Sarah’s Creative Journey

A common phrase while finding a job nowadays is to "do what you love." Sure, that is great, but how do you know what you love to do?  You find what you hate to do.  You do many things you don't want to do before you really begin doing what you love.  Coming to Columbus seems to have been almost exactly that for me.  Granted, I liked what I was doing for the first couple jobs I found, but it was the management and the company's "organization" that made me want to leave.    So here I am, almost unemployed (not really, but it definitely seems like it...) and trying to find a job that can hopefully support my lifestyle and help me save for this wedding thing as well as a honeymoon.   BUT I am a bit happier, because I got kicked in my ass a bit to work harder at what I want  to do.   I guess just another life lesson to go in the books... So continue to be brave and try new things.  Because in trying new things, we discover ourselves. 

How to Beat (and Keep) Deadlines Muddy Colors does it again.  Possibly one of the best blogs for artists or any creative people. So here is to new adventures.  Because without them we would be stuck in the same old boring routines. Remember, we CAN do this.

It has been quite a long time. So long that I have been thinking more and writing less, so my thoughts are more scattered and less organized.  But somehow I was able to organize this into a much more simplified thought about one (mostly) topic. Moving to a new city (finally!) with less familiarity, in a new job, surrounded by completely new things, I have learned a lot. Balancing life and art is a daily struggle (Or even just balancing life and somehow trying to fit art in). Yes, I have a BFA and yes, I consider myself an artist.  But what can I do to push myself to be better and continue in an art direction when I can't get a full time job that is creative or art related-or even something I actually want  to do more importantly?  Am I not working hard enough?  Do I not know the right people? Maybe yes and maybe no (but really it's both). Side note: I think one "problem" is because I am a "multipotentialite".  Watch this  Tedx talk  for an explanati

Another great article by Muddy Colors blog! Sometimes I feel I concentrate more on personal projects rather than the ones at hand... but still very important to come back to for sure when projects start to pile up!  Definitely a way to relax and have fun, and even give inspiration for more creations!

If you ever wonder the basis and beginning for a creative life... Not my own written answer, but a concise answer written by another artist.  One of the very few I keep up with on a daily basis.  I love his art and his passion so much, and this is just one example of it. 

Muddy Colors does it again..

Muddy Colors does it again. I knew it before, but this is what I'm facing with my American Pie piece. Now on to the next step...

First, sorry to any that may have made it out to Spring Valley looking for me.  Decided to skip out because of the rain.  Second, even though I missed the show, I have been busy this week -not with art- but with observing, thinking, and exploring.  Splitting my time between Columbus and Dayton, I have had a lot of time to think, and see, and feel the breeze blowing through my hair.   I am fully prepared to start up again on these huge projects I have going on.  Huge, but also insanely fun, and maybe a bit overwhelming at times.  Will do my best to keep you posted until my show August 9th!  A lot of new stuff to come!

So many things have been going on (as always)!  I would like to say I have been working hard on my current (and huge) are project I have decided to start and finish in the past 3 months, but I haven't.  I have been busy living life and taking on new adventures.  I have spent time with friends and family.  I have been job searching, apartment hunting, wedding planning, and trip planning.   Sound like procrastination?  It is.  But I wouldn't have it any other way.  The good news is, I still plan to have one, if not all, of the project mostly completed to be able to bring and view for June 20th.  I know you have all been awaiting some new artwork from me since March.   The even better news is, if you can't make it June 20th to this awesome art and music festival, then come see my new pieces August 9th at Art on the Commons in Kettering! (More information will follow closer to date).  The place  can be found here.  Haven't heard of Spring Valley?  There's a map

Things have come full circle for yet another band I discovered.  I have been listening to The Head and the Heart: Down in the Valley for a few years now, and it is not until I watch this season finale of New Girl where there is an emotional (go figure) song at the end.  And I think to myself as usual, I really like that song, I should check it out.   Only to learn that I have one of their songs!   So if you're in love with acoustic guitars and thoughtful songs, check them out!  Definitely something I will listen to while creating...

