Creative Life A thru Z the big Question for K

Jean Hart Artwork 

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Creative Life A thru Z 

Question for 

week 12 

K is for Karma

Better Together, Jean Hart 

How has karma effected you? 

Some say karma doesn't come back to you until your next go around here.  

Some believe karma comes back to you now is better then later. 

Some just don't believe in karma. 

Others don't understand it. 

"Karma moves in two directions. If we act virtuously, the seed we plant will result in happiness. If we act non-virtuously, suffering results. "    

Sakyong Mipham

Here is a little story about karma....I was in the parking lot walking to my car. I looked down and saw a penny. Now those  of you who know me , know that I find money all the time, pennies, dimes, and dollars...I'm just  lucky that way.  I don't always keep these lucky pennies. No, sometimes I say a little prayer or wish with them and then throw them back so someone else can have good luck too.  So, on this day, I said my wish and prayer and threw the penny right over my shoulder......I hear "OMG did I just get hit by a penny!!!"

Now my question to you is....Was that good karma for me or bad karma for him? or vise a versa? 

Be Inspired, 

~jean 

Creative Life A thru Z~ Interview with an Artist

 Jean Hart Artwork 

I invite you to my online store 

click below 

https://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238392465965343686/collections

Interview with an Artist

Question 

Composed by Students in Psychology 344 - Fall 2003

Do you think there is a driving force that inspires you? Explain.

Absolutely! I once thought after a surgery that I would give up art and just concentrate on healing. I closed my door to the studio and went on with my life. ...Or so I thought. I was miserable. The time I spent healing I would find myself getting on the computer looking up museums, and artwork online.....I wondering why am I not painting?  I finally realized that creating art is in me, I can not, not do it!

What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment? Why?

The painting of the Metropolis Arch. My husband and I went for a ride and came to a ghost town in Nevada, Metropolis. We walked all around the old town taking photos and imagining what it would have been like to live there back in the days when it was thriving. 

Kerry gave the photo to me and asked if I felt I could paint it. I laid out the grid, measuring the horizontal lines, I just couldn't get the brick wall from looking like it was going to fall. My son Matthew who is a remarkably  creative person himself, took one look at it and said I the problem is there is more than one horizontal line crossing.......Between the two of us working together we got it laid out correctly and to this day it's my favorite painting because I got to work with both Kerry and Matthew. 

Learning how to paint something so that it is pleasing to the eye and bring pleasure to someone, well that's pretty cool.

What is your typical day like?

My day changes from day to day. Now that my husband has retired we have changed our lives to be more active together. I also have a grandson I watch twice a week, so that takes care of two days of no painting. 

But on the days I get to my studio, I get in around 10 am, I set my timer for one hour. I feel that for me one solid  hour is plenty of time for good quality work. I need to get up and stretch, move around, clean my brushes etc....I am back at it for another hour after that. Some days I work up to fours a day, others only an hour. I no longer plan daily studio time. 

My lifestyle is now about living creatively by inspiring others through my new blog

Creative Life A thru Z. 

I had taken a Healing Arts course from the University of Florida, and was so inspired  by it that it changed the way I'm living my life now. 

How much of your own life is reflected in your work?

Well of course when I was an art student learning how to paint portraits I used my children as models. Later, my artwork became conceptual and I was expressing my emotions. Now I paint landscapes that please me, flowers I find interesting. On occasion I will still paint abstract but those are in my private collection.

Were there any obstacles that you had to overcome in order for you to succeed? Explain.

Of Course!!...Outside of 3 or 4 art classes and a couple of workshops I am pretty much a self taught artist. 

I have loads of art instruction books, biographies of artists, and marketing books. I had to learn how to make a website, market myself online and get my own artwork out to the public. 

There is a whole business side to becoming an artist that they don't teach you when your taking art classes. 

Persistence, patience, and a strong belief that your work is good. 

Be Inspired,

~jean 

The Creative Life A thru Z~K= Kick it UP

Jean Hart Artwork

Healing Arts journal 

www.zazzle.com/jeanhar1*

The Creative Life A thru Z

~K = Kick it UP 

 Week Twelve 

Welcome, 

Key to your desires, Jean Hart 

If you have just joined me here at my Healing Arts Creative Life Journal, feel free to join in. You can start here or go back to the first week,"A". 

http://jeanhartartists.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-creative-life-thru-z-week-one.html

This is a work in progress and I add thing to it as I think of them. 

Kick it UP!

