Today’s intention is empathy. I think I’m feeling it much more with the big world. I need to remember to feel it with my daily, immediate world.

Today my intention is inspire. At the beginning of the week I thought I’d pick some great art something. But, this crazy world is getting even crazier. Today is Hollis’ eleventh birthday! She’s been sick and we had a very rough morning. Happy Birthday perfect puppy. You inspire us to be our best selves everyday. I love you so much!

My intention today is play. I have a heavy heart and couldn’t muster the energy to play. Then I followed a link and played hooky for a bit watching these adorable penguins and remembering fond times at the Shedd. I feel refreshed! Thank you to all the wonderful people who are putting positive thoughts and energy into the Universe!! I SO appreciate it!!

This is one of the questions we are asked to answer for our Painting II Outline class assignment. Over the semesters I’ve added to my list as I learn about new (to me) contemporary artists. At my teacher’s suggestion I‘ve added Shinique Smith. She creates highly expressive paintings combining paint, collage and assemblage. She is a great inspiration to break the picture plane and go all out with color and ideas. I’m excited to explore this method with my newest piece “recovery is a journey not a destination”. Lets’s see where this takes me!

I have a mind whirring with ideas. Sometimes they are gently fluttering in large lazy loops. Usually they are tumbling over each other pushing and shoving, yelling “look at me, NOOOO look at me!” Queuing up in a jumbled line. Then, I pick one! Stepping out of my comfort zone in to the wild and wooly world of creativity. I take the leap and not three minutes into the “zone” my left brain says, “this is messy, you’re wasting a lot of paint, be careful you don’t want to spill on the floor”. The doubt and hesitation start. Dragging my big, bold idea down to trite and amateurish.

It does take a lot of boldness and courage to express our ideas and put them in front of the world. The world needs us. The world needs courageous makers adding to the world. Next time you feel trite and amateurish take the Wonder Woman stance and we’ll stand elbow to elbow gathering creativity energy from each other.

Every morning when I walk into my studio the first thing I do is write –

What inspires me today?

Then I answer the question. The answers range from “the quiet peacefulness of a very snowy day” to “setting up a still life at school! all the possibilities!” to “so many art supplies, I need to relax and learn to just play” and everything in between.

I’ve tried writing an intention for the day or my art practice that day but it never feels right. I wasn’t really connected to the intention. Writing what inspires me reminds me that I am a creative person starting a creative day.

P.S. the Inspiration sheets are from Mavec Collections.