Should I take this studio?

I have this opportunity.  I am musing for a while to make sure I am not just leaping at things because they are there.  I want to have my own studio.  Currently I am hiring a studio on Friday evenings to make that happen.  Now this comes up.  If I take it on, will my perfect studio appear?  Could I handle all of that?  Is it merely a financial burden?  Goodness knows the only way to find out is to do it.  What if it helped boost my income? How could I make it make that happen? I sooooo want to say yes to it.  And yet I don't want to rush in like a fool if I am just being a fool.  These are the questions I am pondering.  Good idea? Bad idea? Can I hack it? yes I can/  the only way to do it is to do it?  What other options are there???? 

What do you think?

the only way to do it is to do it

A bit of #MondayMotivation courtesy of @owerstony

A post shared by Nicola Eslick (@nicola_eslick) on Mar 19, 2018 at 1:13am PDT

So this popped up on my instagram feed the other day.  And I love it - mostly i love it because it is a message pasted above and artists sink.  And there is something about an artists sink that makes me really happy.  We all have our things, right.  And for me - a sink and brushes means I am in the studio. Only a day or so before I posted this. 

This sink makes me so happy. . . . . #artstudio #artistlife #artists #creativeliving #wildpaintingsessions #wildartist #art #doitfortheprocess #creativity #fuckyeah

A post shared by Moyra Scott (@moyrascott) on Mar 16, 2018 at 3:40pm PDT

It is proper symbolic for me.   Symbolic of being in a functioning art studio.  Being active as an artist.  And being in the studio is utterly my happy space.  This year my full on aim is to get myself a studio.  It has to have a sink in it.  And have windows and a small area for kitchen stuff - because a British girl loves to make tea continually.... And it has to be heated so its warm enough to work in.  I might be asking a lot.  But its what I want. (did you hear that universe) and ideally its going to be available, affordable, and have space for all my art stuff and my art books and I can be in it as much as I want to.  So there's that.  In the mean time I am hiring Lawrence Art Studio, which is a teaching studio over in Hove.  And at present am hiring it every Friday, plus some weekends to do WILD PAINTING in it.  My vision is to be able to do my own art practice, host workshops and do 121 coaching in the art studio.  I will be working with lapsed Creatives or Arists who want to expand their range, get better and over come creative and inspirational humps.  I will operating  at the intersection of Creativity, Productivity and inspiration.  Overcoming inertia and silencing the inner critic  - all my passions and my expertise coming together to help Creatives Get Stuff Done, Live a Creative Life and create the future of their dreams.    And no doubt there will be gatherings and pot lucks and travel and delights all a long the way.   Namaste Y'all.  Bring it!!  Lets DO THIS THING. 

My First Painting Commission

I am so excited to have done my first painting commission.  Its for Cathy Phillips & Co - an interior design company based in London and Brighton.  The colours are to echo a beautiful fabric used in a cushion on the other side of the room, and its a stylised portrait of her client's daughter, Olivia.

I am wrapping it up and dropping it off today. 

Portrait commissioned from @moyrascott art. Love it! A lovely unique piece of art. The brief was pretty prescriptive but the individuality and love (can you spot it?) shine through. More of this! #collaboration #portrait #portraiture #moyrascott #artcommission #interiordesign #sharethelove

A post shared by Cathy Phillips (@cathyphillipsinteriordesign) on Feb 15, 2018 at 11:03am PST

Wild Painting 2017

Here is me half way through a demo painting.... it's the one we ended up hanging in our living room - looking entirely different of course.  Everyone's painting turned out different.  I love how that happens.

Next Wild Painting is happening on 7-8th October.  I have a few spaces left.  Let me know if you want to come along and paint wildly and bigly in the amazing Lawrence Road Studios in Hove.  This is the last time this will be run at this price and in this format.  It has been a fabulous experiment and will run again but in a different model.

Wild Art Journaling will also change its model.  For the time being I have a few spaces available for drop in over the next 3 weeks on Friday.  Let me know on moyrascott@gmail.com if you want to come along and join in.

Bestest

change is exciting

I have just come a realisation.  Things need to change.  What I am doing is not sustainable in the long term.  I love it all, but it is somehow just not quite working right.  And I am finding this disheartening.  I know I have some really good things in place, but the pieces are not aligned, or  - configured in the right way.  Or maybe I just have one piece missing that will hold it together in a way that works better.  Or maybe its all just one step away.  So near yet so far.  And yet if I just keep swimming....

