Jul 20, 2015 | Global
Here is where gratitude becomes my teacher.
The way I see.
The way I find my way back to the beauty within and without.
The way he walks in with flowers in hand.
The way after a hot, hot summer this cool July day whispers of autumn to come.
The way we found the skull of a muskrat sitting at the entrance of a path watching like a guardian.
How one day I found a nest on the side of the road by wild flowers. The next day I found a blue spotted shell sitting on the edge of a golf course. Then today with her, just before getting in the car, there it was. A bluejay feather. How I had looked for one for months. Like bread crumbs, following them, learning to keep my eyes open for what that day has to offer. Knowing I will always find what I seek, plus some.
How magnolias have blossomed like a birth, hanging on it’s gigantic tree like many full moons in the night.
How afternoon mist clings to my skin, cold air fills my lungs.
Talking on the phone with one of my heroes in writing and femininity, Jalaja Bonheim.
Wearing a long maxi dress and how I feel a comfortable lusciousness in my own skin.
Lake Drummond and it’s 800 year old tree.
Watching lightning storms on the beach talking about the difference between belief system spirituality and religion with my love.
Discussing the great divorce by CS Lewis and the possibility of reincarnation.
Finding the remnants of a beautiful butterfly urging me to continue to transform reminding me that life and death are sisters.
These and much more is what delights my heart these days.
Jul 17, 2015 | Global
This woman! The one who gave so many of us platforms to shine and start from! She truly is a gift collecting and curating so many wonderful artists and books. She created A World of Artists Journal Pages that I spoke about here, she is a woman I have long looked up too, for her creative fervor. I am delighted to have Dawn DeVries Sokol today.
Dawn DeVries Sokol is an author, artist and art journaler. She’s written and illustrated several books on doodling, including Art Doodle Love, Doodle Diary, and Year of the Doodle, to be published Nov. 2015. She loves that after creating, she can close up the journal and put it on a shelf, that her journal is just for her and no one else. She lives in Tempe, AZ, with her husband, and dog-child. Her most recent book, A World of Artist Journal Pages, displays more than 1000 diverse journal pages from more than 200 artists worldwide.
How do you start your day?
Once I put our dog Lola out, I grab some breakfast and we both go to the studio and settle in for the morning. I might surf the internet and answer emails for a while, but if I’m on deadline, I’ll work on that project. With books, it’s either writing, painting, designing, or doodling. Sometimes I have to get ready for a gallery show, and then I’m painting on wood panels. Other days, I’ll take an online class and learn new techniques. Every day is different. Lola curls up in her studio bed at my feet or spreads out on her bench in front of the studio window so she can watch what’s going on in the front yard.
How has your experience as an artist changed you?
Being an artist has changed my life in every way. It’s allowed me to continue working at home and express myself even more through my work. I’ve met artists from all over the world and feel I have some strong connections, even if I haven’t met them face to face. But it’s also made me even more of an introvert. I try to meet up for coffee or lunch with friends once in a while because I just need to break out of the hermit phase, and I remember that it’s gratifying to have conversation with like minds!
When have you been unexpectedly vulnerable?
Honestly, I’ve learned that I should always expect to be vulnerable. As an artist and author, I continually put my work out there. It never fails that I hit some ruts in confidence. It’s inevitable, but part of the process. Recognizing a rut is half the battle. You can’t worry about it, you just have to go with it.
The lesson in my life that keeps repeating is….?
That you can’t please everyone. Not everyone will like your art, or like your book, or like something you post online. There’s always someone in this crazy technology-driven, faceless society who will try to beat you down for no real reason. You have to let all of that go and keep moving forward and doing what you believe in.
How do you make space for play? What is your favorite form of play?
I love to play in my journals or on a wood panel. Sometimes it’s just something I feel I have to do at that time, or maybe I need to work out of a rut, or try something totally different.
What does being brave look and feel like? Example?
Being brave is putting yourself out there all the time. It doesn’t feel pretty at times, but you just have to do it. It’s easy to doubt your ability or vision. Believe me, I doubt myself all too often. It’s easy to listen to that little monster. But you just have to tell that voice in your head to shut up because you love what you’re doing.
What is pulling you forward? Your motivation for what you do? What do you wish everyone to know?
My motivation comes from inspiring others. I love to hear from someone through my blog or through social media that my art or words have encouraged them or triggered something within them. That is the greatest reward.
