Book Recommendation - The Artist's Way

The Artist's Way is a book I highly recommend.  I have read it three times so far, and I'm considering starting it again very soon.

I first became aware of the book, The Artist's Way, many, many years ago and it is still as relevant now as it was when it was first published in 1992.  It was written by Julia Cameron with the help and inspiration of Mark Bryan.  Julia has been writing and teaching workshops and classes based on the principles of this book for decades.  Julia and Mark describe this book as "A Course in Discovering and Recovering Your Creative Self." 

Julia sees everyone as a creative.  She lays out a 12 week program for discovering or recovering one's creative self, with exercises and tools to help get past creative blocks and move forward to living a more creative, fun and fulfilling life.

Your form of creativity may be drawing or painting or any of the arts, it may be singing, writing, acting, gardening, or how you decorate your home. There are so many ways to be creative and Julia's suggestions and tools are helpful for them all.  

Julia considers this book a spiritual path to creativity.  She believes that by connecting with a Greater Source, a Greater Creator, it will help free up your own creativity.  You do not need to believe in a God to have success with the tools in this book.  Just an open mindedness that there is a source of creative energy, outside of yourself, that can help you be more creative.  Here are Julia's basic principles behind the book.

One of the foundations of the book is called Morning Pages.  Julia asks that you journal write three pages, by hand, first thing in the morning when you wake up, before you do anything else.  This is free form, stream of consciousness writing.  Not creative writing.  It's a way of clearing your mind and releasing any critical thoughts, feelings or negativity that may be getting in your way and blocking you from being productive.

Another tool that I highly recommend from the book is the Artist Date.  This is a time you set aside for yourself, to do something you like to do, every week.  You take yourself on a "date." Julia describes it this way: "An artist date is a block of time, perhaps two hours weekly, especially set aside and committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your inner artist.  In its most primary form, the artist date is an excursion, a play date that you preplan and defend against all interlopers."  I love artist dates.  I have done this numerous times and I have to say, so many times I come home feeling so inspired.  

Examples of artist dates are going to the movies, a theatre, a gallery, or a museum; going to the zoo, the botanical gardens, shopping, or a restaurant.  But it is time you spend alone, not shared with friends or family.  

There is so much wisdom shared in this book.  My review is just a taste of all she has to share. Julia shares inspiration, affirmations, personal stories, ideas, exercises and so much more.   I highly recommend taking a look at this book if you are looking to open up to your own creativity.  

On Finding Inspiration

The Oxford Language dictionary defines inspiration as "the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially creative." 

But where does inspiration come from? I think it's different for everyone. A quote can be inspiring, a good book or a movie, a video or a good speaker.  There are so many different ways to get inspired. That is part of the joy of living.

When I'm looking for inspiration for my next linocut print, normally I look no further than ALL the photographs that I have taken of my cats for the last 10 or so years.  My husband bought me my first digital camera so I could record my cats from the very first one I ever adopted, my cat Tiger.  

The boys, Hobbs and Oreo

And then when the iphone came out, there was no stopping me from taking photos anywhere and everywhere.  I LOVE taking photos.  I take a walk every morning and I often have my phone in hand, photographing pretty flowers in bloom or a friendly cat I see along the way.

Dahlias from the Sequoia Park public gardens

Instagram is another source of inspiration for me.   Instagram started out as a photo sharing social media platform. It seemed quieter then, more peaceful, more subtle.  I started an account 6 or 7 years ago now, and there were no videos at that time.  Videos are good for learning the process of making art, and that is very helpful and inspiring. Most of the accounts I follow are other artists: printmakers, painters and photographers are my favorites.  

Quite often on a Friday afternoon, I go out looking for inspiration.  I take myself out for lunch and go to visit the local art exhibits at a local gallery and museum.  I live in a very active art community in northern CA.  Theatre, dance, music, festivals, we have it all, and many many visual artists. So the art shows here are quite wonderful and inspiring.  My most favorite gallery here is the Morris Graves Museum, which used to be a Carnegie Free Library.  The quality of the exhibits they have are truly amazing.  Just the architecture alone is awe inspiring. I make sure I go every month to see what they have newly displayed.  There is nothing like seeing art in person. 

