Growing....

Most recently I have been encouraged by friends and family to get back to painting, which I have kind of let slide lately. You may  have seen some of my tree series in my "my work" section of this site. I have been working on developing a technique for painting trees, trying to make them look and feel a bit more organic. And was really feeling like I was making progress and as so frequently happens, work and life kind of got in the way.

As I wander back into the world of acrylics with a little boot in the butt via my friend Laura, I am feeling that spark of creative inspiration creeping back into my world. I was nervous after not having painted for a while and yet, I fired up the "mighty brush" and brushed the remnants of chalk pastels dusting  my easel and went to town as I dove in on a 30"x40" canvas and cut loose. Adding a little metallic and some muted tones, I felt like I was getting back in the groove again, and felt, once again, at home with a paintbrush within my grip. Today, I finished the work, perhaps only to dabble back at it, as I find little nooks that need a bit extra finesse.

Creating this piece was instrumental for me to getting back to more artistic endeavors. In the industry of creating artwork for others, it becomes more and more difficult to create for the sake of wanting something completely original, something that you have complete creative freedom. And while that kind of freedom has the outward appeal of being ideal, sometimes it is a bit overwhelming. Going back to my love of trees, and this new technique, was a bit like coming home.

Lately, I have been struggling with a few things, trying to find focus and direction. And through examining the things that drive me; design, writing, painting, photography, sculpting, baking, etc. I think I have come to a greater appreciation that, like the tree in my works, I am complex. With branches intertwining, reaching in many directions, some with many facets and others more strong and true. Perhaps, that breadth is a natural organic thing. Reaching out in new directions, to new heights, covering more ground, growing and becoming a stronger and creating a more creative and fulfilling life. 

While many of my favorite trees are asymmetrical, and perhaps a bit weathered by the wind, they still must embody a certain balance, a perception of interest with that underlying sense of stability. How is this different from your life? I think it very much mirrors what many of us have been searching for. Balance between work, family, interests, love, community. This has been the struggle of many families around the world, how to live a fulfilling life, while creating that delicate balance with obligation. Obligation to family, employers, and to yourself.

That balance won't come without cost. As much as we would like to "do it all" sometimes that just isn't possible, but perhaps you can still branch out in different directions, but doing so with caution to not over-commit. Attempt to be honest with yourself and others as to what is possible. First and foremost nourish your core, your trunk and your roots, that which create that stability in your life. From there, let your branches stretch outward and upward, not focusing too much energy in any one direction, but allow yourself to branch out in several directions with balance. Allowing yourself to flourish and to grow.

What can you do today to spread your branches, and to grow?

Friday fun!

So, it's Friday, and you get to work thinking....hmmmm, ya know, it has been a great week and I really appreciate what my team has done and I want to do something special for them. And perhaps you did the Friday is Pie Day and you want to shake it up a bit. Maybe everyone has been taking this just a tad bit too seriously lately and just need a little pick-me-up.

So, wander back to the days of yore, back in the days when you had not a care, or mortgage payment, in the world. The days of elementary school and create a "milk and cookie break" or "recess" for your staff.

This isn't so hard or complicated to pull together. Run to the local store and pick up a gallon of milk (chocolate preferred) and some cookies and surprise your staff this afternoon with a little break. Make sure you grab a pack of small cups, and some napkins!

Now, who can resist a milk and cookie break!

To add a little fun, grab some scraps of paper, have everyone write what their favorite kind of cookie is on it but leaving their name off, then throw them all into a hat. Have each team member write everyones name down on a piece of paper (or provide them with one) and then as the paper pieces with the cookie varieties are drawn out, read the type of cookie and have staff assign it to who they think wrote it and loves that kind of cookie. The team member who has the most correct, gets another cookie or some other type of a prize. Perhaps you choose their favorite cookie for your next milk and cookie break.

Do you have any idea what kind of cookies your team likes? Well after this, you would have a good idea, and maybe just learn a little something about your team in the process. Or find a new favorite cookie yourself.

Take time to relate to your team today in some type of fun and meaningful way!

Welcome to the white...um Pink House...

So, unless you have been living under a rock or just so fed up with Politics that you have completely tuned it out, you have heard or seen McCain's add claiming Obama is a "celebrity" but questioning if he is ready to lead. In doing so, he compares Barack to Paris Hilton.

Enter the beauty of the internet.....wide-spread retaliation without the cost of a major media buy.

Now, Paris could have been completely insulted, welcomed that anger into her life and her home, gave it a room and let if fester. Instead, she took a different approach. She was able to laugh at the situation and not take herself so seriously that she was able to star in her very own "commercial." She pokes fun of the "old white-haired dude" and her dumb blond persona.

So what can we learn from this? Well, first of all, we need to look at and be able to laugh at ourselves. Second, when someone has done something that angers or upsets up, we have a choice; react or respond. A reaction from Paris might have been an angry statement in defense of herself and her persona, or an attack on McCain and his campaign. Instead, she acted by responding, laughing it off and entertaining us in the process.

It reminds me of the Jimmy Kimmel/Ben Affleck R-rated video exchange. If you haven't seen them, do a little search on YouTube, but be warned, mature content.

So, next time someone insults you, I don't recommend making a video in a bikini in front of your pool, unless you can pull it off as well as Paris, but think about how you could diffuse the situation, and perhaps respond with humor and wit rather than with anger and arrows.

See more Paris Hilton videos at Funny or Die