Category Archives: inspirational

art, artist, inspirational, resistance

Treacherous comfort zone

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Treacherous comfort zone is something I try to avoid at all cost. I’m not always successful and it’s easy to sink down into my new recliner and read a book when I need to be more productive.  (Picture is a stock photo. 🙂

recliner
treacherous comfort

I actually fight that urge every day, but I know what needs to be done, so I have a choice of following my lazy side or the side that really wants to accomplish something useful for me and others.

Useful as in art inspiration. Sometimes it’s hard to be inspired and produce art, but to break that lazy habit you have to show up at the easel or art journal. Once that resistance is broken, I can then face the resistance of the art itself. Nothing but hurdles, haha.

The art resistance is harder to break than the habit of what to do with my time.  I usually force myself over that hurdle and things open up.

There is a third resistance and that is to try some different art modality. If painting faces was my thing I might try landscapes. That resistance might be stronger than anything. That’s why you see artists painting the same thing over and over because it’s safe, tried and true.  Not that the art lacks merit, but you get in a groove and staying there is more comfortable than taking a risk.

That’s maybe why people paint photographic perfection instead of doing risky forays into the loose and undefined.  Technique is safe.

I watched a documentary yesterday, Sky Ladder, on Netflix about this famous Chinese artist Cai Guo-Quing.  He uses fireworks to create his huge pieces of art, and he also designs massive  firework displays (opening of Olympic Games.)

It was wonderful to follow his creative process which is on a huge scale. His art is subtle but right in your face, and I was mesmerized and also mortified at my own small thinking. I highly recommend the documentary to all artists as an inspiration to stretch boundaries.

Life really is about stretching boundaries and trying new things. So what if it fails? It’s just another step in the exploration called life.

It’s important to have a balanced inner life, but also so important to do the “right thing,” it being the work that fires you up.

Right now I feel that I’m at a crossroads. Either I break through to the next creative level or I make deeper grooves in the rut that I have dug in the past. Life is constant evolution. (Or painful boredom.)

Standing still equals staleness.

To live a creative life is to be dynamic and open to the possibilities as they happen. I saw those in the eyes of that Chinese artist. He’s is fluid, open, present, and seeing the biggest opportunities for risky expansion.

He spoke to my heart.

I also saw lots of bravery and a conviction that it’s only possible to move forward.  No choice really.

So I come back to the choices we make every day, whatever work we do.

Yes to being proactive.

Yes to expansion and greater things.

Yes to creative risks.

Yes to LIFE, not habits or ruts.

What is the risk you need to take today?

I cheer you on from my studio, not my recliner….

xo

Maria

P.S. I have lots of art for sale in my etsy shop. Christmas is coming…  There is a price range for everyone. CLICK HERE.

 

 

 

art, art journaling, inspirational, shrine, video

Paper shrines

Paper shrines are easy to make.  I use them in art journal spreads, and if the paper is sturdy enough, they can stand up and be used as a table shrine.

paper shrine
Paper shrine
paper shrine
closed paper shrine

The above shrine was made with heavy-duty watercolor paper. I added the doors and altered the paper. Lots of gold! It doesn’t show well in the picture. As an icon I used a picture from a guide book of the Louvre. He’s some Egyptian scribe. It doesn’t have to be a religious icon. Whatever you want to celebrate. You can make a shrine with your goals or passions / dreams, or an ode to Nature.

The possibilities are endless.

Here is another shrine I made from card stock.  Won;t make the art journal spread bulky when added.

shrine
shrine

I used a digital picture of Mary in this one, added a frame and gold paint. As bling I used some gilded and colorful border segments.

I made a video of the process and you can watch it HERE.

Have fun making your own shrine. 🙂

Creating is living well…

Maria

art journaling, asskickery, creativity, inspirational, motivational

Doormat syndrome.

Doormat syndrome, have you suffered from that as a woman (or man?)

I have at times. I had two relationships that were “their way or no way.” I’d say it’s common to submit to others to keep the peace.

doormat
doormat

For a time, anyone was welcome to step on me and make me do their bidding, cause it was “nice” to help others, no matter what.

No more.

