Recovering a Sense of Identity

The following is a direct quote from the book The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron.
"There is a recognizable ebb and flow to the process of recovering our creative selves. As we gain strength, we will some of the attacks of self-doubt. This is normal, and we can deal with these stronger attacks when we see them as a symptoms of recovery. Your artist, like a small child, is happiest when feeling a sense of security. We could wonder and worry about our arrogance instead of being humble enough to ask help to move through our fear. We could fantasize about art instead of doing the work. By not asking the Great Creator's help with our creativity, and by not seeing the Great Creator's hand in our creativity, we could proceed to righteously ignore our creativity and never have to take the risks of fulfilling it. Your blocked friends may still be indulging in all these comforting self-delusions." (pgs. 41-43)

These portions only provide a glimpse into the deep inner, spiritual connection working through our blocks can do for us as people, as artists, and as creative individuals. These words remind me of Romans 12:3 which says, "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith."

A few last words from the book: "More than anything else, creative recovery is an exercise in open-mindedness. Attention is a way to connect and survive. Survival lies in sanity, and sanity lies in paying attention. The reward for attention is always healing."

Rules of the Road
In order to be an artist, I must:
     1. Show up at the page (or canvas). Use the page (canvas) to rest, to dream, to try.
     2. Fill the well by caring for my artist.
     3. Set small and gentle goals and meet them.
     4. Pray for guidance, courage, and humility.
     5. Remember that it is far harder and more painful to be a blocked artist than it is to do the work.
     6. Be alert, always, for the presence of the Great Creator leading and helping my artist.
     7. Choose companions who encourage me to do the work, not just talk about doing the work or why I am not doing the work.
     8. Remember that the Great Creator loves creativity.
     9. Remember that it is my job to do the work, not judge the work.
     10. Place this sin in my workplace: Great Creator, I will take care of the quantity. You take care of the quality.

Recovering a Sense of Safety

We must confront our negative beliefs. Have you ever said these things to yourself?
1. Everyone will hate me.
2. I will hurt my friends and family.
3. I will go crazy.
4. I will abandon my friends and family.
5. I can't spell.
6. I don't have good enough ideas.
7. It will upset my mother and /or father.
8. I will have to be alone.
9. I will have only one good piece of work in me.
10. It's too late. If I haven't become a fully functioning artist yet, I never will.

When we expel the negative, we must replace it with positive affirmations.
1. I am a channel for God's creativity, and my work comes to good.
2. My dreams come from God and God has the power to accomplish them.
3. As I create and listen, I will be led.
4. Creativity is the Creator's will for me.
5. My creativity heals myself and others.
6. I am allowed to nurture my artist.
7. Through the use of a few simple tools, my creativity will flourish.
8. Through the use of my creativity, I serve God.
9. My creativity always leads me to truth and love.
10. My creativity leads me to forgiveness and self-forgiveness.
11. There is a divine plan of goodness for me.
12. There is a divine plan of goodness for my work.
13. As I listen to the creator within, I am led.
14. As I listen to my creativity I am led to my Creator.
15. I am willing to create.
16. I am willing to learn to let myself create.
17. I am willing to let God create through me.
18. I am willing to be of service through my creativity.
19. I am willing to experience my creative energy.
20. I am willing to use my creative talents.

Putting these things into practice can be difficult, but are essential to growing into the creator you were meant to become. Keep writing your morning pages (3 free-flow writing) and keep your weekly artist date in order to give yourself priority. As you begin to confront the negative, you will be able to replace it with positive. It will get easier.

Contract Time

Presidents' Day 2013

24x12 Acrylic 

$225

Contracts may not stir up good vibes, but to really see something through to the end, we often do better when we bind ourselves into a contract.

CONTRACT

I, ___________, understand that I am undertaking an intensive, guided encounter with my own creativity. I commit myself to the twelve-week duration of the course. I, ___________, commit to weekly reading, daily morning pages, a weekly artist day, and the fulfillment of each week's tasks. 

I, __________, further understand that this course will raise issues and emotions for me to deal with. I, ____________, commit myself to excellent self-care--adequate sleep, diet, exercise, and pampering--for the duration of the course. 

_________________________

(signature)

______________________

(date)

Now, not to scare you off, but this is for your betterment. I think we will all see some great improvement in our inner child artist as we go through the next few weeks together. See previous posts for more information.

www.rachelhollandart.com

Creativity Continues

So, you're struggling on whether or not to grow your creative spirit... Here are a few more questions answered for you to dwell on during your week. I will be directing you through a series of exercises using The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. She has been inspirational in helping so many artists (writers, directors, painters, sculptors, etc.) find their drive again. Even if you're not an "artist" you will still find these exercises inspiring to help you be more creative in your own life.

