tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389239361546808802024-02-20T09:35:52.513-08:00julia crosslandJulia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-44771270563939267562019-11-06T02:42:00.000-08:002019-11-06T02:42:30.939-08:00Creating Slow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have noticed over the last few weeks that my life and work patterns have changed. Things are slowing down, settling into a new, gentle structure. I am noticing too, that these changes have affected me in a very positive way and I feel far more content, and much calmer than I have done in a long time.<br />
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During my break in the summer, I began to realise that something needed to change. It wasn't just the business side of things, I felt off too; listless and laden with apathy. I remember noticing how the self imposed demands of social media were making me feel (both drained and irritable). Somebody had told me that we need to post content every day to stay in the loop and in people's feeds, and I had adhered to that idea for the longest time, fearing that it would all go wrong if I didn't. However, I continued, somewhat foolishly, to ignore my intuition and plowed on regardless, churning out content and slowly losing the love for what I do, and naturally it wasn't long before this feeling seeped into other corners of my life too.<br />
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There wasn't a huge lightbulb moment where I woke up one day and suddenly declared 'something needs to change!'; it was more of a gentle spiritual nudge, of slowly coming to an understanding of what those feelings in the pit of my stomach meant, why I felt so tired and uninspired. And that's when I knew I had to stop and take a break.<br />
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I barely went on my social media over the summer, pretty much seven weeks or more elapsed before I shared another post and in that space and time I created for myself, I understood what needed to change.<br />
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My life looks very different to what it did four months ago. I am no longer hurling myself through my day with barely a moments pause for breath. I am no longer cramming every waking moment with chores and things to achieve, and I've let social media take a back seat too.<br />
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<b>The biggest difference for me now, is choosing to live with more intention</b>. <br />
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For me this means using the hours of my day carefully, checking in with how the online world makes me feel, and spending more time outdoors in nature. It's making time each day for some kind of movement whether that's a walk, a jog or some yoga. I also try and meet up with friends each week, knowing that connection is as important to me as my solitude. <br />
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My work patterns have changed too, I no longer work like there's no tomorrow, painting and creating at what now seems to have been a frantic pace. I make time to research my subject matter, I enjoy taking photographs, creating mood boards on Pinterest, playing with colour palettes and sketching in my book. My creative pace has slowed right down, meaning that all these things combined makes each moment more mindful, and it feels like ease and contentment has finally become a part of my life.<br />
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Another thing I have started to do is to be more mindful, and feel gratitude, every single day. From the simplest moments of noticing the thin silver fingernail of a new moon in a dark indigo sky; a bird singing outside the studio, to picking the last succulent green beans from the garden. Giving thanks and noticing how these simple pleasures make us feel help to ground us and create a little hit of dopamine, the feel good chemical that our brains release. It's also helping me to feel more in tune with the season, I'm really aware of the colours in nature, the feel of the cold wind on my face as I walk around the reservoir and the warmth of my thick woollen jumper. <br />
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Choosing to live slowly doesn't mean existing at a snails pace, it means embracing each moment with purpose and intention, and making sure each day encompasses the things that make you feel happy and healthy. It means creating a space where you feel comfortable and safe, whatever that looks like for you. Its cooking hearty, nourishing food using seasonal vegetables - my current favourite thing to do is to make a big pot of soup and warm a baguette in the oven to slather liberally with thick, salty butter. Sitting down to enjoy this with my family is a simple pleasure and one that brings us all together at the table to share stories from our day. And now with the darkness returning, I light candles and put the fairy lights above the fireplace on each evening. These small rituals help me to return to the moment, to notice the seasonal changes and feel cosy and safe.<br />
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I'm also going through my things and letting go of stuff that I don't need or use anymore. Creating space in my home is like letting out a big deep sigh of relief, and while I've still a fair bit of sorting to do (and will never be a minimalist), I am aware of the benefits of a decluttered home and will continue to work on this, one small corner and cupboard at a time.<br />
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This didn't all happen overnight, and is more about a life change than just a fad. Each day is a blank canvas, to fill with what brings you joy and what feels good and with winter approaching and the days getting shorter I am more conscious than ever of how fast the days can sometimes slip by, making it all the more important to me to make each one really count.Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-78567963611067864512019-10-18T06:30:00.001-07:002019-10-18T06:30:47.451-07:00The Secret to Making Authentic Art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The artists path is not linear, it is a journey that twists and turns, that is wrought with pockets of fear, despair and self doubt, but also feelings of euphoria, achievement and deep joy. Is there any other profession that is laced so intricately with so many layers of emotion? Being a creative person, whether in business or for the sheer pleasure of it, is to share your deepest thoughts and dreams, to show people your innermost feelings, a glimpse of your soul.<br />
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From our humble beginnings as children at school, where we made curious potato print pictures, and collages from bright paper shapes, we learnt new skills. Through our educational years we picked up techniques from our teachers, and maybe went on to learn at a more deeper level, at college or university. <br />
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When we're studying we have a structure to follow, we know we have to draw the vase with the flowers in it. We know our homework is to draw a bird. We know that our friends are going to look at it, that our teacher is going to see it. We want to do well, get the great feeling that comes with achieving the A grade. We don't want to look like a fool, so we might even squash our creativity down, conforming to what's expected. <br />
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I was once asked to make a mask for a play I was in, and I spent a good hour or so designing what in my eyes I believed to be a masterpiece; bejewelled with sequins and glitter, only to be derided by the director of the performance when I took it into rehearsal. "This is too much. Do something less fancy, without all the glitter." And so, a week later I took a bland, felt tipped version in which was accepted as more appropriate. The art I did as a child at home was very different to what I created at school, as it was done in a space of freedom, without rules or walls. As we grow, we learn to shape our creativity to what other people expect, learning what works and what doesn't. We sometimes, unconsciously, take this pattern into adulthood.<br />
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Today, with social media and a wide and varied audience of followers to see what you're doing, it can sometimes feel as if you're very much in the same boat, chasing the likes and the nice comments. The high of being told something is great can insidiously become a feeling worth more than doing the actual work. Chasing likes and compliments is both seductive and addictive.<br />
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Before the Summer, you might remember I told you how I felt utterly caught up in the hamster wheel of social media, feeling the pressure to create something each day that was Instagram worthy (and I know towards the end of this period, it really probably wasn't). I noticed how the whole process of creating was becoming a daily grind, feeling more and more artificial and almost like a kid at show and tell bragging; "hey, look what I did" and I didn't like it anymore. It didn't feel authentic, or real. It felt forced, automatic, and tiring.<br />
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I want to say at this point how grateful I am to the folks who choose to follow my accounts. This blog post isn't to suggest I'm not interested in what they have to say. Choosing to post images of my work now is because it feels like I have something I'd <i>really</i> like to share, with people who are genuinely interested in what I'm doing, and I love connecting with those people! I no longer post every single day, I'm more thoughtful about what I do choose to put online, and most importantly I'm no longer chasing the high of a bunch of likes.<br />
I had people message me when I announced that I was taking a break over the Summer, they told me "I could see your heart wasn't in it" and I am deeply grateful to them for that honesty, and astonished at how the energy of our art transmutes across the world via the social stage. People know.<br />
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The secret to making your best, authentic art, which is full of inspired energy - the art that makes you feel both vulnerable and euphoric - is the work you create when you act like nobody is going to see it. I think we need to be bold enough to stretch our wings, to take off into the unknown and explore our own unique ways of making art and what that means to us. It's about creating boundaries: Stop comparing yourself with the big social media accounts, stop obsessively looking at numbers and just start making art again, just because you love it, because you have to. It's part of you. Your style of creativity is rare; nobody on this planet will ever do it in the same way that you do it. You'll find some people adore what you do and how you do it, and others not so much - and that's ok.<br />
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<b>Make art like nobody is going to see it.</b><br />
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It's that simple.<br />
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I'm not suggesting that you never use social media or take an art class again - but it's about approaching things differently, without constantly craving the applause. Without the pressure of an audience to perform to, you suddenly find you have time and you can make art that flows and that makes your soul happy. You'll feel it, during the process of making it, regardless of what it looks like. You'll know.<br />
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And if you do want to share your art, either online or in person with someone, do it because it feels good for you, because it means something to connect and to share your stories. <br />
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I also want to say that if you receive positive comments for what you've created - that's great! It's nice to have other people like what you're doing and pay you a compliment and I have so much gratitude for the people who take time out of their day to post nice things on my accounts. The problem starts when we create the habit of seeking validation outside of ourselves and we begin to lose sight of the truth. We start to forget what the true purpose of our art is, and how powerful it can be if we just tune in to our inner muse and let the magic happen. <br />
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Painting, making, creating...when we choose to show up and make art like nobody is going to see it, we open up a vast amount of space and freedom within our minds, which allows inspiration and new ideas to flood in. When we are not answerable to anyone, you'll discover that art doesn't have to conform to a standard or an expectation, it doesn't have to look like anything that's gone before. Working this way allows us to fully relax into the creative process as there is no pressure to please, only space to make beautiful, authentic art, whatever that looks like for you.Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-49441617607482867492019-10-01T03:58:00.000-07:002019-10-01T03:58:03.060-07:00Just One Thing?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I want to talk about how it feels when you're drawn to exploring different ways of expressing yourself through art, and when you cannot commit to just the one.<br />
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The months prior to my Summer hiatus had seen me moving from illustrative art to a colourful exploration of abstract art. I have no idea even now what pulled me to go into the studio that first day and use the paint in this way, only that it was something I had to do. I needed to feel what it was like to create energy and stories through shape and colour but I was also deeply aware that it was completely different to my illustrative work, the work that I was recognised for.<br />
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After my break, I began to slowly start working in my sketchbook, this time pulled back to the gentle art of watercolours, dip pen and ink. I felt that I reached for these things almost intuitively. I picked up what felt right, and started to draw and make small paintings which became the bare bones of my new collection.<br />
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Last week I was talking to a friend about it. I asked her, "will people start saying things like 'what's she doing now?' because I can't settle with just one thing? It feels as if I ought to have just one thing, but I haven't".<br />
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There are plenty of wonderful artists who commit to working in one medium, and a certain subject matter (like landscapes for example) for many years, and gain a reputation in that field. People know what to expect, it's reliable and solid. <br />
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Is it detrimental to our progress to not have just one thing? Is it necessary for our progress to focus on one genre, and hone our talents using one medium?<br />
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I listened to a Podcast recently over on <a href="https://www.letshighlightreal.com/">Let's Highlight Real</a> with Meera Lee Patel. She was talking about her own experience as an artist and writer, and touched on this subject. She spoke about how she felt that one of the most important parts of the art for her is the story, whether that is told via a greetings card, a print or an essay, and how while she admired the artists who stick solely to one medium, and one way of creating, she often felt as if she didn't have a choice in the way her story was told.<br />
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This really resonates with me, some days I want to tell my story with watercolour and ink, other days I want to tell it through the vibrant and colourful medium of acrylics. Other days, I'll turn to my blog and write.<br />
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So is this amateurish and confusing? Or does it instead show curiosity, ability and strength?<br />
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Meera said that it can be hard not to try and look like, or do things like other people. But being an artist is about being true to yourself, and following your intuition. I don't think I could choose just one type of paint and stick to it for the next 30 years, and I can't imagine not sharing through my writing either. I also think that if you choose to work authentically, and commit to your own style, you are absolutely able to work with different mediums and genres to create a body of work that is 100% identifiable as yours, whether it's watercolour or linocut printing.<br />
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I'm currently working with watercolour and ink right now to create a beautiful new body of work which is inspired by the coast. I felt compelled to work with words that are embroidered through the art (you can see more of this style over at <a href="https://whistlefish.com/collections/julia-crossland">Whistlefish here</a>), using beautiful inks and a dip pen.<br />
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Do you prefer to see artists working with just 'one thing'? Or, do you like seeing an artist sharing their work through different styles and mediums?<br />
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Chat to me in the comments about your thoughts on this, I'd love to hear from you!<br />
