living artfully

28

Yesterday, I turned 28.   The start of a new year.  I'm excited for all the possibility of what I can experience and accomplish and learn in the coming year. So with inspiration from Ali Edward's one little word concept, I am choosing the word grow as my word for this year.

For me, the word "grow" has so many meanings.  It's about literally growing my own plants and flowers this year, about joining a CSA for locally grown produce.  About growing as an adult, a woman, and a wife... and nurturing myself and the many wonderful relationships that spring from those roles.  And of course it's about learning and expanding as a creative person.

I'm still thinking of how I'd like to carry my word with me this year.  I'd like to record my word in my scrapbook studio somehow. And I love the idea of this beautiful "hidden message" necklace from Etsy seller GemsByEm:
 

And to remind me of what growth can mean:

Change and growth take place when a person has risked himself and dares to become involved with experimenting with his own life.  Herbert Otto

Growth itself contains the germ of happiness.  Pearl Buck

There are no such things as limits to growth, because there are no limits to the human capacity for intelligence, imagination, and wonder.  Ronald Reagan

The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.  Oliver Wendell Holmes

art goals

Above all else, it is about leaving a mark that I existed: I was here, I was hungry, I was defeated, I was happy, I was sad, I was in love, I was afraid, I was hopeful, I had an idea and I had a good purpose and that's why I made works of art.
-Felix Gonzalez-Torres

Lots of art-related goals floating around in my head right now, this blog being the first of many.  As I challenge myself to live in the moment, to live more consciously (with gratitude!), and to record those moments through art, I knew this blog would be an answer.  So I'm here, to write and make a record.  Whether this blog has the good fortune of being enjoyed by others would just be a bonus.

Besides this site, I'm challenging myself...

- To photograph all my scrapbooking layouts, not just to archive, but to post online and share.  Making Memories had a great posting about this on their blog.
- To become a better photographer with our dSLR camera.  I really want to sign up for the Portrait Course at JessicaSprague.com with Candice Stringham when it's offered next!
- This one's for "I don't know when" and it's a big one... I really want to do a Project 365 or some other type of timed photo study.
- To increase my skill level with Photoshop Elements.  I've spent way too long using such an amazing editing tool just for cropping and red eye removal.  I poured over Jessica Sprague's Computer Tricks for Scrapbooking.  But I think it's time to take one of her Photoshop courses. Definitely want to take her photo editing class and her Intro to Photoshop.
- To take advantage of Flickr.  For the inspiration and for the opportunity to load and share our photos.  There is so much to look at on Flickr; I could get lost for hours!

So that's enough to keep me busy for a while, don't you think?!  I'm feeling excited and more than ready.  Can't wait to see where these art goals take me!