Awakening Your Creative Soul: Follow Your Heart in the New Year

When one year comes to a close, an exciting vibe for possibility in the new year fills the air. When the clock strikes midnight, we start fresh with resolutions and promises to be better in a myriad of ways. Many artists promise to create/draw/paint/sew something new every day or week, or to learn a new technique. I’m excited about the idea of drawing more and keeping a visual journal in the upcoming new year.

Whatever your artistic plans are for 2019, Carrie Schmitt’s Rosie the Art Bus is sure to give your creative juices a jolt. Read on to learn more about Carrie’s artistic passion and ways to awaken your creative soul, from the Winter 2019 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors.

Rosie the Art Bus: A Reminder to Follow Your Heart

Carrie Schmitt
Carrie Schmitt. Photos by Michael Sladek Photography.

By Carrie Schmitt

For better or worse, I always follow my heart. I know that following my heart and doing wildly impractical things is my genius. It has allowed me to make a living as an artist and take risks without fear of failure, including recently converting a 2002 Blue Bird® short school bus into a mobile art studio and traveling storefront that I’ve named Rosie the Art Bus.

I bought Rosie after searching unsuccessfully for an affordable studio in the Seattle area. She was not without challenges: I invested in renovating the interior, including new fl ooring, a generator, air conditioning and heating, and a sink and water system. However, even with these upfront costs it was still less expensive than one month’s rent at a retail space near where I live.

Rosie the Art Busy, Carrie Schmitt

Now that the renovation is complete, I enjoy painting in the bus and on the rooftop deck. I invite local musicians to join me to celebrate and share the arts. Rosie encourages the community to experience the creative process and shows that arts are a viable and rewarding profession. I want people of all ages to see that artists live here, and that we’re part of the community. I also want to share my creative process because it’s fascinating and inspiring.

Rosie the Art Bus, Carrie Schmitt

I’ve made incredible connections with people of all ages because of Rosie. My art bus reminds me that it is not only okay to follow your heart and live life on your own terms, but it is beautiful. As Vincent van Gogh said, “Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow.”

Learn more about Carrie on her website and with the resources below. Plus, follow her on Instagram at @carrieschmitt for endless inspiration.


Experience the 52-week-long Awakening Your Creative Soul, and discover more from Carrie Schmitt!

Categories

Art Journaling and Lettering, Blog, Mixed-Media Techniques

About Tammy Jones

I'm the online editor of Interweave Jewelry and Cloth Paper Scissors. I love making metal and metal clay jewelry, enameling, mixed media, and collecting and creating with found objects. I also enjoy knitting, paper crafts like card making and scrapbooking, cooking, traveling, beachcombing, and snow!

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