Returning to the fundamentals

photo by: Frank Busch on Unsplash

I started this blog in 2011 it was a means to document my creative journey, later in life and not being sure of what to do.  I simply put one foot in front of the other and trusted it would be revealed to me.   The truth is, most times I was bombarded by self-doubt.  I had never painted or drawn before so I was venturing out into the unknown.  I would use these writings/photos as a reference point to look back in time.  I could see where I was in comparison to where I am at the  present time.   I could see there was improvement, even on a small scale, that gave me the encouragement to keep going.  Today, I still feel those moments of self doubt yet along the way I have gained more confidence then when I started and more tools to help me overcome any of those negative thoughts.

This site, also, was intended to be an encouragement for anyone else who was interested in doing something out of their comfort.  You can begin by reading some of my earlier posts.

You see.. one of the things that frightened me the most was I would compare myself to others.  The really good artists.  Duh!!!  Now I know not to do that.   It would stop me dead in my tracks until one day it dawned on me that they had to begin at the beginning, too.

I remembered a song from a long time ago that inspired me and I started listening to it again.  HERE'S THE LINK TO WATCH

Here are some of the lyrics that I like:
It's not where you start, it's where you finish.
It's not how you go, it's how you land.
A hundred to one shot, they call him a klutz 
Can out-run the favorite, all he needs is the guts.
Your final return will not diminish
And you can be the cream of the crop;
It's not where you start, it's where you finish,
And you're gonna finish on top.

I have gotten more involved in creating art, selling my art, art shows/galleries, teaching, and learning that I have been remiss with this site.  That is going to change.  I am returning to the fundamentals of this blog,  Sharing my creative journey as I let my creative spirit out to play.

You can follow me via email or sign on as a follower.  These choices and others are on the sidebar of my homepage.

Forever Grateful

To date, this piece marks my first large drawing.

(not for long!)

She measures 24" x 24"

Gallery wrapped canvas

Charcoal, Pastel, and Acrylic paint

Titled:  Forever Grateful

    

I am Forever Grateful for many things.   

One item at the  top of this list is the encouragement and support I receive from ALL of you.  

When I say, "I couldn't do this without you."  I really mean it!  These are not mere words.

I Thank You from the bottom of my heart.

According to About Flowers the meaning of the Black-Eyed Susan flower is:

Encouragement

How appropriate these are as an addition for this piece.

What I am learning is... when I focus on gratitude I receive more blessings to be grateful for.

Thank You for all of your support and encouragement.

I couldn't do this without YOU!

HaPpY DaNcE

I got an email, yesterday, from the Naperville Fine Art Gallery telling me that my other piece of art hanging in their gallery had been sold.  Wanna know how excited I was?  Crazy excited!  Two pieces sold within 2 weeks.

HaPpY DaNcE!!!  HaPpY DaNcE!!! 

This is music to any artists ears!

       

Since I've been traveling this creative path...I have felt more alive.  I NEVER knew that I could paint or draw until I sat down with a piece of paper on the table, a pencil in my hand, and timidly began.
When I write and you read any exciting news it isn't intended to be boastful.  I am just celebrating out loud.  This path I'm on has it's share of dark times when my resilience it tested.  Those times you will rarely hear me talk about.  Why?  Because I don't want to draw to much attention to something I don't want to have hang around.  I sit with it, sometimes feel sorry for myself, I question why am I doing this.   I have always get to the point where I have enough and I am ready to move on.  I learn what I was supposed to learn.  When I regain myself I come back with more drive than I had before.

I can't express enough how valuable your

continued support and encouragement means to me.

Thank You ~ Thank You ~ Thank You

for being there!

I discovered a creative space

In a garden section of our backyard  I finally, reluctantly, consented for my husband to relocate a Miss Lilac bush.  John has been wanting to move this bush for the past 2 years and I kept resisting saying that "it is good right where it is".   This spring he brought the subject up again,  The difference is, this time I no longer felt the need to resist.  I actually began to get excited.  Not sure why.

