Category: Newsletter

Creativity makes life more fun, for you and for your audience. Art is a language whether you speak with visual arts or with words. Artists can say anything they want using their chosen language. When I aim to delight my audience, I apply the following. Surprise The painting above was a commissioned piece. My understanding is, that Petri the cat rules. The surprise of the cat being combined with part of a famous portrait of Napoleon makes this painting a delight. (The ‘N’ on the necklace became a ‘P’.) Art with a surprise captures interest. Words can also be used to surprise and delight. Metaphors are ripe for this one. Example: ‘All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.’— William Shakespeare This is a common metaphor. Switching it up surprises the reader; such as, ‘All the world’s an ice rink, and all the men and women fall on their bottoms at times’.— Cheryl O Art Pick a common metaphor and see what fun you can have with it. Your readers will have fun too. Breaking Then there are common words of wisdom, that may not always be wise. ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ — Thomas Bertram Lance There are many instances where this is great advice. There is one where it rarely is; when you want to be creative. To be creative instead think, ‘If it’s not broke, break it.’ This creativity advice went against the grain for me until I thought about it more. Then I realized, I do this all the time when being creative. When drawing or painting I purposely leave a line unfinished or break it, and let the viewer’s imagination fill it in. In the acrylic collage painting below, notice all the lost edges made with torn paper. And for further surprise, there are peppercorns in the necklace. Mountain Man – acrylic collage painting by Cheryl O Art Some art forms are all about breaking and reassembling. Think about stained glass, quilting, and collage. These are artworks that depend on cutting and then reassembling into something different. You could not make this art if you didn’t break it first — the glass, the fabric, the collage components. Considering that the definition of creativity is to combine things in a new way this breaking makes excellent sense. There are various ways to apply ‘breaking’ to words. Break up your paragraphs. Keep most of them short, but supply interest by varying the rhythm and inserting a few longer ones. That keeps the writing from becoming boring. This next suggestion about breaking may surprise you. I’m a big fan of Grammarly and highly recommend it. Therefore the next suggestion applies more to seasoned writers. You need to know your voice first to apply this one. That is, sometimes break the Grammarly rules. Don’t break them so much that your article lights up like a Christmas tree when the editor opens it — heheh. That probably won’t end well. Instead, leave those words or phrases that feel most like your voice, even if Grammarly doesn’t like them. Too much Grammarly in my writing starts to feel sterile. Take Away I love applying these tips of surprise and breaking to both my art 

And I didn’t know why. I was browsing notes on Substack when it happened. Someone had posted, Be brave, dear heart.— C.S. Lewis and suddenly I was crying. I don’t cry often these days. Why did that quote touch me so deeply? Here is my convoluted journey to a conclusion that gives me peace. I am at a crossroads in my life. After 25 years of full-time teaching, I am leaving behind in-person teaching. I still teach interactive online art courses —so it is semi-retirement. Some courage is required to take this step. I had been pondering it for over a year before I finally decided. Even as I write this, it doesn’t fit at all as a reason to be crying. Especially considering that there are a multitude of other reasons that folks have to cry that are much more significant than my transition into retirement. Talk about being weeny! What else could it be? I watched my parents struggle and lose battles. Dad with Alzheimer’s and Mom with afflictions that took away her mobility. Golly, that was sad. I had no time to cry then — too busy trying to make their lives the best that could be hoped for — considering. Now they are both recently gone it could be a delayed reaction on my part. Possibly. Emotions can be a stewpot with multiple causes. I may never know why that quote made me cry. Or — maybe I have focused on the wrong part of the quote. Maybe it wasn’t about being brave. Maybe I was crying because those words “dear heart” suddenly broke through my grown-up barriers of poise, to a place that responds to love. Yes. This feels right. The Narnia Chronicles were a place I could escape to as a child. These books are a magical place where fiction speaks deep truths — highly recommended to all you book lovers if you have not read them yet. Meanwhile, what can I do except go with the flow? The flow of tears that is. Many questions go unanswered. Enough with the navel-gazing over here. I don’t have to understand exactly why I was crying, and in this, I find my peace. The heart has its reasons that reason does not know.— Blaise Pascal Not everything I write is published on this blog. If you want to read more of my writings, you could connect with me on Substack. This platform is free to join. You will get 1 short (3-4 minute) video and 1 article per week emailed to you. Here is a link to my profile which shows other articles I have published on Substack. Cheryl O Art writes on Substack 

