Lisa Call

A Word not a Resolution

A few years ago I read about Christine Kane’s idea of picking a word for the year instead of making resolutions. As I was never a big resolution fan this worked for me.

I was more into predictions. In 1999 I asked my kids their predictions for the year. Their answers: 7 year old son: “I’ll be in boy scouts”, 3 year old daughter: “French fries and hamburger. Go to McDonalds and eat in the car. No, I want chicken nugget fingers”.

I predicted I’d get the house organized (hm – that kinda sounds like a resolution). Either way it didn’t happen. Although my daughter might have gotten a burger but my son lasted only a few months in scouts before quitting.

So this word thing sounds good to me. I’m a big fan of boiling things down to a simple concept as the resolution wasn’t working very well.

In 2008 I selected courage and made some huge changes in my life, in 2009 I went with expansion and integrity and it brought more amazing things into my life.

A New Decade

Every year I want to pick the same word, Joy, because when I boil down my intentions to my most basic desire, all I really want is to be happy. Blissfully, joyously happy.

Yet I never pick this word as I am a 3 on the enneagram (a personality indicator kinda like a myers briggs but maybe more spiritual – I find them both interesting – btw – I’m an INTJ).

As to the enneagram – the 3s – we are the achievers. We get stuff done. We get a lot of stuff done. And sitting around laughing is great but it doesn’t cross anything off the todo list.

I pass by Joy every year with a bit of longing. No more. I’m declaring the 10s as my decade for Joy. So in everything I do, I am intending joy. And much blissfulness and smiling.

I might pick it as my word of the decade for the 2020s too, if things go well the next 10 years.

Moving Forward in 2010

As I think about 2010 and my plans I can see big ideas. Huge exciting things in my head that I want to do.

I also see some things in both my professional and personal life that need a bit of work on the ground level so I can grow in a sustainable way.

My intention is to put a lot of focus on the foundations of my art business, such as my website, inventory, image storage, etc. All the systems that keep it running smoothly.

Ditto for my personal life. I want to look at my habits and beliefs and focus on making sure the foundation is solid. I’m at the beginning of a new relationship and establishing a healthy base is key.

Yet I don’t want to just muck around on the systems and get stuck in the basement. I have big ideas for how to grow all parts of my life in new and exciting ways. I intend to find joy by doing new fun stuff, not just working on the basics.

With that in mind, my word for 2010 is Construct.

Yes – definitely a ‘getting things done’ 3 kinda word.

It reminds me of my home construction project – the importance of the solid foundation but also the fun of framing the big new studio.

2010 is going to be yet another fabulous year.

 
What’s your word of the year? If you wrote a blog post about it please link to it in the comments – I’d love to read about what everyone is intending.

ACEO #35
©2009 Lisa Call
3.5" x 2.5"
ACEO – textiles, beaded, thread
Purchase Here

Coaching

I hired Christine Kane as my coach this year and joined her platinum level mastermind coaching circle. I’ve learned much from Christine over the past couple years and appreciate all she has to offer and very highly recommend her Uplevel Your Life Mastery program and retreats.

Christine has leveraged a very popular and successful method of marketing online, ie The Client Attraction System + variations from other online gurus, and is now fabulously successful and teaching marketing along with the mindset work she is so amazing at.

I have no doubt Christine will be excellent teaching the business and marketing stuff also and I’m sure her clients will be equally successful when they follow these formulas because they do work.

Problem is that style of marketing is not for me. Doesn’t fit my personality, doesn’t fit my goals, doesn’t sound like fun to do, etc. The result was a lot of friction in our coaching relationship and so last week it came to an end.

I still think Christine is fabulous and am grateful for all she gives the world, she just isn’t the person to help me with my business decisions. I am now working with a local coach here in Denver as I find in person meetings to be a better fit for my needs.

Transparency

The standard of success in life isn’t the things. It isn’t the money or the stuff — it is absolutely the amount of joy you feel.

— Abraham

My way of writing and marketing is very simply stated with a single word: transparency. Pretty much not much happens that I don’t write about the “why” of it. Like pricing of my artwork or this post, explaining this decision. This is me at my authentic best and where I find joy.

I’m not a pioneer in this type of marketing (Steve Pavlina is an example of a very successful blogger using a similar style) and over on makebigart I’ll write more about the different styles of online marketing some day as it is interesting look at the marketing on the internet and think about how the different ideas can be leveraged in selling art online.

I absolutely believe in abundance and I have no doubt that my style of marketing will bring me exactly the success and joy and I am looking for.

Joy

I dedicated the month of December to Joy. After the end of my relationship with Jim and the upcoming holidays and the frenzy that can entail I felt it was a good way to keep things in focus and enjoy the festivities instead of feeling overwhelmed by it all.

At the start of the month I posted daily and truly had some joyous things to share. Intentially focusing on and looking for things to be joyful about was a big help in keeping things in perspective. I went through some rough parts towards the center of the month and by focusing on joy and gratitude I was able to move through it.

