Self-Care Tips for Artists

~ Brooke F. ~ 12 Comments

As artists, we are always looking for ways to hone our creative skills and continue broadening our horizons. Our goal: to make good art! The problem is that this can often lead to burnout as self-care is something that often gets pushed aside for the sake of work and growth! Not that growth or work is bad, but we all know that too much of a good thing can be bad. And we all need breaks.

So here is a short list I composed of various ways you can care for your body and mind, geared specifically towards art making creatives.

Every second that makes you feel better is worth spending.

-@E.m.x.thoughts

★ Draw something you’ve been wanting to do for awhile. Something mindless or comforting (Probably not hands or the other eye).

★ Or opt to put the sketchbook away entirely.

★ Spend some time on Pinterest or a similar site. These sites can often function to scratch the creative itch while still giving you a break from your work.

★Connect with family and friends. Have you been neglecting anyone in favor of your creative pursuits?

★Visit an art museum or exhibition. Enjoy the art others have put out there.

★Try a different art medium. Give yourself permission to suck.

★Watch a documentary. It can be art related or not. If you do want an art related one however, I greatly recommend this one here, free on youtube:

★ Grab a coffee with a fellow artist or just a friend! Be a person. Talk about all sorts of things, not just your work.

★This is pretty universal but take a walk outside. Breath some fresh air and enjoy nature for a little while.

★Watch a movie that you haven’t seen before. Have you seen “Loving Vincent”? It’s $3 to rent on YouTube. Cannot recommend it enough. I always walk away from it inspired by the artistic skill it took to produce.

★Google some hot chocolate or coffee recipes to try. Experiment.

★I cannot recommend this one enough: Pet a dog. Or a Cat. I’ll allow either.

★Just straight up take a nap.

★Organize your desk space.

★Sort out your art supplies and put them away for a little while, all nice and neat.

I hope you have found these few tips helpful! With so much noise and pressure to succeed, many creative people are neglecting their own needs. How can you be your best self if you’re not taking care of yourself? Remember, Selfcare is essential to the successful life of any kind of artist.

A Collection of Haikus on Burn Out

~ Brooke F. ~ 4 Comments

I’m afraid we’re reaching that point in the semester! Winter break is right around the corner and I’m very ready to welcome it with open arms. Until then, however, enjoy a collection of a few choice haikus that I have written over the past couple of weeks. I generally recover from semester burn out after Thanksgiving as I can just see the light at the end of the tunnel. Finals are oh-so-close but regardless, maybe a few tired adults (or even teens) out there can relate as to my mood in recent days.

Busy Bee

Buzz Buzz Buzz

Do you think bees can burn out?

I’m sick of honey

Assigned Readings

Way too many books

Reading should not be a chore

Thank you, dear college

Sunrise

The sky is orange

It always is this early

I’m tired of orange

Two more years

Senioritis? No.

Junioritis. Just halfway.

Five more minutes please?

I Haven’t a Dime nor a Penny

Burn out. Burn out. Spent.

I am so completely spent.

I haven’t a cent.

Soup Inspo because it’s Fall

~ Brooke F. ~ 12 Comments

I know I may be a little late buuut…

Happy fall everyone!

Did you know it’s my favorite time of year? The weather is perfect- I love that midrange of temperatures. It’s the time of year when I get to pull out my forty gazillion jackets and give them enough wear to justify the amount of space they take up in my wardrobe. It’s also campfire season, yet another added bonus. I’m an avid loved of s’mores, marshmallows, and the oh-so-good smokey smell.

You want to know what else I love about the weather getting chilly? The appeal of soup increasing by 100%.

Don’t get me wrong, I adore soup normally however, my love only grows when it’s nippy outside and I’ve got a steaming bowl of yummy in front of me. I could have soup all week.

So, in the spirit of fall, I wanted to share some of my favorite soup recommendations with you guys! I know this it totally different from my regular types of post and is more reminiscent of what you’d find on a lifestyle and cooking blog but I can’t help myself. I simply must share the deliciousness of these soups with the world!

