Art Nurture

The Seed of Creativity: Winter Reflections for January

1/22/2024

It's January, and I wanted to share a few thoughts with you...

As we navigate the beginning of the year, it's hard to ignore the expectations and pressures that come with the whole "new year, new you" vibe.

But how can you approach this time in a way that truly serves you?

We often find ourselves making resolutions, forming new habits, and diving into fresh initiatives at the start of the year.

While these can be fantastic, what really resonates with me is the importance of recognizing and nurturing the seed of creativity within ourselves.

And Winters can be an amazing time to reflect on this...

Take a few moments to watch this quick video where I share a bit more about honoring the seed of creativity in yourself.

Back in 2013, at the book launch for Art Nurture, I handed out bags of wildflower seeds with Art Nurture book marks - representing the seed of creativity in each one of us.

Folks were concerned about planting the seeds in October, but ... wildflowers know. They need the process of being in the ground during the winter so that they have what they need and are fully prepared to spring up when the time is right.

This extends beyond the physical seeds to our creative lives.

Whether it's actually January and cold where you are or it's the metaphorical winters we each experience, the act of simply recognizing the seed of creativity within ourselves is a significant and valid step.
Reflecting and reframing on these creative winters can help us appreciate the hidden processes contributing to our creative growth.

In nature, cold stratification helps wildflower seeds break dormancy and stimulate germination.

Similar to wildflower seeds, our creativity may benefit from seemingly dormant periods.

Creativity is a constant part of our humanity.

And embracing your creative self even during the quieter, reflective months, can help support us in owning our own belief in the presence of the seed of creativity within ourselves.

Whether you're grappling with the winter blues or struggling with resolutions, remember that recognizing the seed of creativity within you is a meaningful and transformative place to focus our attention.
As January unfolds, let's take a moment to acknowledge the seed of creativity within ourselves.

Cultivate & Nurture,

Court

p.s. Looking forward to the spring of creative possibilities that lies ahead!

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What to Do When You Don't Like What You've Created

11/20/2022

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This is one of the greatest challenges we face when we look into the mirror of creativity and I feel like it's incredibly important to address.

Here I'll respond to an experience everyone has in common when it comes to spending time with your unique creativity trying to create "something":

What do you do when you don't like what you've created?

Watch this video where I share more about the process of being face to face with a creative project we really don't love.

First, let's understand what it feels like when we don't like what we've created.

The entire situation seems to creep up on us unexpectedly. An unwelcome surprise.

Picture this:

You finally get some time to yourself to spend on your own unique art...you're enthusiastic because you hardly ever have the time you wish you did to spend on this.

It's going really well, the tunes are jamming in the background and you feel in the groove while you work.

You lose track of time and it feels amazing.

But then, you make that one extra mark...

... and then ...

....suddenly, you don't love what you've done.

And I mean, really don't love it.

That's when the feelings start rushing to the surface.

The feeling of disappointment in what you've created can be painful.

As an art teacher for the past 17 years, I hear the multitude of ways this sentiment is expressed. But it all feels the same, disappointing and painful.

If you've ever felt this way, I want you to know you're not alone.

Most of us are truly pressed with our time, so getting to have a few moments to devote to our creative projects and dreams can feel incredibly precious.

When it came to my own Art Nurture journey, I realized that creating a way to acknowledge these very real feelings and process them was vital for creative process.

The real key is knowing what it is that's happening in the moment when the disappointment arises and then, what you do with, through, and after these feelings to create sustainability in your creative process.

Develop the practice of speaking kindly to yourself in your creative process.

When those feelings of disappointment arise in your creative process, it's normal to start down the path of potentially drawing a connection between the thing you just created that you don't like and then beginning to believe that has something to do with who you are too.

Training ourselves to speak kindly to ourselves throughout our creative process is one of the magic ingredients that keeps us engaged and nurtured in our creativity.

I'll be honest, this is not easy. It's one of the things I've had to make a lot of effort in myself. It's also something I work with in all of my creative mentorship relationships.

We've gotta make showing up to our process a place that is safe and accepting for us to be. And we're our own best studio mate. Some types of creativity have us spending hours upon hours alone in the process. So creating a nurturing environment for you as the artist is of utmost importance.

When I say 'art nurture' I mean for you - not for the thing you are making.

Creativity is an inside job. It has us face a lot about ourselves. But it can be a place of deep self-acceptance, discovery, love, and joy. When we cultivate those qualities in our creative process along the way then we are truly able to embrace the art nurture path.

Remember that process is where creativity happens.

Much of the time judgement on creativity is on a project's outcome. But the truth is, creativity is in process.

And when our time is precious to spend on our creative process, it's easy to hope the desired ratio of process to product be one-to-one.

As in, we're hoping it will be one creative session = one creative product.

But that simply isn't the case.

The more realistic ratio of creative process to product is often many creative sessions to one "possible" creative product.

As in, it can take many sessions of investing in our process to find an actual "creation" that we are enthusiastic about.

We need to normalize this reality!

I have some paintings that have taken a year or more. And that's even after I've worked on them every single week.

TheArt Nurture book took over 3 years of writing compiled to get to the first draft. Then after that another year of going through the final editing and publishing process.