Q: One of the central themes of The Artist Way is the link between creativity and spirituality. How are they connected?
A: Creativity is a spiritual force. Because creation is always an act of faith, and faith is a spiritual issue, so is creativity. As we strive for our highest selves, our spiritual selves, we cannot help but be more aware, more proactive, and more creative.

Q: Tell me more about the two central exercises in the book--the morning pages and the artist dates.
A: The morning pages are three pages of stream-of-consciousness longhand morning writing. You should think of them not as "art" but as an active form of meditation for Westerners. In the morning pages we declare to the world--and ourselves--what we like, what we dislike what we wish, what we hope, what we regret, and what we plan.
      By contrast, the artist dates are times for receptivity, pre-planned solitary hours of pleasurable activity aimed at nurturing the creative consciousness. Used together, these tools build, in effect, a radio set. The morning pages notify and clarity--they send signals into the verdant void; and the solitude of the artist dates allows for the answer to be received.
      The morning pages and the artist dates must be experienced in order to be explained, just as reading a book about jogging is not the same as putting on your Nikes and heading out to the running tract. Map is not territory, and without reference points from within your own experience, you cannot extrapolate what the morning pages and artist dates can do for you.

Work in Progress

Let's hit the running track now with your morning pages and artist dates, once a week, if possible. If you write each morning just what you're thinking, how you feel, what you're stressed about, etc., eventually you will reach inward deeper and reveal some hidden truths within you that are buried. I look forward to the journey together. This is a personal journey, but we'll share some, too. I plan on holding a Paint-Out with women in my area in March, so let me know if you're up to the challenge! Don't worry, I'll walk you through each step of the painting and you'll walk away with a "masterpiece."

You have to be signed up to receive my email newsletter to get these updates and be added to the list for drawings of my artwork once a month! Happy Presidents Day!

The Artist's Way Q&A

Do you ever feel you're not living your best life? Maybe you are starving the creative part of your spirit. I'll be posting information from the book The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron to help you find your true path in living a more creative life.

Let's start with questions you may have:
Q: Is true creativity the possession of a relatively small percentage of the population?
A: No, absolutely not.We are all creative. Creativity is a natural life force that all can experience in one form or another. Just as blood is part of our physical body and is nothing we must invent, creativity is part of us and we each can tap into the greater creative energies of the universe and pull from that vast, powerful spiritual wellspring to amplify our own individual creativity.

Q: Can I expect dramatic results to begin occurring right away?
A: The answer is both yes and no. While dramatic changes will occur within the twelve-week course, much more dramatic changes occur when Artist's Way tools become life tools. If the basic tools of morning pages and the artist date are kept carefully in place, you can expect to experience large life shifts.

Q: What factors keep people from being creative?
A: Conditioning. Family, friends, and educators may discourage us from pursuing an artist's career. There is the mythology that artists are somehow "different," and this mythology of difference inspires fear. If we have negative perceptions about what an artist is, we will feel less inclined to do the diligent work necessary to become one.

Q: How does this book free people to be more creative?
A: The primary purpose-and effect-of The Artist's Way is to put people in touch with the power of their own internal creativity. The book frees people to be more creative in many different ways: First, it helps dismantle negative mythologies about artists. Second, it helps people discover their own creative force, access it, and express it more freely. Third, it provides people with an awareness about their self-destructive behaviors and allows them to see more clearly what the impediments on their individual path might be. Finally, the book helps people identify and celebrate their desires and dreams and make the plans to accomplish them. It teaches people how to support and nurture themselves as well as how to find others who will support them in fulfilling their dreams.

If you're not convinced yet, I'll continue the Q&A next time. Just be thoughtful about your life and if you think you would benefit from following this path, then join me in a bit of "spring cleaning" to rediscover your creative spirit. Subscribe to the email newsletter for more details. Don't forget to check out the inspirational quotes at the top of my blog for GREAT inspiration!

Website

I'm happy to announce my art website is now up!  Go to www.rachelhollandart.com to subscribe to my newsletter to be informed of new art and for a chance to win credit toward your own commission.  Pet portraits are my passion, but I continue to experiment with other methods.
I will be redirecting my traffic to my new blog and newsletter, so if you are interested in receiving them please check out the link to be added!

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