Artful Musings
Finding My Balance During Covid-19 Quarantine
In January I started a 100 day project of drawing cartoons and focusing on positive self-talk. I shared many of those thoughts and drawings during the January Ultimate Blog Challenge. I filled well over a hundred pages in my journal of thoughts, practice drawings and completed illustrations. For the April challenge I haven’t quite figured…
Are You Getting Enough Creative Time?
Are You Getting Enough Creative Time? When was the last time you made space in your calendar for creative play? Right now during this Covid-19 quarantine, creativity and play are the two things I believe will get you through to the other side of the pandemic feeling excited and inspired about the next steps for…
Want to Write More? Master a Writer’s Mindset
Want to Write More? Master a Writer’s Mindset From the fun and flirtatious to professional and personal, writing is an important part of our creative lives. No matter what career you are in or what kind of creative work you choose to do, you write on a daily basis, whether it’s an email, a social…
She’s Talking Back Podcast a Hit!
She’s Talking Back Podcast I am so honored to have been one of the featured guests on the fantastic, hot new podcast “She’s Talking Back”. Rockstar host Michelle McGlade and I covered a huge range of topics. Here’s her introduction to our conversation. “Before we dig in, I have a little bit more to say…
Progress not perfection: 100 days of positive self-talk
I am a work in progress. Every day I practice. Every day I get a little better and believe a little more that I can. I am focusing on progress not perfection on this creative and personal journey. I drew the sketches above a few days ago and decided to count it as a day…
Day 31: 100 days of positive self-talk
The past few days of cartoons and positive self-talk have kept me sane and thoughtful. My computer crashed yesterday so I am typing this on my phone which is challenging but not impossible. Didn’t have handouts for my online workshop this morning because of the crash and had to wing it. It wasn’t perfect or…
My Daily Drawing Habit – 100 days of Positive Self-Talk
I have been drawing steadily for the past few days but haven’t felt much like writing. My daily writing habit has been my salvation and my joy this past few days. In fact, since the news about Kobe Bryant and his daughter and the other families who lost their lives on Sunday, I’ve felt off…
Part 2 – My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss
What does it mean to feel all of your feelings? As part of my 100 days of positive self-talk, journaling and drawing, I have had fun illustrating one of my favorite pieces by Dr. Seuss over the past few weeks, “My Many Colored Days.” This post is part two. You can find the illustrations for…
Days 15 – 18: My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss
There is a poem by Dr. Seuss called ‘My Many Colored Days.” I have a board book version I used to read to my kids. This wonderful poem helps us all – adults and children alike, accept that we feel all the feelings and that on no two days are we the same and that’s…
Day 14 – Inspired by John O’Donohue
Day 14 of 100 days of positive self-talk, drawing and writing inspired by Irish poet John O’Donohue John O’Donohue writes in this beautiful unfinished poem “I would love to live like a river flows, carried by the surprise of its own unfolding.” He is one of my favorite poets and philosophers and I love listening…
Reflections on turning 55
Day 13 of 100 days of positive self-talk with cartoons and comments I feel deep gratitude today. As I reflect on where I have been and where I am going in the days, months and years I feel excited to be turning 55. and I think this 100 days of focusing on positive self-talk is…
Day 12: Progress not perfection
Day 12 of 100 days of drawing and positive-self talk: Progress not perfection Today I am sharing work in progress. I have an entire journal full of practice pages. In my journey as an artist I have always embraced progress not perfection as a personal mantra. I think it’s time to apply that to my…
Holding Myself Tenderly – Radical Self-Care
Day 11 of my 100 day project: Practicing Radical Self-Care On this journey towards expressing deeper self-compassion, self-love and loving-kindness towards myself, I realized that I need to hold myself tenderly and find simple routines and practices for my plan for radical self-care. My tendency is to hold myself tightly, to hold in emotions, feelings,…
9 things I’ve learned about self-care from my daily walks
9 things I’ve learned about self-care from my daily walks: Day 10 of 100 days of positive self-talk Getting out the door is the hardest step Slow down or you miss the important things (like tiny wonderful bugs in the center of a flower, birds in a tree, dewdrops on a spiderweb) Something is always…
Day 9 – The Queen of Self-Love
Day 9 of 100 days of positive self-talk – Meet the Queen of Self-Love Yesterday I was teaching my Confident Creative class and decided to have each participant name themselves the Queen of ____. We are in the part of the workshop where we are talking about creating our vibrant vision for the year from…
Day 8 of 100 days of positive self-talk: one step at a time
It’s the beginning of week 2 of my 100 days of positive self-talk. As I think about what I have committed to: 100 days of drawing cartoons and writing, I could feel completely overwhelmed. But I don’t. Instead, I can’t wait to sit down and draw every evening. I’ve also committed to 100 days of…
Dancing with my shadow to heal the wounded self
Day 7 of 100 Days of Positive Self-Talk: Dancing with my Shadow I am dancing with my shadow today and embracing her fully. I am loving her and telling her she is safe, it’s going to be okay! Most importantly, I am bringing her into the light and allowing her to shine. It’s so easy…
Day 6 – Overcoming Perfectionism with Positive Self-Talk
Day 6 of 100 days of positive self-talk is about overcoming perfectionism and releasing my harsh inner critic. In today’s cartoon my character struts proudly, arms raised and says to the world, “I am perfectly imperfect.” I’m not sure where I saw this statement first but I thought to myself, that’s brilliant. That’s how I…