Chicago was the first place I ever paid to travel too alone. After a messy break up I bought a ticket and went.
She was the city of many firsts. The first place I got drunk in. The first place I roamed aimlessly photographing for no reason other than the need to do it. The first place I tested my boundaries. I bought a kimono and cow boy boots and felt alive. Somehow in those streets I found a piece of me that I didn’t know was there. Bravery…
Many years later I am here with my love beginning a chapter in our lives I thought I would never be taking. But I am, oh so glad we are!
This place always buzzes with an energy I cannot explain, but I know others feel it too. There is something inexplicably beautiful about Chicago. I feel a rush of creative bliss flow out of me each time I set foot on her soil. It seems only right to begin our lives as a Navy couple here. With her snow covered grounds and her towering buildings, we embarked on the biggest decision of our lives. Ok maybe marriage was the biggest decision, but this is a very, VERY close second!
I flew in on Christmas Eve due to the most delightful plane ticket gifted to me by a cousin. She and her husband wanted my love and I to be able to spend Christmas day together! Which was the sort of magical day that words do not really capsulate, so I won’t begin to try. The next few days flew by in bursted blurs. Some moments being wildly fun and others inching by as we grew close to graduation… I sat waiting eagerly. Sight seeing, taxidermy and the most amazing food punctuated my days. Until, of course I was with him again. Because being with him usually trumps everything else. 10 days in this wintery city flew by faster than I thought possible. It already feels like the distant past.
This list was half way written back in August when I usually post them.
As life would have a few huge changes in store coming for us in the last few months it sat idle in my notebook. Here is the revised version for our new journey…
2) Print photos from our Honey Moon at Artifact Uprising!
3) Life hack our house especially the kitchen! Seriously so many ideas to make living much easier and organized! Which translates into a much more peaceful me.
4) Write Love Letters to people whom need them. You should too, click HERE to find out why and how!
5) Collage/write my heart… It’s time. I can feel the need to create about living in India and Nepal.
6) Stream line bills. Why? Because life is easier that way.
7) Learn how to make a Cyanotype which is a photographic printing process that produces a cyan-blue print! Uh, YES please!
8) Keep getting in shape. Right before turning 26 I decided it was high time to make working out a regular part of my life.
(Not an optional one.) I am dedicated to expanding what that looks like this year!
9) Drink champagne for the first time.
10) Make art with Orly Avineri.
11) Create a desk/workspace in our new home, where I can edit without being hunched over or burning my legs.
12) To that note I also want to freshin up our bedroom, wether that means a head board or new bed spread. It has been the least focused on room in the house.
13) Use milage for an airline ticket. Where too?
14) Get my very own sleeping bag, hiking backpack and boots! For real, I am an adult now, I need to invest in proper gear.
15) So I can hike and camp more. A goal we both equally desire.
16) Visit Asheville before leaving the east coast! Go to Double D’s and Biltmore Estate.
17) Read 12 books. Focusing on Travel and or Memoirs.
19) Learn how to re-wire a lamp. Seriously this has been on my to do list forever.
20) Go dancing with my husband.
21) Learn to make proper cocktails. You know for all those parties we throw.
22) Get a morning routine. Mine consisted of rolling out of bed, throwing on clothes and grabbing a coffee. 1o minutes flat and I was out the door. I would like a healthier version from now on. Eat protein upon waking, drink more water, take my vitamin d, moisturize my face before getting dressed and grabbing that coffee.
23) Take Nathaniel scuba diving.
24) Meet a National Geographic photographer. Shoot with them.
25) Make a list of things to do and love while living in Jacksonville. Oh and do them…
This last year has woven and unwoven many new layers within my soul. So much has happened… Our first year of marriage is nearly complete and in many ways it’s feels we have been together for much longer. We made some big leaps. I learned a lot about what is really nourishing to my body, soul and mind. This last year has been minimalistic in nearly every sense. This has aloud me the space to explore what I want out of this life… scratching the surface really. The below goals feel good to revisit, to see how much I have really been able to do and the things that I still get to do. Sure some of my creative and personal goals were not “met” however so much happened that I didn’t dream would evolve within this last year. Time shape shifts our wants, dreams and goals. THIS is ok. Good even. So here it is 25 things to do before turning 26 what was checked off and what will be carried over for another day. xoxo
1: Try a Bloody Mary.
Absolutely freaking amazing!!!! My love took me to SUPPER a roof top restaurant, recently opened in our city, just to try one. Since that glorious night of falling in love, we make them all the time. Spicy bloody mary with okra in it = staple in our home!
