Make a Start! It is Not a Dress Rehearsal

 

3 Ways to Move Forward as a Creative: Embracing Personal Growth and Innovation

Creativity is a journey, not a destination. As creatives, we constantly seek ways to push our boundaries, discover new horizons, and bring our unique visions to life. Moving forward as a creative involves a blend of reflection, resourcefulness, and the courage to venture into unknown waters. Here are three ways to move yourself forward on your creative journey:

1. Embrace What You Have and See How Far You Can Go

Often, we underestimate the potential of the resources at our disposal. Whether it's a limited set of tools, a small budget, or even time constraints, these limitations can actually foster creativity. By fully embracing what you have, you can push yourself to innovate within those confines, often leading to surprising and unique outcomes.

Practical Tip: Take inventory of your current resources—skills, tools, and time. Challenge yourself to create something using only what you already have. This helps sharpen your problem-solving skills and shows how creativity can thrive under constraints.

2. Create Things You Never Thought of Before

Stepping out of your comfort zone is essential for growth. This involves experimenting with new mediums, techniques, or even genres that you haven’t explored before, you open doors to endless possibilities and new perspectives.

Practical Tip: Set a regular time for experimentation in your creative schedule. Dedicate this time solely to trying out new ideas without worrying about the outcome.

3. Bring It All Together with a Personal Touch

Your creative journey is deeply personal. It’s shaped by your experiences, beliefs, and aspirations. Bringing your personal touch into your work not only makes it unique but also resonates more deeply with your audience. Reflect on what ‘personal’ means to you and how you want to express that in your work. Also check out post - Arts and Wellness Cafe

Practical Tip: Reflect on your personal story and values. Consider how these elements can influence your creative projects. Are there specific themes or messages you want to convey? Integrate these into your work to create pieces that are truly reflective of who you are.

Moving Forward: This Is Not a Dress Rehearsal

Remember, this is not a dress rehearsal—this is your life, your creative journey. Every moment is an opportunity to create, learn, and grow. By focusing on utilizing what you have, exploring new creative environments, and infusing your personal essence into your work, you can move forward with confidence and purpose. Embrace the process, trust in your creativity, and watch as your artistic path unfolds in ways you never imagined. Stay Blessed and be a Blessing.

Before You Go.....

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Creating in Faith - Kindred - What do you feel connected to?

 

This weeks word is Kindred on the Realityarts Podcast Episode 29 of Creating in Faith.  Check out the podcast episode HERE

What do you feel connected to in regards to your creativity? Is it a supply, technique, way of doing things? Are you part of a group of artists, do you have someone to share your joy with?

We often think about our connections and the impact they make to our lives as well as the impact that we make on others. When you think of your creativity how is that manifesting itself within your work. We can sometimes be really connected to a particular art supply because it enables us to express ourselves and the things that are on our hearts.

I found I during the first stages of the 'global event' I was guided to sewing. I found the simple stitches to be surprisingly therapeutic and still do. I was able to quiet down all the chatter and just focus on being present.

It is a good idea to think about your creative activity that will be that for you when you need it. You also need to allow yourself the space to explore what it could be.

What information do you need to access to do what you need to do?  

It is important to listen while we create so that we can really hear through our senses what wants to be manifested. Do not judge the particular activity that you are being inspired to do, just go with the flow and enjoy that moments creative activity and maybe even schedule the regular time for yourself?  Join me on the podcast today.

As we take a look at moving forward in our art and creativity how does the word 'Kindred' impact on you and your world and how you move through it.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts....

Check out the Podcast Episode HERE

CONNECT WITH ME

Check out the Arts and Wellness Café videos each week which further explores the words

YouTube www.youtube.com/amandatrought

Blog - realityarts-creativity.blogspot.com

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Check out some encouraging boards on Pinterest @realityarts

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Creating in Faith - Word for the Week - Relaxed

Welcome to this weeks Creating in Faith on the podcast.  The episode number is 249 and the word for today is Relaxed.  What ways do you find to relax in your creative journey?  You need to carve out time for yourself (different lengths of time to suit your needs), and find different creative activities that will also help keep you going when you are not 'feeling it'

Listen to the episode 

You can listen to previous recordings HERE

Stay blessed and be a blessing

New Season - Creating in Faith - Podcast Episode on Realityarts

Weekly Podcasts

Creating in Faith

Well I have come to the end of Season One of Creating in Faith and I have decided to shift things up a bit for the next season which will begin tomorrow!!!

For Season Two I will be sharing more Art Journaling tips and techniques which will accompany each podcast episode 

on my YouTube Art Channel 

YouTube

My Patreon Blog will also have some behind the scenes video for those who want to take their art journey even further.

