preview screens

My nephew is adorable. There is something about the way he speaks and sees things that captivates his company. And all he has to do is see something one time and he has it figured out--except the screen on the video camera.

While I was at a peewee soccer game several weeks ago, cheering on his big sister, I witnessed his little mind working and thinking and thinking some more. (The guy on the left is my brother, not nephew...by the way.)

It was a funny enough scene to begin with, peewee soccer is really just a bunch of 4 year-olds running in a swarm somewhere near a moving ball, possibly heading the wrong direction or scoring for the other team ... it is pure entertainment. "Go the other way!" is an often heard refrain, followed by a bunch of men shaking or hanging their heads and a bunch of women talking about how cute that was ...

I was on the sideline with my sister, her sister-in law, and the little man, T. He wanted to use the camera so, at 2 years, my sister handed it to him and with little issue he began snapping away. Off and on for the next several minutes he shot with it, consistently checking the preview screen  to see what he produced. 'Can I take your picture?" His mom asked. And he poses with his "cheeeeeez" and grin, of course the next thing said, "can I see?" and the camera is flipped around and T. gets to see his adorable face on the preview screen. The screen would flash on and off and they would take the next picture and the process unfolded for quite some time.

Until, out comes the video camera. My curious nephew was onto the next adventure in a split second, with his other aunt. But something was not right. This "camera" was broken, or some it seemed. He'd stand in front of it and smile and then ask his aunt to turn it around and "let me see"... but the picture was moving and the preview didn't have him in it! He was sure that it wasn't working. After checking and rechecking and saying "cheeeez" over and over, it just didn't work.

I really love this as a metaphor for life and God's work in our days. I heard a prayer not too long ago that amounted to: Lord, please let me be a part of what you are already doing in this area (wherever you are). Because God is already at work in the people around you, those situations, etc.--if they know it or not.

Where this is a good fit is that sometimes we don't really know or see the full picture--where the preview on the camera made perfect sense to T. the preview on the video camera didn't work. If we trust and obey the direction of the Holy Spirit it may someday make sense, if we try to make the video camera do only what the camera can do ... we miss out on something different and special. If you catch my drift.

Communion

I was listening to the radio on my way home the other night and the most interesting (probably only to me) Jewish, now Christian, lady was speaking. She was obviously a New Jersey native, I knew a couple girls from there.

She was talking about the mystery of communion and how it was a tripping point to her coming to faith. The story wound in and out of the Old and New Testaments, then into the Catholic church and around to an Evangelical one and then to the Jewish upbringing. I wish everyone had insights and connections like this woman and it made me more clearly understand the Judaizers in the Bible, another topic entirely.

What she had to say was fascinating, I never did hear her name...I tuned in late and left it early--well it left me, suddenly the broadcast stopped strangely mid-sentence. Anyway here are some of the ideas intertwined with my own:

1. The people were always being pursued and taken care of--this is the heart of the message. There were provisions for them to be made presentable before God at every stage. It's always about the people.
2. The one giving a sacrifice would lay their hand on the head of a flawless lamb to transfer their sin onto the animal. The animal was to be killed, its blood spilled and would have been on the one giving the sacrifice. After it was killed it would be burnt, or cooked, and then the animal would have needed to be fully consumed--nothing left. Then it was complete
       a. In the same way Jesus was the lamb, his blood spilled out ... Pilate said he was blameless and his blood was on those insisting he be killed.
       b. Jesus said he was to be consumed.
       c. And like the those at the passover that were safely spared death under the covering of blood, Jesus' blood was to cover us and spare us death as well.
3. The manna in the desert was a provision to the people, a holy bread provided to sustain the people and care for their needs--bread that gave life, bread from heaven. It was to be fully consumed.
        a. In the same way Jesus was the the bread of life and the bread from heaven. He was broken and given for the life of many.
        b. At the last supper Jesus he said he'd be broken and his blood would be spilled.

4. Jesus tied two covenant promises of sustaining a nation and forgiving sins together with his words at the last supper. And weather you like it or not he says "this is my body...my blood" so in whatever capacity you can receive that receive it. And if you take part in communion these are the things to reflect on:
        a. There is a promise he will sustain you.
        b. There is a promise he is in you.
        c. There is a promise he will forgive you.
        d. There is an implication you believe he is the trinity.
        e. There is an implication you are receiving these promises.
        f. There is a mystery of one-ness that is significant.
        g. There is a need to consume the sacrifice that ties all of history together and in whatever way you can receive that, receive that.
        h. When you receive that you are the bride of Christ--you are wanted, pursued, perfected. And he is the perfect lover of your soul.

I can just barely wrap my mind around it how huge communion is.

