100 Day of Shalagh : Days 41 through 60

I’ve passed the halfway mark for my 100 Day Project aka 100 Days of Shalagh 2021! Hooray. This project seems something that would be daunting. Except the further along I get, the more I look forward to the daily creations and the easier it becomes.

I’ve also noticed that my skill with this medium is increasing. How could it not? 

Practice is the key to getting better at anything. So now I’ve added watercolor pencils to the repertoire of art supplies I’m not intimidated by.

To see the beginning of the project, Days 1-20, go here.

To see Days 21 through 40, go here.

Stay tuned for the next Forty more days.

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100 Days of Shalagh : Days 21 through 40

The 100 Day Project for 2021 is rolling right along. This is the second fifth of the project or the next 20%. Almost halfway done. And much like the others I have done, I enjoy the excuse to stop and art. I even did it during my daughter’s birthday party last weekend.

As I’ve said, this is not a medium I have ever used before. Watercolor pencils are completely new territory for me. But I love watching as I get bolder and I find techniques that work for me. I read the packaging and it said I shouldn’t dip the pencils into the water. I began to do that about ten days ago.

I think it’s sometimes better to not know what the right way is. That way the inner child doesn’t have to play by any rules.

I also have a new appreciation for my house and the vignettes and beings within it. All subjects have been very obliging and I have begun to take pictures and will display the picture and the art side by side. Remember, this is a process not a product.

See the first 20 days of my #100daysofShalagh and the 100 Day Project 2021 Here. And you can follow along with my process on Instagram of Facebook if you like.

Interested in reading my future thoughts on Creative Soul Living?

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I love community, soulful candid conversation, and being in touch.

And as always, thank you for your visit.

The Start of the 100 Day Project 2021 : Days 1 through 20

I started 2021’s 100 Day Project on January 31^st. I assume they moved it up from its usual April starting date because, well, there’s nothing better to do this second year of pandemic plague lockdown. And most of us truly need to have a reason to create every day to offer us some relief from our anxieties.

This is my 4^th 100 Day Project. Two years ago, I found the magic of this challenge when I recreated objects in my house using pencil and pastels. This year I am recreating views from with my house using watercolor pencils. I found my rhythm and talent then and I’m searching for it currently in this different medium. And what I also gained from this perpetual daily project was a self-trust and meditative practice that brought joy to my heart.

I am currently working on a way for the world to share in the joy of the art and discoveries of that and this projects so that they may open their hearts to an understanding of their own creativity that goes further than just showing up whenever the mood strikes.

Meanwhile, here are the first 20 pieces I’ve created thus far for #100daysofShalagh and #the100dayproject2021 .

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I am a community kinda person and am always practicing Intentional Intouchness.

I live for conversations.

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Regular Creativity Can Bring You the Joy Akin to Christmas

My daughter Fiona is about to turn 8 years-old. She has already written and posted a birthday wish list on the refrigerator. It includes items like a trampoline, a banana seat and basket for her bicycle, and a goldfish. Her birthday isn’t even 3 moths after Christmas so I’m thinking how do we so easily forget what we have and want more so quickly?

But the bigger question I realized is how do we keep the creative and abundant spirit of Christmas going throughout the year? Perpetual Creative practice. When I make something, I am gifting a part of me to myself, my family perhaps, and to the world if I choose to share it. There is such a wonderful feeling the magic of which is akin to Christmas.

I’d add that gratitude is the other practice that give you grace and feeling like what you have is almost enough. Although gratitude won’t get you more gas in your gas tank, it might get you a job from someone you took the time to thank. The little things we do add up to a lot more than we can ever know.

I have embarked on my fourth 100 Day Project journey this week. A non-negotiable daily promise to show up and make small art. The result is many fold. I become better at using the medium I have chosen which this year is watercolor pencils. I reestablish or create self-trust when I show up for myself. And I get to share my art with an enthusiastic community which furthers my Christmas-like high.

There is nothing here not to like.

Interested in reading my future thoughts on Creative Soul Living?

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I love community, soulful candid conversation, and being in touch.

And as always, thank you for your visit.

Screw the Results, Get Caught up in the creative Process

In the midst of this creativity Challenge , #OurCreativeJanuary , and I recognize what my purpose in life is. It’s to not only keep creating something, anything, but to insist that everyone else needs to too. Not for the credit or the compliments on how perfectly you’ve done it, but how lovely it feels to be in process in community. I say screw the results, get caught up in the process.

We all need to create, even if we don’t call it that. And sharing what we create makes the process feel even better. I am convinced that in order to increase your confidence in anything, you not only need to do it, but you need an audience. Especially one that is right there doing the same thing with you. Who understands your fears and is enthusiastic when you make a breakthrough.

Why Wouldn’t you do everything this way?

You don’t have to be an artist to make,

you just need to make to be a maker.

Trick is to make sure that you feel as safe as you can when you do share. Not sharing is miserable and sharing on Facebook may not be advisable if your feed isn’t locked down. Safety is very important.

I feel safe on Instagram. I never get harassed and I have the option of deleting any spam comments on my feed. But more so, when we share our work with the same hashtag, we can visit one another and swoon over our combined creative efforts. People with similar interests just seem to find each other there.

And on Instagram is where I’ll be posting my creative endeavors for the next three months plus via #the100dayproject hashtag.

It’s a project I never thought I’d be able to finish and now I’ve done it three times.

Find the wrap up of the 2018 100 Day Project Here.

Find the wrap up of the 2019 100 Day Project Here.

Find the wrap up of the 2020 100 Day Project Here.

And on January 31st, consider joining me for the 100 Day Project.

Go here to see what this is all about.

Interested in reading my future ponderings on Creative Soul Living? Subscribe, via the subscription box in the sidebar, to my weekly posts via your emailbox.

Find me on Instagram to see my daily pictures,

friend me or like my page on Facebook.

Or come find me on Twitter or Pinterest too.

I am a community kinda person and am always practicing Intentional Intouchness.

I live for conversations.

And, as always, Thanks to you for your visit.