(artful download} November Calendar

I thought you might like something fall-like for your computer desktop.
 Download it Here. I hope you enjoy it.

{artful peek} What I'm Seeing

My camera is always with me, so here is a peek at what I have been seeing lately.

24 ARTFUL Prompts to Jumpstart Your Day

I am always looking for fun ideas to jumpstart my creative process. Here are 24 prompts you can use to jumpstart yours. Prompts are fun because you can interpret them anyway you want.

Here are a few ideas for how you might use these. Choose a prompt...

•  photograph, draw, paint or write about it. 
• Combine several prompts and use them in a short story. 
• Cut them up and pick one at random to explore in any way. 

Any prompt can be used to create a series of pieces. For example you can photograph or draw your breakfast everyday. The possibilities are endless. You have complete freedom to explore, play and enjoy.

You can download and print the prompts here.

I'd love to know how you are using these.

Do you enjoy prompts?  Do you ever make up your own?

Eight Must See TED Talks on Creativity

Ted talks are one of my favorite ways to learn, to be inspired and connect new ideas. Here are eight of my favorite TED talks.

#1 David Kelly: How to Build your Creative Confidence

#2 How Schools Kill Creativity

#3 Your elusive Creative Genius

#4 Lessons in Creativity

#5 Where does Creativity Hide?

#6 The Power of Vulnerability

#7 Steal Like an Artist: Austin Kleon

#8 Amanda Palmer: The Art of Asking

What are your favorite TED talks?

{artfulseed} inspiration

Happy Thursday everyone.
Here is a little midweek inspiration you can download it here.

11 Ways to Work with Your Inner Critic

It takes a lot of courage to pick up the paint brush, or any creative tool.

It doesn’t matter what your medium is, it can feel daunting to make a single mark. 

Creativity can be overwhelming and exhilarating at the same time.

I know when I paint, I  often have to listen to an inner voice that can be intrusive and loud.

This is the voice that gives me a hard time. This is the voice that gets me stuck.

I gave my critic a name. I call her Zelda. She is a real piece of work to deal with.

She would much prefer I am at home watching Judge Judy at 4pm. 

She also has a lot to say when I am painting...

Are you sure you took that color class, girl? ...You should probably just quit now because this is a  just a hot mess… 

You get the idea. How does your inner critic stop you?

Here is the real truth about the inner critic. 

Your critic is trying to protect you because being creative is ...well vulnerable. 

Your critics job is just to protect you and keep you from failure and embarrassment.

Get to know your inner critic and learn how to gently talk back to it. 

Rather than pushing it away, is it possible to befriend it and distract it, or even trick it so you can get back to work?

Creative life requires that we are bold and daring. 

The drive to nourish, maintain and sustain your art-making is an inside job. 

It is important to identify your creative mission and vision and get to know what you value about being an artist.

We can work with the voice of the critic, if we create systems and rituals that support us. 

Here are a few ideas that might help.

Identify your values as an artist 

Write your own art manifesto and post where you can see it everyday.

Find creative allies 

Join a creative support or mastermind group. Creating community around creativity keeps you from feeling isolated.

Set small measurable goals 

Create a series if small measurable and achievable goals will help  you build confidence.

Talk Back.  

Summon your inner art hero persona, and let your critic know, It’s time to chill, because your in charge- you’ve got this.

Be consistent.

Make creativity it a habit-like building a muscle. When you do this your confidence will increase.

Feel It.

What is the felt-sense of your inner critic? Is it a fluttering in your chest or a knot in your stomach? Notice how it shows up. By shining the light of awareness on it you can begin to shift and give yourself room to work creatively with it.

Get mindful as you work.

Stay in the present moment by connecting to the breath and feeling your connection to the ground. Stay connected with the sensations- sounds and feelings of the work that is front of you. Mindful attention is a powerful, yet gentle way to work with the inner critic.

Reward your self.

Take a break and have a day where you just play and have some fun. Visit a museum or an art supply store. Savor and enjoy.

Write it down.

Write your Morning Pages. Get all the doubts, fears, worries and stuff that is floating around in your head out on paper. Getting rid of what you don’t need makes space for what you do need- clarity and freedom.

Create a ritual.

Play your favorite music, have a cup a tea, whatever supports you and your work- do it!

Be kind. Be compassionate.

Offer yourself compassion. It matters. Treat yourself the way you would treat a friend going through something similar. Being an artist is hard work. Simply notice when it is hard and acknowledge what is happening. 

What are the ways your inner critic stops you? How do you respond?

{Artful Friday} what inspired me this week...

Happy Friday.
This week went by in a flash. Here are a few things I found during my travels on the internet this week.

Creative Mornings- this site has great TED-like talks and content for creatives.
Art Hound- Brooklyn based art-lover Kate Singleton's beautiful blog about artists.
Creative Live -I am enjoying a class with artist Lisa Congdon- Becoming a Working Artist and David   Nichtern's class Creativity, Spirituality & Making a Buck are both interesting and helpful!

Have a great weekend.

{artfulseeds} inspirational words

Here is a thought for today. You can download it here. Have a great day. 

{studio peek} Watch Me Paint!

I often get asked just how I paint. My painting process is really intuitive and in the moment.
It is like conversation that happens...I make a mark and it sort of talks back to me and tells me where to go next. Here is a video of a small painting being made.

After I filmed the first one, I got into a groove and painted a few more.
These paintings are all available for purchase in my SHOP.

{artful desktop} October Calendar

Happy Monday.
I hope your weekend was a delightful one.
This landscape really reminds me  so  much of autumn. I am using it for my computer desktop.
I hope you will enjoy it too. You can download it here.

{artfulseeds} inspirational words

Have a wonderful relaxing and creative weekend. Here is the link to download this 8.5x11. Enjoy!

{sketchbooks}

"To have a great idea, have a lot of them."
                                             — Thomas Edison

hello.

I spent some time this week getting myself a bit more organized. The stacks of journals are beautiful reminder of the creative journey that I am on every day. I can really use that as I head into the weekend.
Peace.
Cheryl

{what I'm working on} Gelli Print Play Date

I spent the morning playing with Gelli printing. I love the process-playful and lots of happy accidents.

{How I Work} A Peek At MY Favorite Pens

 I admit it I just love pens.
 Here are a few of my favorites:
1.Ptt Brush this is great for big areas and drawing shapes.
2. 3.and 4 Tombows and Zebras are my go to lettering brushes you can order them here at Jet PENS
5. and 9 Pigma pens are great archival and waterproof.
6. Sharpies  like this have a great weight and feel and the line is thin.
7. 8, and 10. Faber Castells come in a variety if weights... my favorite is fine.

Do you have a favorite pen?

creative process {sketchbook PEEK #1}

Happy Monday.

Sketchbooks and art journals have always been an important part of my creative process.

 I thought I might start by diving into my vault and looking at one from 1997.  I use watercolor, charcoal, pencil, pen and ink, gesso and acrylic paint.

The blank page is a place where I can express ideas, emotions, stories, random "brain drain". I like to work quickly and in layers.

Thanks for watching.

Do you keep a journal or sketchbook? What materials do you use?

{artfulseeds} inspirational words

Have a great weekend all.