tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-358439666718322012024-02-19T04:15:35.110+02:00Melissa Mead in ProgressWelcome to my world of explorations!
Come in. Look around. Start a conversation.
I am exploring art including fine art, illustration, and writing. I hope to provide a place of shared ideas, inspiration and reflection for like minded folks.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-25421114941038752812016-02-25T17:48:00.000+02:002016-02-25T17:48:07.847+02:00Loads of changes, new beginnings and the party never ends....I have no idea where to start. I've moved three times at least since the last posting. Life had change exponentially and now I'm focused on pottery and ceramics. I still have my manuscripts and paints etc but I simply don't have brain space for these things on a daily basis -<br />
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Somehow pottery affords me head space. We knew? So here I sit prepping for a firing. I've learned a bit from some local pottery classes, learned extensively from research on the net and at the library and after three years- my throwing is acceptable. Experiments abound - my latest run is about 28 cups being used for throwing/finish practice - extended into glaze tests and glazing practice.<br />
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Recently I found a potters group on Periscope and I'm very excited. I've been searching for a potters community with live people. I'm on several online groups but you don't see them or hear their voices. Mostly you don't get too chat - not that periscope is fantastic for this but I'm getting there.<br />
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I tried to upload the photos for the new firing but alas - I'm too rusty on blog-ville.<br />
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Come join me on Twitter and periscope.#pottersofperiscope. Or FB I'm not the best social media princess - it's all a learning curve....every moment<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-64876937897568349542012-11-01T13:09:00.000+02:002012-11-01T13:09:04.709+02:00Thursday Progress<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkw9cVNj792hX2e3Tp5k1-bDnzQUczUv_zZXaAt-2kufyKI980vpPnLDdk62JXDNV6tgleV27QKujVA35fs04RZ3VfL7OADHjhougUJ1O0VyBeeNHV6B92JJ6ZAzxeutu6SYuOeG2ug/s1600/T+underpainting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkw9cVNj792hX2e3Tp5k1-bDnzQUczUv_zZXaAt-2kufyKI980vpPnLDdk62JXDNV6tgleV27QKujVA35fs04RZ3VfL7OADHjhougUJ1O0VyBeeNHV6B92JJ6ZAzxeutu6SYuOeG2ug/s1600/T+underpainting.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acrylic Underpainting - Melissa Mead 2012</td></tr>
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This is a portion of something I'm in progress with....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-73766633439968622822012-10-18T10:48:00.000+02:002012-10-18T10:48:14.201+02:00Thursdays Progress<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5B8tT4x41_g3wYl__-qLhmoF2sQ1Judy_Tc5ehSqyMxkh2tP0d23T2Vv7AFAcZnc61CAjmNKKJkCAu2_Fb0kxrPNTyDWcb8UiOK4V7Ny6zDwYsm3baX9ZdQvrxSy7Ty6_0U78I5BkQ/s1600/Blog+sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5B8tT4x41_g3wYl__-qLhmoF2sQ1Judy_Tc5ehSqyMxkh2tP0d23T2Vv7AFAcZnc61CAjmNKKJkCAu2_Fb0kxrPNTyDWcb8UiOK4V7Ny6zDwYsm3baX9ZdQvrxSy7Ty6_0U78I5BkQ/s1600/Blog+sketch.jpg" height="240" title="Melissa Mead Planning Sketch" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a sketch in Planning for a current project. Pencil on Paper</td></tr>
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Still some tweaking here and there and the fight with the hand (because I wasn't LOOKING). I love posting here as I see mistakes more clearly. I am really excited about seeing this in oils...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-67885237171220536362012-10-16T10:21:00.000+02:002012-10-16T10:21:15.278+02:00SARK TUESDAY: Willingness<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIjrozNYreWn9qilWSaEjQ-BS35oXEYuoUbIAFN2TxCH2yBvjfzXLJa-fDTO6tnfRfbAH-fwNOiJNTctYZPtW1-5RRkSpdhcxSVxPFibpETughL-nKiOphPXUxPHP8yoXMSNWB1xeAA/s1600/Blog+Willingness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Melissa Mead 2012 Photograph" border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIjrozNYreWn9qilWSaEjQ-BS35oXEYuoUbIAFN2TxCH2yBvjfzXLJa-fDTO6tnfRfbAH-fwNOiJNTctYZPtW1-5RRkSpdhcxSVxPFibpETughL-nKiOphPXUxPHP8yoXMSNWB1xeAA/s320/Blog+Willingness.jpg" title="Wllingness" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Forrestry Side of the Grabouw Country Club Dam 2012<br /></td></tr>
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<a href="http://planetsark.com/">SARK</a>: Willingness is the ability to move without proof. Willingness is the cupcake for yet another FUNdraiser.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span">MMinP: For this to make the most sense please read this... From Facebook:</span><br />
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<span class="fcg" style="color: grey;"><span class="fwb" style="font-weight: bold;"><a aria-controls="uq7jek81" aria-haspopup="true" aria-owns="uq7jek81" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=149658285050501" href="https://www.facebook.com/earthweareone?ref=stream" id="js_7" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Earth. We are one.</a></span></span></h5>
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<a class="uiLinkSubtle" href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=544181512264841&set=a.223575390992123.78006.149658285050501&type=1" style="color: grey; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><abbr data-utime="1350213287" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: initial;" title="Sunday, October 14, 2012 at 4:14am">Sunday</abbr></a><a class="uiStreamPrivacy inlineBlock fbStreamPrivacy fbPrivacyAudienceIndicator _1_o" data-hover="tooltip" href="https://www.facebook.com/#" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; margin-left: 6px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; top: 1px; zoom: 1;" title="Public"><i class="lock img sp_6x2a31 sx_7218bf" style="background-image: url(https://s-static.ak.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v2/yK/x/ELuVu667uh_.png); background-position: -13px -409px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; bottom: -1px; display: inline-block; height: 12px; margin-bottom: -5px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 12px;"></i></a></div>
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There should have been a story about a professor - a mayonnaise jar, golfballs, pebbles, sand and beer. My most FAVORITE part is that the golf balls represent your most important things like family AND YOUR PASSIONS. Your passions aren't relegated to the pebbles or even down to the sand (these being those things that you must fit into your life like doing the grocery shopping and paying bills). The other best thing is the reminder that there's always time for getting together with friends....</div>
