Winner of my random drawing...

GV - You won - let me know how to get in contact with you! Every Tuesday I have a random drawing of my followers on each of my blogs. Just click "Follow this blog" on the right to enter. My other blogs are Rachel's Studio and Rachel's Raves.

Uh oh, I've been thinking...

I've been doing my morning pages ALMOST faithfully for a week (an exercise from "The Artist's Way") and I continue to gain new insights and inspirations. I highly recommend it if you want to become more creative, whether you're an artist or not. Everyone can be more creative with anything they do!

So here's the lesson from today's morning pages...

I really want to expand my horizons and paint landscapes. I love landscapes, but the problem is, imo, I SUCK (I think) at them! This is my second year that I've made a resolution to put more energy into improving my landscape skills. That lasted about a week last year. I am still determined to improve my art in new directions. It's like my soul wants to grow but my mind is blocked. Scared. Why? Maybe because what I want my art to be is intimidating. I want my work to be soul-opening. That's a tall order!

In "The Artist's Way", the author talks a lot about having faith that God will work through you, to take risks and trust that the safety net will be there to catch you. Embarking on a journey such as the one I want to take is scary. And growing as an artist is just that - a journey. There are many parallels. The beginning is a mixture of boredom, frustration, and dead ends. Unchartered territory is intimidating, but what gorgeous land it is to explore if I take those first steps down that dark road. Faith must persevere that the road will eventually lead to the sublime meadows of my wildest imaginings. And so I begin.

What I aspire to...
This is a painting featured in Splash 10. It's by Kathy Collins.

Stunning...

This would be a good painting to meditate on if you wanted to attract more travel to your life. Click on it to see more.

Envision and Believe

I am a big believer in using envisioning to achieve what you desire. I've read "The Secret" and "The Artist's Way" several times, and the ideas in these books are powerful. When I really focus and use the techniques, it's amazing how fast my life begins to change in the direction I want it to. One of the exercises in "The Artist's Way" is to write morning pages. Basically, you write a stream of conscious for three pages straight, no breaks. Here you can complain, dream, listen, anything you want. But what you will find starts to happen is that you clarify what you want, where you want to go with your life, and how to do that. It has become my compass. Your dreams and inspirations aren't silly, they are divine, and it is your birthright to pursue them and make them manifest into reality!

So luscious, so Divine!
This art is by Ann Hightower-Patterson.

Inspiration: A Divine Whisper

God works through us even if we don't know it. I was listening to the radio one day and a scientist was being interviewed. He shared that he was an atheist. He went on to passionately describe his findings. I couldn't help but be fascinated by his words; it was clear the love he felt for his work was very pure. He was inspired. Inspiration is a whisper by God in your heart. Whether you are an atheist, an artist, or a flaming bible thumper, if you are inspired to create something, go somewhere, or achieve a goal, God put that desire in your heart.

What does this have to do with art? Artists have deep desires and inspirations, and these are manifested by the work they create. Inspiration is Divine, and art is pure inspiration! Apparently I'm not the only creative the believes this:

"Straightaway the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God" ~ Johannes Brahms

This gorgeous painting is by Karen Hollingsworth. Click on the painting to view her website.

The divine in simplicity

The following painting by Karen Faulkner perfectly illustrates a basic truth I come across again and again when studying the Divine; simplicity is Divine. I think often art can express things that words cannot, and this painting is a perfect example. It's just oozing Divinity! Click on the painting to see more work by this artist.

Art and Bliss

I've read a lot about the concept of Bliss in Buddhism. It's a state often achieved through meditation, a perfect peace of mind. I think art can also help achieve Bliss, both when a person is creating art and when one is viewing art. As a painter Bliss occurs when time seems to stand still and you are lost in your work, and as a viewer it happens when a piece of art makes you gasp and get chills. I truly believe there are an infinite number of paths to connecting with the Creator, and creating and viewing art are just two!

This painting by Scott Burdick is from http://susanlyon.com/2008scott52.htm It makes me gasp! Click on it to see more detail.