Thursday Progress

Mixed Media Quilted Giraffe - Melissa Mead 2012

This quilted giraffe was a card for my mom.  She likes giraffes and she's a quilting fanatic.  She took part in:  Quilts That Helped Us Heal 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.

SARK TUESDAY: Acknowledging

Z's creative dreaming moment.  Melissa Mead - Photograph 2012

SARK:  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.

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.

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.

My creative dream is "in Progress"...it IS the combination of family and creative endeavors.  Or...Creative endeavors combine family..... hmmmm

What is your positive, affirming statement?  -Play with it....

Thursdays Progress

Pen sketch of Lily  Melissa Mead 2012

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.

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 SARK TUESDAY: Procrastination),  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.....

SARK TUESDAY: Procrastination

Completion of Winter Sports, (best in sport medals):  Photograph by Melissa Mead 2012

SARK:  Many of us use time to procrastinate instead of experiencing completion.  The favorite word of procrastination is "LATER".  Shift to saying "NOW" more often.

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?

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.

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.

Procrastination is only a bad thing when it's a habit that we forget we can actually change.  Balance is everything.

Thursday Progress

Illustration for IF: Suspend.  Mixed Media: Melissa Mead

Illustration Friday had the topic Suspend. This illustration is my very own from beginning to end.   Thank you Pia Drent for your help in refining the idea.

SARK TUESDAY: Celebrating Mistakes

MTO Forest Path Grabouw, South Africa

SARK:  From our "mistakes" comes some of our richest material for our creative dreams.  Every mistake is a teacher and can lead to new success....

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:"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." - Albert Einstein

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.

I would like to encourage you to explore Edna Fourie's gallery and story.  Amazing to say the least.  You can find it here.  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".

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.

How are you feeling about your mistakes these days?

Thursdays Progress

Illustration: "Tall"  Melissa Mead 2012 Watercolour and gouache

This is my Illustration Friday 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.

SARK Tuesday: Call or Reach out for Good Things

Experiments in Natural Pigments - photograph from homeschooling. Melissa Mead 2012

SARK:  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.

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.

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?

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?

You can always reach for Planet SARK's "marvelous message boards" 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.

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?