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I think the theme of this chapter for me would be whether I was disconnected, resistant (in which case what do I need to deal with), or just making excuses to not do it.  In any event this week was SO hard to get through.  It is not a tough week emotionally, so I have no idea what was going on.   I have had to force my way through this chapter of the course.

The journaling reads:
What is the difference between disconnection and resistance? Does some work just not resonate with us? At what point does that become resistance and something that points to resistance and procrastinating and avoiding or just something that does not call to us. Is it all just excuses?

:) I suspect it may be!!

But none of that speculation has anything to do with this chapter that was actually about nurturing myself as an artist, and what that means. To continue to develop our artistic selves and grow creatively. In advocating self-care she also went into the importance of getting out of our heads and outside moving, even if only a twenty minute walk each day.

All good stuff, so no idea why I stalled on this. There was nothing confronting in what I was reading. If you have any insight while you are reading, then don’t hesitate to share!!

What is valuable, (and this did not come out this week, but maybe week 9 or 10), was going through the morning pages, looking for insights and action points. It was interesting because most of it is just blahs going through my head as it should be and is meant to, but every now and again there is surprising little nuggets in there. What is really exciting is the other side of doing morning pages, and where it is really helpful.

Everyone advocates doing them, but to go through them looking for insights and action points was a really useful exercise that I can recommend. There were surprising little ideas that came out of them, things for me to look into and follow up, things I can’t even remember writing. So I advise morning pages reflection every now and again.

The tasks this week involved recording yourself reading different things aloud so you can listen to them, wish making, assessing how you will change, and how you will nurture yourself through the changes. There was also another letter written. Task wise it was a relatively easy week, especially given how involved some of the other week’s tasks have been.

The quotable quotes from Julia Cameron this week in Chapter 11 are:

Creativity is oxygen for your souls.

To be an artist is to recognise the particular. To appreciate the peculiar.

To kill your dreams because they are irresponsible is to be irresponsible to yourself.

The stringent requirement of a sustained creative life is the humility to start again, to begin anew.

Creativity is not a business, although it may generate much business. An artist cannot replicate a prior success indefinitely. Those who attempt to work too long with formula, even their own formula, eventually leach themselves of their creative truths.

Creativity requires action and part of that action must be physical.

The act of motion puts us into the now and helps us to stop spinning.

This is the end of Chapter 11! Now onto the final chapter!!!! (Oh my gosh, that is exciting!!)

You can see my other check-ins for the previous chapters here.

I have not posted my rocking moments for two weeks (I just ran out of time), so here I go!

I finished ICAD last year and loved my collection of cards, so was really looking forward to it this year.  However, what is most rocking my socks off about it this year is Victoria, my Miss 6 is doing it with me.  You can see her cards here and here.  She is rocking it, and is very focussed on not only doing her own thing, but also in producing 61 cards. I also want to say thank you while I am here for the VERY kind comments that have been left.  I appreciate it more than I can say, it is so supportive, but Victoria especially is getting such a kick out of reading the comments.  I think she is preparing herself to hand out her autograph to her fans!  :)

Victoria participated in her first competition for St John last weekend.  They were her first competitions and she has only been doing it for a few months so I was clear with my girl (who does not like to lose) that the likelihood of her coming anywhere, against 8 year olds from all over the region, who have been doing it for a couple of years was VERY remote.

The competitions included things like tending to someone who had fallen of their bike, phoning the ambulance, clearing the bike away, washing the wound with saline and bandaging it.  Making a sandwich and healthy lunch out of a selection of groceries.  Attending to someone who had stepped on a bottle, improvising first aid with what was around, with no first aid kit, and drills and communication skills.  So quite involved, especially for a six year old.