When inventor of the lightbulb, Thomas Edison, was asked how he felt about failing so many times he famously responded, “I have not failed 10,000 times—I’ve successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.”

The same is true of our creative process. We need to create things we don't feel are as successful to get to the things that really resonate with us.

It takes a lot of pressure off of our one session of creativity when we embrace the full story of creative process.

That's why I'm a big believer in creating more long-term sustainable practices in our creative lives. Part of that is deepening our understanding of creative process as a whole.

Creative practice + process doesn't have to be lonely

Just because you are spending time working on your creativity on your own doesn't mean you have to do it alone.

Informing our creative practice with support throughout the process is what gives us perspective and helps us stay grounded when the process can feel intense or even unclear.

I often encourage those I am working with to find and nurture their creative community. And where you find creative support can be surprising because it's not always where you anticipate it to show up.

You could find it in a book club, a writers group, an improv class, a community garden, volunteering with students, and many other places.

And, it may not always be your friends and family who understand and are able to support what you're doing.

Sometimes family supports because they want you to be happy, but they don't understand the "process" of what you're doing. So, you'll still need to find creative community who can support the actual process of what it is you're doing.

I always tell my Creative Mentorship clients that it takes a village to keep me going. I tap into a variety of different strengths in my creative community to support me personally and also my process. That takes friendships, community connections, and professional support as well. And I offer that support to others

And one of the most important things to remember is that it's not just what someone knows or what a community offers - it's also how they do it. It's important to feel safe, supported, and nurtured when you're finding creative community.

Yes, our creativity can challenge us, but harmful environments and relationships can exacerbate managing the challenges of the process.

Find people that resonate with you.

This is so important. It's one of the reasons why I began art nurture.

I wanted to share honest and real insights into the creative process, cultivate creative community, and offer support through my classes & one-on-one mentorships.

It has always been important to me that these offerings are done with respect and compassion in combination with high quality creative support.

Because I wanted everyone I had the joy of working with to go back to their creative process feeling empowered, nurtured, and well versed on the steps to move through their unique process with fluidity and joy.

Want to learn more about working with e 1-on-1? Book a free 30 min Creativity Call and let's chat!

And if you're interested in learning more about what working with me is like, you can hear from some of my art nurture clients.

Cultivate & Nurture Your Creativity,

Court

Study Visual Art with Court
Interested in One-on-One Mentorship? Book a free 30 min Creativity Call
Follow the Art Nurture adventures on Instagram

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The Top 3 Reasons Why You Aren't "Feeling" Connected to Your Creativity

10/30/2022

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All of us go through this sometimes - we just don't feel like we're creative.

And sometimes, those feelings go on for a long time and then we start to believe we aren't creative.

But there's a few things that are most commonly at the root of this.

Here are the top 3 reasons why I see this happen over and over again - and how becoming aware of these reasons can truly support you in your relationship with creativity.

Ok, so life gets very life-y out there. Adulting is challenging. And if you've read Art Nurture, you know that this is a space where we talk about creativity for real people living in the real world.

That's why I wanted to speak to these 3 reasons why you may not be feeling connected to your creativity.

#1 You've forgotten to honor your creativity in how it supports you every single day.

Our creativity is a part of our humanity. We can't run out of it or even escape it. But the fact is, most of the time, we're not even noticing creativity at work in our lives.

So if we're not noticing our creativity at work in our lives, it can be hard to feel connected to our creativity.

The remedy? Bring attention to how you navigate your day.

You make hundreds or even thousands of tiny decisions throughout your day and that "choice making" capability is a function of your creativity.

Think about everything you do to navigate the daily care tasks in your life or the many functions in your workplace. It's probably a lot more than any of us is truly giving ourselves credit for - am I right? I mean, anyone who has ever shared household care tasks knows there's a variety of ways we as individuals creatively approach loading the dishwasher!

^ I'll never say I'm the best at this, but I will say I gave it my best!

You're a creative powerhouse who is synthesizing tons of information with tons of nuance on a daily basis. Acknowledging this will help you reconnect to that feeling of connection to your creativity.

**# 2 You're spending the majority of creative energy on things you have to do rather than things you want to do.**

Whether it's a busy season at work or a challenging situation your family is navigating... there are things that have to get taken care of. It's ok! It happens to all of us.

The amount of time we can spend on our creative heart's desires fluctuates - that is natural.

But going through those times and assuming you're "not creative" couldn't be further from the truth.

Truly, just acknowledging that right now, the majority of your creative energy is being spent on things that truly need it. And just because this is the case for this season or just this day or week, doesn't mean it will be the case forever.

Want to anchor back into your connection to your creativity?

Simply acknowledge that different months or seasons of life are just more challenging to do what you want creatively.

When you can become an active participant in acknowledging this, it becomes easier to shift back into those creative heart's desire projects when you do have the space for them.

Till then, how can you nurture those heart's desires?

Maybe listen to a podcast or audiobook on that topic to stay fresh and dialed into it. That's something that can be done while commuting or preparing dinner at home. That way your mind is getting the creative nurture that you're craving, even if you can't yet prioritize the time for the doing.

