Dear Wonderful, Creative You:

We have been talking this year about creative goals, and at different intervals, I’ve been checking in with you about mine. I’m happy to report that I’ve been pretty faithful to my goals, and I want to share how. In my experience, what really helps folks reach creative goals is to remember this: Your job as an artist is to show up. Nothing else.

I believe I originally learned about “just showing up” from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. The idea is that you can’t start or complete a project when you’re overcome by the pressure of perfectionism. Pressure leads to paralysis. Give yourself permission to let go of expectations – your only job is to show up and create something.

In my experience, the more you commit to just show up, the less you judge your work, and the more likely you are to produce more and enjoy the process and the product. This idea holds true for starting a new art journal page, writing a song, choreographing a dance, and for other creative goals as well. You want to go to more museums? Just show up and do it. You want to learn to draw? Do it. You want to incorporate writing into journal pages? Do it. Stop hesitating, questioning, hemming, doubting, and start doing. (Need some guidance to get started? You might like my e-course: Art Journaling 101.)

 

My Creative Goals

So what have I been just showing up to do? The big creative goal I’ve been focused on in 2017 is showing more of my art. I’ve entered 3 art shows this year, been accepted in two, and am waiting to hear about the third. I confess that I find shooting gallery- type photos, filling out entry forms, and paying gallery entry fees hateful, but I’m committed to showing my work, so I’m doing it. I’m glad, because I’m meeting more artists in my community and seeing some pretty amazing local art.

It’s funny how things come together too, because I’m also very happy to share that I was approached by HeART Journal magazine to do an interview for their May/June issue. I’m honored to be included amongst some wonderful artists in this issue: Micki Wilde, Jenny Zmuda, and DeeDee Catron.

 

In the interview, I share some tutorials as well as talking about how I started art journaling, personal symbolism, and concrete advice on getting the inner critic out of the way.  Please check it out using the coupon code for a free issue. You can find the instructions here:

 

Get Your FREE Issue of heART Journaling Magazine

On Your Mobile Device:

•             Install the App on your device via iTunes https://bit.ly/heARTMag or Google Play  http://bit.ly/Heartjournal

•             Launch the Magazine App

•             On the home page, tap on the yellow subscribe button

•             Tap on the current subscribers button

•             Use coupon code: 523May (case sensitive)

 

On Your Computer:

• Go to www.heARTJournalMagazine.com shopping cart
• Choose the May/Jun 2017 Issue
• Use coupon code 523May (case sensitive) at check out

You will will receive an email with a link to download your .pdf file.  Please watch your spam folder if it doesn’t show up right away.  For help with the coupon code, please email Carla at  heartjournalmag@gmail.com   This code is good until May 20th 2017.

 

Your Creative Goals

How are you just showing up? Give us a little update on your progress towards your creative goals in 2017. If you are looking help with your art journaling practice, check out my classes. You might also enjoy this post I shared on Instagram today with some questions for writing about your creative goals.

 

 

Creatively Yours,

 

Amy

 

[bctt tweet=”Give yourself permission to let go of expectations – your only job is to show up and create something.” username=”amymaricle”]

[bctt tweet=”Pressure leads to paralysis. Let go of expectations and commit to your art process. #creativegoals” username=”amymaricle”]

[bctt tweet=”Check out this interview with Amy Maricle in heART Journal magazine” username=”amymaricle”]

 

*Some of the links shared in this post are affiliate links. That means if you choose to click and purchase something, at no extra cost to you, I will receive a small referral fee to help support my work to empower the artist in all of us.