Blog - Melissa Dinwiddie | Create the Impossible™ | Innovation Keynote Speaker & Consultant

February 23, 2011

15 Minutes for February Art Check-in! #3

Yes, it’s that time again – time for the #15minutesaday creative challenge art check-in!

Above (and the next two images below as well) we have a 4″ x 6″ x 1.5″ canvas, on which I painted Daniel Smith watercolor ground, then, not knowing what else to do, I resorted to ye olde calligrapher’s standby, the alphabet. In Neuland, my “signature” hand, inspired by the typeface designed by Rudolf Koch.

And in brush lettering ’round the edges.

Is it done? Not sure.. It feels a little naked to me, but I haven’t figured out what else it’s calling for.

Meanwhile, its brethren, in blue and yellow watercolor, also probably not finished:

And to finish up, a few random pieces in various stages of process. At the lower left, two 2″ x 2″ and a 2″ x 3″ canvas, painted with watercolor (on top of watercolor ground).

I’m intrigued by the 1″ x 1″ paper tiles, and am contemplating a larger “mosaic” out of these. We’ll see.

That’s it from my end. I’ve spent at least 15 minutes making art every day for the past 23 days.

And you? Are you doing the challenge? How’s it going?

February 22, 2011

Profitable Idealism: ramblings on my quest to change the world AND sustain myself (plus gift for you!)

[Hint: there’s a surprise gifty thingy at the bottom of the box. Kinda like Cracker Jack, but without the calories.]

What do I want more than anything? To make a positive impact on other people by doing what I love, and to sustain myself in the process.

To change the world for the better, while at the same time feeding myself, emotionally and financially.

To be my fully-creative self and help others be their fully-creative selves, and make a living from it.

I’m definitely on the path, but I haven’t hit my stride yet.

My Newest Teacher

When you’re on the path, the Universe lets you know by sending the right teachers your way.

I met one of my teachers earlier today when I had a Skype interview for the Thriving Artists Project with the wonderful Goddess Leonie. I’d seen Leonie’s website a few weeks back, and immediately flagged it as one of my daily Genius Resources on 365 Days of Genius, so it was a delightful surprise when she contacted me, expressing great enthusiasm for what I was doing with TAP, and offering to be an interview guest.

My ex-boyfriend used to say “always interpret omens favorably,” and I took Leonie’s email as a definite message from the Universe that I was on the right path!

Not that this was the kind of omen that could be interpreted any other way. Leonie is modeling exactly the kind of life I’m in the process of creating for myself. (As soon as my self-imposed moratorium on buying new digital courses and e-books is lifted, I’m signing up for her Goddess Circle membership (affiliate link), which is filled with over $600 of goodies for the amazingly low price of $99 for a year. In fact, I may just make an exception to my moratorium…)

Teachers are everywhere

Leonie is actually just one in a long line of recent teachers. Every single interview I’ve done lately (or ever?) for the Thriving Artists Project has brought me rich gifts that I was right then needing to receive.

With artist Michele Théberge, I was reminded that it only takes 15 minutes a day to stay connected to your creative flow. I needed to hear this, and was ready to hear it right then. I’ve made art every day this month, which makes me profoundly happy.

With illustrator and syndicated cartoonist Carlos Castellanos, I was reminded that you should charge most for that which comes easiest to you. I needed to hear this, and was ready to hear it right then. I’m still integrating this one, but am becoming more and more aware of the many areas where I bring real value.

And with Goddess Leonie, I was reminded that on the one hand, making money from my gifts is so much more helpful for me and other people than giving it all away. And on the other hand, the best way to get my gifts out there is to use them to help people, to gift people with a journey. AND I was reminded that my art can be more than pieces I sell to hang on walls or put on shelves; it can be an integral part of what I put out into the world: on my blog, in my e-books and e-courses and anywhere else I share myself. Duh. Apparently I needed to hear this, and was ready to hear it today.

An exchange of energy

On her blog, Leonie tells a story of how she used to give her art away. Not as gifts to loved ones, given out of delight and generosity, but to anyone who asked, out of fear and avoidance of the hard act of putting a monetary value on her art.

Her teacher arrived in the form of a wise, older woman, who said:

You must charge for your art. In everything – everything – there needs to be an exchange of energy. An equal one. One that fills me up. One that fills you up. If I give you a massage that nourishes and sustains and relaxes you, I ask you for money to nourish and sustain my life too. We must both be involved in the exchange, otherwise it is one sided. We must both be invested, so we both receive value. If I do not allow you to pay money for my service, I do a disservice to myself, but also to you. You must contribute too, in order to be fulfilled. You will value the things you pay for more. And my life will be better because I have helped your life be better. And your life will be better, because you have helped my life be better too. Everything – everything – must be an equal exchange of energy. It is sacred. Money is the manifestation of energy. Money is sacred too.

