Somewhere along the way, many artists, and women in general, stop creating simply for the joy of it.
We begin to believe that if we are going to spend time making something, it should be productive, useful, impressive, worthy of sharing. Maybe even worthy of selling. Over time, often without realizing it, creativity becomes tied to performance.

The painting must be good enough.
The writing must be meaningful enough.
The photograph must be professional enough.
The project must somehow justify the time it takes away from everything else demanding our attention. (A BIG ONE!) The Guilt is real!

Currently, my mother and I are participating in a “100 Paintings in 100 Days” challenge. As I write this we are 91 days in, and yes, we will finish the challenge:!!
Mom has been recovering from surgery, and I thought it might be a beautiful thing for us to do together, and a great distraction for her.
At the same time, I personally felt hungry for experimentation. I wanted pace to practice, to play, and to create things completely different from the large paintings I normally sell.

So for one 91 days (so far) I’ve made tiny paintings.
Most have been 4 x 6 or 5 x 7 inches — the kind of pieces I would normally create quietly in my art journal rather than hang on a gallery wall. The kind of work I would not normally share online.

I painted birds.
I sketched parts of the garden in my backyard.
I experimented with new mediums and textures.
I created little landscapes and imperfect studies.
Some days the paintings were lovely, some days they were awkward.
Some days they looked like nothing I wanted to show anyone, and yet I posted them anyway. And honestly? It was one of the healthiest creative exercises I’ve done in years, because the goal was not perfection.
The goal was simply to create, experiment, practice, and learn.

The Freedom of Creating Small Things

There is something deeply freeing about working small.
A large canvas can feel too risky, like the stakes are too high.
A tiny piece of paper, or a journal page on the other hand, feels safer.
You become more willing to experiment when the outcome does not feel monumental. You stop agonizing over every mark and trying to control the entire process. The other freedom in painting small is not having to worry that you are wasting art supplies:)!

I think many women have forgotten what it feels like to create without an agenda. We have become so conditioned to measure value through productivity in all areas of life. Even our hobbies can begin to feel performative. I know women who have their entire week ruined over a pickleball game that didn’t go as planned. Aren’t hobbies supposed to be FUN?

Artists, especially those who make their living from art, constantly ask themselves questions like “Should I post this?”, “What will people think?” “Does this match my brand?” “Is this sellable?”
I had no intention of selling these little paintings, so I did not feel pressure there, but I did find myself thinking “these paintings are not on brand, they are not what I sell, they are not what people expect to see from me, and the big one…this work is NOT the caliber of work I am known for and sell.

But… as vulnerable as it felt, I posted them anyway, because this challenge for me was about three very specific things.
One was creating beautiful time with my Mom, while bringing the long-lost artist in her back to the surface. Two was showing others in caregiving roles, a beautiful way to connect with and help their wards to heal mentally and physically.

Thirdly, I wanted to learn new mediums and techniques, and practice my drawing skills, which have always been lacking. Some days my painting for the day was actually in my journal, but even on the days where I created a painting on loose paper for the challenge, I also sketched and painted in my journal. Because of that, my drawing skills really have improved. Do I draw well? Not yet! Would I want to sell a drawing? Not yet, but I HAVE improved, and improvement was the goal.

Creativity has always had another purpose beyond marketing and sales.
It gives us access to parts of ourselves that are difficult to reach through the stresses and mundane tasks of everyday life.

What is Perfection - Really?

Perfectionism can look admirable from the outside.
It can masquerade as excellence, discipline, or high standards, but
often, perfectionism is simply fear in a more socially acceptable form.

Fear of judgment.
Fear of wasting time….a big one for me!
Fear of not being talented enough.
Fear of making something mediocre.
Fear of being seen trying, and found lacking.. and even bigger one for me!

