Cheryl Jones Evans

3...2...1....Blast Off!

2009-07-21T17:35:00.006-04:00

Artist's Way Week #5- Recovering a Sense of Possibility

The Artist’s Way has introduced me to a whole new way of looking at God (or the Universe, Higher Power etc.). I have looked at and wrestled with my monsters of the past and I have now identified the crazymakers in my present. Then last week I took a good hard look at me and how I did (or did not) spend my creative time. I know in my heart that these lessons are necessary for me to move forward with my creative recovery. Each chapter has exposed and enlightened, and all of it to this point, has have kept me comfortably grounded.

There was no warning that chapter 5 was going to launch me into the future! I was prepared for my creative future to begin at the end of the book but certainly NOT before the half way point of the book. My insides are screaming “I AM NOT READY”. I feel like I am sitting on a creative launch pad, all suited up and ready to go, with no clue where I am headed or how I am going to get there!

Living close to Cape Canaveral, I know how a launch is supposed to go. Every single working part is inspected and then inspected again. Every system has a backup, with a backup for the backup; there cannot be the slightest glitch. There is no margin for error and everything is planned down to the minutest detail. And then….after all of the planning and preparation, the launch will often be postponed to another day while they recheck everything all over again. Clearly, my creative life has been rolled out to the launch pad, but I assure you, the launch date has not been set.

I optimistically arrived at chapter 5 prepared for, quite frankly, more preparation, only to find that the count down has already started. I have no back up systems in place and no real destination in mind. 10..9..8..7...Separation from Ground support, 6…5…4… Creative Life Systems Ignition, 3..2..1…BLAST OFF! There’s no turning back now!

The Research Ruse

2009-07-11T17:01:00.003-04:00

Artist’s Way Week #4 Recovering a Sense of Integrity (part deux)

This is the second blog entry for week #4, and it is not because is my favorite chapter. If anything, it is one of my most difficult. It just happened that week #4 occurred over the 4th of July week this year. Our Artist’s Way group opted to take the holiday week off, giving this chapter a full 2 weeks of my attention. It was not necessarily a bad thing to spend more time contemplating this chapter, although I did have to put my foot down and limit that reading deprivation exercise to only 1 week!

This past week I was reminded of Julia Cameron’s observation, that as creatives we tend to look the gift horse directly in the mouth, then slap it on the rump and shoo it off! I cannot come up with a better analogy for week #4’s reading deprivation exercise, other than to add, that by postponing it as long as possible I personally made a valiant attempt to not look at the gift horse at all.

Over the years I have devised an ingenious way of protecting my Artist’s Date activities from judgmental friends and family by calling them artistic research. Since the mere word RESEARCH typically brings up thoughts of high browed academia and hours of tedious study, most of them will drop that conversation immediately. No further explanation is expected from me and I am relieved of duty, no need in explaining how skipping stones at the local pond or playing with a big gooey blob of silly putty is necessary for my art.

Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) in this past week of reading deprivation, I made a harrowing discovery. I have managed to fend off my own creativity with that very same clever ruse. I recognized that I was calling my all of my own reading, RESEARCH!

I had successfully convinced myself that reading about creativity could make me more creative than actually doing it.

This coming week, I will…
#1 actively create more
#2 confine my RESEARCH to house keeping techniques
And
#3 pray that none of my family or friends read this blog!

Sorting Through and Clearing Out. Have you SEEN my studio?

2009-07-05T23:16:00.007-04:00

The Artist's Way Week #4 Recovering a Sense of Integrity

“Shifts in taste and perception frequently accompany shifts in identity.” Julia Cameron writes in Chapter 4. This week’s reading explains the idea that as I continue to move closer to recovering my creative identity I may have feelings of weeding out, sorting through and discarding old belongings.

I am hoping this does not apply to the things in my studio!
My studio is my refuge and a very interesting place; it is also the pack rat palace of the world! I love collecting insignificant, unrelated, and interesting things. “You never know when you might need this” is my creed. Every fascinating tid-bit is a cache of marvelous memories or precious possibilities. Stacked on every shelf, corner and horizontal space are all of my extraneous treasures! Can you imagine how terrified I was at the mere prospect that I might have feelings of weeding out, sorting through and discarding any of them?

So, here’s a thought. How about if when then these marvelous feelings of creative clarity arrive, followed by the need to weed out, sort through or discard, I head straight for my husband’s closet!

Yes- I understand this is NOT what Chapter 4, Recovering a Sense of Integrity intended, but I am thinking it has some promise!