 

 

Inside the Morris Graves Museum

 One more source of inspiration, for me, is nature.  I am fortunate that where I live has MANY beautiful trails and places to visit in nature.  I live on the coast where we have rugged beautiful beaches, peaceful rivers, forests and the redwoods, all close by. Anytime I need a bit of a pick me up, I just get in the car for a short ride and visit one of these beautiful locations. 

The beautiful northern coast of California

Inspiration is everywhere.  Sometimes you have to go out looking for it.  Sometimes it just comes to you. I've had it come to me in the shower, in a dream, and on a walk. You never know when it will strike.  And sometimes you just need to get in the studio and start working before you get that to have that ah ha moment :)

Self Care for Artists

Yesterday, as I was cleaning up my room, I came across a journal I had written in years ago.  In it, was my extensive list of self-care ideas, and I thought I would share then with you, just in case they might be helpful for you too. These are ideas to take care of yourself physically and emotionally, and to help lift your spirit.  And many of them are also helpful for breaking through a creative block.

Here we go...

1. Start your day with plenty of time for yourself.  Lots of spaciousness. A slow morning.  This is very nurturing, not starting your day rushed or stressed.

2. Take a break while you are working.  15 minutes every two or three hours.  Especially if the art form you are doing is physically taxing.

3. Drink your favorite warm beverage, coffee, tea, a latte. I find this very nurturing.  

4. Take yourself out for coffee, lunch, a snack.  I like going out for coffee with a good book, my iPad, or a journal to write in.  

5. If you are feeling down, call a supportive friend or family member.  Or Zoom or Face Time them. 

6. Get out an take a walk, ride a bike, roller skate, jog, swim.  You get the idea.  Anything that will move your body and get those endorphins moving.

7. Get out in nature.  Walk in the woods, on the beach, in the park, etc.  I find this helps me tremendously.

8. Write in a journal.  Get out all your thoughts and feelings in a safe place.  You do not need to share this with anyone.  

9. Start a gratitude journal.

10. Eat healthy, nourishing foods.  

11. Try cooking something new.

12.  Read about new hobbies, interests, things you want to learn about to inspire you.

13. Read inspiring, motivational, spiritual books, or listen to audiobooks or podcasts.

14. Watch inspirational videos, movies, TV shows.

15. Take a bath, hot tub, or shower.  Warm water feels so soothing and healing.

16.  Meditate, either with a a guided meditation, or in silence.  

17. Try a new art form.  

18.  Make art just for you.  Don't worry about showing it to an audience.  

19. Play a musical instrument.

20. Dance to your favorite music.

21. Sing.  This is one of my personal favorites.  Always helps lift my spirits.

22. Listen to your favorite music.

23. Repeat positive affirmations.

24. Plant a garden, inside or out.

25. Read a book in your favorite genre.

26. Decorate your home, office or studio space.

27.  Get a facial or give yourself one.

28.  Get a massage.  Or use a massage tool on yourself. This is something I recently discovered.  15 minutes and I am feeling better.

29. Get a manicure and/or pedicure.  Or give yourself one. 

30.  Get a haircut.

31. Dress up.  Even if no one else will see you but yourself or your family,  Put on some jewelry, some makeup.  Feel good about yourself.

32. Get out in the sun.  You know, vitamin D.  Good for you physically and emotionally.

33. Play a game.

34. Surround yourself with positive people who are your cheer leaders. People who believe in you, and your dream.  Let go of toxic, unsupportive people.

35. Have a glass of wine, or your favorite drink at the end of the day. Share it with a friend. 

36. If you believe in a higher power, pray.  Ask for help.  Listen for the answer.

37. Spend time with a pet. They help keep us in the present moment.  And petting one helps reduce stress.  

38. See a counselor, priest, or spiritual advisor.  Sometimes talking to someone who is not a family member or friend, who is totally neutral, is the best person to talk to and get advice from.

