I love this so much! Follow your art. And yes, it's imperative! Thank you. It feels like the missing piece to all the words and phrases I just wrote on a journal page, doodling away, leaving the lower part of the page blank, and me wondering why... Now I know. Thank you.
Well said, Deb... My thoughts too! I've gone up, down, round and round following my art, whether visual or words or music-related. My post today reflects a bit on that. I am continually inspired by Kelcey!! 😍
Aww Kelsey! I love that this already showed up in your art! (you write my name--gush!) Yes follow your art! You inspire me too. You are truly one of the best of this world, this space and whatever else you walk through that I get to see. I hope we can keep inspiring one another in 2025. xo
Perfect! I am committed to hosting friends or at least gathering a bunch of us semi-regularly this year. A bunch of us went to see Wicked together over the holidays, and a smaller group came to my house for brunch and crafting last week… I think we need our female friends more than ever now, this year, and also as most of mine are hitting the peri and menopausal years. We need laughs and snacks and craft projects!
Kelcey, I love what I think this means which is, understand and follow your deeper longings. What I don't think you're saying is follow the art you've always done because it may not be the same as what your heart or life or soul is calling you to pursue now or for this year. Fair clarification? I know it is nitpicky semantics, but my "art" can sometimes feel as demanding or as familiar as the latest meme. What I take from your thoughts here is pursuing a freedom that lies in the adventure and the unexpected. Make sense?
Thanks for that thoughtful clarification, Steve. Yes, that's what I have in mind: the idea that my art will likely head in new directions this year, but I'm not sure what/where/how, so I'm wanting to keep open and follow where my heart/art takes me...
I love this, Kelcey. I am also following your advice and choosing to finish what I started. I am so excited to see what it feels like to finish and not keep feeling like it's still not done.
Exceptionally right on, Kelcey. Important to Follow Your Art, and bare witness. I applaud your tightening focus without an agenda or pre-plotted plan. We'll all stay tuned to your progress, to the extent and whenever you feel it's time to share. I just read the panel recap and am still heart thumping over our beloved artist friend (Gilah Yelin Hirsch) who guards her astonishing self- crafted home way too close to the Palisades fire. Gilah and all the others of us in harm's way deserve our witness and prayers.
As always, your art delights me and your thinking interests me. In addition to Making/Writing 50# of Art in 2025, my imperative is to be INTENTIONAL about how I spend my time.
It doesn't feel like two imperatives, but one connected focus of attention.
So far I've written 6 days a week, minimum 1 hour, since I started. I'm not surprised by how much I'm getting done, but I am surprised how much happier I am on days that I'm writing. Long way of saying, I still don't now how to measure, but the intention alone is resulting in me getting a lot of work done.
Wow, that’s impressive! I just started teaching spring semester this week, so I am only doing 15 minutes on school days—first thing in the morning. And I agree, I feel so much better just having worked on something!
It helps that I'm retired from my day job. Not from a variety of family responsibilites (I have a disabled adult son), but still - it clears up a lot of time and mental bandwidth.
Thanks to your imperative post I have come up with two for the year! Primary: “Follow the spark” ⚡️ and secondary is “Unclench the (inner) fist (and jaw 😂)”
Haha, these are both great imperatives! I ended up with Follow Your Art, which is similar to Follow the Spark! Here’s to sparks, art, and unclenched fists!
So much fun and as always I always learn something. This year I'm not going to swing for the fences, I'm just going to swing and that's my resolution (at least so far today). PS where we you in Colorado? Our home is near Lyons, in the mountain, foothills.
I like it, Wes! Swinging is motion, which is good. Our Colorado family is in Evergreen and Longmont, so we were in both places—not too far from Lyons, it looks like!
What a great imperative for the year ahead!
Thanks, K, I’m excited! ❤️
I love this so much! Follow your art. And yes, it's imperative! Thank you. It feels like the missing piece to all the words and phrases I just wrote on a journal page, doodling away, leaving the lower part of the page blank, and me wondering why... Now I know. Thank you.
Yay! Thanks, Deb!! 🥰
Well said, Deb... My thoughts too! I've gone up, down, round and round following my art, whether visual or words or music-related. My post today reflects a bit on that. I am continually inspired by Kelcey!! 😍
I loved your post, Karen! Grateful for fellow travelers on this art journey! ❤️
Aww Kelsey! I love that this already showed up in your art! (you write my name--gush!) Yes follow your art! You inspire me too. You are truly one of the best of this world, this space and whatever else you walk through that I get to see. I hope we can keep inspiring one another in 2025. xo
Goodness, thank you for this, Deborah! And thank you for such a thoughtful and moving event! 🥰
Perfect! I am committed to hosting friends or at least gathering a bunch of us semi-regularly this year. A bunch of us went to see Wicked together over the holidays, and a smaller group came to my house for brunch and crafting last week… I think we need our female friends more than ever now, this year, and also as most of mine are hitting the peri and menopausal years. We need laughs and snacks and craft projects!
