful children. In fact, they were what encouraged her to create PAWSE in the first place. It was her 2 daughters and other little girls of color that inspired her to create moments of magic at this tea party she called Melanated Magic Tea Party. 

It was a great time! Mothers and daughters all dressed up in mostly matching tea time attire.  Conversations between new mother friends, and dancing between new daughter friends. Various teas and finger sandwiches. Photographers to capture special moments and vendors for the ladies to purchase various items. 

Kudos to you Stacey Matthews-Woodson! You threw an amazing event that served it's purpose to uplift the lives of little brown chocolate girls! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of such an event. I look forward to seeing your much-deserved success in all of the ventures that you have your hands in!

Corner of Gratitude:

Collaborations 

Pearls of Wisdom:
"Entrepreneurs have a natural inclination to go it alone. While this do-it-yourself spirit can help you move forward, adding an element of collaboration into the mix can make you unstoppable."

~ Leah Busque

Your Thoughts:
Who are you collaboration with?

Until next time...

Social Media Platforms

I would have never thought in a million years that I would be the one that would be attempting to detach myself from social media. I used to love it...with Facebook being my favorite. Now couldn't be any different, although I still use various social media platforms.

Things these days don't function without social media. It's a necessary tool (evil to some). In a study done by  www.statistica.com, 2017 social media sites as a whole managed to lull 2.67 billion users into its lair. According to Adweek, 88% of businesses they polled with 100 or more employees use social media in some capacity to market their product. So that means that social media has become a permanent fiber in our societal fabric. 

It is almost necessary to actively participate in social media for business purposes these days. I haven't run across too many businesses that don't use it in some form or fashion. However, how do I fit in this social media societal fabric to promote my business without losing the beauty of old-school communication? 

I mean, let's be real...Blogger is considered social media and I am here. And here for several reasons, one being to promote my businesses, which wouldn't make me much different than the rest. I know there is nothing innately wrong with social media. But I feel like there is so much more to blogging. There is a vulnerability...a truth that doesn't always happen in other social media platforms. Mostly I feel those who use social media are concerned about being/looking perfect and perfectly stating something poignant and pivotal in order to bring their craft to the masses instead of allowing the authenticity and vulnerability of what they say and the sharing of their craft to bring the masses. 

There really is no judgment to those that are immersed in the social media world (we all are whether we want to be or not in some form or fashion). It's more of a desire for us to be intentional in how we use social media. A hope that we find ways to use it to uplift and connect and to be as lights unto each other. We all evolve when we connect with others when we authentically learn from their strengths and weaknesses. 

Corner of Gratitude:

Authenticity no matter how it comes

Pearls of Wisdom:
"Authenticity means erasing the gap between what you firmly believe inside and what you reveal to the outside world."

~ Adam Grant

Your Thoughts:
Are you authentic on your social media platforms? Why or why not?

Until next time...

I Must...

I must continue to FORGE AHEAD in this journey!!!

I have to remind myself of this quite often. On a daily basis to be exact! 

It's hard to believe that at times it is hard for me to do the thing that I love the most. Hard for me to start the process, knowing that this is what I was built for. But I owe it to my Creator and myself to get this thing right! 

Corner of Gratitude:

Tenacity

Pearls of Wisdom:
"The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward."

~ Amelia Earhart

Your Thoughts:
What is it that keeps you wanting to forge ahead?

Until next time...

A Day Of Nothing

In spite of having tons of things to do today, I managed to do absolutely nothing!

I managed to go grocery shopping, slept and spent time with this spunky little fella that I am taking care of for a few days. I literally lounged all day!

I didn't meditate. I didn't read. I didn't draw, paint or create jewelry. I didn't work out and I didn't put in any hours for my part-time job. I vegged out all day watching TV while looking at the clock's time come to this point. 

Oh well...you win some and you lose some! Tomorrow will indeed be more productive!!!

Corner of Gratitude:

Thoughts of productivity

Pearls of Wisdom:

"Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war and then seek to win."

~ Sun Tzu

Your Thoughts:
What are your strategies to be able to win first before tackling your tasks?

Until Monday...

First In Line

I have been having really intense conversations lately with my love. They range in a barrage of topics from love to life to passions. It was the most recent in-depth conversation that we had that was validating and inspiring. 

