The Art Full Life

Hello! welcome to the second edition of The Art Full Life newsletter. I am Tricia, a creator sharing my journey and adventures in art to inspire yours.

I began the newsletter last month in a very rudimentary way as a starting point for how I live my life as an artist using journals. People reading here may already have a journal, so that subject may not be of interest to you, however I will be writing about other subjects of interest for more experienced artists. I started with journaling as a way for any creator at any level, at any point in time, no matter what age, can shuffle back through issues and find what is of use or interest to them at their own point in life and growth in a sequential way.

Also, Last month I inadvertently sent out a random email that was not a newsletter it was a blog post. My intention is to send out a newsletter once a month, not blog posts. As an explanation I am currently designing my website and I am not very tech-savvy but I am working on improving my skills, (I hope it wasn't too annoying...)

Fearless creating (playing)

Living an art full life has meant many messes, and a lot of crap art. A lot of stuff that I don't show. Stuff that I throw away. This is precisely how progress is made.Fail, create, fail again, play!

Deep within you there is a calling that wants to be born, its bubbling right there under the surface, because you also are a creator and keeping that part of yourself buried is a disservice to your soul. When you create for yourself you shift the focus from fear of approval to self reflection. Don't wait for motivation. Take action. Build your own momentum. Make that art, for you. For the joy of it. Share it or don't ...

If you do choose to share, don't worry about what others think, you are there to create from internal truth with authenticity, with passion and not from a need for approval or validation. Best creators never stop playing. Make useless stuff, connect with the joy of making and exploring with curiosity. Fail with purpose, with intention, with reckless abandonment with spirit. Let failure be your teacher. Fail, learn, create again. Measure progress, keep showing up. Creativity is a lifestyle.

When you do share your creation, you give birth to your vision, your soul poured out like magic. your creation is a gift. How do you feel when you look at your creation and you think, this is me?

Creators gonna create, creators gonna play, creators gonna grow

On drawing:

If you need subject matter to look at because you are teaching yourself how to draw, maybe step outside and find all manner of nature to draw, or find a scene in a magazine and freely sketch that, or set up a small still life and draw it, maybe with a lighting element, or pause your tv on an interesting scene and quickly do a gestural drawing or go straight to your imagination and make marks or monsters whatever you are pulled to do. For more info on drawing See Betty Edwards, Drawing from the Right Side of the Brain. And, there are tons of tutorials on you tube, you actually may never need to take a class. or, maybe you take a life drawing class because of the camaraderie, that is fun and gets you out of the house.

Vision Board:

Create a vision board ( a cork board and some push pins) to help you clarify your goals and is a visual reminder of those goals. Its a powerful tool for personal development. It is a tangible representation of your dreams.

Dreams

Ive currently been studying about dreams and how they can be interpreted and mined for art ideas. I'm participating in an exhibit at the end of this month with Earth Guardians online art Gallery and the theme of the show is Dream Seeds". Find this group on facebook and join us for some wonderful art.

Dream seeds can be interpreted in a couple of ways, as a starting point that needs to germinate or as a vision or hope for something that may happen it the future.

I use my journal to conceptually traverse my ideas for art pieces and to clarify what or if there is something specific I want to express. For example, and this is something you may find useful for yourself, I take a word or phrase like dream seeds and jot down all the words I can think of that is related. I begin to connect the words like a dot to dot drawing. This helps me to think of things or ideas I might not have otherwise thought about.

I think of images that may come to me in dreams and decipher the metaphors and symbols that suit me in the language of the surreal. for example, I use to have recurring flying dreams and while I was flying there was something always chasing me or after me or hanging on to me like leaches. Blood sucking leaches is probably telling me that there is someone or thing in my life draining me and taking away my energy, and flying, may mean getting off the ground (starting) and getting away, trying to shake loose that which doesn't want to let go. I could see myself using images of leeches, fleas, mosquitos, ticks, or vampires to tell a story with my art. Dreams are a goldmine for ideas and ways to express them. Keep a journal by your bedside to jot down your dreams soon after awaking so as not to forget them. This is a great way for art ideas that reside in the subconscious and might surprise you. There is a helpful book on dreams called "Inner Work" ... by the time you finish reading it you will have learned how to decipher your dreams, gain a better understanding of yourself and discover raw material for your art expressions..

