Phew!
April was a whirl-wind adventure. It took a lot of bravery, and a couple leaps of faith, & has consumed my time to show me where I need better boundaries. Since I haven't had time to write blog posts, I shall distill it into a numbered list for your curious connivence.
1. Berkeley. Oh my goodness. I've wanted to visit the Bay area for years, and in the matter of less-than-two-weeks, I went from trading emails to spending hours with the amazingly daring Mati Rose, filming and brainstorming on her Daring Adventures in Paint workshop. It took a lot of courage to even send that first email, and then to book plane tickets, but it all worked out so amazingly, I'd like to mention the word serendipity. What an amazing work/vacation!
I stayed at a house via AirBnb in the Berkeley Hills with the most adorable family with young kids. I had a bedroom, sitting room, and bathroom all to myself, with a gorgeous view of the bay at sunset. While I thought I'd spend the evenings relaxing, I ended up walking the area for yummy food, having an adventure after an oh-my-God-it's-a-Blick shopping spree, and met up with two long-time friends for a trip to Japantown (Daiso! Kinokunya!) who I'd never met in person but consider life-long sisters.
2. Synchronicity. While there, I discovered a deep joy as I worked, and realized I'd fallen into the thing I want to do most of all. It's one thing to dream up an e-course, but another to figure out how to organize it all, split it, figure out what needs to be filmed and what doesn't....how to shoot you mid-creation. Lighting. Angles. Equipment. You need someone to talk it through, someone who's been a student and teacher, who knows technology and programming, who can take all that footage and put it together into a nice neat video package so you can focus on posting and interaction.
I want to visit artists in their studios, record their courses, and put the video content together for them.
I want to chat on Skype with you when you need someone to help you take a snarled, artistic vision and create a game plan.
I want to help everyone make better videos with simple, easy-to-follow tips.
I don't know what this job is called, or how I can keep up the momentum, or find more clients, but my heart sang when I was in Berkeley in a way it hasn't for a long time and I KNOW I have found my "thing."
It's an amazing feeling that makes me feel radiant.
3. Shared Knowledge. My students in Digital Adventures & Creative Warriors have started to come out of their shells and create amazing artwork. It's one thing when you put everything together and give it to the world, and another to see those principles picked up and used just how you intended. I have a bit more time to pay attention to each student, and my small class size idea was a GOOD one. I'm so happy I made it!
4. Inspired. My article on Being a Creative Warrior is in the current issue of Somerset Studio, and is even mentioned on the cover! You can all now learn more about this movement I'm starting and become one yourself! I was so surprised and touched to get my copy in the mail, and it has a special spot in my studio.
5. Go big. I've decided it's time to use more paint and go big. I have a bunch of canvases in various stages of completion, as I want to make more original artwork to adorn your walls rather than focusing on just journal pages. This doesn't mean I'm going to stop, or share less, just that I'm making a commitment to myself to be an artist and dive deep and be brave and dare!
6. Roben-Marie's Mixed Media Stamps. These are wonderful! Everyone I've shared them with have love them, and I'm usually really picky about stamps. I keep a selection of them with me all the time, and they're so versatile!
You can see me using them in my latest art journal speed painting video on YouTube!
7. Artspiration Studio. We only have 50 hours left to meet our goal of opening a mixed-media and art journaling studio here in the East Valley of Phoenix! Join Tangie Baxter (a sweet, awesome artist & businesswoman!) in raising funds on Kickstarter to get us there! There are TONS of awesome rewards for each level!
And here's some recent journal work. It's spinning off in a whole new direction, so I'm wibbly, but....the paint keeps flowing!