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Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-649042000172127022019-09-10T03:45:00.000-07:002019-09-10T03:45:31.859-07:00What I Learnt on my Summer Break<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Is anyone else still astonished that it's September already? The weeks of the Summer holiday have drifted by, and yet I wasn't prepared for it to end so suddenly; to be roused far too early by an insistent radio alarm clock, drowsily making my way downstairs to prepare coffee, breakfast and packed lunches again.</div>
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Despite not wanting the Summer to end, I was also secretly feeling rather excited at the prospect of going back to the studio. If you read my last post you'll remember I told you I was taking a break from my work, and why. It took a lot of courage for me to face up to the fact that things weren't working and needed to change, and yet when I eventually accepted this and made the decision to step back for a while to figure out what to do next, I felt the biggest sigh of relief envelope my body.</div>
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During the Summer we spent a week in North Berwick in Scotland, it's a beautiful gem of a town on the east coast and despite the weather not being in our favour (torrential rain and storms for the majority of the week), it was a very welcome change of scenery and I loved the place. </div>
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Sitting on the beach on our last day looking out to Bass Rock and the islands beyond, I found myself thinking about painting again. Of course, it had been something I found my mind wandering to on and off but it was here that I suddenly had the seed of a new idea. I'm not even sure how it came into being, or what inspired it, but as the weeks of the Summer drew on, I felt myself returning to it over and over.</div>
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I knew that I wanted there to be more fluency with my work, to create cohesive collections of art and design work based on certain themes. I made a list in my notebook to refer back to, and let the idea germinate.</div>
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As the Summer days rolled by in a gentle, easy way, I began to start unravelling what wasn't working in my business, and surprisingly, one of the main components of it was actually me. I saw how I had become increasingly anxious and despondent about my work, I often struggled with imposter syndrome and the thought that I wasn't good enough. My daily thoughts and beliefs had disintegrated into a very negative place. </div>
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A positive mindset is one of those magical tools of the trade that we really do need in order to thrive. Once fear or depression begins to creep in, all other kinds of negative chatter can deter us from following our path, and can debilitate the process of succeeding. Our dreams and goals remain unrealised, panic and anxiety become a part of us, and we can often feel as if we are hitting brick walls without understanding why. I recall days where it felt like I was walking through thick treacle, achieving nothing, only wasted hours scrolling through Instagram where I would inevitably end up comparing myself to what everyone else was out there doing. </div>
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This also puzzled me a bit, I'd always thought of myself very much as a 'glass half full' person, but I could see (with a little unpicking) that the drag of daily social media updates, of playing small, of mid life challenges and not being bold enough to take bigger steps, had all conspired to halting my progress. Somewhere along the way I had given over to believing that I wasn't going to make it. My mindset had turned from 'I can' to 'I can't'.</div>
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Again, it feels almost a little awkward to lay this bare and share it with you. Admitting that 'I' am part of the problem isn't easy, but I do think that accepting what is, is half of the battle because once we do that, we have a starting point to move forward from.</div>
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I also chose not to post on Social Media for the entire Summer and at first, I felt afraid that this would have bad consequences. People would unfollow in their droves, I'd be forgotten. But do you know what actually happened?</div>
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Nothing.</div>
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The number of followers stayed roughly the same, people were actually still finding me, and following and liking my posts despite not being active.</div>
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And this was a revelation.</div>
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For months and months I harboured a secret dread each day - what to post. What content did I need to create? What did I need to photograph, edit, upload onto Instagram or Facebook today? And I knew I simply could not carry on doing that. Not only was it draining, I was finding it dull and depressing. Following my experiment this summer of not posting for literally 7-8 weeks, I know now that I can still have a social media presence but without the grind of posting daily. My intention moving forward is to use my spaces on social media a couple of times a week, paring it back to basics and sharing what feels joyful and interesting. My main focus will now be my <a href="https://www.juliacrossland.co.uk/mailing-list/4553304914">email community</a> who I write to a couple of times a month, and this Blog where I will share more regularly about my work process, and things I'm up to.</div>
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As we move into September, there are other things unfolding behind the scenes...my new website is almost half finished! I decided in the holidays that my old one was more than ready to be upgraded, and so it's with great excitement that I can share that my new online home is currently being constructed, and made ready to showcase my new work. I'll keep you posted about it's launch, but suffice to say it's looking amazing and really reflects me and my new direction.</div>
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I have also been looking at my work and stock, and being rather strict about what works and what doesn't. I think creative people and businesses must do this from time to time, and to be brutally honest about it too. No point harbouring a load of products (and adding to them) if it's not a good seller. And this led me to consider having a sale, as a way to make space for my new collections, and to clear some space for a fresh new beginning.</div>
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I'm going to be giving my email community the heads up on the sale so that they will have the first opportunity to browse and purchase. I will be selling lots of originals and prints at drastically reduced prices in order to make the space I desperately need in my tiny studio. If you'd like to sign up to hear about this, you'd be very welcome and can do so by clicking the link in the side bar.</div>
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So, to conclude...this Summer has been about rest, stepping back, being honest, allowing new ideas to arise, reading and learning. It's been about accepting responsibility, making plans for the future and practising positivity each and every day (for me, this is walking in nature, going to the coast, journalling, yoga and meditation, reading books and inspiring blogs). I don't feel like the same person who last wrote here, I feel like I've grown and changed for the better and that can only be a good thing. </div>
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I'm going to grab a coffee and head down the garden to the studio soon, I'm working on some sketches at the moment for my first collection. The sun is lower in the sky now, the swifts have left I think, and the light filtering through the fading leaves is golden and tinged with the signs of Autumn. </div>
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It's good to be back.</div>
Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-85060621568872915362019-07-16T05:28:00.000-07:002019-07-16T05:28:48.879-07:00Why I'm Taking a Break<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Over the last few months, behind the scenes, there's been a bit of a story unfolding.</div>
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I didn't know if I was going to share it here at first, but the time feels right, and besides I didn't want you wondering what had become of me over the summer so I thought I'd tell you what's been going on and what I'm doing about it.</div>
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<b>It's always been important to me to share the highs and the lows of my artist journey with you,</b> I never want you to think that I'm out there living some kind of dream life where everything is peachy all the time, because this is a real life and it absolutely isn't.</div>
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So, back to the beginning...I think I started to notice that something was wrong during the Winter, when I would wake up and become aware of a sinking, heavy feeling in my belly. I put it down to a touch of the Winter Blue's, put my head down and carried on with my work. </div>
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However, each day was becoming more and more like chasing an elusive dream, I couldn't explain why exactly, or what it was that was slipping through my fingers. </div>
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I felt anxiety grow as I noticed the numbers on my Social Media accounts slowly decreasing, and the Likes gradually lessening too. Now before I go on, let me clarify: it is NEVER about the numbers, for me my work is about connection and making people happy with my art, but of course I'm only human, and seeing things decline is going to have an effect.</div>
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I spoke with my artist friends, had they noticed this? What did they think? Was it having an impact?</div>
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Yes, seemed to be a resounding answer. Yes it was.</div>
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And on it went. One algorithm after another seemingly appeared out of nowhere, feeling like an invisible wall, a bewildering mind game, something else to demystify and understand. You'd hear whispers about 'algorithms' all over the place and I knew it wasn't just me that was in this predicament. It was becoming harder and harder to be seen online, and as a result, sales slowed down.</div>
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Which brings me to now (the moment of vulnerable sharing).</div>
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The truth is, my business simply isn't sustainable anymore, in the way that I've been running it. This is mostly down to the way social media has changed who gets to see things, and yes, those bloody mysterious algorithms! But it's not just that, its also down to my mindset and self belief which inevitably took a nose dive when I felt that I was falling behind, losing customers, not making enough money. Social media is making it harder for small businesses, no doubt about it but a negative mindset doesn't help either. </div>
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Is any of this my fault? Yes, I accept that some of it is - I gradually found myself feeling pretty depressed and anxious, which led to me being unable to work some days because of the fear; fear of the future, fear of not being good enough, fear of having failed. When you're in that negative place it's sometimes hard to get yourself out of it. I would move from feeling depressed to feeling angry about how unfair it was...and anger has infinitely more power than depression and I used that to leverage my mind towards being more productive and eventually, feeling more positive. </div>
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I know too that running a business can be really hard work, I've been self employed since the year 2000 and have had my fair share of obstacles and hurdles to overcome. </div>
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The thing is, it can be really hard to accept that something isn't working, believe me I happily buried my head in the sand about all this for a long time, but once we look the problem in they eye, and acknowledge what isn't doing so well then we can take steps to put it right, or make the decision to stop. And I want you to know if you're reading this and feeling like you're in a similar place, you have to do what feels right to YOU, and know that it is absolutely OK to feel the way you do, and make that choice.</div>
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I'm writing this post very much from a positive place today. I have sat and thought about what to do and I am not ready to give up my work and close down. I'm fortunately very tenacious (imagine dog with bone) and won't give up without a fight. I know that to bring my business back up to par, to make it financially viable I am going to have to tackle the problem from a different angle.</div>
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<b>So what will I do?</b></div>
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My daughter finishes school for the summer this Friday, so I'll be taking those weeks off to make plans and start taking some new steps forward. I am studying business, taking workshops and reading books and surprisingly I am really enjoying working this muscle! Who knew it would be so interesting? I need lots of new tools under my belt going forwards (managing social media, SEO updates, marketing, growing an email list, etc;) so I'm giving myself the space to learn and educate myself. I also realise that I can no longer rely on just selling paintings to make a living, so I'm exploring some new ideas which feel exciting and possible. Right now they are literally seeds, yet to unfurl, but when they do I promise to share more about it with you.</div>
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I feel optimistic about the future, I feel like it's an exciting new beginning rather than the end of something. My business didn't fail, I didn't fail - things just changed and of course this is the truth about life, it's always changing. </div>
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I'm going to wish you a wonderful summer. Mine will be spent enjoying this new time of growth and discovery, balanced out with evenings under the stars, time with family, walks on the beach, reading, meditating, yoga and rest.</div>
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See you soon.</div>
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Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-75558992225307963122019-06-24T01:05:00.003-07:002019-06-24T01:05:58.167-07:00June Journal - this month so far<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Symphony - original acrylic painting on canvas</i></div>
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June has been a damp, mostly dismal and somewhat cool month, interspersed with hopeful rays of feeble warm sunshine. </div>
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A couple of weeks ago I took this painting to the framers, quite a few people told me that it reminded them of music and I had to agree, hence it's name. I like the movement and energy in this piece very much, I like how you can follow the almost ribbon like streams of colour and lose yourself in it. I'm finding abstract painting to be very meditative, and very healing.</div>
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At the beginning of June, we found ourselves in Suffolk having a few days at my sisters. We had a wonderful time, it felt like a mini holiday as the weather was just perfect - warm, dry and sunny with giant blue skies. This was taken on the beach at Lowestoft, what a gorgeous place that is - I especially like the old world charm it seems to retain, and the mile upon mile of soft creamy sand.</div>
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Abstract in the making...</div>
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Warm up exercises on watercolour paper.</div>
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The finished painting: Confluence, a meeting of streams, flowing together, the middle.</div>
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The studio. I have been entranced with these gorgeous peonies that I found quite cheaply at a local supermarket. I don't often have flowers in the studio as I'm quite good at knocking them over, but I couldn't resist. They are the epitome of summer days, unapologetically beautiful - and fleeting.</div>
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On Father's Day we went over to the east coast, to Scarborough. It's one of my favourite places and doesn't take that long to get to. It has everything I love: beautiful beaches, clear seawater, cliffs and seabirds, a harbour, boats and lovely cafes and shops.</div>
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It was sunny so we managed a picnic on the beach, but the wind got up so we didn't linger as getting sandblasted isn't all that much fun. We walked around to South Bay and my daughter made me go on a very fast ride in the tiny funfair by the harbour which was hilarious and exhilarating! Later on as we walked back to the car we got caught in a deluge, but all I really recall is the sound of the kittiwakes calling from their nesting sites on the cliffs, and the scent of the sea in the rain.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pX2XWz7eoPQYsTMUGz6JZTk9aJMM8Qr_r5VNxkAIf3MGBsCVBKOSD10oLdlBjAt3pNgWT2BnRQnJqhyphenhyphenOe7aabfS7iWl_QsZ0gqcBR8rVburrcDqy6x6ciH9ri7shkGWAtptGR4VYPnKY/s1600/IMG_0290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pX2XWz7eoPQYsTMUGz6JZTk9aJMM8Qr_r5VNxkAIf3MGBsCVBKOSD10oLdlBjAt3pNgWT2BnRQnJqhyphenhyphenOe7aabfS7iWl_QsZ0gqcBR8rVburrcDqy6x6ciH9ri7shkGWAtptGR4VYPnKY/s400/IMG_0290.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Explorations of colour, with watercolour on Cass Art Smooth watercolour paper. I went to their <a href="https://www.cassart.co.uk/locations/manchester">gorgeous shop over in Manchester</a> on Monday 17th, it was a damp, misty sort of day and we traversed the Pennines submerged in a watery gloom wondering where the hell summer had gone. However, our spirits were lifted as we entered this artists paradise, at 55 Oldham Street - suddenly immersed in rows and rows of paint, sketch books, and other utterly tempting supplies. I may have bought new things including their fabulous smooth watercolour pad, some Liquitex soft body acrylics and an art board.</div>
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When the solitude of working for myself turns insidiously to isolation, I take myself out to where there are people, coffee shops and WALLED GARDENS, because I absolutely adore being in a walled garden! I will not forget in a very long time the jaw dropping beauty of this stunning wild flower meadow, it was just the most stunning tangled creation of daisies, poppies and sweet peas you ever did see and I wish there were some way of conveying how intoxicating the scent of it was. Had the gardener not been so close, I may have laid down on the brick path amongst them all, with my face to the sun breathing it all in for a while.</div>
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And lastly, I have a lovely new product in my online store! I am very excited to share this professionally printed canvas art print to 'Shallows'. It is printed onto 100% bright white cotton canvas and stretched onto a handmade pine frame. The finish and quality is perfection, and upon opening the sample I received, I was astonished as to how like the original it was.</div>
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You can find these in my shop priced at £35 GBP<a href="https://www.juliacrossland.co.uk/shop/4581804488/new-shallows---open-edition-canvas-print/11388072"> here</a>.</div>
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Chat soon.</div>
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Julia x</div>
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Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-79010372699987341692019-05-17T02:28:00.000-07:002019-05-17T02:28:39.154-07:00Deep Dive and Shallows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm still really engrossed in my journey of exploring abstract art. It's a totally new avenue for me, as those of you who have followed for a while will know. For many years I painted coastal scenes, things and places you would recognise.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSTYRKMiK2nLcubPPM2WDrDQHb59-W4ompKZZzzpNluO_f3eTzygskhZcCwLvaAaXNiHqNXqaOfh5KcMRY02yevmDAkJ6LBzRm09m29II8neJn3fni5jh3GA3yljA83J5O9k1U_882gZs/s1600/6236692357530227140_IMG_3168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSTYRKMiK2nLcubPPM2WDrDQHb59-W4ompKZZzzpNluO_f3eTzygskhZcCwLvaAaXNiHqNXqaOfh5KcMRY02yevmDAkJ6LBzRm09m29II8neJn3fni5jh3GA3yljA83J5O9k1U_882gZs/s400/6236692357530227140_IMG_3168.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some time last year I felt the call to try something new, to work in a looser style and yet I just couldn't commit to taking that leap, and so persevered with my familiar style.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Working like this, very much from the heart and soul is proving to be so revealing in many ways. I am understanding how art really does have the capacity to create space in the mind, and to heal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This piece is called Deep Dive, and it's an acrylic piece on a wooden panel. I used a flow medium to make those glorious puddles of colour.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Much of this painting is led by intuition, I allow myself to be directed to colour, shape and pattern without trying to influence the outcome.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7V-tefnyJ_ZouRUYmTa1puPd-WvhyphenhyphenKbqM6T-pCnhveXXIXQN9_gu2shdm6i5M_OLbpiGcQonGCHcMcEUkLS2YwY4561t8j9BbKOjFNcQah37_27L-lmGLoLbnziVN8tVo_feg1cdAkfq/s1600/Untitled+Design.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7V-tefnyJ_ZouRUYmTa1puPd-WvhyphenhyphenKbqM6T-pCnhveXXIXQN9_gu2shdm6i5M_OLbpiGcQonGCHcMcEUkLS2YwY4561t8j9BbKOjFNcQah37_27L-lmGLoLbnziVN8tVo_feg1cdAkfq/s400/Untitled+Design.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shallows</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Choosing to work with a minimal choice of colours, I built up many translucent layers of paint, it reminds me of staring into the shallows of the ocean, those beautiful turquoise shades, lilac and blue, and soft sandy tones. I was really happy with this piece, and feel I'd like to explore this layered way of making art further.</span></div>
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Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-60485939876351147422019-05-13T02:08:00.001-07:002019-05-13T02:08:33.822-07:00Wanderlust and Tide Pools<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAYYwp4Rlh6HJg0l5Jm9lVjmgYqRt3TazfTuJBez9stBVRDVL_yGmqxcOxIiEAhitE6mpZC4JS7t114iDBs1VdSgvV58p3n9z_SzTRMDjoLpLbvou-OEz_gf44rrTjnC7_HnquTdfjiuL/s1600/937CBB23-75C6-49B8-89D1-A6125B2647F4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAYYwp4Rlh6HJg0l5Jm9lVjmgYqRt3TazfTuJBez9stBVRDVL_yGmqxcOxIiEAhitE6mpZC4JS7t114iDBs1VdSgvV58p3n9z_SzTRMDjoLpLbvou-OEz_gf44rrTjnC7_HnquTdfjiuL/s400/937CBB23-75C6-49B8-89D1-A6125B2647F4.jpeg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wanderlust</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A feeling of adventure, of sea and sky, journey and landscape.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This piece has a gorgeous deep edge, so you could display this painting either freestanding, or hang on the wall. I also like the serendipitous paint run down the side, how about you?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Uzn7Xjvlk0xkt76Dpf_ekbT1NqtKjZ6LvicxlFsBVyU9m0KxQ3CwGmAbB__MkIBJtKx4lZucCOrdy7ryUG5K4nHe1NH8Z6GVYYLaBUQcoDxYHAsFxvVc1FGdQ29B9C9BNhaD8EGbWWj0/s1600/CF04BE6C-B3F6-45A6-9112-A01BB754B86E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1440" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Uzn7Xjvlk0xkt76Dpf_ekbT1NqtKjZ6LvicxlFsBVyU9m0KxQ3CwGmAbB__MkIBJtKx4lZucCOrdy7ryUG5K4nHe1NH8Z6GVYYLaBUQcoDxYHAsFxvVc1FGdQ29B9C9BNhaD8EGbWWj0/s400/CF04BE6C-B3F6-45A6-9112-A01BB754B86E.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tide Pool</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Colours and movement of a tidal pool, fluctuations of seaweed undulating in the water and the surprise of marine life hiding in the shadows.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5_aMzAxxBnp8-HWvKeXTo3vZ2MjLr79NN-USRgIMdrKzpVEkCq_mYvfAhpRaXd_Ik9hteETAKqNONLHmXLJW6OlVpuKlUwr-sAchFp5IUdyY7yXD5snHAa9zyd_BojwLk8ejDDGgsmH0/s1600/A29C5586-49C0-452D-9162-D78105F47EA0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5_aMzAxxBnp8-HWvKeXTo3vZ2MjLr79NN-USRgIMdrKzpVEkCq_mYvfAhpRaXd_Ik9hteETAKqNONLHmXLJW6OlVpuKlUwr-sAchFp5IUdyY7yXD5snHAa9zyd_BojwLk8ejDDGgsmH0/s400/A29C5586-49C0-452D-9162-D78105F47EA0.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Painted on a deep edged white canvas, this piece is so utterly mesmerising.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What I'm learning as I create these pieces is that they come from somewhere deep within. There is no expectation of any outcome as I paint, it's a journey of sorts - and each painting is a revelation, like a revealing of the soul. Working intuitively with colour is both mindful and meditative, I am seeing that this work could be (and perhaps already is) deeply healing.</span></div>
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Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-1161484283298936002019-05-08T10:12:00.000-07:002019-05-13T02:08:59.221-07:00Shorelines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7V_NEnKy2aP2sYPiLD5qgM1MKeYi7l6BE1irzpTNydNT46dnQchpcPdNm5sv0LECcDVlw51GrPOtEKUM62sBVv7pkfzeXAx160HajMgbR3RjcmOiTMGdqTyec1FDTD-3xN8FOU_mDyw6c/s1600/018B26E8-0DF8-496A-86C0-972901DE77D8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7V_NEnKy2aP2sYPiLD5qgM1MKeYi7l6BE1irzpTNydNT46dnQchpcPdNm5sv0LECcDVlw51GrPOtEKUM62sBVv7pkfzeXAx160HajMgbR3RjcmOiTMGdqTyec1FDTD-3xN8FOU_mDyw6c/s400/018B26E8-0DF8-496A-86C0-972901DE77D8.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I seem to be forever drawn to painting the sea, although recently I have crossed over from illustrative representational work to abstract work, this piece was created in acrylics with a flow medium, and I wanted to convey the feeling of movement and energy where the tide meets the shore.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCquT3gI5mlWnwWbykhP0g-hsiY143S_zsKXmPB8lDgN4Nz5teOLkll89BJpZB-_vyWeJAiqdE4UDCrKhfbHjiCtJ5QQCefWwGwNm3ELfY5dWo8Ma4ySGnH9g6YpZsmdyREtqFKKbP8F7A/s1600/125784E9-1C60-41ED-BFC9-50A98403AB48.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="941" data-original-width="1600" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCquT3gI5mlWnwWbykhP0g-hsiY143S_zsKXmPB8lDgN4Nz5teOLkll89BJpZB-_vyWeJAiqdE4UDCrKhfbHjiCtJ5QQCefWwGwNm3ELfY5dWo8Ma4ySGnH9g6YpZsmdyREtqFKKbP8F7A/s400/125784E9-1C60-41ED-BFC9-50A98403AB48.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Whenever we get the opportunity we love to go over to the Yorkshire coast, although it’s May here, temperatures had plummeted to just 5 degrees hence the winter coat...the views were worth it though, at both Bempton Cliffs RSPB and Scarborough.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomCLB3HDrWuqiamK6gvDEMBOyIrc1iknDeVdp32afVdC2jC8Y8Dqehbi81YBs0-u9Fi3lj0xIMulvllQ_2Zl_2aPxRGDIokATeeN-z4Ag9pxsGLQsY4lC3L1iFKJSj7HUKrSPyqVO86sT/s1600/CFA44312-9D65-4DEB-8B2A-D75CED715F4F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomCLB3HDrWuqiamK6gvDEMBOyIrc1iknDeVdp32afVdC2jC8Y8Dqehbi81YBs0-u9Fi3lj0xIMulvllQ_2Zl_2aPxRGDIokATeeN-z4Ag9pxsGLQsY4lC3L1iFKJSj7HUKrSPyqVO86sT/s400/CFA44312-9D65-4DEB-8B2A-D75CED715F4F.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-16436288883217300992019-05-04T02:32:00.001-07:002019-05-13T02:09:21.710-07:00The Shape of Water<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-ai5l6UmnRlnodacZTTCFdWAmt2EMmBiqBZnUSzBHAK3Ecn0IK4TskYs_L0MFDkJjFB8ukrSra5A69UrofY4jezKMbOXAWfDy6N3uKN86KhqdBAhlc_AMtzfZTx4ztOmAWx7Jv0QBktW/s1600/B13FBDC9-1AE2-4DA6-AE67-CAA2953036AB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-ai5l6UmnRlnodacZTTCFdWAmt2EMmBiqBZnUSzBHAK3Ecn0IK4TskYs_L0MFDkJjFB8ukrSra5A69UrofY4jezKMbOXAWfDy6N3uKN86KhqdBAhlc_AMtzfZTx4ztOmAWx7Jv0QBktW/s400/B13FBDC9-1AE2-4DA6-AE67-CAA2953036AB.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After a long absence, I'm back on my Blog. I have decided to intersperse writing helpful tutorial, sharing advice and stories along with Journal type posts, sharing what I'm up to in the studio, with behind the scenes pictures, on a more regular basis.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Back in March, I hit a bit of a wall - you could call it a dark night of the soul if you wish because I stopped painting for weeks and weeks, and at times I honestly didn't know if I'd ever pick up a brush again. Everything felt tired and done. Did you ever feel that way about things you create?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was a tough few weeks, I questioned where I was going in my business, and wondered who I was without art - was it even possible to imagine a life without it? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If we resist these times of change though, it becomes harder - if we soften and allow ourselves to let go, we can get through the pain and journey through to the sweet new beginnings that await us on the other side.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Kns2zzNL6uN8zo1Kx8mTa2A2STJC1inXmlacJ6rGRISr2O7WbWZnauTBJs7Om9P5S_cPbJWUEo16imEVdvG0wHcD6-p_otOvlMgCHexZD1WWlGoS-upO2rkACp4jstfaGkCthLKkdRgH/s1600/85511A4B-DAF9-49D2-90CE-32D10D5BB90F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Kns2zzNL6uN8zo1Kx8mTa2A2STJC1inXmlacJ6rGRISr2O7WbWZnauTBJs7Om9P5S_cPbJWUEo16imEVdvG0wHcD6-p_otOvlMgCHexZD1WWlGoS-upO2rkACp4jstfaGkCthLKkdRgH/s400/85511A4B-DAF9-49D2-90CE-32D10D5BB90F.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had no idea I would ever make art that looked this way.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5pruoshrBe4KWzfNAleRLHfstr7-6SLggfOxPw7Fi__FyR3TMr5fOqm4FQHiGbw5517lo21RDTNBGHvOmLIHlkoMY8Lb2DbTGNWkZ88FVnfsadi74xSz5oAImmpeN4IgidZF4Jes4RNr/s1600/3FE9B1D7-E7CA-487A-866D-B945634B7485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5pruoshrBe4KWzfNAleRLHfstr7-6SLggfOxPw7Fi__FyR3TMr5fOqm4FQHiGbw5517lo21RDTNBGHvOmLIHlkoMY8Lb2DbTGNWkZ88FVnfsadi74xSz5oAImmpeN4IgidZF4Jes4RNr/s400/3FE9B1D7-E7CA-487A-866D-B945634B7485.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My friend encouraged me to go back to the studio, and to just have fun. I took her advice, found a wooden panel and played with my acrylics and some <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Liquitex-Professional-Pouring-Effects-Medium/dp/B002648RDU/ref=asc_df_B002648RDU/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=208025721965&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4708762181215752128&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006614&hvtargid=pla-384747210373&psc=1&th=1&psc=1">flow medium.</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2GAEesfU2Cdv1MM6eJfsOh2UpuGWX2XIEzFT_RnytYSOM-7e18VBfElga4Pbe6Oopm9Z-VL0hBL1j-GJpZB9wGihlITQyOZdKd3csT3xT5sBK2bUcru0hLQhl_yjMmQyMj65XM022ZpC/s1600/IMG_0152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1600" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2GAEesfU2Cdv1MM6eJfsOh2UpuGWX2XIEzFT_RnytYSOM-7e18VBfElga4Pbe6Oopm9Z-VL0hBL1j-GJpZB9wGihlITQyOZdKd3csT3xT5sBK2bUcru0hLQhl_yjMmQyMj65XM022ZpC/s400/IMG_0152.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The piece at the top, which I created while thinking about the feeling of water was where it all began. I discovered that I was enjoying the concept of making art for fun, using the theme of water to explore mark making, shapes and texture.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1diT3izBrhdksFn48xpxOgAUEWikUo8UL-1DDfynqlKekfzzpYSD2osPNk-Ul2O7y6V2nxqcVRcsXueKPCZIVlSOwWdfY2GhXUEBPo-YjCKzav1YFxw5h_ySvThy8asbSBq3DnKrNV67/s1600/2E48FF30-9193-4D4D-AEF4-B02DD701F047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1diT3izBrhdksFn48xpxOgAUEWikUo8UL-1DDfynqlKekfzzpYSD2osPNk-Ul2O7y6V2nxqcVRcsXueKPCZIVlSOwWdfY2GhXUEBPo-YjCKzav1YFxw5h_ySvThy8asbSBq3DnKrNV67/s400/2E48FF30-9193-4D4D-AEF4-B02DD701F047.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Painting this way is completely different from when I paint in an illustrative way. I am allowing my deepest, subconscious feelings to manifest on paper. I allowed myself to really immerse myself in the shape of water, the feeling of water and the energy and movement of it. These pictures are the happy result.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6-3cBslOXo2zEjqVmKgVyMaXryarndv_6b6Lhl2A8iX-mvOg_0uKsRfl0S3a9uHgQ2TRsamhlxXakG0vyk9HU2H72U6UbrZJWGYtlgrqroSBX4x_RyWiGbJNZHmk3mj0xDQMbKPIgJO5/s1600/fullsizeoutput_19d.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1600" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6-3cBslOXo2zEjqVmKgVyMaXryarndv_6b6Lhl2A8iX-mvOg_0uKsRfl0S3a9uHgQ2TRsamhlxXakG0vyk9HU2H72U6UbrZJWGYtlgrqroSBX4x_RyWiGbJNZHmk3mj0xDQMbKPIgJO5/s400/fullsizeoutput_19d.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've been surprised by so many kind comments on my social media, I honestly wasn't expecting them. In some ways I was nervous to share this new work, I think when you have worked in a certain way for so long, people come to expect that and this was a complete departure for me to suddenly be sharing abstracts.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCu5cLrdpIphoR9O6SdXPm32eprwrSQ_olKavoIQxC_AXx18n_DNjrPYP4kfE187XZVcjUhPaSjbtzArc0UxWps_5FWbtPlHGX39pXrOBL93je78eHoeKSnnykLaDV7wnnK_4JhRKRxA2l/s1600/5C59BB77-DA50-460A-A1BD-EE26D262FD26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCu5cLrdpIphoR9O6SdXPm32eprwrSQ_olKavoIQxC_AXx18n_DNjrPYP4kfE187XZVcjUhPaSjbtzArc0UxWps_5FWbtPlHGX39pXrOBL93je78eHoeKSnnykLaDV7wnnK_4JhRKRxA2l/s400/5C59BB77-DA50-460A-A1BD-EE26D262FD26.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm still curious to explore this more intuitive way of painting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've done a couple of new vlogs too, all about this process. I shared about what happens when you fall out of love with your art (Episode 13) and what happened next (episode 14). You can watch them over on my </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjo62jUv62ioT1eQj5JLz7Q?view_as=subscriber">You Tube Channel here</a>. </span></div>
