Remembering My Creativity: A Personal Share About 2016

I've spent the last couple of hours searching old sd cards of my creations for an art project I'm doing. It was a bizarre feeling to look through these teeny tiny things that hold the entire history of my connection to my muse. 

It left me very reflective over many things I've been dealing with this year, a battle (or perhaps several battles in a larger war) that has been raging between my creativity and I. (I also stumbled across some pictures of a half naked ex boyfriend which I suppose didn't help my mood either lol). 

You see I've had a tough year emotionally. I've had a lot of gremlins come up internally and some hard changes externally. 

I cannot always lay my finger on what has been wrong but this year unlike any other before my creativity has not always been there for me, in fact some times it has been the source of my pain. It is really scary to share this, because I have always been an advocate for using your creativity to process tough emotions, never to use it to be the cause of them!

It is wrong to say my creativity has not always been there for me in the sense that I 'lost it' because that's not the case, it's just some times I've just not wanted to access my creativity because of how I'm feeling about it. 

It's a new level of understanding this complex relationship that seems to hold more layers and nuisances than any person-to-person relationship I've ever had.  

Looking through the sd cards today I saw times when I had no clue what my creativity and I were doing together, but we did it anyway. I saw times when I knew exactly what I was doing and still got surprised by the outcome. I saw times when I did not think I was showing up at all but my creativity still took itself for a spin anyway. 

I saw a really thick and rich history, and it was gorgeous to remember it all, first mentally, then emotionally and then through my hands with this RAW Intuitive Journal page:

RAW Intuitive Journaling is all about connecting with your creativity through your intuition and a useful tool for process emotions through art. I have a class on this which you can find out more about it on my art community here:

http://journalworkshops.ning.com/page/raw-intuitive-class

(or if you're not a member of my community site you can read about it on Etsy here:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/221489763)

In doing this RAW page I was reminded that I know this thing that is creativity, I know it, well. I actually know thousands of techniques and sooooo many processes. I can run rings around any magician for tricks up their sleeve.

It's kinda hard to see the layers via these pictures but through the surfaces of quickened scribbles and scraped on gesso I focused on what it was that I was really feeling and was ready to write with my paint markers.

The words on the page say

Wondering:

I'm beyond where I thought I was

And I'm wondering where to take that.

What's coming is kinda sorta amazing.

And it'll teach me right for forgetting to be amazed.

There's also something in there about getting my confidence back, so I guess what I'm really happy to say is...I finally think I see the bright colours of my creativity through the thick fog of emotions again! 

And on top of that understand what this new twist to my relationship has taught me (for one thing: to remember to be amazed!). 

I remembered that when I want to meet my creativity it is never as hard as I've been making it out to be. In fact it's easy, because... well I know it, 

I know it well. 

I hope if you ever are at this juncture of your relationship with creativity you'll remember this too. What helped me get here is following the steps I shared in this article I recently wrote about 'Dealing with Creative Demotivation'.

Thanks for reading

Love, an artist who just re-remembered her creativity

Video Tutorial: DIY Recycled Signage

Hi lovely blog readers

For anyone who does not know I run a Monthly Challenge Group on my art community Journal Workshops, where on the 1st of every month I pick someone's suggestion of a project for us all to do. I post a video of my project making and create a space for all the members of our community to share their projects also. 

Well anyway, this month I really loved making challenge so much that I decided to adapt the video a little and post it to youtube. 

You can see it here: 

https://youtu.be/rixQMhKsh-8

If this group is something you think you might enjoy you can join for free here: http://journalworkshops.ning.com/

All creatives are welcome!

Enjoy & Much love

Jennibellie

xoxo

3 Steps For Dealing with Creative Demotivation

Hello beautiful

Hey! You may have noticed I've not been around here much the last couple of months, so I'm posting (despite the fact I've a million other 'Jennibellie' things I should be doing today like send out my newsletter, or finishing tomorrows next Monthly Challenge project and video) as I wanted to be sure to post something in September. It's silly but I don't like having a zero next to a month on my 'Blog Archive' lol so here's a post all about dealing with demotivation in your creativity and how to deal with it. I originally sent this out to my list last month as I tend to send creative articles out along with the other news/exclusive videos etc.

