Dirty Footprints Studio

My Number One Self Care Practice

For this week's To Be Of Service post I come to you from a beautiful trail called West Fork that winds itself deep into the canyons of Sedona, Arizona. This week I focus on a question from Natasha White where she asked me about self care. What a better place to share my number one self care practice with you than in the heart of this magical landscape! But I have to warn you, you might want to turn the volume up on your computer a bit--I whisper alot in this one!

______________________________________

To Be Of Service is a blog series every Wednesday where you ask me a question--and I answer by sharing my own life and experience. Though it is my complete believe that all women possess the wisdom and direction we each will ever need--so I will never provide you with advice. Instead it is my sincere wish to be simply an oracle or a spark of inspiration for you to connect with your own deeper knowing. Thank you for trusting in me. To ask a question simply email me at DirtyFootprints@yahoo.com & put TO BE OF SERVICE in the subject title!

Painting! Painting! Painting!

Here is a peak into my latest painting. I call it PILGRIM.

She's acrylic on canvas--24" x 24". And well, maybe when I come down from this painting high I will stop to write more about the process that's been filling me up and making me come alive!!

_______________________________

I would love to spend the day painting with you! Come join me from the comfort of your own home/studio on July 20th for Gather, Retreat, PAINT & Repeat.

And there are still two spaces open to join me in Sedona this September 12-15 at Total Alignment!

How I Navigate Transition & Change

Sorry I'm a little late posting this today!! I bet you thought I forgot all about my little summer blog series: To Be Of Service--didn't ya!?!

Nope--instead I decided to take full advantage of Phoenix's nap time and turn on the video camera. What you are about to see is totally off the cuff!! We're talking no makeup, very little sleep, and zero editing magic.

Enjoy!

______________________________________

I'm Painting Again

I'm painting again. Like really painting.

Where it's the first thing I do in the morning, and the last thing before I go to bed.

I'm painting again. Like paint on-my-fingertips-jeans-and-the-bottom-of-my-earlobe kind of painting.

Where paint is no longer pigment and binder, but instead voice and recognition.

I'm painting again. Like the kind of painting that heals wounds you weren't even aware of.

Where the act of brush against canvas is the savior you've been praying for.

Where the smell of paint tangles itself in streams of white sage smoke, marking the trail back home.

Where you realize that you CAN always pick up and begin again.

Where you nestle in softly and burrow in deep.

Where you find yourself.
And only yourself.

And remember this is the nectar of life you've been craving.

My Latest Painting

Somethings are best expressed in paint.

This is one of those things.

Sketchbook Flashback

Yesterday I was looking through my studio closet for something when I came across this sketchbook I made by hand when I was 18 years old and in art school. {Almost 20 years ago!}

It's hideous looking. Seriously, what was I thinking with that ugly paisley cover?

Anyways, I can remember like it was yesterday all of us Drawing 101 students complaining because our teacher was making us bind our own sketchbooks--plus, they had to be a certain size and be made of a certain very expensive paper.

Little did I know then--she was genius for teaching us a.) such a great skill for an artist (basic bookbinding) and b.) instilling a real sense of pride in our work and appreciation for quality materials.

But what is really fun and interesting to me is to revisit a period of my life through the sketches I made.

The two sketches above are of THIS Roman sculpture at the Cleveland Museum of Art. At 18, I don't believe I had started working there just yet--but I spent many hours and hours sketching sculptures and paintings there for years.

Something I still love to do.

There are also pages and pages of drawings I did of peanuts.

I think this is the total birth of my whole Pods obsession that keep making cameos in my art every so often!

The two spreads pictured above mustered up my heart just a little.

When I was 18 I had my first real serious boyfriend--and it was a tumultuous relationship to say the least that lasted two and a half years. The sketches above are from the beginning of that crazy time.

It's funny how such simple sketches could make me remember exactly where I was--but even more--what I was feeling.

Last, my Dad wasn't in my life growing up--but I did have contact with my Grandparents. Unfortunately less and less as I became a teenager.

But these sketches above of my Grandfather were done only a couple weeks before he passed away.

Even at 18 years old, sketching the ones I love, was important to me. Like I've done recently HERE and HERE.

I can't encourage you enough to begin your own sketching practice in your life. Not only will it strengthen your drawing skills and sharpen your eye for looking at the world around you---it will deepen your relationship to the facets of your life that one day will only be a memory.

You can see more from my sketchbooks HERE.

To Be Of Service :: Running A Creative Business

I think I'm one of the last people you should ask about running a creative business. Only because my answer is probably one size fits Connie.

The way I run my business is when I hear to do something in my heart--I do it.
When I hear to no longer do something--I stop doing it.

I've never had an actual business plan.
I don't keep a list of goals handy.
At one time I had a mission statement--but who know's what ever happened to that.

What I do know is that when I truly hear to do something--I do it. I make it happen--and I'm pretty dang good at figuring out how to make things happen.

And you know why?

Because I'm not afraid to put myself out there. I'm not afraid to fail.

Yes, there is a handful of things that I am afraid of--but failing at something in my business is not high on the list. Failing at something in my business is purely information for me that I need to move in a different direction--that something isn't gellin'.

And usually when I'm failing at something in my business--it's because I was ignoring that voice inside me that knows best and tried to tell me not to do it in the first place.

Also, lately I've been in this really funky place.

I've been feeling like Dirty Footprints Studio is evolving. But what does that mean?--what am I suppose to do?--what will it look like?

Luckily I've grown to learn that these answers don't just come over night. This stuff takes sweet time.

It's a process. A journey. An ADVENTURE is how I really like to think of it.

So for me, running a creative business is all about trusting in myself--following my inner compass. Not always the easiest way to run a creative business--but the only way that feels right to me.

________________________________

Thank you Lynne Wilson for inspiring me to write this post! This is what Lynne asked:

Gotta question for me? Go HERE!

Want to read more from this blog series? Go HERE!

______________________________________

Gather, Retreat, PAINT & Repeat

One of the most important ways I practice self care is by retreating into my studio for some uninterrupted time to simply paint. It's the one thing I feel I don't do enough--and I plan on changing that and want to help you do the same!

I am hosting a little stay at home/studio FEARLESS® Painting retreat and would love for you to join me!!

You don't have to book a flight, find a hotel, or even leave the comfort of your pajamas!! You just need to commit to one day of pure PAINTING bliss in your own home/studio--and I will shower you with support, love, and all the ritual goodness that you would receive at one of my own live retreats via the powers of the internet!

You can finally finish that painting that's been staring at you forever--or start a fresh new art journal--or simply show up with your art materials and see what happens! That's what I'm going to do!

So find a babysitter--forget about housecleaning--and lock the doors!! Gather, Retreat, PAINT & Repeat is taking place on Saturday, July 20, 2013! Come and paint FEARLESS® with me ALLLL day!!!

Gather, Retreat, PAINT & Repeat...

is a celebration of you and all that you do!! It is an opportunity to commit to nourishing your own heart and creativity with time, space, and a community of love around you....all from the comfort of your own home/studio.

is about having fun and playing! Super important stuff, my dear friend! Super important.

is a time to refuel YOUR precious Spirit so that you can be more present for your loved ones.

is a huge act of self care. Bravo to you!

$44

YOU DESERVE THIS!

What you'll receive:

Ideas and inspirations on how to prepare a transformative and nourishing stay at home/studio retreat--including how to incorporate ritual, create a sacred environment, and even easy recipes of meals you can have prepared the day before so you can stay fueled with out the fuss during your retreat.

The week before our retreat I will shower your inbox with daily painting inspiration and creative ideas to prepare you for this great gift you are giving yourself.
A private Facebook group where you can meet and share with kindred painters.
A video for you to watch the morning of your retreat that will help you begin your retreat with reverence, joy, and feeling inspired!
Two live meet-ups held from my own studio via Spreecast the day of our retreat. One at 11am PST and the other 5pm PST.
The chance to let your creativity play and your Spirit soar in the support of a loving tribe--and me, your host!!

