The Artist's Way - exercises 1

Week 1, Sense of Safety

Blurts:

1. You’re too old…
2. ‘Self-taught’ means gaps in your knowledge — you don’t know enough of the Really Important stuff.
3. Your mind doesn’t work the same as the Real True Artists, so you’re WRONG.
4. You’re too interdisciplinary because you’re lazy and undisciplined.
5. You’ll never earn money at writing, or anything else you want to do.
6. Nobody likes you.
7. You think too much. You’re too sensitive.
8. What can you do that’s useful? Are you even good at anything?

Blurts => Positive Affirmations:

1. As long as I’m alive, I’m young enough to start something.
2. I’ve learned what really matters to me. And I’ll keep following my nose and fingers!
3. Any path to art is a good path.
4. ‘Feeling my way’ without knowing anything is part of the discipline/practice I’m teaching myself.
5. I believe I can earn money doing something enjoyable.
6. I have been and am still loved. I will find new people that I will love; some of them will love me back.
7. I’m unique and I like that.
8. I’m learning what I can do that’s useful and interesting. I’m good at dealing with uncertainty and failure and surprises. I’m flexible and adaptable. I like change.

Imaginary Lives, week 1:

• circus performer
• poet (in Spanish)
• xenodiplomat
• pastry chef
• plant doctor

Imaginary Lives, week 2:

• geologist
• conceptual stylist for photo sessions
• inventor
• interior designer
• florist

Week 2, Sense of Identity

10 Tiny Changes:

I would like to . . .

1. hang up artwork in my studio
2. finish going through my closet & figuring out what needs to go
3. [silent retreat]
4. do Feldenkrais (to learn how to really live in this body)
5. dance
6. finish trimming jade skirt, so I can wear it
7. repair rust-brown linen shell, so I can wear it again
8. make a yellow garment, and wear it
9. get muscle car stamps and send mail to myself
10. get to know Baltimore

 

20 Things I Enjoy Doing (& the last time I did them):

1. photographing – today
2. writing poetry – last month?
3. painting with acrylics – 2011?
4. doodling – ???
5. cooking – 2012
6. walking in the woods – yesterday
7. eating pear lime jam – 2012
8. having flowers in my studio – Jan 2013
9. falling into a really absorbing book – yesterday
10. wearing fun clothes that match my mood/wyxzi – 3 days ago
11. going to the library – last week
12. playing with paper – this past weekend
13. good conversation with Spouse – today
14. watching birds in and around Tenimah (maple tree) – today
15. enough refreshing sleep – last night
16. interesting dreams that I remember – this morning
17. looking at cool cars – a week ago?
18. juxtaposing odd things – 2 days ago
19. discovering insights into my life – today
20. feeling a wide range of moods & wyxzi – pretty regularly

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