BeautifulHistoria

Can I take a minute to thank my Heavenly Father!

The days when I’ve taken the little bit of energy I have at nap time to paint - God’s not only helped me get to a stopping point before my little one woke up - but also to help me get everything else I needed done in the day: first and foremost time with my daughter.

Before I started on this goal (and I haven’t really even started yet) I was lucky to get half on the necessary stuff in my day completed. This week I’ve been able to keep the house clean, put meals on the table, work out every day, and still get some one on one time with my daughter. For those of you who aren’t moms - well, that’s a miracle if I’ve ever seen one!

I’d struggled with knowing if I really should take time out of my day to paint - especially since I know my most important job is to be a mom. I could come up with all the reasons why I shouldn’t - but then it really came down to “BUT I LOVE IT” so, I might as well try. If I can’t do it, and it really is too much for me I’ll find out soon enough. And maybe I’m still too early in the process to know if I can keep up this kind of stamina - but for now I feel like God is not only saying: “painting is a good thing for you to do” but also: “I will help you improve your talent” I love having his help! Without it, well I’m pretty sure I’d just be exhausted with very little to show for it, and now I’m exhausted with a few paintings to add to my days. SO COOL!

I was talking with a friend today about changing one’s life for the better. We both agreed that it takes a long time, and it’s not always easy to change one’s set-in-habits for new and improved lifestyles. When my husband and I first got married we both agreed that exercise is important, but neither one of us had the habit instilled in us yet. We would exercise once in a while, and we’d always go on a sunday walk together - but being active some of time doesn’t do the same thing for a person as a good hard cardio and weight workout. That was three years ago, and we’re finally (as of a few months ago) to a point where we work out a good three times a week. It’s made a big difference in our lives - but it took a while to get where we are. As much as I love the idea of a sudden night to day switch with no time between yesterday and today - It’s never worked that way in my life - has it in yours?

Now that we’ve got the exercise thing down I’m starting to work more on our nutrition. I’ve never seen anything so confusing. What one person says is good for you another person says is not really that good. Guess we’ll try what we can and see what makes us feel the best, most energized and on top of our mental game. While I’m excited to eat 100% healthy, I still love my frozen pizza and fast food chicken sandwiches. So - we’ll see how long this change takes.

In the meantime - I finished another painting. This one I did in two settings. I’m pretty proud of myself with so little time sitting at the easel. I’m sure I'll look at it later and see all the mistakes and things I could have done better - but as for now, I really like how it turned out.

The picture is the one titled: Orchids for a friend in the gallary. 

The first picture is the underpainting (something new I learned) and the second picture is what I did in the second sitting. I’m calling it done. It was fun - and faster than anything I’ve done before.

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I wanted to start this blog to showcase my art. But then I found out that I had very little to write about, and even I lost interest in my blog. And there it sat for 2 years collecting dust.

Then I thought, I should really look into it - see if it’s still the same, is it even still there? Yup. it is. Well, that’s good to know.

Every once in awhile I get these really big inspirational ideas, make the PERFECT plan on how to execute it - and then enevitable something comes up - not just on art either - with EVERYTHING in my life.

Well, here I am, with another big idea. And, you guessed it, it involves my blog.

The big idea? You ask. “Daily paintings”

I don’t really know a whole lot about this movement, if there are “rules” or stipulations in order to become a “daily painter”. I don’t much care what anyone out there says. I like the idea of painting something everyday simply for the practice.

In my younger years (well, younger than now.. Because, mind you - people tell me every day I’m still young. I wonder when that will wear off…. Huh.. well, doesn’t really matter, does it.) I learned to play the violin. My mother, ever so invested in my interests signed me up for private violin lessons. I loved it. I still have my violin and pick it up from time to time - and even feel guilty when I know it’s sitting in its case collecting dust for long of intervals of time. One thing I learned as a violin student is “muscle memory” or - my muscles can retain memory on their own - but only if I give them something to remember. How are they going to remember? By making them do the same exercises EVERY DAY! The everyday part was hard as a teenager - after all, there’s friends to see, places to go, homework and chores to avoid. And so, while I dreamt of being an amazing violinist - I really didn’t put as much into it as was required. The philosophy however stuck!

And now, here I am - hearing for the first time of this thing called “daily painters.” okay - life as a mom is a million times more busy than that of a teenager - and if I don’t get the dishes done, no one will clean them for me.. Ever again! I can’t just ignore the chores anymore, or the other millions of things that need to happen in a day.. But wouldn’t doing all of those things be just a LITTLE more worth it if I could take just an hour or two to paint. (and even some days pick up that not so forgotten violin too)

This much I do know about “daily painters.” the goal is to pick an amount of time (say 30 days or so), get a bunch of small canvases (or other painting surfaces) that are small - say post card size. Because it’s small, it won't take as long to finish painting the canvas - making it possible to paint one a day.

I’m excited to get going on this. I suppose most daily painters sell their tiny art - I don’t know if I will or not. For me art is about so much more than the money - and I want to learn the discipline of becoming a master, train my eyes to see the truth around me and learn how to release the beauty I feel in my heart.

I won't be posting pictures for another two months, I have a few projects I need to finish before I take on such a task. However, I will try to post some thoughts and comments every once in a while before I actually begin.

This is exciting guys! I hope I can stick through it. May God bless my efforts - and in putting him first help me to accomplish even more in my days than I can possibly do alone.

Sometimes lifes hardest lessons are the best ones for us to learn.

That's about all I can say about my experience with Novemberfest. I learned alot for my first time ever trying to sell my paintings and getting them out for the public to see. I put a lot of work into them, and realized I'm really not a salesperson. I put so much a part of me into my work and to put them out there made me feel really vulnerable. I will continue to paint because I love it. But to try and sale them again might take more courage than I currently have. One day I may try it again.

