A Kiss for Luck and It's On Its Way

The other day I shared with you that I was considering applying for a 2 month residency and that I was afraid. One of the reasons for my fear is that I have taken workshops and done residencies in the past, and they haven’t always lived up to what I had hoped for.

Silly me. Worrying that something won’t work out exactly as I planned. But then I remembered that nothing in life ever works out exactly as we think they will, right? Does that mean the experience isn’t worth it? Or worth trying something similar in the future? A definitive no. It might take months or even years to realize the benefit, but it’s there, it’s always there. There are always benefits to every experience. Sometimes we just have to look a little harder to see them.

All of that to say, I shoved aside my fears, with some force, mind you, and did it. Application completed and submitted. Now I just hope for the best, knowing full well that whatever the outcome, it is as it should be.

On that happy note, I bid your farewell. May your day be a creative one!

More Targets to Shoot At. More Bullets to Fire.

Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines. There have been many deadlines as of late. More targets to shoot at. More bullets to fire.

Which is good, as they keep me moving forward. Most are easy-breezy applications. Fill in the blanks and send in your money. But, I am also applying for a residency. Minimum of 2 months. Which has this homebody a bit nervous.

Well, actually, I am afraid.

And yes, it is easy to say “face your fears,” but it is much harder to do so.

So, I have had some sleepless nights. And heart wrenching conversations.

Is this right for me?
Should I do it?
What if I am not selected?
What if I am selected?
Do I really want to do it?
Will it really be good for me?
And on and on.

In the end, the pros outweigh the cons. So I gotta do it.

Scary, indeed, but I’m just gonna ride it out and see where it takes me.

I’ll keep you posted on how it goes.

Show and Tell Sundays-Hoop-Lah!

Here are two more small skins that I wanted to share with you, both with the addition of color.

Gotta be the flowers blooming all around that inspired me to add the color.  I like the addition and plan on using more colors on future skins.  Slowly moving forward with the series.  Not jumping out and taking big risks.  But moving forward nonetheless.

Let me know what you think. And may your day be a creative one!

Do You Do Morning Pages?

Julia Cameron hit a home run with The Artist’s Way. Have you read the book? Done your 3 pages daily? If you haven’t read it, I would highly recommend doing so. It is well worth the read. Check out Julia Cameron’s website here for information on the book and more.

The reason I ask you about the 3 pages is that today I stumbled upon a notebook full of my daily pages from early 2000 and what an interesting read it has been!

Here is an excerpt from March 2000.
“I really, really, really do want to be successful…but I don’t know if I’ll ever get there. I don’t’ think I’m talented enough. I don’t think I work hard enough…what if the ideas don’t come.”

When I first read this I was saddened to hear such self doubt. But, wait a minute. I needn’t feel sad, I should be glad as I don’t feel this way anymore.

Not talented enough? As you already know, I accept that I have never been the most talented artist, but I have tenacity and that takes me much further. And I work very hard in my studio daily.

Ideas won’t come? Hardly. I can’t turn off the ideas. There currently aren’t enough hours in the day to finish all of them.

And success? Well, I’ve matured since then. I’m not sure what I was pining for back then, but I imagine it had to do with accolades from my peers. Fortunately, I have received recognition for my work since then in the form of awards and such, but more importantly, I realize that success isn’t measured by outside sources, but how I feel within.

All of this to say, wow, I honestly feel the pages worked for me. I am happy I took the advice to heart and devoted the time to them. I feel certain they had a great impact upon who I am today. Seeing hard work come to fruition, well, what better testimonial can there be.

So, my advice is to check out the book, if you haven’t already done so, and do the pages, whether you are new to them or starting anew.  And I plan to do the same. Keep me posted on how they go, and I shall do the same.

May your day be filled with new beginnings!

I’m Dancing as Fast as I Can

Well, Monday came and went and I didn’t post anything as I had promised on Sunday, sorry about that. But I have been plodding along with this new piece. It’s much larger than the ones I have made before, so I’m taking it slowly and listening carefully. No need to rush it, me thinks, the work will always be waiting for me.

I am revisiting the fence from Cover Me (the skin with the life vest), as I really liked it and wanted to see how I felt about it a second time around. A teacher in grad school, Diane Dawes, once advised me to recycle ideas or concepts often, especially when you are stuck as it’s a great jumping off point. I’m not stuck, heck, I can’t keep up with the ideas that keep streaming though my head, but still, it’s good advice.

I see the girls, dresses, fence, life vest, umbrella, etc. as symbols and each time I use them I am seeing them in a new way. Like a story. The words of the story are the symbols, and though the words have been used a bazillion times before, when strung together in a new way, the meaning is completely different. That’s how I see my work, something new from something familiar.

As I say in my artist statement, “Each piece is a fresh attempt to see things in a new way, yet remain part of an ongoing dialog. Each is tied to the next and the one before. They are all intrinsically linked together and the conversation continues.”

And the conversation will continue, but for now I shall get back to work.

May your day be creative and productive!


I’m Dancing as Fast as I Can, 54” x 100”

Kim Radatz



I’m Dancing as Fast as I Can, detail

Kim Radatz

P.S. As you might be able to see, the paint is still wet.  Much work yet to be done, including the stitching, but I wanted to share it with you.

Show and Tell Sundays-Come Monday

Monday is gonna have to come before I have any work to show you as my niece had a surprise wedding this past weekend and I was busy with all the hustle bustle that goes along with any wedding.

I have been working on a new larger skin, 54” x 100”, which I will share with you on Monday; it just needs more work before there is enough for you to look at. But I like what is happening so far.

I look forward to seeing you on Monday! Until then, have a great one!

Do You Do it Too?

I worked on some mixed media pieces to match décor this week and my Artist Within that likes angst was up in arms. In my head I kept hearing, “You shouldn’t make art that matches a sofa!”

Also, a friend recently voiced apologetically that she was painting a room to match her art. These “shoulds” gotta go. What we should never do is feel guilty about any creativity we participate in. Our life should be full of joy, not guilt. So, I’m making the choice to ignore my inner artist as she obviously has some issues of her own that she needs to work out.

For me, I’m gonna keep making whatever interests me at the moment. There will be a lesson in all work that I do and I don’t want to miss those lessons because I was feeling guilty.

Those “shoulds,” and the ensuing guilt that comes with them, kill creativity. Don’t let them in. And when they do creep in from time to time, get rid of them as soon as possible. Honor your own special creativity and your true voice will emerge.

On that happy note, I hope you have a creative day!



Fruitful Life, 2011
Kim Radatz©