# 3 You're focusing on product and outcomes more than process.

This one is the most common. And it's tough! When we're actively engaging in our creativity, we want to bring something to life - and that desire is STRONG!

I'm the first one to cheer anyone on who has the desire to harness their creative energy towards a personal dream - trust me - it's what I have devoted my life's work to! But, the tough part about this is, the inspiration often comes fast, but the process can be more of a journey.

And when we're only focused on the very end of the journey, we're actually missing out on the sweet stuff. Creative energy is best experienced in process.

That's why I repeat this over and over again, "Trust the process."

Easier said than done. Because we want to get to that ideal place of accomplishment and completion we have held as the end in mind. But, that can really take us out of the present moment.

And then, when time and reality of process parameters sets in (like how long some materials take to dry, or realizing we need to learn something new to complete this idea) we get into a place of frustration that the thing we had in mind just isn't going well. Or, even worse, we believe because we haven't gotten there yet, that we are actually as much a failure as we now believe this idea to be!

Truth? We can never fully envision an end result of anything in crystal clarity. We can map things out, we can plan, we can work our tools and techniques. But please notice, all of those things are part of process.

In fact, the only way we can complete anything is by being radically committed to process.

We're in process way more than we're in the end phase. And, by the time your "product" has been completed or your "outcome" achieved, the creative process for that specific thing has actually ended. And you're probably onto something else by then!

So become radically committed to process and develop your trust and vision there.

Is it possible to nurture creativity, even if it's been a long season of not feeling connected to your creative self?

To put it simply: yes, it is.

If you're willing, then it's absolutely possible to re-kindle that connection sustainably.

This is what I support my art nurture clients in regularly- through one-on-one sessions, groups, and classes. I see what happens when folks are ready to take the necessary steps and get the support that is needed to dive deep into their creativity.

I believe so strongly in the mentorship model because I see how it works to counteract the isolation and uncertainty that can arise in the creative practice and bring fresh perspective in a nurturing environment.

So, would you like to build a more supportive relationship with your creativity?

Would you like to truly know you are connected to your creativity and practice nurturing that connection in a supportive environment?

I offer a limited number of free 30-min Creativity Calls each month to support folks who have these questions and are ready to take the next step in nurturing their creativity. If that's you, let's set one up and talk!

Till then, remember, you are the creative person.

Cultivate & Nurture,
Court

Know someone that needs this too? Please share!

Follow along with my creative adventures on Instagram @courtmccracken & @soyouwishyouwenttoartschool

Use #artnurture to join in and share your creative journey!

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The Creative Life and the Reality of Disappointment

1/15/2016

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Do I disappoint you?

The truth is, the creative life is fraught with fear of disappointment.

I fear I will disappoint folks all of the time. I fear I will disappoint people who I have signed contracts with, people I am working on commissions for, people in my classes.

I truly NEVER want to disappoint anyone, EVER!

But, the reality is, each time you step into a new space, a new project, a new venture that fear that you may disappoint someone begins to creep on in.

Fear, disappointment and expectation are all tightly knit together.

What do I expect of myself?

What do I believe others expect of me?

Am I truly capable of following through?

Will I make a mistake?

What if it's not good enough?

What if I'm not good enough?

This disappointment stuff can get real.

Occasionally, we do receive a rejection. Sometimes we do make a mistake. Sometimes people share their disappointment with us. Sometimes we double book and have to back out. Sometimes we feel like flakes and failures. It's true. Some of this stuff ain't pretty.

As it is the beginning of the year, many of us are focusing on what we hope to achieve and create for the new year. I applaud each of us for that, congratulations on new adventures!

It is also wise to prepare yourself for what you may do if a kink gets put into any of those plans. It's smart to prepare your mind for the possibility that things sometimes wont go smoothly, what then?

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Isn't it Romantic? The romance of the creative lifestyle.

4/19/2015

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"Wow", a visitor to my studio says to me, "so you just paint all the time? How romantic!"

I am the first to admit that is definitely NOT what the creative life looks like all the time. I am the first to promote the reality of what things are really like. No, I don't just paint all the time.

I update my website.

I respond to e-mails.

I have meetings & paperwork.

I have tons of other life responsibilities and other such things to fulfill.

I'm also the first to admit that living your
Art Nurture Journey, whatever you pursue, is a process.

Sometimes it can feel like it's going no where.

Sometimes you can be filled with confusion, self-doubt, lack of drive.

Sometimes you can feel defeated & like giving up.

Sometimes you wonder, why in the world am I doing this stuff?

And then...sometimes...there are moments when it all gels.

There are times when it all comes together.

There are days when you are in the flow & in the groove and you knew it was worth it to stick it out.

Yes, indeed, there are times when it is incredibly romantic.

I like those days when the paintings don't fight me. When the music on pandora is just right to fit my painting mood. When my concentration is there. When all the e-mails have already been returned. When my art students are groovin' too.

Yes, there are days when it is complete bliss.

In fact, they are almost more romantic because of all the other practical stuff you had to do first. Because of all the other process you had to go through. Not to say that there is a direct proportionate ratio of tough stuff, work, sweat equity & and such that leads to X amount of blissful days. The formula isn't quite so exact. But you gotta show up to the process to experience the romance and the bliss and that is gonna mean a mixed bag of every day in between. Such is the Art Nurture Journey.

Take heart, the creative journey is a just that and it will include every such thing as any great romantic story or heroic tale.

Whatever you do, don't stop.
Enjoy the sweet times, move through the challenges.

If you would like a supportive group to explore you creative journey with, please check out Art Nurture's Cultivators Community, because that is exactly what we do there.

If you want to hear more about Art Nurture's Andalusian Adventure coming up in August, make certain to get on the Andalusian Adventure list because I will be sending out a special invitation for that trip later today that will only go to that list.

If you are loving this, please share it with those you believe would love it too.

Art Nurture is about being fully alive and living life with the soul of an artist. A life filled with passion, intention, and purpose. Thanks so much for your time and your presence.

Cultivate & Nurture,
Court McCracken

p.s. If you want to receive Art Nurture goodness straight in your inbox, make sure to get your name on the list and receive a gift from me to you!

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Embracing Imperfection + Ikea + Coming home to your creativity

3/2/2015

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In a recent post, I shared that I was engaged. I know that our common understanding of that term was to make a particular announcement regarding a significant relationship choice in ones life, but I was using the words to share a point about being awake and plugged in to life.

The engagement post definitely got some attention.

But the relationship status within yourself and within your life is just as important to take note of and celebrate! I believe celebrating that connection within ourselves is definitely significant.

The reason being, it's not always in good status. We often go through long periods of separation from our authentic selves. We go through times in our lives where things aren't flowing and where we don't feel like our best selves. We go through times in our lives when things are not in order, they are not working out, and we simply can't catch a wave.

So, what do we do then?

What do we do when we aren't in the creative flow, but we so desperately want to be back there or to find it in the first place?

I used to live in a city where there was a big, beautiful IKEA.

I have always had a major fascination with IKEA. Maybe it's because I am a sucker for brilliant, efficient, and stylish design at an affordable cost, (who knows?) but I remember the day when the new IKEA catalog would arrive at my apartment with great fondness. I looked through it again and again.

Sometimes, I would make excuses to go to IKEA and walk around; get a coffee, explore what life would look like in their mini apartment set ups offering different square footages.

'Here's what life would be in just 345 square feet or 567 square feet! With IKEA it all fits, it all works, and it's so beautiful!'

IKEA calmed me down. It gave me the sense that all things could find order.

You just need these special little organizing boxes and this special hanger for your closet that organizes your scarves and hangs them perfectly. Also, you need these candle holders, this throw pillow, and this utensil organizer for your kitchen drawers. Brilliant! Then my life will be perfect. Then I'll truly be in the flow. Then things will be, well, they'll be perfect finally.

Perfection is a fantasy that does us a major disservice.

Because the truth is, even if I had everything organized and the laundry done, at the end of the day the clothes I am wearing while I did all of that cleaning and laundry will still be dirty. They may be the one set of clothes in the laundry basket, but just as soon as that laundry basket is completely empty and perfect, I mess it up by living my life.

In the studio, I may get every paint brush in the perfect paint brush cup and every canvas prepped and ready to go, but as soon as I embark on the journey of a painting there is something left unfinished.

I cannot ever get it all done.

I cannot ever get it all perfect.

I cannot ever get it all right.

Coming home to your creativity, means living in the dissonance.

Embracing imperfection means living in a sweet, authentic space with yourself where creativity is truly possible.

If you are loving this, please share it with those you believe would love it too.

Art Nurture is about being fully alive and living life with the soul of an artist. A life filled with passion, intention, and purpose. Thanks so much for your time and your presence.

Cultivate & Nurture,
Court McCracken

p.s. If you want to receive Art Nurture goodness straight in your inbox, make sure to get your name on the list and receive a gift from me to you!

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For the love of Art

2/12/2015

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For the love of Art & Happy Valentines to you this weekend.

I've got big news...

I'm engaged!

That's right, I'm engaged...fully...in life and in my creative process. I'm aware. I'm awake. I'm FULLY ENGAGED.

Someone asked me the other day why something they saw in a museum was a piece of art, why these things this one woman made years ago, were considered art. This sparked an amazing conversation:

Why was she an artist?

Why is her work considered art?

What is art?

What is an artist?

How does one become an artist?

I hope to get more deeply into these fun art school type questions with an upcoming course, but for now l want to share what the creative process is on it's root level.

The creative process is on its root level about choices.

Choices are how we navigate, categorize, and create everything in our lives. Our choices affect us on a deep level and on our surface experience of the day-to-day.

When we choose things from outside pressures, we are not always making the choices that suite us most. This is where 'artistic vision' comes in...

The artist is one who is very capable of hearing and heeding from a deep sense of internal vision. The artist seeks to be authentic with choices. The artist listens to that internal guidance. The artist makes choices consciously and purposefully to create what they must.

Regarding the blank canvas...

The question that comes up for me as a visual artist most often is: how do you just walk up to a blank canvas and know what to paint?!

The question is usually asked out of exasperation. Probably because the person is frustrated that they have tried to paint or tried to do this or that and they were unable (in their mind, they FAILED) to produce something from thin air.

Here is the thing about artistic & creative choices...