“The Synchronicity Fairy”

2009-06-27T09:36:00.005-04:00

The Artist's Way Week #3 Recovering a Sense of Power

Synchronicity, a wonderful concept! This week Julia Cameron introduces us to psychologist Carl Jung’s theory of synchronicity. It postulates that there is an underlying connection to the universe that manifests itself through meaningful coincidences. Some scientists are beginning to see a theoretical grounding for synchronicity in quantum physics, fractal geometry, and chaos theory, but personally I think it is the Synchronicity Fairy.

Somewhere along the way, I apparently grew up, lost the magic of make believe and replaced it with psychological theories grounded in quantum physics and fractal geometry. I have decided it is time to dump the scientific theories and revive my inner child’s imagination.

My inner child still holds Santa Claus as the supreme high holy synchronistic sovereign. Make a list of toys, and poof– he manifests them! The Easter bunny works pretty much the same way, he just does not get the press that Santa does. Of course part of the problem is that a basket of colored boiled eggs and chocolate is good, but cannot hold a candle to a Barbie Dream House or the blue Schwinn with a handle bar basket.

I think it is time to introduce you to my Synchronicity Fairy. She is a first cousin of the Tooth Fairy and they share many of the same characteristics. Like the Tooth Fairy the Synchronicity Fairy is stealth, preferring not to be exposed by the retail industry and blatant commercialization, unlike Santa and the Bunny. The Tooth Fairy requires I loose a tooth before I get a quarter under my pillow. The Synchronicity Fairy expects me to loose my doubts, my ego, and all of my preconceived notions before she will bestow her gifts. The Tooth Fairy only works with my eyes closed because I already know what her gifts are. The Synchronicity Fairy prefers I keep my eyes wide open and pay close attention so I do not miss a thing; her gifts are different every time.

Yes indeed, I believe I have reconnected to my inner child!

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”
Pablo Picasso

Crazymaking Sainthood

2009-06-22T10:01:00.009-04:00

Artist's Way-Week #2 Recovering a Sense of Identity

Ah Crazymakers!
It truly is a shame that I do not get paid for the number of crazymakers I attract, I would surely be a millionaire by now! Attracting crazymakers is just one of my under appreciated and unpaid abilities. I also hold world records for self doubt and feeling sorry for myself, but I digress.

In Recovering a Sense of Identity I am rudely reminded that there may be a slight possibility that I am the one inviting the crazymakers into my life. Could it possibly be that I have become so desperately artistically blocked that encouraging these frenzied whirling vortexes in my life has become a viable alternative to creating?
This is just twisted!
What is it about creating that scares me so much?

There are many answers to this question and none of them easy or short. But as I start my creative recovery and begin to inspect my own creative habits (or lack there of) I discover one astonishing fact. I have found it easier to “fix” other people’s problems than it is to “fix” my own. Afraid of being labeled selfish, narcissistic and self absorbed, I assemble the crazymakers to sooth my greedy ego and elevate my personal status to self-sacrificing sainthood by solving their problems. I appease my creative guilt by being the virtuous untrained under qualified shrink.

This is my official notice-
I am giving up my chance for post mortem selfless saintly beatification and am picking up vibrant colors in search on my marvelous dynamic creative life. Is it possible I could serve others (and myself) best by being a little selfish and tapping into my own resourceful and unlimited creative power to become a creative role model?

Respectable Southern Lady?

2009-06-12T14:13:00.005-04:00

Artist's Way-Week #1 Recovering a Sense of Safety

I have come up with quite literally a ba-zillion things that compromise my creativity, but there is one that consistently buzzes around like an annoying summer house fly. It really has more to do with age and the genteel south than my creativity. Raised in a small rural southern town in the fifties and sixties, my parents diligently tried to bring me up as a Refined Respectable Southern Lady. Unfortunately, I failed miserably at it. To this day I do not wear lady like dresses or high heels, they hurt my feet and I prefer shorts & flip-flops. I do not have a beautiful southern manicured lawn (but I do have a Magnolia Tree) because I can't seem to grow anything but weeds, however in my opinion, anything green that grows and requires mowing, IS a lawn. It is my belief that Sunday mornings should be strictly for lounging because spirituality should be practiced every day, not just one day and I do not belong to any do-good civic organizations, because I do not need to be organized to do good.

My parents really did an excellent job of raising me up right, because to this day, there continues to be this nagging Refined Respectable Southern Lady movie that plays over and over in my head. A lousy reminder of my failure to attain that status. There is no big deep seeded psychosis here, just this pesky pang of guilt that regularly eats away at my creative self esteem.

Finally, I am well past my own mid-century mark and I think I can safely let go of the fear of falling short of the typical, elegant, Refined Respectable Southern Lady expectations and at last embrace and celebrate all that I am at this moment.

So with all that being said, I am pleased to announce, that The Refined Respectable Southern Lady movie has been canceled. The Old Eccentric Artsy Broad show is now playing!