The problem is that perfectionism almost always suffocates experimentation, and experimentation is where growth lives. I’ve grown so much during this challenge.
If every creative act must succeed, we stop taking risks. We stay inside familiar territory. We repeat what we already know how to do. There were a handful of days, 15 to be exact, that I created my usual work in my standard medium (acrylic seascapes) on a tiny scale, mostly because I was pressed for time, and those came easily.

All of the other days, I experimented. I used watercolor, gouache, oil sticks, watercolor sticks, oil pastels, soft pastels, markers, oil pencils, and pastel pencils. It was so much fun. Mom and I found new artists on YouTube, binged their videos, and painted along with them. That is where I was introduced to so many mediums I’d never played with before.

Creative expansion requires a willingness to make awkward things. Unfinished things. Beginner things. I created a LOT of beginner things. Because I was doing so many new things in new mediums. It was hard to post beginner things publicly when I am very established in what I paint to sell. I had to let go of my ego. Hopefully, in doing that, I encouraged others to get out of their own boxes and experiment.

The 100-day challenge reminded me that some of the most important creative work I do will never earn compliments or applause or be sold.
Some creations exist simply to keep the creative spirit alive and to grow. Many of those mediocre at best paintings calmed my nerves and soothed my soul during a tough time. Others had Mom and me laughing our heads off. Still others taught me things that I actually will use in work I sell in the future.

Why Challenges Work

There is something powerful about giving yourself a container.
A challenge removes the pressure of waiting for inspiration.
Instead of asking “Do I feel creative today?”, the question becomes
“What will I make today?”.
That subtle shift matters, and the challenge itself becomes the motivation. The expectation is consistency rather than perfection, so you begin showing up differently. You stop obsessing over outcomes and start focusing on practice. And the accountability of a group challenge certainly helps.

91 days in, here’s what I know-
Not every painting was successful. In fact, some were downright awful.
But collectively, the challenge has expanded me.

I discovered new ideas.
New color combinations.
New mediums
New approaches.
New freedom.
And I let go of a little bit of ego and became braver around sharing publicly.

More importantly, I remembered something essential-
Creativity flourishes in environments where it feels safe to experiment.
It’s important to create a safe container for yourself, even if it’s just allowing yourself a specific amount of time daily to draw or play with new mediums in an art journal.

An Invitation

Maybe your version of a challenge has nothing to do with painting.

Maybe it is:
thirty days of sketching
daily photography walks
writing one paragraph every morning
learning a new language
planting a flower garden
experimenting with a new medium
baking beautiful bread
filling an art journal with color and thoughts and scraps of life.

The medium does not matter nearly as much as the willingness to begin.
And here is what I hope you remember:
You do not need permission to create.
You do not need extraordinary talent to begin.
You do not need to create something worthy of selling.
And you certainly do not need perfection.

You only need curiosity and a thirst for JOY!
Creativity is not just about making beautiful things.
Sometimes it is about feeling more fully alive, and yes, uninhibited joy.

Hello Beautiful People,

Let me begin with full transparency, I have not “mastered” the things we’re going to chat about today! True mastery would mean to be on top of All of these things All of the time! In that respect I am still a work in progress, and likely always will be. Isn’t that after all, the authentic human experience? ??

Today I’m sharing the Four Basic Pillars of The Splendid Life Creative Practice.

These pillars are Beauty, Authenticity, Embodiment, and Systems.

Beauty 

Let’s start with BEAUTY and the science behind why surrounding ourselves with beauty matters. Beauty is actually regulatory! Who Knew?:)

Because our nervous system responds to what it sees, smells, hears, and touches, beauty helps to activate our parasympathetic nervous system, which is our calm, creative state. Beauty is one of the quickest ways to shift into a creative state, as it gives the brain coherence, which naturally boosts creativity. When we’re in this state, we breathe deeper, our intuition is sharper, and consequently, our ideas flow more clearly. When we’re surrounded by beauty, our bodies relax, and our emotional channels open up. If this is news to you, I invite you to make it a point to notice, next time you gaze at something beautiful or meaningful, how your breath slows and deepens, and the muscles in your face soften. It’s a real thing, my friend! On the flip side, if our environment is not visually pleasing, if it’s chaotic, cluttered, and out of order, it shifts our nervous system into a state of tension.

