Painting my celebration this Saturday
As I await the beginning of our poetry workshop this morning, I will celebrate my week. Please join us at 11AM EST...at TeacherPoets.
Spring Break this week...and I'd decided for a quiet week at home. I had lots planned and I just wanted to be...
I took a break from blogging this week, and I missed it more than I thought I would. I missed writing here everyday and seeing my blogging friends. It was a needed break, but I'm so glad to be back. Taking a break gives perspective and I needed some perspective.
This week I painted...I found my inner artistic self...and I love her! I set up my painting studio.
I also finished one canvas.
I am addicted. It's a new kind of creativity. I've always loved writing, but with painting, I'm free! Free to explore and take chances and mess up and discover something more beautiful or more ugly than before.
It's a new kind of journey for me and I'm LOVING it.
I'm wondering how I can incorporate these skills and opportunities into my classroom.
This week I organized...I cleaned out lots (not all) of Leo's stuff.
It's sad and it's hard, but it's necessary. The cleaning helps me and gives me some time to remember him and all of our good times.
This week I read and wrote...but not as much as I thought. It was a break for me...I did read a great book recommended by my mom: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin!
If you like reading, you'll enjoy this book. I finished it in one afternoon.
Monday we return to school. I look forward to seeing my students and finishing out the school year! Thanks for celebrating with me today.
Hope to see you at 11AM at the TeacherPoets Workshop! If you can't make it, you can still watch the video...it's archived on youtube. (Wish me luck! We are workshopping MY poem today and I'm a little nervous and a lot excited!)
Glad to see that your creativity blossomed this week. Sometimes it is so important to pause. When you said that you took a break from blogging this week, I thought of a blog post I wrote. Maybe you would like to take a quick peek=>http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2013/10/time-to-pause.html
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to TeacherPoets digging deeper into a thought.
Yes, I agree...it's important to pause! I'll check out your blog post now. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteSo happy to hear that the art is becoming even more important, Michelle. That's so exciting. Glad you had a good break, although with a bit of sadness for your dear dog. Have a good week back, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda! I can't believe how much I'm loving the art!!!
DeleteYou have a painting studio - awesome. Your words show that art gives you pure joy. I like that one piece features risk and authenticity - that's what sharing your poem was about today. I look forward to reading your reflection about TeacherPoets experience. I hope to read your revised poem. I know revision takes time, so I will be patient.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Terje! And THANK YOU for your kind words about today. I'll be blogging about the process soon. I will be revising my poem and I promise to share. Thank you for being there and commenting. It means a lot that my blogging friends were present! :)
DeleteLOVE your paintings!!! I need to discover my creative in practical ways and not just in my head:) So glad you had a good spring break! May I use your paintings as an example with my students?? We are planning to do some art therapy with our refugee students.
ReplyDeleteYou may, Jaana! I'm honored. Please know that only the Risk one is finished...the rest are works in progress. I can't wait to hear about art therapy!!! Sounds amazing! :)
DeleteI've been plotting a new course I want to develop on creativity--in part because I want to invite more creativity into my own life. (I'm with Jaana--very creative inside my head!) I have loved reading about your journey on your blog!
ReplyDeleteOoohh! I'm intrigued with your new course. Let me know...
DeleteAnd thank you for your kind words. :)
I love your studio and your painting. Wonderful visuals of what's inside you. So much warmth and vibrance. I so enjoyed the work you did this morning. Looking forward to revision too. I'm working on revising one of mine now. Having some trouble with it. May have to take a break!
ReplyDeletePhew! You're back! Missed you!
ReplyDeleteHaha! Thanks Loralee! It's nice to be missed. I missed you (and blogging) too.
DeleteI want to try this painting thing! Would love to hear more about your creating process!
ReplyDeleteCarol, I'm taking an online mixed media art class with Kelly Rae Roberts. The process is about...well, maybe there's a blog post there... OK, thanks for the inspiration! I'll get working on that! :)
DeleteThere's something about doing a creative project that always revitalizes me too. I'm loving your artwork and the space you created to work on projects.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a wonderful spring break and wishing you a great week back.
Jen
Michelle, I've been on an unplanned break from blogging, so I missed this post, but wanted to let you know that your art is beautiful! Hooray to you for taking a risk and learning something new. I'll be looking forward to seeing more of your work! Glad to know you liked A.J. Fikery. I read a preview and really enjoyed it.
ReplyDelete