Birth and Death and a journey to happiness

 

I had a very emotion-filled week last week. I began the week saying goodbye to a 15 year old who ended her life. It is easily the most grief I've seen. People not understanding and the haunting words her mom spoke to me: I have no more tears, I'm just empty; and with those words my heart sunk to the lowest place it's ever been and I felt nauseated. This young girl's death struck hard and in the midst of a group of people who try to communicate value and hope to youth as their work. One of the men I used to work with said to me, "It is not just at our door, it is in our house" referring to the work they do with youth and suicide prevention messages. I was having a hard time lifting out of the fog and confusion of wondering how such a loving family could see such a crisis--how one decision lead to trauma for 5 family members, a school, a youth group, a drama program, a church and an entire staff of volunteers from a non-profit...a couple thousand people. One decisions! And that was Monday. 

Tuesday was a fog. Mulling over and over what desperation some people feel and what I could possibly do about it--I was just so insanely sad and wanted to attack any work to eliminate hopelessness in the world. I spent the night at Starbucks filling in an outline of curriculum I decided to write. I'll continue to work on it over the next months. In the short term, I just want to invest in young people and mentor my niece and nephew and pour into a couple of other younger people I know...but I want it all NOW and sometimes God moves slowly.

Wednesday morning I walked into the studio and randomly decided to check Facebook on my phone, my sister, pregnant with twins, had a cryptic message about the size of a delivery room. A huge shot of adrenaline later and a few quick calls and texts left me with waiting for the new additions to the family--a few hours later I bolted for the door and drove back to meet the little guys. Two perfect little boys lifted some fog and bound up a few lose ends in my heart from the previous days. Everything seems okay when you are holding a healthy baby. God intervened in an obvious answer to prayer during their delivery which made this see even more beautiful and amazing. And these perfectly innocent someday-men have a clean slate and hope rests lightly on them with all kinds of stories to be written and fun to be had and we smile.

We didn't talk about the traumas the twins might encounter, or the sadness they might experience that day. We didn't even talk about our struggles that day. We were all caught up in the mystery and beauty of these little guys that day. 

I believe that God spares nothing in the metaphors drawn out by life and the Bible. Often you can dive deep inside a word picture and learn from every view point and each level of thought. When I look at these infants and the loving family around them, I forget about everything else. I think God is like that with us. I think he couldn't stand the thought of not seeing us as perfect, so that is why Jesus--but that point is for another time, right now, the point I want to make is this: I believe God is so enamored with us that He can't really think about anything else. The problem is that His view is so much more complete and perfect that we don't always feel that is true. 

If you struggle today--tell God, He's big enough to take it, yell and cry if you must. We wouldn't want an infant to hold in a cry just so we were not bothered by their pain or hunger--we'd want to know. Etc.

Mostly through this I'm seeing that happiness is a choice every day--I used to think that meant that I had to just suck it up and "play" happy as though I was a character in my own life. I now know that happiness comes with being around people who make you happy and doing the things that  make you happy and it isn't selfish, it is a form of worshiping God. Similarly, I make an idiot of myself just to make my oldest nephew laugh especially if he feels pain or seems sad--God provides outlets for us, He knows this is going to get a little difficult, He was here after all.

So, my exhortation and encouragement to you:

Be present with those you love and spend time pursuing something that makes you feel happy everyday. This can be as little as getting a super-ball out of a quarter machine (I just love those) or as complex as filling your friend's yard with plastic flamingos (I plead innocent). Actually going and taking photos you always wanted to take. Calling that someone who you always laugh with. Mostly giving yourself and others the benefit of the doubt (I'm working on this one).

Because I don't want you to feel hopeless. Life can be hard and discouraging but it is nothing is worth despairing over--despair is overrated and implies that there is no master plan. I believe there is a master plan and the Master planning it is fairly brilliant. Sometimes that is difficult, holding all those thoughts at the same time, so here is my summary: 

sad/frustrated = okay/tell God, 

peruse happiness = best idea, another form of worship

master plan = no point in despair, pain in this life has a purpose somehow down the road.

 

ARTspace at Lifest

 There is an event I am apart of nearly every year, since 2000. It is called Lifest (Life-fest). Bob Lenz' organization, Life Promotions, presents it and calls it a party with a purpose.

Bob is a great guy. His mission in life is to help youth see and hear that they are valuable and can choose to live life to the fullest. This is a fairly sizable off-shoot of that and it includes all ages.

Oshkosh, WI is taken over for five days by thousands, up to 80,000 a day some years, of people and I get to be a small part of that.

A few years ago Eric Leverance and I began ARTspace at the event. Eric is a Pastor in Oshkosh and his church used to be extremely artsy.

We decided we'd take the corner of a barn and 5-10 tables and start some little art thing there. It exploded.We planned for something like 300 people painting over the 5 days. We had more like 700-800. And we had to keep asking for more tables and chairs. People just sat and sat and didn't want to leave.

So we said we'd get 800 canvases to "plan ahead" the following year and needed more like 1000-1200. And the same thing happened. People didn't want to leave and we had to keep asking for more tables and chairs.

Last year was the third year. We thought we had a handle on it. We did not. This thing has gotten out of control, in a good way. It was like watching rest, therapy, calm and peace wash over families and individuals. Last year we planned for 30 tables, seating eight, and had to ask for more again. We began with 1200 canvases and had to run and get more again. We began with about 150 lbs of clay for sculptures and had to run and get more again...for the third year it grew, and it could of been even a bit  larger but we were exhausted and just closed early for the first time.

This will be the forth year. We anticipate nearly 2000 paintings over the 4 days it's open. We anticipate nearly 500 small sculptures. We also anticipate running out of tables and chairs, not having enough paint brushes and all kinds of other fun messes that come with this colorful experiment. We also anticipate another community mural being started by random passers-by who want to paint a little (it is like painting on the walls) ... we might even do an art show.

The interesting things--normally we are only left with a few paintings because almost all are taken home, some people stick around and help clean up--which is amazing and people who were part of it in previous years act like tour guides sometimes. The new people: I think it is funny that often someone will see my name badge and circle their arms around pointing at all the different stuff and sorta yell at me "what is this place?!" Then the four or five others who were wandering around wondering the same thing slowly walk up behind them and listen in. And I will do my spiel, "paint, sculpt or draw ..."

It is a simple yet palpable exercise in being a co-creator in this world. It is a cool celebration of our natural instinct to do just that. If you have not been a part of it, please come. My team always needs more people!

Table scraps

Lately there is a lot being said about humility, it seems. I've heard a couple messages, a couple podcasts and people all mention it--for some reason it is in the air.

I think I'm starting to realize what it looks like. It has always been a difficult idea for me to wrap my mind around. Sure: don't put yourself first or think too highly of yourself, maybe even let others go first, or whatever; it just seems like it is more than that.

There is a story in the Bible about a woman reaching out and touching Jesus' hem in a crowd. He asks who did it and later in the dialogue she says what amounted to: all I want from you is what you'd feed to the animals. Not your seconds, not your left overs, not what you would give away because you didn't care for it--she was asking for his trash.

It is an eye-opening realization that someone's trash is much better than I truly deserve. In the book of John, Jesus says that we will only truly accomplish anything of note if it is by His power in and through us.

When I combine all of that--the humility, the work through Him, the trash, it comes out something like this: Lord, please help me, it is only by your power my life actually matters. In the long run, it is only by your grace I can live for you at all. Please lead me in all I do, let it be for you, because I want to love you back. I will try not to mess up too badly. I know people are watching and I would like to do okay by them. I know they all, no matter what their attitude or disposition or position, matter to you and you are in them (if they know it or not) and I want to treat you right. I am no better than anyone else--and because I am aware of this I actually should serve more and better. The truth is I don't have the strength to do all of that, or to remember all of that, so I'm going to need you now more than ever. Amen.

Beautiful effortless Portland

I took some image during my trip at the Farmer's Market and The Grotto. Maybe because WI is so dreary for so long but the vibrant colors and the natural effortless beauty was amazing. My favorites:

Israel notes

I had the pleasure of attending Troy & Tricia Murphy's photo presentation of his trip to Israel. I kinda liked the look of my notes and thought I'd share.

Threshold of Beginnings

Every new piece of art has a threshold to cross at the beginning. Once you are practiced in ignoring it or leaping over it you begin creating regularly.

I was looking through old images and found a few beginnings of art pieces. I remember the beginning of each one very clearly. I was careful and studied. The beginning had to be right for the rest to work. I suppose it is the same with life.

Here are some beginnings.

It is a beautifully orchestrated God-thing. Opening weekend of Blue Like Jazz.

One of my biggest struggles is waiting for God to reveal what's in the works. I'm a "gett'er done" type of girl. All this unfinished business is frustrating! I know God doesn't waste, I know God can use anything, I know God prepares us...but I'm wondering when something is going to make some sense.

There has to be a reason that the guy I loved moved (for his job) and left me after he said we'd get married, or a reason that I left a career to go to another and have fallen back into the original one. Or a reason for my childhood home getting demolished, my parents lived there for 35 years! Or for my apartment getting robbed...or...or...or...

Maybe I'm overly romantic about the grand scheme of it all but there has to be a reason for this stuff--all this trial, right?!

This weekend was the opening weekend of Blue Like Jazz the movie. I've had a blast watching the online updates, reading reviews, listening to stories, watching the Twitter feed and Donald Miller and Marshall Allman fake fight.

Mostly, my heart is encouraged beyond words. Armed with the knowledge, since around September 2010, that a Kickstarter campaign was taking shape--becoming a Kickstarter Backer on October 11, 2010 and getting updates since that time was remarkable. I even saw the bridge scene getting filmed while I was in Portland last winter!

I was surprised by the sudden info, way back when, that the movie might not happen and delighted when I found out about the campaign. No rain, no rainbows, right? I think I jumped in the pool after the first email, it  isn't normal for me to do that kind of thing.

But the campaign is the crux of it. It is a beautifully orchestrated God-thing. It is a redemptive story in two-fold, or three-fold, possibly even four-fold. Don's book--the essays about faith, life and embracing God in spite of everything. The story of the movie going from the cutting floor to something like 5000 people rejecting that and saying "we want this to happen." And finally the story of Don in the movie: being the voice for the silent Christians, the ones who can't find the words but have wanted to say the very thing he said so simply, "I'm sorry." And now as it sits with folks who saw it and we get to watch that unfold, too.