Beauty also helps to elevate our identity and experiences. My office is on the main level of our home, separate from my studio, but it’s full of beautiful art and artsy things! My paper clips and pushpins, etc, are housed in vintage china bowls and colored glass. I keep flowers and a lovely arrangement of candles on my piano. When I work at my desk late at night (I’m a night owl), I love candlelight and soft classical music. I have multiple places in my house where I paint, but I find that when I’m in my main studio downstairs, my expectations are elevated and I view my art in a more reverent way. It’s beautifully designed in my favorite colors. There’s a green velvet sofa, lovely rugs, and magenta doors with ornate glass doorknobs.

My bedroom was various shades of pink and green the entire time I was growing up. There is something emotionally grounding to me in that color combo. There’s an identity shift when I step into that studio. I have painted in beautiful dresses for years. I get paint all over them, which is perfectly okay because I buy them just for that purpose. For me, dresses are the most comfortable, and make me feel beautiful, and I find the more beautiful I feel, the more elevated, fulfilling, and successful my painting experience is. I also believe surrounding myself with beauty and clothing myself beautifully is a form of self-respect and a small act of self-love. It reminds me, as I’m creating lovely things for others, that I, too, am worthy of the beautiful life I desire.

Authenticity 

The second pillar of The Splendid Life Creative Practice is AUTHENTICITY.

It’s important to allow ourselves time to play and experiment, whether in a paint journal or canvas. Knowing who we are as artists at any given time is crucial, even though we’re always evolving. Taking the time to play helps us stay connected to ourselves as human beings, in addition to our professional selves. One of the biggest challenges artists face is letting go of what we think people want, or what we think will sell, and instead, creating what our hearts long to express.

It can be especially hard to switch gears when we have become known for a particular subject or style, and our heart longs to create something completely different. I’m experiencing these exact feelings, even as I write this. I’ll be releasing a body of work in 2026 that has been on my heart and in my brain for over a decade, but is completely different from what my collectors expect to see from me. That’s a scary thing for any artist. Another challenge is following our intuition as we paint, especially when it’s leading us in a direction other than the one we planned. It’s through this process that we often stumble onto or into our next evolution.

There is an art to being flexible, without compromising what we know to be true about ourselves as makers.

I firmly believe there is a very specific collector out there for every piece of art I create, and that when the time is right, they will find each other.
I actually think about this sometimes when I’m painting, and may even have a conversation with them, though I have no idea who they are! Because of this, I rarely paint over older work. If there’s a piece that I REALLY don’t like, or feel is fundamentally lacking in composition, that’s one thing, but I’m not one of those artists who has a hard and fast rule that if it’s been sitting around more than a year etc., I paint over it! Art is timeless. I remember a fellow artist visiting my gallery and commenting on a piece, and I told her it was 12 years old. She said something to the effect of “Oh my goodness, get rid of it, clear the energy”.

While I can appreciate the concept of moving energy, it was a beautiful and consequently sold just a few weeks later to a woman who had been looking for “exactly this” (her words) for years! This has happened to me numerous times, where I thought of painting over something and didn’t, and shortly after, it sold! It always serves as a reminder to me that someone out there is looking for exactly what I have created. Someone out there is looking for exactly what YOU have created.

Collectors connect with pieces that move them. I believe when we create authentically from the heart, the emotions and energy we translate onto the canvas connect with exactly the right collector. This is a direct manifestation of the Miracle of Visual Language!

Embodiment 

The third pillar of The Splendid Life Creative Practice is Embodiment. I coach a LOT around this concept.

Embodiment requires clarity.