Yesterday, I had two conversations with women having trouble standing up for themselves, as if saying “no” is not nice or not supportive. We as women are raised to be supportive and submissive. I say, to heck with that!!!

There is a limit to what is expected of us. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it! If you don’t WANT to do something, don’t do it. If someone is clingy, hogs your time, drains your energy, just excuse yourself and remove yourself from that person. Know your limits! That is SELF RESPECT. You have the right to stand in your power, always.

Someone might snigger at those words, but the longer we stay in a submissive stance to others, the less we can pursue our dreams because someone will always step on them. That is part of the scenario of being a doormat. Make better choices.

  • It’s okay to be your own person.
  • It’s okay to have dreams.
  • It’s okay to be an artist if you want to.
  • It’s okay to make others mad if you are protecting what you know is right for you.
  • It’s okay to have time for yourself.
  • It’s okay to be a role model for strength.

I have lost friends over that last statement, and I don’t have to be RIGHT, but I can choose what works in my life and ditch the rest.

So many women I know put everyone else’s dreams and desires before their own. When are you going to realize your own strengths if you deny your power as a person? Say you fall down dead and realize you did nothing to pursue what fired up your soul.  That would totally suck in my opinion.

To be an artist matters. Your voice matters, your art matters. Your expression in the world is very important so if you have something to say or paint, do it.  As they say, life is short.

The greatest excuse I hear is: I have to be there for my children.  Yes, of course you do, but you also have a responsibility to yourself.

Make your children badass and confident as you grow yourself stronger.

strong children
Children who are not doormats

Allow yourself to choose YOU.  Your children will learn from you. Do you want them to become doormats? I didn’t think so.

Maybe you wonder why I post many motivational posts instead of artist stuff?  Being an artist requires becoming the whole you. I’m working on that, and my art expression is a journey that changes all the time.  Art has helped me to be strong.  So maybe it’s better to inspire people to be strong than add a bunch of art how-tos. I decided I can do both. 🙂

So can you! Dive in and be the GREAT You now. If people stand in your way, you deserve better. Work around them or get rid of them.

You are enough!

With lots of love,

Maria

P.S. Sidebar note. I have a sale going on for my art journal how-to e-course. ONLY $15 until October 26. CLICK THIS LINK. Create something today! Get involved.

New art in my etsy shop.

Buddha abstract
New art in my etsy shop
female principle, inspirational, motivational, passion, transformation

Everyone wants to be perfect.

Everyone wants to be perfect this day and age. Toned to perfection, hard abs, fancy clothes, fancy shoes, a hot car.
I have no desire to hustle for perfection. Everywhere we look these days there are unrealistic role models that spout success on every level but the reality is we’re as different from each other as the pebbles on the beach. What works for some people won’t work for others, and what if you reach “perfection” as touted by the media??

perfection is stagnation
Perfection is invented

So when we reach perfection (a la the norm of the fashion magazines and such) what is next?

Push, push, push yourself to stay in great shape, buy new fancy clothes, etcetera. Be superwoman, go, go, go.

I’m not against pushing oneself to reach goals, but this mindless following of what others tell us we should look like and do  is a big fat brainwashing scenario.

I’m all for keeping fit, eat healthy,  do something I love so that I can feel fulfilled, but social media today is filled with aggressive success touting coaches that are not based on reality but some Olympic sized goal that most people can’t attain.

The point is, listen to yourself. How do you want to pace yourself?  What makes you feel good?  How do you do more of what makes you feel good and healthy?  One baby step of improvement every day.  You may never attain the perfect body; I know I haven’t but it’s possible to take care of oneself and get to a fitness level that makes your body feel strong and healthy.

As far as passion goes.  Do more of what makes your soul sing. It can be hard sometimes to work through the resistance, but again, talk to the resistance and take baby steps forward.  That’s what I do every day. I don’t care about having millions of dollars, but I care about the quality of my life.  I have to work at it; there is no getting around that, but the work is FUN (for the most part.)

Add more health, vitality, fun, passion to life by starting TODAY. What can you do to improve your life today? Just begin.

I have an art challenge going in my Facebook group at the moment. It’s a 14 day challenge about honoring the female principle.  I post a prompt every day, and we’re on Day 2. Why not join this free challenge?  Join my art group Art Exploration with Maria Greene.

