Once again, I learn a valuable lesson from my kids- on vacation no less! My oldest daughter has had a fear of fish for quite some time. Whenever we were vacationing at the ocean she was so preoccupied with the threat of fish that she missed out on the bliss an ocean brings. She sucked it up and last year got over her fear of fish. While we were floating in the blue waters of the Caribbean Ocean, she exclaimed, “I get it now. I get why you love the blue water so much!” On all our other trips she was so focused on her fear (the fish) that she missed out on the joys.
How many times have I done that? Too many to count. How many times has my fear while painting, inking, stamping, creating shut me off from the joys that were there? Even when a piece of art is going in a horribly ugly direction, there is at least some element that is “good” or “useful”.
I pulled out my art journal and my little bag of supplies on the beach and started to journal. I let go of any fear and just started arting. An interesting thing happened, I didn’t like the final page but I loved the process. I became totally and completely absorbed in the process. Actually, I think I became addicted to that feeling because it was like flying.
Now that we are home from vacation I find I still don’t like this page BUT it does remind me of the feelings I had while making it. So, I guess I have to say that I now love that page because of how it makes me feel.
Have a few minutes? There is plenty of inspiration at Creative Every Day, Just Journals and Inspire Me Monday!
Carolyn ~ this page is wonderful for many reasons ~ the color, the feelings, what I see is the ocean ‘washing away’ your fears ~ You walked through ‘it’ and like your daughter got ‘free’ ~ Lovely page ~ embrace it ~ thanks, namaste, ^_^
I love this work so delightful as the blue Caribbean water, wonderful composition. Greetings.
All so true, and really…something your daughter taught YOU!! I know I look upon my paintings as done when “this was happening” or done when I was “feeling sad, or happy or stressed”. It’s so much about the process…isn’t it?
WONDERFUL Carolyn!! Yes, it’s ALL about the process! And in the case of your page, the end result looks great too. Such fabulous blues… and good for you daughter. You must be proud of her for being so brave. 🙂
This is such a great lesson Carolyn! Thank you (and your daughter) so much!
Great post, Carolyn – sometimes it’s more about the journey and the process then it is about the product and the destination!
As always, thanks for inspiring us at Create With Joy! 🙂
Ramona
I think this page is gorgeous. It’s so calming just letting your eyes wander across the page, stopping whenever. And thanks for sharing about the process and the fear.
Thanks for sharing your experience in overcoming the fear and getting lost in the process.
Carolyn, you captured the Caribbean blue.
Big love
AJ
I really like it…any page done in blues and greens gets automatic extra credit in my book. And I love how you journaled sentences using “found” words on the book page–really cool!
Love the colours especially in your journal page. What a great lesson to realize and grow from. We could all use that!
Just fabulous!! Love the lesson, love the colors. Where did you vacation??
We were at Turks and Caicos- really beautiful island.
What a great message. Thanks for sharing.
Rinda
I like the pages–the color, the looseness–the relaxation shows.
I love it when our kids teach us something new. 🙂
BEEE YOU TEEE FUL Blues!!! Great page:))))
such an important reminder – because what’s the point of creating a “perfect” journal page if you didn’t enjoy making it? there are pages in my journal that conjure up memories of tension and frustration and dissatisfaction with the work, and there are pages that bring back real authentic feelings of my life. Regardless of what the pages look like objectively, I prefer the latter.
Hey, this page is very cool and love the advice! tfs
You have made such a wonderful point with such a PERFECT example! I love the encouragement I get from my fellow Flyers! Thanks for encouraging me today.
xo
It´s funny how we remember the theory but still hold tight in our everyday musings.
Great page, free flowing, cool colours.
Hi Carolyn! Your message today is so true. Too often we choose to forego a potentially wonderful experience just because we’re scared. One of my grad school profs once remarked that most of the time, people are actually more afraid of succeeding than they are of failing. I’ve had to confront all kinds of fears–of success and failure–as I’ve considered my possible career change in the last couple of months. I appreciate so much the words of confidence and support you’ve left on my blog, and I know this particular post really resonates with me right now!
And by the way, I LOVE your journal page! I know you mentioned you weren’t sure if you liked it, but I think it’s a perfect reflection of the tremendously inspiring sensory experience of being (and creating art) near the ocean!
What a great lesson. Children are the best teachers, aren’t they. Can’t tell you how many lessons I’ve learned from my 12-year-old. This weekend he had to learn something about losing, NOT coming in first place for the first time. It was so hard to watch his disappointment, anger, doubt, confusion–mainly because I recognize that face and that feel. I’ve had both when I don’t make it into juried shows. I told him that he was learning one of life’s most important lessons–learning how to lose, recover and move on. I was telling him the words, but trying to take them to heart for myself. I really wanted to say “losing sucks!” But, hey, he’s 12. So…thanks for sharing your lovely lesson.