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My personal story on this is that I am WILLING to keep moving forward with my art even though I have no proof it's going anywhere or that I'm creating anything... I think about it everyday. I make plans for it everyday in many ways. I even get pencil to paper often. At the moment I am willing to leave this "as is" while supporting my husband moving through his rehab and getting stronger everyday and before we know it life will be into another semblance of moving forward. Then the paint will begin to flow again!</div>
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I'm no longer willing to do the cupcakes though....not even painted ones.</div>
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What are you willing to do for your creative dreams?</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-51413232133626484292012-10-09T01:30:00.000+02:002012-10-09T01:30:01.183+02:00SARK TUESDAY: Surprises<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYid40P1Aego2kUN0CWGTYTTtaptQYOD1BxzC5yGl9M5UVZN09Vc54t0AopofPFarMhE5MUwQkinkPXAG5WpM9NP-ZoojSO1NAqHckVQclxw6fHuveVPsyPhbT98uI9C84ki018aNww/s1600/IMG_1435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYid40P1Aego2kUN0CWGTYTTtaptQYOD1BxzC5yGl9M5UVZN09Vc54t0AopofPFarMhE5MUwQkinkPXAG5WpM9NP-ZoojSO1NAqHckVQclxw6fHuveVPsyPhbT98uI9C84ki018aNww/s320/IMG_1435.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snail trails in a tidal pool: Melissa Mead Photograph 2012<br /></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.planetsark.com/">SARK</a>: Creative dreams LOVE surprises! We can become so accustomed to our routines that we forget about the JOY of surprises or the unexpected. What new surprises can you arrange for?<br />
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MMinP: I've had a few surprises in the past few weeks. They've upset the holy cods waddle out of my routines. The first surprise was my husband's accident. He injured his knee while playing soccer and needed to have surgery to reconstruct the damaged ligament. The next thing was a change to our homeschooling plans - meaning that some weeks I may only have two days to work instead of three. AND of course there was the school break thrown in for good measure! That wasn't a surprise but it JOYOUSLY changed our routines.<br />
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I like surprises in my creative process - as in starting a painting/drawing with a solid idea and having it evolve to a totally unexpected completion. I like that. I like the surprises of meeting someone and finding they like stuff that I like. Otherwise - I don't really like surprises. I like to know what I'm eating, where I'm going and what I'll be doing next Tuesday. My husband likes to offer me food thinking I'll taste it without asking. I ALWAYS ask. He eats things like tongue, kidneys, giblets etc. (no thanks :). Don't get me wrong - I like change. Change is good - surprises...well....they upset my gyroscope.<br />
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Please bear with me while I reset my gyroscope for the next quarter. My husband should be back on track in the next few weeks. I know I missed last week - my apologies - but really, between the sniffles and doctors appointments and the usual things in life, blogging was just not going to happen. SURPRISE :DUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-40174093372103320652012-09-27T10:24:00.000+02:002012-09-27T10:24:39.251+02:00Thursday Progress<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNf-e58YcqLvyvit3bQYINJweE4EMFHhE40aXQj9ptoD0HcMQ6-fKxbgL3nlICbGXQyyyU5lU97MJ2Tk1xWHiWtICXrsVWnUzW1sXUa_zoXR_oT8-gmyUpF6SUfVnOtGdt91iId3QQA/s1600/IMG_1574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNf-e58YcqLvyvit3bQYINJweE4EMFHhE40aXQj9ptoD0HcMQ6-fKxbgL3nlICbGXQyyyU5lU97MJ2Tk1xWHiWtICXrsVWnUzW1sXUa_zoXR_oT8-gmyUpF6SUfVnOtGdt91iId3QQA/s320/IMG_1574.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mixed Media Quilted Giraffe - Melissa Mead 2012<br /><br /></td></tr>
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This quilted giraffe was a card for my mom. She likes giraffes and she's a quilting fanatic. She took part in: <a href="http://www.cah.utexas.edu/news/press_release.php?press=press_9_11_quilts">Quilts That Helped Us Heal</a> a 9/11 initiative. I put the two loves together and tried for a painted version based on some ideas from the quilts she's made for my family. Luckily she loved it.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-34820346913510448392012-09-25T01:00:00.000+02:002012-09-25T01:00:02.273+02:00SARK TUESDAY: Acknowledging<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZ1ryavsTp_bPxF0tsiCpRrKmA6u3qWuQU78PzraY45OMHtwl1qTxwQfEi-8p2_IumLVIGtZ1Yt6UOq4FdeHtFV-vsBRXMhFzptg5cZlzDXpuYWd7CWyWT6Pyz5l18Los943jJOzsUg/s1600/Z+on+Guitar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZ1ryavsTp_bPxF0tsiCpRrKmA6u3qWuQU78PzraY45OMHtwl1qTxwQfEi-8p2_IumLVIGtZ1Yt6UOq4FdeHtFV-vsBRXMhFzptg5cZlzDXpuYWd7CWyWT6Pyz5l18Los943jJOzsUg/s320/Z+on+Guitar.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Z's creative dreaming moment. Melissa Mead - Photograph 2012</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://planetsark.com/" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration: none;">SARK</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">: The process of living our creative dreams is AS important (or more) than the progress. We often become overly focused on the outcomes and conclusions. Acknowledging your process is a power-full way to support your creative dream-living; it gives weight and wonder to your work.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">MMinP: I asked for a card that would give me insight into balance. As family life hits a high and creative has to swing low for the balance I am concerned about keeping up with my blog/painting/illustration/learning etc.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I don't know what I'm worried about though....we have found a great balance and already I have been given the time to work in my studio to make up for what was missed last week. If I could make one positive, affirming statement to acknowledge my creative dream life it would be: There is time for all that I make time for - I chose to make studio time and family time.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">My creative dream is "in Progress"...it IS the combination of family and creative endeavors. Or...Creative endeavors combine family..... hmmmm</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">What is your positive, affirming statement? -Play with it....</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-22863744030013224522012-09-20T01:00:00.000+02:002012-09-20T01:00:05.409+02:00Thursdays Progress<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_xxB9NTTn19t4NGpH08OMjvUqzTNTwjGqK_hr47ms5zWCAwhfj4Z8leDgZy8KbKYWS5O4EnkKzKZ2K4WkbnD8PiTxA_f0KF4S4pCe-i5ydwkcItdKzaF-lfetYq_II5Hxs34ixaFHg/s1600/IMG_1782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_xxB9NTTn19t4NGpH08OMjvUqzTNTwjGqK_hr47ms5zWCAwhfj4Z8leDgZy8KbKYWS5O4EnkKzKZ2K4WkbnD8PiTxA_f0KF4S4pCe-i5ydwkcItdKzaF-lfetYq_II5Hxs34ixaFHg/s320/IMG_1782.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pen sketch of Lily Melissa Mead 2012<br />
