Mindfulness: Attained & Sustained
Mindfulness: Attained & Sustained
I hear this comment a lot, "You are so creative!"
I consider it a HUGE compliment because in part, it's not completely a natural talent of mine. Yes, I have elements of my "creative identity" that come fairly natural. My creativity behind the camera lens is, in some ways, natural. But the reality is, even our natural talents have to be practiced in order to sustain them. AND, we also have to discover them. What if nobody had ever given me a camera. I would have no idea that a creative eye for photography lives inside. The same is true for my mindfulness practice and the creative pages that fill my sketchbooks. This is definitely not a natural talent of mine by "traditional" means. I can't draw. Really, I can't. Sit me in front of a bowl of fruit and ask me to draw it and it won't end well. On the page or in my body. I'll be full of anxiety, doubt and judgement. Feelings I consistently work to remove from my life through mindfulness practices. After spending many years developing a mindful coloring practice, sit me in front of a sketchbook in a quiet, reflective environment and give me something to draw with and a whole different scenario plays out.My body relaxes and feels soothed.
I effortlessly let color and expression flow onto the page in creative ways.
I end with a feeling of accomplishment, wonder and peace.
My Journey To melissaAnne COLORS Textile Products
My Journey To COLORS Textile Products If you have followed along on my photography journey over the last 8+ years you know that I've had a long-time dream of putting my abstract style images on textiles for a branded line of
If you've followed my melissaAnne COLORS brand over the years you know that I have always had plans and dreams of putting my abstract images on home products. Well, this Summer it officially happened! I am excited to team with my talented design friend Debi Lilly of Debi Lilly Designs for Safeway for one of her Summer 2016 candles.
Before I show you the candle, let's go WAY back to 2012 and my first visit to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. I still remember how in awe I was when I drove through the Valley and saw row after row of tulips. And, how when I walked into one of the showcase tulip farms I was overjoyed by the color and opportunities for photography. Here is the Impressionist style photo of the tulip fields that is now "going places" with Debi Lilly Designs for Safeway.
Doodle Messages ~ Creative Meditation
It's been some time since I shared my Doodles on my blog. I'll admit I fell out of my regular Doodle habit. I still Doodled, but I stopped Doodling every day. Sometimes life just takes twists and turns and things change. I've come to realize that for me, the Doodle isn't a "quick draw" on a piece of paper. For me, Doodling is a slow down, go within, get quiet, melt into color and touch, and begin to listen to the thoughts and messages that come through in my head activity.
Hey, wait...that sounds kinda familiar doesn't it?
Quiet... Slow down... Go within... Listen...MEDITATION anyone?
Yep, for me Doodling is meditation, creative meditation, and if it doesn't happen for at 30 minutes I don't feel like I get the true value from it. I need at least that long to get where I want to go physically and mentally. Based on this new knowledge, I'm working on getting back into the Doodle groove and indulging when I know I have the time, or need to MAKE the time given the energy in my body, to do it in a way that is fulfilling for me.
I talked about my love of textiles in the Textiles, Tulips post a few weeks ago. If you know me beyond that post you know that I LOVE design and interiors and have since childhood. My poor mother and my incessant requests to go to the local "home store" of choice on any given week (or was it day, mom?) to buy a new pillow, bed ruffle, or room decor color-change-accessory of the moment. I haven't changed much and still get inspired by home accessories and could buy something new daily if I didn't moderate myself. So the opportunity to have MY art in a major home decor store? WHOA! WOW! YES, PLEASE!! A home decor store where, by the way, I love to go on days that I'm feeling a little flat and need some design or color energy infusion, none the less...Pottery Barn!! I'm completely excited about the Minted.com + Pottery Barn Kids Pottery Barn Teen challenge and a chance to get some of my fun and colorful art sold in stores and inspiring young people to dream, color, and GET creative. Here's how you can help me: