I received the email below from Patsy Evins , one of the great soft glass bead artists of our time. I found it really inspiring in a very proactive and realistic way, and therefore I wanted to share it with all of you. Patsy has been one of my creative heroines for a long time. She takes color, combines it brilliantly with botanical accuracy, or whatever subject she addressing ( for example fish, or ice cream! -- she does it all!).  Then she offers her efforts to you, the designer, to take what she has done and make it your own special creation. I loved this email from Patsy in particular and I think you will see why when you read it. It is something we all need to think about, and some of us do it better than others. I found it empowering to read this particular email, and to look at Patsy's beautiful creations along with it. My blog won't let you sign up for her RSS feed, but if you go to her site  you will be able to, and to admire and wonder at some of the marvelous things she has created, and possibly even get on her mailing list, as I am (it is worth it!)  and even better, buy something you will love forever!
-jean

How I’m Learning to Create My Dreams

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Being an artist all my life, I’ve never given much thought about how I create what I do. I’ve done a lot of studying of art… I started with private art lessons when I was 10 years old, then college, and finally 4 more years in private art institutions. But not until last weekend have I ever wondered how I created my art. It may sound like a stupid statement but if I can understand the mental process of how I create my art, it holds the secret to changing my life.

There are dreams I want to achieve, dreams of becoming a better, more loving person. Dreams of selling my glass lampwork art beads in art galleries and bead stores all over the world. Of one day teaching art, lampworking and personal self improvement workshops. And then there are the dreams from when I was little that I haven’t achieved yet….. do you know what I mean? Do you have dreams that nag at you, reminding you they have not been accomplished?

Last weekend my husband, my son and I went through a self improvement study program that I know will change my life. There’s just one catch…. I have to change.

Which brings me back to my art. The creative process in my brain that allows me to transfer an image in my brain on to canvas or a bead is the same process I can create anything in my life. But what gets those images from my brain to the canvas or bead?

Through years of learning, practicing, seeing my results and repeating this process over and over again I have built a belief that I am an artist. I’ve worked my craft hard and long with a goal of being the very best artist I can be.

But what I hadn’t addressed were my BELIEFS about being a prosperous artist. I’ve been making art so long I never noticed that I had picked up a lot of bad beliefs along the way, up until this weekend. These hidden beliefs are affecting my success as an artist because I am the SUM of all of my beliefs.

And they are beliefs of the proverbial starving artist. Don’t get me wrong, looking at my accomplishments I’ve done pretty darn good but……it’s a constant battle of ups and downs. I’m realizing now that my beliefs are holding me down. It’s not the competition nor the economy, not that I don’t know enough social media knowledge or computer know how or any of the zillion reasons I come up with. It’s the belief that I don’t deserve more because I am an artist.

This is the image I had in my head of who I am as an artist. The workshop says I have to create the image I want to be and paint it with vivid emotions and feelings like I do when I make my paintings or beads. Or the way someone plans a vacation down to the places they want to visit and food they want to eat. If we will put as much time into visualizing our lives the way we want them with as much excitement and detail, we can have anything!

The workshop says we are all creators, that’s what we came here to do. We are the only creatures on earth that have this ability. When we focus on something with strong feelings of belief, it will become a real thing on this earth. And we all have this ability and in the same amounts! No one is “blessed” with more than another. It’s just a matter of how much do I focus this gift and in what direction do I focus it…. positive (hope) or negative (worry).

So here’s the hook…. how much do I want the perfect life, the beautiful house, a really successful art career? I can have it as long as I BELIEVE I can have it. It’s all about the Law of Attraction. And to believe means I have to change my thoughts about myself to attract the things I want.

So, I’ve started a new journey with my art and on this journey I’m going to work harder on my mind and my beliefs. So, I hope you will follow along with me as I explore my mind and change my life!

Do you believe you can have all you want? That you are a creator? What dreams are you creating and how? I would really like to know!

Just a reminder:

You can peek at what’s new on my ESTY

I also have glass lampwork beads on ArtFire

Patsy is the Best!!!--Thanks to her for letting  me share her thoughts and her work! Her site is right at the top above the stunning floral swag--jean