Don't Mess in my Creative Journal!

How do you stay creative in a world that is spiraling out of control?  How do you stay inspired and positive when negative forces abound and you feel as the world you have known, your way of life, and even your core values are daily assaulted?  Yet you know at the same time that you know have this gift and you feel called to somehow make a difference in the world by creating beauty and hopefully inspiring someone in the process.

I'm sure there are many answers that I can research that will offer suggestions on how to increase your creativity.  I can share with you that  one thing I have done this past month is start a CREATIVE JOURNAL.  I try to carry it with me everywhere I go so that I can jot down ideas or inspirations that I encounter.  Carrying the physical book with me gives me a constant reminder to look for inspiration in my day.  I also carry my Marjolein Bastin 2015 planner.  I love her beautiful work and seeing her artwork on every page helps my focus stay somewhat artistic when I am planning my day.   

I have been trying to keep a sketch journal for the past year but somehow the linear processes unique to my brain can't bring me to combine the two. (Remember I was an accountant for 30 years)  I actually have to stop here and make a confession at this point, but a few days ago I took notes in my creative journal while watching a YouTube video on using Photoshop and didn't like the messy appearance so I erased them and rewrote them in neater handwriting.  I just can't bring myself yet to make lists and notes next to a sketch I did earlier in the day.  How non-creative is that!  Maybe as I progress and let my art take over more and more of those neuron processes I can actually reach a place in my life that I am OKAY with messy creativity!

So let me share what is written on the first page of my journal....(actually to my horror I realized just now that I had penciled in estimated costs of some large projects I want to start around the house on the inside glued page.  There may be no hope for me....I may forever be a numbers person!)

THE REAL FIRST PAGE:

1.  My Words- "that it may give grace to those who hear"   Ephesians 4:29   Do I speak GRACE or GRIEF?

2. "People are Quick to Believe the Bad things they hear about Good people."

3. "What lies behind us and what lies before us is tiny matters compared to what lies within us." Ralph Waldo Emerson.

As you can see, my creative thoughts are focused on the fact that I'm trying to emphasis first my words be positive.  I believe that Bible clearly teaches us that our words are powerful and while I don't believe in the ideology of  POSITIVE CONFESSION, I do believe that your words can bring life or death, healing or sickness, grace or grief to someone's life.

My take away today....1.)  Make a Creative Journal for yourself and 2.) Try to keep your words positive even if you feel like screaming and breaking things.  Your art will be better and your blood pressure will be lower.

Musings of an Over Caffeinated Blogger

This week represents 2 years of blogging for me and this will be my 78th published post during that time.  My first post was published on March 11, 2011 and here I sit, drinking my third cup of my favorite coffee in the same McDonald's that most every post has been either started, completed or at least considered.  To me writing has always been something that I really enjoyed and like painting, wasn't practiced nearly enough during the 30 years I raised my family and worked full-time.

Now don't get me wrong...Business Administrators do have to write an occasional letter but usually they consisted of what was called in my Business English class as  a "BAD NEWS" letter.  You know the one that states you own money, you haven't paid your money or we need to hear from you about your money.  Most of the letters I wrote were connected to the collection process.   Three months retired and that life is like ancient history now.

Writing now for me has taken on a completely different prospective.  I try to focus mostly on my journey as an artist in this blog so the majority of my posts are art related but occasionally there has been a  humorous story about rattlesnakes (5-23-11),  being snowed in on a Memorial Day camping trip (5-31-11) or family traditions like picking apples in Caliente, Nevada (8-8-11).  I enjoy sometimes looking back at my past blogs and remembering those entries.

Blogging is very similar to a public diary because it is really a mystery at who is really reading your posts.  I have read several books on blogging and there are a number of ways that you might measure your success as a blogger.  First is the number of page views.  This morning I have 4310 page views. I check everyday the number and have been excited to see my average nearing 50 a day.  Of course I would like to see 100  or 1000 page views but in two years there is definite growth.  Another measure is followers.  This has been very slow and I'm not sure how to produce more followers but 9 is what I currently have and I'm thankful for those that care to read my blog regularly.

Finally, comments left on your blog can be a positive measure to the success of your blog.  I love to hear the occasional comment but would love to have this be a daily occurrence.  I think that helps you not have that scary feeling that you are just talking to yourself and there is really no one out there.

 So today I'm resolved as ever to keep blogging on..... and hopefully you will keep viewing, following and commenting. 

2013- Year of My Sketchbook

I have been doing a great deal of blogging about sketching this week and have picked up that small tablet of blank paper and have done a couple of drawings.  However, I don't think that drawing a picture with pen and pencil really reflects the creative discipline that other artists put such emphasis on.  Yesterday, I had the opportunity to get a glimpse of the sketchbook of a very accomplished wildlife artist, John Seerey-Lester while reviewing this photo album on Facebook.  I just love the artist community that Facebook has created, because when I asked him about his sketchbook, I received a wonderful reply that I have recorded below that was not only informative, but very encouraging.  Please check out Mr. Seerey-Lester's work.  I guarantee you will be impressed and inspired.

I see that the sketchbook really serves as a diary or journal of sorts for Mr. Seerey-Lester and that excites me.  I am anxious now to start my own creative record for this year.  I plan on creating a separate page on this blog to record my sketchbook in hopes that it will inspire someone else to make that commitment.  I would love to hear from you if you do.

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  Julie Diveley Townsend I know this is a silly question, but is this a typical example of your sketchbook? I'm trying to sketch more but find that I'm sometimes not sure what to record for future reference. Just curious.

  
  
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  John Seerey-Lester Julie, yes this is typical. I sketch most days if I'm doing something other than sitting at the easel. I use a ballpoint pen to sketch then use a watercolor wash. I do about one sketch book per year. These are also journals and contain a lot of writing aswellas sketches. Every time we take a trip somewhere I do at least one sketch on location each day. For instance, we've just come back from Sanibel Island where I sketched the bird life each day. I have over 30 of these sketch books now and it's great to occasionally go through them and remember what you did, where and when. I also use them to record ideas for future paintings. Hope this helps ?

  
  
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  Julie Diveley Townsend Thank you for sharing. I know I'm told that making preliminary sketches on location are so key but I just haven't got the hang of it. Actually seeing your sketchbook gives me a better feel of what it is that I should consider doing myself. What a treasure these are for you I am sure.

  
  
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  John Seerey-Lester Yes Julie, I do treasure them. Try keeping a sketch book yourself and sketch in it each week. I think you will soon see the benefit. Good luck. Let me know how you go on.