Realityarts Patreon

You will be getting a monthly video where I will be creating an art journal, and I want you to look at the supplies you have, any unfinished journals you started making and you will spend time completing these each and every month.

Weekly podcasts posts will be accompanied by an art journal page video as well with an encouraging word.  I am thankful for all those who have stopped by and connected.

I have selected some of the podcasts that you can take a look at, and spend time thinking about some of the points raised in each episode and what it means for your own creative journey.

Fruit

I am really looking forward to sharing the art journal videos with you along with the podcast episode

Mothers

Each episode is created to inspire and bless you, helping you be your true creative self, getting out of your own way as you inspire others

Space

It has been an amazing journey creating the content for the podcast and I have grown creatively as well.

Stepping Out of the Boat

Come and join me for Season Two and see how the episodes can inspire you - having the faith to know that you can be creative.

Change 

Time for changes and reflections as we go into the next series.  If you are an artist who is interested in the impact of the arts on our health and well-being and you would like to join me on the podcast I would love to hear from you!

Looking forward to growth and the journey, stay blessed and be a blessing.

Inspirational Shorts - Authenticity

Welcome to this week's Friday Podcast - Episode 113.

Authenticity 

The doors are opening, are you ready to walk through? The time is coming - you have put in the hard work, you stayed up late and got up early, you made the sacrifices and carried on making your mark despite the circumstances. The time has come for you to look back at where you came from, look at all your achievements, no matter how small, you have come a long way!  Be proud of what you have achieved, be proud of your authenticity.

*  *  *

I thought I would give you an insight for the weekends, and prepare you for Mondays.  These Friday podcasts will be typically under 3 minutes, and just a pit stop.

Each Friday I share with you an insight or revelation and I hope that It will bless you as it blesses me.  Today it is to encourage you to go out and do some exercise, in whatever way you want to do it. have a journal or art journal handy, so that you can either make notes or create something from what inspires you. 

You can check me out on the following platforms,

Amanda Trought on Social Media (Realityarts):

www.youtube.com/amandatrought 

www.twitter.com/Realityarts 

www.instagram.com/realityarts/ 

www.facebook.com/realityartss/ 

Letting go of words - The Negative ones!!

Letting go of the Negative Words

After listening to a snippet of a Ted Talk, I stumbled on it and thought that I had book marked it, but when I went back to listen to the rest I couldn't find it.

The short of it was a question which asked you to think of a negative word that you commonly use, and think about removing it from your vocabulary.

What word would you remove and why?

When you remove the word you have to give more thought to your situation.  My word was Insecure, and rather than use that word I had to dive deeper into the situation I was trying to explain away under the banner of 'insecurities'.

It then began to be clear that there were many things that I didn't do because I explained it away as me being insecure.

But when I let go of the word I found that I got to the root of how I was feeling and why, instead of fobbing myself off.

What negative words are you using to describe how you are feeling that you could omit from your vocabulary that only makes you feel stuck and doesn't really describe how you might be feeling.

Let me know what word you will stop hiding behind.  Create a journal page, play with your supplies, or write about how it feels.

If you want to listen to the podcast you can do so HERE

Stay blessed, pass it on and be a blessing!

Moments to Ponder - Feeling Grateful

What are you grateful for?

It has been a while I know and I miss posting for those of you who have been visiting my blog.  I think we have all been there where so many things come at us at the same time that you feel that something has to give.  You make choices, and changes and often the very things that you put a pause on you miss the most.

I have really missed blogging and intend to change things up and start my regular schedule again, and will be sharing in another post some of the things that you can expect each week.

For this weeks Moments to ponder which should have been posted on Monday the question is What are you grateful for?

In the past I have done a Gratitude's and Celebration Journal in which each week I posted a journal page and something that I felt grateful for, along with a word for that week.  It was a great way to remind yourself of what you have at your disposal, but what you can do to be a blessing for others.

I am grateful that I have a platform, many that I can share my writing, art and more and be a blessing to someone who may see my work.  I am also grateful to be able to work in beautiful surroundings and feel the sunshine and sea breeze.

Take some time each day to think about what you are grateful for whether you do it first thing in the morning or last thing at night, take 10 minutes out of your day and write something down, do a journal page, record your own video and post it so that others can share their heart as well. 

Let me know how you get on, if you start an art journal or depict your gratitude's in a creative way that is great!  

Listen to the podcast



Stay blessed and be a blessing.

I love you today because....You didn't give up

I Love you today because...

You didn't give up!