Or at least… the five of you who are out there reading this post!

Tomato Basil

I adore tomato soup.

Strangely enough, as a kid, I hated tomatoes but tomato soup? I could eat that stuff for three meals a day. I had a sort of ritual when I ate them too- I’d eat them with ten saltine crackers and would often crunch up the crackers into the soup itself to give it a little crunch. Now this wasn’t always the best idea as halfway through the cracker chunks would become super mushy but my 7-year-old self would not be deterred and persisted in doing this.

Now, while I’m saying it’s not the best way to eat it, Tomato Basil soup still is kind of the bomb, cracker chunks or no cracker chunks.

Zuppa Toscana

My friend. If you have not had this soup, then I implore you to look up a recipe and try it soon. I didn’t even know this soup existed till I worked at a tea shop here in the deep south and they introduced it as one of our soup specials.

And ya’ll.

It. Is. Immaculate.

It’s creamy, has kale but doesn’t taste like it has kale, has a nice zing of Italian sausage, and smells heavenly. This soup can also be enjoyed with saltines which is definitely an added bonus.  Please give it a shot if you haven’t tried it already.

Southwest Chicken Soup

For those of us who are Mexican food type people. I love this soup because it tastes amazing, especially when you add an ungodly amount of cheese and maybe even some fritos if you’re feeling spunky. This soup is a solid go-to for my family because it can also be an easy crock-pot recipe.

Loaded Potato Soup

Friends, I must admit, my favorite vegetable is actually not a vegetable but a root. But you must admit, potatoes are quite a blessing that frankly I don’t think humanity deserves, but by the grace of God we have ‘em anyways. And I can’t tell you how much I love my starches. And if you love them too, I guarantee you’re going to love this soup. Or if you just love bacon. This is one of the few soups that you can get away with adding obscene amount of bacon too and it’s still good to eat!

This soup is kind of reminiscent of a loaded potato (as the title may suggest) in addition to being super creamy. I’ve had it a couple times and once while I was sick, and it felt amazing on my scratchy throat. Though one thing I can promise you, if you’re a potato girl, you will enjoy this soup both in sickness and in health.

Beef Stew

Okay, yes, technically this is a stew, but they aren’t that different right? At least, according to google… and you’re not calling google a liar, are you?

Either way, this stuff hits the spot during cold weather, and I’d be ashamed to not include it on the list seeing as how growing up, it was my favorite liquid-based meal (I’m just trying to avoid saying “stew and “soup” now if you can’t tell).

Stick this stuff in a crock pot and let it summer over the course of the day and you will come home to the most glorious of smells.

I personally recommend making fresh bread to go with along with this meal, especially if you have a bread machine so you can avoid the hassle of having to time it to where both things are ready and warm at the same time.

Either way though, bread or no bread, I think Beef Stew is one of God’s great blessings and it’s no wonder humanity has been making stews for goodness knows how long.

And I think that’s it! Those are my favorites anyways. I hope I’ve made you thoroughly hungry, so you feel compelled to quench it with steaming bowl of soup. You’re welcome!

See you readers!

Another Art Review

~ Brooke F. ~ 17 Comments

Hey all!

I teased this post in my summer art review post which I made a few months back where I said I’d share some of the traditional art I’ve made over the summer (and not over part of the semester). I have no really good reason as to why it’s taken me so long to post this besides that fact that every time I managed to think about it, it would slip my mind when I actually sat down to write a blog post.

All that being said, here are a few art pieces I’ve made over the last few months.

I think a few of my favorites are the mouse in the tea cup, the girl in the ballcap, the girl with a ponytail, and the close up of the cat. I wasn’t a huge fan of the green dress fashion sketch as the shadows just didn’t look right and I regret not giving her face (even though I feel it should be alright not to have to draw a face in a fashion sketch). Anyways, I hope that you found these little sketches interesting or at the very list give you a little inspo as to what you can sketch (or if you find them awful, use them as an example of what NOT to do when drawing :P)

Anyways! That’s all for now! Have a good week my friends and, if you happen to be on fall break like me, have a fabulous fall break where you drink lots of pumpkin spice lattes and attend a lot of campfires and soup potlucks.