I want everyone to know that we are all artists. I always used to think that an artist had to be someone who draws realistically. That just isn’t true.
How we see the world around us, that’s what comes through our hands onto the journal page, the canvas, or whatever substrate we are using at the time. That’s special. That’s what makes your art magic. No one else has your eyes, your mind.
If you want to paint, do it. If you want to draw, do it. Some people just seem to do it easily from early on, others have to learn and practice, but it doesn’t mean those people aren’t artists. We just have to hone our craft. Pick up a pencil or a pen and make a mark. Make some more. It takes time and patience. I have learned patience through art. I have also learned about myself through art. And that’s the best lesson to learn!
Describe a time when you walked through the doors of passage?
I feel like I’ve walked through those doors a lot! But I think of them more as windows. I usually have to climb up and out through them. I love when I see a window opening. It’s usually when a door closes. I like to keep open to possibilities. You never know when a new opportunity will pop up. It’s all about having your hands in many different pots, and knowing when your heart isn’t into something anymore. Admitting it can be difficult, but once you do that, another opportunity will blossom from one of the other pots.
What lights you up? What are you saying a big YES to these days?
Exploring new subject matter interests me…finding what I feel is “my style”. I still don’t feel like I have a particular “look” to my art yet. As a former art director, I can look at someone’s pages or artwork and know pretty much who it is just by their line, color palette, and subject matter. I want others to look at my artwork and know that it’s mine like that. I want to be able to see that in MY art!
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild precious life?
Hopefully, I will inspire others to create as I cover the world in doodles and paint!
Also besides grabbing a copy of all her other lovely books Dawn Devries Sokol’s next book, Year of the Doodle, comes out via Abrams and STC/Craft in November!! It will be a journal for those who wish to doodle something different every day for one year. Pre-order a copy HERE!
Jul 10, 2015 | Global
Stopping to smell wild flowers with petals of golden yellow and blood. Collecting them in small handfuls, as cars stream by in blurs.
Finding a nest… just then… at my feet. Small and fragile and perfect.
Wine… Good Wine. With a name like Apothic… inspired by the “Apotheca,” a mysterious place where wine was blended and stored in 13th century Europe.
Tasting mystery on your tongue.
My father in laws gift of 6 point antlers the color of carmel. And how he thinks of me even when we are not around.
Seafood dinner with loved ones and small walks for Italian pastries.
All day store hoping with my mother, drinking coffee and searching for treasures.
Thunder storms… all of them. Crackling through the sky with electric heat.
Here… Right now… and how the time moves quicker than it ever has in my life.
How looking at him, his eyes, his smile, reminds me how long we have already been together and how really it hasn’t been long at all.
Breakfasts with dad and how you never really feel too grown to have dad and daughter dates.
How abundance comes in many forms. Like dinners given when we most needed them.
Jul 10, 2015 | Global
Jul 10, 2015 | Art, Global, Interview, Love
Jennifer Lee is the founder of Artizen Coaching and the author of Building Your Business the Right-Brain Way and the bestseller The Right-Brain Business Plan, which has helped tens of thousands of entrepreneurs around the world launch their creative businesses.
After spending 10 years climbing the corporate ladder and getting tired of living her dream “on-the-side,” she took the leap to pursue her passions full-time. Jennifer has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, U.S. News & World Report, Whole Living, Family Circle, Cloth Paper Scissors Studios, and Choice.
She received her coaching certification and leadership training through the prestigious Coaches Training Institute. She is also a certified yoga instructor, a certified Expressive Arts Facilitator, and holds a B.A. in Communication Studies from UCLA and an M.A. in Communication Management from USC. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and sweet husky-lab mix.
How has your experience as an artist changed you? How has your personal vision for your life reflected through your business?
Being an artist helps me tap into my intuition and gives me an outlet for self-expression. Both of these things are key to how I live my life and run my business. My personal vision and values include creativity, authenticity, fun and play, connection, and self-care and all of these things and more show up in my work and my brand. My business is definitely a reflection of what’s important to me and what I’m passionate about.
When have you been unexpectedly vulnerable?
There have been times during my Right-Brainers in Business Video Summit when I’ve been deeply moved in the moment and trust that people will benefit from an authentic and raw sharing from the heart. For example, one year my dog went missing during the summit. Through teary eyes and a shaky voice I explained how I was willing to look stupid and go way outside of my comfort zone to make sure we got her back safely (thankfully we did) because I really wanted people to know how crucial it is for them to do what it takes to go after what they really want.
