Slow Down and Enjoy the Process.

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Hello, hello, hello! I have a feeling today will be a unique blog. I have been fighting a pretty bad migraine since last evening so I am in a different mental space. I wanted to try and get a blog for you guys today regardless and maybe typing can help take away from my focus on the pain. Anyone have any great migraine relief that's natural? I have pretty much tried everything. Hopefully it will be gone by the time you read this, but maybe for next time! ANYWAYS!

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Today I figured I would talk about something that seems to be happening in my own life and I think I might be able to avoid it by acknowledging it. OVER DOING IT. This is something I fall victim to far too often. I go, go, go and leave little down time for myself to recoup until my body rejects my efforts to be superwoman and I fall sick.

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Now I am not saying I am sick or am going to get sick, but I think this migraine is a warning sign that I need to slow down. How is this relating to art? I am getting there....but let's think just for a second about how fast everything is now. All the pressure of deadlines and due dates, appointments and meetings. Rarely do we take the time to slow our view of things down and focus on what is in front of our faces, instead of what is in the next coming week. I am one of those people but I work to fight it everyday. 

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With all of that said, I have been spending every waking moment I can inside my art studio trying to prepare for my very first art fair. I wake up and go to work to come home and go straight to work until the moment I fall asleep. I am determined to be properly prepared and ready! I even worked through a movie my boyfriend and I were watching late at night because I didn't want to waste time just laying there when I could have been working. 

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I know that my work process isn't always like this, but I want to remember two things. The First thing is to slow down and have confidence in myself that it is alright to take an hour before bed to read my book to unwind and relax my mind. I don't have to work every single second. The Second thing is to just slow down in general. I am knocking out a lot of great work very quickly but I am missing the those beauty of the process! I had painted three adorable wine bottles yesterday and worked on a wood burned piece that I had started and I barely remember doing it.

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For any astrologers out there tomorrow starts another Mercury Retrograde. Click here to learn all about it if you haven't heard of it. Recognizing that I need to relax and slow down to enjoy the process of my art and life, is a great way to start into a new Mercury Retrograde. With that, I will leave you to your peaceful day! 

Until Tomorrow - Dream Away

Samantha Menzo

Cloud Nine Studios

Etsy Featured Item of the Day:

Sleep Eye Mask - The Fantastic Fox (Orange Burgundy) by - littleoddforest

Song of the Day:

Coldplay - Trouble

Color of the Day:

Benjamin Moore Regal Harbor Haze 2136-60

Art with the help of Meditating.

Art with the help of Meditating.

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       Ever feel a lack of focus when trying to make your art? Ever feel a drought of inspiration? Maybe you can't find enough time in the day for the art time you have been craving? I have a secret to change it all. Meditation.

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     I assume some of you have meditated before. You might even be a meditating professional! In case you have never heard of meditating or have always wanted to try and didn't know where to start. Here is a great beginner's video to meditating.

So now that we are all on the same page, how can meditation help with ART?

1. Meditation helps to center yourself and your thoughts, which greatly effect your art. If you are stressed or overwhelmed with daily life, just 5 minutes of meditating can set you back on track and put you in a perfect state of mind for creating.

2. Out of ideas or don't know where to start? I know this one is huge for me. When I don't know what to make or can't seem to organize my ideas I meditate and ask to see what I need to. I always know I have the ideas in there somewhere but sometimes moving all the other junk around first helps me see clearly!

3. Stepping away from your work. I don't do this nearly enough and sometimes it really costs me with time and energy. Ever been so immersed in a piece of artwork that you forget to step back and look at the whole thing? By the time you are done and you do step back you notice things you could have done different or that might be a little off. Taking a few minutes for a silent break can mean a huge difference in the finished quality of your work.

4. Do you want to make more meaningful art but don't know what you want to say? I tend to make a lot of "sell-able work" and sometimes I lose the love for a project because I am too focused on the money value it will bring me. By meditating I can look within myself and see what is on my mind that I want to express. This always helps me feel recharged and inspired to still make sell-able pieces but that say something at the same time.

Meditation is great for so many reasons but since this is an Art Blog I wanted to cover some of the ways it's really helped me and hopefully can help you! Creating comes from a very internal place that's is expressed externally and to ensure everything is in order I think the best and easiest way is through MEDITATION!

         How has meditating helped you in your life? Do you already use it as a tool for your art? Comment some of your thoughts on what this topic has done or might do for you!

Until Tomorrow -Dream Away

Samantha Menzo

Cloud Nine Studios

I want to start doing something new at the end of every blog. I think would be a great addition to the blogs! Every blog I will have a featured Etsy Item, Random Song & Color of the day! It's just a little extra flavor that I think might be fun!