$44

How Gather, Retreat, PAINT & Repeat works:

On Monday, July 8--two weeks before our retreat I'll send you an email with ideas and inspiration on how to start planning your great retreat!

The week before I willy shower your inbox with daily inspiration & painting goodness! Plus we'll get all cozy in our private Facebook group as well.

Bright and early morning on Saturday, July 20 you will receive a PDF that contains a video and content for you to open your retreat with reverence, joy, and a big boost of inspiration! It doesn't matter what time of the morning you start--this PDF will be your opening reception to get you going!

You spend the day painting and creating! Painting and creating! Painting and creating! BLISS!

I will check in with you LIVE on Spreecast (free to join) from my own studio at 11am PST for an activity to get us back in our bodies and out of our headspace and spend some time sharing, asking questions, and getting our creative mojo pumping!

Back to painting and creating!! (Plus--don't forget you'll need to refuel your body for meals and snacks during the day--so you'll need some good food on hand too!)

Next, at 5pm PST I will meet you LIVE again on Livestream for sharing, inspiration, and a closing ceremony. After our retreat is over you can share your work and experience on the private Facebook group.

Let's paint together on Saturday, July 20!!

$44

We Possess All That We Need

Thank you to all the beautiful Souls that have added their questions and suggestions for my new blog series To Be Of Service. Your inquiries have got me totally fired up about writing that I can't wait to just jump right in! But most of all--I'm tickled that I'm finally trying something new and sprucing things up around here at Dirty Footprints Studio!!!. It feels super good!

But before I begin this new fun adventure, I wanted to say something very important.

With every cell in my body, I believe that we as women possess all the wisdom, answers, and direction we will ever need right inside our own hearts and bodies. It's there--even if we struggle with accessing it sometimes. Even if we ignore it. Or don't trust it. Or confuse it for something else. It's still there. Always.

In some form or fashion, I've spent most of my life trying to decipher this buried wisdom within myself and in the last few years I've started to build a strong communion with it--through FEARLESS® Painting, yoga, and deep reflection and listening.

All the work I do through Dirty Footprints Studio is always with the intention of guiding women on their path to this cauldron of wisdom. So it's really important to me to never dish out advice or suggestions on what I think others should or shouldn't do. Doing so would defeat my core belief.

To Be Of Service is in noway an attempt at being a Dear Abby column.

Instead I understand and actually celebrate that as women, many of us find comfort in honest connection with one another. I've witnessed how we, as women, foster courage through the serendipitous oracles and signs that cross our path--and how easier it is for us to dip into our own source of wisdom when another Soul inspires recognition of what our own Soul has been whispering to us all the time.

I am beyond honored that you trust me enough to seek connection with me in a way that impacts your questions about things you are curious or passionate about in your own life.

It is my sincere hope that by responding to your questions through sharing my own life experience and truth, that you receive the blessing of an oracle, possibly a little serendipity, or maybe a spark of deep knowing that leads you into the vast wisdom of your own heart.

In return, these questions you've proposed have already filled me with a renewal of excitement for the work I share and a beautiful opportunity to embrace more clarity and reflection around what it is I too am passionate about. What a gift.

So thank you, my beloved readers, thank you.....it means so much to me. My first post of the series will be released on Wednesday, June 5.

Hot Mess

Thank you to everyone that joined me for some Open Studio time yesterday. It was so comforting and sweet to find out later that some of my FEARLESS Painters like Hali and Danni were painting right along with me. I love that--and I plan on doing more Open Studio dates. This one was kind of last minute, I know--but if you want a little company while you paint you can always playback the recording HERE.

Well, I'm going to finally be honest. I feel it's time.

This past year has been one of the absolute hardest years of my entire life.

There, I said it.

Not only have I had to adapt to becoming a new Mom--but while doing so Hansel's health had plummeted to such horrible lows. In the last year he was hospitalized three times--and altogether spent a little over three months total in the hospital. He didn't work--which on top of being a new Mom, a caretaker, and a business owner--I also carried the responsibility of being the sole provider--with the new addition of huge medical bills.

I rarely talked about it. To anyone actually.