How do you start your day?
I’m not a morning person so it definitely takes me awhile to get my day started. I usually like to wake up to my own internal clock rather than to a blaring alarm. Sometimes I’ll listen to a guided meditation to help me get grounded and/or I’ll do some journaling. A couple days a week I go to a morning Pilates class. If I’m feeling really healthy, I’ll whip up a green smoothie!
The lesson in my life that keeps repeating?
The lesson that keeps repeating in my life is to create more space and embrace ease. I tend to have an ambitious and competitive streak that can compel me to take on too much or set ridiculously high expectations for myself. I can only keep that pace for so long before I get burnt out, exhausted, or start to have health issues. So I constantly am finding the balance between going after my big visions and finding the ease, simplicity, and spaciousness to make the forward movement sustainable.
How do you make space for play? What is your favorite form of play?
Play is one of my top core values and I like to infuse it into my work whenever I can whether that be through using a colorful visual or creative metaphor to explain a business concept or just to make things more fun. Also, my dog is a fantastic teacher of play and I love how she encourages me to frolic around with her. I also love to play with paints at my studio. I create these huge intuitive paintings that give me permission to make a mess, make ugly art, and just enjoy the process.
What does being brave look and feel like?
To me being brave is when you feel the fear but choose to move forward anyway because something bigger is calling to you. As for how it feels for me, it’s the mix of excitement, anxiousness (the butterflies in the stomach and sweaty palms) that comes from taking a risk and a feeling of groundedness when I know that I am on the right track and am taking inspired action in alignment with my big vision. Some examples of when I have to conjure up bravery are when I am taking the stage, when I’m trying something totally new, or when I need to say no and hold firm to my boundaries.
What is pulling you forward? Your motivation for what you do? What do you wish everyone to know?
What pulls me forward and motivates me to do what I do is my passion for creative self-expression. I want people to know that you get to “Be Uniquely You!” in your life and your business.
Describe a time when you walked through the doors of passage? What helped with the mending? Or how did you navigate this passage?
Leaving my day job after 10 years of climbing the corporate ladder was definitely a major passage for me. I had a cushy salary and a prestigious role that I worked hard for but the work was sucking the life out of me. I had known for a few years that I would eventually take the leap, but it took me awhile to gain the confidence to step out on my own. A few of the things that helped me navigate through the transition included developing a support network of other creative entrepreneurs, working with coaches, and trying out new things to help me find my own voice.
What lights you up? Turns you on? Makes your heart quicken? What are you saying a big YES to these days?
Creativity, beauty, and spaciousness are my big yeses right now. More time to play in my studio and connect with my inner muse.
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild precious life?
Live life in full color as authentically and creatively as I can.
Jul 9, 2015 | Global
We are all looking for that spark,
that one idea,
that one decision,
that will revolutionize our world.
Our spirit.
Our relationships.
Our career.
When we find that spark,
we start making choices.
New choices.
Different choices than before.
We grow immensely or heal rapidly.
That spark is the one that lights the inner fire.
The thing about a spark is in the presence of void it has no power.
Substance and Being must be Present.
The spark must have something to light….
Which means that this spark changes your world only when you have a world to change.
A culmination of everything you have learned up until this moment is set in motion.
Set ablaze.
Each shift, each opening has prepared the ground for harvest,
Each log and leaf prepares for the roaring fire.
Leaving an unhealthy relationship.
Quitting that job you hate.
Going to therapy.
Moving on. Or up. Or too.
Starting your dream project.
Having this baby.
Saying yes to whatever you said no to before when you were too scared.
All are big shifts.
But really they are a culmination of little shifts,
little shifts that have been opening ones soul for the leap.
Which is to say:
all of life matters.
The small connections.
The little sentences of inspiration.
That act of kindness.
That act of grace.
That act of selflessness.
The choice to remain present.
The choice to love yourself anyway.
To keep getting up and trying.
Each moment matters if you want the spark that will change your world.
Because it’s all tinder.
You won’t know which day brings the big change to your door.
But it will come.
It always does to those who collect stick by stick,
moment by moment, placing them together as an altar.
Prepare and gather enough to withstand the hours and seasons of waiting.
So when the spark comes… the fire will roar.
The fire won’t die out.
The fire will burn all that does not belong.