I see something much bigger than just a movie in this. I'm excited that I've finally witnessed how God's hand can work through a trial to render an amazing collaboration. It gives my heart hope for amazing collaborations between Him and me; it gives me hope that collaborations have already begun. That's what I want all the Kickstarter Backers to see, too.

Thank you to Donald Miller, Steven Taylor and the team who had enough faith to ride this out. You make it look effortless--and I'm pretty sure it is anything but effortless.

International Justice Mission and the battle inside

I heard about International Justice Mission a couple years ago. I was invited to be a part of an event and show my art where a coffee company, Storyville, was selling their coffee and telling a story about raising funds for IJM.

The company existed because the owner wanted to find a way to continually support the mission of IJM. Since that time, periodically, I hear more. At first it was too much for me to think about, human trafficking. I'd listen to stories but couldn't process the horror of much of it. Little by little I am getting familiar with the issues and slowly able to stomach some of the heavy issues.

But instead of looking away I am forcing myself to listen to the news stories, speakers and information that comes out. Two weeks ago I was sketching and realized I wanted to create some artwork around this topic and this organization. After watching some TV, ironically, one of the news programs was on human trafficking.

The statistics are awful and the saddest thing I heard was: because of fear people in this type of danger have a physiological change in their brains that essentially paralyzes them--they believe they are powerless. That made me think of the condition of their heart, powerlessness paired with hope--I want to believe that those who are rescued feel like their heart grew wings, and they are free. I know most will have a long journey ahead of them ... but that is my hope for them.

Please see: http://www.ijm.org/ for more information. Please get involved.

Joy in the midst of it all

I have this niece an nephew that are fantastic. They are great and they teach me a lot. She loves dressing up and playing with my paint. He loves crashing cars together and running around like a maniac.

They will devolve into giggle at a mere look and I love that I know what look makes it happen. They may be fuming mad and with one small glance smirks wash across their faces and they choose to forget what what unpleasant. I wish I could master that freedom of will as an adult. A pause button and a new mood, just like that.

I'm beginning to see prayer as an outlet for this. The older I get and more practiced in prayer, the more I see that it alone has the power to free me of the trials of the day and allow me to be more of who I know I can be.

When you hear a heart breaking.

I know Easter is supposed to be a joyful celebration. In my mind I understand that fully. In my heart I understand the great big sense of awe and wonder at the gift we've been given; I also have unanswered prayers.

We had a great service today. The message and music were compelling. This feeling that there were many people that were struggling just wouldn't leave me though.

It seems selfish to be concerned about daily life issues on Easter. I'll confess, I walked into the church building thinking about things I want, places I need to go, where I feel inadequate, the need for time to work on things, and  how torn I feel between all the musts and shoulds of life.

It should not have been surprising that a part of the message was about all our unanswered prayer and how today was larger than that. Today was about an invitation to believe the story and begin to live it out after all.

After leaving church with this hollow sense of "I should feel elated" and "Christ is risen!" I realized that Easter perspective is helpful but sometimes it isn't healing. The healing truth is: we have completely unselfish, loving God cares that there were a whole bunch of overwhelmed people in the room that had a hard time focusing because of the burdens of life, even on Easter. Yes, today was all about Him but He is all about us, Even on Easter.

If you still seek Him but did not come away with peace today..if you feel lousy for not celebrating and shouting "He is risen!" then we can both be released from guilt knowing Thomas did the same thing (he basically said "yeah, whatever guys, prove He's back. Prove He's here with us")--and Jesus sought him out to prove it.

I'm not saying tell God to prove He's here. I am saying, know He cares and He understands if you couldn't totally celebrate today.

Becoming a Woman of Integrity

As I work and live I'm always around powerful people. I don't know what it is about my life but it seems as though no matter where I land there is opportunity to rub shoulders with someone particularly important.

What seems to happen, because of this, I get to see other people at their worst. Pining away for attention and jockeying for position and attention, people can make a spectacle of themselves or say the most horrendous things.

It is difficult to keep my mouth shut, to stay focused on my faith, to not reason away the way I live or behave and to be honest about the depth of my faith. Half of the time I'd like to crawl under a rock and the other half, I'd like to start preaching about how it should be. I'm not that great at math but 50% plus 50% doesn't leave much for prayer, patience or a wiser course of action.

Needless to say but worth saying: I'm not perfect. I have no right to preach at others learning lessons I'm learning, too. After a life of praying and studying, hoping and tearing my hair out I've learned a couple things I believe scripture supports.

- Until someone subscribes to my brand, for lack of a better term, of faith I have no right to chastise or judge them. Even when they do believe just like me, the book of Matthew give some particular attention and detail on how we need to lovingly, patiently and quietly go about addressing things with people ... until that day I am commissioned to love and make disciples. Making disciples requires me to be one, therefore I better pray up and live right.

