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.