Sketches from My Travels

 

 

 

 

Last week, I had the chance to hang up some of the ink sketches that I did while on vacation in August. They are a quick and hasty set that I did while visiting Barcelona and London. While taking photograph does lend itself to a much easier way to capture moments, I do like the way drawing can slow your experience down more, help you enjoy the present moment, and appreciate the details more.

Art Every Day Month - Day #2

"The person I am today is not the same person I will be tomorrow."

I like this quote because it reflects on the changes, challenges, and progress we all go through. Without a vision or purpose, it is sometimes hard to really perceive the change that can occur within each of us. Last month, I brainstormed a vision board project and the photo above is what I had come up with...

I have been doing a lot of thinking thanks to some good books and guides that I've read recently (80/20 Principle, The War of Art, Hip Tranquil Chick, and Refuse to Choose). While I seem to have a lot of interests and projects, there are common themes that I seem to pursue and return to over and over. And, I ripped up photos and words that reflected those common threads.

:: Travel - I love visiting foreign places a lot and the challenge of decoding and learning a new language in order to survive is a lot of fun. I am also attracted to the relaxed and luxurious style of living other countries adopt. I like being able to see how different foods, people, artwork, and landscapes come together.

:: Work which is Rewarding - "Refuse to Choose" talks about how scanners have a child-like enthusiasm about their work and projects. They are curious and love to learn. The reward is more in the excitement and learning stages instead of the pay for most scanners. I like being part of work that has a direct influence on a greater level, gives a sense of spiritual renewal, and provides creative challenges.

:: Spiritual and Christ-Centered - God handcrafted each of us and there is an original intent in all of us with the abilities and gifts He gave us. There was a lot in Ephesians that really resonated with me. So, the vision board has a lot of quotes from Paul that motivated and inspired me to live with spirit, hope and faith.

:: Yoga/Mantra: I like how the mind/body/spirit interconnect with our bodies and relaxes me.

:: Biking/Running/Swimming: I just finished two triathlons over the summer and am training for a half marathon coming up. Being physically active and pursuing physical challenges is something very interesting and inspiring for me.

:: Escape: I like the luxury of reading in bed, warm hot baths, a yoga session, and a good ipod playlist. Even the smell of chili simmering or hearing the washing machine going on are all details I like to escape in and renew a sense of balance.

I think my vision board reflects a lot of those things, and it has helped me to dig deeper into what I have learned and what I which to do in the future.

I wish people (myself included) didn't beat ourselves up about why we haven't accomplished what we need to do yet. There is a balance we have to achieve between presence and pushing our edges into the future. It's a delicate and lovely thing.

The vision board is a nice way to balance those things because you take what you've experienced and it motivates you to jump forward and reach for new moments.

"Your intent should pour out of you. It should emanate from every cell of your being so that you attract the people and circumstances that can support you in manifesting your desires." Dianne Collins

When we realize that we already have everything we need to begin living out our dreams, I think it makes it easier to start.

November is Art is Every Day Month - Day One

This is the second time I have come across this quote by Goethe, "Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it." So, I think it's worth pondering about again. I like how Goethe challenges us to be bold in our actions which can be really hard when we sometimes just wanna get by.

Beginning! So, this month I have signed on to The Art is Every Day Month Challenge where a group of people/ artists' will be creating, challenging perspectives, and thinking in new ways for 30 days. And, even before I had much time to really think if I had the time to do the challenge, my heart, mind and soul jumped up and down and said, "Let's do it!" The month actually coincides with me having the opportunity to hang up my drawings at my art school. I'll have to post pictures soon and explain more about it later.

The first challenge was to make a commitment to doing the challenge. The leader of this month long challenge, Leah Picken Kolidas, wanted us to make a piece of art that reflects on our promise to bring more creativity in our lives. As I started doodling and thinking, I started to think about what inspires me to do art and I thought about how the relationship to God and spirituality can really be linked to how I create.

I've thought about doing more spiritual artwork years ago, but it was just a thought that would come across my mind and never stick. I figured this challenge would be a good time to bring it back up again. So, I reflected more on how art can motivate me to meditate more and think beyond myself. In some way, I'd like to retrain my mind to not just get by, but to really ponder, pray and get past a lifestyle that is about just getting by or checking off my to-do list for the day.

I think art can slow my thoughts down, appreciate the details around me, and recognize the beauty that was already created. I took a small square of plywood and just started cutting out really interesting quotes by artists.

::Picasso:: "Painting is just another way of keeping a diary."
::Matisse:: "Creativity takes courage."
::Cezanne:: "A work of art which did not begin in emotion is not art."

I also pasted a postcard photo of the crucifix from Sant'Antimo Abbey that I got in Montalcino, Italy. It reminded me of a very beautiful day in Tuscany and the gracefulness of Christ-centered silence and meditation. I wanted it to remind me that spirituality is an important influence in my art.

I also put in some prayers that I wrote on little notecards last month after I read Ephesians.

With a little glue, pieces of inspiration in place, and a bit of acrylic finger painting, I finished my first piece for this month of new challenges! I've hung it up in my bedroom so I can see it in the beginning and end of each day.

I look forward to my new challenge, and I am glad that I have a new spark of motivation to see how I can connect spirituality and art together once again.