PURSUE my focus word for 2016

I belong to loads of online art groups and the big thing every January is "WHAT'S YOUR FOCUS WORD FOR THE YEAR?". I never paid much attention to it in the past but this year I really felt that I needed to get intentional in a few areas of my life.

2015 was a year of BEGININGS, ENDINGS and STARTING OVER. I suppose it's what some refer to as "being stretched". Super exciting for the most part but there were also times when I felt disappointed and confused. I was having to face the fact that things don't always go as we envision in our puny minds.

Proverbs 16:9 says, "We can make our plans, but the Lord directs our steps."

Thank God He's the Director and not me!

So back to my focus word for 2016, PURSUE.

This year I'm going after the dream in my heart. It's going to require a diligent course of action on my part which includes intentional creativity in my art journal on a daily basis.

This exercise is teaching me to create for the sake of PROCESS rather than a FINISHED PRODUCT. It's not about excellence but rather about making a comittment and holding myself accountable to the daily practice. There's no plan or agenda. I'm simply required to show up and take action on the page. The unknown is often awkward and uncomfortable but I love how art and creativity can be used as tools to teach us about acceptance of self and life.

By the way... I'm finding that being "transparent" is a byproduct of blogging and this process. Hummm, I think I'm learning to be ok with this new relationship.

The above are some of the pages of my process art journal.

ONE MORE THING to share with you in regard to my focus word PURSUE

In the Spring of 2015, I was living in Colorado and had the opportunity to share my original work at a boutique in Southern California (which has since closed :-( ) Anyway, I painted this piece which I called BRIGHT FUTURE. The scripture that the Holy Spirit gave me for it was of course Jeremiah 29:11. The original is 16" x 20" on stretched canvas and I just loved her. She felt special to me for some reason but I couldn't explain why at the time. The whole time she was at the boutique, I thought about her. I finally picked her up and brought her home. She lived in a box for months as we unexpectedly moved from Colorado to Arizona and then from Arizona to California.

In November of last year, I unpacked her and gave her a new home on the wall of our tiny room at my dad's house. Oh, In case you did know... My husband Frank and I moved in with my 91 year old dad. It's the home I grew up in as a child and his wish is to remain in his own home. We are doing our best to make that happen. Talk about being stretched and trusting God... Ay Caramba!

Here she is !

"For I know the plans I have for you", says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you," says the Lord.

Jeremiah 29;11-14 NLT

She's the first thing I see when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I see before I go to bed at night. She's a constant reminder of God's promises to me. No wonder I had to bring her home!

She is currently available as a greeting card.

Other formats will be available by the end of January.

Click here to purchase. http://www.eyesofmyheartartstudio.com/#!product/prd12/4455445581/bright-future