If we want to shift our level of success in anything (art career included), we must first know what it is that we want. We can’t work towards nothing. We can only work towards something. Once we decide what it is we want, we must shift our identity. We can only succeed to the extent of who we believe ourselves to be. If we want to soar higher, we must first see ourselves as that higher version, then embody her. We must align our thoughts, actions, energy, and environment with HER! As we choose her thoughts, habits, and environment, we elevate and expand and begin to live AS her, and by default draw to us what she desires, and experience what flows naturally to her.

Imagine that you are already this woman, this higher version of you. What are her core values? How does she begin her day? What is her environment like? How does she dress? What thoughts does she think? How does she care for herself, her studio, her home? What are her habits? What is her workday like? How does she spend her free time? Who does she spend her free time with? How does she end her day? As you answer these questions, you’ll become aware of what you will have to add, subtract, and, more importantly, who you have to become to achieve the success you desire; to become the version that is living the life you have currently made a goal. Once you have the answers to those questions, you have to act upon them, or all will remain a dream and never become a reality.

Imagine that you are already this woman, this higher version of you. What are her core values? How does she begin her day? What is her environment like? How does she dress? What thoughts does she think? How does she care for herself, her studio, her home? What are her habits? What is her workday like? How does she spend her free time? Who does she spend her free time with? How does she end her day? As you answer these questions, you’ll become aware of what you will have to add, subtract, and, more importantly, who you have to become to achieve the success you desire; to become the version that is living the life you have currently made a goal. Once you have the answers to those questions, you have to act upon them, or all will remain a dream and never become a reality.

This brings us to the fourth pillar of the Splendid Life Creative Practice, which is SYSTEMS.

Systems 

There is a difference between dreams/goals and systems. Setting a goal is what we do once we’ve acknowledged what we desire. Usually, setting a goal involves a specific accomplishment and timeline. Systems are what we need in place to support our goals and bring them to fruition. Systems are necessary for the embodiment process.

The right systems set us up for success and eliminate decision fatigue. We’ve all experienced how motivation ebbs and flows. Systems carry us through when motivation wanes.

Systems can be as small as a daily spiritual ritual, to high-tech automated structures, and everything in between. The important thing is that your systems suit your way of being and working, meaning they feel fairly natural and fit in with your creative rhythm.

For example, if you are a night owl (like me) and that is when your creativity is heightened, it would be ridiculous to force yourself to paint every day at 8 AM. That being said, it still requires a certain amount of discipline to create any new habit.

Here are a few examples of systems for success as a “maker”.

• Exercise first thing in the morning. It helps to wake up the brain.
• Enter the studio at the same time each day.
• Begin your creative time with a particular practice or ritual. Maybe you meditate, read something inspiring, light a candle, play a particular song or style of music. Maybe you have a special warm-up practice.
• Arrange your studio in a way that supports your creative flow.
• Keep your workspace clear and your supplies organized and easy to get to. (There’s nothing worse than entering the studio all pumped up and inspired, only to have to spend 30 minutes cleaning off your art table and finding the right supplies! By the time you’re ready, the thrill is often gone. What an energy thief disorganization is!!

As I said earlier, I have multiple spaces for painting in my home. This is one of my systems for success. I have easels and paints in my office. I also have drawers of art supplies and journals for writing in my breakfast nook, as well as my bedside table.

I recently created a temporary annex studio in my dining room.

At different times in my life, this has been crucial to keep me painting and writing.

I have had several seasons of caregiving, where working downstairs in my basement studio was not an option. Just last year, in a two-month period of time, my sweet hubby received a heart transplant, my senior dog went blind, and we added a puppy to our household. Working downstairs was definitely not an option for several months.

Having the things I needed in place on the main level allowed me to keep creating, even if not as much. Currently, I have my Mom here. She can’t do the stairs, therefore can’t be in the studio with me. While I do spend some time in my studio during the day, I’m also creating color studies and small pieces in the breakfast nook where I can be with her, because I have a mobile paint station in that room. I set up a system for success.

Some artists I coach begin their day with admin (answering email, writing newsletters, website updates, creating content) and then paint. Others do the opposite.