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<br />Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-71719647339054756012019-03-02T02:21:00.000-08:002019-03-03T09:00:28.008-08:00Creative Confidence - my brand new workshop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">I've met many people on my journey as an artist, who have said things to me like: "I wish I could do what you do", or "Oh no, I can't draw, I'm hopeless!"</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">Further conversation would lead down an increasingly familiar path; someone had told them they were no good when they were younger, they'd not had the support or encouragement to follow their dreams (even for fun or as a hobby never mind as an actual career choice). </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">Others had just grown up, family life and demanding jobs taking up most of their time until slowly, and without realising, they had simply stopped making art.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">I always try and encourage people to give it a try, to carve out a little space to have a go, but I'm often met with a wistful gaze, a shrug of the shoulders and a resigned smile, or a definite No.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yvGxdM-rrt99f22f05UuxOM6-uA9EL9BZ3YkJmhD9g4gnHouFYi0H2Pfleij42PAQJ07UmteehSxyHer-AZ73Vhz4KYgpeJr1ryDyWSkHhJe8guHa4FycpI1fk5JBwEiRz9Sv_rCtpBz/s1600/-7840346907059592590_IMG_2585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yvGxdM-rrt99f22f05UuxOM6-uA9EL9BZ3YkJmhD9g4gnHouFYi0H2Pfleij42PAQJ07UmteehSxyHer-AZ73Vhz4KYgpeJr1ryDyWSkHhJe8guHa4FycpI1fk5JBwEiRz9Sv_rCtpBz/s400/-7840346907059592590_IMG_2585.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">I kind of understand, a resolute "No" often hides low confidence or zero self belief. Hadn't I been the same, back as a naive eighteen year old college student, when my art tutor had told me that I was never going to make it as an artist?</span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hadn't I gone home that day, flattened by her words, shocked and unable to compute what to do with my life? Didn't I go into my room that evening, and slowly put all my things away in a cupboard, the grief of realising I was no good - never would be - making the idea of touching my paints and drawing things again practically impossible? And when anyone asked if I'd painted anything recently, didn't I say No?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">Yes.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">All of those things.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">And it took a few years before I felt the courage to venture into trying again.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Because of that comment, I made different choices in life, I spent the next six years working in an office for the NHS, in the salaries office no less (my maths grades left a lot to be desired, and it was my least favourite subject at school). I used to get feelings of nausea on a Sunday evening at the thought of Monday morning, yet I didn't have the courage to leave, I tolerated the long, slow hours because it paid a good wage which allowed me to buy nice clothes, and a car. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I lived for the weekends but that's no way to live a life. I look back now and feel sad for my younger self, sorry that she didn't understand that those comments were just somebody else's opinion, that didn't make them right or wrong and that I still had a right to try and follow my passion even if somebody else disagreed. I wonder now how many other people have had similar experiences, at the hands of someone we look up to and respect? I'm learning there are many of us.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some of us manage to find our way back, the passion and need to create finally resurfacing somewhere down the line, as it eventually did for me. I eventually left that office job and went to University in Devon, eventually graduating as an interior designer. I went on to run my own creative businesses for the next 19 years - the first one as a sign writer, the second: an artist.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM53ZRDBcEDGyxMAoijmZrwKgZGnZFxFXjELPKKc2Ha__-PnqXDbdOKbQRIu7bHlXYZtAPxENt8sQh7O7Vmp26aJO8lJIk0qiwhnB1OTGXawmu0dmOKOGYRMuIhxpl-h99s32tTfoRmvxi/s1600/Creative+Confidence+workshop+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="900" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM53ZRDBcEDGyxMAoijmZrwKgZGnZFxFXjELPKKc2Ha__-PnqXDbdOKbQRIu7bHlXYZtAPxENt8sQh7O7Vmp26aJO8lJIk0qiwhnB1OTGXawmu0dmOKOGYRMuIhxpl-h99s32tTfoRmvxi/s400/Creative+Confidence+workshop+banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For others though, the barriers are just sometimes too difficult to overcome. Pain, hurt, fear and shame all block the path to trying again, and this is the reason that I created this course.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_x2JMLKLarWuTI9etOSatcehj8VNZvuUcwOPc3EFtRWzWmYb2r96T2M9leA4BkXami2eWtxHuB2QSyAtUfpX1IIEem4UXuxAa5BjvnYQ8Ux5QMI-Ym9fC3172V2OTJbsQWw8uXckOQxDV/s1600/3DF58AB0-573C-4275-9820-64CF83E4D116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_x2JMLKLarWuTI9etOSatcehj8VNZvuUcwOPc3EFtRWzWmYb2r96T2M9leA4BkXami2eWtxHuB2QSyAtUfpX1IIEem4UXuxAa5BjvnYQ8Ux5QMI-Ym9fC3172V2OTJbsQWw8uXckOQxDV/s400/3DF58AB0-573C-4275-9820-64CF83E4D116.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I wanted to create a toolkit for people who wanted to make art a part of their lives again but were too afraid or stuck; to teach them that they<i> can</i> and to share the skills I use myself to this day when I'm stalled by self doubt, or fear, to enable them to do so.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Creative Confidence is designed as a self paced Workshop which you can access from anywhere in the world, it's a short course with gentle guidance and journal style prompts with spaces to write. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rLsRfaszCm8xKz4-7tCX6Y7xUxghxCwZJI-0BYLOUGmt9msrP4V1KZaNcS606qBMwnZ-0LzhwdL2zAMkIeJC1-lmZXYxgFISIEYUmfN0pdHI-O_QXjA-MNxlgZ81aSOhIrtZ_LZjZhTG/s1600/-3232935980400122888_IMG_2667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rLsRfaszCm8xKz4-7tCX6Y7xUxghxCwZJI-0BYLOUGmt9msrP4V1KZaNcS606qBMwnZ-0LzhwdL2zAMkIeJC1-lmZXYxgFISIEYUmfN0pdHI-O_QXjA-MNxlgZ81aSOhIrtZ_LZjZhTG/s400/-3232935980400122888_IMG_2667.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the couple of days since it's been launched, I've had some really wonderful feedback from people:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Thank you - you've inspired me to get my sketch book out again". CE</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Thank you Julia, what a fabulous course". AH</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Well written, it's really making me think" BK</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For me to teach what took me many years to learn, to help people overcome their fears and negative beliefs, brings me a lot of pleasure. To know that this may have helped just one person would have been brilliant, but it's reaching and helping more people than I could have imagined.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This isn't about turning your life on its head, ditching your job and responsibilities to become a full time artist. It's about allowing yourself the space within your current circumstances to explore the possibilities of what might happen, to make space in your busy life for creating, to pursue your curiosity, to cultivate confidence and to find the courage to try making art again.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The Workshop is available now</b>, and is an ongoing course which you can access when you like. Once signed up you have lifetime access as long as the course is live.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If this sounds like something you would be interested in, you can find out more about my Workshop <a href="http://juliacrossland.moonfruit.com/creative-confidence/4594551721">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-76741133660350755712018-10-19T02:29:00.001-07:002018-10-19T02:29:28.973-07:00How I stepped out of my comfort zone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSQT8wMhv-7GSgs4hK7BXBMVwcdWtXcdD5nXSyuip5x999z6oiVV8DrsIanmloKUeh8E7S0mrqLkF2vP_Jg1W30YyDH20lwm0HMPODtRzbtLDbCyx-ycT5iMvB2BAxk767acViaRJHQ6N/s1600/a+post+summer+funk+%25283%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSQT8wMhv-7GSgs4hK7BXBMVwcdWtXcdD5nXSyuip5x999z6oiVV8DrsIanmloKUeh8E7S0mrqLkF2vP_Jg1W30YyDH20lwm0HMPODtRzbtLDbCyx-ycT5iMvB2BAxk767acViaRJHQ6N/s400/a+post+summer+funk+%25283%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Have you ever put off doing something because you feel afraid of it? Or it might feel overwhelming or uncomfortable?</div>
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Stepping out of our comfort zone to do something new can be all of those things, and just recently I made the leap and tackled something I've been putting off for ages.</div>
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Video.</div>
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Today it seems everywhere you scroll there are videos and livestreams, I'm reading blog posts about how it's the best way to communicate with your customer, and how it's the best way to move your business forward.</div>
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And yet, it scared the hell out of me. So many things to contemplate...first of all, where would I start? There was so much I didn't know, and so much to learn. I felt out of my depth watching tutorials on You Tube, and the tech side of it, uploading and editing...well, the sheer volume of knowledge required actually made me shut off my laptop!</div>
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So, what did I do? For a long, long time I shelved it. I joined Skillshare and watched a couple of good classes and felt the stirrings of excitement and possibility, but when it came to physically getting started, I just couldn't do it! I wrote notes and ideas down in my biz journal - and they sat there unused for weeks. That is, until I had a coaching session with <a href="https://www.csheehanart.com/">Claire Sheehan</a>.</div>
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Claire is an artist and coach, and we had a session a couple of weeks ago where she helped me take down some of the blocks I'd created for myself. She was very helpful in getting me to see the bigger picture. Instead of launching into an overwhelming, full on video series, Claire encouraged me to make something short and easy, for fun. Right away the pressure to create something polished and professional disappeared. And also, I could also see how I'd set this unachievable standard, of making my very first video and it looking like something produced by Universal Studios. </div>
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It's fascinating how we build walls around ourselves to protect us from the unknown. It feels so comfortable and cosy plodding along in our own predictable way, doing what we know we're good at, yet it doesn't take us any further than our own self made boundaries.</div>
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The thing is, we <i>have</i> to learn as we go - it's part of being a human! We were not put on earth to stagnate and live a dull life. We have to be able to say to ourselves, you know what? This is my first attempt and I'm going to give it a go. I will most certainly make mistakes, but I will learn as I go on, and if I keep on practising I'll get better at it, I'll gain more confidence, develop new skills and my 'thing' will be amazing. I think back to how I first started with my art work, and it was nothing like what it is now! I sometimes find old pieces of work that make me cringe, but I also feel proud of myself for deciding to have a go because if I hadn't, I wouldn't be where I am now.</div>
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The main stumbling block for me, and I think this applies to all of us when we feel stuck around creating something new, is the fear of looking like an amateur, of people laughing at us or criticising us for our efforts. Am I right? Looking like we don't know 'all the stuff', feeling like the new kid on the block...it creates barriers of fear and self doubt and this can be paralysing. I can see now that I was never going to start making videos with so much emotional baggage! Claire showed me that choosing to create something small, and for fun, removed the need for it to be perfect.</div>
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<b>So, you might be wondering how things are going?</b> I chose to make a short film about myself and what I do to put on my website. You are welcome to watch it on my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDd5nKWvy-Y&t=61s">You Tube channel here</a>:</div>
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I am planning on doing more videos so you're welcome to subscribe to my channel if you wish to.</div>
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The experience of filming out and about, as well as in my studio was a really good experience. I found out that I thoroughly enjoyed doing it, working out scenes in my mind and scripting it all. I played around with editing the video in Photoshop, but sadly with the age of my laptop (it is sloooowwww) and so much to figure out, I chose to edit it on my Ipad using IMovie which was so much fun, and so easy.</div>
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I am actually now contemplating doing a bit of Vlogging - yes, that's right! I am so excited by this whole new world that has opened up for me and cannot wait to do more! This has also made me realise what I might have missed out on by not trying.</div>
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<b>Good advice if you're feeling stuck right now:</b></div>
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Make it fun.</div>
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If your project or idea feels massive, break it down into small, achievable goals.</div>
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Do not worry about looking like a novice, all the best people started somewhere. Start with what you've got and give it your best shot.</div>
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Remember, there's no written rule anywhere that says it has to be perfect. </div>
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Think back to something you have achieved in life, think about something that makes you feel proud. </div>
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Enjoy yourself.</div>
Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-26861032164235802262018-10-10T06:18:00.001-07:002018-10-10T06:18:57.180-07:00A guide to Instagram for artists<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I thought I'd share a few handy tips for using Instagram if you're an artist, and how to get the best from it for you and your business.<br />
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The main reason I use Instagram is to share my work and life as an artist, it keeps me connected to people who follow me and keeps people up to date with what I'm doing. For artists it's a brilliant social media app as it's so visual! However, there's more to it than just posting a few random pictures (which is literally what I used to do). Let me explain.<br />
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My first bit of advice, and one that seems to have made the most noticeable difference to my feed is to use a real camera to take your pictures. I know that most phones have pretty decent cameras these days but I can honestly say that since switching to my Canon G7X the quality of the pictures is 100% better. Although this isn't a cheap camera (I saved up and upgraded from a pocket Canon last year) it has wifi which means I can upload images right to my phone or Ipad for easy editing in the Lightroom App. This is by far one of my favourite editing apps, and you can easily find a free version to pop on your device. I really enjoy the editing process, and Lightroom is easy to use if you're a beginner but at the same time, gives your images a real professional finish.<br />
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The second piece of advice is to make sure that you keep your pictures relevant to your business and what you do. Most of my feed is pictures of my work, either works in progress or finished shots. I also take pictures in the studio or of myself working. To help give people a bit of an insight into my life I will occasionally add in scenes from places I've been, or found inspiring, but not too many. I suppose what I'm saying is that, if you're a painter for example, you don't want to cause too much confusion and have people wondering what your brand represents if your feed is peppered with lots of family shots and pictures of your dog. Unless that's relevant to your brand, and you paint dogs. Then that's OK.<br />
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Instagram Stories is actually a good place to post things that you don't want littering up your feed, for example, you might want to share that you're at a great exhibition, or of you out and about having coffee etc. For this I tend to use mostly pictures I've captured on my phone. I like to edit them in the Canva app as it has some really nice fonts - just choose the blank background and upload your own photograph, add text and graphics and away you go. I also like to use Stories to chat about promotions or things to do with my biz now and then. It can feel a bit daunting at first but look right at the camera lens (not the screen) and imagine you're having a chat with your best mate and you'll be fine. Stories is a great facility to help people to get to know you more, and to see other 'behind the scenes' elements of your life as an artist.<br />