Years ago on this journey, I heard a faint voice (that I knew to be God) ask me a poignant question. "When are you going to make provision for the vision that I have given you?" It was so straightforward and surprising, to say the least.  After all, at that moment I was heavily involved in ministry. I was singing on the Praise and Worship team, I was dancing with the Dance Ministry, and I was involved with the youth. I was attending almost every function that the church held while feeling guilty because I didn't have enough time or energy to pour into my craft. 

In the most recent conversation, there was an acknowledgment that indeed there is something to the statement that God spoke to me years ago. In order to be fulfilled and successful, we must first learn how to fill our bucket so that we have enough to fill others. We can only truly be the best we can be when we are the best to ourselves first!

The discussion briefly veered to race and how we as African-Americans have been taught to give to get instead of getting to give as our White counterparts have. I don't often pull the race card nor do I often believe in the thinking that it was the "White man" that has held us down (for as unpopular as that thought is). However, I do understand that there have been disparities between the two races that are undeniable. The one mentioned above neither good nor bad, but just so in my opinion. And as a result, there will be some mind rerouting that has to take place. 

I'm grateful for that conversation. It is a reminder that I am on the right track. It is a reminder that although I am not fully in the space where I am always making provisions for the vision that God has given me for myself before the vision He has given others, that I am a work in progress working the process. I now recognize it and am in the mind frame to think before acting and doing, which would have been something that I would have never done in the past. 

I will be saying no to seemingly great opportunities in order to say yes to my vision! Honestly, how frightening yet so liberating! 

The great Teacher has spoken and I am positioning myself at the head of the line!

Corner of Gratitude:

The feeling of guiltlessness

Pearls of Wisdom:
"Guilt is cancer. Guilt will define you, torture you, destroy you as an artist. It's a black wall. It's a thief."

~ Dave Grohl

Your Thoughts:
What guilty thought have you let go of in order to move closer to your vision?

Until next time...

Taking Liberties

You may have noticed that the date at the top of my sketchbook says 11.09.18. Indeed it does!! 

I'm back-posting this blog because I didn't post yesterday and instead of calling it "cheating", I am choosing to call it "taking liberties". I really want to stay on task with blogging everyday (perhaps with the exception on Sunday every now and then). So like this post, there may be a few that are back-posts to fill in for the day that I may have missed. And to keep me sane, I shouldn't be behind more than one day. I can't imagine having to post several back posts in a week.

For today, a simple sketch. There is nothing anatomically correct about this sketch. I wasn't going for anatomically correct. I wanted to get something down on the page...to just start! 

Lots of times I like to write thoughts to my sketches or paintings. The thought along with this sketch goes as follows:

I hate blank pages

They're intimidating and scary to me 

They beg to be written on or drawn on or painted on

Sometimes the fear gets the best of me and blank pages remain okay

But not today

Corner of Gratitude:

Backdating for good reasons

Pearls of Wisdom:
"I began taking liberties a long time ago; now it is standard practice for directors to ignore the rules."

~ Michelangelo Antonioni

Your Thoughts:
Where do you take liberties?

Until next time...

Procrastination

OMG...I have a vending gig that I need to get ready for (in 2 weeks) and I haven't created a new item in weeks! This means that I will be running myself ragged until then in order to be prepared. It's procrastination at it's best!

I've been doing much better in some areas when it comes to procrastination and worse in others. I have been able to get simple things done right away...send an email, make a phone call or write something in my planner. It's the larger things that I like to wait until the last minute to do...pay a bill, call for estimates or start a creative project. One would think because the later list is most important, that would be the thing that I would jump on first. Uh...not so much!

It goes back to that nasty little four letter word that I talked about yesterday...fear (and probably a bit of insecurity also). There is a nifty acronym that is going around for fear that looks like this:

False
Evidence
Appearing
Real

Now I love a good ole' acronym. I really do! However, I think I have heard this one too many times and it doesn't serve to be as effective as it once did. So what do fear and procrastination have to do with one another?

I have read that procrastination has a lot to do with the fear of the outcome. If true, this would make complete sense! This is why it is easy for me to do the menial tasks that don't take much effort. This is why even thinking of the harder tasks would cause angst and be harder to start.  

So, what is the remedy? Perhaps figuring out a way to break things down in small bite-size pieces. Maybe finding an accountability partner or finding ways to re-organize your schedule. 

What I have found works best for me (when I work it) is to figure out how much time and money I have wasted vegging. Yup...vegging! I could name several examples, but perhaps this is the best! A time where the TV is mostly watching you. Your eyes are focused on the images in action, but your brain isn't. While watching you are too busy thinking about the time that you are wasting watching the TV instead of enjoying the program. It's a nasty, vicious and ugly cycle. Guilt and lost time the end product. 

After assessing the lost time and feeling the guilt that comes along with losing that time is when it becomes much easier to focus on the other remedies mentioned. I suppose it is all about finding ways to incorporate tactics and staying committed to using those tactics on a daily basis. If the tactics that are being used are showing themselves to be ineffective at that particular moment, then perhaps it is time to rotate the tactic. Try something new and go back to the old tactic when the new starts not to work any longer. 

This is the strategy I'll work on. Of course, I'll keep you posted as to how it goes and how many awesome things that are accomplished sans procrastination 😉!

Corner of Gratitude:

Revelations (I know...it's the same as epiphanies, but this may be on the gratitude list for a while. It's a good one)!

Pearls of Wisdom:
"Usually we are illuminating things instead of looking at the light itself. But I like this quality of the light being the revelation."

~ James Turrell

Your Thoughts:
Are you a procrastinator?

Until next time...

Stacking Responsibilities/Opportunities

I had a meeting last night. The facilitator of the meeting and owner of the company asked those present to make a decision about being committed to the brand. 

In the past (and truthfully even now) decision making hasn't been my strong suit. I'm the type that gets in my head about decisions, thinking of a million and one ways a particular situation could go. It sometimes gets so bad that I end up "freezing" and decisions are made for me. 

Amidst conversation after the meeting I had an aha moment! 

I am a stacker when it comes to my responsibilities. Meaning, when new responsibilities and opportunities come instead of evaluating what I already have on my plate and determining if I can take on something new, I continue to add without regards to the old responsibilities. There is no shedding period, and ultimately no chance for newness. 

I got to thinking about why I stack so much leaving little room for the time or energy for the provisions that God has given me for my life's vision. And the answer that I came up with was simple...fear!

If I continue to stack on responsibilities and opportunities that aren't directly tied to my goals and dreams as an artist it will leave little to no room for me to have to actually create. As I type and read what I am typing, it seems so crazy! An artist that is afraid to do her own craft? It all goes back to my first post when I talked about the creative process. If I just have an awesome idea that never manifests into reality, I don't have to face the fear of not liking what I produce or not liking myself for producing art that I don't like.  

It can be quite complicated, as you can see. However, it is the truth. Am I the only creative mind that thinks this way? Perhaps, and perhaps not, but this is what this blog is about. An artists journey!

So it's really not about the decision that I need to make as a result of last night's meeting. Although, that will still need to be made. It is about making sure that I am not shorting myself or my destiny at the hands of someone else. That may sound really selfish, but it's more about making sure that my bucket is full to be able to dispense goodness to others. No one can give out of an empty decanter!

Corner of Gratitude:

Epiphanies

Pearls of Wisdom:
"A artist's duty is rather to stay open-minded and in a state where he can receive information and inspiration. You always have to be ready for that little artistic Epiphany."

~ Nick Cave

Your Thoughts:
Are you a stacker of responsibilities also? If so, how do you cope?

Until next time...

Another Manic Monday

It's just another manic Monday over here on my end!

I am a full-time employee (lots more on that subject at a later time) for a non-profit organization. I have an administrative position where I play an integral part in getting the paperwork processed to get employees paid. And since our billing cycle ends on Wednesday, Monday's and Tuesday's prove to be our busiest days. 

By the time I get home and get settled (dinner, workout, work for a part-time job, and maintaining an eBay store) I am really exhausted and find it hard to fit in creative time. I so often think to myself that taking a few minutes out of my busy day to sketch or paint isn't that difficult. And I would be right! Physically taking a few minutes to go through the motions of doing my craft is not that difficult. However, the mental hoops that I have to go through tend to be treacherous!

It's a miracle that I am taking a few moments each day to make you privy to my creative journey. It really is! My hope again is that I would be able to use this platform to be of some motivation for me to get in gear and start to produce awesome creations.

Corner of Gratitude:

Moving past this manic Monday

Pearls of Wisdom:
"When I wake up on a Monday morning and realize I don't have to go to an office and work from whatever creative space I need to, I have won!"

~ Me

Your Thoughts:
Are your Monday's manic, and why?

Until next time...

Pushing Through To The Next Phase

What does the next phase look like?

I'm not quite sure. I know...you were expecting this long drawn out explanation of what is to come. You thought that I was going to tell you that I have it all planned and mapped out from here on out. That I have a goal for the year and the next 5 and perhaps even the next 10 years. 