Kind regards,

If Polaroids Could Talk

~ Brooke F. ~ 6 Comments

No, it wasn’t better then.

It was only different.

Nostalgia,

You are liar

Who insists things were better before.

And I’m tired of listening to you.

You can keep your sepia filters,

Your polaroid’s,

Your cassette tapes,

Your photo albums,

And your yesterdays.

I left them for a reason.

And the reality is,

If I were asked,

“Do you want to go back?”

I would most certainly shake my head.

It’s amazing what flaws you miss

When you apply that tinted brown filter.

To be a child is magical, yes.

But growing up is rarely painless.

Fox Writing Prompts

~ Brooke F. ~ 13 Comments

★The Slyest of them All

A battle of wits is held every 3 years in the Kingdom of Foxes. The goal is simple- win each test and beat your competitors. The Fox that reigns supreme is named Slyest of them all and is to rule the next 3 years. However, if all the participants fail, the currently residing Fox King remains for another 3 years.

The current King is a tyrant and you will do everything in your poem to dethrone him.

★Fox Detective

A pompous Detective wrongs the wrong person. A witch, enraged, curses him to turn into a fox every time the sunrises. The only way he can lift this curse from himself is if he helps the witch and solves her case. It’s Swan Lake but with a twist in this fractured fairytale!

★Fairy Foxes

This prompt is a little more vague. I just want you to imagine a world where Fairy Foxes exist- little flying creatures that are always out to cause trouble. What do you think this world would look like?

★Revenge in the Forest

The other forest animals are sick of being terrorized by the local fox. He comes at night causing trouble and sometimes even killing some of the forest residents for food (none of the other animals have been able to catch him red-handed though). Secretly, they hatch a plan and plot their revenge.

★ To Err is to Fox

In some sort of magical mix-up, a fox gets turned into a human and must figure out how to pass as one, all while trying to figure out how to revert to his normal, animal form. Hijinks as I’m sure you expect, ensue.

★Outfox or Befriend?

A fox has no friends. At least, that’s how it’s always been. However, a certain fox is starting to rethink this. A fox is given a task to steal or fool someone else but, in the process, becomes too attached and begins forming bonds with the one they are supposed to fool and begins having second thoughts.

★The White Fox

Legend has it that white foxes are magical creatures that grant wishes upon being caught. You always chalked this up as a myth- after all, you’ve never even seen a white fox! However, you begin to rethink this as you found that you have accidentally snared a white fox in one of your hunting traps. And it’s still alive.

Ways to Brighten up Your Writing Space

~ Brooke F. ~ 11 Comments

Got a writing space that you’re uncertain how to spruce up? Well, I’ve got you friend! I spend way too much time on pinterest and am ready spill my favorite decor ideas geared specifically towards writer’s and decorating their little writing nooks. Honestly though, the first and main thing you need to know when decorating your writing space is that it should be a place where you feel comfortable. You should want to be there, and feel at home in it. Whether this means hanging up your gaudy posters or having a gazillion little knick knacks all over your desk or that you’re surrounded by piles of loose paper, then so be it. At the end of the day, this is all about making a space that you’re comfortable in and, consequently, write in more freely.

Suggestions are as follows:

Candles.

Pictures (family, pets, memes… it really doesn’t matter. Whatever you want really).

Posters of things you love,

A cup or mug of coffee or tea (adds to the cozy vibes),

A Quill Pen (For decorative purposes but also fits the writing theme).

Decorative Glass Bottles.

Fairy Lights.

Succulents.

Drawings.

Colored Pens.

Coffee mugs that are cute.

Paintings.

Flowers (both live ones or pressed/dry ones).

Journals from which you can grab inspiration from.

Cute Lamps.

Cute stuffed desk animals.

A Blue tooth speaker for playing whatever ambiance music you desire.

Desk Stationary Organizer.

