Hello All!
I was so proud of myself for scheduling last Thursday's and yesterday's posts ahead of time. I knew I wouldn't be able to get to them on the exact days I promised myself I'd post each week, so took the time to do them both on Wednesday of last week. Ahhh. I was on a roll! Except..... The blog posts never showed up here! Tech Troubles evidently thwarted my newly consistent blogging. Making it look like I'd already dropped the ball on keeping to a regular schedule. Oh well. Not much I can do about that now. Except say Ba-humbug to scheduled blog posts that don't show up when they're suppose to!
The past several days my ass has been getting kicked by my chronic pain and neurological issues. I've pretty much been bed-ridden. Which can really suck if you let it. But I've kept my happy going in spite of being laid up. My two favorite males have done a great job of keeping me company. I've been able to art a tiny bit and I've had a good book to read. so what if I couldn't walk easily or type up class assignments? I have no control over my self-imposed schedule sometimes. Since I sometimes have no choice in what I can or cannot do, I try not to let it get to me. Why let something you can't control ruin your happy glow? Best to keep smiling and doing the best you can, on any given day, than freak over things. At least, that's what I believe.
I'll be back on Thursday with more musings, workshop info, art photos and whatever else strikes my fancy. Tonight I'm taking it easy. Because my body needs to.
Until next time I hope you have awesome, artful adventures!
Kristin
PS: Check out Effy Wild's latest course, Moonshine! It goes along with my upcoming Moon Shadows course quite nicely!
Click here to view more details
In the few days since I made my first post on the new blog (this blog!) I have been busy, busy busy! Thursday finds me a little tired, but super motivated. I've managed to accomplish a lot in a few days. In two days I got a bunch of errands done, went grocery shopping, spent a few hours working in the gardens, took a long walk with the dogs, managed some studio time and worked on writing course descriptions. The majority of this was done with The Big Man by my side. Actually, all of it, with the exception of studio time and working on my course descriptions, was done with Jimmy.
We spend an amazing amount of time together. More time than either of us has ever spent with another. But we never tire of it. The most mundane of tasks, like running errands or raking leaves, becomes something special when done together. A simple walk in the woods became a memorable experience because we both acknowledged how nice it was simply to *BE*. To talk, walk and share in the twilight's beauty.
I'm a huge believer in making every day sacred. Creating the sacred is so very simple. It doesn't require clergy, church, ritual or elaborate presentation. It requires mindfulness. That's it. Simply being mindful of what you are doing, who you are doing it with and acknowledging it as special. That's how you make every day sacred. How do YOU create the sacred in your life? I'd really love to know.
The past few months I've been enrolled in a few different Online Classes. There are so many classes, so many artists, to choose from it can be overwhelming. It can also be hard to choose which offerings will suit you best. For me, the course description and/or the artist offering the course have to resonate within me. I get a certain feeling when I know a class or an artist is offering something that I need in my life or need to learn. If I don't feel excited, jazzed up or find myself thinking about a certain class over and over until I sign up, I pass. This year, so far, these are the classes I had to do. either for the techniques offered or the over all content, I knew these online offerings would rock my peanut butter cups completely!
1) Book of Days-Premium with Effy Wild: I cannot say enough about Book of Days. It's more than an art journal class. It's more than a technique based course. It's a spiritual, art based, super fun and totally in-depth way of memory keeping & digging deep within. It's also a fabulous community of creative women who aren't afraid to show their shadow sides, show off their personal journal pages and show support for one another with glitter bombs and encouraging words. Yes, it IS all that. And more. It's also very affordable! At the nucleus of the Glitter Hood Art Tribe is Effy Wild. Definitely check her blog out and her class offerings.
2) Letter Love 101 with Joanne Sharpe: I love using my own handwriting in my journals and mixed-media paintings. But I really wanted to take my writing to the next level, make it totally unique, funky and as awesome as possible. Letter Love 101 was definitely the answer. Lots of video lessons, colorful examples and inspiration can be found in this class with Joanne Sharpe. The price is very affordable too. Win-Win!
3) I doodle, do you? with Sandi Tygar: I love to doodle. It's fun, relaxing and so creatively expressive. Sandi takes doodling to a whole new level. This mini class is so affordable (only $10 US) and such fun it's a must do for sure! LOVE it!
4) Sweetlings Mini with Effy Wild: Another class with Effy, but totally different from Book of Days (BOD). Sweetlings focus is upon creating adorable, sweet mixed-media girls. April is the first month for Sweetlings, but they will be offered monthly from now until.... Who knows? Very affordable,these step by step technique based videos show how to create your own Sweetlings Doll.
