Creating a blog about process :)

#2 Funday Monday blog prompt - Today's prompt is about process...When you are in your "artistic flow" what are the tools &/or rituals you used to get yourself there? Is there a certain time of day you do your art and for how long? Do you listen to music? If so what kind? A favorite creative shirt/outfit you wear? We want to know the details and would love to see a picture of you creating!

Hello friends,

It's taken me all week to get a chance to sit down and write this blog for the prompt I posted on Monday!  I'm sitting here shaking my head that I wrote a prompt about process when I have had a week where my routine and process was thrown out the window due to lots of factors including exhaustion.  Last night I was able to get some good sleep and actually slept in - I woke up rejuvenated and the ready to write!

Me in the tulips at the Atlanta Botanical Garden - where inspiration and creativity "bloom!"

So when I think about this prompt and my life I remember some truths for myself - I must take care of the basics in my life in order to have my best life.  So for me that means:  Good Sleep (7 1/2-8hrs a night), Clean eating and daily exercise.  This leads to my artistic flow and creating space where my creativity blooms.  

Merlin my dog is usually at my feet or nearby while I am writing

When I am writing my blogs or posting on the DCP I am usually in my "dining room" where my desk and computer stay.  This morning there is a slight Spring chill in the air as the windows are open.  I love to hear the birds singing and my beautiful note C wind chimes (which have traveled with me since college) singing ever so gently when a breeze kicks up.  I also hear the water cycling in the fish tank like a bubbling creek.  Check out this previous blog post where there are more pictures of my "space" - "A Studio - What's that?"

A dawn picture from this week

I like to get up early - 5am before sunrise.  I love the "quiet" natural noises when I am writing.  If I am painting or creating some visual art I usually have some music on and people around  and that has happened in the evenings mostly.  I want to see in the near future about doing some painting on my own and creating the space and time to make that happen.  Early in the morning I'm usually in my yoga pants and a soft shirt since that is part of my morning routine to get in am yoga either before or after writing.  That still varies in my routine - since due to kid's routines sometimes one or the other is sacrificed (the art/yoga not the kids - however with now a pre-teen and teenager I may need to think on this - lol).  

I would love to paint this tulip - Large!

A lot of times I am "Creating" on the fly.  Pictures along the route of the "carpool" route.  Pulling over to capture the magic of the morning brings delight into my day.  Lately I have been capturing some images that I want to paint soon.


I have found since joining the Daily Creative Practice Group and being conscious of doing something creative everyday (even if I don't get a chance to post about it) I am open to even more creativity in my life.  It's like my yoga, gratitude or Flylady practice - 15 minutes a day makes a big difference in the quality of my life!  Sometimes that is all I have - 15 min. to write a quick poem or blog, snap a few pictures to post or dance a dance in Interplay with a friend.   

As I sit here writing to you, I stop to take a deep breath in and release it.  I have missed this process this week.  Writing brings me joy and I love sharing it with you.  I thank you for being "out there" to receive it.

Wrapping you around with infinite love and peace,

Christine