Welcome!
I am wholeheartedly excited to welcome you to my first journal entry in Wren's Journal! When envisioning what this space would be, I felt I needed an outlet to talk to you intimately about... well anything and everything creative, art and lifestyle related. Consider yourself at home when you’re here. Picture this - you, me, some coffee or tea sitting on the couch chatting about the things we love. For me that would be all things creative. And for you I’m guessing it would be about the same because… well... you’re here.
Today I want to take you on a little journey into creating my first collection… Room to Grow. This collection was born literally as I was painting the first piece. You see, I most recently decided I would try my hand at painting larger scale pieces. I purchased huge pieces of fine art paper with no plan, no real objective or strategy. I just wanted to paint. There was something burgeoning deep inside of me. Now in retrospect I understand this need was for self expression. At the time it felt like a deep ache in between my chest and my belly (not quite indigestion, lol). There was something I yearned to express. Up until this point, I created numerous small pieces. None of which I considered my highest work. Actually at most times I was quite despondent regarding my paintings (hello inner critic) I wanted to create better work.
But… while standing in front of a large blank piece of fine art paper (which can be quite scary). I decided to let it all go. I decided at that moment that whatever I painted today I would love. That the work I wanted to create so eagerly can only be my own... from my own hands. I decided to honor my journey as an artist in every stage. So I tuned out everything, every negative thought and I painted. I painted and I painted. I didn’t complete my first piece in one sitting. It grew throughout the week. About midway through, these words came to me. “Start here. Where you are. You are valuable here... as you are. Even if you still have room to grow.”
Room to grow speaks to a journey of beginning. I know that I am not alone when I say beginnings can be made to feel small. Looking around at what we may aspire to be, leads us to believe there is no value in the starting point. Yes we want to start… but we want to start big, boldly. But starting right here, right now, where you are, as you are is the most valuable part.