Saturday, November 29, 2008

Weekend Blogging Break

Good day,

Just in case anyone wonders, I am not going to be writing in this blog on weekends. I'm off to make blueberry pie for dinner out at a neighbour friend's. Lobster's on the menu! - kind regards, enjoy your weekend everyone. Catherine http://appleriverartstudio.googlepages.com/

Friday, November 28, 2008

Website Makeover!

Oh boy been on this computer all day. I am giving my website a makeover. Hey lookin' good too! Ok back to the makeover!
Regards - Catherine

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Art, Love and Crazy Making

I got out of bed this morning with plans of setting my, ready to go fire, in the woodstove I'd prepared the night before. I had blueberry, banana, bran muffins with raisins, all the ingredients I'd set out too, from the night before. I was expecting an afternoon meeting, so I was very prepared for my guest. But not prepared for the unexpected phone call first thing before I got to any of this; from one I love, who can be crazy making for me...if I allow for that to happen. That's the key. Crazy making can only affect me now if I let it. I didn't know this to be so in the past, I had a choice. It still isn't easy when it comes to those we love or are in love with. Fact is biological changes that happen to us when we are in love really do affect the way we feel, think and behave. All the racing to our brains seritonin and dopamine I think. So we don't think to clearly. I had forfeited my art interests in the past for love or lust or both in the past. All added up to disaster, resulted in no art, no man, no peace of mind, self-esteem, respect, etc. So I am very grateful to be able to say and know I choose not to let crazy making affect me today. At least not like it did in the past. Kind regards, Catherine

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Oh boy I'll sleep well tonight!

Well I spent the day in the library down the road in the next village close to where I live. I was having some serious problems with my CD trying to get my digital images written on to it so I could submit my Canada Council application form for my Research and Creation grant. I thought... ok here we go my hyper anxiety neurosis about not being able to get this thing in the mail. I thought... that's it... it isn't going to go. I'm frigged! But thanks to my library friend who had a good CD as opposed to mine, it worked! I was able to get it done! What sweet relief! I got it in the mail this afternoon and just this past hour I sent the online stuff. Holy what a rush and well, I'm pretty darn proud of myself for actually doing this and getting it done! Not sure if this blog helped but I am happy to have it, to be able to write about how happy I am. Wished I had someone to celebrate with. :( I will sleep well tonight!

Kindest Regards - Catherine

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Sun

Oh the sun is out today and the temperatures are on the rise!
I don't want to talk weather but it sure helps when the temps are up and the sun is out!
Today I get my submissions in the mail for my art grants. I have this feeling of trepidation only because I really need to get these in today and I am concerned, when's the other shoe going to drop, bordering on paranoia for some reason...with no real rational foundation. It speaks of my neurosis I guess, as moments of a self-doubting artist. Or maybe it's just the lack of confidence in Canada Post! I won't get into that!

Not much to say, just putting my best foot forward today for the tasks at hand. Oh to be my cat curled up on the chair for the afternoon. Or my friend cosied up by the fire in her jammers!

Kindest regards - Catherine











Monday, November 24, 2008

SAD

I was talking to a creative friend this morning. He'd mentioned to me that he suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder. I know a few people who have this. I think we can all be affected by the lack of light and good weather. I can find myself feeling very glum when there is extreme cold and wind. It can just make think about crawling into bed and staying there.



I often wonder what part this plays affecting artists and their motivation to get actively creating. I am really of the opinion I can overcome it or at least work through it, just making myself do the work at hand and then I find my motivation and am feeling better because I have accomplished something, but I think getting my mind focused on the positive makes the difference in my frame of mind. I know it is much easier said than done. I do remember what one of my respected art teacher's said, "When you don't feel like drawing, that's the time you need to draw." I found this to be true. This is just what seems to work for me, but I don't expect that it is so easy for everyone. At the same time I don't have to by into the myth or idea of the tortured artist living in some garret either, because the light has left our world. But a little sunshine would sure be nice when bad the weather comes around in the Winter, and it is so cold you think your grannies preserves will freeze!



Well I'm off to put another log on that fire. Where'd I put that fur underwear?



Warmest Regards - Catherine



Sunday, November 23, 2008

"Our creative dreams and yearnings come from a divine source."

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I extend to you a very warm welcome to my blog.


Catherine Meyers is my name and I am an artist, a painter. Joni Mitchell, my very favourite singer/songwriter, says in her song, " I am a lonely painter and I live in a box of paints. " It is true being an artist/painter can be a lonely profession as it is usually done in solitude. This is a good thing and I believe essential to me, though it has been problematic in ways that necessitate contact with the outside world. That said I am so very grateful to have my computer because it enables me to do this, and has made all the difference in my feeling isolated.

My intention for this blog is to explore in a personal way, thoughts, ideas and activities around creativity. Creativity to me is not a gift reserved only for the artist, but has been given to every human being.

I have two goals implicit in this blog. The first relates to my intentions, but just as significant to me, is to be accountable and to enable and nurture my own creative process.

I have recently been working hard on applying for a Canada Council Research/Creation Art Grant and a Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture and and Heritage Creation Grant. I think or it is my hope that this blog will help me to see this goal come to fruition and completion. The reason I mention this is because I have in the past been very reluctant to involve myself in this kind of endeavour. I made all kinds of excuses for why I wouldn't. The reality was they were excuses that I'd hide behind due to my fear of rejection and lack of confidence in myself as an artist. Making my submissions for art grants has helped to demystify whom I thought applied or could apply for these projects, somehow assuming "they " were better than or thought they were and well I didn't want any part of the elitist BS. I could never have imagined I'd ever have delved into applying for a Canada Council grant so this is a big deal for me and demonstrates to me that I've changed...in a good way! I think I growed up!

In attending Art College for four and a half years in the early 70's, it was my experience that the art world was a very political place. I could easily get onto a boring rant about that, but I won't. I have come to this conclusion.
I needed to ask myself , so what am I going to do about it? I can make a difference in all that I do, if I believe in myself regardless of what is going on around me. I have changed my attitude, taken a proactive stance and am learning the skills of marketing myself. This doesn't have to be an experience that somehow lowers my own personal integrity. Perhaps it is just called growing up or it's what happens to women when we reach fifty. Maybe my give a damn has broke or stopped working. What matters mostly is what I think about who I am, as a human being, as a woman and as an artist.

The second reason for this blog is writing...which I have long loved to do and I attribute reading the book, The Artist Way, for literally changing my life and helping me to use the tool of writing a daily journal, which I still do. Writing has been therapeutic for me, helped me get through very difficult times and celebrate wonderfully happy times, and enabled me to actualize my creative dreams. Blogging, like keeping a journal, is a wonderful way to keep the creative wheels well oiled, and turning..

I do hope you will join me with comments or just stopping by to read my blog. If not, well that's all right, because the main reason I am doing this is for my own personal growth and discipline. I used to be one that disliked that word discipline, which according to the Oxford dictionary, is defined as being, " mental and moral training." I felt it was something I couldn't possibly enjoy, would be forced to do, regardless if I liked it or not. I finally came to have a deeper understanding of what it meant to me, after much struggle and life experience. I now realize that within discipline can be found a great freedom. I liken it to the word obedience, which I also saw in a negative light, in the past. But now I welcome what I consider to be two character strengths in my life, not because I am forced, but because I am a willing participant, I have a choice. I will say this does relate to my own spiritual beliefs. I won't expound on that right now but will save it for another time.

I will leave you with this quote from, The Artists Way. " Our dreams and yearnings come from a divine source. As we move toward our dreams, we move toward our divinity."


With Kind Regards - Catherine











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