Featured Etsy Item of the Day:
DIY Cross Stitch Pendant - Wood Pendant Blank - Small Heart (RedGateStitchery)

Song of the Day:

Matt Simons - Catch & Release (Deepend Remix)

Color of the Day: 
Benjamin Moore Regal Select Winter Gray 2117-60

10 Ways To Make More Time For Art.

  Finding time for art can be hard. Here is a list of 10 ways you can find more time for art!

1. Set Deadlines and Due Dates

     Setting goals and deadlines is crucial for making sure you set aside even a small amount of time dedicated to art. It could be a goal of everyday do something whether it's working on that pencil drawing you've been trying to finish for weeks or doing a small doodle on a napkin while out at the bar with friends. Whatever your goals are make sure you stick to them!! 

2. Cut out watching T.V.

Ever since I cut TV out of my life I have been so much more productive and in turn, HAPPY! I feel more accomplished and I couldn't believe how much time I wasted getting sucked into brainwashing shows. If you can't seem to completely ditch the screen, set limits on how long you can watch or only turn on the TV to watch the shows you actually like. NO MORE CHANNEL SURFING! How much art time would you have if you cut TV out of your to do list?

3. Get OFF your phone!

Similar to cutting our TV is the ever more important....getting off you phone. Today's society is so motivated by social media and using phones to communicate. Using your phone while in a waiting office or as a passenger in a long car ride is one thing; Laying in bed or on the couch for hours just mindlessly on your phone is something that happens much too often. Just being aware of the amount of time you are on our phone can help. If you plan to be on your phone to play a game look a the time you start and end and realizing how much time you wasted might help so next time you choose to use that time better.

4.  Meditate - Take 5

             Meditation is very important to me and I it is one of my best tools for finding time for things. That might seem backwards...."How can I find time for things by spending time doing something else?" Well here is the secret: Meditating and allowing your mind and body to take a breath or two from all the overwhelming thoughts and stimulus that it receives each day allows you to "slow down time". Meditating for even five minutes can help center you and by ridding yourself of pointless thoughts...I PROMISE it will be easier to find time for more art.

5. Dress like an artist - Feel like an artist

Now this doesn't mean you have to shave the side of your head or wear crazy vintage clothing. Dressing like an artist is helpful because if you feel inspired by your confidence you will have a higher WANT to make time instead of guilt yourself into making time. This can also help with the quality of work you produce. Feel Good Art Good. So if you have a certain sweater that makes so you to write or a favorite pair of sneakers that remind you of learning watercolors.....Flaunt it!

6. Carry a notebook or sketchbook

I have always carried some sort of notepad or mini sketchbook with me. you never know when you get 15 minutes and can create a sketch that inspires a new piece! By making sure you always have something to write or draw on you will be so surprised at all the extra time you have in a day for some art making!

7. Make Lists

I am an avid list maker. I make lists for my lists! But what is really great about making lists for your art ideas is that sometimes you might get into your art space and have been successful at creating time for art but can't think of what to make! If you can refer to a list you will ensure that no precious art time be wasted!

8. Surround yourself with people who support you.

This is a harder one to achieve instantly. But take a look at the people who you surround yourself with. Do they encourage your art? If you told them you wanted to take time away from them to do art how would they react? If the answer involves you making time for art (which I assume is something you love) then CONGRATS! If the answer is anything else you might want to reevaluate why they are in your life. Surround yourself with those who help you be the best you can be and the happiest you can be!

9. Wake up and Before Sleep.

If I step back and look at the times in my day where I waste the most time it is in the morning and right before bed. This is ironic because those are also the times when I feel I can produce my best work or even ideas. Do you agree with this for your own life? I think most people would agree. With that said try and pick either the morning or night where you specifically set aside time for art. Try to fit extra time in your day for things then verses in the middle of the day might be easier and more consistent in reaching goals!

10. HAVE FUN

Make sure that whatever you are doing or creating that you are enjoying it as well. What is so awesome about being an artist is that creating is such a fulfilling task. We are so lucky to be able to do something we love and enjoy and if what you are making ever takes away from that then you will not WANT to make time. Making sure you have fun with art is one of the best ways to motivate you to make time!

Well there you have it, 10 ways to make more time for art! 

What are some of the ways you make more time for art and is there anything in my list that you already use?

Let me hear some of your thoughts!

Until Tomorrow - Dream Away

Samantha Menzo

Cloud Nine Studios

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