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When it comes to posting, I try and mix things up a bit, so rather than it become a steady stream of close up shots of my work, I'll maybe include an overhead shot of my desk space, or of something on my easel. I also pop in pictures of myself at work because people seem to like this, and it does help to create a connection between you and your customers as they can put a face to the brand. If you're a bit camera shy, consider getting a side shot of yourself at work, this is a fairly good compromise as you're not having to look right to camera which I know can feel a bit disconcerting at first! <br />
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When writing text under your pictures, try and keep things interesting and engaging. Maybe you could explain a bit about your process, or share which materials you used. Don't be afraid to be chatty either and ask questions which gets people interacting with you.<br />
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It's also important to create a short Bio so that when people visit your feed, they can find out a bit more about you. Use this space to tell people what you do, tell them where you are and provide a link to your website. You can also install a tool called Linktree to send people to specific locations, such as your Blog or Etsy shop.<br />
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Another important tip I'm going to share is about the emotional side of using Instagram. It is SO EASY to hop onto Instagram and within minutes you've got a serious dose of comparisonitis and all kinds of feelings can get churned up. It's certainly happened to me before, but now I can detach emotionally, aware that the pictures I see are snapshots of a single moment of someone's life, as behind the scenes things can be very different and we never truly know what that individual is going through. Similarly, with a business profile on Instagram you need to remember that when you are sharing, you are sharing as your brand - not you. So if someone unfollows you, or reacts negatively to something you shared it's a reaction to your business and not you personally.<br />
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Whenever you post, think about curating your feed to best represent your brand, keep it interesting and mix it up. Last of all, my advice is to be authentic and always be you. Don't try and be someone else, but rather let your personality come through in your words and pictures, that way you will be sure to attract the right sort of people (potential customers who love what you do) to your Instagram account!<br />
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I hope you've enjoyed this post, I'm going to share more about using social media for your business soon.Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-5971535275303713402018-09-26T02:46:00.000-07:002018-09-26T02:46:07.755-07:00Why opinions will hold you back<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Have you ever decided to do something in life, had an incredible idea that totally lit you up from the inside out, and you knew without question that you had to do this thing? And this idea makes you feel so amazing, you feel so excited to get started and you have bucket loads of enthusiasm and so you tell someone you know about it, and they say:<br />
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"Oh, no I wouldn't do that"<br />
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"That sounds risky/expensive/dangerous...have you thought this through??"<br />
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Or even worse, they may even start to point out your flaws and tell you why you'll fail (remember when I listened to the opinion of that art teacher all those years back? The one who told me I wouldn't make it as an artist because I didn't have what it took? And I listened to her, and I didn't paint for several years. All because I chose to ignore my own gut feelings, and listen to someone else's opinon!)<br />
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And as soon as you get this feedback, literally within a split second, your idea crashes and burns, you feel your stomach go into free fall as the negative feelings of worry and doubt descend.<br />
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You start to think "Are they right? Well, you know they might have a point...it could be risky, I might waste a lot of money doing that...and what if I'm awful at it after all the effort? You know, it's probably best if I just forget it" and you talk yourself out of the incredible thing you wanted to do, because someone told you it wasn't possible.<br />
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And the problem is, because we respect this person (parent, friend, partner, sibling, tutor etc), we value their response, and we are anxious to hear their thoughts and get their blessing on our new venture.<br />
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What we tend to miss in this exchange is a vital detail, and this is why other people's opinions will hold you back. That person giving you the advice, or questioning your ability? <b>They're not you, they don't have your abilities and they don't have your vision. </b><br />
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You need to remember that at this point, they can't see the possibility or the 'how', they haven't got your passion or enthusiasm for this thing, and they want to protect you. Their fears and limiting beliefs will instantly come to the surface and because they don't want you to fail, they'll try and talk you out of it.<br />
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You might want to take a painting class, go travelling, or launch a new business. It is essential that before you tell anyone about your big idea, that you feel confident enough to resist the naysayers, because I can guarantee you will come up against them, and most surprisingly it'll be the ones who know you best and care about you the most that will be the ones to do this to you.<br />
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It's quite hard to ignore advice when it's well meant and from someone you respect, but you have to look at the bigger picture and decide what you want your life to look like. Do you want it to look like theirs? Probably not. Do you want to grow as a person, enjoy new experiences and live your life so it looks the way you want it to? Of course. And so you need to learn to breeze past the opinions of others.<br />
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Ok, so what if it turns out that they're right, I hear you say. What if, their sound advice turns out to be dead on the nose and they turn around as you fail and say 'I told you so'.<br />
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It doesn't matter.<br />
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<b>The fact is, you tried.</b> You had a go, you gave something you wanted to do your best shot. Isn't that better than languishing on your couch and wondering 'what if?' People who want to succeed in life keep trying. They get knocked back, make mistakes but they pick themselves up and start again. Learn to be tenacious, if you really want a thing, keep at it until you get it.<br />
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And of course, on the other side of the coin there's always the option of <i>not</i> failing, of going for this thing and achieving it, ramping your life up a gear and living it in a way that makes you feel happy and good.Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-45324324246826638762018-09-19T04:33:00.001-07:002018-09-19T04:33:52.560-07:00Behind the scenes :: life behind social media<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was on social media a couple of days ago, scrolling through and admiring all the beautiful pictures and I thought, wow...this all looks so wonderful and...well, perfect (which of course it does, people usually only share their best images with us). And I thought, I wonder what <i>my</i> feed looks like to other people? It shows me painting in a nice studio, I share pictures of places I've been, my work in progress. I suppose thinking about it, to some people looking in it might look like a fairly peachy lifestyle going on there.<br />
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So it led me to write this blog post today, to share a bit from behind the scenes.<br />
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In real life, I live in a small terraced house, built in the late 1800s on the edge of a village near the Pennines (this is a vast area of wild and bleak moorland in the north of the UK). I often dream of living by the sea (and one day I will again) - the amount of people over the years who have asked me if I live at the coast is amazing - I'm guessing it's all the coastal work I've done that might make somebody think that, but no, we have a humble little house with a leaky back door and a broken gutter that for now, is home.<br />
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I try to organise my day as best as I can so that I'm making the best use of the time I've got before my daughter comes home from school. Some days are great, and I feel very efficient and on the ball. These are the days where I might do a couple of social media posts, and a bit of work in progress films for my Instagram Stories. I enjoy my days when they are full and rewarding, I like to cook and take walks, notice the small stuff like flowers blooming or a sudden sky full of swallows diving and swirling above. <br />
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Other days don't look like that. I sometimes struggle with fatigue and migraines, and instead of pushing through (as I used to) I have learnt to allow time to feel better and practise a bit of self care to replenish the energy levels. On days like that it can feel frustrating when all I want to do is crack on, but in the long run I know that a rest, a bit of yoga or a nice walk with my family will pay dividends.<br />
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I sometimes get anxiety or feel a bit flat, especially in winter. Winter is my nemesis and each year I try my best to navigate this difficult season as best as I can. In the last few weeks I have instigated a new routine of walking three times a week, whatever the weather. I tend to develop hermit like tendancies come January, but I am committed to keeping this up, and on really dark days will perhaps go swimming instead.<br />
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Some days, I don't have any inclination to paint at all. As I shared in last weeks blog, creative funks can appear out of nowhere and at first are disconcerting and the cause of much anxiety as I fret and worry over what's going wrong. Apathy is an unwelcome visitor and at times like this, the last thing I want to do is post pictures of my work, as I feel so detached from it! It's something I'm learning to handle, rather than dwelling there for too long, but it still knocks the wind out of my sails when it happens.<br />
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I have an eleven year old daughter who has just started high school. She is an absolute sun beam but like all children, has her own growing pains which need tending to. Family life is very rewarding but it can also be super challenging at times too.<br />
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Hurdles still show up for me, and they will continue to do so, because that's life. It's a journey of highs and lows, and we are always going to find ourselves in negative situations with people, or just with ourselves and our own state of mind as we go through life. These moments for me are not instagrammable, and to be honest, I wouldn't enjoy scrolling through my feed if it were full of depressing content! I like to feel inspired and uplifted by what I see.<br />
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These days I recognise when I need to detach from social and give myself some breathing space. I leave well alone for a bit and come back when I've got something positive to share. I'm not going to start posting super personal or depressing stuff on my social channels because I don't think it's professional or relevant to why I'm on there, my aim is to inspire people by what sharing what I do and how I do it.<br />
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I suppose the main message of this post is a gentle reminder that behind every photograph is a real person (even I forget sometimes as I compare my life with the photoshopped perfection that I see daily). Social media is a place where people share their best bits, and it's wise to remember that as we scroll.Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-9617407018843706792018-09-11T09:50:00.000-07:002018-09-11T09:50:19.408-07:00How to deal with a post summer funk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Summer holidays are over. September, golden and gentle, nudges us back into our routines with a bang - early morning starts, school uniforms to be ironed, the morning rush...and after a long summer of <i>not</i> rushing about, it can feel like a bit of a shock to the system to suddenly be plunged back into normal life again.</div>
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This year my daughter started high school. There was a fair bit of anxiety about the transition - understandably so - it's a huge leap and the last few days of the holidays were spent trying to help and reassure her about her first day. </div>
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In the final couple of weeks, I'd noticed myself fighting the growing urge to go into the studio to paint, film classes and generally get back to what I love to do. But there were family days out, picnics, uniforms to buy, places to go and there wasn't the time. I kept a sketchbook close to hand for these moments, so that I could quickly draw out an idea or write a few notes about something that had inspired me. My aim was to come back to this journal when school started again, fresh and ready to go.</div>
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Only this time, that didn't happen.</div>
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Sensibly, I knew that it would take a day or so to adjust to the silence that had fallen upon the house. Six and a half weeks of bustle, chatter and laughter had been replaced by a quiet so profound you could hear a pin drop. I was suddenly on my own, and as I realised this, the dawning of another truth also made itself known.</div>
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I had no inclination to paint at all.</div>
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I felt spent, all of a sudden and without warning I felt completely drained, and as detached as a boat from it's moorings, bobbing about in some strange and turbulent sea. I didn't know where to put myself or what to do.</div>
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I gazed through the window of my studio and felt only apathy. I didn't want to go in - couldn't bring myself to go in.</div>
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It'll pass, I thought.</div>
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But it hasn't. At least not yet. I couldn't understand it at first, recalling all those times I'd longed to go down, play with those buttery acrylics and cast the first wash of a new painting. The feelings of anticipation had been akin to waiting for Santa as a child, and yet here I was feeling empty and with no inclination to do any of those things. </div>
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<b>There's a few reasons why this has happened</b>. First off, my happy, easy going summer has ended abruptly. My family have returned to school and work, leaving me alone. If I'm honest, I am struggling with the silence and my own company as I resign myself to the fact that Autumn is approaching with some speed and I now have a job to do. Too much of a good thing can create the biggest weight of apathy when it suddenly comes to an end.</div>
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I then got knocked for six by a migraine which lasted into the weekend and really took the wind out of my sails. </div>
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I was reading a <a href="https://www.csheehanart.com/single-post/2018/09/10/Managing-peaks-and-troughs-with-selfcare-kindness">blog post</a> by my friend and fellow artist Claire Sheehan just yesterday in which she talked about how we can manage our peaks and troughs with self care. I looked back over the previous week and realised just how much energy (both physical and emotionally) I had spent on various things, and how this had taken its toll (fatigue and migraine, I'm looking at you). It sometimes takes a word from someone else to remind me that my own self care is also important during big life changes and transitions, and I realised that once again in an effort to tend to everyone else, I'd left myself behind.</div>