I have no idea what to do next.  I am not sure.   Responding to the next stimulus. Play with with different ideas and try them out.  Or to stop everything and hunker down in a chrysalis soup sort of way.  One thing is certain.   It is not going to be the same old same old.

I don't think anything I have done is wasted or has been any sort of waste of time.  Its all relevant. But something is going to change soon.  I am changing the way I show up in the world and how I make the biggest bestest positive difference I can.

And.  This seemed apt.

Wild Motherhood with Morgan Nichols

My friend Morgan Nichols from Wild Motherhood  will be doing a Facebook Live (video) reading of her book, "Wild Motherhood: Tending the Fire of your Creative Spirit" on Thursday 7th September at 8pm BST. You can watch it on her Facebook timeline from anywhere in the world.  Book Facebook Live Reading: https://www.facebook.com/events/1790047721010954/. https://www.facebook.com/events/1790047721010954/   https://www.facebook.com/events/1790047721010954/ 

I am one of the mothers she interviewed!! (am not featured hugely  - see if you can spot me.....)  She also interviewed me on her fabulous blog (link here!) 

The book explores the question "Is there creative life and spiritual practice after motherhood?" through the stories of 22 mothers from a variety of creative fields, spiritual paths and family circumstances, as well as deeply personal revelations from my own diary extracts. Hear the real voices of mothers talking about their dilemmas, struggles and triumphs as they continue to engage with their creativity and soul life. "Wild Motherhood" celebrates mothering itself as a creative act, and the gifts of motherhood to women's personal development.

Be inspired by the resourcefulness, versatility and strength of mothers as they adapt to the huge changes in their lives. The book includes tools and tips to create flow, connection and inspiration - and time to create - even in the middle of a busy mothering life.

"Brutally honest, beautifully written." - Sara-Mae Tuson, author, former editor of Trespass Magazine and The London Miscellany, member of the "Loose Muse" board.

​"It's brilliant. A great exploration of what it means to be a wild mother and the practical ways we all strive to reach it. Inspiring! I was making time to incorporate creativity with my toddler when I had only been reading on and off for two days. Thank you... Really enjoyed every word. Fantastic exploration of the topics of creativity and motherhood and the dialectic of living in the two realms. As a mother trying to run a full time creative business this is a valuable resource. I enjoyed Morgan's commentary and especially excerpts from her own journals allowing a snapshot of the emotional journey that is the early years. Interviews with other creative mothers allow the reader to explore different options and approaches to balancing the commitments required as a mother and the need to express ourselves creatively- such a rich variety of approaches to show us there is no one correct way to wild motherhood. I couldn't put the book down and am excited to walk the path to wild motherhood in my own unique way. It's the little kick I needed to redefine this guilt laden role that is "motherhood" my own way. Thank you Morgan!" - Michelle Morgan, artist mother-of-two.

"I found this book to be very unique, inspiring and moving. After experiencing a long block in my own creativity it was a lovely read that will definitely be staying on my bookshelf to be read again! I have since purchased a copy for a friend and lent my own to my sisters!" - Gemma Harvey, artist and doula mother-of-two.

Find out more about the book here: http://wildmotherhood.org/shop.html. and about me here: www.wildmotherhood.org. You can connect with me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/morgan.h.nichols. 

Appreciation

Sometimes appreciation is easier than others.  But this morning I have to say I am appreciative of being part of a group course, that is currently asking me to be actively appreciative and grateful.

Cos quite frankly before I sat down to read the stuff from this week's module, I was not feeling much appreciation!.  So here goes, because I damn well could do with feeling better!

I appreciate this little back room. The new spare bed I am currently lying on to write this is very comfy and I really appreciate this.  I love our newly painted hallway and the fact that we have plans for this house and they are good.

I appreciate and am grateful for Ted having his friend Jude over and they seem to be having such a good time.  I am grateful that they have this friendship.

I am grateful for good friends and family that love me and support me.  I am grateful for my full health and full wits.  I am grateful that my husband loves me.  I am grateful that is is warm and almost sunny today.  I am grateful that I am alive and can feel.