Artistic & creative choices are never produced from a miraculous "thin air". They come from years of churning, studying, understanding, listening, observing, drawing from resources, applying an idea over and over again...That canvas is a compilation of every bit of artistic training and preparation that person has done up until then.

My infamous art professor, when asked how long a painting took him, generally would respond with the age he was at the time. This was his way of saying, everything I do now is a product of everything I have done, everything I have learned up to this point. It is a cumulative effect.

There is no such thing as a thin air canvas miracle. Just sayin'.

So why would we think we can coast through life
and have our creativity at our finger tips when we want it?

Why would we think we can hit the snooze button on our senses
and be able to conjure creative genius just because?

We have to cultivate our creativity.

We have to get engaged.

We have to become educated in how we make our choices,
on our selves, and what causes us to choose certain things.

We have to learn to trust our gut, our intuition, our artistic direction & vision.

When I shared I was engaged,
perhaps you were hoping to see and hear a different message, maybe one that was more romantic.

But this message of engagement is most certainly about commitment and, if you ask me, that's pretty dang romantic.

I'm committed to my creativity.
I'm committed to making choices with my eyes open and a life being fully lived.
Quite frankly, it can be a wild ride, but it's fun as heck.

I'm not perfect, but I'm a work (of art!) in process and that feels like a great reason to celebrate.

So Happy Valentines Day to you this weekend, dear Art Nurturer!

If you want accountability on your creative journey, consider joining The Cultivators Community. We talk about this stuff all the time and it's awesome. You can learn more here.

If you are loving this, please share it with those you believe would love it too.

Art Nurture is about being fully alive and living life with the soul of an artist. A life filled with passion, intention, and purpose. Thanks so much for your time and your presence.

Cultivate & Nurture,
Court McCracken

p.s. If you want to receive Art Nurture goodness straight in your inbox, make sure to get your name on the list and receive a gift from me to you!

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Let it simmer, celebrate & push restart: Transitioning into the New Year and the Cultivators Community

1/15/2015

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Over the holiday break this year, I focused on letting it simmer.

I enjoyed the sweetness of rest. I let things simmer and integrate, fill up, and fully flavor my life. This has been really good for my creativity, my art, and ultimately the work I do here with you at Art Nurture. It was a good time. And quite frankly, I realized how much I love sleep and movies and eating slowly.

Then the New Year rang in and it was time to celebrate & push restart.

Whether you are all for New Years Resolutions or really against them, the New Year makes itself known. We realize it is a new year every time we realize it's January. Every time we realize that we put the wrong date again on some piece of paperwork we have to fill out. Every time we hear people talk about all the new stuff they are starting or all the old stuff they are quitting.

Whether we like it or not, change occurs and transition is necessary.

I have honestly resisted some changes in my life so hard that I probably caused myself more pain through the struggle than I would have experienced from the change alone.

These days I try to listen to those things. I try to pay attention to what the resistance, the fear, the frozen-ness, the struggle are trying to tell me. Because I realize the quicker I deal with those things, the less I stress and the more in the creative flow I can be and live a life doing the work that I love.

So these days, I like to let it simmer like cinnamon.

I like to celebrate.

I like to focus on what works and pour more into that well.

What works for me, is me working with you. I love working with you and I love what has been built here so far and I look forward to more of that going forward. Let's start this year off right. Let's make the stuff we believe in and let's give our best to our families, our communities, our art, our work, our gardens, our pets, all of it!

At the beginning of 2014, just a few short months after Art Nurture: The Simple Guide to Cultivating Your Creativity was released I embarked on a beautiful and unknown journey (and some of you came with me!).

I had always hoped that from the book being released out into the world, a community would grow. I had hoped that this community would be one filled with people who were seeking to live out their authentic Art Nurture Journey, living their creative potential for their greatest good and sharing it with the world. So in January of 2014 came the first ever Art Nurture Book Club. We had over 40 members from all over the globe and we had weekly live calls and went through the entire book together. The conversations were amazing. I was so honored to have people reading the book together and sharing openly with one another. Quite frankly, the entire thing was magical. It really blew me away and I found myself craving more of this interaction with all of you.

Over the course of the year, I held some workshops, did a lot of one-on-one coaching through my Creativity Cultivation sessions, learned a lot, shared a lot, got to lead a group of lovely women to Spain for Art Nurture's Andalusian Adventure, and kept thinking about how awesome creative community was...

...and that is when the idea for the Cultivators Community came. From your feedback and from my desire to connect more and have more creative community, myself and 14 Cultivators embarked on a BETA version of this group coaching community. We met for three months and each of our live group calls were amazing. I felt like, 'Yes! This is awesome! We need more of this! It should never end!'

Not only was I jazzed, but the people who were a part of our BETA round made some amazing moves for themselves in their creative pursuits. Some gained clarity, some began sharing their work more, some made more art, it was awesome! The focus of our calls each week was that we would celebrate exactly where we were at, we would get down to the nitty gritty on our struggles, and we would take real actionable steps to move forward.