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The other thing I've decided to do to help myself is to just simply admit that I'm in a funk, and to give myself permission to be in it. The fact that I know I'm in the midst of one (in that I can recall very clearly what it's like <i>not </i>being in one) tells my logical brain that they're not permanent and this will pass - and the very fact I'm writing a blog post is telling me I'm probably coming out the other side. </div>
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There is often a temptation when you're in this particular state to panic, forge ahead, and rush about accomplishing nothing. I'd consider making a list of things you do need to accomplish, to remove the fear and panic, and then give yourself an amount of time to fully feel your funk before starting to make headway with your list - one item at a time. It might be that you have a day, a few hours or a week! It depends how flexible your time is, but overall you need to acknowledge how you are feeling and give yourself time and space to repair and heal.</div>
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It's important to take a bit of time, resting might seem counter productive when you feel like you've got lots to do, but believe me, your future self will thank you for it once you're up and running again.</div>
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And so, I have my list, I'm easing myself gently back into social media and have started adding to my course notes which I started to compile in the summer. I'm moving through the day as mindfully as possible, listening to what my body needs most and doing the best I can to provide it - be it a bowl of hot soup or a walk in the woods. Taking ownership of this funk and working out why I'm in it has really helped me gain some clarity on how best to deal with it, and has reminded me that self care is always the most important thing that we can do for ourselves. </div>
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<br />Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-32692744881488226052018-05-24T05:48:00.001-07:002018-05-24T05:48:26.007-07:00When it all goes quiet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Working as an artist has it's highs and lows; sometimes it feels like a breeze, and at other times it can feel like climbing a mountain, fraught with obstacles and challenges. When it's going well I am inclined to coast along on cloud nine, enjoying the flurry of sign ups to my Art Letters, the sudden, and magnificent reach of a post on Facebook, the shares and the likes, and the sales...yes, when it's in the flow it's a wonderful feeling and worth all the hard work and effort invested.<br />
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But the lulls, the quiet times, and the absolute tumbleweed times...those are harder to navigate.<br />
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Showing up in the world as an artist (or indeed, any kind of creative soul) is a vulnerable process, and sharing our work with others can leave us feeling exposed and often at the mercy of validation. When the kind comments and likes are coming in, it feels great. We want people to see what we are doing and to cheer us on, and when we don't get the interaction it can feel so demoralising. We can't understand why it didn't work out, or what went wrong.<br />
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<b>But what do we do when it all goes quiet?</b><br />
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This month things <i>have</i> gone quiet, and I'm not going to lie, it can make me feel incredibly nervous at times. I noticed a recent post by <a href="https://www.justacard.org/">Just a Card</a> saying something very similar, and so, although it's easy to feel like it's a personal thing and you're the only one it's happening too, rest assured it's probably not.<br />
There are fluctuations in the market all the time which can account for these random periods of quiet. Sometimes there is no obvious reason for why sales slow down and nobody sees your posts on Social Media. The silence can often feel scary and never ending but I want to urge you to keep going. Don't give up.<br />
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<b>Keep going.</b><br />
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Use this time to plan out some engaging marketing - share your beautiful art, ask your customers questions, send your emails. <br />
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When things slow down for me it makes me work even harder. Behind the scenes I am beetling away on marketing posts and dreaming up engaging content. I will sometimes go to a coffee shop with a journal and work out how I can keep my business going - I'll create a list of ideas, what new services could I offer my customers? What new products might they enjoy? And if you don't know - ask them! People love to be involved, and who knows, their responses could be the beginning of a brand new product or path for you to follow!<br />
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It could be that your latest creation just didn't hit the mark. It happens. In this case, and if you sense this is the reason why (and you'll intuitively know) then dust yourself off and start afresh. Take some time to allow yourself to feel inspired. Have a browse on Pinterest, look in magazines and see what catches your eye, maybe grab a sketch journal and see what evolves. Go slowly and let things unfold naturally, inspiration cannot be forced or happen on demand. <br />
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<b>Talk to fellow creatives. </b><br />
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I am so lucky that I have a fab bunch of women who I've connected with online and become good friends with, and we often chat, sharing our worries and our successes. Again, talking things through can be really helpful, they may be feeling the same way as you! Conversations with like minded souls can sometimes lead to fresh inspiration, a boost of enthusiasm or simply just a chance to share your concerns and be heard.<br />
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As well as doing this, I paint. When the ideas come I get them onto wood or canvas and I share my process and keep myself in the loop. I keep going. <br />
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Remind yourself that everything is temporary, and things are always changing. Keep yourself present, keep yourself positive, and focus on what you love. Keep going, bravely showing up and sharing what you do.<br />
<br />Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-10201495149644784852018-05-14T01:50:00.001-07:002018-05-14T01:50:38.037-07:00What to do when your painting fails<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyprjkRlc9zOe_thVkO5ukf8TxH2V_X1h8l_bzqT7gUmBEyH3ZdJC01YUkro5VV-TTmab2k49R39U-gz4lR433MBESle6mXzseyUkgubPwbE2bHTei74z3yN57SH9WJnSRGhPFOZvKbav/s1600/What+to+do+when+your+painting+fails.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyprjkRlc9zOe_thVkO5ukf8TxH2V_X1h8l_bzqT7gUmBEyH3ZdJC01YUkro5VV-TTmab2k49R39U-gz4lR433MBESle6mXzseyUkgubPwbE2bHTei74z3yN57SH9WJnSRGhPFOZvKbav/s400/What+to+do+when+your+painting+fails.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Painting is such an emotional process, and although the euphoria of finishing a good piece is one of the best feelings in the world, there are times when the opposite happens too. When our paintings go wrong it can bring up all kinds of feelings from frustration to anger, and even on occasions going as far as knocking our self confidence. We can sometimes find ourselves assailed by those awful inner voices too, telling us 'you're not good enough' 'this is awful' and that sort of nonsense. We are, by default, our own worst critics and quick to reproach ourselves when things don't turn out right. We can also feel a sense of disappointment or despair and one of our first instincts is to throw the lot out or tear it to shreds.</div>
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<b>But wait...</b></div>
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There is sometimes a way back from these 'Lost Paintings' which I'll share with you now as I've recently had the very experience I'm writing about.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1dpeupZgMsJjNxO0UtWatt19z9veZQx7IxnTgCLVMGsK6kzBG9rIkv4WGFq72PKulsMVac5g2XYHoR2eQnLzusn4NMy7CQRa5zwCGAGVeAdF5MP3Bgk6-cp8lmjrlRVBs-L57CJqIRrj/s1600/Bluebells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="613" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1dpeupZgMsJjNxO0UtWatt19z9veZQx7IxnTgCLVMGsK6kzBG9rIkv4WGFq72PKulsMVac5g2XYHoR2eQnLzusn4NMy7CQRa5zwCGAGVeAdF5MP3Bgk6-cp8lmjrlRVBs-L57CJqIRrj/s400/Bluebells.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Last week, deeply inspired and excited by the sudden swathes of bluebells in our nearby woods, I felt the call to start a new painting. I got quickly to work laying down the base coats, building up that tantalising indigo amid the fresh lime greens. My idea was to create a piece with a winding path through the flowers, leading out onto a sunny meadow beyond. And so far, so good.</div>
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And then I went back to it and added in the trees. And whilst I was painting the trees, I felt a sense of dissatisfaction creeping in. I added a few more leaves and stepped back, eventually acknowledging that I wasn't happy with it.</div>
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<b>So what happens next?</b></div>
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I've found to my detriment that throwing a painting away or tearing it in half in a fit of remorse is the worst thing we can do. Later on we might come to regret that decision as sometimes there is a solution to be found, but of course by then it's too late. </div>
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<b>The first step is tuning in to the feeling that something isn't working out or doesn't feel right. </b></div>
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A cup of tea at this point and a ten minute break can be useful to assess what the problem might be and whether or not there is a way to put it right. If you know right off what's gone wrong then you can try and steer it back on track. </div>
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<b>If you're struggling to figure it out and you hate the entire thing at this point, the next step is to simply give it time and stop.</b></div>
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As frustrating as it is to walk away and leave a painting in limbo, the sensible thing to do is to turn the fellow towards the wall and ignore it for a while. Every now and then you can check in on it, see if you're ready to give it another go. <br />
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My Bluebells are now sitting with a half finished Blackpool Sands painting at the back of the studio, and truthfully, I've no idea at the moment whether or not they will ever get finished. Sometimes with the passing of time apathy sets in, and in this case it's often best to simply accept it wasn't meant to be and paint it over or throw it away.</div>
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You might be thinking that hours of your life have been needlessly wasted on a piece of work that was only fit for the bin - but no! I think each painting I create brings it's own lesson. The ones that are successful help me to identify what worked and why. I can take this information forward and use it in future work. In the same way we can apply this critique to the ones that fail. We can ask what went wrong, and why - was it the colours? The composition? The subject matter? </div>
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Back to the Bluebells...a couple of weeks later, I am feeling that my composition was wrong in parts, and I was working too tightly again. Of late, I've begun working in a much looser style which I am really enjoying, and now I can see that for some reason, I had reverted to working in my old manner. </div>
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I know now that it will be one of those panels that gets painted over, or thrown away. And that's OK. Bluebells was a lesson in letting go of ways of working that no longer bring joy. It felt restrictive and dull and that was never going to come across well as a finished piece. I strongly believe that paintings are infused with a sort of energy - you'll know exactly what I mean - it's when you see a piece of work that seems to shimmer with a special magic, it draws you in and you intuitively know that the artist absolutely loved creating it, and invested their heart and soul into painting it. In the same way you will also be able to 'feel' when a painting is missing that magical ingredient, it will be dull and lacklustre, it won't affect you in the same way.</div>
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So, don't be afraid to make mistakes in your work. Use them as lessons to grow your creative tool kit, to learn what works and what doesn't. Practice tuning into your emotions as you work - do you feel good? Exuberant? Excited? Or are you feeling a bit distracted? Flat? Bored? </div>
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Learning to tune into your feelings will become second nature in time, and will save you hours of fretting over your failing artwork as you come to understand that these lessons are all just part of the process.</div>
Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-46077814780079873532018-05-03T04:52:00.001-07:002018-05-03T04:52:41.774-07:00Why you need to change the story you're telling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbgkSAZzlFJtnkS_-ohunXEE8YHYGYhzQv0zH9Mk3ge8hX6YXV0gKyTBToXwQyntXKrYjEWNWw08yQXlq2U-hO8l3mBnyDbK6udfJGQ6tNGPaLBpf1QWfRfHtpyJisLEMQNB2gkml8_z0/s1600/Why+you+need+to.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbgkSAZzlFJtnkS_-ohunXEE8YHYGYhzQv0zH9Mk3ge8hX6YXV0gKyTBToXwQyntXKrYjEWNWw08yQXlq2U-hO8l3mBnyDbK6udfJGQ6tNGPaLBpf1QWfRfHtpyJisLEMQNB2gkml8_z0/s400/Why+you+need+to.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>You'll never make it as an artist.</b></div>
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Those words jolted me from my daydream like a slap in the face. </div>
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I was sitting in a small office at the back of the college art room in the middle of a tutorial. It was stuffy and crammed with files and boxes and art materials. Outside the window I could see trees and leaves moving in the wind, and there was the hum of distant traffic on the street below. Outside, life went on as normal and my art tutor continued to talk, shuffling some papers and taking sips of her coffee. </div>
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She didn't know she had just dropped a bombshell which had blown my dreams apart.</div>
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I sat frozen to my chair, feeling small and vulnerable, fighting the tears that threatened to spill, along with the sudden rush of panic, fear and embarrassment that enveloped me. The tutorial ended, and she turned away to write some notes. I didn't know what to do or think, I probably smiled politely and mumbled thank you - thank you for what? For pulling the rug out from underneath me? For destroying my self confidence? For shattering my dreams?</div>
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I was eighteen years old, and those words created something that became my story for the next few years. I no longer believed in myself and my abilities. In those days, we were raised to respect our elders and believe what they told us - why wouldn't we? They were experts in their fields, it wasn't like it is today. I never thought to challenge her and shout "You're wrong!" - I never thought to follow my calling despite what she had said, because I'd been told by someone in authority, an art lecturer, that I was no good. Her words held weight, and I believed them.</div>
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And over time, I let those words shape me. I let my paints gather dust, my sketch books lay untouched and slowly, insidiously, the rot seeped in and I stopped being an artist. I turned my back on it all. Her opinion became the only voice I heard, it crowded out my fragile sense of self belief, it crushed my hope. It was a long time before I found the courage to paint again, and when I did it was the sweetest moment. It was like coming home. In the years that followed my life has been full of creativity, and I look back with sadness and tenderness at that young eighteen year old girl, who didn't have the confidence to listen to her own voice.</div>
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What are you not doing, or putting off because you don't believe you can do it?</div>
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Who, or what was it that stood in your way?</div>
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<b>What happened in your life that stops you doing what you love now? What story are you telling yourself that prevents you taking the next step? </b></div>
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<b>Unless it's completely life threatening or dangerous, then why are you still believing that you can't?</b></div>
