Change - How does it show up at your table? Artist Life goal setting.

Jingle Bells - 8 X 10" Colored Pencil Painting - SOLD

As the New Year approaches and we reflect over the past, which let’s face it the past few years have been something we all want to change.  Change back to life as it was, pre-pandemic, or a new normal with positivity and health.  

Recently I read that "Sometimes Change wants a place at the table.”  And it resonated with me so much today when I sat with my “cuppa" in hand to do my normal prep for New Year thoughts, goals and aspirations.  No resolutions here but real deep thought into my looking forward personally and art wise. I’m a list maker and planner, I can’t help it.  So I’m asking myself how will Change show up in 2022 at my table.  

Change can come in many forms, large or small, scary or just in bits of stretching beyond our norm.  Sometimes we hold off acting to change things up if they seem “frivolous" or “good" for us. But I’m here to tell you that frivolous IS good for us.  It’s the part of life that requires a little commitment to change it up.  I see it as part of an exploratory heartbeat.  

After all many serious minded people consider being an artist a frivolous profession.  I can’t even think of a world without ART or art making! But that’s a topic for another day.

Change:

In your art form, when feeling uninspired, or in a funk.  A new media or technique you haven’t tried yet.  Pushing limits with what you do now or are afraid to try.  I find that if I say I’ll "Play with” a new art technique or media, my inner critic has less expectations of mastery.  Play enables exploration and we often as full time artists forget to incorporate it purposefully.  Scheduling a “Play” session a couple times a month is a big Goal for me in 2022. Mixing some additional media with my dear CP’s on a more frequent basis pushing some limits I’ve held to in my personal practice. 

In your life when your bored with the day to day. A change in your daily schedule adding a new idea or reincorporating a dismissed habit (morning walk, daily sketching restart or gratitude journal up take).  Picking up a book when you are bored with TV or haven’t had a good read in a while.  I’ve read more books this year than I have in the past 10 years because of my year end 2020 goal setting.  And it has been so enriching to my life.  Below are a few 2021 journal entries.  

In your style of travel, I think we have all looked at wanting to get back out there after being confined to home or closer to it.  Making travel a priority again - safely is part of my 2022 change planning.  More to come on this front in 2022.  

In your diet or weekly menu - experimenting with a new recipe or thumbing thru old collections of recipes not yet tried or made in a while.  Nothing stimulates the desire to cook for me than successfully tweaking a recipe to my own taste - or famiy's preferences.  We get into meal ruts and for me it always leads to a cheat in my eating plan if I don’t think “of changing it up".   

In your exercise routine - this is a hard one for me as I’m not fond of exercise for the sake of doing it.  I’m much better with exercise with a purpose, when there is a visual result immediately afterward. Like Cleaning out the garage, daily walking the dog (my studio assistant loves this one!), gardening and the color that inspires me to really look and enjoy my hard work, or journaling when a page is finished or I've captured a quick impression and essence of place.   

In your connections - more interpersonal  quality relationships.  I’ve been absent quite a lot from Facebook and Instagram this past year.  Due to feeling disenchanted with the forums.  Wondering what is better for reaching out to be of service or inspiration to others.  To connect in a more meaningful way.  (If you have suggestions please let me know.) What I do know is that I’m more of an introvert than most public social media platforms promote.  YouTube included, which has been an intriguing possibility but seems so time consuming.  However finding a group of genuine like minded creators and kindred spirits is my most earnest desire.  

And finally - A change in how you look at the ordinary of everyday often means an opening of spirit or your mind to the new and unexplored.  For me this offers real possibilities in 2022.  While I’m not ready to divulge what those changes are, I am forcing myself to make the change from dreaming of the someday plans to stretching out of my comfort zone and starting the ball rolling……….

What does or could “change" look like for you in 2022?   

Best Wishes for you and yours, 

Gloria  

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A Note To Myself - "The Space In Between" - Artist Life

Slocan Lake View

Colored Pencil on Ampersand Pastelboard

6 X 12"

Note to my Readers: This post was written prior to my last finished colored pencil piece "Welcome Wellies" you can see it here.  At the time I thought it might never get finished. I wasn't quite sure I would share this on my blog as it's personal to my journey as an artist and adult but here goes....... 

The Space in Between, the skills in between the mastery or the sales.  The paintings in between or not yet finished, or maybe never finished.  Much like the Seasons in-between of nature, all have their place. The droning on of Winter’s chill and the awakening of Spring's warm temperatures.  My painting above gives me the feeling of the space in between.  If you'd like to see the post of this painting's story you can find it here.

We all need a period of rest, all plants and animals do too! However they never seem to need reminding.  A refilling of the well, rejuvenation of spirit, or re-found motivation, of new directions or purpose.  It all plays a part in the process.  The process of becoming and of creating.  I’m a stubborn sort, impatience I’ve written about before.  I’m also a perfectionist in many aspects of art, life and self.  However much I would like to release the perfection seeking, it’s part of me.  The “imperfection" of all this seeking is not lost on me.

Acceptance of “me” the real me and not the one I’ve read I should be.  It’s an elusive and lofty goal.  So right now I’m just working on the space between this goal and where I’ve been.  The right now moment where I sit, this current season of my life, the imperfect aging body I have - This space in between the artist I’ve been and who I want to be.  Acceptance of how far I’ve come.  Sitting in this space in between I can’t help to see possibilities of a future.  

So today I choose to accept the Space in Between.  Much like those first waking moments in the morning, between being awake or re-closing your eyes in denial of it.  It’s not easy some days.  The pull of staying warm in what we know like those soft blankets in our bed.  And opening our eyes to the bright morning light and risking the cool air to start our day.  

The vulnerability in those moments in between choosing can consume us and keep us from trying.  Although they can be exciting and full of energy if we let them.  Like the child on Christmas morning ready for the adventure of what may come.  

Sometimes we get caught up in the what’s next!  Rushing thru the check list, done, done, check mark!  We forget it’s the "In Between" days or stages of a project where we find the Joy of doing.  True it can be less exciting than the actual checking off.  But from what I know of artists’ block getting back into the process of doing (the In Between of completion), can be the hardest part.  Learning to enjoy this stage or find joy there is key for the long haul.  

So I sit in this silence of the In Between, I sit with where I am. Just like one can choose to go out on a mid Winter’s day to sit in the Season.  Drink it in, rest assured you are in the now. Enjoy the small promises of the sun peaking thru with the crispness of breeze in the air.  Learn to love the in between for there you will find the best of days in this space between.  

What is your Season In Between?  Where do you find the joy while waiting?  

I promise I'll get back to creating soon, but thought I'd add this new section to the blog for those who additionally need inspiring thoughts. If you'd like to see more of these make a comment and I'll try to oblige. 

Gloria