While my creative juices are flowing again right now truth be told the past few months have been a HUGE time of demotivation for me, as things have happened to flip up my life and routine recently, which is why I was inspired in my last blogpost to write about ensuring you continue your art during the tough times...but that can be tricky, and dealing with that trickiness is what this blogpost is about. I want to share with you the formula I used to see the light at the end of the tunnel & get back on my creative camel (more on that below!)

Step One: 

Forgive yourself! Forgive yourself for not doing those things you said you were going to do and for not being as far along as you wish to be. That’s life, if we already accomplished everything we wished to well, then, what would be the point in us sticking around? Truly open yourself up and forgive yourself for everything that is over and done with, you cannot change it anyway.

Step Two: 

Move with Gentleness. This is the action step to forgiving yourself. Figure out what you were being most hard on yourself for not doing and start doing that, but with gentleness. Move slowly, don’t expect too much of yourself. As I keep reminding myself ‘a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush’ so allow yourself time to ease back into it.

Step Three: 

Self Care Mastery, as I am displaying in the pic above in my sacred space, with a good book, in my fav pink top & wet messy hair from a long self care soak. Motivation is the most difficult thing to accumulate when you are running on empty. Fill yourself up, keep yourself filled up and in the knowledge that doing this will help you achieve those things that you wish to – which may mean taking a lot of breaks as you do Step Two. Also this is where having Passion Projects comes in great, and makes you feel good about yourself because you are actually moving along on something huzzah!! If you haven’t already click here to see July Monthly Challenge video, that runs through all about starting a new Passion Project.

These above are my Passion Project - here is a blogpost I did about these if you want to read more about the benefits of having a project that is just for you (and contains a little more info about what my Passion Project is). And that's it, that's how I moved from feeling stuck and fed up to creating again. I hope if you're dealing with demotivation you'll give it a try, especially if you've been hard on yourself to try and get yourself in creative flow again (because how's that working for you?). What have you got to lose?

Here's something else that will help with getting your creative projects done and is brand new today (see I told you the above steps got me creating again!):

This  'How to Ride Your Creative Camels' ekit contains lotsa goodies to help you better understand and navigate your own creative projects and creative journeys. Learn more via the link.

It is available via my Etsy shop now:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/462147002

Now I'd better get off and get creating what I'm actually supposed to be doing tee hee don't forget to look out for the new Monthly Challenge project and video in the group tomorrow, here's a sneak peek of how mine's coming on so far:

Toodles for now.

Much love

Jennibellie

Tough Times, Choose Art

I’m going through a tough time (peeps that have seen the Monthly Challenge video will already know this) so I’m consciously making an effort to keep up creating art consistently, especially in those times when I feel upset/bad/confused and so find it difficult to reach for art despite knowing I will feel better for it. 

It can be easy to slip during such times, to make up (extremely plausible sounding) excuses and let your art go. 

I’m having to fight all that daily and choose art anyway because if you are a creative person it is SO IMPORTANT to give yourself this comfort/release/support/exploration/self care so that you can face the world and be the wholest version of yourself that you can possibly be in that moment in time, for yourself and others (not just for others!)…even if that means having to force yourself into it.

Art Journal Summer School started a few days ago, I’m so grateful for this because classes and groups are great guideline, a great place for this conscious effort to go. I’m going to be joining the other 500+ peeps in this class and go through the first weeks lessons tomorrow evening, if you want to join us the link is below or if you want a free ‘guideline’ then the link to my art communitys Monthly Challenge is also below. 

I’m hoping you’re living better times than I am right now but if not I know through this experience to urge you to pleeeease ensure you keep up your art…when no amount of love nor money might be able to help what is happening to you A*R*T STILL CAN. 

