how i feed my creative spirit

+ neighborly urban theater and hanging rocks

getting some air on the patio at the whitney

Last Thursday morning, I stood in my closet piecing together a museum look - a checkered tank layered under a linen jumpsuit with a bold striped wool sweater thrown over it all. Time away from my studio felt like a heavy burden, but life had thrown me a day of self care and I was headed into the city. Carefully choosing mismatched patterns and layering fabrics for a morning soaking in Edward Hopper paintings at the Whitney transported me to my early teenage years, when my grandma would take me to exhibits at the Milwaukee Art Museum. One of the only times I would let myself play with my wardrobe as a teen, those were the days I felt free to express my quirks among the spirits of artists past. Without words but simply in creating that space, my sweet grandma Lois taught me the importance of feeding my creative spirit.

This past week as I wandered the gallery, I was alone, only my thoughts to dance with as I wondered in silent awe at Hopper’s realistic scenes melting into dreamlike imagery and ambled back to revisit paintings when their light drew me in. But I could feel the spirit of my grandma walking alongside me, and my own spirit filling itself back up.

These magical little outings are referred to as Artist Dates in Julia Cameron’s The Artist's Way and she vows they’re essential to any creative’s process. I mentioned last week my small ping of desire to start the twelve week program, and to my delight, a little trickle of interest came my way. I’m planning to begin the first week in March, and would love to form a group of accountability for my practice - for our practice. Please reach out! 

Let’s feed our creative spirits in personal practice together.

• NYC! If you’re looking for something fun to do on this beautiful Sunday, come visit me in Greenpoint Loft! There will be on-the-spot poems written on vintage typewriters, custom portraits by one of my favorite cartoonists, incredible local makers with their treasures - details here xo

• My messy studio photo this week is looking back on a very messy week with lots of hours elbow deep in clay. I came home each evening covered with clay splatters (except Thursday :)), exhausted and grateful.

The personal peace and creativity toolkit are weekly accessible mindfulness and creative prompts to fold into your life no matter how busy your life, bringing a little more thoughtful calm and creative spirit to your days.

This week I share how I keep close with friends even with wobbly life schedules, and chatter on about the urban theater in our neighborhood at golden hour and why there are rocks hanging in my bedroom window.

If you’re not already a paid subscriber, I hope you consider joining and building some peace and reflection into your life with me <3