Last Sunday we moved her (little Miss Kim) from the garden area into a spot all by herself.  I tidied up the garden area where she has been.  It was then my neighbor gave me some Black Eyed Susans.  A meaning for Black Eyed Susans is Encouragement.  That made my heart smile.   I planted them in the spot where the lilac bush was.  That evening John and I both remarked at how open and welcoming the space became after the bush was moved.  I had to agree with him and just knew that he had to be thinking "I told you so".   Yet it didn't matter because the space did look inviting, and cute!  Three days later the spot really spoke to me.  It was calling my name (figuratively speaking).  I moved a chair into the space, grabbed my supplies and I headed out to what has now been deemed as my outside studio.  Early in the morning I found myself strolling to my place of encouragement where I would spend several hours drawing to my hearts content.  Even the birds are welcoming me closer to their little world.

 I have discovered a creative space  nestled under a graceful magnolia tree.

Encouragement

According to the The Society of American Florist the meaning of the Black Eyed Susan flower is:

Lately I have been asking the Universe/God:

     * am I on the right path?

     * if I am, show me what I am suppose to be using my art for?

     * how can I take who I am and what I do and be of service?

I have committed to listening to the soft whispers even if I don't understand them, to quiet my "ego chatter" to be open to receive any and all messages, and another crucial part of the step is to follow thru.  It's quite the task!  Sometimes I do good and, as to be expected, sometimes not so good.  It greatly surprises me when I  get the message loud and clear to the very depth of my soul.  This is what happened with I finished these beautiful Black Eyed Susans.  I LOVED every minute of making them. (more details about them are on my website:  http://www.teresacash.com)  After the piece was completed I decided to look up the meaning of the flower and was enthralled by the definition… encouragement

OMGoodness!!!!  I have answers to my questions.  

Check this out… in the middle of the definition is the word courage, which is the ability and willingness to confront fear.  

I had been second guessing the release of my Little Angels as Breast Cancer Awareness Angels (which I did yesterday) because I didn't want anyone to think I was exploiting the situation.  Because I am not!  CLICK HERE for the link if you want to read more about them.  My intention was to find a way to offer encouragement.  Now I am aware that was just fear of being judged that was attempting to hold me back.

At this time I am feeling at peace and filled with gratitude.

I wish you a blessed day!

yes I can do that

A friend of mine posed a question on FaceBook the other day asking us to share something about our self that others do not know.  I responded back by saying, "from the outside I appear to have it all together when in reality most of the time I fake it until I make it".  That does not imply that I am phony it simple says that I will take risks to step out beyond my comfort zone even with my knees shaking and I haven't a clue what to do next.  YET... there are times that fear has engulfed me so tightly that I can't seem to get loose.  In the past I would beat myself up over it to the point that I felt like I couldn't overcome.   I am glad to say that hardly ever happens to me anymore.  When fear of reaching out of my comfort zone presents itself I get quiet and allow myself to feel the feeling, then I release it.  I often come up with a way to encourage myself to move forward.

Which brings me to the point of this post.

Lately I have been feeling the intense and exciting urge to paint big.  I've been preparing by buying large canvases and gradually increasing my acrylic paint supply to the 4oz. bottles.    I am enrolled in an on-line class with Donna Downey called 48 Weeks that has stretched me to paint in a journal that measure 16.5" x 21".  This is the largest I have painted.  Now it's time to step it up.  I will admit to you that fear is rearing to the surface again yet I know there is nothing to fear.  This is what I am doing to overcome this feeling.  I have hung a blank canvas on the wall in our Living Room.  My husband just shook his head when he saw it.  I believe it is just the little bit of encouragement that will turn this big white canvas into a beautiful piece of art.

In the meantime, I will fake it til I make it.  When guests come over and and see the blank white canvas on the wall I will confidently say, "I'll be painting a piece of art to take it's place."

two more days

As the Grand Opening + "FREE SHIPPING" of my Etsy shop draws near, I wanted to let everyone know that there are 2 more days left. 

My target was to sell 20 items, as I write this post,  I have sold 11 items.

I am pleased with that but as with any goal, it's always great to reach it.  I haven't given up hope yet!

Thanks to everyone for your encouragement and support as I journey on my creative path.  YOU mean alot to me.