39. Go to an art store.  One of my favorites.  I feel like a kid in a candy store when I visit one. And I get inspired.

40. Go to places that will inspire you: museum, galleries, the zoo, an aquarium, the library, a bookstore.

41. Go to a movie or the theatre.

42. Try a new restaurant.  Yum!  Eat something you have never eaten before.

Self Care - Taking a Retreat Day at Home

Today, quite spontaneously, I decided to take a retreat day at home.  Actually, right in my bedroom.  It is snowing outside, a rare occurrence here on the coast of northern CA.  I am enjoying the beauty I see from my bedroom windows, while being warm and cozy indoors.  And all three of my furry family members have joined me.  Do you see my ginger boy Hobbs in photo?  So far, this retreat is going very well.  

Every good retreat needs to start with a great cup of coffee.  I make a blend of five different flavors of decaf, and some stevia.  And it needs to be in one of my favorite coffee cups.  This is a recent find.  I collect rainbow mugs.  They remind me of my cat Tiger.  

So my plan for today is to get inspired.  To fill up my creative well.  I brought my computer and a notebook, and a collection of art books to read, up to my "bedroom sanctuary." And I have a number of ideas for writing on my blog.  I LOVE to write and just never give myself the time.  Maybe I can change that this year.

My book collection of inspiration for today has a book on block printing, some books on collage, my other love, some art business books, and The Artist's Way. I don't think I will read them all, but bits and pieces of them.  And I'll share the wisdom of what I find in other posts for you.  

So far today is a perfect day.  

Self care is sooo important for artists.  If we don't feed our creative wells, we have nothing to draw from for our creativity.  That's when we experience creative block. I would highly recommend taking a creative home retreat as a way to inspire yourself, and move through creative block, if you are experiencing that.  Or even if you are not.  It's an enriching way to spend a day.    

 

Why Cat Art?

I'm always trying to clarify why I do what I do.  Why do I focus so much on cats in my artwork?  

I recently came across an article that talked about creating a mission or purpose statement, and it had you ask:  what do you do? for whom? and why?  It suggested creating a one sentence statement that included: who, what action, what subject, what audience, and what benefit does your artwork provide.  

This is what I came up with.

"Nestled in My Heart"

I, create handmade linocut art prints, of cats, for cat lovers, to beautify their homes, and remind them of their furry loved family members.

That's it!!  That's my mission statement.

Another reason why I focus on cats is how much I love my own.  Primatologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall, you know the woman who studied wild chimpanzees in Tanzania for years and is now an environmental activist, has said, "You cannot share your life with a dog or cat and not know perfectly well that animals have personalities and minds and feelings." I cannot agree enough.  If you are a cat person like me, you know how different each cat is from the other.  No two have the same personalities.  And I find cats, as well as dogs, just embody love.  My life has become enriched by all the furry companions I now have, and the ones who have graced my life in the past.  

Favorite furry family photo from maybe three years ago.

I have a book that I like called "Steal Like an Artist," and chapter three in that book is, "Write the Book You Want to Read." Because I am a visual artist, I have always interpreted that as "create the art you want to see." I love cats and I love cat art.  I collect cat art by other artists.  My collection is large and growing.  I am ALWAYS looking for new cat art or artists to follow who create cat art. Cats inspire me creatively. So I am creating the art I want to see.  

Hobbs

From the feedback I get from my collectors, there is an emotional connection to my art.  It reminds them of a cat, or cats they have, or of a beloved cat who has passed on.  How truly rewarding it is for me to know that my art is really connecting to people from a heart space. What more could I ask for.

Oreo

I was asked in an interview by Sam Marshall, another printmaker, on Instagram, if I feel stuck having to only create cat art since I have a large following of cat lovers online.  I thought about that question a lot, and I can honestly say, I don't.  I will continue to create art that comes from my heart. That's where my kitties reside.

"Window in My Heart"

A Reminder for Us All - Normal Day

I have had this quote nicely hidden away in one of my many journals, and I thought I would share it today.  

Especially during this time of Covid and our isolation from what we used to know as "normal" life, I thought it might lend a helpful perspective.

It is written by Mary Jean Irion:

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are.  

Let me learn from you, love you, savor you, bless you before you depart.

Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.

Let me hold you while I may, for it will not always be so.

One day, I shall bury my face in the pillow, or raise my hands to the sky,

and want, more than all the world, your return."

The Path Made Clear

Every week day morning, I like to start my day with a walk.  I just started listening to audio books, and what I like to listen to is inspiration.  It helps fire me up as I walk, giving me extra energy, and also inspires and motivated for my coming day.

