Unknowing Gifts

"Be the change you want to see in the world." Gandhi
Reflect your positiveness onto others. One can see the person you truly are by what you reflect, the people you hang around, the things you do, the way you raise your children.

A forty-something year old friend of mine told me just before Thanksgiving of how she wanted to say grace at Thanksgiving dinner, but she was scared to do it because she didn't know what to say. I told her how I was raised, taught a simple and short verse to say before we ate each day. And I still use this simple and short verse when I bless the food.

Though I've been seated a many a dinner table where the hostess has magnificently asked for blessings for the food and the people. I'm always impressed by this. Once upon a time I wanted to be able to do the same. I would think about what to say, rehearsing variations of the words and phrases only to ultimately feel ackward the few times I got up the nerve to do it. I realized that I was defeating the purpose with fear. So one day I asked to give the blessing and I recited the simple and short verse I learned as a child: "Dear Lord. Thank you for this food we are about to receive to nourish our bodies. I thank you dear Lord for everything. Bless everybody everywhere. Amen."

This particular time after asking for blessings, although I was nervous, I really felt the words truth and I felt good. After this, I volunteered to give the blessing time and time again with each time feeling more thankful for the confidence in each word.

I told my friend how I made it a routine to ask this simple blessing at my own dinner table, with my own family and children, each person taking turns reciting this simple verse. Today my children are ages 20 and 15 and they know how to say grace at a dinner table. I am proud to have given the those words long ago and allowing them ot practice them throughout the years with the freedom to add their own words or change the entire blessing to suit them.

Back then, I did not look at the words I have taught them as a gift. But I clearly saw it for the gift that it was the day my friend told me of her fears. She asked that I recite the words again for her. She found some paper and wrote them down. She thanked me profusely and even texted me on Thanksgiving day to ask for them again since she had lost the paper she wrote them on. Then she thanked me some more. And guess what? I felt really good. It feels good to give, doesn't it? Especially when it's appreciated, and even when it's not. Even when it's just something that you do, something you don't realize actually impacts lives far beyond your own knowledge. And what I now realize is that she gave me a gift in return. Knowing. Knowing that my life practices, trials and tribulations that make me who I am today have been gifts to me that I unknowingly shared.

And now I know. What a blessing.

Art Competitions

Working specifically for an art competition doesn't work for me. Many artists like myself work because of an emotional drive to create. Unfortunately, that drive doesn't just hang around with you 24/7. It's frustrating to lose motivation. You keep saying to yourself, "I want to work. I need to work". But, the drive is just not there today.

Wish I had a simple solution to the problem. Just know you're not alone. Some things I FORCE myself to do is to get out of the house and among other artists or artwork. Go to a art museum or art gallery. Go to a local art exhibit or competition to go to just to look. Find a local art guild in your area and go to their monthly meeting. The public is usually welcomed since they would like to have new members. And, don't not go because you have no one to go with. Go by yourself. I love going places by myself. It gives me time to think.

If you're in the Houston Texas area, the Lone Star Art Guild is local. I am a member of Sugar Land Area Artists. Just going to the meetings is motivational. And you can make new artist friends in the process. I also participate with Artists' Alliance of Sugar Land. This organization is a studio and art school. They also have a small gallery that features a different artist each month. To just stop by a place like that to see what other artists are doing may create a spark in you. I teach drawing lessons there. I think that just going there on my class days is what keeps me inspired to create. You can see my class schedule at ArtClasses4U.com.

Tip of the day: Get it in the right spot.

Ever start drawing and you're really into it, getting all the details just right to nearly finish the piece and find that it is in the wrong spot on your page or canvas... whatever? Done it a zillion times.
Tip: Sketch a box on your paper/canvas where you want your figure to be. Make the box the size and dimensions you expect. Then sketch your big shapes first making corrections when needed. Save the details for last.
Whether you're copying from a reference, drawing real life subject/s, or working in abstract, organizing your canvas/paper this way helps a lot.

The new Blogger

I think I've found it. Blogger may be the one. I used it a few years ago and they started transitioning and everything got messed up. We will see how this one goes. Looks good so far. Let me know your experiences with Blogger.