Art Studio Update | February 13, 2023

     What an amazing week. While I didnt finish a single painting in the studio I did get a tremendous amount of work done. I was able to make over 20 cradled panels this week, most are currently ready for gesso. I made some headway in reorganizing the studio and the woodshop. Although the woodshop has a ways to go it is getting more efficient as I move along. The studio is getting more cramped, the biggest challenge I face...too many interests, too many mediums. While I really enjoy learning new mediums and being an alchemist, it would be so much easier to work AND to organize if I could just work in one medium. That however, is not how I was built so I embrace that which I was given. ADD and dislexia are a gift or can be a curse. I chose gift.

     A Japanese concept of moving with the water or air is called ryuso. I love this concept as I have found it much easier to work with nature, with the gifts that we were blessed with rather than to try and work against those areas. Applying the concept of "ryuso" or moving with the flow to your life can be a helpful way to manage the challenges of day to day living. Here are a few ways you can do this:

1. Embrace your strengths: Recognize and embrace your unique strengths and talents, and find ways to incorporate them into your daily life. This can help you focus on what you are good at and feel more confident and in control.
2. Find your own rhythm: Everyone has their own pace and rhythm, and it's important to find what works best for you. Try different approaches and see what helps you focus and stay organized.
3. Take breaks: Taking regular breaks can help you refocus and recharge, especially if you have ADD. Find activities that you enjoy and allow you to relax and recharge, such as exercise, reading, or spending time with friends and family.
4. Simplify: Simplifying your environment and routines can help you focus and reduce stress. For example, you can keep a clean and organized workspace, use a planner to keep track of appointments and tasks, and break down large projects into smaller, more manageable tasks.

     By finding ways to move with the flow and work with your strengths and challenges, you can create a life that feels more manageable and fulfilling thus putting your best foot forward to living your best creative life. J.R.R Tolkein, Author of The Lord of the Rings, uses the concept of subcreation. In his book Culture Care, Makota Fujimura said, "In anything we make, we bring our creative energies, but we are always acting in stewardship of something that we have been given". Embrace those gifts that were bestowed upon you, they are part of what makes you a unique, one-of-a-kind gift to this world. We need you.