How will you find a balance?

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There must be a hundred things I want to accomplish and at my vulnerable  points of the day I start to cave in and think of them all at once. As I am beginning to waffle  mid job- I remember my mind map. A feeling of calm comes over me and I know I can get it all done

I put this life juggler together over a period of time from many different sources. I want to always have an awareness of my ultimate life goals in front of me, so I don’t get off track.  However, I don’t like to be scheduled because I feel like I am locked in.

I’d like to share with you what I came up with. I actually find it to be fun and colorful and totally responsive to my needs. You  can adapt it to any organizational system.

It’s actually simple and fast!

• Meditate. Pretend this is the first day of the rest of your life! Guess what?  It is.This is the inward thinking part. Put your name in the middle of a page with a circle around it.  I used a pencil and crayons in my journal. Make 5 -7 lines radiating form the center where your name is. Think of 5-7 areas of your life to which you want to pay attention.

My 7 areas are:     art, spiritual, physical, intellectual, relationships, enviro nment, riches. What are yours?

I chose words that would spell another word, an acrostic, so that I would easily remember them all. Mine spells “aspirer”. It’s not exactly a word, but I like the idea of aspiring.

I also changed some words to make them more palatable. I like the idea of  taking care of the environment, but am not too excited about cleaning and  laundry all the time. But when I couch it in the true fact that cleaning improves the environment of home, it gets done easily.

Now choose a color for each area.

Armed with this little drawing and your custom  created categories, make up your calendar, using the colors to identify which category envelopes the individual job. For instance, cleaning is environment and it is green.  You can continue to use the crayons or colored pencils in your handwritten organizer or use the colors on your computer calendar.

When you notice you are chronically missing a color on your spectrum, pay attention. You need to fit some in soon!

Come to think of it, I believe I have some ironing to do. It will help save the environment and riches by avoiding the dry cleaners! Any action that covers two areas at once is a great motivator! Here are some posts to give you some ideas about reaching goals: A Boundless World and Zen Habits. Each approach is very  different, but then so are we all.

Keep me posted as to your own personal approach to deciding on and achieving your goals. What helped the most to inspire you?

Where do we get new ideas?

 

trees by bvw

 

 

As I work in my studio, I have begun to list all of the ideas that waft through my mind when I am just waking in the morning, walking, participating in a conversation, and reflecting afterwards. I have decided to look through my main journal and then write the main ideas down in small color coordinated Moleskine  journals.  I think that is my equivalent of the box system that Twyla Tharp mentions.  Apparently, she creates a box for each concept that she is interested in developing, and begins to fill the box with anything that could possibly expand that idea. I like the organizational structure. Now when I have an idea, drawing, connection, metaphor that relates to my concept, I will have a place to put it where I can easily reference it!

I follow the blog of Clara Lieu, an artist and teacher, who I have never met, but discovered  online, while looking for references to dealing with transparent layers, which I work with in my art. She has amazing work, is consistent in her way of working, and extremely articulate at describing her process. Reading her blog is a unique opportunity to get to know her rendition of the creative process. Definitely worth following!     http://www.claralieu.com/work/digging/index.html

I found this link on her blog concerning new ideas..Try it!

 And as Twyla recommends, write/draw things down before they are forgotten!

Brooklyn Museum visit stretches my visual boundaries!

I needed to just see some artwork at the Brooklyn Museum today, and was treated to a smorgasbord of artwork that encircled, surprised and caused me to rethink how I paint and how I see.

First of all, there was an installation by Sun K. Kwak done with masking tape…black only! When in the room, I felt wrapped in a swirling and comforting ribbon river. I am enthralled that this effect came from nothing more than torn black masking tape! Simple. Different.

Gustave Cailebotte had a very pleasant group of paintings that explored the water, his love. he also rowed, raced and designed boats. Busy man!

It was also an interesting and practical touch to be able to use my cell phone to call the Brooklyn Museum and get the comments on his paintings that way. (I am easily amused.  And I like using what I have.)

 This was one of my favorites because of the energy in the line, texture and composition!  I feel the wind!

Gustave Caillebotte (French, 1848–1894). Cliffs in Normandy, 1880. Oil on canvas, 28 3/4 x 23 5/8 in. (73 x 60 cm). Private collection

“Waterfall” by Pat Steir was refreshing and powerful!

Waterfall

Here is the artist describing her approach to her work!  This is quite a bit for one day. Have you had your visual perspective readjusted lately?

Inspired again by Twyla Tharp!

After having read “The Creative Habit: Learn it and use it for life” I finally  saw “Movin’ Out” based on the music of Billy Joel and conceived by Twyla. The show was incredible, bursting with energy and a depth of communication that was moving and articulate. It made me want to move in  my ordinary daily movements with the grace, power and energy inherent in this dancing!  I want to be more focused and energetic in my creative movements and stance while I am painting and drawing, as I think it will help to make the work more expressive! 

So when I got back home, not only did I find “Movin’ Out excerpts on youTube, but a one on creativity and motivation!  Here it is! Your reactions??!!