And then in January--I felt like I clawed my way to Oakland for a retreat with Pixie and Chris. I did everything in my power to get there---including paying to fly my Mom in from Ohio to watch Phoenix for the weekend--because all I really wanted to do was go there and fucking sleep. But the second I walked in those studio doors I started to fall apart.

Here's the big secret my friends--I've been falling apart ever since.

I painted this painting you see in the photo at the very top during my second round of DEEP. It took six weeks--well, more than six weeks--and then it stood collecting dust in my studio for a month or so.

I woke up yesterday and knew it was the day--the day to finally get back to her. And before I turned on the video--I stood there staring at her and could see the Connie I was a few months ago. The Connie that with everything going on--with her whole world feeling like it was totally falling apart--was still trying to "keep it altogether". Something about that painting, to me, feels like there is all this volatile energy--but it's being contained. It's nice. Neat. Safe. And oh so pretty.

I finally was sick of looking at her.

She just felt like a lie. A lie to myself.

So it's funny to me that I would invite a bunch of strangers in to the studio yesterday as I decide to revisit her again. I guess there's something about being witnessed that is a bit cathartic for my own personal creative process. But I only let you see me scratch at the surface.

When I got to where I was in the third photo above, I turned off the camera because the tears had already started coming--and I knew this part of the journey needed to be private. Something just between me and the painting.

So she's still not finished as you can see in the last photo. But she certainly is more honest now.

She's a hot mess--like me. Like my life right now.

And it felt good to express that--to let that flow off my brush and onto the paper. It felt good to let it get ugly and red--and more red--and even more red.

And those elephants--they're back. (Of course they're back--they never leave me.)

But the bigger truth is that I never leave me--even if sometimes it feels like I'm hiding--keeping myself contained and altogether as a Mom. Wife. Caretaker. Provider.

I'm still here. Falling apart and messy.

And thank God--finally embracing it 100% fully.

Open Studio Today!

This is the 6 week painting that I worked on in my last session of DEEP--a second FEARLESS® Painting Adventure! As you can see, it's not quite finished yet. Finally I decided that today I am going to pour some major love into it.

So, to keep myself accountable and because it sounds like fun--I thought I'd open up my studio and allow you to drop by as I paint. Yep! C'mon over!

I will be working on this painting LIVE today from 12ish pm PST to 2:30ish pm PST (3-5:30 pm EST). Feel free to drop by my Ustream channel HERE or you can simply watch on the screen below.

Streaming Live by Ustream

13

One day you'll be 13 years old and probably won't want to take photos of us snuggling together.

That's ok. I'll cherish these moments now while you're simply 13 months old TODAY!!

Dear Beloved Readers:

If you haven't already noticed--I've been feeling a bit BLAHHH in the blogging department here at Dirty Footprints Studio. I try to blog--I honestly do--but lately I've been feeling uninspired...so I thought to myself what could I blog about that would be of service to my readers?

And that's when it hit me--why not just ask my readers?

Yep! I feel like I need a good kick in the writing pants--and I'm asking you, my beloved readers, to please help me out by posting in the comment section below a question you would LOOOOVE to ask me--or a topic you wish I would write about.....That's right--Please ask me! Tell me!! Give me something!!!

Then, starting in June, each week I'll take a couple of your questions or suggestions that resonate with my heart and give it a whirl! We'll call it the To Be Of Service Summer Blog Series and see what happens!!!!

Plus, if you do leave a suggestion or comment--also be sure to leave your name and your website/blog url too so that I can give you a nice little shout out of appreciation for the inspiration!!!

My writer's block heart thanks you in advance!!!

BIG Hugs,
Connie

Brings Life To A Field

It is not possible to complete yourself

without sorrow.

Sorrow is a vital ingredient that shapes

the heart and enriches it.

So endure sadness the best you can

when its season comes.

That rain that can fall from your eye

brings life to a field,

and on other days when you laugh,

a sun takes birth in a sky you will

someday know.

See how all the elements are inside of

you.

See how your soul is a sire of light.

~Hafiz

Pages