Choose Art

Art Journal Summer School -

http://tinyurl.com/ArtJournalSummerSchool2016

July Monthly Challenge -

http://tinyurl.com/JulyArt2016

Love, always

Jennibellie

xoxo

Finishing Your Art Journal Pages #3 - The Art of Shapes

Hello lovely

I've a new video in the Finishing Your Art Journal Pages Series.

This page is back to the junk journal and using shapes to finish your page, here it is:

As mentioned in the video I also just posted the new Monthly Challenge video on Journal Workshops all about Tissue Paper Abstracts, you can check that out here: 

http://journalworkshops.ning.com/group/monthly-challenge/forum/topics/june-2016

If whatever reason you are not a member of Journal Workshops yet no problem, just choose 'sign up' on the top right...it's free and once I've approved your account (I vet everyone to make it the safest place it can possibly be) you will have access to this fab group and my other free offerings! Yay!

You can also find my other Finishing Your Art Journal Pages Videos here (clickable links):

Finishing Your Art Journal Pages #1 - 'The Art of Listening'

Finishing Your Art Journal Pages #2 - 'The Art of Overwhelm'

Have an awesome creative weekend =)

How to Start Being Creative

Hello Lovely

Quick video message this week, but an important one. You ARE the chosen one!

What, where or how are you needing to give yourself permission??

Leave a comment below if you wish to show up and share, hold yourself accountable to that which you need to give yourself permission to do or just be seen (I read every comment so your affirmation will be heard and held!)

Much love
Jennibellie

Finishing Your Art Journal Pages #2 ...Plus Other Videos

...The Art of Overwhelm

. This video particularly deals with the overwhelm of having too many art supplies to choose from, ever come across this?? Yeah me too, here's how I get over it, quickly...

Do you have any tricks for getting over this overwhelm? Or deal with any other kinds of overwhelm in art? (pst if it's to do with having too many ideas oh boy do I know that one! I did this video below to address that)

 

Yesterday I also posted the Monthly Challenge Video mentioned in the Finishing Your Art Journal Pages Video above which you can view here: 

http://journalworkshops.ning.com/group/monthly-challenge/forum/topics/may-2016

If you're not a member of this Group it's a great place to be, and to be a part of it you just need to click the 'Join Monthly Challenge' Button at the top of the Monthly Challenge Group (http://journalworkshops.ning.com/group/monthly-challenge) & it'll let you in immediately (assuming you are a member of Journal Workshops, if not just sign up here: http://journalworkshops.ning.com/main/authorization/signUp? once I've approved your account you will get access to this, and a bunch of other free arty offerings, easy peasy!)

Hope to see you around there. 
Much love

Current In Progress Mixed Media Art Journal Pages

Hello (my how beautiful you are!)

Back to a proper 'weekly ramble' format this week, meaning this post is a quick snapshot of where my creativity is at & view of in progress stuff rather than any completed things.

My creativity has been going crazy the past week, but most especially the past 48 hours. I literally got zero sleep last night; ideas kept jumping, twisting and turning through my brain, I barely put my light out long enough for my eyes to notice let alone close. I am running on fumes today but I think it's gonna be worth it I have FINALLY found the structure(s) I want to create the Daily Rituals Class in (a class I have been trying to mould, shape and create for what feels like forever, all about about creating a daily creative journaling practice that supports you). So today I took my Ideas Journal to my outdoor studio and had a loooong Planning Session (a concept for creating I share in my Creative Goal Journaling Class) to form the Classes that will be (hopefully, with a bit of work) be coming soon...

The other main area my creativity has been channelled the past few days is journal pages.

Here's some in progress ones: 

Puppy dog needs some more layers and pen work I think

This is a 5 min collage I think I'm gonna leave as is, and do some more of these, very freeing

Here's some progress shots of a now finished one:

So that's the snapshot of my creative week. 

How has yours been? Share in the comments below, I'd love to hear (I read every one!) 

Have a great weekend

Much love

PS don't forget to check out the Monthly Art Challenge Video if you haven't already, you can find it here: http://tinyurl.com/aprilsartdate