Towards the end of the month I no longer felt a need to purposely look for the joy as it had returned to my life as a daily fact and had a wonderful Christmas with my kids.

I even managed to write 22 blog posts in 30 days – definitely a record for me. I won’t be looking to keep up this pace of blogging but it was a great way to feel connected this month.

As the year comes to a close I want to again thank all of you for the joy your support and comments bring me. I really appreciate it when you take the time to share your thoughts and just knowing you are there is excellent.

Selvages

What is that wad of stuff on my floor in the photo you might be wondering? Those are the selvages, the edge of the fabric, from 20 yards of fabric that are going into my newest large textile painting. They are are usually a bit funky (tightly woven or fuzzy or full of holes) so best that they go away and I start with a clean cut.

Most of those that work with textiles just pitch these things in the trash. Not me. I keep them and I roll them into tight balls. I’ve got a pile of them somewhere, probably in storage awaiting the studio completion, and I’m thinking some day I will offer the balls for sale – cause they are pretty cool. I love to keep a few in bowls around my house. When I locate them again I’ll take some photos.

Welcoming 2009

In just 2 days we have a new year – wow – I’m so excited! Before I jump ahead too quickly I’m going to devote my post tomorrow to a review of my accomplishments for 2008. I’ve had an amazing year so I expect the list to be long and very joyous.

On January 1, I’ll share a post about my intentions for 2009, I’ve selected my words for the year to help guide me through my daily actions and will share those in that post. Yep, words, after weeks of pondering I was unable to select just a single word and have picked two. Yay! For those of you following me twitter you have a sneak peek as to what they will be.

On January 2, I’ll post some specific goals I’ve set for 2009 and will follow up through out January reviewing some work habits I’m developing to help me stay on task. I’m really looking forward to starting the year as I’ve got some awesome plans.

Lines #18
©2008
3" x 3" – Mounted on stretched canvas
Sold

Lines #19
©2008
3" x 3" – Mounted on stretched canvas
Sold

Lines #20
©2008
3" x 3" – Mounted on stretched canvas
Sold

Lines #21
©2008
3" x 3" – Mounted on stretched canvas
Sold

New Work

In between holiday preparations, parties and starting a new larger textile painting (the joy for the weekend – it feels great to be making larger work again), I’ve finished some new pieces in the Lines series. The first 4 are here. The remaining 6 (white, red and black with similar designs as these) will be ready soon.

Sorry about the bad photography, there is currently no place in the house to get good photos so I need to figure out another plan. I think I can rig something up in the soon to be new studio. Once it warms up!

Another short post. A new thing for me!

From The Adversity University Blog

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.

 
I’m very grateful for my job.
for my art.
for my children.

And for the dough for snickerdoodles in the fridge. My first batch of cookies for the season. Joyful yumminess!

 
Here’s what my kitchen looks like right now: An adventure in cooking!

 
 
Tomorrow look for some brand new art in this space! woohoo!

 
 
It took me 4 hours to find to find the right frame of mind to write this post. The day job hit a speed bump today and it took me a while to quit obsessing and just get over it. It will all work out as it should.

The trick was hunting through my future blog post ideas looking for something I could post. Found this quote. Realized it is completely my decision how I react to the incident at work. I’m choosing to view it as an opportunity for something new and better to come my way, which I am positive will happen.

Now back to the holidays.

I found this list on Karine Swenson’s blog and thought it was fun. In the absence of art content for today (didn’t sleep well last night and my brain is just up to deep thoughts) I’ve decided to go with this list.

It’s fun to do silly things once in a while.

I’ve put in bold the things I’ve done. I’ve crossed off the things I have no interest in ever doing. So that leaves me with 45 things left over. Most aren’t big goals of mine and I won’t be pursuing them but you never know!

[joy for today - I went to the see's candy store - yum yum yum.]

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (I’m counting this but don’t like the wording)
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (I’m counting in the shower cause not interested in doing it in public)
11. Bungee jumped (very very fun! I want to do it again!)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (mental health days are so totally valid)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (did a half marathon and that was enough for me)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse(maybe – I can’t remember)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (nebraska rocks)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (since money doesn’t equal satisfaction I’ll count this as done)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa (I’ll be going in Aug of 2009!!!)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (I’m a vegetarian)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury!
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Some day I will make a list of 100 things I want to do and work my way through it. I’m working on my top 10 list of artwork I want to see and top 10 list of places I want to travel.

Structures #25
©2003
8"x 8"
Purchase Here

Doing A Lot

My days have been packed full this week.

So I was happy today to see on my calendar I had a dinner planned with a friend. Yay! Time to relax. I was quite joyous she got held up with a client so I had 30 full minutes in the restaurant to sit and do absolutely nothing. It was wonderful. Enforced relaxing. Nice.

Although dinner was nicer – great conversation, much laughing and really really yummy thai food. I discovered another great place to eat only 5 minutes from my house. Yay!

