tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30497842023889213502016-09-08T00:28:33.705-04:00Four Writers and Illustrators take on The Artist's Way for a year long journey into Creative Life.Amanda K Jarosnoreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-17630371708333982952013-10-01T06:00:00.000-04:002013-10-01T06:00:11.822-04:00

The past year I took few artist dates. But I did make time for small backyard artist dates where I wandered the yard and focused in on the nature that surrounds my everyday life.  I found some lovely things. Backyard Artist Date- Summer Backyard Artist Date - Spring Backyard Artist Date I never got around to an Autumn artist date, so I thought I would do that now. After this one however, I

Amanda K Jarosnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-76556530444416579242013-09-15T22:32:00.000-04:002013-09-16T06:11:17.554-04:00

My baby is a week old already and I forgot to send out an official announcement on our blog! Such a distracted (and weary) mother I am! My baby is my book, my children's book "It Began with a Song." I pushed through with the self-publishing and after ordering and receiving 6 proofs of the book (each one an improvement over the next) I finally clicked the "I APPROVE" button on CreateSpace and the

Katrina Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161451780616423620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-31896422712866379652013-09-03T11:50:00.000-04:002013-09-03T11:50:40.877-04:00

Though I haven't written much all summer with my son home from school, vacations, and more than my share of camping, the end of summer is here and I am finding my way back into writing. Slowly. One step I am taking is to begin writing haiku again. Haiku is a short, 17 syllable form of poetry that captures one moment in time. (Though often there are fewer than 17 syllables in modern haiku.) Often

Amanda K Jarosnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-31882555424585907512013-08-19T06:00:00.000-04:002013-08-19T06:00:00.574-04:00

And so we have come to the end of our Artist's Way process. A few weeks ago, Katrina had Diane, Johanna, and I over to her lovely home to celebrate our year long adventure together. We had wine, peaches, borscht, muffins, and petit fours to toast to our growth and success. We each have had our challenges over the year, both with this work, and within our own lives, but it seems to me that

Amanda K Jarosnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-16696634275899287952013-08-14T14:17:00.000-04:002013-08-14T14:17:49.333-04:00

         As Amanda recently wrote,  it's time to begin something new.  In more than one way, I feel like a beginner, and for more than one reason I like the feeling. After twelve months of loosening up and exploring,  I can look in the mirror and see that I'm still struggling with rigidity.  At least I've relaxed enough not to get too mad at myself for that.  At least? I think I'd rather say

Johanna van der Sterrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621862952685805555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-73103440116617118702013-08-10T09:25:00.000-04:002013-08-10T09:25:02.318-04:00

As usual, I've put off writing this post until the very last minute.  Partly because life remains overly full but mostly because I have no idea what little tidbits to share. So, this is Week 12, the *final* one in the Artist's Way.  And I'm feeling really mixed about it.  On the one hand, I'm extremely happy to not have to come up with interesting/witty/insightful observations that I then have

Diane Lauzunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185095211112330707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-42758535970248908072013-08-02T17:15:00.001-04:002013-08-02T17:22:33.976-04:00

A year ago, when the four of us were just starting this blog, just starting the Artist's Way, I was in the process of dismantling my studio and changing it into a bedroom. Kind of ironic now that I think of it. I have two bedrooms already upstairs and was using one as a source of income, renting it out as a bed and breakfast room. The demand for that room increased and I decided to give up the

Katrina Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161451780616423620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-62097008888502710632013-08-01T23:21:00.000-04:002013-08-01T23:21:04.807-04:00

I'm feeling better about the future of this children's book after talking to the CreateSpace help person (who was talking to me from South Africa with a killer accent!). I think the gutter issue can be fixed. I'm waiting to hear back about the exact problem and hopefully there will be an easy solution. The silver lining of this techno problem is that I have had time to reflect on the book for a

Katrina Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161451780616423620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-40976827761455040222013-07-31T23:26:00.000-04:002013-08-01T07:26:48.118-04:00

I have the proof copy of my children's book in my hands! I made this my priority over the last two months, pushed through all the details, and now am almost self-published! I say "almost" because it's not perfect. There are a few layout issues I need to resolve with CreateSpace, the Amazon publishing company I am using. I also wish I had the money to have all of my artwork professionally

Katrina Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161451780616423620noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-78701142106867776202013-07-26T06:00:00.000-04:002013-07-26T06:00:02.241-04:00

In my closet I have two sweaters. Both of which I love to wear. Both of which also have holes in the seams. One in the sleeve, the other in the armpit. I have worn them plenty of times with these holes, simply hoping people won't notice. But I notice. So a few months back I set them aside with intentions to mend the holes and thus be able to finally enjoy them more completely. They sat in the

Amanda K Jarosnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-20415675049409701612013-07-24T06:00:00.000-04:002013-07-24T06:00:08.444-04:00

I've been in a pretty dark place in recent months. In that place, I've been a bit scared out of creating. I'm feeling a pretty solid lack of desire to create much of anything. A few weeks ago, just before the darkness came, I bought some annuals to plant around my garden. I got a few of them planted, but then the rest languished in varying degrees of heat and rain for weeks. Eventually, I

Amanda K Jarosnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-9291885966203336562013-07-22T06:00:00.000-04:002013-07-22T06:00:09.576-04:00

As you read this, I am just leaving a family reunion in Madison, Wisconsin, where my very extended family celebrated my Great Aunt Jeannette turning 100 years old. (Turns out I'm a planner and got my week 12 posting done ahead of time.)  In the past two years I have taken it upon myself to step into her shoes as the family historian. No one else of my generation has been terribly interested, but

Amanda K Jarosnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-86812486447156907822013-07-19T08:01:00.000-04:002013-07-19T08:01:58.001-04:00

    Usually, I order my art supplies from a catalogue so I get just what I need and no extras. Today, I will walk straight through the automatic doors into temptation!  And then I will bring home some new stuff to play with!

