Twelve weeks,
+150 pages of hand-typed journal entries.

+ dozens of new paintings.

+++ huge growth, and change in my artwork and personal outlook on life

This book has been a boon to my artistic self, my inner healing, and my ability to be an artist. I begin to question my motives, my raison d’etre if you will. I started countless projects and finished writing almost half a novel of thoughts and hopes. I was commissioned several times, and have been entered into galleries.
 
This is all only in 90 days!
 
I am confident through this program now that:

I am an artist. Always have been.

I can write a book. If I keep writing, I can write many books. I have no doubt that is coming in my future.

Julia Cameron has inspired me to connect with myself and my inner artist in a way that I have never been exposed. Through self-care, and nourishment of my own self, she is enabling me to be a better artist, and a better person.

I can’t recommend this book enough. You should try it, and see what happens. 

​"The creative process is one of surrender, not control" - Julia Cameron

The Artist's Way: (Link)

I have tried so many self-help books over my lifetime it’s insane. The Artist’s Way is the only one that I have ever seen that has effected my very core cognitive behavior in such a visceral way. I have completely restructured the way I think in an effort to produce more incoherence in my artwork.

Incoherence!

I want to get messier, to paint things the way I feel, and see rather than paint the objects I am seeing. I want to paint my feelings about the objects. And, translating anguish into a particular shade of blue, or happiness into a warm shadow is very freaking tough.

As it turns out, trying to paint how I feel about subjects is creating realism in my paintings through observation, and representation. Removing the physical aspect of the objects I am trying to paint, and feeling only the light, shape, color, and value. Trying so hard to paint things as you see them is an illusion. It is an effort to brighten the paintings on the cave wall, rather than to escape the cave imprisoning your creativity. You must paint them as they are in the unconscious. As they are in the realm of dreams and illusion.

In every way, I recommend doing this for yourself. Do the work, fill the well of your creative outlet, and walk the spiritual path to becoming closer to your inner creator.
 
-CP

The Artist's Way: (Link)
​Drugs. Can your spirit take drugs? Can your soul be addicted to pain and self-harm? In my opinion, Fame and Competition are designer drugs for the soul. The moment I start painting to get famous, or painting to get competitive with another artist, or to “be” better than someone, I get tired. I get so, so tired. Tired in my soul.

There’s a reason for that. Competition in art, is artificial. It is a drug designed to fuel your subconscious for a short-term sprint that leaves a long-term scar. Creativity is meant to be a connection from your subconscious to God, or the great creative force, or whatever you’d like to call the universe around you.

There is no competing with God, or the universe. Not on our scale anyways. Paint because your heart sings. Make music because your soul cries. Dance because your spirit soars. Whatever you are creating, do it with your whole being, and do it for yourself.
 
“Only when he no longer knows what he is doing, does the painter do good things”
                                                                                                     ~Edgar Degas 

​- CP