It's July! Time To Update the Map!

But first, here's my offering for today:

There's just so much going on in cyberspace, it's easy to get lost.  I find it handy to carry a map.  Maps are useful tools.  They don't determine where you're going; they just give you an idea of what's out there, and how to get there.  They help you get where you're going, and you can circle your destination choices on a map.  

At the beginning of every year, I map out my online itinerary, keeping it general enough to allow for additions and subtractions, but specific enough to give me an idea of how I plan to spend my online minutes in a way that will meet my goals and desires most productively.  I do this in January, then in July, I take another look at the map from my life's point of view, and make adjustments as necessary.  

Most of the groups I belong to have been around awhile and do extensive advance planning.  It's easy to take a look in December and get an idea of what will be offered in the coming year.  There's a comfort in things that are established, not the least of which is the benefit of consistent, predictable quality.  It makes the choices easier.  But things change rapidly online.  New things pop up all the time and former things vaporize daily.  I don't serve my rules.  I believe that my rules must serve me, so I want to make sure that my choices are flexible enough to make additions and subtractions without having to look over my shoulder at every crossroads.  

If January begins your year, then July's a great review point.  I keep my choices simple.  This year, I chose three places to hang-out for the summer: Kelly Kilmer's J.O.Y, Mary Ann Moss's FTB, and Marit's Summer Camp, and one place for all-year-long: Julie Fey-Fan Balzer's AJED.  There's also an invitational group of online artists that I belong to which is perennial, and I made my choices in January regarding which projects I'd tackle in 2011 with them.   

When I made my choices, I knew that new things would inevitably pop up on the horizon, and other things would be called on account of rain.  When Effy Wild created Wild Precious Studios earlier this year, I made the decision to jump in on the first day and add this goup to my active list, allocating time to facilitate a weekly Mandala prompt group there, Making Mandalas, Art Within The Circle.  When I post about the goings on in that group, I usually do it from my sister blog, ArtiphyTheSoul.  

Last, but certainly not least, there's SoulCollage®.  Particiaption with the KaleidoSoul Kindred Spirits group is an uplifting, daily joy of mine, and any activity I post regarding SoulCollage® and my participation with KaleidoSoul can be found at ArtiphyTheSoul.  This month, my personal practice with SoulCollage is featured in the KaleidoSoul newsletter, which you'll automatically receive if you're a member.  There's even *gasp* a picture of my face!  If you're an art journaler, a collage artist, a mixed media junkie, or all of the above, you should take a look at KaleidoSoul and see what group membership has to offer.   No matter what you put into it, your return will be greater.  Guaranteed!  

So those were and are my choices for 2011 as decided upon in January.  

Now that it's July, I've added one more, and this is more of an incentive and a promise to myself than an obligation.  Traci Bunkers has initiated Traci Bunker's 30 Days Of Get Your Art On.  It's a bit like AJED, except that it's for the month of July instead of for the entire year, and it's more about doing anything creative daily, even unfinished, and blogging about it, than specifically creating art journal pages.  For me, the two will work hand-in-hand.  Julie's AJED posts and prompts are wonderful and motivating, although I sometimes work differently and often don't post the artwork I've made to her group.  I have found that just looking at Julie's website and her daily offerings sparks my creativity, and I've noticed that I've been more productive since I've had her site as an encouraging resource.  Traci's art is more in tune with what I do daily, even if I don't always post my abstractions and mixed-media work.  And knowing that I'm committing to doing something, even something not finished, every day and then blogging about it, is a real benefit generator for me!

Happy July! 

 

Comments

[Rosie]

I can't believe how much you achieve in a year Barbara! You amaze me, when I consider how tough it must be to find personal time with all that you do for your family! I salute you and maybe next year, I might try some mapping out myself... or even perhaps after we movce later this year. xo
Off to "see" you!! 'o)

[joanne thieme huffman]

What productive plans!

[shawn]

I certainly agree there is a lot going on online. I think I've overloaded and I will use your idea of just picking a few to participate in. I'm doing Julie's AJED and Traci Bunker's 30 days too. See you around- come visit me sometime :)

[Sandra]

Barbara!! Your work is amazing... I gave you a shout out on my blog;-) I plan to follow and learn from you (we are similar art souls) very lovely work can't wait to see more.