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I made this little sketch of my collie dog while she slept on the floor near me. I've always want to sketch my collie dogs. There's a famous artist who painted his dog sleeping - its a very abstract oil painting - I loved it the moment I saw it. I saw the painting several years ago I can't remember either where I saw it or the name of the artist...pity.<br />
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I really have been enjoying my creations - much of the angst I used to feel is mostly subsided and I can just get on with getting on - instead of procrastinating from fear! (as per the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=35843966671832201#editor/target=post;postID=1284269851306648738;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=1;src=postname">SARK TUESDAY: Procrastination</a>), Every time I see this little sketch I want to take my doggies out for a walk! Maybe soon I will get her Momma sketched.....</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-12842698513066487382012-09-18T11:00:00.000+02:002012-09-18T11:02:05.293+02:00SARK TUESDAY: Procrastination<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8CP5m_nCb__uCc-OX7qDEHJT8VOgQWLw9jTK18SNURM5aXSj1MBeIx83ZzGNTzmVobCO2myDEyr-MzJQjX0a7yeVd_IkFFer5Rmg34eBIEdDtQr7Dqkd_EZgYXH-h-Mxnj1a0s3jSQ/s1600/IMG_1976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8CP5m_nCb__uCc-OX7qDEHJT8VOgQWLw9jTK18SNURM5aXSj1MBeIx83ZzGNTzmVobCO2myDEyr-MzJQjX0a7yeVd_IkFFer5Rmg34eBIEdDtQr7Dqkd_EZgYXH-h-Mxnj1a0s3jSQ/s320/IMG_1976.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Completion of Winter Sports, (best in sport medals): Photograph by Melissa Mead 2012<br />
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<a href="http://planetsark.com/">SARK</a>: Many of us use time to procrastinate instead of experiencing completion. The favorite word of procrastination is "LATER". Shift to saying "NOW" more often.<br />
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MMinP: Well now I think it's important to look at the story behind the procrastination. Is it because you are actually trying to get too much done and it's your subconscious saying...whoa - give me a break. Is it fear of completing a task that will get you closer to the dreams you dream?<br />
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This is close to my heart because as a mother of young children I always felt that I wasn't getting anything done and when I did have a moment I'd be so dazed and dumbfounded that I'd waste that time. Was I wasting it? I actually needed the break. Now that my kids are a little older (still quite young though) I have more moments of time for me. I find many opportunities to procrastinate. And I indulge often. What I miss most at the end of the day/week is that feeling of completion.<br />
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Perhaps, procrastination is a signal to self that we need to think a little deeper about what's important to accomplish and also take seriously our need for time out. Time out is a time to create dreams and allow the dust to settle from our endeavors. Completion makes new roads to the destination of our dreams.<br />
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Procrastination is only a bad thing when it's a habit that we forget we can actually change. Balance is everything.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-28846149163338084842012-09-13T01:00:00.000+02:002012-09-13T01:00:06.493+02:00Thursday Progress<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOA2m_A1UFrPd2IMCD8yUr2KtJV5Ac1ZbKvgiwusUhEvBjE5CBSZMIHtRK3AXo4dktPSj3hlSUuNuZEBgWSGRYv7Z7-wa8MYkAGesPiq8L-dg2zlvl6xGkhnQhpt8XgwuLlJpB6XEw_g/s1600/IMG_1847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOA2m_A1UFrPd2IMCD8yUr2KtJV5Ac1ZbKvgiwusUhEvBjE5CBSZMIHtRK3AXo4dktPSj3hlSUuNuZEBgWSGRYv7Z7-wa8MYkAGesPiq8L-dg2zlvl6xGkhnQhpt8XgwuLlJpB6XEw_g/s320/IMG_1847.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Illustration for IF: Suspend. Mixed Media: Melissa Mead</td></tr>
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<a href="http://illustrationfriday.com/">Illustration Friday</a> had the topic Suspend. This illustration is my very own from beginning to end. Thank you <a href="http://piadrent.blogspot.com/">Pia Drent</a> for your help in refining the idea.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-35955541662734862052012-09-11T13:38:00.001+02:002012-09-11T13:39:20.100+02:00SARK TUESDAY: Celebrating Mistakes<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzzqKXMxbCo6BBFduz6LHKPf02AQk9pLXIcu0Tp1G1hUMtUzMVmwMA_yldVfhP0f6hzuBdglExmHm2U7S7H0SLyzuyW3HJXB2Fn9LqNL-kTn8Lz3xI9FczPN2eMY9NJcx4_zTqmOgSw/s1600/IMG_0897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzzqKXMxbCo6BBFduz6LHKPf02AQk9pLXIcu0Tp1G1hUMtUzMVmwMA_yldVfhP0f6hzuBdglExmHm2U7S7H0SLyzuyW3HJXB2Fn9LqNL-kTn8Lz3xI9FczPN2eMY9NJcx4_zTqmOgSw/s320/IMG_0897.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MTO Forest Path Grabouw, South Africa</td></tr>
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<a href="http://planetsark.com/">SARK</a>: From our "mistakes" comes some of our richest material for our creative dreams. Every mistake is a teacher and can lead to new success....<br />
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MMinP: What do you say about mistakes? They are REQUIRED. How does the quote go? "if you aren't making mistakes your aren't living" (If you know the owner of who said that please let me know?). There is also the great quote:"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." - Albert Einstein</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">I remember asking my mom if she could make me a dress that I could see in my imagination. I couldn't find a pattern for it even after ages of searching the catalogues (yes - the days before search engines - can you imagine!!). She told me it couldn't be done. I was really frustrated. I had loads of these experiences throughout my life. What I've learned is that ANYTHING can be done. It's a matter of putting in the effort to find the way. I think at that point in time my mom - to her credit - realized it was an adventure she wasn't willing to embark on being a working mother etc.