Taking Myself On An Artist's Date

 Besides Morning Pages, there is another tool that 
The Artist's Way feels is absolutely imperative to 
opening up a person's creative spirit.  
That tool is the Artist's Date.

Please don't think The Artist Date is just for painters, musicians

or writers. It is also a wonderful way to create and

dream of solutions to any part of your life. 

I first used The Artist's Date when I was trying to figure

out what I wanted to do with my life when I closed

my consulting business.  I had to get out of the house

and have an adventure.  I went to Picker's Auctions,

art galleries, a different neighborhood ..... sometimes I just

sat in a little cafe and watched the people walk by.

What is an Artist's Date?

An Artist's Date is a block of time, perhaps two hours

weekly, especially set aside and committed to nurturing 

your creative self.  It is a time to enjoy being with your

own self, exploring the things you might love, 

and having some fun on your own.  

I know for some people, being on their own

is an uncomfortable place to be.  I can remember my

first Picker's Auction.  I was nervous. 

 I didn't think I belonged there.

Pickers are a breed unto themselves.  They can be

a little rough around the edges but they know their 

collectibles and even their "junk". I learned a lot that day 

and had a good time doing so.  Their comments to

each other were priceless ... hilarious.

  I forgot about myself, had lots of fun and even 

found some pretty interesting old

tables that I later painted and sold.

 My most recent Artist Date was an excursion to a couple 

of bookstores around Toronto.  Who doesn't like bookstores with

all the color, book covers, coffee aroma and comfy

places to sit and enjoy the retail theatrics.

On a shelf were all the Jane Austen books.

Love the covers but wouldn't it be fun to reread all

the Austen classics?

 I loved this cover of the book Muses.

I want to try and paint this lady.

She's definitely a Priscilla Mae lady.

 Of course in the larger bookstores, no one

just sells books anymore.  These colors

in real life took my breathe away.

Color has hit the point of sale displays

in bookstores.  Spring and Easter are coming.

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A lady came over to me when I was taking this

picture and asked me what I was doing.  I told her I 

just loved the colors and textures in this display.  
She said to me,

"You know, I would never have noticed them had I not

seen you photographing the display.  I would have walked on by.

You are right, the colors are beautiful."

That is what an Artist Date does.

It makes you slow down, look around,
be inspired,

and totally enjoy yourself.

Take a Artist's Date with yourself this week.

This is the Veronica Tote from my Etsy shop.

I was inspired by a hat Alicia Keys wore to the

Grammys one year and just had to add it to one of my

women.  Veronica seemed perfect for it.