I'll 'fess up...I can be a bit of a magpie, distracted by anything that's shiny and glittery, at least in the mixed media world. So many courses, so many things to try, and I want it all.
And, in the past, I tried it all....metal, jewelry, collage, sewing, journals, photography, etc. Some I thrived on, and some...well, those results hit the trash can for the most part!
And, so many workshops, both in person and on line. And, again, I want to take them all. Never mind that I have to earn a living, I still want to sign on the dotted line. If I signed up for every workshop that caught my eye, I'd never complete them, even if I quit work.
And, so with some coaching from the marvelous Lesley Riley and her Artist Success program, I'm beginning to figure out what it is I really want to do (photography and journaling), figuring out how to combine them, and learning how to ignore all that glitters.
I'm figuring out how to make things fit into what I want to accomplish, and to quote Patti Digh, I'm learning to let go of the monkey bars, get off the ship, and follow my desire lines.
It doesn't mean that I don't get tempted now and then and do something for the heck of it. I do.
But, thanks to Lesley, I'm not only having fun, but I've:
- redesigned my blog and am continuing to do so
- destashed my art room, big time
- taken a few chances and plan to take even more
- learning to do more with photoshop
- sent away to create postcards using my photos (Look for a give away soon!)
- beginning to get off of the automatic settings on my camera
- and so much more!
Now, the technical part of all of this makes me want to cry at times. Just cry. The stubborn Russian in me declares that it is not going to get the best of me, and I am figuring it out. Sometimes, it takes longer than I'd like, but I get there. Not always on the path someone else may have designed as the express route...I tend to take the scenic path...but I get there.
What's even cooler, I'm learning to apply some of the same lessons to what occupies me in the workplace.
In less than a half a year, I turn 60, and honestly? Well, to use a cliche, I figure "the best is yet to come!"
I'm linking up with Kim Klassen's "Texture Tuesday," and for a bit of technical jargon, I used:
- Kim's "I Am" texture, applying color burn at 69%
- Kim's "Dream" texture applying color burn at 57%