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">I would like to encourage you to explore Edna Fourie's gallery and story. Amazing to say the least. You can find it<span id="goog_1827948425"></span> <a href="http://here/">here</a>. I walked into this gallery and felt something so strong I can't explain. There were two paintings so moving that I found myself in tears. Both had a similar beginning - the canvases had been left in the attic where owls decided to roost. They were soiled with owl poo. What a mistake... ?? Ms Fourie saw something in the markings and decided to paint on them anyway. I love this "mistake".<span id="goog_1827948426"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">I think they should be called mini-searches. Mistakes are more like moving searches in our steps forward up the mountain of realizing our dreams.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">How are you feeling about your mistakes these days?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-21406348305288834632012-09-06T01:00:00.000+02:002012-09-06T01:00:04.361+02:00Thursdays Progress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yb0jx95S4ksmeD7mJlhtkqp6spFa8d73gKB6mVv_jhtXp22fdWq-7zCJQCk3a5Dc4uB8Z0agjmu-HHNtbMxzC6Q0Avo0AKD5WoERMVx7uw-FmLZn9Esl7drBkIRm2JHaptAXCOCgbg/s1600/IMG_1950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yb0jx95S4ksmeD7mJlhtkqp6spFa8d73gKB6mVv_jhtXp22fdWq-7zCJQCk3a5Dc4uB8Z0agjmu-HHNtbMxzC6Q0Avo0AKD5WoERMVx7uw-FmLZn9Esl7drBkIRm2JHaptAXCOCgbg/s320/IMG_1950.jpg" width="219" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Illustration: "Tall" Melissa Mead 2012 Watercolour and gouache</td></tr>
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This is my <a href="http://illustrationfriday.com/#">Illustration Friday</a> from last week. I barely finished it in time - I'm still not yet ready to start posting on the site but at least I can participate in my own way on my blog. This is my first attempt at the Boabab tree. I find it an awesome tree from so many respects. It is truly a tree of life. Lumbering below in the shady twilight the lonely bull elephant seeking a cool spot for the evening....both tall.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-91360413142521692122012-09-04T17:33:00.000+02:002012-09-04T17:33:56.584+02:00SARK Tuesday: Call or Reach out for Good Things<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6H0DONbziiH-CHlBNhFC_ADohcFAJaWPDXHacNUj0xHsqjHTOnSg-FJOvAbE2ilH-j0-F-4AUSRh3Cy3GIWsFOsGAImHXEPA2n5wqRC5-Z1FETb39H8H8tDtFqofBPf6bTmlmpr05XQ/s1600/IMG_1859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6H0DONbziiH-CHlBNhFC_ADohcFAJaWPDXHacNUj0xHsqjHTOnSg-FJOvAbE2ilH-j0-F-4AUSRh3Cy3GIWsFOsGAImHXEPA2n5wqRC5-Z1FETb39H8H8tDtFqofBPf6bTmlmpr05XQ/s320/IMG_1859.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Experiments in Natural Pigments - photograph from homeschooling. Melissa Mead 2012</td></tr>
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<a href="http://planetsark.com/">SARK</a>: We are surrounded by such goodness, and in times of fear or resistance, we can rapidly forget that our creative dream life exists to keep us nourished with goodness.<br />
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MMinP: I think the most important thing to remember in each and every moment is that we can choose to stay where we are with what we have or we can choose something else. It's easy enough to say/write.<br />
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I get to practice the act of calling or reaching out for Good Things daily as I balance my ever changing array of hats (woman, wife, mother, artist....). I find that when I reach out for something positive and supportive it makes everything so much clearer. Often we reach for that which will allow us to continue the drama or fear or resistance - hanging onto the truth of the fear. Is that REALLY true? Really? Have I really not worked hard enough, organized properly, practiced enough etc? Really?<br />
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Think about it now and the next time you are in a state of fear or resistance. When there seems no way forward. Where do you reach? Does that which you reach out for pull you forward or dance you around and leave you where you are breathless and not much further?<br />
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You can always reach for <a href="http://planetsark.com/">Planet SARK's "marvelous message boards"</a> or go for a walk (with or without another person). Or you can distract yourself with all manner of useless garbage - usually leaving you in the same spot.<br />
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Sometimes I reach for the dance but I'm getting much better at moving forward. I often talk to a friend get out into nature or start writing. Sometimes it takes all of that plus a bit more. How do you reach out?<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-80451151141946726942012-08-30T09:48:00.002+02:002012-08-30T09:50:18.765+02:0020minutes Figure ExerciseThis was a quick 20minute exercise in figure drawing (quickly becoming my favorite kind of exercise...you know versus physical exercise).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJV1MygCMK9S1nzWEXg42pzU0tqFw5zzQFakqJLJEH3zeodFQhsevwana0Kc05GT8t6NKWVon4QnO8Glkd7S-XoMFFZHnLH0eb1SH-zZWuEfqCU-NpOldIOjD17xEG6bErXvRLXnIvQ/s1600/IMG_1944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJV1MygCMK9S1nzWEXg42pzU0tqFw5zzQFakqJLJEH3zeodFQhsevwana0Kc05GT8t6NKWVon4QnO8Glkd7S-XoMFFZHnLH0eb1SH-zZWuEfqCU-NpOldIOjD17xEG6bErXvRLXnIvQ/s320/IMG_1944.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exercise sketch from D. Michie's Photograph 2008. Graphite on Paper - Melissa Mead 2012 NFS</td></tr>
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I used <a href="http://dmichie.aminus3.com/image/2008-05-06.html">D. Michie's</a> gorgeous black and white as my "exercise" for today. I'm working on a few things from proportion to shading to ....okay everything a usual. I'm really happy with the energy of the lines and the proportions. - There's obviously more work that COULD be done but...for 20minutes I'm happy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-77717623530187668912012-08-28T12:05:00.000+02:002012-08-28T12:06:37.229+02:00SARK TUESDAY: Transforming Fears<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYAI979skzYGRcvLLkwrNc6EqoLETQlpCTudGTiquXRlAVMhLg3iZYkxqTg4Lc5o_C218Eepvw1UsfZONl4mhYBq5h5wlsQ9KVrBNhV32HSpyFVcPSK8C_MozIa6VK5TR9ot3J35Mvw/s1600/all+in+a+row.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYAI979skzYGRcvLLkwrNc6EqoLETQlpCTudGTiquXRlAVMhLg3iZYkxqTg4Lc5o_C218Eepvw1UsfZONl4mhYBq5h5wlsQ9KVrBNhV32HSpyFVcPSK8C_MozIa6VK5TR9ot3J35Mvw/s320/all+in+a+row.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family and Friends helping each other through a challenge. Photo by Melissa Mead</td></tr>