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It's time to ask yourself if the story you believe is even still true. For me, the feeling of not being good enough was numbing, but eventually the nudge to make art became too great to ignore. I started tentatively painting again at home, then I did an evening class in Interior Design before going to University where I had superb art tutors who really encouraged me. My self belief soared. The trick is to take small steps - don't imagine that your first piece of work has to be gallery worthy, just make a date to get some colour onto paper, buy a beautiful skein of yarn, or make a mood board of things that inspire you. Each step you take is a step in the right direction, you're changing your story every time you choose to say yes to what lights you up.</div>
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It doesn't matter what level of ability you are at either, deep down we all have a seam of creativity, a spark that comes alive when we tend to it. I want you to think about what you enjoy or love, and what makes you feel excited and alive. Now go and do it. </div>
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One small step.</div>
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There are millions of ways to express ourselves, but believing we can't isn't one of them. It's time to re-write your story and start again.</div>
<br />Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-6168283738731237672018-04-30T01:30:00.000-07:002018-04-30T01:30:21.042-07:00The Winner Is....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinY6vebzdXIPS-TGwqVPA0jAUd2M7kyGbL11c8-Iq-kFLzxToAEmQVnGyGOGy8ifkj7y1tO0vpNYKlwW1dkpZbc1ijJVSItiqxLwLHKDYpekkDT1VIv-TiCXydzvOuEeC20m1wwYD1UlgP/s1600/gift+voucher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="960" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinY6vebzdXIPS-TGwqVPA0jAUd2M7kyGbL11c8-Iq-kFLzxToAEmQVnGyGOGy8ifkj7y1tO0vpNYKlwW1dkpZbc1ijJVSItiqxLwLHKDYpekkDT1VIv-TiCXydzvOuEeC20m1wwYD1UlgP/s400/gift+voucher.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's time to find out who the lucky winner of my £25.00 Gift Voucher Giveaway is!<br />
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I used a Random Number Generator to fairly choose a winner...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2DOdRHMEv7qb5pc4s5FGa-YseSpC4xdC474nyZuu6y-0QocuDzytR46jU8g10hUJ2HXWvuN2Csa0Ur5EdwC6kWZDTrECxxfamMUwb-0TNuwbgf3lObQuxJA9oKKP_Qy8Iss8xzWAFiz2/s1600/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2DOdRHMEv7qb5pc4s5FGa-YseSpC4xdC474nyZuu6y-0QocuDzytR46jU8g10hUJ2HXWvuN2Csa0Ur5EdwC6kWZDTrECxxfamMUwb-0TNuwbgf3lObQuxJA9oKKP_Qy8Iss8xzWAFiz2/s1600/Capture.PNG" /></a></div>
And the winner is: <b>VICTORIA BECKLEY!</b><br />
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Victoria, if you would like to get in touch with your details, I'll get your voucher sent out to you! Just <a href="http://www.juliacrossland.co.uk/contact/4526230318">click here</a> to use my online contact form. Well done!<br />
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And a massive thank you to everyone who took part and suggested so many amazing places for me to paint - I'm very inspired by your suggestions and will definitely be taking you up on some of those locations in the coming months!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpV0_pA378pu9SWxR-AZjZjpRhoQrgWXn60Myfavz7LRHzVeXSUeqB8OmyHIJK7YMqT2Tmu-WScmaFIbIzcAxvb6G3pGsM_AXIu8iSIXB77TFTBy4_-hvSUY18sizISio9_NU49x9555gD/s1600/Julia+Crossland+2017+little+bird+and+flowers+icon+RGB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpV0_pA378pu9SWxR-AZjZjpRhoQrgWXn60Myfavz7LRHzVeXSUeqB8OmyHIJK7YMqT2Tmu-WScmaFIbIzcAxvb6G3pGsM_AXIu8iSIXB77TFTBy4_-hvSUY18sizISio9_NU49x9555gD/s200/Julia+Crossland+2017+little+bird+and+flowers+icon+RGB.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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PS :: Just to clarify, I noticed that some entries duplicated themselves, and I've obviously not included these in the draw figures.Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-53991522007879165322018-04-24T01:54:00.000-07:002018-04-30T01:40:10.966-07:00WIN a Gift Voucher to spend in my online store!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAmV9T-LNDEssNqpLwtqeOprWSZDnxO4eIQp1hI6wnfSCcBvWn3kMmomCp0SFZSts_lPapZFAe3Q8rk9mrnXJWt74eAVgv6j9z67nqhmTzJ2GVM3ykI6jOugGJQhb18Y3Jro4_VE8WIRv/s1600/GIFT+VOUCHER+Blog+graphic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAmV9T-LNDEssNqpLwtqeOprWSZDnxO4eIQp1hI6wnfSCcBvWn3kMmomCp0SFZSts_lPapZFAe3Q8rk9mrnXJWt74eAVgv6j9z67nqhmTzJ2GVM3ykI6jOugGJQhb18Y3Jro4_VE8WIRv/s400/GIFT+VOUCHER+Blog+graphic.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
**DRAW NOW CLOSED**<br />
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Today's blog post is all about my GIVEAWAY!<br />
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To thank you for reading my blog, and for supporting me through social media with your encouragement and for your custom, I thought I would offer one lucky soul a gift voucher to spend in my online store <b>worth £25.00! </b><br />
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You can use the voucher towards anything you like in my shop, from cards and prints, to mugs and originals! I've also just listed a selection of limited edition prints that I'm retiring, and they're now in my Sale section - you could take advantage and treat yourself to a fabulous limited edition print for a super reduced price!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To Enter...</span><br />
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All you need to do is to leave me a comment below this post, telling me what theme or place you'd like to see me paint, and your name will be entered into the draw next Monday (30/04/18).<br />
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Please feel free to share this post with your friends or family, wishing you lots of luck and thanks for taking part! Don't forget to check back next Monday to see who's won!<br />
<br />Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-22727254120360823042018-04-18T05:28:00.003-07:002018-04-18T05:28:47.163-07:00What to do when you stop loving your art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Falling out of love with my work has happened a few times over the years. It's nothing very dramatic, it's a feeling that almost seems to creep up on me and take me unawares until one day, the realisation dawns. Something about my paintings just no longer seem to make me feel that spark anymore. They don't create the same excitement, or joy. And from experience, instead of feeling afraid of this I now know that it's time to scale up, and move my painting on to the next level.</div>
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It's so easy as an artist to keep on creating lots of work in a similar vein, and yet, like all things in the world we need to allow ourselves space to expand and grow. If we don't, if we stay cosy in our little boxes and keep doing the same thing, it's only natural that the spark will be extinguished, and eventually, the love for what you do will disappear.</div>
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<b>So what do we do when this happens?</b></div>
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We do things differently. This can feel weird, or nerve wracking, because change is scary, right?<br />
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It can be, yes. But it can also be an exciting time to explore new territory, to liven things up a bit, to experiment and play.</div>
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This is the most important step of moving into your next growth phase as an artist. It's really easy to become stuck in a rut, creating what people expect, or what you are used to, and then becoming depressed about your work without really understanding why. Although it's a good thing to be able to create work that sells to your customers, your art also has to excite you, it has to tell a story and shine with the spirit and passion that it was created with. If it doesn't feel right to you, it isn't going to feel right to others either. </div>
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Starting with a playful attitude takes the process back to the beginning, it allows you to express yourself and try new things with new materials, and perhaps as I found with those beautiful, fluid watercolours, you might just find yourself getting excited about a whole new medium! It was this that led me to understand that what I really loved was the movement in the paint, the fluid lines, the more abstract shapes that I used as overlays. In contrast, my acrylic work had become tight and constricted, bursting at the seams with lots of detail...stepping back and looking at it with fresh eyes, I could sense that it felt too claustrophobic.</div>
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So, over the Easter holidays I had a good think about what I could do to reignite the passion into my acrylic paintings. I very much love acrylics as a medium and couldn't imagine giving them up. So how do I move forward? How do I let it evolve, and reignite the passion? </div>
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<b>Take some time to think about what you like in other paintings. </b>What do you notice when you look at other people's work? What catches your eye? Is it colour? Composition? Brush strokes? Detail, or lack of detail? Ask yourself questions as you explore, take time to tune into how things make you feel - flat, dull, bored....or alive, vibrant, excited?</div>
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It could be just a case of looking back at your own older work, and seeing if there's anything in those pieces that catch your eye. You may experience positive or negative emotions. </div>
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You can use all these observations as a tool for moving on to the next phase of your art journey.</div>
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I had a good look at my recent work, and earlier pieces too, and learned from them that I needed to loosen up, to soften and let the brush be my guide. Instead of trying to force the painting to look a particular way, to let the painting take it's own shape. I am now trying out bigger brushes, I noticed too that of late beyond the background stage I was working predominantly in size 1 and 0 brushes!! These obviously lend to smaller strokes and detailed work, which is why some of my work was feeling too busy! </div>
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'Hello Spring' - new acrylic on canvas</div>
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I finished this piece just yesterday, it's an acrylic on canvas. From what I had learnt earlier, I worked with various sizes of brush, and I allowed the process to flow. I was led almost intuitively to the colours and shapes that formed in this painting and what a difference it made to the feel of the process, and the final outcome! This painting for me has so much vibrance and energy!</div>
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It actually felt it was a very different experience working on this, and I really enjoyed the looser style that I allowed myself to work with. What do you think?</div>
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I'm now starting a bigger piece, a coastal painting in acrylics on a 50cm square canvas. It feels like a new beginning starting a painting with a fresh approach, and I'll look forward to sharing more of this process with you soon.</div>
<br />Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-8164261952277917082018-03-09T02:29:00.002-08:002018-03-09T02:29:44.303-08:00The Emotional Side of Creative Business :: Things I've Learnt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was the summer of 2006 when I made the decision to wind down my work as a freelance sign writer, and spend more time on my art. It had long been a dream of mine to work as an artist and taking the plunge was an exciting and scary moment. Looking back now, I can see just how naive and uneducated I was on the whole business side of things though. Yes, I could paint and draw, it was my passion (it still is) but I was an utter novice in those early days when it came to the deeper aspects of earning money and keeping a creative business rolling along.<br />
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There's also the emotional side of running a business that I knew nothing about, it's not just about making pictures and selling them - believe me, when you set up a business you literally invest not only your money, but your heart and soul into it.<br />
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So today, I'm sharing a few things that have helped me grow my business over the years, and how to navigate the soulful side of working for yourself - the emotional side is a really big part of it and I was completely unprepared for the solitude/loneliness element of working as an artist from home. I had come from working as a sign writer, where I travelled up and down the country working with lots of people for several weeks at a time on contracts. It was hard work and a very transient existence in some respects as we were always on the road, but there was always company and familiar faces so you never felt isolated.<br />
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One thing I've discovered over the years is that it is super important to keep yourself connected with other people if you work by yourself. I have days where the solitude is blissful, and truly enjoy my own company - other times, I suffer from cabin fever and feel desperately lonely and isolated.<br />
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Making plans to meet friends for coffee, or spending quality time with family is absolutely essential when you're a solopreneur. I've also learnt that if I recognise those negative feelings creeping in, a phone call to my sister or partner, or a natter online with a couple of good friends can help to shift that, and I feel more connected again. If nobody is about and I feel this way, I'll go for a walk for half an hour or so, just to clear my head. And sometimes I go to a coffee shop with a notebook and pen, and enjoy the buzz of being around others while dreaming up new ideas, or emptying my brain of all the fog.<br />
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You have to be disciplined and this isn't always easy if you feel tired, you've got the kids off school or the house needs a tidy. There's no boss to tell you what to do, as that would be you - yep, you're the boss, sounds cool doesn't it? But it comes with responsibilities - you have to take charge and do things, you're only answerable to yourself after all, and if you don't do it, it won't get done. For me, discipline is the thing that keeps my ship afloat, if I don't show up and do what needs to be done each day, my business flails.<br />
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You're also going to have times that feel scary and out of your depth - this is usually indicative of a time to grow and expand, yet moving into change can feel really frightening when we've been used to doing things a certain way. Habit is comfortable and safe right? But in order to grow as a person and as a biz, you need to find the confidence to step up and say "I can do this!"<br />
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I've got myself an emotional support kit that I've created over the years which helps me to feel better equipped when life chucks things at me like this. Yoga and meditation are a huge help (and I try and do this every day). Cultivating a daily self care practice has become essential, for years I have unconsciously put myself last (as I feel many women naturally do) and focused on my family, but I've learnt that time looking after me actually gives me more energy to navigate all the ups and downs in life. <br />
Walking, exercise and journaling are good tools to clear the mind, there's nothing like an hour in the woods on a brisk walk, or ten minutes thrashing everything out on paper to clear the head.<br />
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And if, after all this, there is still a feeling of being scared or stuck?<br />
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Ask for help, or learn how to do what it is you need to do to get to where you need to be. <br />
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It's no use pretending you know what you're doing if you don't, you're just going to wind up going around in circles getting nowhere if you do that - so don't be too proud to say, you know what? I don't know how to do this, I need some help. There are a gazillion websites, mentors, books and resources that you can utilise now, you just need to find someone who you click with and whose teaching resonates with you.<br />
I am learning new things every day, and that helps me to enrich my life and grow my business too. It's a win-win. We're never too old to learn something new, and the beauty of the internet is that there is so much information at our fingertips, you couldn't pick a better time to start a business with all the incredible resources that are now available.<br />
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Here are a few really good websites that have, and continue to help me and business thrive:<br />
<a href="https://thegirlsmeanbusiness.com/"><br /></a>
<a href="https://thegirlsmeanbusiness.com/">The Girls Mean Business</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.thecreativebusinessnetwork.com/">The Creative Business Network</a><br />
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<a href="https://daretogrow.co.uk/">Dare to Grow</a><br />
