5 Years of Blogging

This past week marked the 5th year anniversary of my very first blog post.  Since that realization, I have been considering what that means to me and how much my life has changed in that short time.  I know that I have learned so much as an artist and yet I hope to continue to learn in the years left to me.  

As I read these words, I am mindful that they may have been penned some years ago but they still ring true for me and affirm the desires of my heart.   I want to continue to develop and discover the creative gifts that are God given and keep them burning strong in my life.  It has definitely been a journey and blogging has been an additional creative outlet for me.  I find that writing entries for this blog, sharing my art with you are ways for me to record that journey and hopefully inspire and encourage others to find their creative passions.  It's never too late to become and artist!


My first blog post from 2011....

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.  Colossians 3:23  I think as I get closer to my soon approaching 50th birthday, I am mindful about legacy and mission, purpose and value of a my life.  What have I done on this Earth with the time that God has given me.  Will I be remembered for how well I balance the church checkbook or for how clean my house has been?  

I don't think so...It is the creative part, the passion in your life that brings impact to those that remain after you are long gone.  I think that is partly why I am so driven to improve my artwork.  Besides my influence of others by my Christian example, it is my art that I believe will define me in the memories of those that are left to eulogize  my life.  There is an urgency in my heart to take my work to the next level.  I want to leave little pieces of my heart framed and hanging on a wall for everyone see it, appreciate it and remember me by.  Will my grandchildren stop and tell their children that this is one of your Grandmother's beautiful paintings?  Will they say that "She loved the Lord and honored His creation by painting beautiful pictures?"  Time will only tell, but in the mean time, I need to keep practicing."

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.

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.