Good Vibrations

2009-06-09T23:07:00.007-04:00

Celebrating the beginning of the 12th year of creative facilitating is an excellent time to take a look back at the countless classes, workshops, summer Artist’s Way groups and remember all of the wonderful creatives I have had the privilege of getting to know. Each and everyone of them has touched my heart in their own way and have contributed so much to my own creativity! I am so grateful!

This is what I have to focus on as each new class begins. As I stand in front of a new class I am scared to death, my heart pounds and I ask myself why am I doing this! I panic, I sweat, my throat is dry and my voice cracks! I wonder if they notice? I want desperately to know what they are all thinking, do they like me, do they think I am nuts, will they trust me, are they laughing at me? Every fear you can imagine is lurking just under my skin and my first inclination is to turn and run. The terror is overwhelming!

The 2009 Artist’s Way Group at the Casselberry Art House began last Sunday night and I was praying this would be the class that I finally get over this! The short answer is, no it wasn’t. It was the same apprehension, the same anxiety all over again, but something was very different this time! There was an incredible electricity and energy that filled the studio classroom, the first time I have ever felt such exciting camaraderie on the first encounter. I am so excited and am certain that these good vibrations are just the beginning of one of the most exhilarating creative summers of my life.

Now and New

2009-05-29T07:55:00.004-04:00

I am a huge proponent and teacher of living in the Now, however I am finding myself anxiously propelling myself into the future looking for the New.

For most artists and creatives, this past year has been financially awful! And if that is not bad enough, it looks like it will be awhile before it gets better. Yes, I know I should not allow myself to caught up in this negativity, but I truly think we all have to be realistic about the current situation before we can move through it. I regularly get advice from non-artists on how to survive these difficult times, and I will smile politely, while under my breath say what the hell are you talking about. Do they have any idea what this feels like?

I feel bit guilty, for opting to project into the future and this summer's Artist's Way class. I can already feel the wonderful company of other creatives each and every week. It is almost like coming home after a long ugly business trip.

I have a very realistic handle on the NOW , but I cannot seem to help anxiously waiting and anticipating the NEW.

This Seasons Second Sundays Come to a Close

2009-05-11T10:38:00.008-04:00

Just a quick note to say thank you to last night's,and all of the Second Sunday Creatives! I know Mother's Day (and Easter Day the month before) are not the best choice for an artist gathering, however, Second Sunday is Second Sunday. Moving it around to accommodate holidays would prove confusing over the long run. And I definitely need nothing more to confuse me!
Holidays typically make for a much smaller group, and smaller groups often initiate deeper more insightful and enlightening conversations. This was certainly the case last night. I cannot imagine a situation where more creative revelations could happen, than those that occurred last night.
It was a very fitting and appropriate end to this seasons Second Sundays. We will pick them up again in September after the 2009 Artist's Way classes www.theartistsway.org have ended.
Thanks again and I will see you in September and/or through the summer!

And today’s rambling...

2009-05-11T10:29:00.003-04:00

Competition and Cooperation

There are situations where competition can be a wonderful thing. In a free market it can mean that retailers, restaurants, gas stations etc. etc. will be competing for my business by hopefully lowering prices, increasing quality and even providing better customer service.

There are other situations where competition is not the best way to cultivate income. In my opinion those would include education, the arts and other charitable organizations. I do not think I will get any argument that competing for educational funding through the FCAT testing results would be a prime example of competition failing the overall objective of educating all of our children with the best resources available.

A recent situation, has given me the impression, that in an attempt to imitate business structure and profits, many well meaning and deserving charitable organizations have adopted an unattractive corporate mind-set of competition, scarcity, and greed to win our charitable dollars.

I hope, that if the current economic condition has a lesson to teach us, it would be that the spirit of giving is an innate human characteristic that comes from the heart and will always be enhanced through good will, gratitude and cooperation , not competition.

Shadow Artist? Is that what I am?

2009-04-18T10:53:00.005-04:00

www.theartistsway.org

Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way describes a shadow artist as a creative that chooses a career that is close to the life they would like to have themselves, but are afraid to actually pursue themselves. YEE-OUCH that stings! And I should know, when it comes to shadow artist’s it is very possible that I am the queen!

As a young woman I went to school and got a degree in interior design, in practice it was more about budget and installations and the opportunity to be creative dwindled. I became increasingly dissatisfied with my work and life! The chance to manage and then own my own picture framing business brought me even closer to the art my soul was silently screaming to be near. I made certain I stayed very close to the energy of creativity by limiting my business to art galleries and artists, drawing even closer to my tribe but still afraid to acknowledge or God forbid give into to it.

Years of unrealized dreams zapped my energy, joy and happiness, until finally this interesting book came along and called me a shadow artist, and gave me the tools to move forward into the life I was meant to have. Woo-Hoo!