One book I listened to recently, is an audio book by Oprah Winfrey called "The Path Made Clear:  Discovering Your Life's Direction and Purpose."  I LOVED it.  Oprah wrote it and reads it.  It is full of her philosophy and life experiences, as well as wisdom from others she has interviewed over the years including, to name a few, Elizabeth Gilbert, Deepak Chopra, Ellen Degeneres, Joel Osteen and many, many more.

As a child, I was in touch with my purpose at a young age.  But I was not raised in a family that encouraged me to follow that path.  I think like many people, my parents were practical folks, thinking an artist's path some magical fairy tale, and unachievable and impractical goal.  "Be an accountant," I was told, "you're good at math.  Be a banker."  Anything but an artist.  

Part of what this book talks about is how you really have to believe in yourself, believe that what you want is achievable, and that you can have it or achieve it.  Once you start moving towards that goal, life will unfold before you to help you move in the direction of your dreams.  

Oh, there is so much wisdom in this book.  My description is just one small tidbit from it.  If you like being inspired, and inspired about living the life of your dreams, I would highly recommend reading or listening to this book.  I even bought the book itself after I listened the audio version.  That is how much it inspired me.  

On Inspiration - Ellen Von Wiegand

Before I started making linocut prints, I did a lot of looking at other artist's work.  The internet is such a great resource for inspiration.  My favorite social media platform is Instagram because it is soooo visual.  I think many artists feel the same way.

Ellen in her studio, pulling a new print.

One artist who really inspired the style of my cat prints was and is, Ellen Von Wiegand from the UK.

"With a Sigh"

Ellen uses herself as a model for her nudes.  Here is some of what she has to say about her work...  

"My images reverberate with this search for self assurance and serenity, and my own nude body is featured in each piece. I originally began using myself as a model because it gave me a lot of control over my compositions, and I didn’t have the ability to pay someone else. However using my body has caused my work to develop into something highly personal. When we are nude we are at our most vulnerable, and I have come to see my work as a way to reconcile with the shy, insecure and fearful pieces of myself. There is also something I love about showing myself naked when in fact I am severely uncomfortable being undressed in front of others. It is a practice in being more open and allowing people into my world when in my real life I struggle to do so."

"Moon Splashed"

Ellen continues... "That said I don’t see my prints as self-portraits, but rather physical representations of emotional states of being. Male or female, my hope is that you see a piece of yourself reflected back to you in each image."

"Acceptance"

Though her work is VERY personal, what drew me to her style was that she prints her nudes in shades of blue and deep reds, which give her images a less personal, and more universal appeal, like this could be any woman, not just her specifically.  I also like the simplicity of the line work, not a lot of details in the nude image, but just enough to convey a feeling.  

Austin Kleon, in his book "Steal Like an Artist," talks about finding your own voice by copying your heroes.  He says, "By copying your heroes, you find your voice because you can not perfectly copy anyone's work.  You are influenced by other ideas that mix with the work,  and that becomes your work, your voice.  You transform or transcend what you started with, and it becomes your style." 

Now when you look at my work, I think you can clearly see her influence.  Here are just two examples...

"Mandala"

"Wise One"

When I start a new cat print, I start with a photo of one of my cats.  My cats are ginger and a black and white tuxedo.  In my artwork, I have chosen to use black as the color for all the cat images.  My black cat prints are usually seen as artwork about black cats, and that is OK.  I like black cats too.  But I am using the black cat as a universal symbol for all cats.  

My hope in doing this post is to give you a little more insight into my artwork.  And to share one of my inspirational heroes with you.  Hope you enjoy her work as much as I do.

To learn more about Ellen Von Wiegand, check out:

-Ellen's blog

And to see more of her beautiful work, check out:

-Ellen's blog

-Ellen's Facebook page

-Ellen's Instagram page

(All images of Ellen Von Wiegand's work used with her permission.) 

Andy Warhol Quote

I like this quote by Andy Warhol. 

On Creativity, by Brene Brown

Love this quote by Brene Brown.  So true.

Everyone is Born Creative

I found this on Facebook and really liked it.  Hope you do too.