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The other side of the coin to all of this of course, are the good feelings: the excitement of creating your art, the delight of making your first sale, getting a painting accepted into an exhibition, of earning money from doing what you love. It can feel euphoric and wild and utterly wonderful and the best bit about it is, is that you engineered that yourself. <i>You</i> did it. <br />
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Nobody else.<br />
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Satisfaction from creating a product, marketing it, and finding customers who love what you do and who buy from you is something that still feels amazing to me now, after working for myself for 18 years. It spurs me on, my self belief blossoms and it gives me the confidence to continue. <br />
Every achievement, no matter how big or small is all down to things you learnt and implemented. When you overcome the tough parts and realise a dream, hit the jackpot, make the sale, meet the goal - that was you. Give yourself a high five for that, give yourself a high five anyway, just for showing up and deciding to make a go of it each day. That takes courage, willpower and dedication. It's a rollercoaster ride working for yourself, but my goodness, it's worth every minute.<br />
<br />Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-83686115896703792252018-02-14T02:05:00.002-08:002018-02-14T02:05:57.577-08:00My Favourite Paint Brushes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdfNg52dK8EiznsO9_p5TwmT2KUn9msIx7KLTxSeprPRSyMZ2qMaJXOuu-MiS-wYEGJDjuhQQ8bLAAf1gUUoL8-eiYKgHCucUnotPyvQbaB_iLyaH1bqzpvvHdqmGDV07jS6SDDki1hTt/s1600/brushes+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1448" data-original-width="1600" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdfNg52dK8EiznsO9_p5TwmT2KUn9msIx7KLTxSeprPRSyMZ2qMaJXOuu-MiS-wYEGJDjuhQQ8bLAAf1gUUoL8-eiYKgHCucUnotPyvQbaB_iLyaH1bqzpvvHdqmGDV07jS6SDDki1hTt/s400/brushes+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A reader got in touch after my last post and asked if I'd do a feature on my favourite brushes - well, it tied in nicely with my <a href="http://juliacrosslandartist.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/my-favourite-paint-brands.html">Favourite Paints post</a> from last week, so I thought, why not.<br />
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There are a whole heap of brushes out there, different styles, types, sizes and brands so if you're just taking your first tentative steps into making art then it can feel a bit daunting and confusing to say the least. To make it simple, I thought I'd share my favourite brushes with you, the ones I use for both watercolour and acrylic and you then have a starting point to go from.<br />
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<b>Acrylic Brushes</b><br />
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I use a range of sizes and brush shapes for my acrylic work, depending on whether Im working on a big painting or something small. I also lean towards just three brands, and I must just add here, are all the short handle version (to me the long handle brushes are just too awkward and big). I've accumulated a fair few brushes over the years, but here are the three that I use all the time at the moment:<br />
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Pro Arte<br />
Daler Rowney<br />
Royal Langnickel<br />
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These brushes are all pretty durable, and don't cost mega bucks. I mostly use the tiny, pointed brushes for detail work such as in my flower paintings, and larger ones for first washes and layering up the painting in places that need a lot of paint.<br />
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There are a few types of brush I work with, which are:<br />
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Round (these are the ones that are short with a pointed tip)<br />
Filbert (flatter bristles, with a rounded tip)<br />
Flat (a squared tip)<br />
Rigger (usually about an inch long or so, these are fabulous for painting stems and rigging on boats etc).<br />
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All the brushes I use are synthetic and specifically for acrylic paint, I tend not to use hog which I think suits oils better (I recall hog brushes when I had a dabble with oils in my teens many moons ago and they were rather bristly and scratchy).<br />
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Synthetic acrylic brushes are usually soft and good for detail. I initially start with a big paint brush, something akin to a 1" emulsion brush to lay washes on big canvases or panels (see large, black handled brush in my photo above), and then I like to use a 12mm flat brush to work more on background layers, moving on to smaller sizes of filbert and flat (size 5mm) and then rounds for the detail, from size 0 to 2.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_eKePoiZK6IKdan1wpif8l9fEow061rMzBlXu7rRrP5vLmlSqhx9Lw1lP_noicacC3qPHTfCiCPDp9ZG5CIqeWg78uJGYhKXGSyg0uM5-ZZ8_1IE4LThIfpvZyvYN_QSPia1Eg8S3BS8/s1600/Hidden+Shores.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_eKePoiZK6IKdan1wpif8l9fEow061rMzBlXu7rRrP5vLmlSqhx9Lw1lP_noicacC3qPHTfCiCPDp9ZG5CIqeWg78uJGYhKXGSyg0uM5-ZZ8_1IE4LThIfpvZyvYN_QSPia1Eg8S3BS8/s400/Hidden+Shores.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Hidden Shores, acrylic on gesso panel</i></div>
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Pro Arte and Daler Rowney are the dearer options, and these I tend to buy directly from Jacksons Art online. I have picked up a pack of the Royal Langnickel soft grip paint brushes from The Range, they are super cheap and just as good as some of the more expensive brands.<br />
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I'd encourage you to start off with a Round 0 and 2, and a 12mm and 5mm flat brush to begin your collection. You can then add to this as you go, as you'll discover that you might want something bigger or smaller depending on your style and size of work. <br />
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I have to replace my smaller brushes more often than my larger ones as the ends can get a bit scruffed up or splayed due to use. This is my only real bugbear with acrylic paint brushes but could be down to the way I use them, you may find that you don't have this problem.<br />
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<b>Watercolour Brushes</b><br />
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My favourite watercolour brushes without a shadow of a doubt have to be the Escoda Reserva series and Winsor and Newton Kolinsky Sables. <br />
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Right off I will just say, I completely understand if you're against using animal products in your brushes, and there are excellent alternatives available nowadays. However, I have had my sables for many years now and they still perform as well as when I first got them which is why I am still using them.<br />
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I love to use the Pointed Round series by Escoda from the Reserva series, the No.4 is my favourite, it's very versatile as it holds plenty of paint, and it forms an excellent point for super details.<br />
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<i>A corner of detail from a watercolour painting of Fowey</i></div>
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For my really detailed work (such as the windows in the painting above) I use my Winsor and Newton Sable No.1 round series. Again, this forms a beautiful point when painting and is excellent for smaller, more detailed work.<br />
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For washes, I use a very ancient No.10 Cotman watercolour brush which I've had for over twenty years - I'm not sure if these are still available but an equivalent would be the Jacksons Studio Synthetic range (size 10). You can also use a mop brush for big washes, which looks exactly as it sounds! I do have one in my stash but again, perhaps from habit, I just usually go straight for the No.10.<br />
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Prices for watercolour brushes will vary, of course the synthetic versions are cheaper as they are manmade fibres, but if you are wanting a sable, you can pick up a No.1 for about £5 - £6 depending on brand.<br />
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For beginners just starting out in watercolour, whichever fibre you decide on, I'd recommend a nice large No.10 for washes, and a No.4 and a No.1, all round series.<br />
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I purchase all my brushes these days through the fabulous <a href="https://www.jacksonsart.com/brushes">Jackson's Art</a> in the UK. They offer a super range of brands, shapes and sizes, from student through to Artist grade. If you're lucky enough to live near a good art shop (sadly, I'm not) then it's worth popping in to have a look at the different sorts of brushes available for your medium - you'll be amazed at the quality and difference available.<br />
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*Please note, this post is based upon my own opinions and preferences of what to use and where to shop, I have no affiliation with Jackson's, I just think they're a really good online art store.Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338923936154680880.post-15614975093604490412018-02-07T03:12:00.001-08:002018-02-07T05:14:43.593-08:00My Favourite Paint Brands<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6_3yOeOF3_5IQ0dAINy9skQgKZP72AKC4HXPPARgHW8W6IJ1ugD4SLsy9zL4tOfa46nV6pflOBgoPvC8nZxYJ3O7_noN4JNDZ0KMu4YmzXW8L_lQWeo4GL0TpWuJq_twyHg7QOtsgtdP/s1600/IMG_0179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6_3yOeOF3_5IQ0dAINy9skQgKZP72AKC4HXPPARgHW8W6IJ1ugD4SLsy9zL4tOfa46nV6pflOBgoPvC8nZxYJ3O7_noN4JNDZ0KMu4YmzXW8L_lQWeo4GL0TpWuJq_twyHg7QOtsgtdP/s400/IMG_0179.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm sometimes asked about what paints I like to work with, and which brands I prefer, so I thought I'd share a blog post explaining which ones I love to use and why! At the end of the post I'll pop a few links to the online art stores I use to purchase my paints in case you're tempted to splurge yourself!<br />
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<b>Acrylics.</b><br />
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I got into acrylics after trying oils in my teens and deciding I really didn't like them. I didn't have the patience for them to dry and found them greasy, dark and messy. Acrylics were the polar opposite - fast drying, luminous, clean and easy!<br />
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My ultimate favourite acrylic paint brand is <b>Liquitex</b>, I have used the Heavy Body Acrylics for many years now and find the soft, buttery consistency irresistable! There is a wide range of brilliant colours available which are brilliant for my paintings (which are generally very colourful), and I find them a pleasure to work with. You can use them straight from the tube or water them down a bit to loosen them up. They blend well and when dry retain a good luminosity and clarity of colour.<br />
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In a very close second place, I love the <b>Golden</b> brand. Again, they have that same wonderful, buttery consistency and come in a wide range of colours, including iridescent paints. Golden also offer a range of texture mediums as well as Gessos that you can use with your acrylics. The only downside about Golden is that they do tend towards the higher price bracket, so for that reason I lean more towards Liquitex for value.<br />
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Third favourite is the <b>Winsor and Newton</b> acrylic range; they are soft and easy to use straight from the tube, with a great range of colours. Sometimes a bit pricier but a good artists quality paint that I enjoy working with. They also offer a good range of acrylic mediums such as gloss gel and flow improver.<br />
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I still have and use some <b>Daler Rowney/Cryla</b> acrylics that I bought a long time ago. If you make sure the lids are on tight then acrylics can last a long time! It's when the air gets in that they tend to dry out or go a bit gritty. These paints are very thick and I've found that I need to water them down a bit before use. They offer a good range of colours and are a good addition to my collection with their generously sized 75ml tubes.<br />
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The tubes are usually priced according to the pigments, so some such as the cobalt and teal shades can often more expensive. For artists just starting out with acrylics, most of these companies offer good value starter sets with a selection of great colours to get you going.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKfaAFfVEmOM_XJPb7kAj-KcfehDUYmfijzSscf9AEAAiBksHlvYkRAxax3xA_f538tRN_pJR49pWX7rTIBfuabi5FJGPKP0jkRFFyLmFFASb6eX7zAUOrPTeQEjtzFdN6WaPoN_g8iOK/s1600/IMG_0181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKfaAFfVEmOM_XJPb7kAj-KcfehDUYmfijzSscf9AEAAiBksHlvYkRAxax3xA_f538tRN_pJR49pWX7rTIBfuabi5FJGPKP0jkRFFyLmFFASb6eX7zAUOrPTeQEjtzFdN6WaPoN_g8iOK/s400/IMG_0181.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Watercolours</b><br />
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In the last year or two I've wandered back to my watercolours, and I've been using them alot lately on a series of commissions for Whistlefish. Watercolours are just fantastic, and can be used in different ways - compared to my acrylics I love the loose, alchemical nature of these paints and all the things you can do with them, but first, lets look at my preferred brands:<br />
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<b>Golden</b> are without a doubt the connoisseurs of great paint, and their watercolour doesn't disappoint. I invested in a set of their Q'or Watercolour Tube paints at Christmas, and like their acrylic cousins, they are buttery soft, with a beautiful range of colours. I usually work with pan watercolours (more about those in a moment) but needed bigger amounts of paint for large washes I was doing and tubes of paint make this easier to do (just dispense an amount in a generously sized palette and mix with water to the desired consistency). Although these paints are very expensive, to me they have been worth every penny. They have a stunning luminance when dry, come in a fantastic range of colours and are a real pleasure to work with. I use them alongside my watercolour pan sets when I paint, using a mix of brands which is totally fine to do.<br />
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I own a few watercolour pan sets which I've bought over the years - these are basically your traditional paint in a box sets, and the little metal or plastic boxes that your individual paint colours come in are called pans. I use sets by <b>White Knights</b>, a Russian brand, <b>Sennelier</b>, a great but (very) expensive French brand (hence why for now I only have their travel set) and <b>Winsor and Newton</b> - good old British paint! All of these brands offer sets that contain great colours, luminosity and pigmentation, and the bonus of using a tin or box of paints is that they're portable. You can also buy new pans to replace ones that you've emptied.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNtyJpgBE-HZogw_3mnSZtMt0FBA5M7UyVOVBr2wnLfK7bFQt0X8H6AuN7xOa_H7MJ-UvedKmkcBwWp1MZWsZX5ClL1c8x2SDgSpiCIxQrjojsBdbHs4ix5zcZwQ8FTJNAn2WEgiPra08/s1600/Surfs+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNtyJpgBE-HZogw_3mnSZtMt0FBA5M7UyVOVBr2wnLfK7bFQt0X8H6AuN7xOa_H7MJ-UvedKmkcBwWp1MZWsZX5ClL1c8x2SDgSpiCIxQrjojsBdbHs4ix5zcZwQ8FTJNAn2WEgiPra08/s400/Surfs+up.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Metallic Paint</b><br />
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I recently discovered the beautiful world of Metallic Paint by <b>Finetec</b>. Their stunning colour range is made with mica, adding a rich and glittering finish which I add to my watercolour paintings when they're dry (see image above). I tend to use sterling silver and fine gold, so do check them out if you feel you'd like to add an element of sparkly mixed media to your work. These metallic inks are really popular in calligraphy too.<br />
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Where to Buy:<br />
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I buy all of my paint from the following places:<br />
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<a href="https://www.cassart.co.uk/">Cass Art</a><br />
<a href="https://www.jacksonsart.com/">Jackston's Art</a><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/ref=nav_logo">Amazon UK</a><br />
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Finetec Paints are available directly from <a href="https://www.penmandirect.co.uk/collections/inks-writing-media/products/finetec-m1200-pearl-colours-palette">Penman Direct</a> and Amazon.<br />
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Do shop around, I find that these online stores will often have special offers or discounts on certain brands so it's worth signing up to be on their mailing lists to find out when to buy things a bit cheaper. Alternatively you might be lucky enough to have a great art store local to you, there is nothing nicer than browsing a good shop full of different brands and products to inspire you!<br />
<br />Julia Crossland Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09882769819060746645noreply@blogger.com1