soul's evolution

" Rule of thumb: the more important a call or action is to our soul's evolution, the more Resistance we will feel toward pursuing it. " pg 12 the War of Art

" Fear is good. Like self doubt, fear is an indicator. Fear tells us what we need to do. Remember our rule of thumb: The more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it. " pg 40 the War of Art

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I'm inspired by all the activities I'm involved with these days. Spring has Sprung. The trees are full of bright green leaves and the sky is bright blue with a hot hot sun! I'm wearing my flip flops again and have put the jackets away!

My schedule is jam packed with adventures!
I'd say more but I have to go take part in more of them right now!
Have a glorious day packed with creativity, friends, and whatever else tickles you.

Resistance is invisible

"Resistance cannot be seen, touched, heard, or smelled. But it can be felt. We experience it as an energy field radiating from a work-in-potential. It's a repelling force. It's negative. It's aim is to shove us away, distract us, prevent us from doing our work. "
pg. 7 from " The War of Art " by Steven Pressfield

***

I'm working on so many projects right now that I decided today would be a day to take a deep breath, de-clutter my desk, my kitchen, my office, and get my space into working order.....all while thinking about my artwork and the themes that tie all the different bodies of work together. I'm writing a new artist's statement. I have 9 framed pieces ( one of them you see here ) that I am getting prepped for a solo show. I love these pieces. Fragments of my life. Minneapolis, Portland, Ashland, all represented through these photographic "maps" of where I was at the particular time in my life. I've been writing down phrases and words to describe the work. I'm obsessed and also feel invigorated by the energy of getting back in there and figuring it out.
reminds me of the frame of mind I was in during art school. I think I was dreaming all night about my new series of photographs, and I was trying to figure it out, what are they? Why are they? etc. I woke up and rushed over to my pad of paper and wrote out a few key words that really summed it up. Man did I miss this. the digging, searching, researching, pulling apart, discovering, looking, piecing together, and creating. I feel like a detective searching for clues. I'm in love with making my work. And I am in love with watching my husband make his work. It's a busy house these days. We are both working out solutions for our photographs for upcoming shows. and yes I do feel the resistance seeping in and out of my creative flow. Learning to work with it so I can keep moving forward.

resistance's greatest hits

ok - so I love this image of the tree - but would love to hear if you are more attracted to the black and white image or the color image. I like both for different reasons.

***

Got a new book called the War of Art by Steven Pressfield.

It was recommended to me last night at a writing class I am taking with Al Watt. yes the same Al that I took a headshot of a few months back.

I am working on a book project and I've never written one before so I figured it was time for some outside assistance. So far I am blown away. BLOWN. This class is incredible. Life changing.

I'm inspired by it and want to pass on some things inside that book I just picked up so here goes:

from pages 5&6:

The following is a list, in no particular order, of those activities that most commonly elicit Resistance:

1. the pursuit of any calling in writing, painting, music, film, dance, or any creative art, however marginal or unconventional.

2. The launching of any entrepreneurial venture or enterprise, for profit or otherwise.

3. Any diet or health regimen.

4. Any program of spiritual advancement.

5. Any Activity whose aim is tighter abdominals.

6. Any course or program designed to overcome an unwholesome habit or addiction.

7. Education of every kind.

8. Any act of political, moral, ethical courage, including the decision to change for the better some unworthy pattern of thought or conduct in ourselves.

9. the undertaking of any enterprise or endeavor whose aim is to help others.

10. Any act that entails commitment of the heart. The decision to get married, to have a child, to weather a rocky patch in relationship.

11. The taking of any principled stand in the face of adversity.

In other words, any act that rejects immediate gratification in favor of long-term growth, health, or integrity. Or, Expressed another way, any act that derives from our higher nature instead of our lower. Any of these will elicit Resistance.

Now: what are the characteristics of Resistance?

***
Check in tomorrow for more....!

my husband is a total ROCK STAR!!!

My husband Jerry just found out this morning that this image of his called "starship" was accepted into one the the largest Juried photography shows in the country. Over 12,000 images from 46 countries were submitted and the juror was a woman from the Museum of Photographic Art in San Diego. 102 images were picked and Jerry's image was one of them.

YAY JERRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For more information about the show you can click here.

The opening is Friday April 25th 6-9pm
At the Lyceum Theatre Gallery in San Diego.

