Today’s featured photos are in somewhat of a reverse order. I was very excited with a mandala I painted on silk this past weekend. I am thus sharing it here in the top photo. The lower, unidentified yellow flower is photographed in front of my house in mid-day bright sun. This caused the background to be “blown out.” It’s here today not as a “good” photo. Rather it’s an illustration for part of today’s story below.
Speaking of “stories”, if you are one who enjoys mine, I invite you to check out the Partner Story page that I created through the eyes of a possible business partner.
It came from a free flow writing assignment I gave myself as part of my “30 Day Impossible Goal” discussed in the past two issues. The, thus-far, imaginary story could have been written by someone experienced in business who loves turning creativity and ideas into money. If you know anyone who might have an interest, or know someone else who would, please refer him or her to the Story Page or to the Business Partner page.
I also want to bring attention to the section after today’s Self-Reflecting Queries wherein I’m inviting you to check out two different, exciting, upcoming programs.
Today’s Photos –
The top silk mandala was photographed placed on white tissue paper over yellow fabric. The tissue is creating the texture.
The lower one is, as I wrote above, an unidentified flower in front of my house.
Today’s Photo Story –
I am participating in a three-week Women’s Creativity Workshop using silk painting as part of the process. In the second session, after a discussion warm-up, during which the facilitators introduced the “Circle” and “Mandala” as concepts, we were shown some examples in books and a few samples painted on silk.
I was particularly drawn to a couple of the mandalas where hearts were used as the central focus, singly or in repetition. Although I loved the heart, there was the stronger part of me that didn’t want to be a “copycat.” Even though whatever I did would be very different, somehow I wanted it to be my own idea.
As I was “pondering” all of these made-up, head-game stories, I looked out the window and from across the yard a yellow flower, similar to the one above, on a bush in a distance, caught my eye. My mantra “take a picture of anything that catches your eye” kicked in. This time I did not grab the camera, I went for the brush and started my second silk painting, the one above, with the yellow flower as the center focus.
Yes, I know, the one I painted has 5 petals and the one in the photo has six, so I’m not sure if it is the same flower. Next time I will make sure to use the camera also to “capture” what catches my eye. [NOTE – Thank you to KI, for her email pointing out that she saw 5 petals in both. Looking at the yellow flower with fresh eyes, I see, of course, only 5 petals. Don’t know how it came to be 6 in my thinking.]
Bottom line, I love the above painting. I did one other last week. You can see it and my first silk painting on Silk Paintings. There is a link there also to see the beautiful silk paintings of Virginia Wilson, the instructor.
Self-Reflecting Queries –
Today’s experience and story relates to making decisions on subject matter for a painting, whether to use someone else’s idea or your own, or the former and make it your own. There really isn’t a “right” or “wrong” here in the situation I described above.
The point in even bringing it up is the invitation for you to look at your patterns in choosing your own actions. Does something have to be your own idea? If so, does the same carry through when working with another on a partnered project?
In reflecting on this, is there something that you now see that might empower you in future actions with yourself and with others?
And, in a totally different conversation, given I was sharing something of which I am feeling very proud, I invite you to look into your recent, or older, activities. What can you find that leaves, or left, you feeling quite proud?
Did you publicly claim this in any way? If not, might there have been a fear of the old “not right to brag” conversations running you?
In either case, I invite you to publicly claim an act or action of which you are proud and post it in the COMMENTS section of this post on the BLOG
Please do “play” with these queries. Have fun and open up to new possibilities.
Two Upcoming Programs –
Tomorrow night, Thursday, October 28th, Marney Makridakis is facilitating a f*r*e*e Teleparty, ACT in Action – A Closer Look at the ARTbundance program. It will include coaches working and playing with clients and an ARTsignment with a follow-up workbook with more exercises for those who registered (no charge) for the call.
Marifran Korb, www.soulfulsolutions.com, who followed the link here last week to the no charge ARTbundance AWE of Attraction replay wrote to me: “Oh, I meant to tell you that I LOVED Marney’s ArtAbundance class. I am so grateful you sent the info to me. I want to make a whole lot of lenses for my KaLOVEascope. Her creativity with words and concepts is magnificent and
inspiring.”
And another wrote, “I forgot to tell you how obsessed I am with ArtellaLand!!! WOW!!” Again, see ACT in Action for the 10/28 call and ARTbundance for replay of call from two weeks ago.
And – If you are one who has concerns about memory issues, even the common ones we all have, and want tools for sharpening your memory, I invite you to check out the upcoming program my friend Suzanne Holman is doing – Jump Start Course for Your Brain On her page she states, “Are you ready to sharpen your focus, improve your ability to remember, and totally optimize your brain?” Simply click on Brain for details and to hear Suzanne’s very brief introduction.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I am proud to have begun writing a book just four short days ago. Like David gathering materials for Solomon to build the temple. My first 60 yrs. have been gathering material for this building. The pride and the privilege comes for me in the listening. I am simply the transcriber. Kudos to you Sheila, for listening and transcribing the yellow flower…a gift to all who behold. The joy in your creation of it is felt.
Thanks so much for jumping in and sharing here, Susan, and for the acknowledgment. I love the way you write of “transcribing the yellow flower.” Never thought of it in this way.
And, congratulations on starting your book. Your writing is fresh, poignant and often exquisite and meaningful. It will be a gift to the world, as are you.
Thank you Sheila.
Dear Sheila,
Wonderful! That painting is glorious, and the story made me smile. This whole hangup about originality and the lone genius — I notice it too. Old habits are hard to break, so I’m grateful for your story of how you overcame it so simply.
I am proud of the writing in my last newsletter. With any creative venture, I know that if I just get out of the way and let it flow through, it will be marvelous. I am just a faucet.
Thank you for inspiring me!
Thanks, Julie, for jumping in here. I appreciate the acknowledgment and your sharing your story. I love the analogy of you seeing yourself as a faucet, getting yourself out of the way so the creativity can flow through!
Your newsletter on 10-21 was very interesting. I’m amazed at how you put things together. Good reminder of the importance of knowing the WHY of what we do. I also appreciated being introduced to the work of photographer Chris Armstrong.
And, I suspect that the issue to which you refer in your comment is the 10-24 issue, The Weekly Green: Juice for the Journey with Buckminster Fuller quotes on beauty.
Hi: The flower shown in the photo is called Canario, in Puerto Rico.
Rosa, Thank you so much for commenting here and widening my knowledge.
Interestingly I received an email from Joan Warbrick, subscriber in Brisbane Queensland who wrote: “In Australia we call the yellow flower vine Alamanda”. I just went on Google and did a search using each of the names . I did see the flower shown as “Canario” in Puerto Rico and Alamanda in other locations, including Florida.
I will be back at the home studio where I did the silk painting and ask Viriginia the name she knows the flower to be.