Art Journal Inspiration

I've talked before about my hesitance to create in an art journal.  But I also added that it's something I grew to love pretty quickly.  It's healing for me and some of the pages are meant to inspire and encourage those whom I share them with, like you!  Here are a few that are inspiring reminders that you are amazing and even though you (me too) may not like where things are in your life, you are right where you are supposed to be.  When I see that phrase, I feel so much better about the struggles I'm dealing with.  It helps me to accept or surrender and not fight "what is" when I read those words. So helpful, because fighting "what is" and not accepting where I'm at right now causes so much anxiety and stress in my life.  

I'm also sending you wishes...for strength to handle what comes your way and peace which can be hard to come by, at least for me when I'm not accepting my life as it is.

Do you have any quotes or phrases or just words, that help you put your mind at ease?  Do you ever forget that you have them there to help you live your day-to-day life?  I know sometimes I really need these reminders, hence creating art with them.  

Art Journal Inspiration

I've been literally in a painting frenzy these past two days.  It's almost like I don't know what's gotten into me.  I can't get enough of my art journal and I'm painting very freely in it and not thinking whatsoever about the marks I'm making or the colors I'm using.  It's so freeing.  Using my fingers too has been a big part of it...just getting messy and really putting all of myself into it.  

Here are a few pages I want to share that I created during this recent frenzy.  I hope you take a little inspiration from them!  

Do you ever paint in an art journal?  If so is it to practice your skills, just for fun or does it go even deeper than that?  Do you feel it helps you in some way?  I truly believe it helps me in so many ways.

Strength - Art Journal Inspiration

Some of you who know me are aware that I have lupus and have been living with this illness for 13 years.  I've been through chemotherapy to help kidney disease which is now in remission (yay!).  Early menopause from the chemo unfortunately took away my chance of having a second child a few years ago.  I've had to quit my full-time teaching job as well, something I worked really hard on in college and in my graduate program.  Often I'm in lots of pain and moving my hands, neck, feet, legs, etc. can be really really hard some days.  I cannot handle being in the sun or heat.  Let's just say, my life has changed drastically.  Sometimes I give into a personal pity-party - it's hard not to some days. But through all this I am learning that I am a strong person. And, yes, I occasionally have to remind myself of that in my art journal.  An affirmation, a reminder that I can handle this.  I'm surviving everyday, sometimes even thriving I guess. Though I wish I were cured, I still do feel so much joy about life and the gifts I have been given.  This is the only way for me to deal with struggles daily.

I'm hoping that even though you too may  have some major or even minor obstacles or stressors, that you know you really are strong and can handle them.  Sometimes I have to remind myself to breathe, maybe walk away, even whisper gently to myself "it's okay" and these things help put me back in a strong, capable and hopefully calm frame of mind.

When you are struggling and think you just can't handle one more thing, what do you do to help yourself?  Are you good at reminding yourself how strong you are?  Think of all the challenges you have faced in your life - you are strong.

Journal Pages - Just What I Needed to Hear

I never intended to like creating in an art journal.  I shied away from it because I thought it would be a waste of paint.  Why would I put my heart and soul and maybe even collage precious papers into a book that only I would see?  Well, I now love working in my art journal and I think of those former thoughts almost every time I pull it out to create.  When I started Mindy Lacefield's True Free Spirit e-course, she suggested we buy an art journal for one of our monthly projects.  I did and I'm hooked.  Like those who have come before me and art journal like crazy, I agree that it holds many purposes. 

1.   It's a place to mull over something bothering me.  I usually paint over any things I've written about stuff that's really bringing me down.  But just getting it down in the first place is a bit of help, even if I paint right over it.

2.  I can practice something new that I've been meaning to paint, maybe a new style of birdie that I just don't want to put to canvas yet.  Or this little fawn that I've been aching to paint.

3.  My main love of doing this is creating pieces that give me encouragement.  When I need some lifting up, I paint a message that I need to hear right at that particular moment.  I may not hear it from anyone else, so I've decided my art journal is the place where I can be encouraging to myself.  I've realized that I won't always hear what I need to hear from those I love.

Sometimes I've shared some of my encouraging journal pages online and they've spoken to others who've actually bought prints of them.  This is an added perk - taking something really just meant for my creative exploring time and also inspiring and hopefully uplifting others too!

Do you have any messages you either tell yourself daily or maybe even paint or write down that seem to help you when you need a boost?  

I'm on a Mission

When I hear the words "mission statement" I typically get a vision of a group of people sitting in a conference room hearing from the higher ups what the vision of their company is and what they must do to get there.  I never thought that I--as a person, and as an artist--"need" a mission statement as well.  My eyes were opened to realize if I want a certain kind of life and to practice a certain kind of living, I do need a mission to stay on track and not just let life happen to me.  When I get discouraged or get off track, it's good to have my vision in front of me (figuratively speaking) to make sure I'm doing things that align with this vision of my present and my future.

Through the artwork I create and in daily life I aim to:

• bring joy to people through color, vibrance and uplifting images and words
• encourage and inspire girls and women to believe in themselves
• show that dreams matter and ARE important
• help you show those you love that you are blessed and thankful to have them in your life
• show girls and women that they are stronger than they think
• let girls know that it's okay to be different, to be unique - being true to yourself is of utmost importance if you're going to live a truly joyful, fulfilling life

I hope that through my actions and my creations, this vision shows and I hope that it reaches others.  Thanks for supporting me and my vision.

So Very Grateful

Thanksgiving is only a few days away and I of course am thinking of all I have to be grateful for.  I actually think about that everyday to be honest, but I thought sharing them in a post would be a great reminder of all the gifts I have.

My colorful, creative, loving, caring and sparkling girl Isabella.  She brings so much joy into my days.

Amazing, fun and supportive, life-long friends...friends since grade school - priceless for sure.

Being interviewed for a local magazine called 30 West - yay!

Achieving one of my goals of having my artwork for sale in a "real" shop, the Waxwing in Shorewood.

A new sweet little niece Cora born this August. 

Attending the Bloom True Artist Retreat by Flora Bowley this September (another item I had on my list of dreams and goals for this year).

Of course I have tons more to be thankful for, like my eye sight, the beautiful sky, my cozy house, my creative community of friends, etc. but these are just a few that stood out from 2012.

I found this great quote yesterday while reading the book Daring Greatly by Brene Brown and I'll leave you with this:  

"It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful" 

by Brother David Steindl-Rast.

What are some of the things you are grateful for from the past year?  I'd love to hear them--it always makes my heart full to hear what others are thankful for.  

Thanks for stopping by - I hope you have a wonderful holiday!