For gallery info you can click here.

I hope you can come down to see the show in April.
Today I bought him a very large decadent slice of chocolate cake and I plan to sing to him some made up congratulations song - which should be very interesting.(!)
I am just so excited for him!
xox

remember...

"Remember - keep moving toward your dreams with purpose and persistance because they are out there waiting for you to say yes to them so they can come true for you."
- Reva K.

***

I was trying to take a photo of the buds on the tree yesterday and this branch from the tree next to it just blew right into my frame to say "HI!" " LOOK AT ME" !
It was a perfect moment and pretty funny.
So here is it's cameo.

evidence!

Look at those little leaves pushing their way out into the world, faces stretched out toward the sun! GO LEAVES GO! Spotted this on my tree out front and had to document it. It's so thrilling to watch a tree transform every single day.

"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home." ~Twyla Tharp

Hope you enjoy running away on some level today.

and here is the final point on Keri Smith's how to list

10 Let go...

Don't worry about your talent or capability... it is not yours to judge. It will grow and change over time. Do not ask "why am I doing this? Is it the right thing?" It is enough to know that you want to. Just do it because you want to. It will become something on it's own. Freaking out about what you "should" be doing does not move you forward, it only serves to stress you on what should be an enjoyable part of your journey. ENJOY THE PROCESS. Starting can be the most overwhelming part but it is also exciting and full of possibilities. Change can be intimidating, unfamiliar, terrifying, self-doubt inducing, down right uncomfortable. But our lives are too rich and we are too powerful to have anything less than what we truly deserve...to do what we love everyday, to become our most authentic powerful selves, to share our passion with the rest of the world, and to live up to the spirit that is in us, (and not squelch it!)...

You have nothing to lose... The universe is waiting...

xo

actions for today

actions for today:

Send your gratitude out to the universe.
Stay in that gratitude all day if you can.
Notice all that there is to be grateful for as it presents itself to you all day long.
Take actions toward your highest goals in life and be grateful that you are already living that life right now even if it doesn't look like it on the outside. Be it on the inside.

and...here is another Keri Smith moment:

9 BEGIN NOW!!!

The circumstances will never be perfect for you to begin. You will never have enough money saved to start. Your portfolio will never be ready, you may never have the perfect space/studio/equipment. You will not have the time if you don't make it now. These are self limiting beliefs created by our inner critic to make us stop. Don't make a big production out of it. Use what you've got! Hemingway wrote on napkins, Keith Haring painted subway stations, Charles and Ray Eames designed & made chairs in a tiny bedroom, a famous furniture maker carved with sharpened screwdrivers, Maud Lewis (a folk artist) painted with discarded boat paint, the stories are endless. You have everything right now in your possession to start moving forward towards your goals. There is some small step you can take in the direction of your dream, when you do the universe often takes several more.

***

Enjoy noticing all that you already have in your life!
xo

bright monday

The list of brightness so far today:
1. sunshine warming up the morning
2. bright blue skies
3. birds singing in the trees
4. spotting 2 yellow finches in my tree and taking photos of them
5. talking a walk with my husband
6. noticing how the light is streaming across the room this morning
7. my breakfast feast of egg whites and a side of apple with cinnamon
8. a freshness about the day from all the projects we completed during our weekend
9. feeling pride about our new walkway that Jerry put in yesterday
10. looking forward to the projects on my list today - and the friends that I get to see as a result!
11. the flowers on the table that are super vibrant today!
12. my cat of course! in all of her glory, rolling around outside.
13. feeling relaxed, grateful, inspired, rested, creative, accepting, and free

I would LOVE to hear your list of brightness today!
send them!

here is another installment of Keri Smith's article:
8 Reinvent yourself ... you are not defined by the current situation.

This means at any given time we can start fresh. After failures (I prefer to call them lessons), get back on you feet and start again. Writers will be rejected, illustrators will send out work they hate, freelancers will have dry periods, and designers will have quotes rejected. There is always an ebb and flow to success, money, fame, and creative energy. DUST YOURSELF OFF

SCREAMING PINK!

Jerry and I have been walking around the rose bowl in the mornings. It's 3 miles around and the street has a variety of trees that just make my day. This tree caught my eye the other day so I brought my cameras with me take a few photos. On the way home I spotted another one about a mile from our house. I want one!
Anyone know what it is?? I hear it might be a flowering Quince tree but I googled it and it doesn't have the same type of flowers.