Sticky Notes

A Pet (preferably a cute cat that will sleep at the end of your bed or at your feet and make a nice rumble-y purring sound).

A cute rug.

And that’s it I think! Hopefully these suggestions are enough to trigger your inner Joanna Gaines and get you into your decorating mode. I bet it’s gonna be a space worth writing a book in!

Bets of luck to you!

35 Journaling Prompts for Writers

~ Brooke F. ~ 10 Comments

I’m a big believer in the power of journaling. I say this as someone with like a gazillion empty journals around the house. Collecting them and writing in them are entirely different hobbies I believe (I’m sorry! They’re just so pretty I don’t want to mess them up!). However, I do think its important to have a place to dump your thoughts every now and then, especially if you’re a writer with a loud brain like mine. I may not do it as routinely as I probably should but I still think its good for everyone to sit for a moment and reflect whether its about the day, one’s identity, your loved ones, goals, or random intrusive thoughts. In summary, I think it’s a great way to process your feelings, work through tough times, and explore new ideas.

So I made a list. I love lists.

Now, to be clear, I wrote these prompts with writer’s in mind, however, the vast majority of them could apply to pretty much everyone so if you’re a non-writer and you’re looking for some prompts, feel free to steal some from the list below because they will probably work just as well for you. I give you permission to cherry-pick.

  1. What is your favorite part about writing?
  2. Why do you write?
  3. What do you like most about writing?
  4. Do you have any favorite characters or literary topics that you enjoy?
  5. Make a list of your favorite authors.
  6. Think about the things that make you happy. What might those be?
  7. Write about your favorite places to go.
  8. What is your most ideal writing space? How could you change your current one to reflect that?
  9. What’s your ideal writing schedule?
  10. Do you have a pre-writing ritual?
  11. Write about what you’ve learned from a difficult situation, or how you’ve grown from it—even if it was just a little bit.
  12. Write about something that’s bothering you, but is also good for you—maybe even give yourself some advice on how to get past it.
  13. What are some of your favorite quotes or sayings?
  14. Describe where you are in your life right now, and what you’re doing there—wherever that may be!
  15. Write about your favorite memories with your parents
  16. Describe your life in a few sentences
  17. What’s one thing you’re looking forward to this week?
  18. What are you thankful for in your life right now?
  19. What’s one thing that makes you feel good about yourself?
  20. What did you learn today?
  21. What’s something you need to let go of?
  22. What are your goals for the coming year?
  23. What are you scared of?
  24. What’s your favorite day of the week?
  25. Write about a dream you had last night/this morning.
  26. Do you ever wish you could go back and change the things that have happened in your life?
  27. What is one thing that makes you feel fulfilled?
  28. Write about the things that make you angry.
  29. Write a letter in your journal to someone who hurt you. What would you say?
  30. Write a letter to your favorite book character.
  31. Write a letter to your favorite author.
  32. How do you want to inspire someone else? How do you want your work to inspire others?
  33. Write about your favorite movie/book scene. Why was it good?
  34. How do you feel about your work overall? Are you proud of it?
  35. What is a piece of advice you’d give to a new writer?

Alrighty! I think that’s it for now! Happy journaling!

Columbus’s Stars

~ Brooke F. ~ 8 Comments

My small feet pattered up the steps as I made my down the stairs of my Grandparents’ rickety steps that led to a wide kitchen. The screen door creaked open, then snapped shut behind me as I continued to join my Grandfather on the porch.

Peeling paint pricked my toes and a chilly breeze nipped at my small ears. A perfect night for soup, as my mother would often say. Mother always loved soup.

 “Could you not sleep?” The lilting voice of my grandfather broke the night. There leaned against the railing, slightly bent, bearded, tan, and plump, my grandfather beckoned me over to lean with him. I accepted of course.

“You told me I could stay up late!” I accused. Surely, he hadn’t forgotten. Did he?

“Are you sure?” Grandfather leaned his head back and stroked in his beard as if he were deep in thought. “I don’t recall…”

“You said at dinner that I could come out and see the stars fall!” I informed him. Adults always thought they were so funny. And Grandfather often was but he didn’t need to know that.

