how i found my artist within on the coast of big sur

  How do you find your Artist Within?

I ask this as I complete creative exercises during the Meet Your Artist Within Program, which is part of my Creatively Fit Coaching Certification.

While going through the creative exercises in the program, the common thread that connected all the exercises together was my deep connection with Nature. Which is funny, because it seems lately, that I have had my head wrapped around work, new business goals, settling into our new place, and just trying to survive the day-to-day grind.

It's been awhile since I've gone on a nice hike, and I've been surfing here and there, but not quite as much as I'd like to. I have been very disconnected with Nature, and I feel unbalanced. My husband and I have been wanting to go camping on the Central Coast of California (our fave place to go), but we have putting off.

I've been doing these creative scribble exercises from the Meet Your Artist Within Program, and time just seems to stop. I am in the present moment --- creating --- exercising my right brain. It's been a great form of meditation, and it's quick, easy, and FUN!

And as I go through the training program I am learning more about brain science, neurology, and how one can physiologically change the make-up of their left and right brain hemispheres by stimulating the brain through exercising the mind.

It has all been very fascinating. And I can't wait to share these concepts and ideas with future clients.

It's more than just mere doodling or throwing paint on a canvas. It's beyond learning art techniques or design principles. It's all about figuring out a way to create change and --- how my mentor, Whitney Ferré, likes to put it --- 'embracing your role as the ARTIST and ART that is your LIFE.'

WHAT IS A SCRIBBLE DRAWING?

It's very simple. Grab a blank sheet of paper and a pen. Close your eyes, and scribble on the paper for about three seconds. Open your eyes and look at your scribble. What do you see? Look at the shapes, the lines, the negative space. What speaks to you? Add more lines and shapes to your scribble to complete whatever image you see. What message is your right brain (your intuitive voice) trying to send to you?

Here are some scribble drawings that I came up with:

So after doing my scribble drawings, or exercising my right brain hemisphere, I realized that I needed to listen to what my intuition was telling me: I need to connect with nature. Get grounded. Get balanced. Be whole.

When I get more into my 'left-brain' --- the logical mind, the past mind, the future mind, the 'I have-to-do-this-otherwise-this-will-happen mind' --- I feel unbalanced. If you know me well, you know that when I don't get enough dancing, surfing, or creating in my routine, it throws me of rhythm. And even more so when I haven't spent some time outdoors.

So, my husband and I decided to head up to Big Sur for a little R & R. For a digital break. To quiet the mind. To re-focus. To just be. There is something about being in Nature that is very healing.

I listened to my intuition, my right-brain, my higher self, my spirit, whatever you want to call it, and  headed north to where the Redwoods meet the Sea. Ahhhhhh...life couldn't be better.

I took my art supplies, my creative journal, and course, my board, wetsuit, and camera. Below, you'll see a couple of fun collages I created with images torn from old magazines. The dream collage and torn paper face collage are fun, intuitive exercises from the Meet Your Artist Within Program.

This is just one way I find my Artist Within: by connecting with Mother Nature and the beautiful gifts she has to share with us.

HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR ARTIST WITHIN?