So here we are, 2015 well under way, and I am honored that you take the time to hang out here at Art Nurture, it means a lot to me and I am here sharing this work for you, because quite frankly it feels too good to keep it to myself! It's better and more fun to share! I love hearing what each of you are working on, and up to, and thinking through. Thank you for sharing, keep it coming!

I also want to invite you to join the Cultivators Community 2015! Our first "official" call will be next Wednesday, January 21st 2015 and we will keep going through the rest of the year! If you are interested in joining the group, learn all the details and register here.

If you choose to join the Cultivators Community, awesome! I look forward to talking with you at our regular monthly calls! If you have questions, please feel free to write me and ask because this is a conversation and I do take the time to read e-mails as quickly as possible.

If you are loving this, please share it with those you believe would love it too.

Art Nurture is about being fully alive and living life with the soul of an artist. A life filled with passion, intention, and purpose. Thanks so much for your time and your presence.

Cultivate & Nurture,
Court McCracken

p.s. If you want to receive Art Nurture goodness straight in your inbox, make sure to get your name on the list and receive a gift from me to you!

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Burnout: What it is teaching us as one year ends and another begins

12/16/2014

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If you are like many of us, you may be experiencing burnout during this time of year.

The end of the year demands a lot of us. Holidays, wrapping up loose ends, travel, winter, getting ready for the new year....It can be a lot to handle. When you add into that work, family, service, perhaps a business or art your also nurturing and all of the tasks each involve, it is easy to see that burnout and exhaustion can hit hard at the end of the year.

In fact, it's rare to really and truly relax and rest during the holiday season and to feel fully caught up before the new year is upon us!

You may be heading for burn out or you may be avoiding it at all costs. Either way, the concept of burn out has a lot to teach us as one year ends and another begins.

What burnout & the fear of burnout have to teach us is incredibly valuable.

1. Burnout may be showing us that we are not super skilled at managing our daily calendars.

This is a lesson hard learned. But one I have come face to face with many a time. Scheduling your day so that you get your most important work done FIRST can often be the key to success in this area. Don't put it off until the very last bit of the day when your energy is waning.

Also, scheduling your day without building in time to drive from one place to the next can have us constantly 15-30 minutes behind schedule ALL DAY LONG!

Don't do it to yourself. You'll carry stress into each activity, meeting, and social gathering of the day if you are constantly running behind because you didn't build in enough time for travel or for nourishing your body through food.

2. Burnout may be showing up to let you know you need to value your sleep a little more.

It's hard to show up for your family, your job, your creative work without getting the much needed Zzzzzs. Compound that with weeks or months of lack of sleep and you are racking up a serious sleep debt. As someone who has struggled to get a healthy sleep schedule, I now know how valuable it is in my life. It keeps me fully present during the day when I have classes to teach, e-mails to write, and creative projects to focus on...I'm not much fun and my work doesn't shine (let alone my interactions with others!) if I don't get some Zzzs.

3. Burnout may be showing up to let you know that you need to re-prioritize your daily activities.

In my 1-on-1 coaching sessions, a theme that comes up for many of my clients (and also me too!!!) is the feeling of not having any time. In many cases, when we dig deeper we can turn up some time by reclaiming it from activities that are not in line with the priorities stated. We can also reclaim it from periods of time that have been plagued with inaction.

If you find yourself running from one activity to the next that does not actually line up with your deeper purpose and your individual set of priorities, you will be experiencing burnout.

Burnout is a great opportunity to re-prioritize your day-to -day.

4. Burnout may be showing up to let you know that you are not aware how your daily activities DO in fact serve your priorities.

Most of us have activities we must do out of obligation, like get our drivers license renewed at the DMV. We could easily consider that activity draining, especially to our creative energy, but when we take a closer look at that activity, we can see that being able to drive a car is in fact a privilege. That particular privilege allows you to do many other things that do feed you and your priorities and making certain you have all of the paper work in order to do such a thing is really serving your greater purpose! No need to let it drain you and burn you out at all! Just an opportunity to become more aware and take control of your energy by shifting your perspective.

5. Burnout may be showing up to let you know that you don't really know how to say 'Yes' and how to say 'No'!

This has been a HUGE one for me. I have worked on this for years and I work with my creativity cultivation clients on this regularly. We have to realize that, when it comes to honing our creative energy, every time we say 'Yes' to something we are voting for it to have a place in our life. Every time we say 'No' to something, we are voting against it having space in our life. These are two very powerful words and they work internally and externally, though they are often hard to get a handle on, they can change your art and your life.

Burnout may be something you go through only once before you learn to make a change or, if you are anything like me, you have to go through it 20+ times to learn to make some healthy changes!

A lot of folks put off change of any kind during this time of year. They say, 'I'm not going to change now.
I'll change January 1st.'

But the truth is, now is the perfect time to tune in and listen to yourself.

Check in with yourself and you can ease those burnout symptoms before they get out of control.

Plus, how are you going to start all your amazing creative projects on January 1st of this year if you are suffering from serious burnout?

It'll be March before you know what hit you!

p.s. These same concepts apply to the ending of one project or season of creation
and beginning of another.

Take some time to honor the efforts and slow down.

Rest.

Be grateful for all that you have accomplished already.

Be gracious towards yourself as a person.

Be joyful as you move forward.

