Have you ever chosen a word of the year? The idea behind it is to have a gentle positive reminder of something you want to focus on. You can use it to help guide your choices and decisions throughout the next twelve months. In 2021 my word was acceptance and it came in pretty useful considering how much our world and lives have changed during the pandemic. For 2022, in keeping with my aim to have a little more balance in my life, I have chosen space. I love creating art and learning new skills, so much so that I can end up neglecting relaxation and pretty much everything else. So this year there will be more time for walking, for exploring new places, for friends, for reading, for thinking and maybe even for some gardening, but I can't promise that one. To help me I am using a diary and blocking out time to include all of these things. I'm also narrowing my focus onto a couple of creative projects for the year and if I'm tempted to add anything else I will think about whether I have the space to take it on.
As part of the process of finding balance I have started a morning meditation practice using the free app Insight Timer. It has so much content that it could in fact become overwhelming and defeat its own purpose. A fellow artist recommended Sarah Blondin's meditations so I have picked a couple of those to listen to and found them excellent. I have been doing quite short ones of 5 or 10 minutes, to see how I get on with this daily practice.
On the creative side of things I have been experimenting with colour palettes and a little figurative drawing. That may be a clue to what lies ahead for me this year. I have also recently launched my newsletter which will keep subscribers updated about my studio practice. my new collections and any special offers in my shop. If that interests you, you can sign up here
Murlough Beach