The season has changed here, it's Fall where I live . 

I love Fall, and I'm not sure why this is but September has always felt more like the beginning of a new year, not nine months into the year. Maybe it's because our schools start in September, and school has always been about newness and starting again. 

Do not underestimate the power of a routine!

Yes, I said routine. I know routines can be boring, however, with the best routines in place you can get a few things done on autopilot. 

On autopilot you can feel like your getting things done even on those days that you are just not feeling like getting out of bed. 

The best information I took away from the class,  Preventing Chronic Pain, was the acronym B.L.E.S.S.ME.

Which stands for Body, Lifestyle, Emotions, Social, Spiritual, Mind, Environment. 

If you can find time in your week to attend  to each one of these categories you will have a well balanced life. 

Activity for this week:

7 Day Challenge

B.L.E.S.S.M.E.

1. Go to your journals, assign each day of the week with one of the acronyms. 

2. Place it in your morning routine, or evening routine. Whenever you feel you have time to donate to this new activity. 

Having a good regiment for your own peace of mind is a blessing and takes discipline. 

Art Journals:

Kicking up your life means that you understand where your life is going. What you need, where you are going, Why, and with whom . 

1. Draw several a keys, your choice how many,  on card stock....make them all different styles and sizes. 

2. Trace them onto your journal page. 

3. Color them in with colored pencil. 

4. Next, give each key a goal, or activity, person, or place. ( think person, place or thing)

These keys represent your key events in your life. 

and the size of the key will give you the importance of these events to you.  

Writing Journal:

1. Look at your key drawing, start with the largest key. 

Write why this is so important to you. 

Is there something you can add to it to make it better, or change in anyway.  Are you happy that this key is the biggest thing that's KICKING UP YOUR LIFE. 

2. Do this with each key until you have written something for each key. 

As always, have fun with this weeks assignments. 

Like, Share, and comment. 

Be Inspired,

~jean 

Creative Life A thru Z ~Big Question for J

Creative Life A thru Z 

J is for Join In 

Big Question 

What are you eating?

With all the parties of the season its hard to remember to eat well. It's hard not to eat those cookies, and homemade candies. But just try to remember that not everyday in the month of Dec. is a holiday. If you can manage to eat health whole foods most of the time and save the special foods and sugar goodies to a minimum you will not only feel better but maintain a over all healthy radiance to the holiday season.

The Cauldron,
Acrylic,
11" x 14"
Jean Hart,

While healing you must remember nourishment and rejuvenation. Healthy, regular sustenance is important, as symbolized by the cooking pot.

Creative life A thru Z ~ Lets Get Cooking

Creative Life
A thru Z

Let's Get Cooking

This week Fall came in like a tiger!!

Cold Rains, Snow, and Morning Fog!!

Baby, it's cold outside, so lets make soup. 

I'm cooking out of the 

The Soup Bible book. 

I turned the page for this weeks soup. 

BACON POTATO CHOWDER

As I read through the recipe, I noticed that this recipe used 

condensed cream of potato soup. 

Well, I'm trying to learn to cook with fresh ingredients. 

So, with the inspiration of this weeks soup I went off recipe a bit. 

I will give you the Soup Bible books recipe, and in italics you will read what I did.   

Fresh, fresh, fresh ingredients.  

Truly is there anything more fun then whisking? 

Homemade Bacon Potato Chowder, with a glass of Pinot Griss Rose from France

Dessert, camel apples 

Bacon Potato Chowder 

4 slices of bacon, 

( I did a pound of bacon)

1 large onion, chopped

4 cans ( 10 3/4 ounces each) Campbells's Condensed Cream of Potato Soup

( I did not add this)

4 soup cans milk 

( I added 2/3 cups milk, you can substitute almond milk if you want)

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 large russet potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch pieces. 

(I did not do this)

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

1/2 cup chopped fresh chives 

( I added , one large leek,  4 stalks celery, 6 Brussels sprouts, 1 can Great Northern white beans, 

8 cups of chicken broth,2 2/3 cups water,  2 cups dried potatoes with 1/4 cup butter )

Part of this recipe came from the 

Betty Crocker cookbook. 

So, it's a combination of the Soul Bible, Betty Croker and ME. 

Steps.

1. In 2 quart saucepan, heat water, butter and salt to boiling over medium high heat. Remove from heat. Stir in milk and potatoes just until moistened. Let stand about 30 seconds or until liquid is absorbed, whip with fork, set aside. 

