A letter to my muse

Time To Create Art Round Wallclock by Victoriart
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Dear Muse,

I'm on to you. I know that you are somehow responsible for the untimely demise of the television opposite the comfy couch in my living room. Call me paranoid but my intermittent computer, internet and cell phone problems seem to have your name written all over them too. I am becoming convinced that you are not merely a muse, but a tireless, trickster spirit who will stop at nothing until I spend my every waking hour making some kind of art.

So I just wanted to say thank you and keep up the good work.

Love,
Victoria

 

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Art Is My Life Buttons by Victoreeah
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Appeasing The Muse Week 3

"Hold On To Your Hat" By Victoria Lynn Hall
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I probably should apologize for calling my muse a bitch. As much as I hate to admit it, it turns out that she actually knows what she's doing. For example, when she commanded me to complete one painting per week she was actually putting an end to a long standing argument between us. Her side of that argument was that painting should be the top priority in my life right now. My response has always been that I have too many “more important” things to do.

I realize now that when I accepted her one painting per week demand, I lost that argument forever. . . and I've never been so happy to be wrong.

To complete one painting each week, I have had to make painting a priority in my life. To complete one painting every week, I have had to make painting more important. And all those other “more important” things I have to do? They get done in the miraculous amount of extra time I've found between colors, between ideas and between the times when I am disgusted with my last brush stroke and ready to brave the next one.

Somehow by making painting more important it has become more important. Perhaps, as my muse insists, it always was. Not because of what I bring to the canvas so much but more because of what bringing things to the canvas does for my life.

Happy creating, indeed.

Victoria

Appeasing The Muse Week 2

Imagination Note Card by Victoria Lynn Hall

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I didn't complete one painting this week . . . I completed five. Five gloriously but unmistakably flawed paintings that I wouldn't dare show to anyone besides my husband and my cats. I don't like these paintings very much but I do love them because I took risks on them, I experimented with them, I learned from them and I am inspired by them. So like I said, I completed five very successful paintings this week. Even my muse has to be happy with that.

She is also pleased that I am working on a sixth painting. Although it won't be finished for a few days so she, and you, will have to wait until next week to see how this one turns out.

Until then, happy creating!

Victoria

Appeasing The Muse Week 1

To Wonder Is Wise (Appeasing The Muse Wk1) Poster by Victoria Lynn Hall
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One painting every week, the muse commanded. This didn't seem so daunting at first. I've completed a painting in a week before...once...maybe twice. After this week, however, I realized that to do it consistently I am going to have to devote a lot more time to the canvas. This may take some time away from other activities, like cleaning the house.

Hmm, maybe my muse does love me after all.

Happy creating everyone!
Victoria

Conversations With My Muse #2

"The Wildest Dreams" By Victoria Lynn Hall

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I received the following message from my Muse this morning:

Dear Mortal whom I tolerate for the sake of art,

You are hereby commanded to complete one painting every week. They won't all be good but they will all be good for you.

Yours Truly,
The Muse

Wow, she is such a bitch.

I better get busy. Happy creating everyone!

Victoria

Fairy Tales And Other True Stories

Rapunzel's New Plan Art By Victoria Lynn Hall by Victoriart
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Looking at my art and designs you might think that I am a card carrying fairy tale fanatic but I actually have sort of a love/hate relationship with fairy tales. I, like so many girls, was raised on them and they did indeed cast a spell on me that will probably never fully be lifted. The older I get, however, the more my perspective on them changes.

For example, when I first saw “Snow White” as a little girl, I was so frightened by the evil queen that I ran screaming out of the theater. Now (thanks in no small part to Disney's expert marketing) I find the “Villains” of these tales more likable or at least more sympathetic than I ever expected to.

It's actually the Princesses that frighten me now. They just have so many issues. Cinderella has low self esteem, there is something not right with Snow White and don't even get me started on that lazy Sleeping Beauty. I mean sure, they are all nice people who deserve their happy fates but they just don't seem that motivated to me. In fact, if it wasn't for their princes or their fairy godmothers, they would have been in real trouble. Truly, I would be surprised if their “happily ever afters” were achieved without at least a few years of therapy.

The bottom line is, these women were poor role models for me. I think I am perfectly justified in blaming them for spending far too many years waiting for a Knight on a shining Harley to show up and rescue me. Eventually, however, I realized I wasn't nor did I want to be a princess in need of saving.

And yet, I still want the fairytale. I just figured out that the ruby slippers work better than the glass ones. I want to be less like Cinderella and more like Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz” these days. Dorothy didn't need a prince or a fairy godmother to save her. All she needed was a good role model to remind her of the power she already had within her. I think ultimately, that's all any of us really need to create our own happily ever after.

So yes, I believe in fairy tales but more than that, I believe in me and I believe in you.

Rapunzel's New Plan Art By Victoria Lynn Hall by Victoriart
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Fairy Tales And Other True Stories Custom Spiral Note Books by Victoreeah
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Be Your Own Fairy Godmother - Ever After Art Poster by Victoreeah
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Fairy Princess of Kindness Tee Shirt by Victoreeah
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Ever After Cards by Victoreeah
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She believed Vintage Photo Fairy Tale Quote Card by VictoriaVintage
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Wine Princess "Someday My Prince Will Come..." Refrigerator Magnet by Victoreeah
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Kindred Spirits

Dragonfly Fairy Friendship Card by Victoria Lynn Hall

You can have thousands of Twitter followers and Facebook Friends but, if you are lucky, there will still likely be only a handful of people in your life that you can really trust with your heart. In our quest for success, fulfillment & recognition, we may at times take this for granted. Spending our efforts reaching out to new people and broaden our social circle can often rob of us of the time we spend with those who have always been right by our side. Even people who have hurt or betrayed us can sometimes occupy our thoughts more than those who have been steadfastly loyal and loving to us.

Perhaps it is true that you can't have too many friends, but they will not all be Kindred Spirits. So while you are making new connections, make sure you are also honoring the tried and true ones. Make sure those who know and love you best are getting your best efforts too.

Conversations with my muse #1

I Just Do What The Muse Tells Me Poster by Victoreeah
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So I asked my muse why she always has to wake me up in the middle of the night with her crazy ideas and she said, "That is the only time you really listen to me."

And I said, "What about all those times I sit in front of a blank canvas waiting for you and you never show?"

"That," she said, "is me giving you time off."

And so my wish for my fellow artists and creative people today is that your muse is more reliable and less demanding and snarky than mine.

Happy Creating!
Victoria