Friday, January 9, 2009

Art Process, Nature Process and Life Process

I love watching the development of work from other artists. I find the process of art making fascinating to say the least. Andrea knows this and a little while back she sent me an envelope with some of her process bits and pieces. I thought you might like to see two of them today.She featured this little bear on her blog last year. Isn't he the cutest?
This is one of my favorite things, however there were quite a few in this particular packet. I love, love, love seeing the marks Andrea made as she was working...and making notes to herself, too. I hold things like this very dear.

While I am talking about parts which make the whole I thought I would share this brush stroke nature made for me one day. I pulled this apple out of the bag and lo and behold there was the nicest stroke of the brush just for me to enjoy. Well, I could not keep it for myself, so here, you enjoy it too.

Do you find great joy in art processes in general...yours, others or natures? Do you cherish small bits which are supportive of how art is made?
While I was off playing with my family, blog friends Suki and Dianne did a tag I thought was wonderful. Dianne encouraged me to take the tag and go with it, so I thought I would do that now. If this interests you, please feel free to take it and go along with it, too.

I am supposed to list five things I do daily to keep my spirit happy and healthy. So here we go:

1. I wake slowly allowing me the time to contemplate how my day may unfold, then do a bit of yoga (the sequence is never the same).

2. I will do a short meditation at the beginning of each day.

3. I make a connection with friends via email, blogs or phone.

4. I make a mark every day (this is a new thing which Andrea has encouraged me to do).

5. At the end of the day, I will journal and note 5 things I am grateful for that day. Reminding myself to always be grateful is critical for me.

So there you have it...I think there are probably many more things, however the tag was for five. I would have added art making, however I do not always get to that each day. What do you do each day to feed your spirit?

Have a Beautiful Weekend!

26 comments:

Sabi Sunshine said...

kim, that is so very interesting post.. I really like.. This post inspires me to think about myself and I was thinking about my each day starting with .. I was kind of worried but i can say i do lot of pilates which help me to relax for a day but I think that's not enough. I have to keep pushing myself for more inner work.
Love the post
Take Care

sukipoet said...

A post rich in ideas. How wonderfully inspirational to have these things from Andrea. Lovely. The apple is great. A work of art that you can eat. I guess that's pretty good food for the soul. I like your five things. And want to try to emulate the one of making a mark, even if it is just one, each day. I wonder if it is possible to make just one. Like eating one Pringles potato chip. I dont eat those but i think that was their advertising challenge awhile back. I probably dont cherish the small bits enough, which maybe making one mark would awaken in me. However, I do read in small bits sometimes and then get up and do things and return to another small bit. The small bit inspiring me to do other bits. I find that inspiring. Hope you have a great weekend too. Be well, Suki

Andrea and Kim said...

Hi Sabi, thank you for your comment. I think we all have to continue to evaluate the things we do to help take care of our spirit and ultimately our health. This is what I do now...and it works for me...but I might change it tomorrow. You know?

Have a lovely weekend!

Love,

Kim

Andrea and Kim said...

Suki, I think you have evaluated that one mark a day ritual just perfect. I seem to have to do things for so long before I can understand enough what it brings to me personally. I know how it makes me feel and try to keep doing those things which make me feel good...even if I can't articulate the feelings. Thank you for being my voice here.

Yes, like you the little bits lead to so much more for me, too. Some days I can only get a few marks done, but it always leads me to want to do more when I am given the time.

Now I want you to keep warm up there this weekend, okay? Are you ready?

Love,

Kim

Jess said...

I like your daily list of things you do for your spirit. I'm still out of my usual routine after the christmas/new year/birthday break and now find it difficult to get back to normal! You've inspired me Kim, thankyou.x

Andrea and Kim said...

Hi Jess,

I think many of us are struggling to get back to our own things here at the first of the year. I am glad this was an inspiration...I found it inspiriting when I saw it on Suki and Dianne's blogs.

Have a Good Weekend!

Love,

Kim

marianne said...

Wow 5 such inspiring thinngs you do each day!
I love to read these 5 facts at several blogs.... great idea!
I still don't know which 5 things I do or need every day to feed my spirits....... I don't have a regular live at all.......
Hug >M<

Andrea and Kim said...

Thank you Marianne.

I know just what you mean about a regular life. While mine is different from yours, I do not feel as though I have a regular life, either...and I like it this way. The thing about doing some of these things (and sometimes they are out of order)is it keeps me focused. I can become distracted easily, but I imagine you are a very focused person anyway.

Thanks Marianne!

Archie and Melissa said...

hi kim!
it is so nice to meet you. what a beautiful post. i found your blog through marianne and i am so glad i did!
:) melissa

Andrea and Kim said...

Hello Melissa,

It is lovely to meet you, too! Marianne is truly lovely, isn't she? I am very glad you found me, and now I am off to visit you. It will be lovely to have you come in to share your thoughts from time to time!

Love,

Kim

Yvette said...

Kim, you are a special woman, I wish I had your dicipline, but your day is like I would mine to be. Someparts like start my day with a meditation I already do. My sicknes has given me a lot but took a lot eather. I'm in the midlle of coping with my handicap and pain.And I warmly welcome the good things. I like it so much when you react on my posts. I always read yours but sometimes I cannot react.You make me think a lot and I like that!

soulbrush said...

a thoughtful post kim.i liked your 5 things, it was a good exercise that suki inspired us to do. this january has been a particularly hard one for me, but i always try to remember the things i am blessed with.

