It's All About the NOW, Not the Afterthought

Recently, I spent a few hours returning to a painting in process. As I began, I was aware of feeling good about it’s current state of being and also a clarity that the work was incomplete. I had an idea of how it could be developed. So, I played with color and paint, made the changes that were calling to me. One area at a time, one color at a time, one brush stroke at a time, applying paint and moving color around as I like. I was in the flow, I was experiencing each moment. AND that is what it’s all about. I was there with the colors and the paint. And the minutes and hours flew by.

It’s in the experience of the creative process where the magic happens.

When I was about to walk away, I was aware that I thought less of the canvas than when I began just hours before. And rather than feeling disappointed in my efforts, I was immediately lit up by the idea that I get to keep playing with this canvas and seeing where it goes next. So, why am I sharing this experience with you?

Because the next morning I got in my head and my thoughts traveled to other places: “Did I ruin it?” “How can I possibly make it work now that I made those changes?” “I wish I could erase the changes in order to get it back to where it was yesterday.” 

But here’s the thing… I was in the moment while painting. That morning, my thoughts were in the past and in the future, not in the presence of what was before me. I was not present here and now. The beauty of creating anything is how the process draws us into the present moment. We flow from moment to moment, engaged in something that makes time seem to become nonexistent. That presence in action can be a magical portal to something other than our everyday existence. It transports us into being right Here and Now. 

It’s easy to second guess ourselves after the fact, but spending time and energy on the past doesn’t do anything to support us. That was then and this is NOW. 

For me, years of experience as an artist have taught me to trust my ability to move almost any canvas to something I can feel good about in the end. Every step perceived as a misstep, is an opportunity. It is an opportunity to learn something new and take a painting in an unexpected direction.

That being said… my trust, knowing, and experience does not stop my thoughts from going to unhelpful places at times.

Notice your thoughts. Are they re-litigating the past? Are they bringing up future concerns? What creative activity would you love to immerse yourself in to experience the here and now?

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Awareness in the Creative Process
Art as Meditation

Awareness in the Creative Process

There’s something magical about being so very present within the creative process that one’s awareness is heightened. To notice the way your body is positioned as you create, to experience the flow of energy moving through you, to feel the tools you are using within your hands and finger tips.

To be so in the moment of the creative process, that development of a project moves ahead effortlessly, with clarity for the next step and the next. It’s as if you are an observer in the process, watching something take shape.

All at once, you become both creator and observer. A knowing arises that you are not in this alone. It’s as if your hands are being guided, your next steps are being shown, and you begin to feel the co-creative nature of this process. And the more your awareness grows, the more you may find yourself tuning in, and becoming present to, and aligned with the flow of energy within you. 

Do you relate to this scenario? What has been your experience?

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Art as Meditation

Elements in Art and in Life

As a mixed media artist, before starting a painting, I already have what you might call a bag of tricks. I call them elements.

These are the materials I’ve come to love using, the pieces that often make their way into my work. There are: the scraps of cloth I am so very fond of. Printouts of wise words and quotes. Pages of sheet music. Text in other languages. Pattern paper. Something from my collection of textured papers in many different colors.

Before I begin, I often have an idea of which elements I might incorporate, along with the tools, textures, and mark-making processes I want to play with. My bag of tricks is always at the ready. In the end, I may use a wide variety of these elements, or end up keeping it simple… with just layers of paint and pencil marks.

In life, we carry our own set of elements. Some are obvious, skills we’ve developed and traits we have carried with us through the years. Others are so much a part of us we hardly notice them, like the twinkle in our eye when we’re doing something we love, or the way we light up a room when experiencing a moment of joy.

What are the elements you bring to whatever you create, whether it’s a work of art, a relationship, a home, a new life chapter, or a day in your life? Maybe it’s kindness, determination, inner peace, curiosity, humor, or the ability to see possibility where others see roadblocks.

And just as I love stumbling upon new techniques in the studio, the ones I immediately know I want to use again and again, we can discover new elements within ourselves as we travel our path through life. Sometimes the qualities we think we’ve been lacking are simply ones that have not yet surfaced. They are likely to make their appearance as we take one step at a time in creating our lives and moving toward our dreams.

We grow with each step. Every new element that shows up, whether planned or unexpected, can support our journey, expand our vision, and shape what we’re creating.

So, here’s a question:
What are the elements you carry with you through life, and what new ones do you hope to discover along the way?

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Freedom to Imagine, Power to Create

Inspired Imagination: We have a powerful creative tool within us that we have access to in any moment, at any time of day.  It can be used to shift a mood or belief, take us on a magnificent journey, travel to anywhere we wish, and create any experience we’d like. We have the capacity to create the most magnificent vistas, soar to great heights, and expand our presence beyond any limits of human form. Our imagination is just that… OURS, to use as we choose and create whatever we like. There are no limits except the limits we have chosen to place on ourselves.

Choose to play with what you can create. Give yourself the freedom to create anything through your imagination. What if… the freer you can be in allowing your imaginings, the more likely it is for you to create what you want in your life? What if… the process of imagining is something of an exercise in creating? What if… the more you are able to create with your mind, the more you can believe in your ability to create in life.  

Too often we allow our fears to rule our imaginations and end up envisioning our worst case scenarios, as if delving into our fears would help prepare us for unwanted events, outcomes, or experiences. Doesn’t that add to the fear and take us to an inner space we’d prefer not to go? And how does dwelling on fears effect the body? Doesn’t that lead to more tension and stress?

So what if, instead, you turned your imagination toward what you do want, towards positive thoughts, supportive visioning, and inspired ideas? Your freedom to imagine is always available to you. Use it for your joy, exploration, and expansion. It’s a doorway, a portal, to a journey of possibilities. Engage in a sense of wonder… where may these inner excursions lead? What might become possible… if playfully imagined first?

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Beyond Labels: Embracing Your Identity as a Creator

Have you ever stopped to consider how you define yourself, or how you would describe your identity? I have identified as an artist for more than five decades. However, I’ve been questioning the restrictions we place on ourselves with these self-definitions. Do our adopted labels hinder our progress while keeping us feeling comfortable, safe, and secure? Do they confine us to a past version of who we’ve been, while preventing exploration, growth, and the expansion we might experience?  

In the past year, I have stretched beyond my comfort zone to pursue what is now lighting me up. As a result, I have redefined myself as a creator—a broader term that encompasses a greater aspect of who I am. I have transitioned from solely identifying as an artist to embracing the essence of being a creator (or maybe more specifically, to just BEING). Creating is what I do. I express myself through paint, words, and the formation of images and ideas. And meanwhile, I am creating the life that I want. I see myself as a creative force, and you are too.

We are creative beings. It is our super power and we carry it with us through life. We can journey wherever we allow our imaginations to take us.

By adopting the mindset of a creator, we break free from the confines of labels and embrace our limitless potential. We step out of our comfort zones and explore new territories. We open ourselves up to growth and transformation. The title of creator empowers us to see beyond our perceived limitations and envision a future filled with endless possibilities.

I invite you to let go of the labels that confine you and allow yourself to be the creator that you are. Let your life be fueled by passion, inspiration, and the joy of bringing ideas to life.