the Creative Thursday blog

a day away in the surf ~ day 3 v-blog

I had to pop in on day 3 to wish you a happy weekend!! Thanks for all your comments. It really feels like I'm chatting with you, much more than writing to you via a blog post, which should seem obvious right? What I'm trying to say is that this is FUN for me to talk directly to you ~ Also I realized, that I didn't introduce the new video location to you. Welcome to my desk chair in my studio!

You'll like me more or You'll like me less?! day 2 v-blog

I did it! I made it back for a 2nd video! :)

Transforming my Life in 30 days? A video experiment

What's this? Is Marisa doing videos now?

Quite possibly yes. We shall see. This is my public commitment to myself, a personal video experiment of sorts shared publicly on my blog. The Creative Thursday blog is turning 3 this month and it's time to try something new. What it will all be exactly, how it will evolve, I'm not sure...but I'm starting....something.

I hope you'll come along for the trip, maybe you can play along and make your own 30 day experiment? But if you need to check out of the blog for the next month or so, no worries. You should know that it will still be blogging as usual here. And to accompany the "usual",  just a little 3-dimensional visiting time with the person behind this blog, me, Marisa.

Oh and I meant to say "if you feel mostly excited & a little scared" you should go for it. If you feel "no excitement & mostly scared", you should definitely re-think your plan. 

Links related to this video:

Michael Neill

Just Be Yourself

5 x 5 in.

You could say this sentiment has been on my mind a lot these days.

Have you heard of the blog Creative Therapy yet? This is a blog that is home to a community of artists that pose thoughtful questions and then interpret their response through their art. They also invite guest artists to participate and this week that artist is me.  And the catalyst is:

What's the best advice you received that encouraged you to follow your dreams? (or advice you'd give to others so they can follow their dreams.)

I chose to answer the second part of the question with my advice being "Just Be Yourself" and my creation is the painting above, featuring Mabel the newest member of the Creative Thursday family.

The reason I say that this sentiment has been on my mind "a lot these days" is for two reasons. One being that as I continue to travel this path of sharing myself and my art with you, especially via this blog. I'm constantly reminded to "just be myself" both personally and professionally. It might seem easy enough right? But unless you really come to know who "yourself" is, staying authentic can feel challenging at times. I find this to be especially true now that we can glimpse into the lives of so many people around the world via the internet. While the possibilities and inspiration can feel endless, so can the comparison that accompanies that. Clearly the lines of being true to who you are can get blurred. And having a strong sense of  yourself is what will bring those lines back into focus.

The second reason this has been on my mind so much is that now heading into my 5th week of my e-course I've been teaching, this continues to be the underlying message behind every class. The longer I'm alive, the more I learn, the more I do, the more I realize that a good teacher is the one that not only supports and encourages others to be themselves but empowers them to discover the answers for themselves. 

Of course we all evolve and change, every day. But somewhere within each one of us is that calm sense of self that embodies the "be yourself" that I'm talking about. And I find that whenever I return to that place in myself, my life gets clear and I get peaceful. It is from this place that my best creating comes, that my interactions with others is the most genuine, that the answers I seek present themselves and that I feel more in the flow of my life than out. Since I believe that "just being yourself" invites this kind of living clearly that is my advice to everyone these days.

{click here to buy original}

also available as a print over at the shop

in new hampshire

8 x 6 in.

Unlike the title of this painting inspired by my time at Squam, I am actually "in Los Angeles", and back from vacation. It was {mostly} lovely. I'm also going to be honest and say that taking a week away only made me realize that I need more weeks away.

But until that next holiday time, I'm here, I'm back and while I have new thoughts & things to share with you, I will be brief on the blog today because my spirit seems to have gone missing. In the meantime I'm going to have a coffee this afternoon and see if I can find my spirit there, so I can take it with me as I dive into the fish bowl. pun intended.

I hope you had a great week & holiday. I leave you with a new painting, and a wish for a happy Wednesday!

{click here to buy original}