Let It Go!

Hello, I haven't meant to stay away for so long!  It's kinda the theme of my life lately. I wake up and 3 weeks have passed. Time and balance could slap me in the face and I would not know what either looked like if I stared in 'their eyes'.  I wonder if I've always been like this or if I've grown into it as I have...ummm matured? I think I can do more than I can do and I will damn sure work until everything about breaks me having tried.

Among other things...I've been putting my nose to the grind to finish up and complete one of my biggest projects yet, well perhaps the 3rd biggest as it is my 3rd online class that I have created in the last 13 months. To me, that's a huge accomplishment! The work that goes in on creating an online class is not for the weak of heart..lol.  It's a big undertaking but one that I love to do...I love sharing tips and helping others find the joy that I've found through art...and the healing.....there's a lot of healing that can be discovered through creating, whatever it is that you love to create. It doesn't have to be painting. I just love to paint and collage and play and make a big, beautiful, luscious, mess.

It soothes me. It helps me breathe, and there's a great sense of pride that I have when I'm finished with something, no matter how hard it was to finish. This class was hard for me to finish because I have been sick for the last two weeks, getting progressively sicker but I was determined not to let anyone down-especially not myself because I made a commitment to a lot of people and a commitment means you have given your word that you will do what you say you are going to do...and do it to the best of your ability.  I'm really proud of this project because it's another turning point for me.  Another mountain I have climbed and stood up from the top and said, this is where I'm at--come join me and you can see through to the other side with me. 

The class is about faces, and within the class about painting faces--we work through phases of our life that have come to define who we are, where we've been, and where it is that we want to go....  Where do I want to go from here? I do  know, and I have been putting my ducks in a row for a while now. I have to be brave and continue on no matter how hard it is to get there. I will get there.  (I'm not sure when, and not that it matters...I just know I will get there:) So will you! 

The first piece shown is one of my girls I painted almost a year ago....I felt so shattered at the time I painted this...the tear of the girl was truly that of my own. Despite feeling broken and shattered....I knew that was just temporary....I wouldn't be lost forever. This too shall pass. I need to remember that, because there are days that I can be as hard on myself as the world is hard around me. I can cause my own stress and my own pain. I need to sit and breathe and tell myself....tomorrow will be a new day and I will be brave enough to face it!

Why is that we are harder on ourselves at times then the world is? Maybe we say yes to too many things that we put unrealistic expecatations on ourselves or allow others to talk us into things we shouldn't position ourselves into whether it be emotional places or things or true tasks and responsibilities that are best left to someone else.  It's okay to say no. I'm learning that.  By saying no to things that are no longer helping you be the person you want to be,  You can say YES to the things that will make your world a brighter place to live in. I'm heading in that direction, maybe when I get there it won't seem like 3 weeks have passed in just a nanosecond of time. :) 

What is it that you can say no to today that will relieve you from something that is tying you down from blossoming?   Think about it.  I bet there are at least 2 or 3 things that you can let go of so  you can move on to bigger and brighter things.  Let's do it!

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For more information about my new class, "Let's Face It", be sure to stop by Creative Workshops.  Class starts on September 27th, 2010.  $ 45 dollars for access to a 21 video collective presentation on creating 4 different style of faces using a children's board book as an artistic journal substrate for our project.  Come join the fun!  You can work at you own pace which is a great benefit of the open ended class!