DIY at Home Art Retreat

I’ve been dreaming for a while now about getting out of the city and away from the distractions of everyday life to go make art. The reality is I can’t afford a solo cabin somewhere in the midwest (ideal spot for this daydream), so I decided to make a DIY at home art retreat for myself the Sunday before labor day. It started when a few days prior I was looking at my calendar and noticed that I had no plans. I blocked the day out for art making and an at home retreat.

Full disclosure that I more or less did everything I’m going to talk about here, but I did let myself get distracted with an impromptu invitation and went out with a friend to a comedy show. So...it wasn’t a full day but I did have about 5 hours to myself (I also had a sick boyfriend to go get medicine for).

Of course before the day came I made a list of what my ideal retreat would look like and here it what I wrote:

• Have morning coffee without phone/social media/TV. Bonus picture below with an appearance by Cleo the cat. I am currently reading "The Secret History of Wonder Woman" by Jill Lepore

• Look at old sketchbooks for ideas

• Limit distractions (dishes, laundry, etc).

• Go for a walk to the nearby park

• Read articles I have saved to read later

• Write blog content

• Read

• Minimal social media time

• Collage

• Sketch

• Paint

If you are thinking about doing an at home retreat, nothing fancy is needed for supplies, whatever you have on hand and normally work with are just fine. If you want to play around with a new project make sure you already have all the supplies ready to go so you’re not running to the store day of. Enjoy your day and think of all those times you thought “I wish I had time to work on that” and take this time to do the work!

For me, it was really nice to start the day phone less and with a book. I haven’t done that in a looong time. It did set a good mood for the day and I got a lot done. Next time I do this I will make sure not to get tempted by an invite to go out so I have a full day retreat.

Have you ever done a DIY at home retreat? How did it go? I would love to hear in the comments!

Crazy Late January Wrap Up

Hello! February so far has been crazy busy! I didn't want to skip my January wrap up so instead it's very late.

Besides politics in America, 2017 is off to a great start. I've been exploring and playing around more with collage and art journaling and it's really inspiring me. I'm working to be present and focus when I'm working on something that requires my full attention. Less multitasking! The boyfriend and I took an impromptu overnight trip to Holland, MI and I came back feeling so refreshed. While we were there I took the time to stop and look around me and really appreciate the beautiful things and the fun we were having. I'm happy with the balance I have in my life right now and feeling good leads me to create more. Take that, depression! 

Here's a look at the creative things I enjoyed in January:

• Attended the Shawnimals 10 year Ninjatown retrospective at Rotofugi. Check out this Chicago artist if you're not familiar. I have been a fan of his work for years and picked up a few new products he was selling. Love the new dumpling blind box series!
• Listening: Creative Online Strategy /What's Your Story podcast-Recommended episode #2 with Emily McDowell. Heroine: Women’s Creative Leadership, Confidence, Wisdom-Recommended episode Are you an "artist"? with Lisa Congdon. 
• Good Read: Productivity in Terrible Times

Photo Round Up

Shawnimals at Rotofugi

Got a old drawer at an antique shop for $1 to hold miscellaneous collage papers. 

Sketchbook page

Holland, MI

Foggy day at Holland State Park on Lake Michigan

December Wrap Up

Happy New Year! I am really enjoying writing these wrap up blogs, it’s a great way to reflect on what I’ve been up to creatively and enjoying in my life.

Here we are in 2017 and I am behind on getting my new online shop up and running. So it goes. The day job and real life...well, happen. I don’t want to say they get in the way because it’s all a part of a multi-faceted life. You know what I mean, right? Anyways, I am taking a look at my goals and working on ways to find the best balance that I can.

So, let’s look at December:

• Started working on the Get Messy free intro to art journaling class

• Discovered the How She Creates Podcast. I am loving it! The episodes often feature more than one guest and are a great round table discussion

• The Reed’s Art & Craft fair was a blast! This was the second year I worked with Reed’s Local to put this event on

• Worked on Katie Lee’s End of Year Awesome and it really put things into perspective for me. It’s so easy to focus on the negative and what I didn’t accomplish, but writing down what I was proud of doing this last year made me feel awesome.

• I won a giveaway from Paper & Oats via Shailey & Katie’s podcast, I chose the Calendar & To Do List printable. Thanks ladies!

Art journal page, this sketchbook is almost full!

Images from the Reed's Art & Craft Fair

Working on Katie Lee's End of Year Awesome

November Wrap Up

Happy December all! I am writing this as I watch the first snowfall of the season in Chicago. I am definitely missing the Vegas sunshine that I had while on Thanksgiving vacation! 

Here are the art and creative things I saw/did this month.

November Recap:

• Saw a lot of great murals in Downtown Vegas. If you ever find yourself there make sure to check out the Arts District
• Discovered the Art Supplies Posse podcast and I am so happy! I worked at an art store for a few years during college and I love talking about supplies. I found out about this podcast through Kathy Weller's instagram when she shared that she was on an interview on the podcast. 
• Checked out the clothing line launch of Pintl + Keyt at the Greenheart Shop in Old Town. Such beautiful patterns and fabric! 
• Attended the Day Job/Night Job/Art Job talk put on by Chicago Artist Resource. It was more geared towards artists who make most/all their money from their art, but I still enjoyed the discussion (I have a day job and do art on the side). 
• Went to Alexee McNulty's art opening at Reed's Local in Avondale. She had beautiful abstracts and pop culture pieces as well as prints of her work for sale. I picked up a print as part of my Christmas shopping. 

Here are some photos from the month, enjoy!

Downtown Las Vegas mural

Obey mural in Downtown Las Vegas

How rad are these paintings by Alexee McNulty???

Another great piece by Alexee McNulty

Two paintings I am currently working on