We are all about nurturing and supporting the deep female qualities, and that is so needed in today’s race to be the most perfect, the prettiest, the hottest, the most successful woman around.  All it does is spawn competition.

Are you in?  You are perfect as you are!! 🙂

joy
Celebrating the female principle.

xo

Maria

independence, inspirational, life, motivational

Today it’s almost Independence Day.

Today I went to a block party in my neighborhood, and I admire the people who put it together in 95 degree heat. People around here are great, and I’m so grateful to have nice neighbors.  They are awesome, in fact!

I’m sure there will be fireworks later, but I had to leave early since the heat was getting to me.

People are celebrating a long weekend, and tomorrow there will be more parties and fireworks.

Happy 4th!
Independence Day

Independence Day is all fine and good, but what is independence? Is it a long weekend off from a job one hates, or a celebration that we were liberated from the British rule way back when?

To me, independence is to own my life, to create the life that supports me on all levels, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.  Art does that for me, but there is always more.

Independence is not about over eating and drinking, though good food is always welcome since I don’t cook much.

Why not celebrate independence every day?

That is what we are meant to do. We were not created to live with nose to the grindstone (I have done plenty of that and it’s soul-destroying.) Life is not supposed to be an albatross around your neck.

Creating an independent life is not easy, but it’s fun and challenging. It takes a lot of soul-searching and often trial and error to get it right. I don’t think I have gotten it right yet, but I have lived an independent life on and off in my life, and that has taught me some things.  There really is no going back to the grindstone.

I’d rather have fireworks coming out of me because I’m so excited about my life.

inner fireworks
I am the fire

That is when life becomes interesting.

Today can be the day to decide to go deeper, to quit something that doesn’t serve, to let go of self-defeating behavior, to let toxic people go.

Today can be the day to choose LIFE, not the same ole rut and the addictive behaviors that we all have.

Well, every day we have the choice, life or life numbing.  Every day I choose life, but I don’t always succeed since habits are strong, and the familiar rut is strong.

But there is always another day and another choice.  What a blessing that is!

When we truly fall in love with life, the choice is easy.

Love to you, and lots of creativity!

xo

Maria

P.S. If you want more musings, please sign up for my newsletter. Link in top right hand corner of this page.

art, creativity, inspirational

Do you feel inspired?

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Do you feel inspired today?  I can’t say it’s a day I’m raring to go in my studio this afternoon. Sometimes it feels as if I’ll never be inspired again, but that is never the case. 🙂

It usually means I got stuck in my habits and forgot to look at the world with wonder.  Habits are inspiration killers. It’s so easy to get stuck in the mundane.

Here are a few ways I get out of my own  lack of inspiration.

  • I like to go to the library and look at those big art books.  For one thing, the silence and the people reading and sitting at the computers feel like companionship, and just mingling with others can spark inspiration. Besides, I LOVE those beautiful pictures of famous art.
  • I go out in nature. The shapes and the colors are always new and if I pay attention I always see something I didn’t notice before.
  • Hang out on Facebook for a while looking at art in all the art groups I belong to.  Such wondrous variety!  There is the danger of getting stuck on FB though.
  • I do a lot of research on the Internet. I find that the Internet is a great source for how-tos. I really like it, but it’s easy to get stuck there too. There is always an upside and a downside to everything, right?  Say you want to know how an ocean wave really looks before you paint it. You search the term and gazillion pictures come up. That is genius at our fingertips.
  • Friends to cheer me on! Especially other artists.
inspiration
Inspiration
  • Visit some local art gallery.
  • Give yourself a challenge to paint something different, using a different color palette.
  • Go shopping for art supplies. Yeah!
  • And, last but not least, just ignore any feelings of lack and paint anyway. Ugly is okay.  Art journaling really helps too, or plain ole journaling to get that focus back.
  • You can talk with some naysayer in the family and get inspired to prove them wrong! Anger and disgust are good action propellers. 🙂

I would love to hear what you do when your inspiration is flagging.

Have a wondrous creative weekend!

xo

Maria

P.S. I could use an art sale about now, and I have many pieces to choose from in my etsy shop. HERE.