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<a href="http://planetsark.com/">SARK</a>: FEARs have the ability to become so real that we can become paralyzed by them. Creative dreams can quickly expand through transforming fear. Describe a fear [you have about living your creative dream]. Expand [that fear till it becomes the worst possible outcome]. Call in the strongest part of you [to respond to that fear with practical reassurance].<br />
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MMIP: Fear....hmmmm a toughie. Sometimes we are held back by unseen/unconscious fears. I think those are the hardest. I'm working through a fear of missing what is coming to meet me. I can feel a change coming...but what is it? It sure is taking a long time to come - is it ever going to get here? Will I be in the bath and miss it? My biggest fear is looking so urgently to the future that I'm actually missing the now.<br />
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A short original poem:<br />
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F - futile<br />
E - emotions<br />
A - awaiting<br />
R - redirection<br />
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I just made that up....I think it's well expressed however and shifts it from a big dark monster to something simpler. Easier to find your courage through redirecting fearful emotions?<br />
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Are you also struggling with this enigmatic sense of expectation? Are you afraid/excited/apathetic?<br />
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Well - if you are excited and expectant - check in Thursday for an update on what's been happening in the studio....<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-35969796368900053052012-04-24T01:00:00.000+02:002012-04-24T01:00:10.884+02:00SARK Tuesday: Clock of ForgivenessSARK: This clock doesn't keep time, but gives it to you in the kindest measure. You now realize that time is entirely your perception and there is always enough.<br />
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MMinP: When I can relax and remember the clock of forgiveness...it works brilliantly. When I need the space to just stop "should-ing" all over myself - the clock is there. For example: I should practice this art lesson or take that class, clean the kitchen, do the laundry, attend to the kids (who are happily playing their own self involved game!). A deep breath in and long out breath followed by doing something I really WANT to do. Like just sitting and scribbling or actually painting anything... Suddenly it's as if the world stands still for the time it takes for me to have this pause.<br />
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Usually everyone survives without me. Everything is still waiting to be done/accomplished. I find setting my timer allows me to totally submerge into this timeless space. I stop fretting about forgetting to get my children to sport or start dinner etc. I completely fall into the doing of my task - fine tuning little profiles of babes, how to make a hand and fingers that look like little fingers. My mind clears long enough to write a sentence or idea for the Picture Book challenge of 12x12.<br />
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When my time is up - I'm so happy. Calm, relaxed. Better than anything - I'm energized - Whoopie! Why don't I do this more? I always wonder. Then the long to-do list punctures the bliss. Oh yes. I must be productive-(do all those things people expect I should do). WHY?<br />
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That's another post for another day....or maybe more than one post....<br />
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Use the clock of forgiveness - come back and share your experience. I might start living on CoF time instead of GMT+2. Maybe I'll get more accomplished!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-46259312270244736682012-04-17T01:00:00.000+02:002012-04-17T01:00:05.579+02:00SARK TuesdaySARK: Courage to let loose the wonders inside. Our creative dreams expand brilliantly with this courage activated. Open your heart now to let loose the wonders inside you...
MMInP: I drew this card today and immediately thought...Yeah Right. How many times does an artist let loose only to face a backlash of fear from others. Some folks recommend that you remember to let loose in safe company. This is a good idea. In some ways I think this is why so many of us blog. We know we have something to share...
It's also a very good idea to remember those who have inspired you in your life journey. Remember how that person said or did something that gave you hope or even more? Well- what IF your courage to let loose your wonders were to inspire, give hope or other wonderful things to another person? What if it changed someone's life for the better just because you had the courage to let loose?
What do you think the world might look like then? It's such a vulnerable place. Such a deeply human place.
NOTE: this post is missing links and photos due to a failure in the hard drive of our computer. We are hoping for a full repair by next week -at which time this will be edited and linked!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-49346567351086995632012-04-12T01:00:00.000+02:002012-04-12T01:00:01.811+02:00Thursday ProgressToday's post is going to start with a tiny book review! <a href="http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/Search/SearchResults.aspx?TCId=110&ST=1&SKw=the%20wizard">The Wizard</a> is a children's picture book written by Children's Poet Laureate <a href="http://www.jackprelutsky.com/">Jack Prelutzsky</a> and beautifully illustrated by the talented <a href="http://brandondorman.com/">Brandon Dorman</a>.<br />
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The Wizard is adapted from a story originally published in 1976. Mr. Prelutsky's rhyme combined with Mr Dorman's illustrations make this story a real page turner as the book opens you are invited into a seemingly ordinary suburban cul-de-sac with one very odd house at the end. The wizard stands at his window deciding what to do that day when he spies a bullfrog... There is a lovely surprise ending and the duo of Prelutzsky and Dorman leave the young reader with curiosity instead of fear as you turn the pages to discover what evil deeds the wizard is up to.<br />