The reality is, I am a dreamer. A wild and vivid dreamer at that! The eternal optimist about all sorts of things, especially when it comes to my craft. Except dreaming alone has never got me or anyone anywhere. It is the catalyst for the grand idea but is not the sole cause for the idea being brought to fruition. 

The real truth is, the grandness of my dreams sometimes scares me and prevents me from doing anything at all. So baby steps it is for me! I do have a grand goal in mind and I am working on vision boards that support that grand goal. However, weekly mini goals have proven to be the best solution for me to chip away at the bigger goal. 

That's it...taking baby steps to achieve the grand goal!!!

Corner of Gratitude:

Being able to release fear of the grander things

Pearls of Wisdom:
"Successful people maintain a positive focus in life no matter what is going on around them. They stay focused on their past successes rather than their past failures, and on the next action steps they need to take to get them closer to the fulfillment of their goals rather than all the other distractions that life presents them."

~ Jack Canfield

Your Thoughts:
What is your process for achieving your grand goals?

Until next time...

Being Intentional

This is my third time or so starting this process...blogging. I have stopped and started for various reasons, but when it boils down to it, fear was always at the helm of my creative journeys ship. 

I started blogging about 10 years ago. "One Artsy Gals Voyage" is my second blog account, my first being "The Artist In Me". "The Artist In Me" proved to be super cathartic. It was a time where life circumstances made it possible for me (more like forced me) to spend time working on my art. Although financially I was at one of the lowest points in my life, I was extremely content and super joyful about being able to spend time creating on my own terms. It left time and space for me to sit with how I really felt about myself as an artist. Was this really what I was created to do? Was this the thing that really made me tick? If I had the ability to create without being compensated financially, would that still be my choice? They were tough questions to ask myself and I worked them out with that blog. It also made it possible to sell my creations...mostly my jewelry.

"One Artsy Gals Voyage" started as a result of me wanting to try something a little different than the "Artist In Me" blog. Here I wanted to really share my ups and downs, good and bad, and successes and failures as an artist. I wanted it to be a candid snapshot of the thought and creative process of an artist. 

It was here that I started to chronicle my very first art show. And as life would have it, here I am to start that process all over again!

I don't have the space or the date or the time of the event as of yet, but consistent blogging again is part of the preparation for it. I am working on what the subject matter will be for my work and how I can incorporate my love for various forms of art and infuse them together. 

For now, I will be blogging on a daily basis. It will be like my online artistic journal. This go round I am being intentional. You will notice that there will not be a picture or video for each post this time. In the past, it was the stress of having the perfect image to go along with the post that hindered me from publishing that post at all, which led to lots of thoughts/feelings not being shared.

Corner of Gratitude:

The opportunity to start again no matter if it is your one hundredth time.

Pearls of Wisdom:
"The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life."

~ Steve Jobs

Your Thoughts:
Are you allowing the heaviness of being successful overshadow your creative freedom?

Until next time...

The Creative Process

Two weeks ago in an effort to push my motivation (and creativity) into overdrive, I ran across a great piece about the creative process. I am not exactly sure of the origin of the writing, but it went like this.

The Creative Process In 6 Steps:

1. This is amazing

2. This is tricky

3. This is s#*t

4. I am s#8t

5. This might be ok

6. This is awesome

I am almost sure it was meant to be funny and a bit cheeky, but for once it explained exactly (and I do mean EXACTLY) how I feel about the creative process.

Most of the time it starts off with an amazing idea...one that is pretty epic without execution. Then execution of that amazing idea gets underway and things get a little fuzzy. They eventually turn out to be pretty amazing as the process states.

If honesty is on the table, sometimes step 4 proves to be first. It is that very thought that I know not to be true that sometimes holds me back from putting a brush to a canvas, pen to paper or coming up with beautiful jewelry pieces. It can be stifling, to say the least. 

I have one thought that proves to be my saving grace...I am not alone! There are several variations of this 6 step creative process out there, which leaves me to believe that there are plenty of other artists and creatives alike that feel this way. So I have been inducted into the club. I don't mind being in the club...it's good company!

Corner of Gratitude:

Being in good company

Pearls of Wisdom:
"I think there's no creative process that goes without injuries and scratches and punches. You get beat up somehow, and that's part of the commitment. You have to be open to that."

~Edgar Ramirez

Your Thoughts:
Are you open to getting "beat up" for creative process?

Until next time...