Artist Way

I had an incredible experience on Sunday. I decided that I wanted to go through the Artist Way 12 week program again, but this time I wanted to do it in a face to face group. So I sent out emails, got a room at the library for 14 weeks, and showed up on time. We had a group of 10 people and it was fantastic. I've also sent them a link to the yahoo group I belong to, and I can't wait for discussions and topics as we focus on the chapters. Artist Way is a creative self help book written by Julia Cameron. I picked it up the first time in 2004, and have been an advocate ever sense. I have faced alot of my childhood fears and hangups and am a better person all the way around for it. The tips and techniques can be applied to creatives and non creatives alike. 3 pages of journaling a day to dump all the mental clutter and be able to see clearer and focus better. One 30min - 3 hour trip on your own doing what you enjoy - as a an artist I refer to them as artist dates straight from the book - but others could consider them a me date, or time to myself. Then there are tasks - like making a list of monsters that picked on you or didn't support you, and a list of those that did, or people that you admired. You write to yourself as a child and tell them who you are now, and where you would like to be, you write to yourself now as if you were 80 looking back. It's a nice wake up call to see where you are, what you want to be and how to get there. For this week I work on sketches for my books, I work on the Artist Way, I get my shows and guild requirements flowing properly. A busy week - espeically with family coming for the weekend starting on Thursday. Sometimes I wonder where I will get the chance to breath or focus - but then I find myself sitting on the couch with my kids watching Ben 10, or Scooby doo. It all works out, I just have to make sure I remain on the path to balance in all things :)

Thought for the day - if you were to go for 3 hours to do something you haven't done in a long time - where would it be. Then be daring and make it happen!

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