- I've learned not to keep score. It is really easy to tally up all the things you do for others and then wait around for repayment before you go on to doing more. I've decided that it is a huge waste of time and talent and resources. God doesn't keep track, He just pours out all kinds of gifts whenever and with no real regard for portions. We'd be in trouble if He did pay attention and paid us back in as much as we've given. The truth is that if we believe what Jesus said, what we do to others we do to Him--then there is only one re-payer anyway. All are one and one is the recipient. So keeping track is useless--bad math.

-I've learned that my story is interesting, compelling and special and that everyone I meet has the same thing going on. People who don't know Jesus the way I do would say I'm weird but can't argue with my sense of humor or ability to put things in perspective. No matter how my life is framed my stories seem to call people to do more with their lives even if it is only to reconnect with Jesus. People want to be validated and listened to. Agreeing with something they said is so important to them, just picking one small thing will gain you a life-long friend.

- I've learned that people want to see values that translate through all of your life and thinking. It is one thing to say that you live out purity, it is another to then tell dirty jokes or watch crap on tv. It is one thing to say that you support life, and then to support the death penalty ... It is important not to jump on bandwagons and to have values that are relative to your current mood.

- I've learned that our culture's readiness to champion women who dominate men is overrated. I believe we are all created in the image of God and one sex is not better than the other. At the same time there is some power in a woman who is filled with grace and peace that champions men. Both sexes should be celebrated. Men should not be afraid to be masculine and women, feminine. I resent that in many arenas men are emasculated. I resent feeling like I can't be feminine in some settings.

- I've learned that if I say I will, I need to. If I say I will do something I do it. It is more and more rare for people to have this happen, and just this trait exhibits integrity to most people.

- I've learned to be honest about my frustrations with Christians, apologizing when necessary for other Christians' missteps. I've had several people tell me about hurtful words pastors or those in authority have spoken to them. No one else is going to right the wrong. Often those telling me didn't even know the weight of the words until much later--and they've been carrying that with them for a while.  Truth without love yields judgement. Truth with love yields grace. People seem to be okay with truth when it is covered in love.

- I'm part of this Christian tribe and a lot of these Christians embarrass me. BUT it is important for me to claim them anyway. Unity is an often overlooked and underrated means to an end. Most of the new testament has a sub-theme of unity. I might not like some of what my family does but I claim them, I need to be the same way about my faith.

- Realize that I am a work in progress. I am not yet done learning what becoming a woman of integrity means. Each day reveals more and deeper truths. I'm learning to preface some of the things I say with: this is what I know today.

A solid foundation will set you apart.

Perfect marriages, no such thing

I'm not married. I have nothing of value to add to the topic. I have the privilege of being part of a large family that has many long-lasting marriages.

I listened to a podcast today, here:
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/media/relevant-podcast/podcast-interviews/27118-us-and-our-daughters

This is quite possibly one of the most beautiful reflections I've heard on the topic of sticking it out in marriage.

I think tonight I will pray for everyone that is married.

How to manage your time.

I always seem to find a lot to do. If it isn't part of my paid full-time job, which has often been busy, it is projects I take on.

I've learned quite a bit about time management. Here are some of the highlights:

- Keep an up-to-date "to do" list. More notes on that in another blog.

- Keep a detailed calendar. Write preparation notes on the calendar days and weeks ahead.

- Do small tasks first unless they are time consuming. This frees you up mentally and helps you feel like you finished something.

- Take breaks to do the things you enjoy and/or use those things as motivators to get through the things you don't want to do.

- Take the time to get very well prepared and organized before you begin a project. It seems like a waste until you are mostly through and then you will be thankful.

- Don't assume details. Ask about things even if you feel annoying. It saves time doing re-work later.

- Play out scenarios in your head and picture how it will work out, tweek processes you develop upfront, a time saver later.

- Take a Sabbath day. You are not a machine, do not work all the time.

- Before you get on your computer or internet make a list of what you need to accomplish in order to stay on-task. Allow yourself only a predetermined time on other sites if you are busy.

- Before making calls or sending replies, work through all the project in your head and go through other resources. Try to cover as much as possible in one call or one email. Make notes on open ended questions and ask for an action to be determined before you hang up or in your note. For instance, it could be that if there is no answer to your question that you will hear back by a certain date.

- Take note of what days of the week you are most effective and plan for the heavy-lifting those days. Most people are best suited for detailed work or fresh creative perspective right after a weekend or break.

- Being organized is a great time saver.

- Group tasks, if you need to go somewhere, also try to run other errands in that area or near that area. If you need to work on the computer, do several things in sequence on the computer.

- Try to avoid multitasking. If you are doing something, focus on that thing--especially if it is a detailed task like an inventory list. You will get more quality work done. Interruptions are inevitable but you can make some notes and go back to that task later.

- If you feel the need to do research on something, like how an app works, take the time to do it. But be specific about what you are looking for and don't get lost in your searching especially if it is online. Clarity lends to effeciency.

- Be proactive. If you are wondering about something, address it. Waiting for someone to come to you about an idea, work that is outstanding, etc. You will be more apt to do thorough work when things are fresh in your mind.

