MUSE--4 little letters to get your creative blood pumping

I dedicate today to my inner muse.

My list of things-to-do has grown out of proportion. These days, I feel as though I'm in over my head. I spent a lot of time and energy yesterday being stressed out about what the next 4 weeks of my life will entail.

Have I mentioned that I have almost 30 commissions to complete in the next month? Er, um....yeah. This is for a big project that I have been promoting and preparing for since July. The pressure is on! I will say, however, that no matter how many paintings I have to do, I always give myself completely to each and every one--and I want it to stay that way.

Last night before going to bed I decided that I can either continue to be completely stressed out and make my life hell (like I did yesterday) OR I can just hand myself over to the inner muse and simply enjoy diving deeply into the work ahead. Yesterday I worked on a painting for a top model dog named Trixie. Trixie is an Italian Greyhound and probably one of the most refined looking canines I have ever painted. Her seductive expression (just wait until I'm done with that winking eye), rhinestones, and print background has been like little candy treats for my muse. The detailing is a bit obsessive, and yet that is just the sort of thing that feels good right now.

Today I will continue working on Trixie. I will stretch canvases and begin sketching out more portraits. I'm not going to worry about life's other details. For now, I'm going to simply focus on the small picture, not the big one (the big one is too overwhelming). I'm going to continue breathing and smiling and listening to music. I'm going to drink chai and paint myself into a patterned ecstasy.

Today I am inviting a friend to join me in my studio.
Her name is: My Inner Muse.

She is really happy with me for finally noticing her. The poor girl has been neglected due to my incessant stressing, migraine fighting, and running around. I didn't realize how much I missed her, but it's nice to have her back. However, just now, she has just informed me that she would like a better name. I'll let you know what we come up with. In the meantime, who is your inner muse? What is she like? And does she have a name? Tell me about her. I want to know. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if our inner muses already know one another!

These letters are part of an ongoing project:
"WORD OF THE DAY :: living life one word at a time."
Today's word is MUSE. Invite your inner muse to play!
See more letters and words at my Patch of Sky Etsy shop, here.

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