SARK TUESDAY: Willingness

On Forrestry Side of the Grabouw Country Club Dam 2012

SARK:  Willingness is the ability to move without proof.  Willingness is the cupcake for yet another FUNdraiser.

MMinP:  For this to make the most sense please read this... From Facebook:

Earth. We are one.

Sunday

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....

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!

I'm no longer willing to do the cupcakes though....not even painted ones.

What are you willing to do for your creative dreams?

SARK TUESDAY: Surprises

Snail trails in a tidal pool: Melissa Mead Photograph 2012

SARK:  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?

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.

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.

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 :D

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....

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.

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?

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?

SARK TUESDAY: Transforming Fears

Family and Friends helping each other through a challenge.  Photo by Melissa Mead

SARK: 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].

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.

A short original poem:

F - futile
E - emotions
A - awaiting
R - redirection

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?

Are you also struggling with this enigmatic sense of expectation?  Are you afraid/excited/apathetic?

Well - if you are excited and expectant - check in Thursday for an update on what's been happening in the studio....

SARK Tuesday: Clock of Forgiveness

SARK:  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.

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.

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.

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?

That's another post for another day....or maybe more than one post....

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!

SARK Tuesday

SARK: 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!

SARK Tuesday: YES and NO

Still Bay Rock Pools - Photo Melissa Mead

SARK:  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?

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!)

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.

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!

How do you fit all your rocks in?   (mine fall out sometimes :D)

SARK TUESDAY: Resources

There 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...

Fooling around with coloured pencils and the kids!

1.  "Women Who Run With the Wolves"  by Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Ph.D..  My husband (when we first met) sent this to me to read.  You can imagine I thought he was just too amazing for words.

2.  A quote by Bruce Lee:   "If you put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and life.  There are no limits. There are only plateaus and you must go beyond them."

3. "Daily Paintworks" 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

My eldest son waiting his turn with the scissors.

A value study for Marks and Splashes course.

This post was updated Tuesday 2 April 2012 to include labels.

Sark Tuesday: Solo Adventures

SARK:  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.

S ucculent

O pen

L uscious

O ptions

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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!!

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?

A bold experience is right here now !! - leave a comment ;-D


(The above painting is NFS - mixed media painted on plexiglass - Amedeo Modigliani.)

SARK Tuesday: Blaming

SARK: We can all find people or things to blame about why we're not spending more time with our creative dreams.  Blame is misdirected energy and a habitual fear reaction.

MMinP: This is an amazing card.  How often do we blame lack of time for not being able to accomplish more?  How often do you blame house cleaning or family needs from taking you away from your art.  How often do you blame your "real" job, lack of space, lack of money or anything else?

I find when I get really down I will blame just about anything and anyone.  I know the truth however.  I'm just afraid.  I'm afraid I can't create what's in my head.  Or maybe I'm afraid I can and I'll do it so well everyone will start expecting me to do it every time.???

The real truth is we often don't know what we are afraid of.  We really have everything to gain from creating art, writing a picture book, putting ideas out there.  I think a way to move out of this blame experience is to simply make a date with our creation supplies.  A true block of time like you would give to someone you adore.

I often experience resistance when I do this.  I spend the first part of my time settling in.  Getting a snack to make sure I won't be hungry.  A cup of tea or coffee.  A glass of water.  I set up all my stuff.  Cruise a few websites to "get me in the right space".  I know I'm "wasting time" and somehow this pushes me to the next space.  The space of getting to "play!".   Suddenly I'm on another plane of reality and all that exists is the creation at my hands.  I often find it disconcerting to have to leave this place and return to "the real world" when time is up.  I promise myself to make another date.  A good friend once gave me some great advice: "If you don't set a date and time then it won't ever happen."

Over time this beginning routine will decrease in length and the amount of creation time would increase.  This would also lead to less blame - because if you are making that daily date creation is happening!!

What is keeping you from spending more time on your creative dreams?

What can you do to assist yourself to make that date?

SARK Tuesday: Develop Support

Dancing Fairies -Newsprint Cutouts by Melissa Mead 2011

SARK CARD:  Our creative dreams need support.  It is essential to practice receiving so that you can ask for, AND receive support.  We are meant to help each other.

This weekend I was surrounded by my core support staff.  Family and friends came to spend the weekend with us.  We laughed, shared food and children and talked and planned.  It was wonderful.

This core group allows me to have space and time to paint.  I call on them to assist me.  I have slowly learned not only to ask for the help but also to accept it.  I think sometimes we ask for the help but when it comes we start to feel guilty for needing the support.  This guilt fouls the creative juices in such a way that we can't really make full use of the support we've received.

I'm also learning that I am surrounded by a HUGE support team in my links with the Marks and Splashes Course as well as my 12x12 and PB Dummy groups.  I'm not at all versed in social media and I'm really floundering about trying to work out the best way to assist these folks.  I know that what I give I will receive.

It's a funny awkward feeling knowing help is waiting and all you have to do is figure out how to help another (sometimes how to help yourself!)

How are you supporting your SELF?  Do you have a support team?  How might they help you?  Remember - voicing a question can lead you through a myriad of people who lead you to the answer.

Leave a comment about your answers - I look forward to hearing from you.

SARK TUESDAY: Impatience

Today's Creative Dream Card from SARK is about impatience.

Making creative dreams real can sometimes be a slow or uneven process.  It can be tempting to practice impatience to try to accelerate progress.  This leads to fear and frustration.

The above is incredibly true.  So true in fact I've been living it for the past few weeks.  I keep breathing and napping and pushing and ...ok ..yes trying to do it all and have it all and be it all!  There...the first step to recovery.  Whew - I still don't feel less frustrated or fearful.  I am being patient with the process though.

For me it seems I get one opportunity, (I was encouraged by a gallery to send them pics of my artwork just four days ago!) - to have it feel taken away from me, (I walked into art class this morning and looked at my three weeks behind work and felt I might never reach my dream).  How could I have gallery ready art when I can't even finish an art class project?  The two sides of me went head to head and what I'm left with is the knowing that I need to breathe and believe that with each micro-step I take I am doing something to reach my dream.  It may take me an eternity longer than I would like it to but at least I'm moving forward.  I have been in two exhibitions, I have sold art works, I have paintings in New Zealand and will soon have one in Australia.  I can do this and I even have moments when I AM living my dream.

I think the best part is what's slowing up my process is being present with my big beautiful family.  I am behind in my projects because I go to the sports games and gala's.  I do the homeschooling and the outings.  My children are growing and learning and watching me do the same.  My stretching nourishes their potentials.  I have to keep in mind that there are limits to what one person can manage in 24hours.

I also need to keep putting one creative mark after the other!

What are you being impatient about with your dreams?  How are you being patient with your process?  How do those around you benefit from your journey?  Share your success or slides!  Let's get there together.