I had a small melt down this week (in great company.. inside a mastermind group I am blessed to meet with) about this smash book teaching thing… because it seems to be counter to creating art/painting/whatever (this is very likely the voice of my inner critic.. because it’s never happy, never thinks I do enough, or am good enough, or paint enough, or sell enough *&^*%*&* the list could go ON) … but… on deeper probing… I discovered.. that for me. my Smashbook is a self created safe space.. and it is this Opportunity that I feel compelled to share (that is.. HOLD SPACE for) ... it has the potential to be a self created safe space… and that is quite intrinsic to a life of an artist. (or human BEING for that matter) As I went into my beliefs around my creative process.. my self as ‘artist’... the thought also flitted past... that I wish I had been shown this as a child.. growing up... I recall some really harsh teachers.. and how rubbish they made me feel... they didn’t realise (or care?) at the time the turmoil I had going on inside me. So, in my workshops I always hope that I can create circles in which artists, mums, friends, sisters, daughters, sons, dads, people who are grieving, people who are healing, anyone's really.. can come and through the gentle process of intentional creativitea ….. enjoy a restorative space in time. The picture above is from my art table on Sunday.. I'm creating a smashbook called 'MOTHER LOVE'.. so I am putting in anything that reminds me of my Mum… and some things that relate to me as a Mother myself… when you create your own alchemical container.. you can decide whatever you like that will go in it.. and it's perfect. Perfect for you. 
I'm having a competition? no.. I hate that word.. I currently have a delightful opportunity.. for one dear person to win an Intentional Creativitea Session with me via Skype.. and a personally created Smashbook for them. You can find out all about that here. Entries close 1 Sept 2014. And… if you want to find out more about smashbooking with me… (visit info page here) I have two workshops open for registration being held at Doonan - up near Noosa..(Qld, Australia) on Thursday 11 Sept.. and another on Saturday 13th Sept. These will be held at LuluArt .. at a gorgeous super sized art table with seating for 8… and windows overlooking a beautiful dam.. and birds singing.. and water lily's floating. It's very retreat like… and as always.. there will be plenty of tea. #smashbookdd is what I'm using on my instagram to share pics relating to this. love Denise x if you can't be bothered moving to another page to read What is a Smashbook … I'll write it here too: What is a Smash Book? I've been mooching around this week being kindof unproductive and getting a bit pissed off with that … a side issue that occurred to me is 'an addiction to feeling happy' is still a thing and thereby.. whenever any other less than happy emotion appears I wonder what I'm doing wrong. FFS is anyone else that way? So… I recalled my friend Matt mentioning "HOW GREAT IS THAT TIM FERRISS" when we were hanging out on the weekend.. so I jumped onto itunes and went in search of a 'make me feel better please' podcast. Yep.. true. I do this all the time… who gives a flying fig if that is avoidance of feeling like shite.. it often works for me. I don't avoid how I'm feeling really.. I just think neurotic over thinking, and anyalysis paralysis is a bit (lot) freaking self defeating annoying sometimes. Tim Ferriss is the author of the 4 hour work week… I have not read it.. because I simply did not believe it was true.. possible or anything like that… but.. so far I've found he's great to listen to.. so maybe I'll read it sometime. Anyway.. back to the podcast search ... I found this one called "Tricks for the Neurotic, Manic Depressive and Crazy (Like Me)" and I went ahead and wrote down is 8 points for productivity…
I for one would be fascinated if anyone reading this finds this possible and indeed helpful .. and if you're willing to give it a go.. let me know.. I am going to give it a red hot go… I'm already down with the getting up early and making tea and pen and paper… so I feel somewhat at a small advantage here.. so if this is all new to you.. then take your time… as much as you need.. and maybe tell me next week.. if you tried it. I'd really like that. 