- Be friendly to all vendors and help them out. It has helped me get things turned around quickly when needed. A small detour for someone to help them out will save you time down the road.

- Take lunch, and leave the building most days. Try to change up your scenery. It reinvigorates you and helps you work better and longer when needed.

- Be aware of when you need quiet. I find that sometimes I get distracted by noise and it slows me down to almost a stop. It can be radio/tv, anything ... At that point I need to change tasks or find quiet.

- Talk with people who know what you don't. Don't be afraid to pick the brains of those around you.

... an a lot more ideas, but these are the best.

How to be more creative

Creativity is elusive for most people. From my observations: some seem to think it is a mystical force, or to others it is a trance that comes over you, or liken it to a place you go.

It is not that complicated. It is not mystical, at least most days. I believe it is a skill, when exercised, you are able to develop over time. More like flexibility in your brain muscle than anything else.

Here are the things I practice that help me be more creative:

- Open-ended  is your enemy. Boundaries are your friend. When observing students, I realized that the more open-ended the assignment the more they floundered. The more closed the end goal, the more they rebelled against the assignment. There is a great place between these two extremes that is a vague idea and yet clear direction. If you are able to master this in your own thinking it is a valuable tool. Instead of looking at a blank canvas and feeling like you should create a work of art give yourself a topic and theme. Like a bird painting using warm colors. Then search for inspiration.

- Change your scenery. It is true, if you go to a coffee shop to sketch and your normal environment is your home studio, you're going to stir something up.

- Do something relaxing that allows your mind to wander. I like to drive alone. When I do, I think. When I think, I unearth things that haven't had a chance to come to the surface.

- Silence. Sometimes silence is the best medicine, for the same reasons as the last. I will often wash dishes in silence. I get all kinds of ideas.

- Stimulate senses. Good food, bright colors, hot sun or a massage brings you to a different space and reinvigorates your look at the current day. I would plan to work the next day, not right after any of these necessarily, but it will re-engage your mind.

- Keep a sketchbook or notebook. This should be your idea file. A well-loved sketchbook has pages taped into it, writing, notes, directions, techniques, lists of artists ... I find it helpful to go through old sketchbooks and look for ideas as well as things I never full pursued.

- Keep materials at hand. Keep some portion of items to work with at hand so if there is a brainstorm you are able to go ahead and work it out right then.

- Schedule time. Block out regular time to work. Block it out with the awareness of when you are at your best. Avoid marathons if possible. I work better earlier in the week and do better backgrounds and research later in the week.

- Take a class. Even if you know a topic taking a class is a great tool in approaching a material differently--everyone handles the same media a different way.

- Talk to others about it. Talking stirs up the interest and desire to work, don't give away the end--that is yours to work out, just talk about what you may want to explore and get feedback.

- Explore your interests, draw from other passions. I am currently interested in Social Justice issues and plan on doing some art around that. I would not have done this 4 years ago, but now it makes sense.

- Make up your mind you are lucky. People who believe they are lucky are more open to possibilities.

- Play. Here and there, don't plan anything, just doodle or play. Try out a technique you researched and make a piece of art around it, that is a great way to play.

- Push through. If you are not "feeling" creative, work anyway. This does not include exhaustion.

- Word lists and mind maps. When I'm feeling a bit stumped I will make a word list. It is such a divergent way of looking at things because I am normally visual, it opens up a new part of my brain. If the topic is snow, you start by listing every characteristic of snow. To map it out, circle one word and draw a line and begin a new list. So, if snowflake was on my list, I'd circle it and begin a new list for it.

 - Divert to something totally different. I also love photography, pottery, digital work and pretty-much all other art forms. When I am at a place where I just can't look at another mixed media piece again then I will break out the camera or other media for a while.

- Irons in the fire. It is always a good idea to start something before you end the last thing. It helps the ebb and flow of ending a creative project and keeps your energy up and momentum high.

- Be curious. If an idea strikes you to explore, unless you are on a deadline, explore it.

- Mix and match. I often will have a couple working ideas started and set the aside, later I will go through them and match them up. Sometimes the most unexpected masterpieces come out of random pairings. A bright collage and Mother Teresa's face got paired up one day. Seems to be my most popular piece.

- Create even if you can't use your medium. I would love to do pottery at home, but it is not going to happen. Between the dust and the cost of running a kiln ... nope. It is important for me to create though. I work in other media that I know I am equally successful with.

- Use emotional energy. If you are particularly down about something or the opposite, try to work. I think these times also unlock parts of your brain and heart that are not always heard from.

- Exercise. I used to think that taking the time to exercise was just time away from useful work time but now I believe the opposite. Working out seems to allow more mental clarity, better energy and stamina and more flexibility.

And there are a lot more ideas ... these are just the best ones.

How to create a brand

A brand is an image signifying you or your organization to those that are not you or your organization.

There are a few things to creating a brand, none are difficult but they do take a certain amount of organization, energy and consistency.

1) You need a logo or a typographic logo. Text or an image can be used for a logo.

