Monday, February 22, 2010

A Promise to Me ....

I have been feeling starved for months now ... no. NOT for food (Lord knows He equipped my husband with the love of cooking and I with a love for food. Dangerous combo - - ask my hips!)

No ... this starvation is to satisfy my soul. My heart pangs for daily creativity ... and I've just been overwhelmed with family life and other obligations/projects to enter that nook in my over-crowded mind; so that I can just let go and explore the ideas and imagery that have been trying to find room to blossom up there.

When I feel this way .... it's almost as if I feel suffocated and I tend to just flounder through the day. To pull myself from this rut, I need to be inspired! I will visit my favorite blogs ... pick up charming magazines ... research other artists ... and when that doesn't do the trick - - I head to the bookstore!

So, it was there that I found myself on Saturday afternoon. And, it was there that I found exactly what I needed ...

I am taking this week to explore this wonderful book - create my plans to incorporate art into my daily life - flow that creativity into raising our children and bringing back into our world a bit of whimsy.

Childhood is fleeting. And, I no longer want to just "get through the day" by doing the chores, running the errands, making sure all the "have to's" are done. I want to bring enchantment and wonder back into our lives. I miss it. There was a time - not so long ago - that car rides on old country roads were for finding fairies hiding in the trees, and warm, sunny days were for picnicking along the riverbank with crayons and paper to capture the ladybugs and pretty leaves.

Perhaps its the season ... cold, snowy, icy ... we are all ready to climb the walls for fresh air! Well - - I cannot wait for good ole Jack Frost to be done with us ... I need to bring the sunshine and warmth into our home - - and I think that daily artsy whims will be the rays of light that'll do the trick!

So, next week starts my new commitment to creativity ... a daily exploration of some sort. This book contains a 12-week art course and I am anxious to plunge into it!

I read that accountability is the key to keeping yourself on track ... so I choose you - - my readers. I plan to post my progress daily .... a HUGE step for me - - as you know, I've been off and on so much lately!

My goal is to create a fulfilling life for myself creatively, as well as our family. Perhaps you would like to join me in this venture? No time like the present! Ask yourself ... are you living artfully? (*smile*)

What art offers is space - a certain breathing room for the spirit.

~John Updike

5 comments:

Donna said...

Looking forward, Jenny, to seeing your creativity flow. I think I understand how you're feeling.

Big hugs,
Donna

Nicole Austin said...

i love this post! i am totally there myself--this winter weather is driving me nuts! i crave those warm summer days where we can take trips to the park and i can also get a little bit of art into the day as well. but i also don't want to miss any part of my kids' growing up, either! what a conundrum! i can't wait to see what comes of this new adventure for you! :) i'm here on the sidelines cheering you on! :)

nicole

Trudy said...

This is so awesome. I had already planned to do the same thing and blog about it on my blog; so we can do it together. We can follow each other's progress. My blog is: www.artisticcreationswithtrudy.blogspot.com

I also have a wonderful discussion about this very subject and this book on my other blog. Here is the link to that post:

http://sewingwithtrudy.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-i-get-it-all-done.html

I am signing up as your follower and putting you on my blog list on my art blog so that I can keep up with you. I plan to take this at my pace. I don't know if I'll get it done in the 12 weeks. I will probably get started officially in a couple of weeks to give me a chance to get my supplies ready.

Wyanne Thompson said...

I'm so excited about your new commitment to creativity! That is fabulous! We all need to take this time for ourselves. It's so important.

Anonymous said...

I totally understand your feeling of starvation for art! It is so wonderful to find others who have the same creative needs! I can't wait to start the journey of this book with you and Trudy and others.