Grandfather smiled at me and even though it was dark, I could still tell that his eyes are sparkling in amusement. I could hear it in his voice.

“Well, you did.” I finally concluded. Grandfather seemed satisfied with this and returned his gaze to the sky.

 All around, light streaked the sky. Mom often described stars “like diamonds on tapestry”. But these stars were not diamonds. They moved and danced across the sky, leaving a glowing pathway behind.

“What are they?” I found myself asking aloud. “Why can they go so fast?”

“Because they’re ships, Molly.”

My 10-year old self was aghast. “I thought they were fire? Burning fire and chemicals and stuff. I remember from our astronomy class at school.”

Grandfather shrugged. “That’s the boring answer. You already get a bunch of boring answers at school. Wouldn’t you like to hear a fun one for a change?”

“Even if its not true?” I was very concerned with the truth, even as a 10-year old.

“Good stories often aren’t.”

I was fortunately intrigued. “Tell me about the ships then.”

Grandfather’s eyes shut as he began to imagine. “Ships often travel in big groups. You’ve learned that in school, right?”

“Of course!” I responded, eager to demonstrate my knowledge on the matter. “They’re called fleets. The Pilgrims traveled in one to America.”

Grandfather seemed entertained by the Pilgrims remark, half smiling as I came to the end of my sentence, but he would not be sidetracked. “Look out then, M. What you see is a fleet. Ship after ship passing by.”

I still wasn’t fully sold on the idea. “And why do they glow white then?”

 “That’s their sails of course,” responded my grandfather. “Sails that reflect and are powered by pure moonlight.”

“And where are they going?”

Grandfather shrugged. “Who knows. I reckon it’s not for us to know.”

A beat of silence ensued as I wrapped my mind around the idea. I didn’t believe it and the both of us knew it wasn’t true, but perhaps that was what made it a fun idea. It was so utterly impossible. Then I was struck with another thought.

“What about shooting stars?” I wondered. “What are they?”

“They’re ships too,” Grandfather said, now a little more quietly. “The ones left behind and lost.”

This thought saddened me.

“Maybe they’re explorers. Like Columbus. I learned that in school too.”

Grandfather opened his eyes and leaned back to look at the sky. “Maybe so, M. Maybe so.”

Summer Art Review

~ Brooke F. ~ 7 Comments

Hello everyone!

One thing I alluded to in some of my life update posts is that I have new art that I am very excited to share. Most of it is digital edits that involve a lot of photoshop and less coloring/drawing (But still fun and artsy nonetheless). So I decided that this post would contain my new digital pieces that I’ve created over the last couple of months. I’ve been trying to focus a lot on portraits and faces more than anything. Hope my practice has paid off and you enjoy!

This is an digital edit portrait I did of my friend Megan over at Megan’s Musings. Really happy with how this one turned out!

This is another mixture of a photo edit/art piece. Certain parts of the piece like the face and some of the hair are drawn while other parts I edited and blended into the piece. The base picture is one that I took myself and used for reference.
This is another edit/art piece where I took the photo I used as a reference myself except I did a lot more drawing for this piece than I did the other one. Perhaps in another post I can share the original photos vs. the art pieces but I’m not sure if people would be interested in that. Regardless, that is a post for another day!
This is a photoshop portrait I did of my friend Becca! This is one where I really struggled with the hair and background but I’m pretty okay with how it came out.
This is another photoshop portrait I did of my younger sister. I would love to redo the background but I think by the time I was getting close to finishing, I was simply ready to be done. I’m sure many of you artists out there understand the feeling.
I really enjoyed playing with colors in this edit. The Original was a photo my sister took this time of me playing in chalk. It turned out super cute.

And that’s it for now! I have some traditional pieces that I may also share in the future but I was mostly excited to share my digital pieces this time around. Thanks for checking them out! And if you like what you see round here, maybe consider dropping a follow or a comment below! I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Alrighty! That’s it for now! Talk to you later, lovelies!