This is something so many of us struggle with! Johnny B. Truant and Pace Smith even made a course about it – Profitable Idealism (affiliate link – doors closing at midnight tonight, so you only have a few hours to get in, but if you’re wanting to change the world, OR if you’re wanting to make money, this could be a great match for you, and I highly recommend you check it out).

An unsummary-ish summing-up, and a special gifty thingy

I don’t have a neat and tidy bow to wrap this post up with. Just to say that my chat with Leonie today made me rethink a lot of what I’ve been doing. I’m not sure how it’s all going to shake out, but as usual, I’ll share it with you here.

In the meantime, one thing I’ve been wanting to do for awhile now is to validate for myself the ways in which I can be directly helpful, right now. To that end, I’ll be offering a limited number of f.r.ee half-hour consulting/visioning/coaching sessions periodically over the coming weeks, starting now.

The first eight people who tungle me by clicking this link will get 30 minutes of my focused attention to work on whatever you want:

Creative Consulting, to help you figure out some specific goals and how best to go after them
“Master the Internet” technology mentoring
a “Whip Your Website into Shape” critique

Heck, I’ll even read your aura if you want (seriously – I’m not even kidding about that!) All up to you.

What’s the catch?

There isn’t one. I just want to get to know my followers and do my best to help you. Period.

Again, click here to get to my Tungle Me calendar and set up your 30-minute session. First come, first served. (But if you don’t get into this group, you’ll have another opportunity down the road. Promise.)

That’s it for today. Now it’s time to get my art on. Catch you later!

February 20, 2011

Weekly Review #46: The Antidote to Feeling Sunk

So how’m I doing in my quest to re-invent my life, follow my evolving Blisses and create the life I really, really want?

Perhaps it’s the fact that I’m approaching a year since starting this blog – a year in which other people seem to have achieved the kind of success that still eludes me (damn you, Comparison Trap!) – that led to Friday-and-Saturday’s surprising feeling of sunkness.

Perhaps it was the migraine, that hooked its claws into me Friday afternoon and was still clinging when I woke up.

Perhaps it’s missing my sweetie, who’s out of town this weekend.

Perhaps it’s the frustration that my right leg is still deformed and frustratingly atrophied, 3 months post-knee-surgery.

Perhaps it was all of those things, combined with general overwork and under-rest.

Whatever it was, it caught me off guard. I’ve never been a flatliner, but so many lovely things have happened this week! How could I be anything but happy and cheerful?

Sweetness this week:

The nicest fan letter ever arrived in my inbox on Monday (I challenge anyone to write a nicer one!):

Melissa Dinwiddie, I love you. Not in a sappy, soppy, sloppy kind of way, but in a girl crush kind of way; in an “I-so-want-to-be-like-her” way. Your voice, when you write, is so authentic, that I hear your lyrical voice…as a matter of fact, you’re across the table from me taking about life and love and your success and impatience over coffee and and some amazing cookies that I just baked with milk chocolate chips, toffee bits and cashews with a sprinkle of ground french roast coffee (and a touch of cayenne just to brighten the taste).
You don’t know it, but we have conversations together at times like these. I share my empathy, my stories and give you my encouragement.
By the way, my cats believe that I’m talking to them, but they are narcissistic beasts. They have no idea that I’m talking with you.
Just thought you should know on this Valentine’s day that you have a girl crush.
Sandi

(Thanks Sandi! Still buzzing on that one. :))

My Uke Diva gig at the JCC senior lunch on Tuesday brought raves and accolades. 87-year-old Joyce insisted that what I need is an agent, who would surely get me the fame and fortune I deserve in Hollywood. While 84-year-old Sam declared:

I have one word for you… no, [counting fingers] three words for you: You. Are. Good. And I’m a litmus test. I’ve been around 84 years, I’ve seen more performances than you can imagine. I can tell good when I see it, and you’re it!

Thursday I got further confirmation of my appeal as a performer when the music booker for Hog Island Oyster Bar in Napa emailed to see if I’d be interested in playing a couple of (paid) gigs on their outdoor patio this summer. (Mark your calendars for July 31 and September 11!) She said:

I came across your video “Uke” and I LOVE your style.

All very sweet, and made me feel very good, indeed. Nonetheless, despite all this validation, Friday and Saturday saw me feeling blue. Proof that the “happiness” that external validation offers is fleeting.

The Antidote to Blue

So what does a girl do, when the blues descend? Well, first of all, a smart girl reminds herself of this undisputed reality:

All feelings are transitory.

