Abstract Existence

Here's to 2012 - Happy New Year!

This morning I woke up to a beautiful, cold, and wintry Pacific Northwest day with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude.  It's New Year's Eve!  2011 has been amazing and I'm incredibly excited about 2012. 

“With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The above painting image is of a Christmas commission that was a gift for someone on a rowing team. It's called, "Keep Calm and Row On," and it was so much fun to create!

Here's to a safe, healthy, happy and fabulous New Year!

 

 

 

A Lesson From Sears

An article in the Wall Street Journal yesterday discussed the current situation of a company that I remember from my childhood as being a very strong, thriving brand; Sears.  Because they've skimped on the renovations and even Christmas decorations at many of their stores this year, Sears stores now feel old, outdated and as the writer described them, like "a dead man walking."  

That is a really sad state for any company, especially a company that used to be as robust as Sears. They practically invented catalog marketing.

For me, this is another good reminder to keep things fresh and new in my business.  To consistantly produce new work, and to stay on top of current design trends so that my audience doesn't ever feel bored by what I'm doing.  So that I don't feel bored by the work that I'm creating.

The article also reminded me of the importance of quality in my work, which is one of the key tenets that I've built my business upon.  I strive to always use the best materials that I can find, even when it's more expensive for me to do so.  I only feel confident in shipping out a finished product when I believe that I've created quality work with the highest quality materials.  It's one of the things that motivates me.

"Quality is not an act, it's a habit."

-- Aristotle

Happy Friday!

Am I Doing This Right?

This is the first (real) post that I've written since I began working for myself full time, about three weeks ago.  

It's been an interesting - and incredibly wonderful - few weeks.  I've been really busy; catching up on things that I haven't had the time do do (including sleep), working on commission deadlines, creating new art and adjusting to (and developing) my new routine. 

Each morning, I start my day with a hot cup of decafinated coffee and I read some inspiring things as my gears begin to turn.  This morning, I realized that every single day so far, I've been subconsciously asking myself the same exact question:

Am I doing this right?

Even as I type this, I realize how strange and how comical that sounds.  It's just that everyday is in some way different from the day before, and I'm constantly trying to maximize my time, and be as productive and creative as possible, and I can't help but wonder if there is a better way to do things - a better way to structure my day, a better way to schedule things to accomplish more and to do better work.

This morning on the inspiring and insightful Live Your Legend website, I read the following:

“For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.” -- Steve Jobs

I like this quote.  After I read it, I considered the question for myself, regarding my day today. And the answer is without a doubt, 100%, "Yes."  So, then I guess that I've answered my own ongoing question.

"Am I doing this right?"

The answer must be, "Yes," because I wouldn't change a thing about what I am working on today!

Thank you for reading and Happy Friday!

 

 

Just Some Words

TechCrunch posted the following Steve Jobs quote tonight on Facebook, and I really love it: 

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

- Steve Jobs

Rest in peace Mr. Jobs.  You're lived a bold and courageous life and have greatly impacted and changed the face of the technology industry. 

A Big Change.

After more than a decade of working in corporate marketing, as of Thursday, September 29th, I'll officially be working for myself full-time.  My decision to resign wasn't an easy one.  The journey so far has had it's ups and downs - major change is always somewhat jarring for me.

But I'm surprised by just how right it all feels and how little fear I feel, given such a major decision. 

Last Saturday morning, I was sitting in my living room, reading the newspaper, listening to music and drinking a cup of coffee.  It was raining outside.

All of a sudden, I had one of those out-of-body moments (figuratively speaking), where I was able to look in on myself, and  it was an awesome feeling.  Not because of the content of the newspaper article that I was reading, the song that was playing on Pandora or the deliciousness of my cup of coffee, but by how much I felt just exactly like myself.  Just exactly like the person that I truly am, and I haven't seen terribly much of her lately.  

I've been on a treadmill.  Being pulled in two different directions has been exhausting on a few different levels and I think that I'm now moving in the right direction.  The treadmill is slowing down.  And I'm feeling much more like myself.  A weight has been lifted and my mind is slowly starting to drift into those fabulous places that it hasn't been able to go for a while.  I guess that such a big decision can do that.

And so I'm incredibly grateful.  

If you've made it this far, thanks for reading! 

 

Allowing Some Space - A Creativity Cleanse

I took this photograph at the Outer Banks in North Carolina in May, 2011.

In an a guest-contributed post on the Tiny Budda, Lynn Zavaro wrote something that really resonated with me:

"An empty blank canvas permits the unanticipated and unexpected to appear." -- Lynn Zavaro

There are always so many thoughts swirling around inside my head, and I never know what thoughts to keep and what to toss.  What to act upon and what to hang up in the coat closet for the time being.

In a world of multi-tasking and constantly being plugged in through smartphones, laptops and tablets; in a world where the woman at the gym on the treadmill next to mine is carrying on a business meeting using her bluetooth while sneaking in a lunchtime workout, I feel like my creative space is very tender.  Always at risk of being crushed. 

Doing Work that is Important

I subscribe to The Happiness Project Moment of Happiness and every morning I have a beautiful and happy tidbit in my email inbox.  It is totally worth it.  It's one of the emails that I always open and enjoy every day.  

This morning, the tidbit was:

"Any time that is not spent on love is wasted."
— Tasso

Wise Words From Lady Gaga

Last night Lady Gaga was a guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance.  The show was on while I was working on a painting, but then something that Lady Gaga was saying to a contestant, I'm not sure which one, stopped me in my tracks.  I ran over to the remote control and hit rewind on the DVR to hear it again.  And then again, so that I could jot it down because I thought that it was pretty wise and pretty awesome.  I've never really paid much attention to Lady Gaga in the past because, I'll admit, her style of music is a bit different from what I usually listen to.  But she is definitely an interesting person!

Here is what she said (it's close to this at least):

Today I am Inspired by...

Apartment Therapy!  Specifically, THIS!

I always enjoy reading Apartment Therapy posts and I almost always learn something.  Recently I've been trying to figure out how to organize my book collection, because for some reason I can never stop buying books.  I love some of these ideas!

Another Nugget from Hugh McLeod

Here is one of my favorite insights from the book that I recently read, Ignore Everybody, by Hugh McLeod.

"Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten."