The Art Within Journey
Month 1: Starting Your Practice
If you are receiving this email it is because you recently signed up for my FREE Art Within Journey, or you were already on my email newsletter and I have gifted you the FREE Journey. You should already have the link to access the full journey, but just incase here it is again! (This newsletter is in addition to the linked content.)
You already have full access to the entire journey to move through at your own pace through the link above, but I thought it might be fun to also offer a monthly email that allows us to work together in a way. I put my main newsletter, the HeART circle out near the first of the month so this series will be a special mid-month addition.
The featured topic for Month 1 is, Starting Your Practice. The linked page offers my tips and information about setting intentions and getting your practice started, with tips, prompts, and suggested reading.
These mid-month newsletters will offer my current prospective and thoughts from my personal journey. I invite you to also share yours by leaving a comment. It is my hope to build this Substack space into a community of creatives who support each other on this journey together. If you are on Substack I have also Pinned a Chat where you can add your questions, comments, tips, thoughts, or images as you progress through your journey!
My Creative Practice
I have had a creative practice now for a number of years, but it helps me to redefine what that means for myself periodically. One thing I have learned about myself over the years is that I don’t like to feel too boxed in. When I set my intention to something ridgid such as, the morning pages from Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way,” I will ultimately let myself down. I think that type of routine works well for some, but unfortunately not too well for me. Believe me I have tried! I tried the Morning pages, noted above, I have tried the 100 day challenge, and so many other similar creative habit building ideas along the way. What tends to happen is that I go all in for a period of time, and then I slip. Once I slip it is over. I don’t return, and I am left feeling the failure of the situation. I learned along this journey that I need a more gentle approach.
A couple of years ago I designed the Art Within Journal that I still use today. I purposefully left it undated and open ended. It has been something I can easily stick with. It has provided me a dedicated space to house my creative practice but it doesn’t feel like I am boxed in. If I miss a few days, no worries because there are no glaring dates reminding me of my shortcomings. I can revisit blank pages and work on them as I see fit. It works well for me, and it is available on Amazon if you feel it might work well for you too.
It is so important though to define your practice in ways that work for you. We are not one size fits all people and what works for one may not work for another. It is also important to revisit your personal definition of practice from time to time. Allow it to be somewhat fluid. What works in one season of life may not work as well in another season of life. Your practice is meant to serve you.
I invite you to leave a comment either by replying to this mail or over on the Substack Notes section with your thoughts. What works for you? What have you tried in the past that maybe didn’t fit you? How has your practice changed over time? If you are just starting out, what feels like a good starting place for your practice? Let’s start a discussion and support each other’s journey!
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