Next, she reminds herself of another undisputed reality:

Nothing good ever comes from comparing your insides to someone else’s outsides.

Yes, my path might seem overly long and winding, but it is what it is. I know getting caught in the Comparison Trap is just that – a trap.

And then she does the one thing guaranteed to lift the spirit:

She takes action.

For a Creative, that means getting into the Creative Sandbox.

Which is exactly what I did. Deadlines be damned – the blues call for taking critical measures. Now.

So I played

And since I’m still waiting for the delivery of my 200+ mini canvases, I turned to my more comfortable substrate, watercolor paper, and my old friend, walnut ink.

Here’s what came out of my playtime (shown here close to actual size):

2 3/4″ x 5″ walnut ink with ruling pen & brush, Pigma micron, water with steel nib, watercolor pencil

2 3/4″ x 7 1/4″ walnut ink, sumi ink with ruling pen and modified crowquill

3″ x 4″ walnut ink with ruling pen, watercolor, modified crowquill nib

And although I didn’t actually mat these, I matted them digitally, in Photoshop. See the image at the top of this post, and these two:

New toys!

Meanwhile, my order with Daniel Smith arrived, bringing ten new 4″ x 6″ x 1.5″ canvases and – most exciting! – a jar of watercolor ground!

Which I painted on a few canvases on Friday night, to allow the required 24 hours of curing.

And then didn’t let the full 24 hours to go by before pulling out my watercolors. (Patience? Feh!)

At a loss for what else to do, I reverted to the calligrapher’s standby, the alphabet. In my signature hand, Neuland.

Watch for these to evolve in the coming days…

And now?

Well, I’m still wishing my debt were down to zero and my internet empire fully grown and thriving. But I must admit I’m feeling a helluva lot better.

When in doubt, create.

Saturday Night Epilogue: Serendipity & Progress

While doing my prescribed knee rehab exercises and stretching late last night, a row of old journals on the bottom shelf of the glass doored bookcase in the living room (being at eye level as I stretched) caught my eye. Hmmm (thought I), I wonder what I was thinking and writing about back then?

From among the mostly identical, 8 1/2 x 11 hard cover sketchbooks, I pulled out the Morning Pages Journal (affiliate link). My thoughts traveled backwards to that year, in the middle of my marriage, the house I lived in, the small bedroom crammed with my drafting table and supplies.

December 1996. Six months after my first calligraphy conference. Just two years into this new Bliss of letter love. The amazing response to my work by respected authorities at the conference that summer. The sudden expectations I felt to be amazing, to fulfill my potential.

And the resulting block that descended.

Julia Cameron’s The Artists Way (affiliate link) had a profound effect on me, helped me bust through some of that block.

No wonder I splurged on the matching journal. It honored the importance of that book in my life.

Back in present time

(Or shall we say, much more recent past time.) As I stretched out my atrophied quads on the living room carpet, I skimmed over the first couple of journal entries. The repeating theme: my wish to be prolific.

To make work for me, not just for clients (already, just two years in and in a marriage that paid all my bills for me, I was allowing client work to intrude on my relationship to my Bliss.)

How I wish I could go back and tell that younger self that the secret is just to do it. Every day. In 15 minute chunks.

It only took me 14 years to figure this out. (Yes, that’s a note of sarcasm you detect.)

Ah, well. Could’ve been worse.

Progress.

February 17, 2011

15 Minutes for February Art Check-in! #2

Technically, it’s not Wednesday anymore, so I’m late for my weekly Wednesday art check-in, but I’m just going to pretend I’m on Hawaii time. (I do play the ukulele, so that should count, right?)

Seriously though, I’ve been having a blast with my 15-minutes-a-day commitment. Most days I spend much longer than 15 minutes in the Creative Sandbox. And in fact, most days it’s not day at all, but late-late at night, but whatever. I’m getting my daily paint on, and that’s what counts!

So, without further ado, here are the works-in-progress that have emerged in the past week! I’m not sure what they’re about or where they came from, and they’re nothing like anything I’ve ever made (well, maybe paintings I did in nursery school…) but I must say I rather like them.

The little triptych from last week has been turned 90 degrees and added to:

6″ x 9″, acrylic inks, paint and mediums; linen thread; translucent vellum on canvas

It feels ocean-like to me, and made me think of the e.e. cummings line, “It’s always our self we find in the sea.” In fact, though you can’t see it in this pic, I debossed those words into two layers of translucent vellum, that you may be able to make out collaged on the lower right brown-and-dark-blue-ish section above.