2. In 6 quart heavy stockpot, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Use slotted spoon to transfer bacon to paper towels, leaving drippings in stockpot. Add onion and pepper and celery to stockpot. Cook 4 to 5 minutes or until onions are translucent and lightly browned. Add potatoes and broth to stockpot. Beat with whisk until ingredients are will combined. Continue to cook until heated through. 

3. Transfer soup to bowls. Top with bacon, cheese and green onion. 

This will make 8 servings. 

Enjoy

Be Inspired, 

~jean 

I invite you to my original art online store, 

"Fine Art For The Finer Things In Life" 

www.zazzle.com/jeanhar1* 

Two Minutes In Nature~sitting by the stream

Creative Life A thru Z

J is for Just Being

Sometimes you just have to sit with nature and reflect. 

Meditation is the best way to be at peace with yourself. 

Just Be for two minutes and see how wonderful you feel. 

Two Minutes In Nature

SMALL DOLLAR COIN-TINI

I love this new series!! This is a great hobby to do with your family.

Be Inspired,

~jean

Creative Life A thru Z~juxl puzzle

Creative Life A thru Z

J is for Juxl puzzles

This is my juxl puzzle for J

Words are powerful . Have you said something positive to yourself or others today? 

for intstuctions on how to draw a juxl puzzle go to my blog 

Creative Life A thru z

Week ll 

J is for Join IN 

This drawing came from my morning art journal. 

Once I had connected the lines, I could start to see a form take shape.

I used colored pencils to color her in and the beautiful girl you see here came to life. 

Words have some much power, be very careful what you say to yourself and others. 

This reminded me that it has been awhile since I looked up and wrote down affirmations. 

Today will be a good day to do that. 

Be Inspired, 

~jean 

Let's get cooking

Creative Life A thru Z

Jean Hart Artwork 

Cooking is always a good idea. ...

Let's get cooking

www.zazzle.com/jeanhar1* 

Part of my creative life journey is cooking in the kitchen. 

Last Christmas Kerry gave me a cookbook, 

The Soup Bible, 

more than 100 recipes for delicious and satisfying soups. 

Now that Fall is here I think it's time to crack the spine and see what's cooking in this book. 

Hearty beefy beer soup

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

3/4 pound round steak, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

1 large onion, chopped

2 medium carrots, sliced

2 stalks celery, diced

5 cups beef broth

1 bottle 12 ounces stout or dark ale 

3/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 small zucchini, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

4 ounces mushrooms, sliced 

1. Heat oil in Dutch over or large saucepan over medium heat, add beef, onion, carrots and celery. Cook and stir until meat is no longer pink and carrots and celery are crisp tender. 

2. Stir in broth, stout, oregano, salt and pepper, bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, simmer 45 minutes or until beef is fork tender. 

3. stir beans, zucchini and mushrooms into soup. bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, simmer 5 minutes or until zucchini is tender. 

makes 6 servings

Dinner the second night was the hearty beef beer soup and a caramelized onion and mushroom with paperjack grill cheese sandwich. 

This soup was amazing, we just couldn't get enough!!

Winner, winner for cold winter nights for sure. 

And the grill cheese sandwich, out of this world. 

5 stars and no left overs. 

Be Inspired, 

~jean 

The question this week, J is for Join IN

Saying Good Bye to Summer

Jean Hart Artwork 

www.zazzle.com/jeanhar1

Yes, it's time to bring in the chairs, wash up the kayak, and say good bye to summer. 

The question for this week is;

What's a new place you've recently been to? 

This summer we bought kayak's. 

It's been an adventure getting them on the car, and down the road. We bought the car racks and now the road is open to us, limited only by our imagination. 

Last week as a last summer trip we went to Salmon Creek Reservoir, Id

So much fun to take the kayak's off the marina where we live to somewhere new. 

It's a dessert reservoir as you can see, no trees. 

Kerry spent the morning teaching me about the lee side of the shore where it was less choppy, and to go into the wake when the speed boats came by. 

It was the perfect way to end summer. 

I'd love to here where you went. 

Share, like, comment. 

Be Inspired,

~jean 

Creative Life A thru Z ~J is for Join In

Jean Hart Artwork

Healing Arts journal 

www.zazzle.com/jeanhar1*

The Creative Life A thru Z

~J is for Join IN

 Week Eleven

Join In and enjoy !

Join In, with Autumn just about here, I've been looking over the calendar for Fall events. This is the season when Festivals are everywhere .

