I was working on my “Grandmother Elder Series” and I hit a block, not a mortar block, but a creative one, so I had to take it to my journal, to process it! I’ve been journaling since my teens, and incorporating my art in my journals since about 2003/4.  It’s where I go to talk to myself. So after weeks of being in the journal, I’m ready to go back to working on my series.

What I realized is during this time is that, although I’m creatively blocked at times, I always create in my journals, not sure why that is, other than it’s a small format, and I’m not striving for perfection (duh…maybe that’s the reason).

So, instead of not blogging, I will begin sharing my art journaling here as well, so this way, my friends and visitors won’t think I’ve dropped off the face of the planet or hiding in the abyss (although, I do that on occasion as well, and nothing comes out of there!)

So in the next few days (weeks?) I will add a tab on this website/blog so you can view my art journals as well (Really, my technical savvy son will). So, I guess, this will add another label on to my growing list of labels: Introvert, Highly Sensitive, Mom, Wife, Fine Artist, Illustrator, Mixed Media Artist, Mystic, Goddess (LOL!) Whatever, I am only me.

So Happy Mother’s Day to anyone who mothers a child, pets, plants, adults and/or themselves!

P.S. More journal pages at: https://www.facebook.com/indigeneart

Sometimes, this word calls me to respond quickly; sometimes physically and at times vocally. Other times it calls me to do the most simplest of things; yet, it is something that is the hardest to vocalize  out loud. So I do what is the least vocal on the outside for me, but the loudest cry inward of my soul.

Often it is the simplest thing that get the tasks and job done the best.

Find your peace and live it courageously.

Image: (c) 2012 Indigene Theresa Gaskin

“Body of Days – Courage Art Journal Page”

I journal daily and it takes a lot less time to create something in my journal than it does to create something large (which my art tends to be). I can go to my journal, doodle, sketch, collage and write, to create a page and voila! It’s therapeutic, immediate and I don’t need retail therapy!

Have an amazing weekend as we all go forth courageously in a world where good things are always possible. In peace to you and yours.

©2012 Indigene Theresa Gaskin – 2012 Courage Journal-Mixed Media Collage – Pg. 4.

Now for other stuff…I have been stretched to the limits in  many areas of life, I can’t believe it’s been a month, since I last posted! I like my blogging  time to be meaningful; not just putting in one liners out there in social media. Please, don’t get me wrong, I love chatting with my friends on Facebook/Twitter, but I’m finding that it takes away from my time here and that’s not my intention.

Maintaining social  media sites, takes a lot of time and effort, in an already frantic schedule.  As a highly-sensitive introvert, I needs lots of time to recuperate from face-to-face time, networking, workshops, etc. I find I also need it from writing, too! I’ve done lots of business writing and academic writing, but that’s very different than writing from your heart and soul. The writing I do here, fulfills my ten-year-old dream of being a writer (At ten, I also wanted to be an artist, actress, dancer and singer!) The writing here takes more out of me, because I’m putting myself out there, just like my art.

My blog started off with me showcasing my art, then writing about my art; what I was working on, creating an image based on the prompts from Illustration Friday or events that I was participating in. Of course, I still do that, but I will also include how I live my life, because the artist and the person are one and the same. I feel that you only see one aspect of me when I share my art-making process or just my art.

Some of you may say, well, that’s the only part I’m interested in! I appreciate that and I am glad, there are many people interested in my art, but there are just as many people interested in the person, too! I feel fragmented when I only talk about one aspect of my life, and it feels so disjointed writing only about only one aspect of me. I want my writing here to be meaningful to me and to the people who take their time to stop and read my blog entries.

I am a whole person, living a whole life, the good, the bad and the ugly, it makes my very human life messy and joyous!

So all this to say, to find out more about me in various aspects, visit me here:

FACEBOOK Page:  https://www.facebook.com/indigeneart

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Indigene1

But to find more depth and my intentions, visit me here…at the blog.

I end this week with one of my favorite quotes and in peace:

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Images: ©2012 Indigene Theresa Gaskin  -  All Rights Reserved.

]]> http://indigeneart.com/2012/03/03/blog-intention/feed/ 18 http://indigeneart.com/2012/01/31/moving-forward/ http://indigeneart.com/2012/01/31/moving-forward/#comments Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:50:39 +0000 Indigene http://indigeneart.com/?p=2465 January has been a month of digging, in the tough and challenging consciousness. Ever since I chose the word “courage” as my word for the year, I’ve been battling some big fears and learning to trust my intuitive voice completely. It’s the same fears,  I battle when the darkness of winter comes…am I strong enough, confident enough, financially secure, smart enough, helpful enough, generous enough, doing enough…?

My rituals and spirituality keep me nurtured. My family keeps me cocooned, safe and loved. As always in the dark nights of the soul,  the light comes through, reminding me that there is balance and that fears will always be there, but it is the moving forward in those fears that the courage comes.

Love is the strongest engine of survival, life’s calling and I’m moving forward with the light of courage.

Peace to you and yours.

(“Life’s Calling” Collage/Paper-5″x7″ - ©2012 Indigene Theresa Gaskin)

The process of setting up goals to me, is much like my preparation for creating a new painting or two or three…

It starts with a spark…dream, experience, a place, an idea.

I write down some words, do some sketches, think about colors or not.

I gather the materials and then the deep stuff starts, excitement builds, frustrations set in, more thought processes, action accumulates and then finally, after many tweeks, starts and stops.

Voila, I have a finished painting!

©2012 Indigene T. Gaskin “Autumn Song” Mixed-Media-12″ x 24″)

So much like the art-making process, is my goal setting process.

This year, it took a little  longer than usual to do this. I’m not sure if it’s because I took my time and thought about it, or the fear factor! So finally, I’m ready to release it so that the action can begin!

