This is Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities in Southern Pines, NC. I have been accepted into their writers in residency program! For five days my talented writer friend, Melissa Collins, and I will be immersing ourselves in the creative act of writing. We are packing our laptops, our journals, some comfortable clothes, and inviting along our creative muses. (I’m sure they will be quite happy in this beautiful setting.)

I have a feeling I am going to leave not only with a lot of writing completed, but also with inspiration for new paintings! Updates when we return.

Love & Blessings,
Jeniffer

Obviously we are still in the beginning stages, but I thought I would share the process with you a little bit here. It is a reminder that all creative endeavors are not completed in a flash. Rather they are ideas in the mind which are cultivated, planned out and implemented.

We have included Noah in the project’s development from scratch so that he too can learn this valuable lesson. First we brainstormed what he would like on his bedroom wall. After he decided on a castle theme, we researched castle imagery and ideas started to come together to form a complete scene. He decided which style of castle he wanted, that there should be a moat or lake surrounding it, trees, and the all important friendly dragon with a wizard riding on it (completely his idea!).

I sketched out his idea onto a blank piece of paper and asked for his feedback. “It’s BEAUTIFUL!” was his reply – Score Mommy!! Next we measured out our canvas space on his wall. Then I drew the landscape and castle image with pencil directly onto the wall. Dan was called in for his expertise on dragons and wizards. He sat on the floor and drew them in using a plastic toy dragon as a model. After everything was sketched in we took out the paints and our art smocks. Together, Noah and I painted the loose, under-painting of the image.

And that takes us to where it is right now The next step is we will go in and start adding details and depth to the image. I’ll be sure to post our progress.

If you are interested in doing a similar project with your family I highly recommend it!  If you aren’t ready to let your child go willy nilly with paint on the walls, consider buying an extra large canvas for them to paint with you. 

Have a wonderful, creative, joy filled week!!

Love & Blessings,
Jeniffer

Obviously I love inspirational quotes. (See sidebar.) Aside from sharing them with you here, I also have little quotes all over my desk and on my walls. They help to keep me centered and focused on my creative journey.

However, I know there are times when these well intended lines can feel less than sincere. Maybe it is in their over use – plastered on Facebook walls or sent in mass e-mailings. Or perhaps it has to do with our own emotional state of mind when it crosses our path. Let’s face it we don’t always feel the bubbly light of hope that these messages have to offer us. There are days when we read a positive quote and our inner critic screams “What a bunch of hooey!”

I know, I get it, I have certainly been there. In fact during this last month, I’ve scoffed at a few of these inspirational tid bits myself. I have even thought “what if following my bliss is just wishful thinking and not opening any doors at all?”

We are all human and it is okay to question and doubt our talents from time to time. However, from personal experience, I have found that the best way to conquer these thoughts is to pick up my paintbrush and start painting again. By the end of my sessions I always feel a little better. So over the last three weeks as the doubts started squeaking in I declared I NEED to keep creating. I scraped and squeezed time for my art out of my busy schedule. I painted and I wrote and I painted some more then I wrote some more.

And through my creative bliss doors were opened – and the quote retained it place of honor on my desk. I was accepted to a local writer’s in residency program, lined up private showings for excited collectors and was contacted by a venue looking to host my paintings. For me this month was a confirmation that there is truth in these inspirational words.

Of course I don’t expect you to simply take my word for it. We can never allow someone else’s experience to teach us these lessons or show us these truths. You must create your own magical moments, experience it first hand. The way to do it is simply to dream your dream then move towards your dream one step at a time and never ever give up.

Love & Blessings,
Jeniffer

P.S. Here is a sample of the creativity that sparked magical moments this month…

Bliss

This painting is available for sale.

Cost: $75.00 (USD)

This is a shortened version of one of my all time favorite quotes by Joseph Campbell. “Follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.”

Together Through it All

This painting is available for sale.

Please contact me for purchase information. jhutchins@joyfulartsstudio.com

Bright, bold, and full of textural depth, these little birdies are pure delight. This painting has taken twists, turns and probably about 10 tubes of paint as layer upon layer has been added. It has been a fun, playful and joyful process. I am so excited to finally be able to share this piece with you.

Bird on a Wire

This painting is available for sale.

Cost: $75.00 (USD)

Perched on a tight wire, this bird is ready to sing a joyful song. This image is a bright and textural painting created with layers of specialty paper, molding paste, and brushed paint.

Believe

This painting is available for sale.

Cost: $75.00 (USD)

Playful image with a powerful reminder to believe. Layers of paint were created with stamps, hand painted designs, drips and splatters.

Growing Light

This painting is available for sale.

Cost: $75.00 (USD)

Layers of paint and thick textures bloomed into this radiating floral image.

Love

This painting is available for sale.

Cost: $75.00 (USD)

A unique combination of textures and colors surround this painting’s simple message of love.

Mmmmmmmmmm…..

I made these delectable little treats for our New Years Eve party.  Oh la la, were they good!  Everyone asked for the recipe, so I figured I’d go ahead and post it here.  I have updated the recipe (to veganize it) from one found in Cooking Light Magazine, Nov, 2005.

Ingredients:

1 cup mashed cooked sweet potato 

3 tbs granulated sugar

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp salt

1/3 cup chopped toasted pecans

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 tbs brown rice syrup

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

egg replacer for one egg

1 prepared vegan pie crust dough

How to whip up the yum:

1. Preheat oven to 350 deg F.

2. Cut pie dough into sections and shape into the wells of a mini muffin pan

3. Combine sweet potato, granulated sugar, cinnamon and salt, stirring well

4. Combine pecans, brown sugar, brown rice syrup, vanilla and egg replacer, stirring well.

5.  Spoon about 1 tsp sweet potato mixture into each pie crust lined well, spreading to edges.  Spoon about 1/2 tsp pecan mixture over sweet potato mixture.  Bake at 350 deg F. for 20 minutes.  Cool completely on a wire rack.

ENJOY!!!