A Work in Progress: Encouragement

Mother's Favorite Chair - Janis Commentz - watercolor, ink - 10"x7"  - cards available

As the entire structure of our daily lives has turned a corner, I reach out to you with a voice of encouragement.  At this point, we are inundated with advice, news, and badly timed humor. I listen less to grim news, and the news is grim, and more and more to inspiring words.

My life, as has yours, has taken a completely different path this month. Yet I feel compelled to set my sight on hope.
  
Mind, body, spirit and soul are connected. Every aspect affects our creative life.  For me, reading my bible, poetry, inspirational travel journals, watching short creative video clips of friends watercoloring, walking and gardening has kept me grounded this week.  Spirit connects us with God, and our soul is where we express our passions.
​
Let me share the encouragement I am gathering and some of the tips I’d be sharing if you attended one of my painting workshops.

Acronyms help me to discover new ideas, and here is mine.
I will write about each letter separately in a post.

 E ngage
Nurture
Cultivate
Observe
Uplift
Restore
Attitude
Grow
Express

ENGAGEMENT

​An engagement can mean a promise, assurance.  In think a promise of reward can be very important right now—the promise of beauty, hope fulfilled, pride.  We are creative beings made in God’s image.  We were made to be creative.

Consider your personal toolbox and gather your personal tools:

• Beautiful pens, sharpened pencils, a pad or journal, your laptop, a favorite, comfy chair
• Brushes, your favorite palette and paints, a receptive surface, an easel in your tidied studio or cleared dining table
• Your favorite score, a ready and tuned instrument, a comfortable corner of your home
• Ingredients, organized utensils, a beautiful serving dish

*Add a beautiful mug for coffee, your favorite tea or a stemmed glass for wine. Play some of your favorite, most inspirational music, especially if YOU are the musician.

​If you were attending one of my painting workshops, I would talk about your intentions and observations.

Intention

What is your intention today? (This is geared to painting, but you’re creative; adapt for your activity.)

• To see
• To draw
• Mix colors
• Things to think about: 

         What is it that draws you to paint the desert? Or flowers, or a certain scene or person?
         Or to paint at all? To express yourself? record a moment in time? Therapy? To apply color and create           a desirable image?
         As with other activities weaving, sewing – one experiences the tactile joy of the materials.

Set intention.
Painting—is a practice much like yoga or baseball.  Each time you show up to “play,” your brain becomes familiar with a pattern of activities.

I would encourage you to write one statement in your notebook:
         “I came today with the intention of ____________________________________.”

Observation

What is it you are drawn to looking at?

• The unique layers and profiles of hills and mountains in the distance, each fading in color behind the other?
• Variation of plants-Joshua Trees reaching out like arthritic figures?  (you may be looking at an entirely different landscape, or home scape)
• New blossoms in spring
• Backlit silhouettes of cholla, the ancient creosotes, sage (or whatever plants are in YOUR area or items in your home)
• Notice the variety of greens! Think about paint chips in these colors.  In the desert, you rarely see Kelly green! We more often see a mixture of sages, golden “olive” shades, blues, teals, ochres, and light umbers. What greens do you see?  Even indoors?
• Consider the weather—and season.
• LOOK AT THE SKY - pale at the horizon, deepening toward the heavens. What are the cloud shapes?
• If you see rocks and geological formations, what are their shapes? 
• From what direction is your light source and where are shadows?

 
I hope this is enough to inspire you and get you moving.
​
This week I have been painting from a photo I took of a close friend in her beautiful non-desert garden, picking cherry tomatoes.  I only work on this painting, when my spirit is lifted. If watching corny romantic movies or listening to music helps, consider them tools!  It is still IN PROGRESS, as am I. Watch the slideshow below.

You may have your family around you. If so, consider doing these activities as a group! Gather the children and ask them the workshop prompt questions about intention and observation. 

Cherry Tomatoes (In progress) -  Janis Commentz - acrylic on canvas - 30"x30"

I leave you for now with some words of inspriration:
 
If I can stop one heart from breaking – Emily Dickinson

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain

Dreams - Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreams 
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
 
For I know the plans that I [have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 
 
Let’s get started. 
My prayers are with you all, and I wish you comfort and encouragement as you stay within the confines of your world and create.

Inspired by all of you,

Winter Carnations  - Janis Commentz - Pastel on Paper (sold) cards available