Overwhelmed with inexplicable feelings that I need to share. The night opens up all possibilities of truth and secrets that may have never been told before. The truth bites like a shark and is soft as silk Roller coasters of emotions spinning round and round the room but everyone is in tune to themselves. Self-awareness can be good, but when we're all involved, things can be forgotten So many things going on and so many things to do But time is still passing slowly, waiting for us Until we realize it, it will never stop. Barriers are broken and relationships are rebuilt Freedom is rushing through you Things are forever changing  The least we could do is accept this change  Lost in the lyrics of an infinite world, my heart racing will hardly slow down Excitement and confusion and love are bouncing off the walls Barely containing myself I somehow fall asleep And it feels all wrong.  I should wake up and try to do something about it

I have lots and lots of thoughts, but not enough time to tie them altogether.   Truth is, I am not sure exactly what I want to say yet, but I have little messages constantly running through my brain.  Maybe they will find you, maybe they won't.  But this is one of them: Some quick back story:  I grew up in a decent neighborhood surrounded by loving and encouraging family and friends.  I live better than most and have been lucky enough to receive a college level education.  My outlook on life has therefore been mostly positive. I am also in the minority.  Meaning I knew what I wanted to do/who I wanted to be at age 6.  I remember my doctor asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up, to which I then responded, "an artist!"  Since then I have not looked back. I am never going to stop creating.  And no one can make me. This is life.  Life will be what you make of it.  I choose to persevere.

The past month has been a whirlwind.  I loved every second of it, but I am also super happy I am not quite as stressed.   So while I write this and try to update on what I have been doing, my brain and body have too many feelingsandmumblejumble that I am terrible at putting proper words together to express everything. Therefore I've decided on a word association list and pictures!  Frank Turner -British musician who has gotten me through this past week Friends and Fiance -because duh Family -always For the love of new people!! -the best Freedom - 'cus 'merica Yay finger photobombs! Located in the brewery district Yeah!  ...more similar ones to come...?! Bad picture of my area, but still all good!

I am so excited about the latest chapter I have been reading in The Artist's Way : Finding Water  that I had to share. Most of them quotes, they can speak to anyone... "When you go in search of honey you must expect to be stung by bees." -Kenneth Kaunda "If you don't risk anything, you risk even more." -Erica Jong "You aim for what you want and if you don't get it, you don't get it, but if you don't aim, you don't get anything." -Francine Prose "There is no happiness except in the realization that we have accomplished something." Henry Ford **"Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are." -Malcolm Forbes "Only those that risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." -T.S. Eliot "Contrary to our mythology, creativity is not a dangerous pursuit.  The creative flow is both normal and healthy." -Julia Cameron This chapter is mostly about how

So as of last Monday, my thoughts were:  I have only 3 more weeks to prepare myself for RAW.  I have hardly made any new and finalized "pieces" to take with me, and I have now been showing my college artwork for a few years now...  My goal:   Put myself to work and get shit done How: Give myself more thinking time, work time, and play time Process: Go to bed at 2am and attempt to get up at 8am everyday this week Results: Most of them good Finished 1 project I had started a few weeks ago, completed 1 project (in a day!) I had planned to do last year, did a small painting of a friend, got an idea for the Dayton water project, and worked on some color scripts for American Pie!  As well as read a couple chapters in Artist's Way, writing and drawing some, and feeling overall pretty content and happy--as opposed to what might have happened to a sleep-deprived and art-deprived Sarah. The only down sides: Obviously lack of sleep.  Overslept an hour on the second day..

This is what I have been doing with my old business cards.  I have made more than 159, but have already given out quite a few.  I started this project about a year ago as a small project to get myself to start drawing characters everyday.  I would say it has been mostly successful!