I answer email daily, but find it easier to dedicate certain tasks to certain days of the week. I have specific days for coaching calls, entire days dedicated to painting, and a separate day dedicated to writing (blog posts, newsletters, articles, book content, course content). I set aside another day for batching social media content, which consists of shooting photos and video, creating graphics, etc. Some artists do a bit of all of these things daily. I of course have to sometimes, but it’s always my preference to dedicate specific days for these tasks, painting and writing especially.

Large blocks of time prevent a break in concentration and protect my creative flow. Then, of course, there are things like packing and shipping and bookkeeping, all of which need systems within themselves to operate smoothly. If you have team members, it’s important to have specific systems set up there as well: meeting times, communication guidelines, and timelines that everyone understands and adheres to. There are things like automations for social media posts, sales pages, funnels… the nuts and bolts part of the business that most artists like the least. Every good habit, practice, or system that you take the time to put into place and adhere to furthers your chances for success.

Maybe as you read this, you’re thinking, “What happened to the fun, the JOY of being an artist?” At first glance, the discipline of systems might seem stifling, but in reality, discipline is so freeing. It keeps the mental clutter at bay.

Let’s be real, my friends, there is only so much shelf space in the brain at any given time, and if those shelves are full of confusion and tension, and the drudgery of decision making, there’s little space for creativity. Systems eliminate a lot of stress and allow for a joyful, creative environment both emotionally and physically.

Okay friends, I had so much fun sharing with you, and I hope you find yourself just a bit motivated, if not inspired. I’d love for you to share some of your own systems with me.

You are worth finding.

You are worth knowing.

Worth Loving.

You and all your one million layers.

-Unknown.

Oh how I Love Peonies. They really are the most feminine of flowers.

I Love when they open slowly, showing off each layer for days before opening the next.

As I was relishing their leisurely pace of opening (and because I often reference women to flowers) I was pondering the fact that we are often in such a hurry to get to the next level in personal growth, spirituality, relationships, business, fitness.....really in everything.

What if we slowed down just a little bit, and basked for a time on each rung of whatever the current ladder is, and honored ourselves; enjoyed the sheer BEAUTY of our expansion and accomplishments instead of immediately being obsessed with getting on to the next step?

Part of loving yourself and honoring your journey is allowing yourself the time to feel really, really good about where you are, and the better you feel where you are, the more ready you are to move forward.

What do you feel really good about right now?

What have you not slowed down enough to acknowledge and feel good about?

I invite you to take the time, and CELEBRATE!

Hi Friends,

 I had planned something else for this week, but life took a a turn as it often does, and I find myself switching gears.

LOVE is an integral part of curating a Splendid Life. Inviting LOVE in, nurturing it, protecting it.

One of the great loves we get to experience in life on earth, if we're lucky is that of our loving, loyal pets. I say pets so you'll know I'm speaking of animals, but I have never really liked the word pet. It seems too impersonal, and much too small of a word for the enormous place these precious beings hold in our lives and hearts for an entire lifetime, both while they are here, and often even more so after they leave. I prefer to say sweet angel or furry soulmate. 

Friday, we said goodbye to our precious Babsy. She had just turned 11 on October 14th.

She had been the healthiest of all the dogs we have owned and we expected her to live to 14 or 15. Her Mommy, Blossom passed just over a year ago.  (they weren't biological mommy and baby, but took on those roles the minute we brought Babsy home.)

They were inseparable, with a very unique relationship. We had a family of 5 furry babies who were all extremely close, but there were sweet behaviors and rituals, that the two of them only exhibited with each other. Babsy grieved terribly when Blossom died just over a year ago, and about a month later had some kind of seizure and went blind. Complete retinal detachment in both eyes. What we discovered is that she had suddenly developed extremely high blood pressure (I truly believe from the trauma of losing Blossom) and that is what caused the seizure and the retinal detachment. She then developed kidney disease. She had been blind just over a year when she passed.

