I ♥ Living in Colorado!

I'll never forget the first time I saw the Colorado landscape.

I was born & raised in Dallas, TX & following graduation from High School there, I got a job as a camp counselor in the mountains just west of Boulder, CO. Since that particular summer camp got most of its campers from the state of Texas, I was given the responsibility of riding the train from Dallas to Houston to pick up campers, do a quick turn around and then head north to Colorado. Geeze, I was just 17 at the time and I had a whole bunch of kids to watch over on that train! What a riot of fun was had all day and into the night.....finally, about 2 AM, most of the kids were asleep.

I had a window seat on the train and I dozed fitfully, being aware of the responsibility of looking out for my charges. Sometime in the pre-dawn hours, I looked out the window and there, to the west, were the glorious mountains in the dim light of the moon. I was so moved....awe struck....filled with emotion and had a deep, deep sense of having arrived "home". How could that be.....seeing how I was raised in the flatlands of Texas? I still don't have an explanation to this day. I only know I had such a profound & instant connection with the landscape that I did eventually make it my place of residence.

And still quite often, as last night when I saw the full moon on a frosty January night, I am filled with the same kind of awe as when I first glimpsed the mountains......just simply overwhelmed by the beauty of it all.

ARTISTS/CRAFTSPERSONS-What to do when.....you lack INSPIRATION

OK, so we all know about blogging ,Twitter, Facebook & Myspace…. but what about some of the internal issues we might share as artists or craftspersons?

INSPIRATION: Stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level.
…and you feel like you are lacking it?

First of all, realize that you are sharing a common experience among many artists….
Really, you have a couple of choices here:
Wallow in the not so good feeling of lacking what you need to continue on your path as an artist OR
PAUSE….yes, pause. Give yourself permission to simply take a break. How long you might ask? Probably as long as it takes. Could be a short period of time, or maybe longer. During your pause, consider doing the following things:

Nurture yourself:

What inspires you?
How long has it been since you’ve allowed yourself time to look at, be around or consider those things which feed your artist’s/craftsperson’s soul?
I have posted four different things on my blog
from which I draw personal inspiration and I return to them time and again to
refuel myself (you’ll find them by scrolling down to the bottom of the blog)

Visit an Art Gallery or Your Favorite Gift Shop or Art & Design Mags:

How about a virtual walk through the Louvre?
Re-visit the works of a favorite artist.
Visit that fav Gift Shop just for the pleasure of looking
Go to your local Library & feast on the many magazines/books offered

Capture your Thoughts:

Could be on your blog? Write it out……many times, the simple act of getting in touch with your thoughts kindles a creative fire!
Take time to think about…..and reflect on…. your favorite things that you have created…..did those creations spark an idea for future works?

In Short….take a RETREAT:

Re-treat YOURSELF to the things you love, the things that awaken your very own visual & sensual delight…..INSPIRATION is sure to follow…….

What will your NEW year be?

Within us lies the power for the New Year to be anything we choose! If you've not seen the DVD "THE SECRET", I highly recommend it! http://www.thesecret.tv/ ....a wonderful compilation of some of the most powerful belief systems I have read about and studied all of my life.

I love the approach of a New Year.....
a time for re-assessment, reflection, reorganization and ultimately goal setting. For me, it's a time of looking back on the past year and allowing myself to feel good about things accomplished & it's also a time of taking a hard look at things I want to change in the future.

I believe we all, each and every one, have the ability to carve out the lives we choose for ourselves. When I taught Middle School some years back, I remember having a talk with my students about the fact that in life, we can either allow life to "happen to us" (as a "I'm along for the ride"), or we can CAUSE or CREATE the lives we want for ourselves......this talk was followed by "What will you choose for yourself?" Will you pick up the reins of your own life and give it direction or will you ride placidly along.....allowing life to do as it will WITH and TO you?

As for me, this is a time of reflection, ......giving the "horse" of life a brief pause before saddeling up, riding out & firmly reining toward my chosen path for the New Year.

One of Life's Little (big) Moments...

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the season, a small moment of visual pleasure unexpectedly arrives....just at dusk, this beauty along with her last summer's offspring, arrived just feet from our front door. She was unconcerned with our presence on the other side of the window......she was watching us as we were watching her.....

Nature and its creatures......one of the most restful things I know.