Breathe

Who's to say
the real effort to be real 
isn't the beginning of wings?

The above is an excerpt from Mark Nepo's THE BOOK OF AWAKENING. It met my Brooklyn studio in the stifling summer of 2013; a gift from a dear friend who knew I needed a change. It set me on the path of making and breathing and living happily in the moment.

My impression of meditation had always been enough to keep me from trying it. I couldn't imagine what crossing my legs, and muttering long vowels would possibly accomplish.

It turns out, meditation is a twisty-turny thing, and there are as many ways to practice it as there are to make a picture book. Among other things, it is scientifically proven to help its practitioners alleviate stress, depression, and anxiety, improve self-confidence, increase focus, develop positive social connections and prevent arthritis. Writers and illustrators are my favorite kind of people, but I'm yet to find one that couldn't benefit from that industry-specific list of preventatives. If you're uncomfortable with OMs, consider guided meditation, that's where I started.

Daily mindfulness practice has taught me that one thing done with patience and peace is much better than ten things done in a panic. My life and my art are more effortless, comfortable, and fun when I quiet my mind for 5-20 minutes every day.

Meditation is my key to living creatively. It might be what you're looking for too. Not ready to dive into the deep end? Consider dipping your toe in the lotus pool.

Try an app:
・Aura on iPhone and Android
・Aware on iPhone & Android
・Calm on iPhone & Android

Or a podcast:

・Deep Energy 2.0
・Meditation Minis
・The Meditation Podcast -
 a $2 a month Patreon subscription pays you back ten-fold in happiness. Choose an episode for what ails you. The CREATIVE FREEDOM episode is a new ritual. They make their most recent episode available free on their website 

Try a meditation for the painter in their studio:

・Place a dry sponge and a glass of water before you.
・Center yourself by letting the energy of all that feels urgent rush through you. 

・Exhale and try to let it go.
・Now drip a small stream of water on the sponge.
・As you breathe slowly watch how the sponge opens.
・Keep dripping water on the sponge as you breathe slowly and feel your heart open

xo,

Amber
.........................................

www.AmberAlvarez.com
Instagram @shesureissketchy
Twitter @shesureis
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Intentions- by Diandra Mae

I know the New Year is all about stepping off on the right foot towards something BIGGER, BETTER, NEWER, etc. but this year, instead of starting over I want to keep doing what I've been doing. 

You see, every year I pick one word as my focus. It's my Intention Word. It's the reminder for the next twelve months of what it is I want to accomplish that year. Where I'm going to put my energy. 2017 was the year of 

North meant closing my eyes and tuning myself to the pull on my heart, towards the stories I've been waiting to tell, the characters I've been wanting to create. North meant ignoring all the noise about style and design and trends and figuring out what is I'm meant to do. North meant listening. 

And so I did. I participated in a six month online art challenge that I help moderate, pushing myself to draw the things that scared the pants off me (vehicles -*shudder*) in order to encourage growth. 

I took an illustrator's workshop at Highlights and had a fantastic time with wonderful people, exploring media and technique and really having a hard look at myself and how I've been playing it safe. (Anxiety and Fear are some sneaky jerks, y'all.)

And even though I knew it was just the very beginning of something real and wonderful, I entered my portfolio in the SCBWI LA Portfolio Showcase to show folks that I was still working and creating. Well, we know how that turned out: 😉

Last year was, for the first time in a long time, when I finally felt like I was putting my foot on the right path when it came to my work. Every step I took seemed to click somewhere inside of me and although I couldn't really see where I was going, I was excited to see where I ended up. 

It was to the point that I became a little evangelical to friends about how they approached their art. "Tell the stories you want to tell!" "There's only one YOU!" "Follow this spark!" Pushing and encouraging friends is one of my favorite things to do, and with the personal success I had experienced so far, I turned it up to eleven. I've calmed down (mostly) but still remind them from time to time that their journey is theirs and there's no one like them.

It's a good reminder for me to keep listening heading into 2018. And, inspired by Robert Frost, I'll also keep in mind: 

"The path can be lonely, dark, and steep,
But I have stories to tell,
And miles to go before the journey's complete,
And miles to go before the journey's complete."  

My Intention Word for 2018 is Persistence. 

Happy New Year, y'all. Do you have an Intention for 2018? Let me know what it is! I hope your 2018 Intentions bring you focus, growth, and joy.

-Diandra 

This hangs in my studio. I purchased it on Etsy a few years back: https://www.etsy.com/shop/anavicky

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