(actually, we lost our Blossom and our Bella one month apart last year. She loved Bella too)

Though my heart is broken, this post is not meant to be sad. I want to honor Babsy and share some of the things she taught me in the way she embraced life without vision. Every move she made reminded me that just because we can't see something with our eyes, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. She exhibited great faith in so many ways, and also trusted her instincts.

She would chase a tennis ball all over the yard. I usually put it near her, but if I threw it far away, she'd comb the entire yard with her nose to the ground. She couldn't see it, but she knew it was there, and wouldn't give up until she found it. (I of course would sometimes eventually have to relocate it if she wasn't having success, because I knew she would NOT come into the house until she'd found it.

She never stopped enjoying the simple pleasures in life. She had always loved to lay in the sun. She and Blossom always laid side by side in the sun, and after Blossom left and Poppy Jane came, she and Poppy Jane would lay side by side in the sun. If Poppy was elsewhere and she wanted to be in the sun, she'd just head out the doggie door and go straight to one of her special places and raise her face to the sky. 

When was the last time you sat outside for a few minutes and raised your face to the sun?  I rarely do, but now I'm determined to do it more.

Without her sight, Baby was forced to rely on her other senses. I know she loved the texture of the grass under her paws as much as she loved the sun on her face. Watching her reminded me that there is peace and joy to be found in the seemingly mundane. Do you walk barefoot in the grass, feeling the silkiness of the grass and the energy of the earth? I rarely walk barefoot in the grass, but I will make a point to now. Her sense of smell heightened and her taste changed. She had NEVER been one to get into my coffee, but after she went blind, if I dared to get up from our special chair, she was up on the side table drinking my coffee in a split second.

I LOVE coffee, but life takes off so fast in the morning that I RARELY even finish a cup and what little bit I end up drinking is usually cold with the exception of those first few sips. I take the time to prepare the perfect cappuccino or latte, froth the milk to the perfect temperature and texture, (it's a ritual) yet don't take the time to enjoy it. BABSY enjoyed it though:):)

I'm going to take the time to drink my entire HOT cup of coffee while sitting with Boomer and Poppy Jane.

We've lost four furry angels now, Baxter, Bella, Blossom and Babsy. Three of them in the past 15 months. I guess that was inevitable, as they were close in age. Life is so short, and our time with them is even shorter. We MUST remember that in our busy hectic days.

Within a few weeks of losing her sight, she was navigating the stairs to our second story. She would rub her chin from side to side along every next step before stepping up until she reached the top. I'd run upstairs for something, telling her I'd be right back, and by the time I was making my way back, she was already there, or just reaching the top of the stairs. She was great at it until her last few weeks. She still climbed, but we would stay close enough to put a hand on her and reassure her we were there. I thought she was so BRAVE. I would never go up or especially down the stairs with my eyes closed. That is NOT one I will be trying!:)

She had always been very loving, but grew to love touch even more; always pressed tightly against me in the bed or our big leather chair, or sitting against my leg in the kitchen.

Touch feels different when your eyes are closed. 

Close your eyes, and gently run your fingernails up the inside of your arm from wrist to upper arm. It feels divine. I often do this to reset my nervous system when I'm feeling anxious or really stressed. It doesn't have the same effect with eyes open.

I want to honor her by slowing down a little. It's really hard for me to go slow. I even think fast:):):) I want to be better at enjoying  the moment of "here" before I'm suddenly "there".

I'll be more appreciative of yummy smells, have slow coffee, touch those I love more, take a nap once in awhile, walk barefoot in the grass, raise my face to the warmth of the sun, AND, I will trust my intuition more. I will be brave and step out in faith more, trusting that the next step will be there. I'll endeavor to do all of this with her CHILL demeanor, which means I'll have to remember to breathe a little deeper.

When we're stressed, and running on adrenaline we breathe shallow, and our bodies don't get enough oxygen. Then we wonder why we are tired and have brain fog!:):):) Sometimes we need more sleep, but sometimes, we just need to breathe better.