Now it's your turn! Has burnout taught you a valuable lesson?

If so, I would love to hear it! Please share in the comments below.

If you are loving this, please share it with those you believe would love it too.

Art Nurture is about being fully alive and living life with the soul of an artist. A life filled with passion, intention, and purpose. Thanks so much for your time and your presence.

Cultivate & Nurture,
Court McCracken

p.s. If you want to receive Art Nurture goodness straight in your inbox, make sure to get your name on the list and receive a gift from me to you!

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Is quitting the right choice? How to know when throwing in the towel is best or when you are just one tweak away from genius!

12/8/2014

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You may not know this about me, but I think about quitting a lot. In fact, on an almost weekly basis the thought of quitting something I am doing crosses my mind.

The truth is, we really can't do everything. So sometimes it is wise to let go of some things.

But how do you know when you should actually quit?

The thoughts that run through our minds about quitting are bringing up opportunities for evaluation of what is really happening.

When you think about quitting ask yourself these questions:

Am I quitting because I think I am a failure?

If I think I am a failure, how have I measured and clearly defined what success would be in this circumstance?

Did I create a situation where 'success' would actually be attainable? (time frame, magnitude, expectations of fame, etc.)

If you are just picking up an instrument and not playing in Carnegie Hall within the first six months, thats a good thing. You probably aren't there yet. Also, you may need to be realistic with yourself about the stats. That doesn't mean that you can't expand to a success on your own terms and by your own defining. But don't be unrealistic with yourself and then throw in the towel! You have to create a full picture situation in which the process can unfold naturally.

Have I given myself enough time?

Have I sought to educate myself on this? Talked to experts? Taken a class? Invested practice time?

Do I expect to turn this into a business without treating it like a business?

A lot of folks do want to earn money from their art. This is totally a fine path to take if you are willing to realize that that means you are taking your art and adding the added dimension of building a business. In that respect, thinking about it like a business is going to be a smart thing to do!

Do I still experience joy when I do this?

Some folks quit what they are doing because some aspect of it ceases to bring them joy, when really, they may not need to quit the whole thing. I have a client who was frustrated by the production aspect of sewing. She had a full time job and sewing had become a beloved hobby. Then the orders started pouring in and then she got a large wholesale order.

After working till all hours for months to complete the wholesale order, she didn't want to sew anymore.
The production aspect of sewing made her want to throw in the towel. She realized she didn't want to do things it would take to do (hiring other people, purchasing large amounts of fabric, filling large orders, and dealing with wholesalers) to ramp this up into a full time business.

When she took the business out of her sewing, she loved it again. She now only does orders for friends and family and each piece is custom. That is the way she likes it. That is what makes it fun for her.

Remember, this stuff is for the love of the game.

We do this stuff because of
who we become in the process.

In the process of working with my young horse I have become frustrated and disheartened on more than one occasion. One of my horse friends who trains horses for a living said, "Court, this stuff isn't easy. If it was, everyone would do it. You've gotta be patient with yourself and don't give up."

I still really enjoy working with my horse. I do it for the love of the process. I'm never going to be a traveling horse whisperer or anything like that, I know the place that it has in my life. When I readjust my expectations and I see the joy I get from the process clearly, I can focus on that when the comparisons with others or the self-criticism or the overwhelming urge to throw in the towel pops up in my head.

This puts it in perspective even if you are pursuing your art as a business also!

Focus on the joy of the process.

Focus on the joy of the connection.

Be realistic with your self-expectations.

Be open to learning from others and getting training and education when necessary.

Get clear on who you want to be in this, no matter how you pursue it.

For example: I know I wont get a chance to talk to everyone in the world about their creativity, but I know who I want to be in the moments where I get the opportunity to work with the people I do get to work with; I want to be fully present, I want to be authentic, I want to be a good listener, I want to be an encourager, I want to be a person who can share insight and be a catalyst for growth, and I want to have joy!

When I put it that way, it's easy to see, even if I am not hanging out with Oprah, that I am still meeting my standards of success. I'm still enjoying the work.

No need to quit or throw in the towel yet!

Have you ever felt like quitting but just really just needed a small tweak and perspective shift instead?

Please share in the comments below.

If you are loving this, please share it with those you believe would love it too.

Art Nurture is about being fully alive and living life with the soul of an artist. A life filled with passion, intention, and purpose. Thanks so much for your time and your presence.

Cultivate & Nurture,
Court McCracken

p.s. If you want to receive Art Nurture goodness straight in your inbox, make sure to get your name on the list and receive a gift from me to you!

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Take a few moments to watch this quick video where I share a bit more about honoring the seed of creativity in yourself.

First, let's understand what it feels like when we don't like what we've created.

The feeling of disappointment in what you've created can be painful.

​Develop the practice of speaking kindly to yourself in your creative process.

​Remember that process is where creativity happens. ​

Creative practice + process doesn't have to be lonely

#1 ​You've forgotten to honor your creativity in how it supports you every single day.

# 2 You're spending the majority of creative energy on things you have to do rather than things you want to do.

# 3 You're focusing on product and outcomes more than process.

Is it possible to nurture creativity, even if it's been a long season of not feeling connected to your creative self?

