A few weeks ago, I enjoyed the opportunity to explore my art in a fun setting.  Attended a workshop called “Deconstructing Our New Mexico Landscape” given at the Georgia O’Keefe Museum Annex in Santa Fe facilitated by Amy Paloranta, M.A. Art Therapy, artist, and arts educator.  It was a great opportunity to focus creating something abstract from pictures I took of some of the beauty on my journey home from Pagosa Springs this summer.  Recently, I joined a group of people in an Artist’s Way Sacred Circle group and am enjoying my commitment to having an artist’s date each week.  Nice to have a reason to make doing something nurturing or inspiring at least a weekly habit (not that I should need one!).

Shouldn’t we be doing these things as artists?!  How easy it is to get bogged down in the day to day routine of things, and not to make time for things that keep our bodies and souls healthy.  It’s also been too easy to say I don’t deserve to do things for myself–though I often do things for other people.  Thankfully I’ve been learning that the scripture does say “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  So, getting back to loving myself is in order…

Would be interested to hear from others what feeds your creativity?  Am just beginning to explore this more myself.  On Monday I’ll be teaching a short session for my watercolor group called “Local Color” and am going to use five poems on a particular theme to inspire people to paint about that theme.  Always find that poetry has a way of feeding my soul and is often good at conjuring up images in my head.  Years ago, I took a class with a man who had us paint a scene described in a Tony Hillerman novel, and it was fascinating to see the outcome of that from various different artists.  Working from the written word rather from visual images seemed to bring in an entirely different level of creativity that was quite stimulating.  I’m excited to see what this week’s exercise will bring from my many talented artist friends, and perhaps I can post some of the results afterwards.

In the next 10 or so weeks, I’ll be continuing my weekly artist dates, and perhaps for long afterwards.  Already I’m liking the idea of scheduling at least a little focused “me” time each week.  Am also interested in seeing the results of spending this time doing more nurturing activities in my art!

So, what have you done lately to feed your own creativity?  Won’t you consider joining me on this journey to get more in touch with your creativity?  I’d love to hear about it if you do!