My initial visual idea for Dream seeds looks like these abstract images made with alcohol ink, where you see a nucleus seed form shrouded by some kind of hull, with extended roots at the bottom and a sprout at the top. To see how this idea has morphed visit the Dream Seeds exhibit on facebook!

" I think every thing in life is art. What you do. How you dress. The way you love someone, and how you talk. Your smile and your personality. What you believe in and all of your dreams. The way you drink your tea. How you decorate your home. Or party. Your grocery list. The food you make. How your writing looks, and the way you feel. Life is art." Helena Bonham Carter

March is Women's history month I'll be exhibiting a few pieces at Bellarts Factory in Ventura,Ca. For Herstory.

First week in April I'll be participating again with Earth Guardians Gallery in the Square Affair.

Also, ll be exhibiting and working with my nephew, Zephyr in Hillsboro NM for their annual Art walk 152, occurring March 28th.

Find some of my current work available through my etsy shop, Triciajoy.etsy.com and at Poppies Art and Gifts in Ojai, Ca every day of the week.

and now, my most enthused nephew, ZEPHYER!!!

How was everyone's February? Out here in Hillsboro, New Mexico at the Rio Abajo Rio Healing Arts Space we had two very special events.

Here is a short story of why art matters, how it connects people and how it can change lives in small and big ways.

The first was the closing of the collaborative exhibit. Our replenishing and finishing open house was a perfect ending. People left with tattoos from a guest tattoo artist, we danced each other out to the streets and we're fueled by new connections. As we gathered by the fire, I looked around and thanked everyone for being in my community and remembered why I was able to make it through such an adversarial time. It was all possible by the ones who saw me through and the time I got to channel my rage and pain through the creative outlet.

next...

On February 14th we kicked off a two week art exhibit. This installation in the Rio Abajo Rio was called the Community Heart Art Project. We asked people ion the community to contribute an original piece of art to be on display for a pop up boutique and two week long showing. The pop clothing boutique was one of the community members heart art pieces, she has always held a vision of having her own clothing store called Lichen it. Bringing the outdoors indoors as a clothing store. It was gorgeous. I was excited to contribute a mural that represents the mighty Percha Creek that is behind the Rio Abajo Rio.

The submissions kept trickling in one by one. It was lovely to see and witness, as they brought in their art like a feast of food on a platter. There were artists that nobody ever sees, and some that are well known, and. people that are normally too shy to try and show their work. What touched me was the ones who have never stepped foot into my studio appeared with their hearts! There were displays of love in ways that opened up portals to see Valentines in a new and broadening light.

One of my favorite parts of that evening was a local who had been very hurt by a community member four years ago and had not come out of hiding after such a painful experience, decided with a little coercion to participate. They came out for the opening evening. I met them out front of the studio and they said "you know what Zephy, I prolly won't stay long but don't that hurt your feelings, its just I've tried these types of events and coming out, and I always feel disappointed."

After two hours of them being there and absolutely finding community in the space, they walked out the Rio Abajo Rio and threw their hands up in the air and said "...thats it! I'm letting it all go and Im going to start coming out again. All the pain and hardships from said individual can't hold me down any more. I'm coming out!"

Literally makes me tear up every time I retell the story.

But my friend, this is why we create art because it reminds us that we also can create community!

The next day after our open house a friend came to me and said "you aren't going to believe this but Dylan (named changed to protect privacy) is down at the farmers market! The heart art exhibit night changed his heart."

The next project is the return of 152 Artwalk and I'm so looking forward to my Aunt Patricia joining. She saw I was putting it on and was stoked to get out here. She will be in the 1920 barbershop building on main street. Every time her art is in Hillsboro it speaks to people, and they are moved by it!

!I'm looking forward to Marching into bolder creativity this month and more of the above alchemical experiences that come from the power of art! (Think old drawers turned into a drawer way to heaven).

Much love and energy bestowed upon you and your projects and creations.

Zephyr Rose

Zephyr Rose Anders, MT 9357

575 495 7897

also, find Zephyr on instagram at newmexicobodyworker

find Patricia on instagram at patricia_anders_art and Earth Guardians Gallery at Earth_guardians_art_gallery