The square composite (canvas mosaic?) below is the one that got me most excited about combining tiny little canvases in larger composites. (I went a bit hog-wild and actually ordered a few – ahem – hundred 2×2’s and 2×3’s at a bargain price, plus some dozens 4×4’s and 4×5’s. Yes, I’m serious. And yes, I fully intend to paint all of them!)

6″ x 6″, acrylic inks, paints and mediums on canvas

More ocean-y feeling, and I especially love the 4×4 section in the upper left, which absolutely glows in person.

Below are some more works-in-progress from this week’s sessions. Some of these composites are starting to tell me what they want to be when they grow up, and are in fact into their adolescence in the shots below. (Which, of course, means they may throw a random snit fit and decide to take on a totally different persona at any minute.) Watch for more mature versions in future dispatches…

That’s it for today! Enjoy, and if you have any ideas for titles, I’d love to hear ’em.

Oh, and let me know if you’ve been taking on the #15minutesaday challenge and what you’ve been up to!

February 14, 2011

Gradually Wandering Into Love

Originally published on Valentine’s Day 2011, this is one of my all-time favorites. It felt appropriate to bring it out again for another Valentine’s Day, in which I’m celebrating a month and a half being married to Miracle Man. Enjoy! xo,Melissa

Today’s post is my contribution to the Love Sparks Blogging Festival, started by Jasmine Lamb. All across the blogosphere, participants are posting blogs about love, in response to Jasmine’s request.

I’m staying close to home on this one, sharing something rather personal. Something I’m a little shy about revealing. But it’s what’s been on my mind, and what popped into my head when I got Jasmine’s invitation, so it’s what I’m sharing today. Hope you enjoy it.

I’ve never been big on Valentine’s Day.

As far as I’m concerned, it’s a brilliant ploy by the flower, card and candy industries rather than any truly meaningful moment in annual time.

This year, though, is a little different.

One year ago I had just been unceremoniously dumped, 2 days before Valentine’s Day, in what felt like a particularly shocking betrayal.

Little did I know it at the time, but my ex’s departure would clear the way for the entry, on Valentine’s Day itself, of new love into my life.

Though it took me almost a year to figure that out.

Because love, I’ve discovered, is not that weak-in-the-knees, sweaty palms, dry mouth, can-barely-speak-because-you’re-so-nervous-to-be-around-them feeling.

Nor is it that surely-we-knew-each-other-in-a-past-life feeling.

Or the oh-my-god-that-was-so-amazing-I-feel-like-I-just-touched-the-face-of-the-divine feeling.

Or the surely-I-will-die-without-you feeling.

I submit, in fact, that the feeling of being madly in love is actually a form of mental illness. May I point out to you that the phrase is, after all, “madly in love.” Witness, too, the term “crazy about you.”

Nonetheless, yes, I’ve experienced all of the above feelings, and they’re wonderful. I freely confess that I love being in love.

But as your mom may have told you, being in love is not the same as truly loving or as being truly loved.

Here’s a secret: every person I’ve ever fallen madly in love with has not, in the end, been a good match for me.

This is contrary to everything I ever learned about love, from fairy tales, from movies, from books and poetry and art. Even from my parents’ 50+ year marriage. (The lucky [expletive deleted]’s met when they were 19, fell in love, and are still happy to be with each other.)

Though falling is the more quoted mode of entry, I’ve discovered that it’s quite possible to gradually wander into love.

(Which makes me wonder how many people I might have wandered into love with, had I only given them more time.)

I’ve learned from experience that regardless of what other kinds of love you’re swimming in – infinite variations of filial, friendly, brotherly, spiritual, erotic, romantic, etc. etc. (English has a sad dearth of words to describe the vast number of types of love) – the being in love feeling is transitory. Often when it starts off strongest, it goes away fastest.

But sometimes it also comes back.

(Which makes figuring out when to end a relationship challenging indeed.)

Thankfully, the wisdom of experience whispered in my ear that if the being in love feeling can come back after leaving, perhaps it can show up where it had never been before…

Give someone enough time to show you who they really are, and you might be surprised at how your heart swells and opens.

A good match, it turns out, may have less to do with how crazy-wild-with-love you feel, than with how your life goes when the person in question is in it.

(Single people, take note.)

On Valentine’s Day one year ago I grieved the loss of an untrustworthy love, one that spoke a good line, but was perched on flimsy values. Rotten roots that disintegrated at the first sign of challenge.

Today I celebrate a steadfast love. One that kept coming back rather than running away. One that not only doesn’t flinch at challenges, but in every way possible makes my life go better.

I wish the same for everyone this Valentine’s Day.

Which is now – rather ironically, given my scorn for the holiday – my anniversary day.

Here’s to hearts and roses.