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I found Mr. Dorman's illustrations so perfect for practicing my <a href="http://howtobeachildrensbookillustrator.com/NewCourse/">Make Your Marks Make Your Splashes</a> water colour sessions run by Mark G. Mitchell. Here are two of my attempts to copy digital art with traditional media. They are thumbnails of the larger version I'm working on.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGCpwKoO0LdEerkEFOdMbW-cCg071C5DtEF2ERwT4mT154APJVv7ouFOMNEzomP9i-4Z5EpHlstFs-39jDxCE67-OPSgN4mvB1xHunXfXSlds4rk34KFoOmBlKr1NARd7ic-NI4GTsw/s1600/IMG_1536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGCpwKoO0LdEerkEFOdMbW-cCg071C5DtEF2ERwT4mT154APJVv7ouFOMNEzomP9i-4Z5EpHlstFs-39jDxCE67-OPSgN4mvB1xHunXfXSlds4rk34KFoOmBlKr1NARd7ic-NI4GTsw/s320/IMG_1536.jpg" title="The Wizard from Brandon Dorman" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wizard my version from Brandon Dorman's work NFS -this was a leaning purposes only exercise</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjroAQUefm4Hr8BXlmsIXyp6rkK93p2L6eXF7A2u7obJdbcbIUsvoDwX0wXf85_eyB2eGRxanmHXlTvTmcCc4J7I4K3yqJg4cs5maAOXRISK7VJrNH_2WNZqcuTrE3WkJtEaZ8ghgpA/s1600/IMG_1540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjroAQUefm4Hr8BXlmsIXyp6rkK93p2L6eXF7A2u7obJdbcbIUsvoDwX0wXf85_eyB2eGRxanmHXlTvTmcCc4J7I4K3yqJg4cs5maAOXRISK7VJrNH_2WNZqcuTrE3WkJtEaZ8ghgpA/s320/IMG_1540.jpg" title="The Frog - from Brandon Dorman's illustrations for The Wizard" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bullfrog my version from Brandon Dorman's work. NFS - stricktly for learning purposes</td></tr>
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I'm very pleased with these two. There are some imperfections but it is about learning and improvement. Let's see how the big picture works out...<br />
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I'd love to hear from you!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-6685460888408189902012-04-10T01:00:00.000+02:002012-04-10T01:00:00.125+02:00SARK Tuesday: YES and NO<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNo7fciYHqp3dSWYZ0k3QmER1_0SsaNwCbF0wFAOCXvMQSnfJAn6sHAj8PSgSpJ-QojO3HdVE87t5WDCPgqrpzOpRVQH2fZUMYFoEFfsyM9zi1Mr26l2DdyBOQxVJyy0kDMT7lmWOKrA/s1600/IMG_1363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNo7fciYHqp3dSWYZ0k3QmER1_0SsaNwCbF0wFAOCXvMQSnfJAn6sHAj8PSgSpJ-QojO3HdVE87t5WDCPgqrpzOpRVQH2fZUMYFoEFfsyM9zi1Mr26l2DdyBOQxVJyy0kDMT7lmWOKrA/s320/IMG_1363.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still Bay Rock Pools - Photo Melissa Mead</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.hayhouse.com/details.php?id=2514">SARK</a>: With regard to your creative dreams, what would you like to say YES more often too? What would you like to say NO to more often?<br />
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MMinP: A friend of mine once told me the story about the big rocks and the little rocks. (Hey.. - April Draft Idea!!) Okay - back to YES/NO. A few years ago I was struggling to "do it all". So my friend gave me this story about how you've got big rocks (priorities) and little rocks (all the little stuff -like grocery shopping) and you have to put them all in a jar. Now if you put in the little rocks first you can't fit in all the big ones. But - if you put in all the big rocks first, all the little ones will fit. (This comes from a popular motivational speaker whom I do not know his name because my friend couldn't recall - please if you know leave it in the comments and I will edit this post!)<br />
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It's been a few years, like I said, but I still can't get all my rocks in even if I shake the heck out of my jar. I've got a new policy this year. I made a notebook of goals. I broke the goals down into month size pieces. I put the notebook away on a shelf I walk past a million times a day. I look in it at the beginning/end of the month to check what's done what to push into the next month etc. I sometimes check in the middle of the month to remind me what I can do in the small moments.<br />
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Doing this has really helped me prioritize and see just HOW full my jar is. I think everybody wants a bigger jar or maybe we want less rocks. Either way my goal book helps me say NO to more rocks and YES to what is important to me. I'm the only one who can say "no" to more small rocks and "YES" to the rocks that rock my world!<br />
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How do you fit all your rocks in? (mine fall out sometimes :D)<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-30093570199984204682012-04-07T22:31:00.001+02:002012-04-07T22:32:47.082+02:00New Facebook PageI have been working out HOW to incorporate all my new changes into my blog and social media.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9DhHzr5FraypS3POmNBWwZdAfqEr9ltVikygMR1P_pf9Fp2ZsEoh11rwZRI8DMXSdaGZ5SUm4DJlePFH52zFn06kWAWMH2WSaRuejBUXVaD7k9JZDSb9-H6BQ9g4mhmmyEdRHLvx1g/s1600/IMG_0423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9DhHzr5FraypS3POmNBWwZdAfqEr9ltVikygMR1P_pf9Fp2ZsEoh11rwZRI8DMXSdaGZ5SUm4DJlePFH52zFn06kWAWMH2WSaRuejBUXVaD7k9JZDSb9-H6BQ9g4mhmmyEdRHLvx1g/s320/IMG_0423.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still Life with apples and arum lilies - Melissa Mead</td></tr>
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Thus far I've decided to embrace the "in Progress" portion of my title and put everything onto this blog. Also I've made a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/melissameadinprogress?ref=tn_tnmn">New Facebook Page</a> for MMinP.<br />
The blog will be a place where I put "regular" entries - ie: Tuesday Sark and Thursday Progress. I will work on getting a Children's Writing and Illustration Day worked into the mix as well.<br />
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The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/melissameadinprogress?ref=tn_tnmn">MMinP Facebook</a> page will be for more spontaneous things and also for bits and bobs that I don't know how to fit into the "blog box".<br />
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Please visit the new page - there are already a few things there.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-47662617065367017092012-04-06T01:00:00.000+02:002012-04-06T01:00:02.506+02:00April 2012 is...I'm fascinated by April. April is Poetry Month. It is also Autism Awareness Month. I think this is amazing. <br />
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Some of my fellow 12x12ers are celebrating Poetry Month. Please visit <a href="http://www.renajtraxelblog.com/">Rena J Traxel</a> and <a href="http://www.nowaterriver.com/">No Water River</a> for a month of poetic excitement.<br />
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My first Picture Book draft for the 12x12 in 12 was in verse. Inspired by a verse from <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/books/98/11/15/reviews/981115.15gutchet.html">Hurry, Hurry, Mary Dear</a>. Perhaps I should try my April draft in verse also? Hmmm.....<br />
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I grew up on Shel Silverstien maintaining my love of non-violence through his poem <a href="http://hug-o-war.com/hug-o'war_vs._tug-of-war_-_poem_by_Shel-Silverstein.html">Hug-o-war</a>. I can still rattle off a number of his poems to this day and it amuses my children no end.<br />