A humorous look at when words go rogue. There are rules for these thingsthe dancing of words.They establish a rhythmoften best heardby reading aloud.The same with the rhyme,after setting the pace,the next rhyme should landin just the right placethe precedent set.This works just finewith words that are tamebut what does one dowhen wild words or strangerefuse to be held?They burst forth unbiddenbreaking all of the rules.No rhyme and no rhythmthey insist, “We’re not fools,”and deftly escape.We’ve bled and will speak.We shout as joy should.Your rules cannot hold us,you imagined they could?Embarrassed, I smile.The battle is overthough barely begun.Throw out the dang rules,toss out everyone.I’m giving up.And startled the penon spasming toesbows to the wild words,“Hmm. Let’s call it prose.”and continues to write.Cheryl O Art Not everything I write is published on this blog. If you want to read more of my writings, you could connect with me on Substack. This platform is free to join. You will get 1 short (3-4 minute) video and 1 article per week emailed to you. Here is a link to my profile which shows other articles I have published on Substack. Cheryl O Art writes on Substack 

How I stopped being frustrated with time and did more of the things I love Watercolour by Cheryl O Art Time is a tyrant. That dang clock keeps ticking, and the years pass in an out-of-focus blur. There are times we feel trapped. Here is what helped me break out of this prison called time. The Problem I have so much more that I want to do: writing, painting, and creating new courses to inspire creativity in others, to name a few. There needs to be quality time with the people I love too. Add in, I am old by anyone’s standards and time pressure has taken on a larger significance. Full disclosure: I didn’t always handle this well. It had the makings of a frustrated smelly stew and I had difficulty swallowing it. What follows has positively impacted how I live — making life more than palatable. Life tastes good now, and it has to do with goals. About Big Goals Big goals are lovely. Big goals are exciting. Big goals grab the imagination. Big goals alone are useless. You know the goals I mean. ‘I’m going to write a book.’ ‘I’m going to learn to paint.’ ‘I want to learn to dance.’ ‘I’d love to be able to play piano.’ Many folks have a calling to spend more time being creative. This calling is in the deepest core of who we are. Sadly these goals get set aside and never happen. Regret So we sit in front of the screen and let the drug of mindlessness numb our hopes and dreams. While somewhere inside a voice is fading into the distance sighing, ‘I’d sure like to write that book.’ or ‘I wish I knew how to paint.’ If we allow this to continue, we will be choking on the smoky flames of regret. The week before she died at age 95, my Mom said to me, ‘I should have jitter-bugged.’ The jitter-bug was a wild dance style. Partners threw each other around a lot, and it was popular when Mom was a teen. That’s a long-reaching regret! Practically, this problem boils down to not finding the chunk of time that we assume is needed. Secondly, we don’t have the energy when the time does open up. There is something that helps with both. The Key Ingredient That one vital ingredient you need to improve your chance of reaching the big goal is; little goals. It works for me, and in over 25 years of teaching, I have seen it work for others. Little goals or little steps can wake up that reluctant brain and bring your dreams to life. It’s amazing what can be done in just 30 minutes. Your day might allow for that kind of time slot, especially once you experience it. It can be super worthwhile. The Hacksaw in a Cake — Practical Tips With just those few minutes, you can achieve a small step goal. For example… Sit down and make some chapter headings for your book. Or sit down and write one page. Don’t try to make it perfect. Editing can be a different 30-minute time slot later. Just write, because once you get into the creative mode, you will want to be 

