On being "creative"....

People who know me tell me often how "creative" I am. Some days I agree with them, others I just feel "lost". I especially feel more lost after I've been feeling poorly as I have the last couple of days. You know how it is...you don't feel good, things are more difficult, things just seem to not work out quite right. It seems to exaggerate everything that may have a negative impact. I'm certainly no different. I've been lamenting to myself about how I miss that "spark" of creativity that usually burns so strong within me, and questioning if it's even still really there. (You know ...I don't feel good...poor, poor, pitiful me.) That's not good for me. Somehow it makes me feel...less me, if that makes any sense.

Since I joined the "real world" workforce a couple of years ago, rather than making a living designing, I haven't felt as connected to my sense of creativity. I miss that feeling terribly. I decided a few months ago to join Etsy, a site for handmade artists to peddle their wares. I expected it to be a breeze..after all, people are always telling me how creative I am, how they wished they had my talent, etc., etc. Well, it really hasn't been that breeze...as a matter of fact it's been terribly disappointing. I mean really, here I am TRYING to give away my art in the ACEO form, right here on this blog...and all it takes is a comment...how many comments so far.... two. No wonder I am doubting my own efforts huh?

Rather waste the time feeling sorry for myself, we all know how really useless that is, I decided to go looking for blogs that inspire creativity, and thus, inspire me. What I found was that the wealth of artists out there is astounding. Their creativity and talent amazing. The items that they use to create and make art from is just unbelievable. Since most of us can use a little inspiration sometimes, and we all enjoy seeing something beautiful...in the upcoming weeks, or months even, I'll be sharing the blogs, and the art, that inspire me the most...maybe they will inspire you in some small way as well.

The first one I want to share is a blog that I recently ran across written by Lindy Gruger Hanson. Lindy is from Bend, Oregon, and her art is just plain uplifting. It's chuck full of brilliant hues and wonderful images that somehow speaks to your soul and makes your spirit smile. She also offers a beautiful download (for free no less) featuring positive affirmations for creativity. You can see it on her website Lindy Gruger Hanson Fine Art. Look under the e-Newsletter section, it's under the area where you can sign up for her e-Newsletter.

I just checked the blog and she has some great photos of her border collies up, they are gorgeous...she also has a link that takes you to an animal rescue site. I've been going there every day for a couple of years now. You can "donate" food to animal shelters by just clicking. (Their advertisers donate for each click that happens on the site.) While you're there, click on all of the tabs across the top, you will be donating to save a rain forest, for literacy, breast cancer research, children's health, and a fight against hunger.

But, by all means, look at Lindy's art and see if you aren't inspired, or at the very least uplifted. Read her blog, and I bet she'd be thrilled if yo said hi to her too. We "artists" (I use the term loosely in regard to myself) like that sort of interaction. My thanks to Lindy for giving me permission to share her blog with you...I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

If you have a blog that you think inspires creativity, or know one that does, let me know so that I can share it. It's a great big Internet out there, and I cannot find all those wonderful blogs on my own!