I will say this however, I did not fail. I knew that I was stepping very far out of my comfort zone. I knew I would learn alot, and I did. If anything I succeeded in helping myself to grow in ways I could have never done without taking that step.

Eleanor Roosevelt herself said "Do one thing every day that scares you.” well, Eleanor - I think I've definatly done that, now it's time for the next step.. which is to keep going. Though I may need time to lick my wounds for a second I am very serious about this bussness and I love painting too much to give it up.

HAPPY WEEK OF THANKSGIVING!! well that was exciting! I love thanksgiving - being with family is wonderful any time of year - but it seems like the big holidays are when the most of us can get together at once.

My family doesn't have many big traditions (except to eat turkey of course) or small ones either when it comes to thanksgiving. We do however have one tradition that we started a few years ago. Along with the forks and knifes that are set beside each plate, is also a sharpie. Why a sharpie? How does that help you eat turkey? Well - it doesn't help us eat turkey, but it does help us eat pie. You see, my mom has this tablecloth we always set the table with at thanksgiving. It's white, with lots of words. Every year we have to write on the table clothe what we're thankful for from that year. As the pie comes out we tell each other what we wrote down before we can get our own slice of pie. I think we've all slightly associated pie with being thankful (at least on that day of the year) and boy can I say - “I sure am thankful for pie!!”

Thinking, however, of what I'm thankful for – I think it's appropriate to mention on this blog, how wonderful it's been to receive all the support and help with my decision to start selling my art. My dad has been instrumental in all of this. He's put a lot of work into this for me. He built most of the frames that will be displayed with my paintings as well as the zigzag wall the my paintings are hanging on at the fair. It's amazing how a frame can add just that much more to a painting, as well as a good display. THANKS DAD! I love you and really appreciate all the love you've shown me in helping me with this project.

I also have to thank my husband. He could have said “no, don't sell your paintings. We don't have the money for a business venture, no one will like them, you don't have the time, it's too risky...” and the list goes on and on. While it's true we have very little money he's been great to work with me in balancing the checkbook to make this work (even if it was with a little complaining here and there). He also understands that this makes me happy and is willing to support me in that. THANKYOU HUBBY! I LOVE YOU!!

And last, but not least: thanks you all of you friends and anyone reading my blog or looking at my pages. It's nice to know that my work isn't just pretty for my family (who have to say it's nice) - thanks for giving me a chance and boosting me up. I still don't know if any of this will work out or not, but I have sure had fun so far, and hope to continue having fun in the years to come.

I'm sitting here with baby, she is exceptionally cute today. With that said I'm getting more and more excited about selling a few peices of my art at the Logan Utah 2014 Novemberfest this year. I have been working really hard to get peices finished and it looks like I'm going to be ok! That makes me really happy. There's still a lot to do - but there's an end in sight now.. at least for the moment. I've made several moments in my days since my last post to stop and remember why I paint - I feel like it has not only helped me to re-love it, but there's also a magic that seems to be happening - I don't feel like I have to go back several times to get the look I'm going for. It's amazing! Ever notice how when you get a little burnt out nothing seems to work out - but when you as a person are doing ok - everything else seems to be just a little better? That's what I'm experiencing right now.

Along with that - It must be known that my days are not always just super perfect - with rainbows, butterflys and unicorns. Recently I went to the UDVC conference for my work (UDVC = utah domestic violence coalition) A lot of the things they talk about are heart-wrenching stories. It's hard to think what many people who go through domestic violence do just to survive - or that some don't even realize that's what they're going through. I know, you say "how can someone not know if they're being beaten up?" There are so many facets to domestic violence that many people go through every day without realizing that's what happening. In many places they only recognize the physical part of domestic violence - but the part that leaves bigger scars and is harder to cope with is often emotional abuse. Those scars you cannot physically watch heal, and often they don't heal. I could go on and on about specifics - but the most important part is: are you happy? Is this what you want your life to be like? Do you and your partner build each other up or tear each other down? 

I hope you have found someone who takes care of you - and also that you do the same for your partner. I love the song lyrics by Jack Johnson that say "Love is the answer, at least for most of the questions in my heart. like: why are we here, were do we go and how come it's so hard"

If you are not happy that doesn't mean it's domestic violence - but it can help you look for answers or resources . I love esspecially that last part of the song "why it's so hard" love IS hard. For example: lets say you've finally found the person of your dreams, fall in love, get married etc. then a year down the road  you realize it's not all roses, sometimes it's all thorns. I've definiatly experianced that in my own marriage - however through communication and caring for each other we were able to work it out and compromise. A marriage is not easy, but I would never go back to being single. It's often the harder things and difficult things that remain in our memories for longer and soon become sweet. We say things like "remember that time when we were newlywed, broke and so happy" yes - many people say that. I'm going through the broke, newlywed and newbaby stage right now and have to remind myself that "these are the good old days" as Pink says. I don't want to look back on my life wondering why I didn't live life more fully. I will live full of life right now, I will see the good things that I have, I will appriciate the hard times as I'm going through them.

However - It's also my opinion, that Domestic Violence, no matter how much you want to work through things - should NEVER be permitted. However you decide to deal with that in your own life is  your own decision, but for me: I think it's very wrong. 

If you feel the same as me you can still be a part of this movement to make domestic violence unacceptable in your own culture. Help others to be happier by standing up for something important.

I like this video that was shared with me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzF3OyRYX7I ...maybe you've seen it before? This guy doesn't have to say anything - but what he does makes all the difference. I hope I can be more like that - and be better about sticking up for what I believe, even if not a word is said. after all: actions speak louder than words. 

Thanks for reading.