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I'd like to leave you with a link for an American Poet (living) her name is <a href="http://being.publicradio.org/programs/2011/ccp-alexander/">Elizabeth Alexander</a>. The link is not to her <a href="http://www.elizabethalexander.net/">webpage</a> but to an interview she had with Krista Tippet for the radio program <a href="http://being.publicradio.org/programs/">On Being</a>. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPxNHqQXHGLGcnqaM3iiKiaZI-gvYm0bHsUsFtAVxogcxU6qvGMhQ16nACUXRoxkxW_dyYCcr2WvqpwN7Gpg3Uvu-ly0PjqB1yzT_qG6YuvwLdIBSgs9Md17fnJMD5ScdYHsui59oZVg/s1600/IMG_1492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPxNHqQXHGLGcnqaM3iiKiaZI-gvYm0bHsUsFtAVxogcxU6qvGMhQ16nACUXRoxkxW_dyYCcr2WvqpwN7Gpg3Uvu-ly0PjqB1yzT_qG6YuvwLdIBSgs9Md17fnJMD5ScdYHsui59oZVg/s320/IMG_1492.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driftwood Poetry</td></tr>
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And some thoughts on Autism...<br />
Autism in and of itself is a kind of living poetry. Some moments born of: beauty, love and wonder, others of: deep frustration, lonliness and anger. My experience with Autism was brief - while I was working as a physical therapist at a children's rehabilitation center. I remember the children I worked with and I remember their parents and their stories. Such strength.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-83216547673226977202012-04-05T01:00:00.000+02:002012-04-05T01:00:01.552+02:00Thursday Progress<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhRfzQ2eI9YcuMnCd317LNNaEhyYhuUqcOMQYV-wCmtzx-7xDek312jZro4zf3GBfcznPAOxDRUFgFwCDTUOipbxSyzvWwPiFhuq1yvrh8MYA5kpcE1eGvNDNHgLyhtbAVPvD1IaISg/s1600/IMG_1511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhRfzQ2eI9YcuMnCd317LNNaEhyYhuUqcOMQYV-wCmtzx-7xDek312jZro4zf3GBfcznPAOxDRUFgFwCDTUOipbxSyzvWwPiFhuq1yvrh8MYA5kpcE1eGvNDNHgLyhtbAVPvD1IaISg/s320/IMG_1511.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from Marvel Comics Scarlet for learning purposes only.</td></tr>
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Above is the inked in black bits of my "smalls" for art class. The term is over however I will still finish it for the learning of it. I've really enjoyed experimenting with the acrylic inks and am looking forward to more of this.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABIaADZAmM5y7a4uRcWb_8vItNlaZ59c11VlVnFX-Gk3Jigw1GqqA8UeyGsbknkKUkk2NjHDZbj6Il5Dv2CfablS2LwqzIa42nVrBrZWhUHOB9KSpR_zpdP-uDi3sY7oHeJwcgYzR2A/s1600/IMG_1507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABIaADZAmM5y7a4uRcWb_8vItNlaZ59c11VlVnFX-Gk3Jigw1GqqA8UeyGsbknkKUkk2NjHDZbj6Il5Dv2CfablS2LwqzIa42nVrBrZWhUHOB9KSpR_zpdP-uDi3sY7oHeJwcgYzR2A/s320/IMG_1507.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This will be my watercolour version - below was my first sketch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3d3FUMaP8t6wRgLvr0kmd4LRQHzlgGbKROVjD-rVzx5-kWW-roH0eju9TyYH8igQtheb4bZe2C9TAzKsKWlY3WD0OWkAx6PqkgyjuPmXsOVWOsuVOn1NrqjJ13KVqoB_8gbzHRyQzQ/s1600/IMG_1508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3d3FUMaP8t6wRgLvr0kmd4LRQHzlgGbKROVjD-rVzx5-kWW-roH0eju9TyYH8igQtheb4bZe2C9TAzKsKWlY3WD0OWkAx6PqkgyjuPmXsOVWOsuVOn1NrqjJ13KVqoB_8gbzHRyQzQ/s320/IMG_1508.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For learning purposes only - from "THE WIZARD" written by Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by Brandon Dorman<br /></td></tr>
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The above pencil sketches (very light) are my preliminary work efforts to better take hold of children's book illustration. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/498487.The_Wizard">The Wizard</a> by <a href="http://www.jackprelutsky.com/">Jack Prelutsky</a> (Children's Poet Laureate) and illustrated by <a href="http://brandondorman.com/">Brandon Dorman</a> (Thank you Brandon for such amazing illustrations!). Watercolours are not something I've worked much with neither gouache. The amazing colours are enough to get me to try and Brandon's work is so inspiring.<br />
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I'm not sure what medium Brandon uses - the quick research I did gave me not a thing but maybe I can write to him and ask. I love this books images because they use primarily greens and purples which made me think of Mark G. Mitchell's lesson about colour - the Queen and her court. The book itself is perfect for Poetry Month as it's in verse.<br />
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I hope by next week to have both of these images painted in and maybe even finished. These are high hopes. Our fridge quit today, Easter weekend is here (in South Africa it's a serious affair of holidays and travel) and school starts again next week (year long school here - cool and not so cool).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-53521016685958751712012-04-03T01:00:00.000+02:002012-04-03T19:55:56.847+02:00SARK TUESDAY: ResourcesThere are a few SARK cards that are about resources. They state two for specific purposes related to the card. I'm going to give some of my own for today...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhRn_IjLlQh9Dou6cwaoFShwjQptiD_aLtjLtVen3d9y1XPZldDt4VTPXxJIKyfhPbR6d-yRX1_mbSr_WicXO9HSKQS1K1h3ql8dWHcB_EL6DomLbcgMKDQCQM8Clp1tdacYTuyUSAQ/s1600/IMG_1327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhRn_IjLlQh9Dou6cwaoFShwjQptiD_aLtjLtVen3d9y1XPZldDt4VTPXxJIKyfhPbR6d-yRX1_mbSr_WicXO9HSKQS1K1h3ql8dWHcB_EL6DomLbcgMKDQCQM8Clp1tdacYTuyUSAQ/s320/IMG_1327.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fooling around with coloured pencils and the kids!</td></tr>
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1. "Women Who Run With the Wolves" by <a href="http://www.clarissapinkolaestes.com/">Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Ph.D.</a>. My husband (when we first met) sent this to me to read. You can imagine I thought he was just too amazing for words.<br />
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2. A quote by Bruce Lee: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> "If you put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and life. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> There are no limits.</span></b> There are only plateaus and you must go beyond them."</span><br />
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3. "<a href="http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Home">Daily Paintworks"</a> this is a family run business of the Marine's. The most important thing here for me to share is the "artbyte" page. There you will find a FREE download if you register (for free) about Carol Marine's experience of becoming a daily painter. Better than that - probably the best advice you've ever read. Give your self a great big FREE present - go register and read it NOW. Then come back so I can tell you why I missed a few posts last week.<br />