So, would you like to build a more supportive relationship with your creativity? ​

Do I disappoint you?

This disappointment stuff can get real.

"Wow", a visitor to my studio says to me, "so you just paint all the time? How romantic!"

I'm also the first to admit that living your Art Nurture Journey, whatever you pursue, is a process.

And then...sometimes...there are moments when it all gels.There are times when it all comes together. There are days when you are in the flow & in the groove and you knew it was worth it to stick it out.Yes, indeed, there are times when it is incredibly romantic.

Yes, there are days when it is complete bliss.

Take heart, the creative journey is a just that and it will include every such thing as any great romantic story or heroic tale. Whatever you do, don't stop.Enjoy the sweet times, move through the challenges.

The engagement post definitely got some attention.

So, what do we do then? What do we do when we aren't in the creative flow, but we so desperately want to be back there or to find it in the first place?

IKEA calmed me down. It gave me the sense that all things could find order.

Perfection is a fantasy that does us a major disservice.

I cannot ever get it all done.I cannot ever get it all perfect.I cannot ever get it all right.Coming home to your creativity, means living in the dissonance. Embracing imperfection means living in a sweet, authentic space with yourself where creativity is truly possible.

For the love of Art & Happy Valentines to you this weekend.I've got big news...

I'm engaged!

That's right, I'm engaged...fully...in life and in my creative process. I'm aware. I'm awake. I'm FULLY ENGAGED.

The creative process is on its root level about choices.

Regarding the blank canvas...

Here is the thing about artistic & creative choices...

There is no such thing as a thin air canvas miracle. Just sayin'.

We have to cultivate our creativity. We have to get engaged.

When I shared I was engaged, perhaps you were hoping to see and hear a different message, maybe one that was more romantic. But this message of engagement is most certainly about commitment and, if you ask me, that's pretty dang romantic.

Over the holiday break this year, I focused on letting it simmer.

Then the New Year rang in and it was time to celebrate & push restart.

Whether we like it or not, change occurs and transition is necessary.

So these days, I like to let it simmer like cinnamon. I like to celebrate.I like to focus on what works and pour more into that well.

If you are like many of us, you may be experiencing burnout during this time of year.

In fact, it's rare to really and truly relax and rest during the holiday season and to feel fully caught up before the new year is upon us!

1. Burnout may be showing us that we are not super skilled at managing our daily calendars.

2. Burnout may be showing up to let you know you need to value your sleep a little more.

3. Burnout may be showing up to let you know that you need to re-prioritize your daily activities.

4. Burnout may be showing up to let you know that you are not aware how your daily activities DO in fact serve your priorities.

5. Burnout may be showing up to let you know that you don't really know how to say 'Yes' and how to say 'No'!

You may not know this about me, but I think about quitting a lot. In fact, on an almost weekly basis the thought of quitting something I am doing crosses my mind.

The thoughts that run through our minds about quitting are bringing up opportunities for evaluation of what is really happening.

Am I quitting because I think I am a failure?If I think I am a failure, how have I measured and clearly defined what success would be in this circumstance?

Did I create a situation where 'success' would actually be attainable? (time frame, magnitude, expectations of fame, etc.)

Have I given myself enough time?

Have I sought to educate myself on this? Talked to experts? Taken a class? Invested practice time?

Do I expect to turn this into a business without treating it like a business?

Do I still experience joy when I do this?

Remember, this stuff is for the love of the game. We do this stuff because of who we become in the process.

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Develop the practice of speaking kindly to yourself in your creative process.

Remember that process is where creativity happens.

#1 You've forgotten to honor your creativity in how it supports you every single day.

**# 2 You're spending the majority of creative energy on things you have to do rather than things you want to do.**

So, would you like to build a more supportive relationship with your creativity?

I'm also the first to admit that living your
Art Nurture Journey, whatever you pursue, is a process.

And then...sometimes...there are moments when it all gels.

There are times when it all comes together.

There are days when you are in the flow & in the groove and you knew it was worth it to stick it out.

Yes, indeed, there are times when it is incredibly romantic.

Take heart, the creative journey is a just that and it will include every such thing as any great romantic story or heroic tale.

Whatever you do, don't stop.
Enjoy the sweet times, move through the challenges.

So, what do we do then?

What do we do when we aren't in the creative flow, but we so desperately want to be back there or to find it in the first place?

I cannot ever get it all done.

I cannot ever get it all perfect.

I cannot ever get it all right.

Coming home to your creativity, means living in the dissonance.

Embracing imperfection means living in a sweet, authentic space with yourself where creativity is truly possible.

For the love of Art & Happy Valentines to you this weekend.

I've got big news...

We have to cultivate our creativity.

We have to get engaged.

When I shared I was engaged,
perhaps you were hoping to see and hear a different message, maybe one that was more romantic.

But this message of engagement is most certainly about commitment and, if you ask me, that's pretty dang romantic.

So these days, I like to let it simmer like cinnamon.

I like to celebrate.

I like to focus on what works and pour more into that well.

Am I quitting because I think I am a failure?

If I think I am a failure, how have I measured and clearly defined what success would be in this circumstance?

Remember, this stuff is for the love of the game.

We do this stuff because of
who we become in the process.