The Market

Now that I’m selling my art I’m finding the market for my work to be interesting. Occasionally things I have that I think are really pretty awesome don’t ever sell. One example is Structures #25 pictured above.

This is a 5 year old piece, but it’s still one of my favorite smaller textile paintings I’ve done yet in those 5 years noone has ever been interested in purchasing it even though it has bee offered for sale several times.

Who knows. Just interesting. I suspect the universe has very specific plans for this small textile painting and we just aren’t there yet.

Construction

Not a lot of big splashy progress but a few photos of siding and things in the walls. I’m without much of a kitchen at the moment, not that this house ever had much of a kitchen, so there has been no christmas baking yet. I will remedy that situation this weekend irregardless of the state of my kitchen. It is not christmas without homemade cookies.

December 12, 15, 16
December 17

Structures #104
©2008
6"x 6" – Mounted on stretched canvas
Sold

Small and Bold

Looks like the bright colors from yesterday’s post were a big hit. Thank you everyone for the positive feedback.

It was very fun working with them and having the bright fun colors warming up my studio while it was below 0 outside. I decided to make a few 3" square pieces in these colors mounted on canvas, so look for them soon.

I’ve been thinking about the bright colors in comparison to my normal more subdued palette, such as that in the piece shown above. I really love the softer colors in my larger work and think they have a lot of impact.

When translated to smaller pieces they are still beautiful (I personally prefer this piece to the ones in yesterday’s post) but I also think the brighter colors give these little textile paintings a nice punch. They will be seen across the room much more readily in the bolder colors.

Joyous Purple

I’m thinking these small pieces are going to be seeing a lot of purple also. I love love purple, had my bridesmaids all decked out in royal purple with matching shoes, of course. I want to paint my bedroom purple and will for sure paint my front door purple. But it’s a rare day I make a purple textile painting. Not sure why.

This one is an exception:

Structures #96
©2008
16.5"x 28"
$2500
Available through the Lux Center of the Arts

 
Thinking about purple is all about joy and certainly qualifies for today’s dedication to the topic. As does just a general feeling of peace that I felt today. Taking the time this weekend to not force my way through things really was the right choice.

Now I need to get in gear because all 3 pieces posted yesterday sold and I need to get them in the mail! Woohoo. Definitely more joy coming through there!

Hm – I think I need to make a few small textile paintings like Structure #96. Probably early next year because I have a few other htings to wrap up first.

ACEO #30
©2008
2.5" x 3.5"
Sold

Weekend Joy

I had intended to post every day this month as December is 31 days devoted to Joy, but this weekend I just wasn’t there. I tried to make it happen, force some kind of joy but that’s not generally the best way to go about things.

So I decided to just allow whatever I was feeling and do nothing. Ending a relationship is never fun and time is needed to just let it sink in and stop taking things personally. So I hunted down every episode of Lipstick Jungle (which from what I can tell is the same as Sex and the City with 1 less friend) on nbc.com and spend most of the weekend doing very little.

It was nice. And by mid afternoon sunday I was feeling like myself again and I went back to my studio and put in 5 hours and I didn’t want to stop when bedtime came around. Joy had returned.

Sometimes it’s best to just allow whatever needs to happen to happen and then joy returns.

I did have fun on saturday shopping for lights for my new studio/house remodel. Well, maybe a bit too much fun. Now time to cancel a few of them and go for something a bit more basic so I can afford the porch I want. I will keep the mission style lights for the outside of the house – they are pretty cool and gotta splurge occasionally.

Lime, Fuchsia and Blue

This weekend I worked on some pieces in brighter colors than I normally do. It was quite fun. I was asked to see what I could do in these colors for a collector and this is what I came up with in addition to the ACEO above.

Structures #106
©2008
6"x 6" – Mounted on stretched canvas
Sold

Structures #107
©2008
6"x 6" – Mounted on stretched canvas
Sold

 
This isn’t my best photography work as I don’t normally work in these bright colors. I think some of the problem is my super bright laptop screen. When I check them at work tomorrow they will probably look better.

ACEO #23
©2008
2.5" x 3.5"
Sold

 
I write a detailed todo list every evening for the next day. It’s the only way I can juggle a job, kids, building a new studio, the business side of my art career and making art. Oh and Christmas. And all those other daily chores. I usually do pretty good at getting most everything on the list done.

I don’t feel like doing any of the things on my list tonight, like getting my passport application ready to mail, so I’m going to ignore it and head to the studio. So no photos of the newly completed Lines #10 and #11 tonight, it can wait til morning.

Three or four hours of studio time on a work night – that is absolutely JOY!

 
Oh – first – my construction photos for the week. It’s a little less exciting than the foundation or the framing because there isn’t a big huge change from day to day. But still it’s still pretty cool.

I missed the lifting of the stairs into place but they are there and it’s like a house now – not a construction site. They are even putting on the siding and the roof is tar papered.

December 5 and 6
December 8
December 9
December 10
December 11

 
Happy Thursday everyone!