Whatever Makes Your Soul Happy. Do That.

Whatever makes your soul happy. Do that.

Creating expressive art, playing piano, cooking delicious food, playing in the dirt (which is my way of saying “gardening”), spending time in Nature; these are some of the things that make my soul happy. In recent blogs I’ve talked a lot about how we spend time, savoring each moment, intentionality and taking care of our Self. This weekend presented two things: first, a short Saturday work day and second, an undeniable urge to create. The weekend also presented rain. A lot of rain. So, with the extra time, an understanding of what happens if I ignore the compelling urge to create, and a lot of indoor time, off to my creative studio I went. My favorite music playlist on repeat and speaker at near max volume, I set out to create a beautiful art journal page.

I love that beginning stage of a creative project. Or really any type of project or endeavor whether it be quilting, trying a new yoga practice, preparing a meal or planning a creative meditation session. There is a lot of momentum and excitement in beginning. With art journaling and mixed media projects I begin by taking a quick look around my inventory and all the tools that are readily available and then I rather haphazardly gather a handful and BEGIN.

Sometimes that is the hardest part……just getting started. The urge to create is there. Perhaps a particular design idea is in my mind. But then over-thinking creeps in. It can cause creative paralysis sometimes!

Today I did not let this very real experience win out on my plans to create and devote important time to my self-care. I simply started. I began with a stencil and distress ink and was looking to experiment with a new technique for blending. One thing about the way I learn and create is to do a little amount of initial research and then implement a hands-on, practical, trial-by-error approach. With my project this weekend I admit to having several moments of feeling discouraged because of various learning curve issues.

The blending process wasn’t going smooth and I ended up with areas of color saturation and smudging, imprecise line drawing and ink bleeding. Instead of turning the page or giving up on the process I decided to take a few breaks and give my mind time to recalibrate. I kept reciting Bob Ross’s encouraging words: “There are no mistakes, just happy little accidents” and I stubbornly kept coming back to the page. I added layers of ink, paint, gesso and marker to create a foundational background.

Then I searched in my bag of discarded jewelry remnants as I wanted to include metal in the design. Lace embellishment also called to me. As did the vintage butterflies..... And so it went, this rhythm of making and breaking, creating and breathing.

Something marvelous happened in those mental breaks I took between layers! I came into awareness that this project was going to be more than a journal page and would ultimately be the canvas for a mixed media design. And so, for the next 36 hours I remained completely open to the creative process, adding layers and textural elements, defining shapes and ultimately COMPLETING a beautiful work of art!

I should add here that for as much as I enjoy the process of projects (as in life – I’m a process person), sometimes I can struggle with the completion part of things (not so in my work life, however). Yes, I do in fact have 37 quilt tops of various sizes that just need to be sandwiched and quilted! I have sketchbooks filled with drawings that could have more added to become a complete composition. So, the fact that I was able to complete this beautiful wood-mounted mixed media piece in less than two days of dedicated focus is hugely satisfying! I was doing something that made my soul happy. This time of creative expression, and the process itself, validated the importance living-in-creative-wellness plays in my day-to-day life.

Earlier I mentioned understanding what happens if I ignore these compelling urges to immerse myself in creating art. Well, quite simply, I get cranky. My inner world starts to feel a little unbalanced and then I become restless, sometimes irritable. It’s important for me to do something creative every day. This is where zen doodling, a quick journal page, creative writing and cooking come into play. They fit into my life schedule comfortably. Sometimes though I also need to get neck deep, for a concentrated period of time, and focus all my energy on a creative project. It’s similar to reading a book. You know, when you find yourself reading a novel and you just Cannot. Put. The. Book. Down. until you’ve read the last page. This is how it is with my creative cycles. I’ve learned to incorporate creativity in everyday life and to recognize when I need to explore it a bit more intensely for a period. This self-awareness adds to my happiness. So, what makes your soul happy?