I am becoming obsessed with all the trees around me. I never noticed them before I started doing my "year 20" project with the tree out front. Now I am in LOVE with trees. All I want to do is drive/ walk/ hike around with my cameras and take photos of all their gloriousness.
***
P.S. I have 2 art openings this month - same gallery - same work - just two times to enjoy the the art in a festive atmosphere!

Cactus Gallery

The show is a juried art show celebrating the galleries 3rd year anniversary.
So the theme is "3". I have 3 photos in the show that all make up one month of my "year 20" series.


This Saturday March 8th 7-10pm
( this is Second Saturday in our area and all the galleries are having openings. )
( I will be in for a moment but not staying )


Next Saturday March 15th 7-10pm Artists Reception ( I WILL BE THERE 7:30-9:30pm ! COME SEE ME! I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU!!!!!)

4534 Eagle Rock Blvd.
Eagle Rock, CA
90041

***

Keri Smith's "how to" article continues......

7 Feel the fear and do it anyway

...the title of a great book! I've talked to many people who have worked doing what they love for years. THEY STILL HAVE FEAR! They just work with it. It amazed me to find out that success sometimes brings more fear, fear of living up to our name and reputation. Pressure to equal our past successes. So if the fear is always there, you might as well learn to manage it, instead of trying to get rid of it.

***

enjoy everything you find that is blossoming vibrant PINK!!!

Tania

In 2006 I entered a competition that was put on by PDN Magazine. Photo District News.
This competition is all about wedding photography. I entered this one image and they picked it!

This bride Tania had a GORGEOUS wedding. I mean dripping gorgeous, and on top of it they were fun people with great families and friends. yep - the perfect scene.

Tania is coming over today to go over a project we are working on together - so I thought I'd focus my blog efforts on her today. I'm looking forward to seeing her and working with her today.

And - next up - of course - is the next installment of Keri Smith's article:

6 Ask for what you want...

Write it down, be specific. Figuring out exactly what you want will help you FOCUS on where you need to go and allow you to make steps in that direction. The point here is to create INTENT in your life so that your dreams can manifest in the physical world. Creating an "unlimited" business plan, (one that expresses all your wildest dreams), is one of the most valuable things you can do for yourself and your career. Start with a personal philosophy and mission statement. Create a list with two columns. The first will be Objectives, (e.g. create an identity within my industry). The second will be Actions, ways to manifest the objectives, (e.g. create a presence on the internet, write for industry magazines, etc.) What are your deepest dreams? Take them seriously, they will lead you to what you really want.

When you make a commitment to the goal the money will appear, but you must be truly committed!

***

stunning

I had the opportunity to photograph two very talented and beautiful friends of mine these past few weeks.
Ana Maria who is the founder of Contra Tiempo and she was the gal who helped us choreograph our first dance at our wedding. If you are in LA you should sign up for her salsa lessons, or go to the King King Club Tuesday nights for her lessons.
Korbi wanted a more natural look for her new headshot, with a less then perfect hair style. She is a Renaissance woman - talented on many fronts. Marketing expert, relationship coach, talented actress, the list goes on and on. We had so much fun taking these. I can't tell you how inspired I am when I look through the viewfinder and see such amazing people on the other end of the camera!

ok - here is the next installment of Keri Smith's article
How to make a living doing what you love

5 Prioritize

Make your work a priority. Your work and your life are not separate entities. You need to have energy to build a career. We have been taught to think that we must maintain a certain "lifestyle" by working full time. Let go of this belief, consider some alternatives. You will probably have to work in the beginning to subsidize you income, try to keep it part time or contract work. Scale down your living expenses, (do you really need two bedrooms? Can you relocate? Become frugal?) There are always ways to cut back. ASK FOR HELP when you need it!!! There is someone out there right now who can help you.


P.S. yesterday was the 6 year anniversary of Jerry's and my first date. yep. SIX years ago we met and never stopped staring at each other. We had a waffle and egg feast in the morning, followed by dinner and a movie in the evening. I was busy making a portfolio to send to a gallery in France all afternoon but we sat near each other and watched really funny movies all day like Napoleon Dynamite. I feel very blessed to have him in my life. He brightens it up so much I have to squint!