So I will need help with this project!  I've gotten so far in my research, and need your help to complete it. First, let me explain what I am doing.  I plan on illustrating the song American Pie by Don McLean.  Right now I have a literal interpretation story board and a historical interpretation story board. I have an in process colorscript and some ideas for the feelings I'm trying to evoke. BUT!  I want to know what it was like for the people who where alive when it happened. I want to put personality and personal perspectives into this project (as much as I can anyway)! There are just a few simple questions to answer.  You can respond here in the comments or copy and paste them into another message. I would appreciate any help you can give! 1. Where were you when the crash of February 1959 happened?/What impact did the deaths of Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens have on you-if any? 2.Where were you during the Altamont Motor Speedway conce

http://www.powerofpositivity.com/25-things-creative-people-differently/ This nailed it pretty much exactly and it lines up with at least 80-85% of me. For the longest time I always thought or had this image of artists balling themselves up and just working constantly alone.  But recently, that's only partly true.  While we all need time to work by ourselves, we thrive and feed off the energy and creativity of others.  Though we are a mix of shy and outgoing people, we are all very social.  This seems like a small revelation, but it has finally made sense to me.  I had been staring at this right in front of my face the whole time trying to disprove this theory of why I did not always want to be alone.   Artists need to connect to others or we fail to thrive as artists.  As for other accomplishments this week...  I did finish some small projects and get myself a bit organized, but then the chaos of Valentine's week hit, and things went downhill. Plan on rea

Art is too serious to be taken seriously.   -Ad Reinhardt Change is not made without inconvenience, even from worse to better.  -Samuel Johnson Surprisingly this week, "Full Disclosure" became more than just a song.  Even just in the last few days.  Sometimes just getting your real feelings and thoughts off you chest is helpful.  And then even more helpful when people respond positively.  We can so easily forget about all of the good things in our lives.   So take that small moment and remember who you are.   Taking the positivity and guidance to get shit done this week.

I don't know what to do.  I know what I want to do in life, but when I think about it, it gets to be more and more general and more broad.  I could be an artist, a freelancer, a creative leader.  I could make candy and get more into making desserts (baker, pastry, etc.) I could...  I could do so many things, but I don't know how to get there.   I don't know what to research. I really just don't know what to do.  So I do what I do best. Avoid making decisions until they come to me.  But then there are all my goals and dreams.  ...that I will have to pay for.  Literally. I realized recently that I will not stand in a job long if they are treating me like crap.  And if I can't find a job that I enjoy and that treats me like a human being and a special employee that could help their company instead of just a robot to earn them more money, what do I have? Well, I've been learning Italian...  and reading for pleasure... and planning a wedding... AND AND

We're all afraid.  Some of us more than others.   The fear either holds us back, or it doesn't.  The thing to know is that we can push it aside,  or push through it.  We won't know how and we never will.  But we have to do it at some point.  Otherwise we are stuck where we are. Things will happen to us,  But we won't know what to do with them.   Here and now, I am trying to let my fear go.  To face fear and do the things I need to, to get where I want to be.   It won't be easy. Will you join me?

...and applying myself to my goals.  It seemed to have just hit me that yeah, in the future, this is what I'm striving for.  But if I never take the right steps to get there, I will have lost all that time and practice to actually be the artist I want to be. So how do I do that? One way: draw and paint when I don't feel like it.  Draw through the frustrations and challenges that face me.   Also known as FACING THE DRAWING BOARD.  Literally. 

FINALLY!  Thanks to Muddy Colors ( http://muddycolors.blogspot.com/ ) I have nude models to draw!  Now don't get me wrong, I love drawing any person/body, but everything is so different with nudes.  I can't even begin to describe how amazing it is to see and feel every curve or corner of someone's body with a drawing or painting utensil.  Not quite the same as real life, but I will take it.  But if anyone decides to volunteer (you don't even have to be fully nude), I will gladly take you up on it!  Now I know most reading this probably don't care as much, but for any other artist out there who is in desperate need of models, look no further! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVEPOWEOgmo

Creativity, Inc.  By Ed Catmull with Amy Wallace      I'm barely into the book, but knew from the second I saw it, that this would be and will be amazing.  Ever wonder why Pixar has been and stayed so successful?  Want to increase your creativity?  This book is for you.  This year will be full of many varieties of artistic projects.  From wedding gifts, to wedding planning, to the usual projects of mine, to whatever may come my way.