Hello friends! 

Have you ever gotten a crazy idea and just ran with it? And I am not talking anything too major, or really that crazy at all…just a little outside of your comfort zone. But you REALLY wanted to do it anyways? 

So then you started throwing this idea around- [hypothetically speaking- just for fun], to a few of your closest family and friends. AND then, next thing you knew you were researching, spending copious amounts of free time soaking in all you can about your “hypothetical idea”.

Shortly after that, you were ‘getting your feet wet’ trying out this brilliant, beautiful, [scary] idea you had.  Everything was great, you were soo proud of yourself [YAY me! I’m trying something new!]….Then all of a sudden- something happened [and it may have just been a bad day- but whatever it was- it wrecked you], and you were left facing all of your doubts, AND your fears were true. This ‘idea’ of yours didn't pan out how you thought.

 Maybe you have had this experience before, or maybe your going through it now with your art, your career, your blog, or your new small business. And its okay. This is actually when your supposed to stop, take a step back and love yo’self! 

I know exactly where your at, I’ve been there. And anyone-anywhere who is trying to put themselves out there in a new brave way, that they have never done before- has gone through this. This my friends, is what we call the creative process,  AND you are right in the middle of it! So don’t fret, your half way there! ;-P 

Let me outline the creative process for you real quick, and later this month we will dive in deeper! 


The Creative Process 

1. The hunch, the big- brilliant -beautiful [scary] idea! ***If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough! 

2. The talk, IRL and that internal- non-stop jibber jabber with yo’self about this idea. 

3. The soakin’ it all in stage! Your like a sponge, or and addict wanting MORE! 

4. The create, make, do stage ***This is where the importance of habitual creating comes in! 

5. The confusion, self doubts and fear kick in. 

6. Time to step away and love yo’self! 

7. Time to ask for feed back, and help if need be- your still a big girl + a creative genius, but everyone needs help! 

8. The hoorays + hiccups

9. Time to revisit where you started, what you’ve accomplished + where you are headed. 

10. Know when your done. 

Choosing a creative career [and choosing to work for yourself, no matter the field- is choosing to be creative, I don’t care what you say!] the creative process is something you need to become VERY familiar and aware of! It is something that you will constantly go through, and should want to go through- as this means your are GROWING! 

As you saw in my previous post, or if you are apart of my gal pal e-mail list [which you should totally sign up for, to get each one of my #MakeYouMarkMarch e-mails sent to you]- then you got it sent to your inbox, about my #MakeYourMarkMarch virtual art party, where I am inviting creatives to get back into the habit of creating daily. The creative part of your brain is a muscle, and needs to be exercised daily to perform at its best! I am soo excited for all those who have joined the art party so far and I am sending you gals many virtual high fives and booty bumps for being brave and putting yourself out there! 

I know it is hard to share your art, and your creative ideas. I am a home body/introvert, who hates talking in front of people. So it has taken me soo long to get to where I am comfortable talking about and sharing my art and creative projects + process. But honestly, the more I do- the more I get out of it. For my art, and for myself. I learn, I grow, I share, I become a little more brave to do it all again. In that, I’ve created this little community for myself that inspires me to keep going. So please, be brave with me and continue to create and share your creations [always] this month using the hashtag #MakeYourMarkMarch ! So pumped to see all you create. 

BUT wait a minute, 

Maybe art making isn’t so much your thing, and that is okay… I get that yuh ‘can’t teach an ole gal new tricks!’ ;-P but let me encourage you to take part in this art party anyway you feel comfortable. Give yourself a ‘brain break’ and doodle dots, stars, dashes etc. while at your desk,  in class, or on a call. This art party is ALL about the process, not the just the product. Yes, I hope you make something beautiful, but if you make something that is not so beautiful, but that was really therapeutic and relaxing in doing so, then that is beautiful- because it added value to your life! And it exercised your creative muscles. SO just relax, and just enjoy the process! 

“Art for art sake”. Something one of my woo-woo art professors used to say all the time, and we used to giggle. But now I totally get it. So have fun, create + share and #MakeYourMarkMarch :* 

#iliketoARTYhard, here is the the calendar one more time! 

When I started My Friend Court the blog I knew three things I wanted to do :

                1. Create                2. Connect                3. Inspire 

and figuring out how to do the last two has well, been a journey! Hard and frustrating, as for the longest time it was like static on the airwaves ‘Hello! Is ANYone there?!?!’
   
Looking back on all of the years of blogging [because I did have blogs before My Friend Court] and more or less failing at what I envisioned them to be, I now realize its because I lacked my WHY. My purpose. Don’t get me wrong, I am still very much so on this journey. Its just that in the last year,  my vision in creating has narrowed  and therefore my connecting and inspiring has broadened. All of this is a result of using the creative process more often, and more effectively! 

    So for the month of March I’m inviting you to join me in my first [virtual] art journaling party, #MakeYourMarkMarch. I am not calling it a challenge- because it shouldn’t be challenging- just FUN! It is good to challenge yourself, but this is all about exercising/forming the habit of creativity. I will be giving you daily prompts to help you get into or back into the habit of creating daily. This art party is for E V E R Y O N E , beginners and novice alike! 

    I believe that art, self expression and exploration is meant for everyone and is essential to the soul! I have also learned that the creative process is a HUGE part of being an entrepreneur. Exercising, daily your creative thinking skills will only sharpen your ability to be a creative problem solver in you life and in your business! 

    Through this months art journal party I will be sharing pages from my art journal daily, as well as using the next few weeks to talk to you about what the creative process is exactly. I encourage you to join the art party and share your daily creations on Instagram using the hashtag #MakeYourMarkMarch. 

NOT sure what mark making is?! No worries, stay tuned and I PROMISE to fill you in + get you up to speed and comfortable with creating! Remember, this art party is for EVERYONE! So make sure you join in on the fun + spread the word by posting this image below to your Instagram, Facebook + Twitter! Tag these prompts with #MakeYourMarkMarch + @myfriendcourt as your RSVP to the art party! 

Use these prompts to inspire you to draw, doodle, sketch, paint, stamp, college, etc. Have fun, be creative, make something new! Exercise that creative muscle! Then tag your creations with #MakeYourMarkMarch + @myfriendcourt so I can see! 

SOOO excited to see what you create!

#MakeYourMarkMarch #ILikeToARTYHard 

Pst! : I will be regraming my most favorite of the beautiful creations I see on the hashtag  :-*