It finished a couple of hours later than it was meant to, so we almost didn’t stay for prize-giving, but I am glad we did because she got a first, a second and a third!!!! I nearly fell of my seat, and she gave me a very self satisfied smug smile!  I think she may have been happiest at getting a chocolate fish for coming first.  :) (Because this is my rocking moments record I won’t mention that been there from 8.30am until after 5pm felt like a REALLY, REALLY long day :))

I have seen four rainbows in the last week or so, one double rainbow and one triple rainbow (an echo on the outside and the inside!!!!!!). It has all felt quite magical and auspicious!

I posted this card last week and was feeling a bit blah about it.  Teresa then wrote the loveliest post, and I have to say you see things much more clearly when your words are reflected back to you.  I am very grateful.

I have been painting in my art journal and life has been very full which I am grateful for.

I was also approached by someone who wanted to use one of MY images in an ACTUAL publication. I am not sure if that will end up going anywhere, but I can tell you it thrilled me no end!! I can also assure you that if it does go somewhere I will let you all know quite loudly!! :D

Rain and cold have settled in around these parts and I am very grateful for our fire and also that I have the best slippers in the world, because I am not a fan of cold toes!

These books also arrived for me which I am excited about! I hope it bodes well for a very creative Winter! :)

Apart from my Beloved and the children as always, I think those are most of my rocking moments captured!

I am also posting my card for My 52 cards. Card #16 already!!? That has gone fast.

You can find out more about the 52 cards process over here. Teresa explains it much more eloquently than I could. I would add that I am finding it a really useful process to reflect in this way. It is also interesting what words resonate on one week, more than another week. It seems to keep me on some track, or pathway. Combined with the morning pages, I feel much more productive that I did! :)

I am so glad I decided to do this course.  It has been really interesting.  I was very close to deciding I did not have the time to do it, so I am glad I found the time, and decided to submit what I had, not worry if it was ‘perfect’ or not. Despite the imperfection I am learning a lot and this is stretching me as an artist.

Here are the photos and art statement about the work that I submitted as part of this week’s assignment.

The open envelope:

The closed envelope:

The insert:

The insert inside the envelope:
This work is titled ‘Navigating the turbulance’.

This work was created with mixed media.  The materials used include acrylic paint, glue, pencil, watercolours, artist crayons, and also the use of controlled burning.

in thinking about memory and what it means to me I considered the turbulent nature of some memories and experiences.  This made me think of navigating turbulent waters and from there I came up with the idea of a ship and ‘map’.  I constructed the envelope to resemble a ship, and it folds down, with the sails over the main part of the ship on one side.  Both sides of the envelope are painted the same.  I wanted the paint on the ship to be not pretty and perfect, because navigating the waters of memory is often done with a worn ship that has been through some storms.  There are two slits cut into the envelope, and the ‘crow’s nest’ threads through the two slits to seal the envelope.

It seemed appropriate to use the crow’s nest in this way to seal the envelope, as that is the look-out post, and where you look at the surrounding terrain, both for what you are looking for, and also potential hazards.  Both aspects come into play when considering memory and looking at memory.

For the ‘map’, I aged the paper using watercolour and burnt the edges.  I decided to use the map for locating memory, hence the profile drawing with a picture of the brain.  The hippocampus (in the brain) is where memory is responsible for memory creation and retention.  I highlighted that part of the brain in red, and then lightly scorched the area with a controlled flame, to indicate the potential hazards and turbulence that memories can create when we are looking at them, and remembering.  The part if the hippocampus that is missing with the scorch hole also represents missing memories, and holes or gaps in our memories.

This year I am really loving that my Miss 6 is doing her own cards as well.  When she told me she wanted to do her own cards, I was not sure if she would just do one or two and that would be it, but she is talking about the entire 61, and is focussed.  She is also pretty determined to do them her way,  I offered some guidance on one of her cards, and she very firmly told me to mind my own card and she didn’t need my help.  :)

Icad #8:
I was playing with pattern and my gelatin prints and Victoria was feeling loved up.

Me

Victoria (6)

Icad #9:
I was playing with pattern still, while Victoria was still celebrating her first, second and third for her first ever St. Johns competitions.