I've been in the garden cleaning up the summer flowers and wrapping up the hoses. 

There's been a lot of talk about Nutrition around my house. Since we are coming to the end of Farmers Markets, I've been grabbing up all the fresh vegetables and fruits. I'm not saying I'm now a vegetarian, but my plate is about 3/4 vegetables these days. 

Fall is also a good time to think about joining a book club. 

I belong to several on line book clubs. I always enjoy reading the reviews and adding my own comments. 

Art Journal Assignment:

Juxl puzzle, Earth, Jean Hart 

Juxl Puzzles. 

http://www.wikihow.com/Create-and-Work-a-Juxl-Puzzle

  If you are in a group this is a fun way to create a co-art piece of artwork. Just start with one line and pass it to the next person, who draws one line, passes it on again until you have drawn all the lines. Continue with the connecting the lines and pass it on until the picture is complete. Then color it up any way you wish. 

Writing Assignment:

Joy, Joy, Joy....What does it mean? 

.

"a feeling of great pleasure and happiness."

"Don't cry because its over, Smile because it happened. "

Dr. Seuss 

1. Write what Joy means to you?

How do you get it?

Where does it come from?

When does it happen?

Why is it important? 

Music please!
Jazz music that is....

Have you listened to Jazz music? 

If not your missing out on some amazingly talented people. 

This is a little Ted Talk to explain the heart of Jazz music. 

How Jazz Wisdom Will Change Your Life | Niels Lan Doky | 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ee-XROfON0

Go to your source of music and switch it over to a Jazz station and listen, move, journal, or just BE with it. 
Some of my favorite Jazz musicians.
Melody Gardot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ee-XROfON0 

Start here and then just keep exploring.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYGq-AA8Ksk

As always, have fun with this and join in, like, share, comment. 
Pass it on. 
Be Inspired,
~jean 

CAMO HALF! And what else?

Creative Life A thru Z I is for Imagination

The Creative Life A thru Z 

Jean Hart Artwork

Healing Arts journal 

www.zazzle.com/jeanhar1*

The Creative Life A thru Z

~I is for Imagination 

 Week Ten

I would like to express my gratitude to all of you who have joined me in this healing journey of creating a more creative life. 

It's been fun for me to come up with activities for each letter of the alphabet. I have so many ideas that they don't all make it on this blog but are written in my printed pages.  I'm sure by the end of this project it will all be filled with fun activities and helpful projects so everyone can live a greater expression of their own creativity. 

       I is for Imagination

" The imagination is the golden pathway to everywhere." 

Terence McKenna

I love the idea of a golden pathway. 

Just like the Wizard of OZ walking on the yellow brick road. 

For me, it has been about curiosity, that is the seed of imagination. 

Asking questions begins a whole snow ball of ideas. 

Golden path to a new vision, journal page Jean Hart

Change.

 I've felt the strong sense of change since the Eclipses!! 

What has been happening for me is a lot of questions about my beliefs, my work, my life. 

It of course starts with what do you want your life to look like. 

How will you get there, and When. The When is important to me especially because I like deadlines. But, then again, maybe that's something I might think about changing. ....

Art Journal Assignment: 

What's on your Golden Path

1. In your art journal, arrange your page to make a golden path. 

It can be straight, crooked, up, down, across.  Anyway YOU want it. 

2. Next, create all the things you want to experience along your path.

3. Create landscapes, texture, people, places, things.

4. Let go and IMAGINE!!

Writing Journal Assignment:

"It's Here...!"

1. Complete this sentence. 

2. Write a page of what your imagination has brought to you on your Golden Path. 

3. The imagination works on all your senses, try to use words that help express the whole experience. The more verbs the better for this assignment. 

I is for Informed

 Change the channel, and watch something you have never seen before. 

This week, change how you get your information. 

Pick up a new magazine, new genre in books and movies. 

See if you can do this once a day for 7 days. 

I is for Ice Cream

Summers not over where I live. 

According to Baskin Robbins there is 31 flavors of ice cream.  I have yet to try them all. 

So, before the summer is over I plan on trying a few new flavors. 

How about you? 

Meditation is one of the purest ways for me to get in touch with my true self. 

Just before creating I sit in nature and be still. 

This helps me open my mind to all new ideas. 

Last week I went up to Lamoille Canyon for a last summer picnic. I made a video of sitting by the stream listening to the water. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmtu1hINgUY&t=23s

Please enjoy, relax, and 

As always, have fun with this. 

Be inspired, 

~jean