Friday's Special Moment of Gratitude

I feel like I should be creating something snowy and Christmas like but when I started to paint with my pastels this is what appeared.  I have not had a lot of time to paint this week, or maybe I should say I have not made the time to paint, but when I put the chalk into my hands today everything fell into place.  I am so grateful that I gave pastels another chance.  The first time I ever painted with pastels was in a class filled with people who had been using them for years.  The teacher was great and encouraged me every step of the way but I was too busy comparing my work with everyone else's to really enjoy myself.  The next time I took a class and we used pastels I had stopped comparing my work to others (well not completely stopped but I was better about it) and I found that I loved the feel and the look of the pastels.  Now even if I just have ten minutes, I can start to paint and the world disappears.  It is just me, the pastels, and whatever happens to appear.  So this week I am very grateful that I have stopped comparing my work to the work of others and that I gave pastels a second chance. Now rather than compare my work to someone else's I am inspired by what they have accomplished.  This shift in perspective has helped to open up a whole new creative world and for that I am very grateful. I would love to know what you are most grateful for this week.

I know that this is a very busy time of year but I would like to invite you to visit the artists at Paint Party Friday and Creative Everyday.  It is a gift that you will be so glad that you gave to yourself today.