Testing Waters

Each day

is

testing

new

waters.

Putting

one.

foot.

in.

front.

of.

the.

other.



A

new

today

to

begin

again.



To bloom.

To be real.

To be me.



To

take

another

flying

leap

of

faith.



Each step

with

writing,

photography,

and

art



has

felt

big,

risky,

vulnerable.

Fifteen months ago

I bought

my first

"grown-up" art supplies,

and I took a deep breath of courage when I did.

I

felt the same

way

yesterday

when I bought my first canvases.



I can't believe how much courage

it takes to move from

found wood that others were planning to burn . . .

to a canvas.

And that was just buying them.

I haven't even begun to paint on them.

But these pieces of wood and my newly matted photo prints

that I have poured

my heart into

will be part of my first public events.

And my "studio"

is  full of

works in progress.

Small steps and big steps

toward living the authentic & creative life I want to be living.

Each has felt big.

Resigning a work position.  Beginning a blog. 

Speak at Women's retreat.

Flying Lessons e-course.

Black Hills Photo Shootout. Writing Believe Truth.

Painting~collage~mixed media.

Showing pictures of my work.

Opening an Etsy shop.

Art booths

at

Cammack's Open House, Union Center, SD, April 14

Faith Spring Fling, Faith SD, April 15

South Dakota Chocolate Festival, Spearfish, SD, April 30-May 1.

This is a sneak peek of what I am preparing for

in my studio

{which is in my kitchen}.

Each is a step

that requires me to be

brave,

and

have faith in the One who called me on this journey.

To

be strong

and

courageous,

not terrified or discouraged

for the Lord my God

will be with me

wherever I go.

(Joshua 1:9)

I am so proud and happy

to have been invited to be a part

of Jennifer's

In The Studio Sneak Peek Friday group

which is on

(in) Courage this week here:

In The Studio on (in) Courage

I have been richly blessed by the talents of these women

and

grateful to Jennifer for hosting, brainstorming with me,

and inspiring me with her

creative life.

*

Art & photography copyright Jodene (Jodi) Shaw 2011.