Like you, I do a lot of adulting. And when I have had enough of that nonsense, I call on the child in me to come out and play. “High Five” — painting by Cheryl O Art What brings out the child in you? I know you are in there. Some call it spirit or soul. Some call it essence. Whatever you call it, we are who we are from our first to our final breath. Think about your earliest memories. Do you recognize yourself in those memories; what you thought and felt, or how you acted? It doesn’t matter your age, you are you. I find something comforting in knowing that I have always been, well, me. This is a consistent foundation that feels right and whole. It is one of those rare thoughts that makes me go ‘aaah’ and helps me let go of the tension that too often accompanies adulting. Keeping Afloat As you grow, your you-ness learns to be more expressive. A 5-year-old does not speak the same way as a 20-year-old. Perhaps less obviously, a 30-year-old does not speak the same way as a 60-year-old. Life does have its impacts, positive and negative. Sometimes life can wear you down. Responsibilities and the wearying fact that we must pay for our groceries, whatever that makes necessary. Some actions help us keep swimming above the constant flotsam of mind-numbing routines. Creativity helps. Creativity can be a doorway to setting free the child within. It’s a way of being alive to who we are. There is a reason people want to write a book, learn to paint, or be creative in some form. Instinctively, we know that it is in creative moments that we move toward being our true selves. And, even if only subconsciously, we know that to be our authentic selves means to be free. Free! Life Events Major events, traumatic and joyful, can impact us and leave an impression on our spirits. Like a pattern pressed onto the side of a clay pot, these can make us more beautiful. A few dents along the way are normal. When those dents begin to push us in directions we were never meant to stretch cracks happen. These wounds make us want to hide or to act in ways unnatural to our spirit. I’ve experienced some of those. I found these need to be tended to, perhaps with the help of a counselor, to find healing. Do not despair. If your heart is open, you can find your way to who you were meant to be. This journey may hurt for a while but it’s worth it for the freedom on the other side. Joyful events impact us too. You will know which ones fit with your essence. These are the ones that feel like they are giving you wings. Ones that encourage you to dream, reach, and be the best version of yourself possible. The people in your life can polarize like that too. Some go against the grain rubbing us the wrong way and taking us where we do not want to go such as, into a place of anger or frustration. Minimize your time with those people. Some give us a boost to better reach 

Life has both blessings and danger for those who care Painting by Cheryl O Art For those who are naturally more caring, life is full of tough decisions. Which causes will you support and how? I am not about to decide that for you. However, here are some considerations about caring. The Partial Fixes Emotions are catalysts for action. It’s how we are made. Feel something; react to it. Caring moves you to take action that can make another life less harsh, even if it is not a total fix. Caring about others fuels kindness, compassion, and empathy. This beautiful, broken world needs all the caring it can get. Caring is a precious commodity that should be nurtured and protected. If people didn’t care, there would be no charities. There are many good causes out there. Supporting those that are meaningful to you, makes the world a kinder place. You can research the integrity of any registered charity by requesting their financial statements. This will tell you what percent of your giving goes to the work you want to support, compared to other expenses. You don’t have to give to every cause. Thoughtful giving helps protect you from scams. When searching for ‘how to find a charity’s financial reports,’ Charity Navigator was just one of many available articles or organizations. The specific charity you are interested in supporting should not hesitate to provide you with this information as well. A thoughtful approach to caring on a personal level is wise too. Sustainable Caring Some folks despair and stop caring because, for example, there will always be those who are poor. Similarly, researching cures for many debilitating medical conditions can take years to bear fruit. In a time of instant gratification, accepting that some things can’t be quickly or completely fixed, can be extra challenging. The attrition of caring happens when the focus of kindness moves to a large general view, wanting bigger or quicker fixes. In contrast, a closer view encourages compassion. Considering the potential impact of the gift on the individual recipients brings a more sustainable meaning to giving. Giving can spark hope for individuals where there is none, even if the larger problem persists. Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.— Mother Teresa We each only have one day, one moment at a time. It is good to help someone’s moments be better than they might be without our help. That attitude helped me care for my father as his Alzheimer’s progressed. I knew Dad would not remember my visit, but I took comfort in the fact that for the time I was with him, I could make him smile. Right up to almost his last day, he would smile, pat my arm, and say, ‘It’s you, just you.’ Making those moments happy for him mattered. The Unfixables Some things can’t be fixed. Life is a mind-staggering miracle. Life is also a bitch. For most people, you don’t get to any number where the candles don’t fit well on the birthday cake without some unbearable hurt coming straight at you. When someone has a harsh diagnosis, when a much-loved friend or family member has passed away, these have 

