Resolution

     Instead of writing about all of the things that did or did not happen in 2014, I want to look forward to 2015 by sharing some lyrics with you that I recently heard on the radio. I listen to Air1, a Christian radio station who's mission is, "to create compelling media that inspires and encourages you to have a meaningful relationship with Christ." I love this radio station and all that it does to keep my heart, soul and mind on God!  During the month of December I heard a new song being played by a band I had never heard of. The song is very upbeat and has a great message to start off the new year. While listening to the song for the first time I felt excited, encouraged and empowered. 

Here it is:



"Resolution" by Everfound

Counting down it's so much closer
What seemed forever now is over
God bless me with a persevering heart
No matter what this year will bring me
I'm ready for a new beginning
Watch over me and keep me marching on

With eyes wide open, ooh
With eyes wide open, ooh

I run the race, my feet are steady
I'm on the edge, there's no more waiting
Tomorrow's come and I am marching on

With eyes wide open, ooh
With eyes wide open, ooh

Won't let fear hold my heart back
This is my Resolution
Wont follow the ghosts of my past
This is my Resolution

     The last part of the song talks about not letting fears hold your heart back and not following the ghosts of your past. To me that's basically saying that your past is exactly that. PAST. There is no reason to worry about it or let it control your FUTURE. And do not be fearful or afraid. Jump in with both feet this year and land wherever jumping in takes you. Trust God and he will provide, protect and challenge you to be the person He created you to be.
     I want to live this new year with renewed faith in my God, who loves me and will work things together for the good of those who love him. I love my God and cannot wait to see what He has planned for me this coming year. I already know of one super awesome project that God has placed in front of me, that I will not allow the ghosts of my past or fear to get in the way of.

I hope this song inspires you as it has inspired me. May your life be changed by God in this coming year!

A New Possibility Reached!

Before I left for my Annual Thanksgiving Trip I wrote a post about the 4 commissioned drawings I have due soon; two of them before Christmas and two before the end of January. When I received the commissions I was nervous about being able to finish them on time, especially when 2 of them are going to be difficult to draw, because the photos are blurry or need alterations. 

In the past it has taken me weeks-months to complete a drawing, especially if there was no deadline attached. Sometimes I would plan a deadline for the drawings I wanted to finish, but I have never been able to keep the deadlines I personally set. With no real consequences if I didn't finish, there was no drive or motivation to work on the drawings every day and stick to my set deadlines. Only once in the 2 1/2 years in my studio have I been able to finish a commission in a week. That drawing was for a memorial service, so there really was no choice but to complete it by before the memorial.

However, this time it's serious! No goofing off or being lazy allowed. With all of the things to do for the Holiday Market (more about that here) I had to make sure that I was setting aside enough time EACH DAY to work on my commissions. I even took off time from work to have more time to daw and get things done. Normally I have to be to work at 7am. So instead I was at my studio at 7am, just to make sure I wasn't going to waste the time I could be getting paid for. Each day I set aside at least 3 hours to work on my drawings. I decided to work on finishing one drawing instead of working on all of them at once (which is how I normally work). This turned out to be a great idea. I ended up spending a few extra hours on Thursday and Friday to finished the drawing in time to display at the Holiday Market. I DID IT! I can't believe I was able to complete a drawing, from start to finish, in 5 DAYS!!!! That is the quickest I have ever drawn a commission! 

Yet, there is catch to all of this. I now know it is possible, that I am capable and that I have to time this month to draw every day for at least 3 hours. There is no excuse now. I need to continue to hold myself up to the new standard I have set and not fall back into my old way of not drawing regularly.

Here is the sequence of images for my finished commission:

Travels and Time Management

I haven't had the chance to post in about 4 weeks, due to traveling for Thanksgiving and preparations the Holiday Market at Studio Channel Islands Art Center, where my studio is located. Here is a brief update of the last few weeks:

Traveling to Oregon for Thanksgiving

Every November I get to to go to Oregon to visit my mom's family for the whole week of Thanksgiving. We left the Friday before Thanksgiving week, and returned on November 30th. I have been making the drive up to Oregon with my family every year since I was a young kid and it is one of the events I look forward to every year. Every day was busy with activities but also time to rest and visit with family. This year we got to make a special trip up to Seattle to visit my Uncle Dan and got to see a few different sites in Seattle. It was also great having my brother, his wife and her parents come to Oregon to share in the events as well. They all added to much fun to the trip.

Here is a glimpse into my week:

In Seattle & Portland:
  
   

My Grandparent House in Lyons, Or.
       

   

  I used the week to relax and rest before the Christmas/Holiday rush that I knew was going to take place the day I got back to my studio. And it did...

Holiday Market

The name of the game for the week after Thanksgiving was "TIME MANAGEMENT". From the day I got back from Oregon I started in on preparing for the Holiday Market at Studio Channel Islands Art Center. The Holiday Market is one of our bi-annual markets where many artist, musicians, food & drink vendors, visitors and holiday shoppers converge on the old elementary school campus that houses SCIART (Studio Channel Islands Art Center). There is always so much to do to get ready and everyone was very busy. Not only do we artist-in-residence have to get our own studios ready for guests, but we also have to get the whole campus ready. The planning process and marketing happens months in advance, but the week before the event the campus is alive with activity. Lights and decorations are hung, everything is cleaned, new signs are put up. I personally had a list of about 30 things I needed to do just for my own studio. I ended up dividing everything to do by day and did a pretty good job of getting everything done.

 
On the day of the event we had so many people come through the campus. I saw many friends and met new people who were very encouraging and supportive of my drawings. It was a great day. Time went by pretty fast because of all of the people that came through my studio. I calculated over 400! This is what my studio looks like for the Holidays: