Ask Ivy – the Inner Critic & Life Balance

Hi there readers,

How’s life been treating you? We are still recovering from the long weekend and are headed into a heat wave here in Portland! Yikes!

I have managed to stay cool in the studio and just finished shooting my next “Ask Ivy” episode. In this one, I answer a couple of questions about the inner-critic and finding (or not finding) balance in my life ;) …check it out…

So here are a couple of books I would like to recommend on these topics that are sitting next to my bed…

Love this guy’s whole belief that we are not actually after balance but rather satisfaction! I like that he de-mystifies the life-work balance concept…especially since it eludes me! lol!

And this one just arrived on my doorstep. It is pretty, inviting and full of wonderful ideas, inspiration and creative ways that we can work with our inner critic…

I’ll be sharing some Art to Adore tomorrow from one of my favorite artists!

Hope you have a beautiful Wednesday!

xo,

 

 

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The Inner Critic and my Spirit Horses

Hello beautiful souls,

How are you all doing? Spring is starting to show up around here. I adore all the sweet pink buds and daffodils! While the flowers have been blooming, I’ve been busy in the studio filming for my new class – Spirit Horse.

Let me tell you – these Spirit Horse are teaching me so much! I’m creating this class to give others the courage to create large Horse art and  WOW – I’ve found that my own courage is being challenged!!

My inner-critic has been on overdrive! I can hear her sniping at me – awful words and thoughts about myself. She’s a real pain and while I usually can keep her at bay, she jumped me a couple of days ago and I felt like a complete failure. Yeah…she’s not the most accurate voice in my head but she can be the loudest!

I decided I needed to drown her out and blast some music (Sia) and just draw like a crazy lady. Fast, (using the wrong hand half the time) and attack the page with charcoal and water! 15 drawings later…something emerged…something beautiful…something loving, something powerful!

The next three drawings flowed out of me. I cried the entire time (mostly out of relief and joy).

These beautiful Spirit horses arrived with such an overwhelming energy of love. It completely blew me away. I hardly knew what was happening.

Once we can silence that inner critic our creative muse comes out to play. I am so grateful she didn’t move out entirely!!

I encourage you to do this if you find yourself paralyzed by fear and self doubt it your art! Move your body! Dance! Sing! And then approach the easel with an open and gentle heart. See what emerges as your inner critic starts to quiet.

Share your art with me! I would love to see it! You can post on my Facebook page!

Much love to you all!

xo,