I've also just this afternoon while writing this, going for a walk with man and his dog.... had a couple of ideas.. involving … 'desperate times… calling for (not desperate) but GENEROUS measures… so.. I'll go and make the necessary moves to get that happening. If you want to hear how you could receive an opportunity to come to my Gypsy Retreaty Workshop at half the valued price.. or.. you'd like to know about winning a free seat at my table for a Smash Booking Session then… join the mailing list.. as I'll be sending a note out to them first. bye for now, love Denise. *** off to take some inspired action *** 
Here I am… a day after the end of THE 30 days. Yesterday… when it was the 'finale' day.. i spent much of my day on the phone and no time at all creating … today.. not a whole lot more… except this lady here. Since the Gypsy theme is on my mind.. for the upcoming retreaty/workshop at the end of July I have been wanting to do some playing around with this theme… I wasn't quite prepared for this sorrowful gaze… so I let the pencil tell me something . . . "It's not so easy being a Gypsy you know" my pencil wrote automatically . . . "yes we can feel wild and free, and without rules but all of us feel pain, sadness and loss - there is no escaping these human feelings. But, coming back to yourself and lovingly treating yourself kindly, you'll be ok." … this challenge has been a great reminder to just keep showing up.
so… now we are in July… and another 31 days are piled up like boxes on my calender… let's just keep going.. shall we? bye for now, love Denise. out all day in a meeting.. only time for this quick 'Womandala' tonight … 
hopefully… time to paint tomorrow.
Denise x Today started well… quite special really…  I made a beautiful circle 'blessing symbol' as I sat out in some morning sun… I wrote more about that over on 'asipofmytea.com' … little aura in her disney chipmunk suit 'her sister' Alex bought her. :)  then… the day progressed in to shitville… and just because I'm 'creating something every day' to keep true to this challenge… you get to see my shitty journal page. Luckily I know … 'this too will pass'… and now it's time to go and cook dinner.  I guess it's what might be called a classic mix of the sacred.. and the profane… bye for now, Denise x later that night, I played with some golden open acrylics on a tiny wee canvas that I'd sort of started earlier in the day but had given up on… and this happened… trying out a new-to-me product .. was very satisfying after earlier feelings of 'meh'.  a whole lot of wondering and not much painting went on today… this was done over the top of some writing in a large journal.. a Woman arrives from who knows where… she seems African.. and the under paint was magenta pink.. and over the course of the afternoon it's gone sooo pink! 
realised the studio has turned into an energy sucking tip… so… cleaning out is desperately needed.
D x aaaah.. I'm late to post… but.. want to keep them in order.. so here's yesterday's 'efforts'. consciously wanting to break out of old patterns that no longer serve.. a desire for letting a little more wildness in … if not on the canvas… where? Surely.. I can allow any emotion to show up.. it's only on paper.. or board… let.. it… be. 
lower right is now she 'really looks' others are fab app's on iphone.
bye for now, it's Monday!.. I have to get on with that! love Denise xo and… HappyAnniversaryToPhillip&Me24YearsToday :) 
top left came after bottom right… same page… it seems to be changing to more angular.. masculine.. but probably not finished.
A bit of a melancholy start to my day.. pondering how it would have been my sisters 58th birthday (she died in '97) … and having a go with the loose style I've learned a bit from Misty Mawn.. so I keep trying it in my art journal.. funny how I can be much more free on the page sometimes…. maybe because it's not 'fraught with added expectations' . .. and as an astute artist I met said… "oh.. and you can hide it".
Day 14… and I am still keen to keep this thing going.. and w a n t t o f r e e u p s o m e m o r e bye for now, love Denise. Nooo.. I've almost got 'nothing to show' for today… sigh… I just did a bit of work on computer.. and 'wondering allowed' on yesterdays journal page. The result was quite helpful and profound to me… I am just LOVING the look in this woman's eyes.. and it occurred to me how well these figures can encompass how I am feeling sometimes.. and also the ongoing benefit and self care gift to myself that art-journaling continues to be. 
and some fun on 'hipstamatic app' 
til tomorrow,
love Denise xo limited time to create.. so I did do a page in my art journal.. an inquiry… I'm working with the vibe of Gypsy.. for my upcoming weekend workshop in July.. Wild Gypsy Rose… so here's another aspect of her. … I might add some designs to the page later with fine marker… it's time to cook dinner now. 
It's really feeling like a Sunday today for me… complete with breakfast in bed from my lovely man this morning. Clearing out our room for a new kingsize bed arriving tomorrow (I know.. trivia.. but I'm pretty thrilled about it.. I've been 'visualising a bedroom like a luxury hotel'ish feeling for the longest time…) … which means.. I've not had a lot of studio time this weekend.. my lovely sister was also visiting.. she's having a little trip.. reminsincent of a real gypsy.. complete with a little 70's caravan!
bye for now, love Denise. |
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