2: Read a book a month. Any suggestions? I have 12 spots!
1) The War of Art: Break Through the Block and Win your Inner Creative Battles, By: Steven Pressfield
2) Four Hour Work Week, By: Tim Farris
3) Vagabonding: An uncommon guide to the art of long term travel, By: Rolf Potts
4) Rich Dad Poor Dad, By: Robert T. Kiyosaki
5) You Can Create an Exceptional Life, By: Louise Hay, Cheryl Richardson
6) The Lost City of Z, a tale of deadly obsession in the amazon, By: David Grann
7) The Power of Now, By: Eckhart Tolle
8) Mother Night, By: Clarissa Pinkola Estes
9) The Language of Archetypes, By: Caroline Myss
10) Writing Wild, By: Tina Welling
11) The Alchemist, By: Paulo Coelho
12) When Woman Were Birds, By: Terry Tempest Williams
13) The Power of Myth, By: Joseph Campbell
14) Wild, from lost to found on the pacific crest trail By: Cheryl Strayed
15) The Sacred Ego, By: Jalaja Bonheim, PHD
3: Organize all collage papers. WISH me luck!
We moved into our new home together just before christmas. As I unpacked I had this amazing rush of organizational energy. It felt good to get rid of a ton. I thought it would be a overwhelming venture…stream line and organize, but it was a sort of healing as we moved into a new season!!!
4: Collaborate with 6 artists. Any takers?!
1) Galia Alena created Camera Crafta wonderful course full of inspiration and a few really amazing creative contributors!
I had so many plans for creative collaboration but have found that it took much more energy and time than I imagined. Instead of stretching myself too thin, I focused most of my collaboration time on the INterview series, which has birthed some new dreams within. Follow the threads and trust where your intuition leads you!
5: Travel to Colorado. BE in AWE of it’s majesty.
I truly wish this last year included more travel. As we made some big decisions individually and as a couple, traveling took a pause. We took this time instead to really enjoy our moments here in Virginia with new eyes.
6: Snowboard or Ski with my love.
Check! Oh the truth, the REAL not fluffy truth is I hated it. I wanted to love it. Like really love it and have my husband all proud to be with the woman who can ski! Be in awe of it/me/us. But it was frustrating and it hurt so much! But what we took away from it was I tried it. And we figured out a bit more of how we travel together. I like to meander streets and soak in the culture. He likes the extreme sports. So we will probably trade off in the future. Set up the day with dropping me off in the hip part of town while he gets his thrills on the slopes.)
7: Travel to Bali. (Hold a monkey, explore it’s temples and feast on all the richness it’s markets have…)
On a beautiful April spring morning my love planted tomatoes, bell peppers, cinnamon basil, jalapeños and cucumbers. We made salsa’s, basil pesto, pickles and canned various peppers for hoagie spreads and chow chow!
9: Take my love to New York City. (Eat pretzels, ride the subways and hold each others hands A LOT.) One day!
10: Write my dearest Katariinaevery month. So didn’t do this. ;)
My love gifted:writing the womb, to me for christmas. A circle of woman dove into this electric writing course in the spring and it was Devine. As I was on the threshold of making many creative shifts this course aloud me the room and exploration to make clear conscious choices. I am always in awe of Isabel’s wisdom and gift of opening up voice.
14: Paint/Collage a large piece of art to hang in my new home with my love.
Nearly done, just as were about to leave this place we call home.
15: Lead 3 art work shops locally. (Inquire, I am dreaming up yummy connecting arty-ness. With tea and green houses and writing, it will be good.)
I lead one workshop this year. My first Online E-Course Sacred Vignettes (honoring your everyday Sacred), in July and it was a blast to see something I created from my belly, my bones, my heart, connect with others.
17: Outline “HOWL”. Stay posted I CANNOT wait until this baby is ready to come into the world!
I outlined what each month would offer and it felt really good to research this idea of mine. As I delved further in, the project shape shifted and due to this shape shifting I feel it is a project that will slow burn in me for a long time. It’s not ready… It’s inside but not ready.
18: BEgin tea rituals again. Idea from Lindsay Luna. Agony of Leaves was a very inspiring and healing journey for me and I intend to begin again.
I began each morning with freshly brewed coffee. Which isn’t quite as good for you as tea, however I focused the same intention and presence. I started everyday with bringing water to a boil and carefully enjoying the small moment of beginning a new day in that early morning glow.
