Everything in life is art. Think about that phrase for a moment. One of my many mantras fro years was "Make your art your life." However, after all these years, I have to change it - make your life your art. Why? Because every positive thing that comes from you or me is art. From your walk, to how you smile at a passing stranger, to how you warmly love someone, even the way you chose to feel is art.
When I was younger, I used to think my mother was absolutely crazy. Every month, magazines galore would arrive in our mailbox and she would pour over them. She would find one creative idea after another - anything that "looked interesting" to her. At some point afterwards, she would visit the local craft shop or department store, in search of supplies. Once the bags of seeming odds and ends would arrive back home, she would assemble these "interesting looking" projects to the best of her ability. You name it - she was creating it.
I didn't realize it at the time, but my Mom was showing me one of her secrets to her happiness. I'm currently reading a book (yes, another one) on creativity and towards the back, it lists creations that the reader can do every day of each month, providing one has the time of course. I also have a wonderful artistic friend who has been blessed with the room, the time, and the money to host wonderful events - ranging from cookouts, to holiday parties, to the most recent event this weekend, the annual pumpkin carving party. Yesterday afternoon, my husband and I drove to her home and shared in a festive good time along with about 20 other people. The get-together was filled with pumpkins, spider guacamole, ghoulish meatballs, devilish cheeses, chocolate / pretzel witch broomsticks, and plenty of laughter.
The design I chose was of a crescent moon, a pumpkin, and a bat. Then began the arduous task of cutting around the stem for the lid and scooping out the seeds and the guts inside. The feeling I get when I'm performing this task is not very high on my "yippee" list - as I'm not a fan of the sticky, slimy goop. My husband, on the other hand, says that's half the fun. He had his work cut out for him (n pun intended) as he did a skull that seemed to be a combination of Mardi Gras, the Day Of The Dead celebration from Mexico, and something from the early 70's all rolled into one. We used scooper's, big and little knives, and my hubby used a battery-powered mini caving saw.
In the end, the pumpkin creations were as varied as the personalities that attended - one could say as unique as each persons fingerprints. They ranged from a barn, to traditional Halloween favorites, to a bubbling cauldron complete with fire underneath. Everyone was into the spirit of things and had a great time. I will admit, I am out of my element and my league when it comes to crafts. I hate following directions - this is why I paint. It is also the reason why I hate to cook. But that is me. To thine own self be true. I hope you can "find your fun" and turn your life into art.
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments, both big and small, that take our breath away." - Anonymous
Go have fun - until next time,
Time for me to paint,
Jill
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