What’s Next in the Journey?

Dreamcatcher 12 x 12 collage

I know many are writing goals for 2012.  I too have some ideas because I want to know what’s next on my journey.  Belief and hope are part of the process.  One goal is about clarity. Sometimes I can go around in circles and confusion and never see the bigger picture.  I can be blinded by old patterns of thought.  That is why I request clarity. I cannot do my  what God has given me to do, my art , and still think the same old way.  My journey is different than your journey so I cannot try to do it your way or someone else’s way.  Each step is new and scary sometimes.  It’s like exploring new territories.  So today I prayed for clarity and get the knowing of what’s next in my journey.

Gratefulness

When I look back on my early years as a child,  I am grateful that I don’t have to carry bitterness or unforgiveness.  I’m free of all that.  Whew!!!! Why carry all that muck around for years and years?  Even though my parents weren’t Christian, I had a picture of Christ on my wall knocking at a door. I must have become a Christian then because that picture gave me hope and peace and most of all comfort.  I also had the comfort of Psalm 23,  ”Though I walk through the shadow of death I will fear no evil for You are with me” .  For a child that helped me through so much. I have learned forgiveness so I don’t have to carry any burdens especially to forgiving myself.  Life is such a joy for me right now even through some health issues for my husband and hurting for my son and grandchildren.  The thing is I can be filled with gratefulness and joy each day if I choose to be that way.  What a burden that has been lifted off my shoulders!!

Being Touchy or Touching Lives

Greek 81 40x30 $2700

A couple of weeks ago, I could have been touchy when some people came into my studio/gallery and made fun and mocked my abstract art. I became an abstract artist when physically  I couldn’t do work on an easel anymore.  Without perspective of upright canvas and landscape work I moved to painting flat on a high table. That is when I discovered my heartfelt work of doing abstract.  I feel so joyful when doing my art.  That is why it was such a shock when these people came in and were so insulting.  At first, I started to be defensive, a natural response.  But then I realized  when I looked at the painting of mine about God and the Trinity (at the right in Greek 81 is God) that I needed to turn the other cheek.  I needed to show them what my art was all about to me. Maybe they got it or not. They did quiet down some.  But I did expose them to something about peace and joy and love.  I don’t

have to be touchy but I do have to touch lives.

Trust and Let Go

Serious Thought SOLD

I’m one of these people that has had a hard time trusting and then letting go. Because of my childhood and also contracting polio and losing the use of my left arm, I had put up a barrier and not even really trusting myself. Because of this journey and growth I’ve experienced I have been able to love and trust myself which led to the trust in God when my husband had cancer. He’s well now and during that time I trusted and let go of worry. Prayer had a lot to do with it. I’m trusting God now to lead me and me not trying to control everything like I use to do. What a relief!!! I don’t have to manipulate and figure everything out. So the economy is bad, so what. I don’t have to buy into all that jabber. I just have to listen, trust and let go. I don’t have be stressed anymore. Thank God!!

October 2011 Classes

Here are my classes for Oct, Oct 15th Sat 9-11:30 “Finding Your Creative Self”. Utilizing circles to help you creatively meditate and to play like a child. Cost $50.00 Materials included. Minimum 3 Maximum 8

October 29th Sat 9-11:30 Using Color in All Areas of Life”. This class will help you integrate color for Art, clothes and Home. I was taught by the colorist for the first Cadillac TV Ads. Cost is $50.00 Materials included. Minimum 3 Maximum 8

Call 602-576-0406 for reservation or e-mail me at Lori@LandisArt.com. Classes held Landis Studio/Gallery 7077 Main St. #14 Scottsdale AZ

Peace of Mind is a Choice

Looking To Fly SOLD

Here I am going through my e-mails, new advisements on how to make my website or blog better and confusion gets in my head.  Instead I choose to be content and have peace of mind by walking away until I’m truly ready to deal with that information.  I can let all the jabber and chaos enter my mind and get really frustrated or recognize that I don’t need to do all that the “advisors” tell me to do.  I’m realizing that much of that stuff isn’t necessary to my well-being or business.

Peace of mind is a choice that I need to make every day so I can live a life of joy and contentment.  Isn’t it amazing that we have that choice?

Gearing Up for Fall & Showing in Magazine

Tasty Mellow Notes

The  month of August was a time to concentrate on painting and my husband’s health.  Now I’m gearing up for fall.  What is it that after a long hot summer you’re ready to  start moving and as the saying goes, grooving.  I guess, it’s when we were kids we were ready for school in September, the same goes for us as adults.   This summer I’ve painted over old paintings that I didn’t like anymore. There are many I would never paint over because I love them so much but others that don’t speak in my language  yes language anymore.   My art is my  favored communication besides my blog.

Phoenix Home and Garden featured one of my paintings in the September issue p. 130.  I just hung my new show for September.   Pictures will be on my art statement page after I get them on there of my website http://LandisArt.com.  Then I’m going to make my e-mail newsletter.  Lots to do and I’m excited. Oh, I’ll be teaching classes on color and how it affects your life.   So if you want to sign up for my newsletter or my classes, e-mail me at Lori@landisArt.com.

What are you gearing for this fall?  It’s really a great and exciting time of the year.

Keeping The Faith

Pushing Ahead NFS

No matter what circumstances that you come up against, you’ve got to keep the faith. Just having the right attitude and faith can help give you peace.  I know.  I used to be a person that would get frustrated at even the littlest things.  That’s because I learned in my childhood that chaos was normal and I didn’t have any control over my body or mind.  I changed the habit of bad thinking to  peaceful thinking.  That led to faithful thinking.  So when storms come and they do I control my self talk.  That doesn’t mean stuffing bad stuff inside either.  It means  that handling the present is all I can do.  Faith to me means more than religion. It means depending on my God instead of myself.

Be Still and Know (this is for all)

Mandala- Open to New Possibilities NFS

It seems that most of us are rushing around doing lots of mundane things and thinking we are accomplishing so much.  I’ve done busy work. Now I’m connecting with being still and have a quiet knowing.  Listening to my heart instead of to my head provides a wider view and then the confidence of doing just what is needed that day.  Remembering to live in the present. That is all the time we’re given and I don’t want to spend it in regrets.   It is the confidence of doing your very best today and feeling joy in the process.  So cutting down on facebook , twiiter and all that stuff frees my mind to be clearer about my life  not someone else’s life.  The only relationships that are valuable are the ones that are developed over time     So be still and know that your heart is in the right place and have  peace of mind and joy today.

The mandala is for meditation and ways to get ready for my day.  In my gallery this month is my show called “Sacred Mandalas” .  I’m also teaching veterans this month “Color My World” in connection with

“American Healing Arts Foundation”.  This service is free to veterans.

To Everything There Is A Season Of Waiting

MoJo 39x15 acrylic & gel on door $1400

As an artist on this earthly journey, I’ve learned patience. Now no one wants to deal with waiting but it’s a time of growth.  We don’t become mature without some hard or lean times to refine us in the fire.  So I’ve  worked on balance and not being so intense.  I used to have a mantra,  ”why isn’t anything working the way I want it to be?”  Well, I just wasn’t ready for it.  For me, it was just to enjoy the process.  Things have a way to turning around when you least expect it.  Listening with my heart and not my head has released joy.   So why don’t you ramp it down a little bit and get more balance in your life.  Then the “season” of waiting will bring something magical in your life.

Please let me know if this has worked for you.