2) Consider colors and how they impact your image. There is some theory behind this. Blues often are representative of stability, reds/yellows stimulate your senses. Be intentional. There is also color theory in general. Be aware that there are some color combinations that are much more overwhelming than others. There are also color combinations that carry regional weight, around here--green and gold for the Packers; if you have a women's center you may not want to pick those colors.

3) Allow room for a tagline or descriptive slogan below your logo. This should not be the same font, or at the very least a different weight than your logo text. At the same time, there should be no more than two fonts in your logo, unless there is a strategic reason, you do not want "font competition".

4) Find someone to help with the professional details. Kerning/leading, other spacing in general, registration marks, an all the other artistic considerations.

5) There are places and times for artistic versions of a logo but the most valuable resource for a brand is the simple straightforward version with and without the tag line. 3D, or with shadows or other artistic elements is great for promotional material and collateral but not for the foundation pieces.

6) When you have a successful brand there should be concrete guidelines on how to use it. The clearer the better. Start with: rules for on light backgrounds (white), rules for on dark backgrounds, rules for web, rules for letterhead, rules for electronic communication.

7) When you are getting sick of seeing your logo it is probably starting to work. Changing a logo from an established business, unless there is a overhaul of epic proportions, should be subtle, leaving the key identifiers somehow in place. Look at long lasting brands and how their logos have evolved.

8) Use it on everything you develop and use it consistently within your rules. Add new rules as you see fit.

9) Consistently showing taglines and slogans is also a part of your strategy. Same ideas should be enforced with consistency, use of fonts, etc.

10) Consideration of how you use "visual language". This includes use of icons, treatments to images and all related items. Pay attention to this and do this consistently. As an example, a black line or a fade to white on header images might be an example, if you do this then on all images at the top of a page you might do the same thing.

11) How you present your copy is also a part of this strategy. If you notice the first pages of chapters in most books, they have a brand strategy applied to them. It addresses how to begin the communication. A capital bold letter, an italicized group of words, a different font and darker heading--all of those are good examples of approaching copy.

12) Neatness counts. No matter how small of an organization you are, you can look professional and successful if you only concentrate on neatness. Alignment, consistent use of size and font, choosing a clean typeface or a classic typeface, attention to scale (not distorting images) will be enough to get you started.

13) Simplify and aim for dynamic. When in doubt, simplify again. Don't overdo it, everything in a brand package should be straight forward. Dynamic is not necessarily complicated.

I Love London

This strange place most like Portland and SanFrancisco meet in a Dr. Who episode. It is spectacular. Old, new, worn and beautiful like old jeans and formal wear at the same time.

Here are a bunch of my pictures:

How to be organized.

Being organized isn't a gift as much as it is the ability to recognize and create systems. If you are able take note of your habits and design systems around them you can be organized, too. It is sort of like "everything has a place and everything in its place" but more like Simon says. I was not always organized, it developed out of necessity in college. After I got the hang of it I realized it is mostly about self-discipline and creativity.

Here are the ideas behind how I stay organized:

- Start fresh. If you want to organize one area in your home or office, unless it is just tidying up, start by removing everything from the area and starting fresh. Normally it doesn't work well to try to create order out of chaos by trying to impose order onto it--it is much more efficient to clear the space and begin anew. This also includes actually cleaning the space as well.

- Keep it visible. Clear bins, baskets, containers, etc., are the best options--it you can see what's in them you will probably use what's in them.

- Label. Unless you use something every day or it is obvious, such as a calendar, then you should take the time to label things. General to specific is a good guideline. For files: one large file for credit card statements and then if you'd like, inside that file have separate files for each company. For semi-translucent bins for holiday decor just need a holiday name on them unless you have a lot of stuff form some reason, first eliminate then label with the holiday and what it is, like lights.

- Throw it away if it is broken or almost dead (markers). Give it away if it is the wrong color or the wrong size.

- Put like and related items together. Put what you use most in the front or on top. Related items don't necessarily have to make sense to anyone one but you. I keep a spray bottle in my paint supplies because I use it when I paint.

- Create processes that work in your life. If you have a problem with mail building up start a system around it. It could look like putting a :file later" basket, a "add to the calendar" basket, a shredder and a recycle container near where you open mail. Then there are no excuses. Do things that make sense to how you work and live. If you work in a green house your daily needs will be different than those working at a computer all day. If you like something but it adds clutter, unless it has sentimental or motivating factors, do yourself a favor and clear it away. Clutter is the enemy of organization. It creates confusion and makes it hard to focus.

- Define your style. Define your color palette. It sounds funny but it is helpful. Maybe you really appreciate Victorian clothing, that doesn't mean you will wear a gown to work. Therefore, there is really no need to purchase or keep a Victorian ball gown.

- Define your space constraints. Give yourself a space limit and stick to it. This is especially helpful for books, decorations and clothing.

- Be a clutter Nazi. If you spot a problem area (shoes at the door, magazine subscriptions, collections) picture what you would like to see happening there. Most of the time daily issues like these just require a little creativity. With things like shoes, often it is the lack of storage creating the issue so put a bin or rack near the area. With items like magazines, it often comes down to the desire to maintain some piece of information in it--just tear that page out and toss the rest. Which leads me to my next point.

