Fresh Art Daily
When I lived in Northern California, I wanted to open my own art gallery called Fresh Art Daily. The concept was that I would accept small local artists that weren’t given a chance anywhere else. I would hold art classes, and I would offer low-cost art supplies to disadvantaged students. I wanted it to be an art depot gallery spot for everything art with no gate-keeping, no snootery, no pretense. Just art. But life happened and I have ADHD and it became an idea sitting on a shelf in my brain.
A few weeks ago, I broke down and finally went to paint pottery. I have been meaning to do that for years but never found the time. Never made the time is more like it.
And I never stopped to figure out what the studio hours were and all of that.
I finally committed and you can see what I created.
This one quiet and focused afternoon shifted something in me.
Now I see art in everything again.
Now I am a Maker again. I hadn’t made anything in years. I stopped sewing once I started my day job. I stopped making jewelry. I stopped everything messy. I had made plans to make things, but I stopped actually making things. Now that I am self-employed again and focused solely on myself and my source creativity, I have started making again.
A brief list:
I’m back to work on my doll house and miniatures project
I have redesigned the table I made for my vinyl collection and will start the de-and- reconstruction later this week.
I bought myself a rug making kit so I can make a rug!
I’m back to designing clothes again
I just completed the cover design for my book of poetry that I have talked about publishing for 2 years now
I got an engraver, a punch needle kit, a leather tool kit, and a brand new utility knife set, so something is happening!
There is a reason I’m opening an Art Retreat and Respite Center. Time spent creating things opens space inside of us to see, feel, and focus on ourselves again. I could ask a room full of people to paint a red rose, and every rose would be unique, because we are all unique. There is no one else like you anywhere in the world, and we need you. What have you made lately? What creations have you brought into the world? When was the last time you carved out time to get lost in a creative project?
I challenge you this month to schedule some time to go paint pottery, take a class in an art medium that interests you, gather some friends and go to a paint and sip, buy a watercolor set and a pad of paper and set 10 minutes aside a day to paint, or find a local knitting store and learn how to knit. Take that time for yourself to free your mind of the clutter, to stop doom scrolling on your phone, and to just get lost in creation.
Be Well, Friend