Newsletter: I decided to use Mail-Chimp for my newsletter sign up service. It seems easy-peasey to use for sending out weekly missives. I've added a sign up box on the top, right hand side of the blog & will be sending out my first newsletter next week!
That's all for now. Off to work on my Sweetlings for April.
Much love and creative energy to you all-
Kristin
Hello Dear Ones!
Welcome to my new, totally improved, authentic ME blog. You'll notice right off that the name has changed from Artzy Diva to Wild Raven Arts. I may be an Artzy Diva, but my studio and business is Wild Raven Arts. In the spirit of creating a more personal, authentic voice for my blog adventures, the name change had to reflect that as well. Also, from here on out my real name is public knowledge. How can I possibly be authentic if no one knows who I really am? Kristin Wilkinson, aka Wild Kristin, with the multiple raven tattoos, purple hair, loud voice, brutal truth, genuine artistic eccentric personality is here to live out loud. Get use to it.
The past few years have been ones of letting go of relationships that don't work, in particular a marriage of more than 2 decades, battling seriously declining health, numerous attempts to recreate a suitable working life, and many, many triumphs and failures. through all of this the thing that kept me going was creating. No matter how down I was emotionally or physically, the simple act of making art lifted me up and enabled me to move forward. Art heals. It transforms. It allows you to work through all the icky parts and transform those bits into beauty.
The past few years have also been filled with light. Letting go of what doesn't work opened the door for what does. I found the Love of my life, my soul mate and true partner during this time. And am blessed to have him in my life, to love, laugh, cry and share with at the most deepest levels. This is an entirely new kind of relationship for both of us. Never before have we experienced feelings like these, with an intensity that simply does not wane. All I can say is WOW.
I've also been blessed with many new friendships, from women I have never even met, but we know each other all the same. This group of women came together via Effy Wild's online journal arts course Book of Days. For whatever reason, various women of the group have formed REAL friendships. Perhaps it's because we all share the same desires for digging deep and getting to know ourselves. Or maybe it's because we are all creative souls with big hearts and honest voices. whatever the reasons, we were most definitely brought together for Big Reasons. These women are all so spirited, authentic and supportive it awes me. I consider myself so lucky to be a part of such a circle of friends. We may never meet, although I hope we do, but that alone cannot break the bonds of friendship.
Part of my new adventure is creating a set of online classes. Art based, of course, but more than that. I believe every act of creation is a spiritual act. Whether you believe this or not is up to you, but I can assure you, it is. For years I facilitated face to face classes in Creative Spirituality. This was before online courses were easily accessible and abundant. It is past the time for me to take what I once taught live and transform it into an online venue. I have a real calling to do this. The Universe has been pushing me in this direction for a long time, and now The Universe has provided the help and encouragement I need in the form of some wonderful women (Raine, Effy, Denise S.--you all rock my peanut butter cups!).
Within a month, hopefully by May 1, I will start offering Moon Shadows. Moon Shadows is a course I designed years ago, but was unable to follow through on because of declining health. Based on the 13 Moon cycles of the year, Moon shadows incorporates daily creative practice with Celtic Moon lore, Goddesses, daily spiritual practice and more. Why Celtic in nature? Because I have always, always been drawn to the Celtic customs. In particular the Welsh Celtic. Long before I even knew I come from the Welsh, this path called to me. It still does. While the materials I offer will be based on Welsh Celtic traditions, it is Universal. Students will be able to take what I offer and use it with any tradition. Students who have no particular tradition will be able to use this as a starting path on their road to discovery. Empowering women, and men too if they want, is at the core of everything I offer. It's going to be juicy, deep and fun. it's going to evolve as I learn the ins and outs of online teaching. It's going to feed our souls! I am positively giddy with excitement and looking forward to this adventure so very much! Stay tuned for more information!
I am also reviving my old newsletter. I use to put out a bi-weekly, snail mail newsletter many moons ago. It is time I started putting out a weekly, email newsletter to keep everyone in the loop! Once I figure out which newsletter program to use I'll be adding a sign up area. For signing up I'll be gifting everyone a little something. Art based, totally Wild Raven Arts, and yours to keep forever. I'm thinking a pdf of my favorite art techniques or a special collage sheet I create. Once I know, you'll know!
So it begins. New artful adventures. New classes. A new outlook on life, creativity and sharing.
Thanks for coming along for the ride!
XOXO-
Kristin
