One of my goals for 2015 is to focus on creating.  I have millions of ideas for paintings, embroidery patterns, study guides, and countless other things floating around in my head.  Sometimes I am completely overwhelmed by the number of ideas my brain contains. So much so that I don’t follow through on any of them.

It’s easy not to follow through.  My day can be packed from morning til night and it’s easy to tell myself that I just don’t have the time.  What it comes down to is that I need to MAKE the time.

I just celebrated my 33rd birthday. As part of this focus on creativity mindset, I set the specific goal to paint something every day until I turn 34. I have been sharing my progress on Instagram. Follow along there to see my current works in progress.

I am slowly working on putting my ideas onto paper.  Granted, this is only one area of ideas but already I feel less stress as I am slowly and methodically working my way through.

I get up early each morning to study, exercise and have some quiet time before my kids wake up. Now I also use this time to paint. It’s amazing how much progress can be made in just a few minutes. Work like this can seem so intimidating, and like you’d need hours of uninterrupted time in order to make any headway.  After only 9 days, though, I know that’s not true.  In even just 10-15 minutes, I can make a noticeable difference in my current painting.

If, for whatever reason, I am unable to paint in the morning I can still find a little snippet of time during the day to make it happen.

My cousin and I share the same birthday (I am about six hours older) and he is an artist as well.  I am thrilled that he is joining me in this challenge.  He has assigned themes to his work, which I think is brilliant and I am going to do the same.  I think that will help tremendously to cut down the “What am I going to paint today?” stress. I am currently in a Love phase, painting quotes about love, nerdy valentine card ideas, a sweet little penguin who loves you, and the like.