Friends,
Every time we make a statement, whether verbally or with a piece of art, we run a risk. Even when we’re confident that the statement is good and positive, there’s always room for misinterpretation and judgment. But we can’t let that stop us, can we?
I go along in this world happy and naïve for the most part, blissfully drawing, writing, dancing, and expressing myself without limits (many thanks to the network of artists such as you and our authors who inspire me). But every once in a while, I’m stopped short with a touch of reality. Not everyone will love what we do all the time.
And that’s okay.
I think it’s important to understand and consider the opposing ideas and then learn from them.
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| A page of artistic inspiration from Christine Mason Miller’s book Ordinary Sparkling Moments |
It’s up to us how we process the information and apply it to future projects. This can go several ways: We can allow this feedback to hinder our work, to hold us back from stepping into the unknown, or let it propel us further in the direction we were already headed. It could also inform our future artistic decisions. I hope that it does one of the latter two.
When I was reading Ordinary Sparkling Moments by Christine Mason Miller, I had to stop for a moment and let my muse speak to me. Instead of enlightening me with new artistic inspiration, she whispered in my ear about a creative project that I had come up with a while back. I started writing and planning the endeavor, and then totally left it behind in the wake of family duties and whatnot.
Until I saw Christine’s book, that is. I was inspired by the color and design of the pages and by the meaning of the words so artfully written.
To me it said, if a project is scary, if it’s so big that it seems impossible, then it’s worth doing.
And so I began again. The endeavor might take years, but I have to start now, and be willing to push boundaries.
Ordinary Sparkling Moments is a collection of truths and reminders, reflections, and advice, and it is a must-have book for every artist. Right now it’s part of the Capture and Collage Your Ordinary Sparkling Moments kit, and comes with another favorite book of mine, Inspirational Quotes Illustrated, along with an art board to get you started on your next project.
I invite you to dig in, dig deep, and be authentic. You have nothing to lose.
Yours in art,
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