Goals/Resolutions:

-Experiment more with my art;

- Create one new workshop;

-Create an e-book;

-Exercise and take better care of myself;

-Create a video (Me/Art);

-Teach a class/workshop abroad;

-Exhibit in gallery at least once this year;

-Create and sell more art than last year;

-Connect and collaborate more with other artists.

So with a lot of courage, tenacity and time,  begins the ride of goal doing. I am  prepared.  Are you?

©2001-2012 Indigene Theresa Gaskin– Image: “Brave Warrior”)

This year my intention is Courage. I did not come to this intent quickly or lightly, but through…the power of daily meditation, prayer, silence and deep listening.

So what does this mean?

This means I will not wait for fear to go away before I move forward with new ideas and dreams that need to be realized. The only way I can dissolve fear is to begin to move with it.

I have heard, that the thing that stands in the way of us creating the life we want, will only go away, if we start creating it. Yet, this is the most fearful aspect of beginning that life!

So like a brave warrior, I am empowered by my first step…setting my intention. Intent needs to have action to follow it…so I have posted my intent, in various place in my home, in my studio and I have found a visual for my intent. (See image). So by blogging this, my intent is in the world!

These are the steps for me to build a foundation grounding myself in this intent.

These baby steps of intent and action, will give me more courage to take many more steps, as I give myself time and space to experience the voices of my fears, moving with purpose, while staying aligned with my intention and fiercely committed as each day poses its challenges and rewards.

The Highs and Lows of my 2011 year:

1.) I RESOLVE TO PROMOTE MYSELF SHAMELESSLY.  (Those of you who read my blogs, encountered me on Facebook and Twitter know this is true! :) I also handed out many business cards and postcards during 2011.

2.) I RESOLVE TO CULTIVATE A GREAT WEBSITE. Well, it’s great website to me! My wonderful webmaster son and I spent an enormous amount of time on it, updating it!

(© 2011 Indigene Theresa Gaskin – Frontview of my 2011 journals).

3.) I RESOLVE TO CONTINUE OPERATING WITH COMPLETE INTEGRITY.  This was done a 100% of the time and gave me great satisfaction, since this is one of my values, to act and serve with integrity!

4.) I RESOLVE TO CONTINUE EDUCATING MYSELF IN THE BUSINESS OF ART. I did this through workshops on and off-line! I made it through 9 workshops this year and in the midst of completing the last one now! I’ve read over (120) books this year, with thirty (30) of them being about art business and marketing (My bookstore receipts state I’ve purchased about 250 books, I still haven’t read them all yet)!

5.) I RESOLVE TO CONTINUE CONNECTING WITH OTHERS AND SHARE INFORMATION. I joined a guild and participated in meetings and continue to mentor others.  This was really big for me, since I am incredibly introverted and enjoy my solitude greatly!  These were all the resolutions I made in the new year of 2011 : (See http://indigeneart.com/happy-new-year-happy-birthday-to-me/)

Additional highlights included winning an award in arts and culture and participating in (2) Art Fairs!

So I feel so incredibly wonderful that I accomplished all my resolutions and lived in true abundance that I gained this year.

(© 2011 Indigene Theresa Gaskin – sideview of all my journals completed in from 2011)

Wonderful highs, also come with lows. The lowest points of 2011 and which will make 2011, unforgettable is that I lost my Mom (August 22) and my sister, Renee (June 27). I can honestly say that I have been in the abyss and on the mountaintop in 2011. I was blessed with the abundance of kindness from strangers and family. The outpouring of love from my internet friends still continue to overwhelm me and kept me held in the abundance of hope and warmth.  I learned so much from this heartbreaking ordeal and I still continue to learn from it. I realized what true friendship meant during this time.

So, 2011 brought me a fire of grief, a rainstorm of love and true growth and will never, ever be forgotten by me.

So with the old year, only a few hours left, I wish you all a very, wonderful, peaceful, spectacular, loving, prosperous, healthy and loving New Year!

I will see you in the New Year, with my intentions and resolutions and I hope to see yours as well! :) Peace to you and yours.

I haven’t forgotten my blog readers! I’m just in a contemplative mood…thinking about my intention for the new year, setting goals, looking over the year…the great losses and the abundance that kept me going…

Take some time to separate yourself and sink into the peace that’s yours by going inward.

In peace to you and yours.

(©2011 Indigene Theresa Gaskin – Journal Time)

This is an extremely busy time for many people, running round with end-of-year activities and holiday stuff, me included!  So, I’m happy to offer some beauty and words to live by.

Here is the first of (18) inspirational card series, I’m launching:

Dream Sequence #7  - Inside Text: “You soar above life’s chaos“ ©Indigene Theresa Gaskin

Price: $5 per card – 5″ x 7″ Card

Shipping is Free in the U.S.A. and Canada

I will be featuring all (18) cards through my blog posts, Facebook and Twitter.  All cards are $5 each, the messages are inspirational and the art is frame-able, they’re great as a keepsake or as a gift.

I’m really excited to be able to offer my art and words that I live by to you at an affordable price.  For now, the cards can be purchased directly from me.  Purchase can be made through me with PayPal, credit card and/or with check by approval first.

Email: indigene (at) indigeneart.com    (Write in subject line: Card Purchase Only)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indigeneart

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Indigene1

All (18) cards will be available, plus many other beautiful items at the Holiday Open Studio Tour – 212 Wakefield Road,  Rosemont, PA  - December 9 – 11, 2011. Please stop by can view my art and the art of five other amazing artists/artisans. You can pick up a map from the aforementioned location to all the other studios involved as well!

So let me get back around to my chaos and remember to breathe, life is good and you’re alive!

In peace to you and yours.

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