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WHY is Mr. Lee's quote standing out there like mad. I happened to mention to my hubby that I felt I was on a plateau. That I'm feeling like I'm not really making progress in my dream vocation. I've realized there is only so much attention I can give to my priorities and I obviously have to many of them. The conversation continued as my partner looked at me with increasing amusement. He gave me much encouragement and reiterated that it was just that - a plateau. Furthermore - moments later he recieved this quote from a friend on facebook. You gotta love serrendipity.<br />
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If you happened on this entry - maybe you too are feeling as I am. So the point is - THERE ARE NO LIMITS except those you put on yourself or accept from others. Keep going forward anyway.<br />
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Now I want to explain my abscence. Mostly because I like to know why other people miss posts. You see....we went on holiday. They always twist me around-but that's fine. Change is good. We had good internet reception however I don't know how to run internet from my phone to the laptop. Further I don't know how to make links etc from my hubby's i-pad. So I dropped a note to say so.<br />
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I was in the process of posting on Saturday - the day after our return - when POOF. No internet connection at home. For Earthday we were treated to no electricty (and no internet- and no finishing my holiday laundry fun). Instead we made recycled plastic candle holders in preparation for a candlelit Earth Hour. We had discussion about taking Earth Hour that little bit further. Sunday I couldn't post because you might think it was all a joke!! And also because I was painting and drawing, exploring and experimenting with colour and paint and lines.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2Z2DLRuiZklyLDa4HyzsJB0TlLrBqUhOdvK1pgk7oIYqOqK_KPGL2oYWkn6LiqxrYlfg1aiG_RrZm46ZNe9APgfcxTWr2IJFZN6iyDBzIecnT_Wgjk-WlAQRLaQbBjhPNkzDDJ-ksQ/s1600/IMG_1499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2Z2DLRuiZklyLDa4HyzsJB0TlLrBqUhOdvK1pgk7oIYqOqK_KPGL2oYWkn6LiqxrYlfg1aiG_RrZm46ZNe9APgfcxTWr2IJFZN6iyDBzIecnT_Wgjk-WlAQRLaQbBjhPNkzDDJ-ksQ/s320/IMG_1499.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My eldest son waiting his turn with the scissors.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FKUF1mgej5JG1hdf6jD6BSmT9kxbfVQ6M1wK4VtJREIM7sApho3AC9o40AOi_WUH3krkpTQ6hMQcRl0za0AF7JMTfQMnFyZ-hRlIh0bZ-8CcdFXN-kYc9uid7iu6ZCcD_3e6qgzmaA/s1600/IMG_1505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FKUF1mgej5JG1hdf6jD6BSmT9kxbfVQ6M1wK4VtJREIM7sApho3AC9o40AOi_WUH3krkpTQ6hMQcRl0za0AF7JMTfQMnFyZ-hRlIh0bZ-8CcdFXN-kYc9uid7iu6ZCcD_3e6qgzmaA/s320/IMG_1505.JPG" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A value study for Marks and Splashes course.</td></tr>
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This post was updated Tuesday 2 April 2012 to include labels.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-5754528791747590962012-03-22T21:31:00.001+02:002012-03-22T21:31:11.804+02:00Away for holidayMy post for today is sadly going to have to wait. I was blessed with a few extra hours of class time this morning which means that everything else was put aside. In the rush to leave for our holiday I managed to leave something behind.
I left our main course, the machine to blow up the inflatable mattress and my drawing progress (from this mornings) for this post! I also left other mundane things but nothing crucial. We have all the kids, our toothbrushes, bikes, books, my sketching supplies..
I will post again before April to be sure but at this point -family is primary for the next week.
See you again soon....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35843966671832201.post-87976148109347952512012-03-20T01:00:00.000+02:002012-03-21T21:28:01.557+02:00Sark Tuesday: Solo Adventures<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/SARKS-Creative-Dream-Game-Cards/dp/1401906044">SARK</a>: Solo adventures can awaken new creative dreams. When we spend our time with ourselves doing something BRAND-NEW, it literally changes how our brains function.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlEvzBK-69xuurILXC7oqGpnOMIjgqn4Tqz9-EzuZ5GzNniMn9br3tLXoxA6Zho0TYutGGP-QhuaFjlXUmBgbgfuMueHKAcNuwKqyxVreRXbktN9t6RZ-3ZxX1mv591bcHyvs0rZGcw/s1600/IMG_1339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlEvzBK-69xuurILXC7oqGpnOMIjgqn4Tqz9-EzuZ5GzNniMn9br3tLXoxA6Zho0TYutGGP-QhuaFjlXUmBgbgfuMueHKAcNuwKqyxVreRXbktN9t6RZ-3ZxX1mv591bcHyvs0rZGcw/s320/IMG_1339.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Update: March 21, 2012: The above is my version of A.Modigliani's painting (for the sole purpose of education - Please see below to learn more about Modigliani.</td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">MMinP: I laughed out loud at this card. I laughed because for every week since I started SARK Tuesdays I have shuffled the deck with a focused intention for the answer to a specific query for going forward as a beginning artist.</span></div>
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I don’t do workshops generally. They take time from my family - I like something deeper than the quick one-day experience and mostly I tend to shy away from new unknown experiences where I am flying solo. This past weekend I took a Reverse Painting Class given by Paul Birchall. </div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I had some really great experiences from the entire process of deciding to take the workshop to the actual point of my return home on the day. I think the best part worth sharing is the part where I realized I was TOTALLY confident in myself -through the entire process. I rarely feel this way in general, so it was quite amazing.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This gave me such a shift in paradigm. I was actually able to clarify my idea for the 12x12 picture book draft challenge so that my March manuscript is now drafted. Yipee!!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Please share your BRAND-NEW experiences here. Look around you and take note - what spurs you to take a SOLO path? What keeps you from taking part?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A bold experience is right here now !! - leave a comment ;-D</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">(The above painting is NFS - mixed media painted on plexiglass - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amedeo_Modigliani">Amedeo Modigliani</a></span>.)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2