Animals really are our greatest teachers. They live in the moment, LOVE unconditionally, and quickly forget anything unpleasant.

Take time once in a while to just observe your furry friend if you have one, because we all need these reminders.

I can't imagine my life without dogs. I LOVE YOU BABSY, with all of my heart, and I love each and every one of you that is reading this.

LOVE really is the most important thing, don't you think? Love for our creator, our animals, humanity, and YES, LOVE FOR OURSELVES.

With LOVE comes grace, forgiveness, compassion and understanding. It's impossible to curate a Splendid Life without LOVE.

Until Next Time,

Kimberly

LEARN ABOUT COACHING WITH KIMBERLY HERE

LEARN ABOUT MY UPCOMING WHIMSICAL WINTER ASPENS WORKSHOP HERE

This past weekend, I had the privilege of attending "Girl on Fire”, hosted by Dionne Woods of The Turquoise Iris, Debi Beard of Debi’s Design Diary,  and Karen Berg of Redoux Interiors in beautiful Brentwood, California. There were 20 wonderful women from various walks of life. In the warmth of our conversations, I was reminded yet again, how women, despite our diverse backgrounds and experiences, have the innate ability to connect and bond.

When women gather in a safe space and begin to open up and share their stories, we uncover the similar threads that weave the tapestry of our lives. It's in these moments of authentic, soulful connection, that we are reminded how intertwined we truly are at the deepest level. There were stories of loss and pain, grief, strength, resilience, and the universal experiences that shape us. 

Some had cared for elderly parents in their final months, and are exhausted, and still processing the finality of it all.Others are caring for disabled husbands and grown children in crisis. A few were recently retired, and wondering what's next, and so on…but ALL had a need to share, to connect, to be seen and heard.

There were lots of tears, hugs, laughter and smiles. Friendships were made, business collaborations were born and the creative flame was relit for many and newly created for others.It’s easy, as women to bogged down with the responsibilities of life to eliminate gathering with friends when we’re overwhelmed and feel like something has to go. We feel like we cannot spare a minute, much less an hour to meet up with someone.

This, in my experience, should be the last thing to go! I have had stretches of time over the years where I isolated and withdrew from friends and it made the journey so much more lonely, and scary.  You may not be in a position to get on a plane and gather with a group, but make time for a latte or a cup of tea with a friend, even if it must be by phone.

As women, we are so very good at filling each others’ cups. Isn’t it worth a 15 minute call to have your cup refilled or have the blessing of filling another’s?

On another note...I had sooooo much fun breaking in a new painting blazer. I had every attendee paint on it so I could bring a piece of each new friend home with me!!

COURSES

COACHING

There is something all creatives go through at one time or another, often referred to as "shiny object syndrome" where there are so many ideas (and sometimes distractions, overriding focus) pouring in, that overwhelm can take over.

The kind of overwhelm that shuts you down; complete creative paralysis! But wait, how can we be shut down when there are SOOOOOO many AMAZING ideas in our brains?

I have experienced multiple seasons of this in my career as a creative professional,  and have also coached many artists through these seasons in their own creative journeys. Most of the artists I know and have coached, fall into the category of what I call

"super-creatives".

What I mean by this, is that they are gifted in multiple creative genres. Many painters also sculpt, write, sing, compose music, play musical instruments, act, perform, design clothing or homes, sew, knit, paint furniture, make furniture, etc., etc., etc.

Even if your gifts are more streamlined, shiny object overwhelm (that's what I like to call it) can rear its head.

What do I paint next? I want to paint florals, no, I want to paint landscapes. Wait, I've been wanting to paint a new series of abstracts!!

People are waiting for Aspens, Seascapes are my specialty, But... I miss teaching. Should I teach? Am I ready to teach again? What would I teach? Do I teach in person? Do I teach online? Wait, what about my nearly finished book? I miss doodling in my art journal! Winter is coming, I really want to crochet my special scarfs!