We ALL have at least one thing that took us close to the edge and we thought we couldn't go any further, but didn't give up, we pulled ourselves up, took another step and we kept on stepping, and when we looked back we were surprised that we not only got through we were able to breath again.

Pen and Ink portrait

Show some love

Take a look back and stop for a moment to remind yourself how far you have come today.

Share some love

We could all do with some encouragement.  Find a way to encourage someone today

To find out why 'I love you today' February Series click on the image below

Course Review and Insights - Life Book and Soul Food

Life Book and Soul Food are in progress and as I said a few days ago HERE the focus for Tuesdays on the blog for 3 weeks out of the 4 will change slightly as I share insights and Ahha moments from the courses that I am doing, while sharing some of the work. In an ideal world I would just be doing my work on the courses, but the reality for most of us is that life still goes on in the meantime. There is no pause button, so being realistic you can’t get everything done at once, it just isn't possible and choices have to be made.

In both courses we have already had quite a few videos to watch and techniques to try out, while we battle with the ‘Critic’, and mine tells me ‘I don’t have the time’ and that it isn’t necessary to grow or stretch myself, and by no means climb out of my comfort zone. My critic is the one who wants me compare myself to other artists as I sit up watching anything on sky tv – flicking through the channels until at least 1am rather than be in my studio space being creative, perhaps what the critic needs is a holiday with a roller coaster ride of adventure to shake it up a bit!

Within all the chatter and the noise the still small voice says ‘don’t be afraid, everything will be alright, you can do all things, I will give you the strength, step out in faith, your steps will be ordered and when you can’t stand, I will carry you, standing in the gap for you!’  

What I‘ve been doing so far on the courses is thinking about what I am learning from each contributor, what is it that is an encouragement to my own work and the processes that I use. There isn’t always going to be something, but even doing something different from the way you would normally do it will help you come back refreshed. 

A couple of things that I am trying to do is be freer with the techniques and playing with the materials, thinking about colour and how I use it in my work and whether I can be bolder experimenting more with the materials that I have. 

In Life Book Tam did some useful exercises around the colour wheel and i thought about the different ways I use it and how I can experiment with colour more within my work.

My Encourager

Be strong in heart because miracles can happen 

This image came out for me as that gentle reminder that I just need to be who I have been called to be through my work.

In Soul Food, Mystele shared with us how she uses her gelli plate, I don’t have one but have been improvising with a Perspex plate using the tools I have and I created a few backgrounds which led to this image;

Fly

The perspex is hard and it dries quite quickly, so I’ll continue to experiment and see what I come up with over the weeks.

Yesterday I spent time watching Gwen Seemels contribution

working with coloured markers and pens and working in layers. I’ve been using Promarkers pens and more recently Spectrum Noir and revisited a page I did 

Love yourself..

And thought that I would spend more time working with the pens as I quite enjoyed it. I had stopped using the Promarkers because I felt that I’d hit a wall, but again just needed to push.

I intend to do more pen based images. What also resonated with some of the things she said was about layers and self portraits. Over the course of around 20 years I have only done 2.  I guess with all the faces I have done over the years there is a little bit of me or my personality in each.

Doing self portraits really gets us to look at ourselves and we need to do this from time to time. We can be too hard on ourselves, and walk with the perception of what we think others are seeing and then depending on your frame of mind see yourself how you think others are seeing you or how you think they think you should be seeing yourself! ((Really).... – did that make sense to you?).

I only want to see myself the way God sees me...

My Heart Overflows

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings an crowned him with glory and honour...Psalm 8:3-5

I want to see the gifts and talents I have been blessed with used to bless others. My word for the year which I’ll remind myself of again is ‘attention to detail’ – what exactly can you hear, see, smell, feel, taste – and being present, all of me in every situation. I want to see the seeds that I planted and tended last year bear fruit this year. I am looking for growth, change, sometimes it will be uncomfortable and awkward, sometimes I’ll share, sometimes not, but we are going to see new opportunities, doors opening, new techniques learnt and we will be speaking of miracles. I don’t want to be the same or do the same things that I did last year and I plant to work hard to see those things come to pass.

Planted by the River

Let me encourage you as you face your own journey, to really see yourself, who you really are, the whole you, not a fragmented image. It is not an overnight transformation but a slow and steady pace, a get you up early and stay focused pace that calls on you to be here in the moment right now!

If you are talking either Soul Food or Life Book or any other course that is great, it would be lovely to hear how you have found the course so far, share your insights. If you hadn’t taken the step yet, it is still early days and you don’t need to worry about catching up. Whatever you do today do it with meaning, passion and intent. I am looking forward to sharing other insights with you along the way. Blessings!