Johanna van der Sterrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621862952685805555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-85197801886439095432013-07-18T11:33:00.000-04:002013-07-18T11:33:40.419-04:00

  Taking time off from creating something new to take care of what I've already got.  This has always helped me to unblock creativity and to feel more relaxed.   It's almost a sure bet for me that, as the house starts to come together again and I see open counter, floor,  and table space, I will start to get new art ideas.   Today I am cleaning, weeding and mending as recommended by Julia Cameron

Johanna van der Sterrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621862952685805555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-57086370003730867242013-07-17T07:37:00.001-04:002013-07-17T07:37:36.655-04:00

       Today, I plan to dress up just a little bit and meet a friend out for lunch.  The rest of my day will be business as usual, but I think the mid-day break will make everything feel like vacation!

Johanna van der Sterrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621862952685805555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-47460906020403686582013-07-16T09:53:00.001-04:002013-07-16T09:53:42.994-04:00

     Being a person who takes life too seriously, I don't easily relax into fun.  I don't set down my work and my worries, and burst into good times and uproarious laughter within minutes.  No, I am never able to do that.   If I've been too uptight for too long, I've got to start with a gentle loosening and lightening up.  So, today I'll be doing some jogging and stretching and watching a movie

Johanna van der Sterrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621862952685805555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-18963107596457733042013-07-15T10:50:00.000-04:002013-07-15T10:50:33.363-04:00

       Almost a year ago, I started following the Artist's Way.  Mostly to loosen up and enjoy art again.  I relaxed on my children's book work - my "career".   I let myself paint landscapes with no thought of a finished product.  Now, here I am framing a small show.  So, I've walked a certain distance on my creative path!  And yet I'm still in familiar territory :  I'm fitting my fun,

Johanna van der Sterrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621862952685805555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-74340568948379320142013-07-13T23:29:00.000-04:002013-07-13T23:31:19.120-04:00

I've been negligent in my blogging duties again.  I'm sensing a trend. Actually, I've been thinking about why I'm so bad at this blogging thing.  Is it an intentional block on my part?  Yeah, I think so.  But also, I struggle with what to say each time and how much to reveal.  I don't want to write something dry and boring, but I am also a pretty private person - especially when it comes to my

Diane Lauzunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185095211112330707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-75210861388483243862013-07-06T09:48:00.000-04:002013-07-06T09:49:54.907-04:00

There is the idea of art, then the creating of art, and then... the revising, refining, and "finishing." I'm in that last phase now with a children's book I've been working on for a few years. The idea and the creating were done a long time ago. But the final touches are taking forever! I've thought a lot about why I got stalled and how to get moving again. "The Artist's Way" has been very

Katrina Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161451780616423620noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-54760562894177489432013-07-05T19:54:00.000-04:002013-07-06T10:51:42.717-04:00

When I was a young girl, I wanted to grow up to be a doctor or a teacher. I wanted to become a doctor because I knew (from the perspective of all of my 9 years on the planet) that I was smart. Smart people can become doctors and earn the respect of the community. I wanted to become a teacher maybe because that was familiar to me... a strong female who could gather, inspire, and control, yes,

Katrina Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161451780616423620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-89677083315490506142013-07-01T22:42:00.000-04:002013-07-02T06:29:23.759-04:00

The artist's way is a spiral. Yes! The artist's way is a spiral! I was so happy to read these words in Chapter 11: Recovering a Sense of Autonomy. I love this chapter! Finally some acknowledgement that everything we do is valuable to our creative endeavors. We don't walk a straight line from idea to creation. Our every day life contributes to our creative idea bank. We pick up inspiration and

Katrina Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17161451780616423620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-48340140295157621042013-06-28T06:00:00.000-04:002013-06-28T06:00:09.522-04:00

Amanda K Jarosnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-49716883579848373212013-06-26T06:00:00.000-04:002013-06-26T06:00:09.404-04:00

"The idea that money validates my credibility is very hard to shake." -Julia Cameron Man oh, man, is this ever the truth. As a stay-at-home mom, trying to make ends meet, desperate for enough time to write, and with very few credits to my writing name, I fight this fight every single day. It comes in the face of relatives or friends who ask me whether I ought not "get a job," and leave the

Amanda K Jarosnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-59868461885615948072013-06-24T06:00:00.000-04:002013-06-24T06:00:08.148-04:00

I've been in serious need of some nurturing this month.  Life has been a bit like rocky road lately, so I very much appreciated the Week 11 tasks that required me to be kind to myself. One of them was to write out a week's worth of nurturing acts to bestow on myself.  Here's what I planned out, AND did (with only a few slight rearrangements)... Friday- take a midday nap, or at least lie in bed

Amanda K Jarosnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049784202388921350.post-926870299873186842013-06-20T13:35:00.000-04:002013-06-20T13:35:21.396-04:00

             Altogether I've created seven landscape paintings since September.  I'm pretty happy with five of those, and the other two still have potential.  My painting buddy and I decided we were ready to look into a public place to display our collected works so far.  We believe we have found such a spot!  We went together to approach the shop owner just yesterday, and she seemed

Johanna van der Sterrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621862952685805555noreply@blogger.com3