UGH, my brain....I  think I'll go have ice cream!

I just gave you a glimpse into the gist of one of my own journal entries!

We don't want to give ANYTHING up! The question is, do we have to? Do we have to give something up? There are coaches that would say "you must choose 1 thing, focus all of your attention on it, and let all else go". I am NOT one of those coaches, because I would NEVER force my own self to give up any practice I truly love. Sometimes, with so many ideas, we feel as if we're being pulled in a 1/2 dozen directions. I believe that if there is something or some "things" we truly feel a long term, deep desire or calling for, that those things are Meant for us. They are part of our Divine Destiny. My joy as a coach is in affirming what my clients' feel is true for them, and guiding them in orchestrating their Divine Calling.

There is such inner conflict when we feel pressured by ourselves or others to dismiss something important to us. I'd like to invite you to give yourself permission to take the pressure of by changing your thought from "Which things am I going to give up?"  to "which THING am I going to do first?". "Which thing am I going to do NOW?".

I've learned over time, that what can seem like a 1/2 dozen different ideas, are sometimes ALL part of one big Divine Plan.  They are not separate in and of themselves; they are related and connected, BUT there MAY  be an order in which we will experience the most EASE, FLOW and JOY.  Don't Ease and Flow sound good? 

Here is how I go about deciphering an order. (There are many ways,  this is just one that feels good to me).

I look at all of the things, decide which thing feels the easiest, or quickest to complete, is joyful, AND positively impacts others. Why begin with the easier, quicker one? Because completion, or success, builds momentum. The feeling of accomplishment is empowering, and inspires us on to the Next thing. If we choose the hardest, most time intensive thing first, it's easy to get discouraged and not follow through, then come the feelings of shame and failure, then creative shutdown. What we need to do is create some immediate momentum. Why do I first choose one that will positively impact others? 

Because it's not all about me, and it's not all about you! We are all connected here on this earth. I believe we all have a responsibility to use our God Given Gifts and talents to the benefit of humanity. And when we do that, Blessings Flow. When we see that something we say or do positively impacts the life of even ONE, our momentum is elevated. The important thing, is to pick one and take the FIRST step.

We don't have to have it all mapped out ahead of time. I've found that as I bravely step out in faith and take that first step, the next step magically appears, and the path reveals itself in perfect timing. I believe all of our gifts and talents have a purpose, and that if  we tune in to our inner guidance system, AND bravely act upon that guidance, these gifts will unfold into each other in perfect order. Someone is waiting for exactly the artwork you are being guided to create. Someone needs to read exactly what you are being guided to write. Someone has feelings to be expressed through your creative exercises.

Someone has written lyrics that are waiting for your melody. Someone needs the guidance that your experience and education can give. Someone is needing that FEELING your gifts and talents evoke.

Let's agree together to be unselfish with our gifts. Let's agree together to be BRAVE!

In case no-one has told you today,  YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL AND YOU ARE LOVED!

Kimberly

The purpose of this is to have my original paintings, prints, products, online art courses, workshops, creative retreats and coaching services all under one umbrella. I will continue to add my new artwork to the website, but soon you will also be seeing tabs for these additional offerings and services.

I have separated my email list into categories, so art collectors should not be receiving newsletters meant for artists and students. (unless you'd like to). That being said, some emails I did not recognize, so if by chance you receive an email meant for artists and students, and wish to still receive my collector emails, please don't unsubscribe. Just shoot me an email and let me know you are on the wrong list, and I will make the change.:)

I apologize in advance if you are on the incorrect list. This is a big change with lots of moving parts:):)

If you are on the artist/student list, you will receive The Splendid Life Studio Newsletter with beautiful content and inspiration for your creative life, as well as announcements of events, and special invitations. You may of course, unsubscribe at any time if you are not enjoying the content:)

I have VERY EXCITING NEWS to SHARE-CHECK BACK SOON!:)

Until Next Time-Live Splendidly!!

Kimberly