- Identify what is really going on with a constant source of clutter. Do you collect something that no one else see the value in? Do you hang onto everything that came from someone else? Beginning to understanding that appreciating something does not need to include owning it can free you up--people invest a lot of time maintaining collections, finding pieces and spending money on pieces; having a handful of really nice things that can be displayed is wonderful and shows your interest and pride much better than having hundreds of items you can't take care of. Likewise, items from relatives or friends are not those people, it those items do not reflect your taste move them into a better home--ask relatives if they'd like them first but otherwise, take a picture and sell it or give it away.

- Recognize what's a memory and what's scrapbook worthy. If something is worth keeping is should be worth taking care of. Come up with a system to set important scrapbook worthy things aside. A nice ornate box or a separated file folder would work well. Pictures that are blurry are of no use to anyone, toss them unless they are 100 years old and the only picture of Great Great Grandpa Earl there is no point in keeping a blurry soccer picture from 1980 when your niece played 18 games that year. A ticket stub from your first concert, however, may be something you want to keep ... then keep it and take care of it, make some notes, and file it for a time when you can put that scrapbook together.

- If you haven't used it ... consider what year you bought it in. I've heard some say if you haven't used it in a year you should toss it, whatever it is. Mostly this is an okay guideline but I find it a little too vague. For salad dressing--definitely! For dress shoes--maybe not. Here are a couple of things to consider: Are you keeping it just because it's nice? Then get rid of it. Are you keeping it because you want to fit into it again? Then look at the style--is it outdated or was it trendy 5 years ago? Then get rid of it. Do you like this better than the nicer version you have of the same thing? Then get rid of the nicer one. Do you keep it because you don't feel like going through it? Ask someone you trust for help and just get it done. Are you afraid you will not have enough if you get rid of things? God has a way of providing when there is room in our hearts and lives for Him to do so. Are you afraid you may need that piece of information? Scan it or take a picture and get rid of it.

- Practice makes perfect. This is more about self-discipline than anything else. Make up your mind that once you have put an area of your world in order, it will stay in order. If you fail to do so a few times in a row, no worries, just take a Saturday and re-institute the plan. If you fail for weeks in a row, your system is not working. Try something else.

How to make good lists.

There is an art to making good lists. In general, I have not encountered many who really utilize them well. Either people write too specifically or too generally, or they will put everything that comes to mind on the list. Another way to make a list ineffective is to keep it too long. Here are my keys to making a good list:

- Actually make it a list. Don't write all over a paper in different directions, don't have multiple sticky notes going in all directions, don't have a pile of scraps of paper all together.

- Be specific but not wordy. Describe the idea or item fully, often one word is good but if it isn't a helpful reminder, what good is it?

- Write in one color. If you use color, use it for a purpose--for instance, all work items are blue all holiday items are red, etc.  If you write all items in one color it helps keep things neat, neatness is a very useful tool in staying organized. Staying organized will help make your lists more helpful.

- Use bullet points. Then if something needs explanation you can easily skim the list to see the next items.

- Keep it accessible.

-  Don't keep old lists. Re-write lists. If you like seeing items crossed out then keep the list in a scrapbook but if you want it to be a tool in your life, then take old lists and start new ones, continually recycling into a new one will help you prioritize as well. The items that aren't important enough to stay on the list don't need to be done. Use your time for something more important.

- Jotted notes should get transferred onto a master list. I often need to remember something I have to buy or something about an up-coming event, so I write it on a sticky note and put in my planner. That item needs to go onto the list, if it stays on the other note only, then I have to look in two places not one. Having the self discipline to do this will save time in the long run. It is also good to jot down reminders, but it is equally as good to transfer them onto your master list and throw out the note with one item on it.

- Come up with a key or keep the list sorted. I've done it both ways. I find the key easier. Basically, all this is doing is categorizing and prioritizing the items on the list. I often star items to do that day, I will put a capital "E" by items that require an email or message of some sort. I will circle anything I need to get at the store, and so on. Or, you can put headings on your list and write the appropriate item under the heading. As long as there is a system to it that you can keep up with it will work out fine.

- Find something you like to write on. Special notebook, large sticky notes, magnetic pad that hangs on the fridge, or something snazzy like a vintage accounting notebook ... whatever it is, if you like it, you will keep up with it.

- Find something you like to write with. Same as above.

- Some things don't belong on a list. A list is for immediate issues in life--groceries, the items you have "to do", the items you need to remember to cover with another person, memory joggers, calendar-related items, planning for trips, etc. The items on the list should be specific, measurable (a definite result) or achievable, they should be short range and they should be able to fit into clear categories (groceries, to do, contacts to write, etc.)  There is a little gray area of overlap but, in general, helpful lists are not for long-range goals, a place to keep quotations you like, reminders of ideas you like, even doodles. It is good to record those things too but not on the list you refer to to get stuff done. Those more general, overarching concepts can't be "measured" in a few days time so you will never be able to move them off your list or cross them out.