I’ve been blogging for something around 13 years. So many of those blogposts were written through the brain-fog of early motherhood, fatigue, peanut butter sandwich making, Blue’s Clues, mess.  Carving out spaces in closets and little rooms, desks, and dining room tables to create any and everything.  So many stages and seasons of making and being. I used to feel badly about my many outlets for creativity, as if my creative wanderings were flighty, unrelated, and flaky.  There is an undercurrent in the world of only focusing on one thing to be taken seriously.

Pish-posh.

If there is anything I’ve learned, it’s to do what you like and do lots of it.

“Breathless” – 12×18 pastel and ink on paper

Bethany Fields 2017

Spread your wings, try new things.  Be open to your inner child.  Instead of thinking outside the box, get rid of the box. Get messy, have fun, make more art.

One of my favorite artistic encouragements is “How to be an Artist” by Sark.  I shared it on June 5, 2005 on my old blog now archived on an old domain. Reading those blog posts is like a journal of someone I don’t entirely remember. Somewhere in the span of 12 years, each of these got harder and harder.  Life got in the way, babies grew, days passed.

Now I look at this list and smile. While each item could be called unrealistic, naive, or silly, it’s the sentiment of an effortless zeal for wonder and discovery that I love.  It’s the inner hippie in me yearning for days of sunshine, freedom, and joy.

And here are some things I’ll add in 2017…

• Use more paint than you think you need
• Study the colors of the clouds, and trees, and grasses
• Don’t worry about what others think
• Listen to the music loudly…and dance
• Open the windows
• Stretch
• If you’re scared, do it anyway

I wonder what I’ll add in another 12 years?  What would you add?

I can’t wait to see…

xoxo

Bethany

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