Shadow Artists will be the toppic of our Artist Way Group's Second Sunday Gathering at the Casselberry Art House, Casselberry, FL. We invite all creatives to join us May 10 at 7:00 PM. Second Sunday meetings will be discontinued through summer for our annual Artist Way Class-Chapter by chapter-week by week every Sunday Evening June 7 through Aug 30- Hope you can join us! www.theartistsway.org for mor info about our group.
Artfully,
Cheryl

Control, Chaos & Crazymakers

2009-04-02T17:09:00.001-04:00

And not necessarily in that order!

Crazymakers appear to be a fact of life. They are the people and/or the situations that march into your life and demand your attention. Crazymaker’s problems always come first, chaos swirls around them, and although they may offer to help you out, every now and again, it is always on their terms, or there are serious strings attached. They rarely take responsibility for any of their own actions, blaming others regularly for what ever problems exist. They tend to be chronically ill, needy, and victims. They have trouble meeting their commitments because of these situations, but they are never willing to do anything to change them. They thrive on control and have no problem creating chaos to be in command. Any of these personalities or situations sound familiar?

How do we interact with crazymakers without letting them impact our own lives and creativity? The first and easy choice is to eliminate them, but often crazymakers are family members and dear friends, so that option is not always open. However, we do have the ability to limit their influence by politely creating our own boundaries. The next time a crazymaker invites you into the chaos, stop and think for a moment. You decide how much time and emotional involvement you are willing to dedicate to the current crisis. You can do this without hurting feelings, simply by acknowledging your crazymakers problem, and offering up exactly what and how you are willing to help.
Example.
I am so sorry you (insert crisis here), I can help you for (how much time you are willing to spend) on (date).

You can honor them by acknowledging the problem, but by setting boundaries you also honor your time and creative energy.

Morning Pages vs Blogging

2009-03-29T22:04:00.003-04:00

Many times in Artist's Way classes we have discussed the differences between doing Morning Pages on the computer and writing them out in long hand. I have always advocated going long hand, personally there seems to be a wonderful flow that to occurs through the pen and onto the paper. Working on the computer is still very awkward, so I do not not think blogging will ever replace my morning pages. Not to mention having my Morning Pages accessible and readable to anyone. Jeez, is that scary. I have explained many times that I do not even keep my own pages once the composition book is full, for fear that someday, after my demise someone might stumble on them and think they were my journals or diary. OMG! They would all think I am nuts, bi-polar, hopelessly psychotic and a host of really serious psychiatric maladies. Perhaps the blog will be good for thoughts like this....maybe not.... Maybe when we get into summer classes it may be a place to post more thoughts on that weeks chapter. Who the heck knows. I think I will just keep playing with this forum and see how it goes. Stay tuned, something may come of this.

The Art of Creative BE-ing!

2009-03-27T21:00:00.003-04:00

Watch part of the Power Point video from Artist Way Weekend 2008!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDGFf7KyADE

On with the Blogging!

2009-03-27T20:04:00.004-04:00

As an avid Artist Way-er...
http://www.theartistsway.org/

I am Morning Page writer, no one, and I do mean no one ever gets to read those pages, not even me! Designing web sites I use a wysiwyg program, so I can futz and fiddle until I think it is what I want. Blogging for me, is like jumping out of a plane without a parachute, however I am truly grateful that at least there is spell check!

Second Sundays at the Casselberry Art House...

http://www.theartistsway.org/sss.html

It will be easier on all of us if you check out the web site for all the particulars and times about Second Sundays. We get together once a month, the Second Sunday at Seven to take on the issues that most creatives share (good and bad) using the Julia Cameron's philosophy from The Artist's Way. There is no charge or commitment for those that attend, just a willingness to participate in a creative community. We used to be listed with Meet up.com, as a matter of fact The Central Florida Group has consistently been in the top 1o groups in the US. But alas times are tough, and the membership fees for this group have increased and rather than pass them on to the members (which is what they recommend) I decided to fly solo, hence this flurry of digital education. Hope you will join us!

Putting Artist Way all over the web!

2009-03-27T19:24:00.003-04:00

Am taking advantage of some "down" time to brush up on some computer skills and that is a big deal in my book! In the past couple of days I have signed up on twitter, and indeed I have have tweeted. Have been able to convert a Power Point Presentation from one of my creativity classes to video AND post it on You Tube. That was an entire afternoon project, and it's not too pretty, but I can live with it, and hope it gets better.

So while I have been on this techno-quest I figured I would tackle this blogging thing. Have a few of web sites up http://www.theartistsway.org/ http://www.artistwayworkshop.com/ http://www.cherylevans.net/ and I figured that was enough, until today