19: (This one is a secrete, I will share when it is time.) ***QUIT***
A HOLY yes, on January 6th, 2015 I got to quit a job that was not feeding my soul and I am so glad I was able to do so. Since then I have been curating Interviews for A Global Walk, Photographing all sorts of Love, Writing for magazines and creating local workshops and online E-courses. It is the leap of leaps for me, it is a great accomplishment and I am so proud to say I am doing it!
20: Pursue publications.
I have really enjoyed writing and photographing for magazines and books this last year. It is something I will continue to pursue that fills me with a HUGE sense of creative fire and thankfulness. A few I have lovedA World of Artists Journal Pages,Bohemian collective, Artful Blogging.
21: Photograph some intimate shoots. Woman SHOULD feel sexy and seen. Get your lingerie ready or come without it.
It’s really amazing when woman show up fully embodied. I only did a few of these sessions, but truly they are some of my favorite. I love when woman feel sensually awakened. I love capturing a part of them they rarely see crystalized. I love showing them what their lover sees. I love “Love…”
22: Create a home with intention and attention. Photo’s to be shared when the home arrives to us!
One of my favorite parts about this past year was creating a home. My body takes in everything the world throws at me like a sponge. Most of the time I adore this sort of soaking up, but in an effort to balance this aspect about my body/spirit I keep my home pretty minimalistic. I stick to earthy tones and earthy materials. My body can relax here and not be over stimulated.
Wooden stumps from our wedding alter are our coffee tables. A crystal engineer print hangs above our fire place. A taxidermy fox given to me as a birthday present from a dear friends, prowls above my kitchen cabinents. Lots of antlers and large white pillar candles, everywhere!
23: ACTUALLY, FINALLY begin yoga. It has been calling me for what seems like forever. It is time to learn flexibility and breath through life.
Intention lead me to taking care of my body much more this year. Moving it outdoors and listening to it’s cues. I began a habit of working out every single day. But alas I did not practice yoga other than like twice. ;)
I love Juliette’s work. It is playful, mythical and vibrant. Little worlds of magic. Juliette is abundantly of beautiful and full of artful knowledge. She shares so much of these attributes in the many e-courses she has created to inspire your artful living.
Juliette Crane: I’m an artist, teacher, storyteller and adventurer. As often as possible, I paint outside, mostly in the grass surrounded by flower gardens and the tallest trees.
I’m also an avid gardener and enthusiastic cook and would be delighted to have you over for dinner! When I’m not teaching, travelling, and painting in gardens around the world, I live with my bluegrass-singing husband in Madison, Wisconsin. I’m the creator of a series of online courses that encourage thousands around the world to get creative. From my art play mini course Backgrounds and Layers, to my How To Paint An Owl and How To Paint An Owl 2 courses, for bird and whimsy-lovers, to the mixed media workshops How To Paint A Girl and How To Create Whimsical Animals. My work has been published in Oprah.com, Glamour Magazine UK, Somerset Studio, Somerset Studio Gallery, Mingle, and Artful Blogging and on blogs including Crescendoh, My Owl Barn and Do What You Love just to name a few.
On your blog I found this lovely quote by Martin Gayford: “Drawing makes you see things clearer, and clearer, and clearer still.”
I wonder what was not so clear with how you viewed your artistic future or even how you viewed yourself at the onset of this career that drawing has helped define?
I have always been an artist. Whether it was coloring with crayons or fingerpainting as a little kid I always loved to create and had a wild imagination. But I went to college to study environmental biology. Yet I could not stay away from the art room. I didn’t know what to do with art and graduated with degrees in journalism and fine art. At first I went into arts journalism and worked at newspapers.
It took lots of different jobs as a journalist, graphic designer, web programmer and many more before I finally became a full-time artist. All of those different jobs in what seemed like mistakes at the time now help me to run my current business.
“My first blog was titled Inspired By The Little Things… and it is a notion I am really returning to these days.
I used to write weekly posts, sharing my inspirations.”
Oh indulge us please and share your inspirations these days? What are you saying a holy YES to?
These days I am all about clearing my schedule and saying no, so that I can have more time to create, relax and have fun. That way, my imagination and creativity has so many chances to go in new directions. Lately I have been inspired by flowers and trees. That led me to create floral backgrounds out of inks and acrylics instead of using so many layers and papers for my backgrounds. Then those new floral backgrounds inspired me to create flower girls. That seemed to open up a whole new door for my creativity. It inspired me to start sketching again.