Me

Victoria (6)

Icad #10:
I was constructing people and Victoria began playing with the new stamp I had just made, before her card exploded into colour and paint skins. :)

Me

Victoria (6)

Icad #11:
I saw someone moving a tree (!?) and Victoria saw rainbows.

Me

Victoria (6)

Icad #12:
I saw a yellow submarine, and Victoria imagined the delights of snow, which she wishes for every Winter.

Me

Victoria (6)

Icad #13:
I am seeing mandalas and colour wheels, Victoria was excited by her multicolour pen and all that she could do with just one pen.

Me

Victoria (6)

Icad #14
I saw flowers, and Victoria saw dogs catching balls with blue sky, perhaps a fervent wish given Winter has settled in over these parts.

Me

Victoria (6)

I know this is happening all over at the moment because I have heard other people mention it but time seems so crazy busy at the moment.  Like there is so much on and the balls in the air are about to come crashing down around me.  I feel dreadfully behind on everything, if only I could steal a few extra hours from the people who are bored.  That would be a match made in heaven.  Still I would rather have my life on full, than to be waiting for it on the sidelines, so this is a choice I am making.  I just have to hope that the efforts I am making are enough!

So…

Samantha Montgomery decided to run an online course in return for feedback, so because I had so much extra time on my hands!? ( :) ) I put my hand up. The next two pages are in response to prompts she suggested for this week.

While I was out on my walk/jog I took my phone out on one of the days and went a bit slower than normal on the walk as I clicked away. I do the same 5.5kms each day and I was surprised at the fresh perspective I had looking at the different sights through a camera. There are quite a few things I have been missing I discovered. :)

I narrowed down the photos I took to 10, because that is all that would comfortably fit on the page, and I decided on just plain brown paper. I love the way this looks.

The next page was a self-portrait page. The journaling reads: Your story will always have ups & downs – be patient with all of it whether you are crossing to the other side or trudging through the mud.

Finally, I am also participating in the Summer of Color, which you can find out more about here. The colours for this week were citron green and turquoise.

The journaling reads:
Sometimes it feels like everything is in the air, waiting for me to move so it can fall down around me. I need to take a deep breath.

*Deep breath* :)

The first assignment was on Surrealism and was really interesting.  I learned a lot and I love the way the information was set out.

I have decided to share here, because this is about documenting my journey and also the idea terrified me a little which indicates this will be a good learning experience as well.  It certainly feels very vulnerable, so be gentle!! The more I look at the pictures, the more I see wrong with it, so I am going to take a deep breath and press publish! :)

As part of the assignment we also had to write an artist Statement which I have included under the painting pictures.  Another very helpful exercise that also gave me direction when I was a bit stuck with the painting.

The painting is named ‘Pachyderm Doorways’.

This was painted with acrylic paints.  I employed the technique decalcomania that was common in Surrealist art that utilised automatism to explore fears and emotions to get some initial shapes and colour on the canvas.  Looking into the shapes I saw an elephant shape so I began painting that in.  I then focussed on my inner feelings and emotions noting where I was feeling a bit anxious or emotional. Once I identified the primary emotions I was feeling I began looking deeper to get a sense of the root fear and then I considered how best to symbolise that in the painting.

At the moment that consisted of feeling like I am a bit lost and not sure which direction to go in.  I portrayed this by the repeating symbol of closed doors scattered behind and beside the elephant.  Though the reality is that I do have options, there is no clear cut option that sticks out more than the others, no arrow guiding me towards a particular door, and this is represented by the barren landscape that is empty of any persuasive signs focusing on one door.

The symbol of the elephant is said to include the following features strength, royalty, connection to ancient wisdom, removal of obstacles and barriers, confidence, patience, using education opportunities, commitment, discernment, intelligence, and compassion which seemed appropriate when distilling the root fear that was behind the piece.Utilising the wisdom and strength of the elephant to decide on which door, or even to knock down all the doors and forge new pathways.