A kinder way of being. Loving the Journey — acrylic painting by Cheryl O Art Welcoming is a wonderful thing. To be welcomed is to experience a genuine warmth; a comfort in belonging; a freedom to be yourself. Those who understand how to be welcoming shine their warmth on all who approach them. They are a living testament to a better way of life. Kindness and mercy are their compasses in all they do. The wounded struggle to embrace this way of being. They have learned to hide away, to fear sharing who they are. Who can blame them while the pain lingers? I cannot. I hid myself for many years. To be welcoming is to be bravely vulnerable. Unafraid to show one’s true self with all its flaws and glories. Encouraging others to do the same. There is hope. Hope that the brightness of those who understand welcoming can coax us from our cocoons. A mist rising to the sun, we long to unfurl wings we thought were only real in childhood dreams. Faith is needed when learning to fly. In sharing words, we reach to be welcoming to others during our brief stay. In listening to the words around us, we learn to welcome others. To be welcoming is a brave and kinder way of being. Be Welcome Here — a poem The water dazzles.It sparkles in unending motionWith kisses from the sun.Warmly I am absorbed into the love affair.The shore welcomes me.The wind whispers.Moving through the trees caressingThe leaves intimately.Softly I am absorbed into the love affair.The forest welcomes me.The bees dance.Nuzzling the beauty of the flowersCarrying the life source.Shyly I am absorbed into the love affair.The fields welcome me.I speak softly.My inadequate words exploringThese intimate moments.Read and be absorbed into the love affair.You are welcome here.Cheryl O Art Not everything I write is published on this blog. If you want to read more of my writings, you could connect with me on Substack. This platform is free to join. You will get 1 short (3-4 minute) video and 1 article per week emailed to you. Here is a link to my profile which shows other articles I have published on Substack. Cheryl O Art writes on Substack 

What if you don’t want to be a hero? Painting by Cheryl O Art It might be something about getting older. The urge to be the hero is more subdued these days. I still love the old tales. Narnia, and the children who turn into fair and just kings and queens. A Wrinkle in Time, more unlikely young heroes. Knights fighting or befriending dragons. Hobbits saving the world. Wonderful stuff for a young mind to marinate in. Then you grow up. Life is hard. One of the toughest things for me was to accept that not everything can be fixed. Happy endings? More about that at the, um, ending. Meanwhile… There are people who I love who have chronic pain and it can’t be fixed. It’s heartbreaking. They don’t deserve this. Another thing I was naively unprepared for is that some people take pleasure in hurting others. Yikes! As a child, I thought goodness was real, but evil was only a fantasy. Odd, but that was what I thought. This is not going to be a grim tale all about hurting. I’m writing to acknowledge that the hero thing doesn’t always look like we imagine as children. It’s that, plus also about happy endings. Caregiving My parents lived to 95 and 97, and I was their caregiver. Mom was in and out of being declared palliative for an incredibly long time. I was still working — running my own small business. Teaching fewer hours was part of how I managed. Good for their health, not good for my business. I was far from perfect. I fought the dragon of loneliness for my parents and advocated for them the best I could. There were moments that I wish I could have done better, moments the fatigue got to me. Finding a balance with self-care in that situation would indeed be a fantasy. My heart goes out to you if you are in this position. Being a caregiver for a senior is a job doomed to fail. That is if you consider that they eventually get worse and die to be a failure; but it’s not, it’s life. Death is as much a part of life as any other part. So there’s that. Dragons Today There was a time when slaying dragons appealed. Today, I understand better, it takes so much energy. If dragon slaying is part of your current journey, more power to you. There are many dragons out there: homelessness, sickness, and injustice in countless forms, to name a few. Let’s each do what we can to combat these. The harm is real and every bit of help in this battle can make a difference, even if we can’t all be heroes full-time. Let’s support those who are. This is important. You know the people I am talking about: those who work full-time as caregivers or to try to establish justice. Consider supporting these folks in any way you can. There was a time during Covid when people became aware of how difficult a job it is to work in long-term care. These workers hardly have time or energy to mourn when the one they are caring for passes away. Some folks work in hospital situations that are tremendously draining 