Those sketches reminded me of children’s books. So I’ve started putting together the sketches with some of my writing and am hoping to put everything together into a picture book. Once I started writing again, I went back to my mixed-media paintings and started creating new characters. Soon I realized that these new characters, more women with flowers on their heads, were characters that I could add to my books The novel I have been working on the last few years. That’s what I love so much about creativity is that if you continue to follow your intuition and go with whatever is inspiring you you never know where it might lead you.
“It’s become sort of a meditative process to add all of the lines and dots. Slowing down and really getting into the small embellishments and shading.”
Has this slowing transferred to other aspects of life? What have you seen happen? Where is it evolving?
That slowing down is part of my new sketching process, which, I think, is strengthening my intuition, helping me to listen, pause before acting and to look at the why I am doing something rather than just rushing to get to an end result. I think that all has also helped me to follow my creativity without judgment.
I used to always finger paint very quickly and add lots of layers to my mixed-media paintings. Now that I have started sketching with a stabilo pencil which is water soluble, I am adding water to my lines and using a thin brush to create shading. It is also a very slow process because if I use too much water in the pan so will run all over the place.
That slowing down has really helped me to stay more present in my every day. And to appreciate and savor all of the little things.
Would you share with us a memory of a recent time you painted at the beach, what came of it? How did it feel?
A few years ago before I became a full-time artist I was part of an artist’s Way group where we went through the chapters of Julia Cameron’s book together. One of the questions we had to answer was what would we most desire? I said I just want to paint at the beach. That to me felt like complete freedom. And even though everyone in the group thought I was a little bit crazy, now, five years later, every winter I make time and go paint for weeks at the beach.
To me, painting at the beach is the most freeing and inspirational environment. I love to be outside and to listen and watch the waves and the sun. I always take just a few supplies with me when I go to paint at the beach. I have a little 8 x 8″ sketchbook, my stabilo pencil, a white and a neon pink paint pen, and a set of watercolors that I carry with me. I bring a blanket and lay out all of my supplies on the blanket and just paint. To me, it is a combination of two of my favorite things:
Being outside and creating. That combination is my bliss.
What are your tools and teachers? What have you been learning from them personally?
I am always most inspired by whatever it is that is around me. I try consistently to meet new people, listen to their stories, learn new things, and always experience. That keeps my imagination expanding. And it drives my creativity. I try and take everything I learn and experience and filter that into my artwork and stories. Then I love hearing how others perceive and are inspired by my artwork. Maybe they see a painting or take one of my classes and are inspired by a certain project and start to do that project like painting owls with their kids. That creates new experiences and connections for them. And then when they share those experiences with me I put that back into my artwork and what I share. That to me completes the circle.
How do you start your day?
I am super fortunate that I do not need to wake up with an alarm. I don’t have a set schedule during the day. But I definitely follow a morning routine. I start with a cup of warm water with lemon and Cayanne pepper. While I sip my lemon water I journal. I write down anything that is on my mind. Then I have a cup of coffee and check my email. After that, I always have a peanut butter and banana smoothie (unless we go out for breakfast… one of my favorite things).
Whats pulling you forward?
It took me a long time to have the confidence to share my creativity and imagination with the world. For years I thought my creativity was worthless. I saw it as a weakness. My hope is that in sharing what I create and continuing to follow my inspirations, adults and children are inspired to follow their own passions (whatever those may be). Hearing their stories and dreams helps to keep pushing me forward. And that then gets filtered into my artwork and keeps me creating.
What is it you want everyone to know?
I would like everyone to know that your story matters, that it is okay to have big dreams and to follow whatever it is that brings you joy.
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild precious life?
I intend to follow the things that bring me joy. To me that means creating as much as possible, being outside as much as possible and having tea with as many people as possible.
“I wanted to create a class that would help you overcome creative blocks and strengthen your own unique style.”
I created this class in response to feedback I’ve gotten from my students. So many have said they want to develop their own style and whenever they learn from another artist they feel like they’re just copying. Well, in this class I’ll share with you how I strengthen and evolve my own style and take what I learn from classes and other inspirations in my every day and incorporate them all into my own paintings in a new and unique way.
In Happy Painting, she shares a variety of techniques and characters to help you overcome creative blocks and easily develop your own style.
By the end of class, you’ll have five gorgeous paintings and the painting template to get you started again and again, so you can keep creating in a style that is unique to YOU.
