New mama or not. Teeny pockets of time or more time than you know what to do with. Scared like crazy or feelin’ brave. Bouncin’ or flyin’. Exhausted or wide awake. Deadline or not. In the studio or in the kitchen. Saying you’re sorry. Saying I love you. Asking for help. Consoling a baby. Writing a book. Not knowing or thinking you do.
Begin anywhere.
These two words were given to me, as a mantra of sorts, years ago, and they have come rolling back into my life lately. Over and over. Begin anywhere. Begin anywhere. Begin anywhere.
That made my day:)
awesome! and swatts! been loving your blog but haven’t left comments. so much Tulsi focus with her crawling in every direction! it’s crazy! ha. hope you are well!
Such good advice! Thanks!
I love this, thank you!
that is a good reminder to me too. thank you and happy new year!
:-)
yes, yes yes!
I love this…I need this right now. Thank you for passing that mantra on…
What a powerful mantra. Thank you for sharing it with us all. May we use it too ? And love your artwork that illustrates these words. Am propping you up from my hilltop.
big hug,
Kelly
you and your work are an inspiration on so many levels jenny…..jai sri ma and thanks
thanks, Devin. you inspire me, too. love you! jai sri mata!
I have read this post several times now and I’m borrowing the mantra–I might add “anytime” to it as well! Love to you and Tulsi…
hi Mattie! yeah! pass it on. use it. it’s not mine to borrow. only to share. love to you 3!
Thanks for sharing this mantra… a perfect way to begin my early morning!
What a wonderful mantra. There’s such freedom in beginning once you let yourself go. Thanks for the inspiration!
Very much enjoy your blog and your art is beautiful and inspiring. Thank you esp. for this latest post, it comes at a most crucial time for me. Best wishes to you and your family!
yay! that makes me happy, Marieclaire. and thank you for the sweet words.
I am honestly sitting at my table, surrounded by books about illustrator’s rights and what to charge for logos and legal issues and contracts, trying to work out what the heck to say to a couple bites (my first ever, ever, ever) that came to me this week.
And I was getting down, and looked at some work showing at some galleries that have expressed interest in me (galleries that currently show stuff that I think is kind of predictable and not all that exciting) and feeling sort of trapped and hopeless. So I came here to put up something colorful and encouraging, and oh my God this is what I saw first.
It made me cry, for real. In a good way.
Thank you.
hi Maggie! i just first read your comment tonight. i’m so happy if this post gave you a little boost of energy. i hope you always get that from visiting here… i just had a super nice visit on your blog and site! love that new indian nativity painting! and i just really love your free spirit! big congrats on those recent calls for your work–i know all the rights stuff is overwhelming, but i hope you find your way thru it. if you are new to that part, just remember to always retain your copyright (don’t do a complete buy-out) and that way, even if you sell your art for print for less because it’s a good opportunity and fun commission, you still own it and can always do something else with it later. and really, it’s all a learning thing, and every contract i do i learn something from. so don’t fret too much. i just hope the work comes your way and you have fun! thanks again for your comment. i don’t have as much time to blog lately, so i’m happy i took the time to make that last post! peace.
I’d like to thank you for this, too. Justin has been gifting creativity books to me lately, all of which have which I have been unconsciously shelving for a day when I can crack them open and give them their due. Busy mama or not, guess I should go ahead and open one up, eh?
hey Heather! just thinkin about you and hoping you are finding some creative time for you! now i know how hard it is to manage time with a baby, and you have two! i just keep reminding myself of what my good friend (who is older and is an artist and has a child who just graduated from college) — it goes FAST, and soon time will appear again. xo,jenny
Thank you. I am thinking of taking the scary leap into the freelance illustration/children’s book world. Finding your mantra this morning has made those little doubtful feelings living in the back of my mind disappear.
:)
hey Jennifer, so happy you found this post and yay for you in diving in! wishing you so much joy and success in your new adventure. you can do it…