The path to being fully alive. Painting by Cheryl O Art We have art so that we shall not die of the truth.— Friedrich Nietzsche If truth is something that people die of, it begs the question… What’s killing us? Anxiety is running rampant. According to Psychology Today, “Anxiety is now the leading mental health problem around the world, and the incidence of anxiety is still rising, especially among youth.” Social media does not help. Overloaded with information, nothing feels worthwhile. Our thoughts are constantly interrupted, and we become scattered. We can’t process life’s fast pace but don’t know how to get out of the race. That feeling of being trapped and the stress it produces is not healthy. It can work its way into disturbed sleep and serious health issues. The commonly heard refrain is — to unplug and detox your brain by getting off the gadgets, but without something more worthwhile to call to us, it simply doesn’t happen. That few minutes on social media stretches into hours even when we know it’s not good for us. Here’s one way to light up your life and refresh your weary soul. The beginning Beginnings are hard. Often, they take courage. Always, they take effort and energy. But a start is what is needed when you want to make changes. No one else can do this for you. Finding the oomph to get up and try is up to you. I hope to convince you it’s worthwhile. The ‘it’ is creativity. Step one is exploring to find your passion. What is calling to you? Is it writing, painting, woodworking, music, fiber art, or dance— there is a world of possibilities for creative focus. If you aren’t sure, you can explore. Local libraries are great resources for finding various clubs and activities. Or do a Google search for clubs and activities in your area. What sparks your interest? You can be flexible about how much or little you invest in exploring new interests. If art interests you but paints are too expensive, drawing is a creative expression, too. A 4B pencil and paper are all you need. A recorder costs less than a flute and makes captivating sounds. Don’t be too quick to let finances discourage you from your creative calling. Consider how your current interests could be expanded. Do you love watching movies? How about joining or even starting a movie group? It would get you relating to others and thinking about what you were watching rather than just being lost in the screen. Turn a solitary activity into a creative place for relating to friends. Are you always meaning to go for a walk, but tend to avoid getting around to it? There could be a nearby group for that. Getting out into nature is a valuable way to break the negative mental trends that so easily happen. Walking is also recommended as a way to boost creativity. Leave the gadgets at home. Opportunities are as diverse as humans are. Maintaining the flow Once you find an interest, life changes. A new interest gives you a new subject to spend time on, think about, and relate to others about. Once you get some basics down, the joy of creative 

You are not alone Quote by Mark McGinnis, watercolor & ink sketch by Cheryl O Art It’s not easy being human. It is cringeworthy at times. Or is it? I refer to the blushing gaffs we make unintentionally. Oh yes. We all do it. Like many things in life, what matters most is how we respond. The first recommendation, if it’s even vaguely appropriate, is to laugh. Don’t miss out on this potential gold mine of humor — yourself. In the year 100, Epictetus had it figured out. I’m putting his quote into the basket I call timeless truths. He who laughs at himself never runs out of things to laugh at.— Epictetus I confess that there are times when laughing at myself is difficult. Here is what I figured out that can make this easier. I am not alone. One place that reinforced this to me, and you may laugh at this, is Facebook. I refer to the posts such as: The key to making a grilled cheese sandwich is to burn the first side and be ever so careful with how long the second side is cooked.— Unknown Posts like this make me laugh because that is precisely how I make a grilled cheese sandwich. I realize, oh I am not the only one who does this. The posts that end with, ‘asking for a friend’ are similarly funny. We who stumble about knocking the glass over, not finding anything to add to the latest upbeat conversation, having to burp (or worse) during a solemn moment — we are not alone. Knowing this can take so much of the weight off. Fact: an endless multitude of us are continually producing less-than-stellar moments all over the planet. Rejoice! You have found your people! They are — people. Because imperfection is what it means to be human. This understanding is so hard for you perfectionists out there. I used to have some leanings that way myself and unnecessarily beat myself up over small failures. Holy smokes. Such redundant suffering. No one is perfect. We are not made to be perfect. There is a freedom here. Giving yourself the freedom to make mistakes means that you can also be more creative. That’s important! Being creative is where we feel most alive. If you don’t set yourself free to make mistakes, you will be blocking yourself from trying anything new, especially if it is a creative outlet. If that is your case, I mourn the loss of your beautiful imperfect art. That drawing with unusual yet ever-so-sincere shapes, the song you only play alone in your room. We love Grandma Moses and Maude Lewis for their honest expression. Not every successful painter is a Michelangelo. Not all worthwhile art hangs in galleries. Here’s to your song that’s a little off-key but comes from your heart. I never thought either Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen could sing. That didn’t stop the pleasure of listening. Worthwhile music can happen without being trained for concert halls. Not to belittle the wonder of a Michelangelo or Philharmonic. I have been in awe of both. I merely draw attention to the fact that most of us are not there and never will be. This does not mean