"To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong." — Joseph Chilton Pearce

IN THIS ISSUE

• February 2004 Journal
• What's New @ the CP
• Spotlight: Found Art Global Art Project

FEBRUARY 2004 JOURNAL

Developmental Stages

I think that too often we look at accomplished artists and writers and only see the end result of years of hard work. Years of growing and making mistakes. Years of learning and developing their skills. Some of us might get discouraged because these accomplished artists seem so put together, so professional, so perfect. But what we don't get to see is a glimpse into the journey that brought them to that ultimate place of acclaim.

I know that many of you involve yourselves in creative activities for personal, soulful reasons. I for one have recently developed an interest in painting and collage and my kitchen table is literally *my art studio* for all things creative.

Am I good at art? Depends on who you ask, but presently that's not the most important thing to me. What matters to me is that I’m indulging my artistic side and allowing a free flow of creativity to guide me. It’s refreshing and fun. I need this time to experiment and explore. One day I hope my hard work will pay off and my skills will shine.

The journey "there" is the challenging part for most of us. But it is a necessary part of the learning process. We can't give up if we want to reach that point of inner contentment and artistic fulfillment, no matter what our passion is.

Is there anyone out there who feels the same way? If so, I’d like to hear from you.

Found Art Fun

Speaking of gifts (were we?), I spent a few weeks involving myself in the Found Art project featured in this month’s spotlight. I had so much fun creating experimental art that would be left behind as gifts for others. Read about my Found Art fun below. 

Have a fabulous February! 
Chris

P.S. Informal poll: Do you say FebRUary, or FebrUary?

WHAT'S NEW @ THE CP

Taking Risks
risk n : exposure to possible loss or injury.

I recently learned a valuable lesson in risk taking. No, it didn't involve investing money or losing anything of physical value. Rather, it was a risk in either being embraced or rejected by revealing a personal part of myself amongst a virtual room of strangers.

My Found Art Experience
There’s a first time for everything, right? Well, this is the entertaining and detailed account of my first Found Art experience. I share what motivated me to participate, images of the art I created, and the entertaining story of how I "lost" all of my pieces on the shelves at a local library without being "booked" for littering.

How to Make a Dream Journal
The Painted Dream Journal is a fun item to create and an artful gift for someone else. I made mine into Found Art! Simply start with a blank book, add some paint and polymer clay accents to the cover and the journal becomes an inspirational outlet for artistic expression, aspirations, dreams, writing, and collage.

What I Learned by Painting My First Earthscape
I'm determined to teach myself the fundamentals offine art. No, not just teach, but really learn. Apply. Become skilled at. Become comfortable with. 

Like Claude Monet. And Paul Klee. And Wassily Kandinsky. Maybe Georges Seurat, too. I choose these people to align myself with because their work resonates with me. It speaks to me on a familiar level. A simplistic level — one that leaves the nitty-gritty details to the left-brained artists. 

SPOTLIGHT

Found Art Global Art Project
Aligning itself with the simple principle of "Random acts of kindness," Found Art! is a global art project that "strives to make the world a better place right now by empowering people across to globe to share on a soul level."