I created this last night on Sunday, after having an exhausting weekend and pulling a muscle in my neck somehow.  There was a part of me that wanted to leave it until today, but I didn’t want to get into that habit.  Unfortunately I could find NO words out of my collection of pamphlets etc to fit, so I went through at least 12 magazines, selecting possibilities and these words were the ones that felt right in the end.

I tried very hard to get other words to fit so I could be done, but no such luck!  I have been feeling a bit stuck this week, just treading water, which is reflective of the words appearing on the card I suspect.  I am still tracking forward, if not at the speeds I would like!!  :D

Though as I said it still feels unfinished, but maybe the real meaning when I am looking back will be that despite not feeling like undertaking this moment of reflection and pause, I showed up and I did it anyway!

The 52 cards project is inspired by Teresa’s 52 cards project which you can read more about over here.

So far I am happy to say that Victoria and I are both up to date.  I will also say that the last two day’s of the challenge have being a struggle for me. Using paint is such a default setting for me when something isn’t working, so this challenge has being good to extend me and push me out of my comfort zone.

I was oh so tempted to start another index card when the visions of the cityscapes I saw in my head did not translate to what I did, but I persisted, and at the end of the day it is an index card and I don’t need to love all of them.  Also if I keep persisting (though not every day!), I will get better at translating the vision I saw AND I will have a series!!  :D

So here are mine and my daughter’s index cards for week one:

Day 1:
I kept all the holes that I punched when I bound last year’s index cards that you can see here and I used those for the first card. Victoria was in love with dimensional paint!

(Me)

(Victoria)

Day 2:
I cut up some gelatin prints and used those as scales. This card has also been coated with some polymer gloss as well which just makes it more delicious and gorgeous, but unfortunately it does not photograph well so this photo is before the polymer gloss. Victoria was fearless in her embellishing. :)

(Me)

(Victoria)

Day 3:
A collage of grass made of magazine pictures of grass…the geeky pleasure this gives me is incomparable! Victoria was still excited by her craft box.

(Me)

(Victoria)

Day 4:
I made an origami boat out of newspaper and Victoria decided on using some of her stickers.

(Me)

(Victoria)

Day 5:
I saw houses, and Victoria saw bears in trees.

(Me)

(Victoria)

Day 6:
I saw a cityscape in my head though the finished card was different to what was in my head, and Victoria was seeing Halloween.

(Me)

(Victoria)

Day 7:
I was still exploring cityscapes with another idea that came to me during the one the day before. Victoria was seeing clowns.

(Me)

(Victoria)

My first link love this week is going to Kristin over at Twinkle Twinkle.  She has a Summer of Color challenge that began this week, and you can find out more about the challenge here.  I saw it last year, but I found out too late and was too overcommitted.  This year I am in!!

My next bit of link love this week is going to the Index card a day challenge.  I really can’t recommend this enough.  There is a facebook group here and a Flickr group here and the community is massively inspiring and supportive!  It is never too late to join and the daily creativity practice sparks off so many ideas.  I am also enjoying doing this year’s challenge with my daughter.  :)

My next bit of link love this week is going to Tara Leaver.  I have quietly followed her blog for a little while (LOVE her art) and just recently connected with her (I think she loves the oceans as much I do).  I have always found her blog posts thought provoking and heart touching, and her inspiration posts where she highlights a different artist are WELL WORTH CHECKING OUT.  Also I love her art (have I mentioned that already), she keeps her artistic journey very real, and is very inspiring.  I also love that I now know I am not the only one with a whole lot of unfinished canvases! :)  She has also just recently self published a book which looks pretty fabulous as well.

Susanna Conway currently has a HUGE book giveaway over at blog that closes on Monday so you should head over here now!  There are 26 books up for grabs, and someone is going to win the entire book bonanza!!  So if you are into books I would definitely head over there because there are some fabulous ones that are in the prize pool.  :)  (Public Service Announcement complete! :D)

I hope you all have a most fabulous weekend, I am now off to watch my daughter compete in her first St. Johns competitions!!