Right? It's too tempting for me to hole up at home and isolate, so I want to make a point to connect! Here's to laughs and snacks and crafts! ❤️
Kelcey, I love what I think this means which is, understand and follow your deeper longings. What I don't think you're saying is follow the art you've always done because it may not be the same as what your heart or life or soul is calling you to pursue now or for this year. Fair clarification? I know it is nitpicky semantics, but my "art" can sometimes feel as demanding or as familiar as the latest meme. What I take from your thoughts here is pursuing a freedom that lies in the adventure and the unexpected. Make sense?
Thanks for that thoughtful clarification, Steve. Yes, that's what I have in mind: the idea that my art will likely head in new directions this year, but I'm not sure what/where/how, so I'm wanting to keep open and follow where my heart/art takes me...
dear kelcey,
thank you so much for all of this, including (but not limited to) the shout-out!
i love "follow your art" and how close it sounds to "follow your heart"!
great choice, beautiful work, and i look forward to seeing where your art leads you and us all!
love
myq
If we follow our heart and/or our art, we will live in integrity! (Loving the book!)
Thank you so much!
I love this, Kelcey. I am also following your advice and choosing to finish what I started. I am so excited to see what it feels like to finish and not keep feeling like it's still not done.
Thank you, Sumayya! I am emailing you soon!
https://substack.com/profile/139085367-rachielle-sheffler/note/c-85844566?r=2at2yf&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks, Rachielle!
Hear you on the finances! These are great :)
Honestly, that has been my top idea for several weeks, but it was too depressing to make it my main imperative! 😂
Great imperative! Which I think still encompasses the runners up! 😊
Thanks, Miranda! I do think they are all intertwined!
The Way of Integrity is such a good book! Definitely one of my faves. And I love Follow Your Art. So good!
Thanks, Diamonde! Yes, that book has helped me remember to do a “gut check” and listen to/feel my body as I make decisions.
Exceptionally right on, Kelcey. Important to Follow Your Art, and bare witness. I applaud your tightening focus without an agenda or pre-plotted plan. We'll all stay tuned to your progress, to the extent and whenever you feel it's time to share. I just read the panel recap and am still heart thumping over our beloved artist friend (Gilah Yelin Hirsch) who guards her astonishing self- crafted home way too close to the Palisades fire. Gilah and all the others of us in harm's way deserve our witness and prayers.
As always, your art delights me and your thinking interests me. In addition to Making/Writing 50# of Art in 2025, my imperative is to be INTENTIONAL about how I spend my time.
It doesn't feel like two imperatives, but one connected focus of attention.
So happy to be here.
Belated thanks, Janie! How's your 50# going???
So far I've written 6 days a week, minimum 1 hour, since I started. I'm not surprised by how much I'm getting done, but I am surprised how much happier I am on days that I'm writing. Long way of saying, I still don't now how to measure, but the intention alone is resulting in me getting a lot of work done.
Wow, that’s impressive! I just started teaching spring semester this week, so I am only doing 15 minutes on school days—first thing in the morning. And I agree, I feel so much better just having worked on something!
It helps that I'm retired from my day job. Not from a variety of family responsibilites (I have a disabled adult son), but still - it clears up a lot of time and mental bandwidth.
I never thought I’d look forward to retirement, but I do now!
Thanks to your imperative post I have come up with two for the year! Primary: “Follow the spark” ⚡️ and secondary is “Unclench the (inner) fist (and jaw 😂)”
Haha, these are both great imperatives! I ended up with Follow Your Art, which is similar to Follow the Spark! Here’s to sparks, art, and unclenched fists!
Love this—follow your he(art)!
So much fun and as always I always learn something. This year I'm not going to swing for the fences, I'm just going to swing and that's my resolution (at least so far today). PS where we you in Colorado? Our home is near Lyons, in the mountain, foothills.
I like it, Wes! Swinging is motion, which is good. Our Colorado family is in Evergreen and Longmont, so we were in both places—not too far from Lyons, it looks like!
We live between Lyons and Estes Park, in Pinewood Springs, up in the foothills.