It's that time of year, when everyone starts spouting off about how thankful they are.  It's not that I don't believe that they're thankful... but I think that people need to be thankful and show it all year long. 

I'm thankful for...

A roof over my head, a car to drive, a job that pays the bills.  But those are all minor, compared to everything else I'm thankful for.

I'm thankful for my health.  This year, I can safely say, it's not just lip service.  I am thankful to be alive, and as healthy as I am.

I am thankful for my life.  I lost someone who felt like the other half of my soul this year.  My best friend, my sister - who lost her battle with depression/bi-polar this year.  I am happy that I woke up, every day, with a chance to live again, start again, breathe again.  I love you bunches, and miss you more.

I'm thankful for the chances I've taken to start doing art, the encouragement and support that I've received to keep doing what I'm doing.  I really do feel like it was something I was born to do.

I'm thankful for my family... as crazy as they can be.  Even Elvis, the newest furry, 4-legged member.  I'm grateful for the time I am given with each of them.

I'm thankful for a special friend.  They know who they are, if they read this.  I'm sure.  They changed my life.  Made me believe in myself.  Helped bring me back to life.  They make me smile, just by being them.  They've made me love who I am, and to realize that I'm perfect the way I am.  I really hope you know... what a blessing you are.  Love you!

My other friends.  I'm thankful for y'all too.  So many people, even when they aren't around... I know how much they care.  They have my back when I need it.  And they're all awesome. 

I'm grateful... for everything.  <3  Life's too short to be anything but.

Awhile ago, one of my cousins asked me to do a painting for her and her husband.  They said they loved my work and asked if I would do a painting.  I was asked to include the Juno quote, that I had used in one of my paintings.  (My favorite quote from that movie).  But given artistic freedom other than that.  I bought the canvas a long time ago, and kinda dragged my feet.  I've only done one other painting as a request before.  And that was a 2 canvas piece I did for my sister.  There's something scary about it, for me.  It's such a personal thing.  All the anxiety takes over, what if they don't like it, etc.

Well the painting was done and sent off.  It was delivered on Monday.  I received a message back, they loved it.  I would share it, now that it's delivered... but in all my anxiousness, I didn't take a picture. 

I'm so happy that they love it.  I love it too.  So rewarding...  <3

This is a bit of a rant.  Fair warning.  It's my opinion, and should be taken as such. 

What got me heated this morning was hearing from a fellow artist the hurt they were feeling after people who's opinions she respects criticized her art.  And not from a constructive stand point, but from a judgmental stand point.

Art is subjective.  Not everyone likes every piece that every artist does.  Have you ever walked through a museum and thought ill of a piece of art?  That's your right... it's your opinion.  You personally have the right not to like an artists work.  But if you write off an artist, assuming if you don't like one piece... you won't like any of it you might be severely limiting yourself.  Maybe you're being short sighted.  Maybe their work isn't for you.  There's no law that says you have to like something for it to be art.

This is kind of a hot button issue for me.  I, for most of the years of my life, allowed the criticism of others to stop me from finding my way as an artist.  It wasn't until 3 years ago that I started to let go of the need for approval.  I'm still figuring out who I want to be as an artist.  And I don't need the world to jump up and down at the sight of my paintings.  Granted... some day, I would like to be able to sell my work.  I received a lot of support from a very close friend, who is also an artist that I admire, and that was what made me finally let go and be free with my art.  To create for me.  And what I found was, once I let go and started creating for me... other people did like my art.  I received offers to buy pieces I had done.  I'm still learning.  I never want to stop learning.  It's an on-going living/learning process.

So to anyone, who might see someone's art and want to comment - Please know this.  Art is very personal to the artist.  We're putting our insides, on the outside for the world to see.  It isn't about being thick skinned.  As an artist, you feel like you have no skin.  Nothing to protect you from what people say.  Even comments that might seem harmless to you... may be extremely hurtful to the artist. 

Don't be hurtful to people who are following their dreams.  Perhaps... instead of pooping on someone else's dream... you should find the courage to follow your own. 

Stepping down off my soapbox, for today anyway.

Haven't yet finished the projects from the Blooming True painting class.  And I've already signed up for another class.  Will be participating in LifeBook 2014.  I'm very excited.  52 weeks of art projects that will be turned into a book at the end. 

I'm excited.  Sometimes I lack inspiration and am unsure of what to do to be re-inspired.  This will give me weekly projects to work on to help me stay inspired.  Also giving me projects to work on and keeping me busy.  I'll also hopefully be learning a lot of fun, new techniques.  New mediums to play with.  All sorts of exciting stuff. 

This projects have also gotten me in touch with a lot of other creative minded, fellow artists which is awesome.  Something I've lacked for a long time (with the exception of a few friends) has been a sturdy support system art-wise.  These groups are full of wonderful people, who are very supportive and accepting.  Which is awesome!!

I've also been doing a lot of thinking lately, about all that's been going on in my life.  And it's made me hyper aware that there's a lot of stuff I haven't dealt with or healed from.  So, to close out 2013 and progress through 2014 I'm going to try to make this a very healing process too.  Hopefully to build me up to be a much happier, healthier me.  I need it.

I'm also going to start setting aside time each week to work on things such as updating the website, blogging, creating.  Also doing stuff around the house, that I tend to neglect.  Otherwise I spend too much time doing nothing.  And not enough time being productive. 

Looking forward...