Anonymous said...

Kim,
Sometimes at the end of the day when I haven't made any "Art", I feel a bit disappointed with myself. - I missed the details of "making a mark a day" - I'm interpreting it as mounting a pad of paper on an easel and each day as I pass by it, to make at least one mark on the paper.

Oh! Yes! I am going to do this, starting today. - Thanks Kim (and Andrea)

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful post, Kim. It's a wonderful way to meet you (I came from Suki's blog). I love your five things, especially waking up slowly and the short meditation. I've been trying to meditate each night as I lay in bed, but I never know when I'm meditating, and when I've drifted off to sleep! I think I will try doing a short meditation in the mornings - it sounds like a wonderful way to start the day.

Andrea and Kim said...

Hello Yvette,

You know with an illness (I have had my share of dealing with illness, too) it is difficult to make sense of the world around us. When your whole world is turned upside down just getting to a place where healing can take place takes so much. For me, some of these things came after my illness was more under control - the journaling came out of all of that for me in that I basically wrote myself back to health.

I love reading your blog a lot. I think we all have a creative path and can learn a lot from different disciplines. You give so much with your felting, your words, your photographs and your love there. It is an honor to read.

You, too, are a special woman, too. Have a Beautiful Day!

Love,
Kim PS I completely understand about not responding to comments on your blog! No worries.

Andrea and Kim said...

Soul,

In my experience, remembering to be grateful, makes the struggles so much lighter. Isn't Suki fabulous? She gives us so much inspiration.

I wish for you an easing in the challenges this January has posed for you.

Love,

Kim

Andrea and Kim said...

Hi Chewy,

Oh, there was no "make a mark day" challenge. This was just something which came up in a conversation I had with Andrea. I jumped on it and have been making sure I make a mark each day...it has make a difference for me. It sounds as though several others are interested in giving it a try, too.

I think just take the "make a mark everyday" blurb and make it your own. Let me know how it works for you.

Love,

Kim

Andrea and Kim said...

Hello Belle,

It is lovely to meet you, too. Isn't Suki just wonderful? I am glad you inspired you to visit here.

You know I also meditate at night for just the reason you suggest...getting to sleep. I have a special meditation guide for then.

The morning just helps me get a focus on the day ahead and at night a reflection to help ease me into rest. As for waking slowly, I kind of need to do this as waking with an alarm clock really makes a mess of my day (headaches, nausea and complete lack of focus). I am glad these speak to you and hope you will be able to have success with them. Sometimes they work and sometimes you have to let them go for something else. It is all a trial, isn't it?

Thanks Belle!

Love,

Kim

Anonymous said...

Hi Kim,
I didn't see it as a challenge. I see it more of a method to keep me doing a little something every day. Even if it's just a mark or scribble.

Andrea and Kim said...

Yes, Chewy, that is just the way I have proceeded with this. Funny, Andrea has been a little busy lately, and I don't think she even knows how her few words to me over 4 months ago has had an effect. I will tell her...

Thanks Chewy.

Love,

Kim

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

So sorry. . . some how I spaced out your blog. I have been in the reorganizing mode I guess. I love the things from Andrea, The bear is cute. I LOVE the apple. Nature is so wonderful.
Interesting list of daily things you do. Now to go see what else I have missed. arrgh.
Oh my word verification is.. guess.
:)

Andrea and Kim said...

No problem, Cris! Things have been going nuts around here, too! :) I haven't had the time to get to some of the blogs I love.

Yes, I love those little bits from Andrea, too. Suki added lots of little pieces to a box she sent to me, too (I have shared some of those here). I can't tell you how often I go to those things just to make a connection.

That apple was so much fun. I was here by myself and just went on and on (to myself, mind you) about that apple. I am glad you like it.

Funny..."guess", I think that is a message about this blog...just guess what you might find when you come here. :)

Thanks Cris...have a wonderful day!

Love,

Kim

Lynn Cohen said...

I like the brush stroke on the apple...nature inspires and surprises us at times...

All your things you do to make you life nice were fun to read...

And the top photo of sink and tub looks like a way to save on plumbing perhaps????? Better than lots of non plumbing I experienced in places like China and Mexico.

Andrea and Kim said...

Hi Lynn,

I am glad you liked the apple...it was really cool.

I think it was a savings, but it was really something interesting. Quite possibly it is that was just for conversation. Can you imagine how many photos have been taken of this? I was with my son, and we laughed so hard.

Thanks Lynn!

Love,

Kim

Unknown said...

Kim, what a wonderful post, and you are right, I was really not aware what influence my markmaking had:) I am very happy about this, and the things you posted, the little bear and the wc-palette illustrate that too. Because at first, one day there is a mark or a blotch. The next day, something else can emerge from this..., or not.
The apple is so beautiful, simply inspiring. and thanks for sharing the things which make you feel good every day, your morning sounds calm and quiet and very nice!
have a wonderful day
love
andrea

Andrea and Kim said...

Hi Andrea,

Now I had not made that connection of the little bear and the wc-plalette, but you are so right...those daily marks can become something else just when you least expect it. They also may never materialize, but they will provide the satisfaction of making the mark.

You will see your quote in my quote box later today.

Love,

Kim