Ideas like seeds, now look!

Mar 13

Dear Soul-Sibling,

Last week I stack an exciting creative project at the top of my to-do list: Draw one piece of advice for Wendy Mac's Grown Up Table (GUT)!

"She's going to collect the finished pieces in a digital PDF and call it our GUT Manifesto!"

I smile and imagine.

"If I get my assignment in early I'll have a better chance of making the cut."

I want to be a part of this collaboration.

I have been podcasting from Winter's Edge about strengthening our spiritual muscles to face the painful parts of life. Instead of running, avoiding, numbing, indulging, exaggerating, lying, hiding, shutting down, acting out, spinning off, or blowing up, we can train ourselves to sit with difficulty instead. The advice I'm giving is crystal clear.

Wendy's assignment: Draw ONE PIECE OF ADVICE. Maybe it’s related to creativity, maybe not. Maybe it’s advice from your 80 year old self. Or maybe it’s advice to your 80 year old self. Whatever it is, it’s advice that you feel in your GUT to be true, and you feel is worth sharing.⁣

Maybe you're wondering: "Wendy Mac? What is GUT and Draw Together?"

I belong to Wendy MacNaughton's online community known as GUT, or the grown up table. It's part of her DrawTogether brand. She is a New York Times bestselling illustrator. I've been following her work for years. Last fall I wrote a love letter to you about her TED talk.

DrawTogether is an interactive art class and learning universe. It's a show that’s a class that’s a club — for kids! The art show and activities focus on imagination, community, and confidence-building through drawing. Also included: resources for parents and educators, and the occasional silly dance.

Harvey Rose and I love to sit at her kitchen table and draw together with Wendy Mac using her YouTube videos. Jay and Kenny (Grace & Junior the cats) join us too.

In fact, I created both of these pieces during the episodes entitled "Guitar" and "Rocketship in Space."

Harvey Rose's pink guitar from Wendy Mac's DrawTogether

rocketship in space from DrawTogether with Wendy Mac on YouTube

After I write my intention on my to-do list I head for a morning run along the trails at the Wetlands. The colors, plants, flowers and sneak-peek-of-spring are vivid and most welcome. I snap this photo.

I'm in creative flow.

Running on the trail, foot to earth, ideas bouncing in my brain:

"The prickly parts!"

Ah-ha!

Caught you.

Perfect, the seed is growing.

I carve out the time, nourish the seed and put in the work.

Bolsa Chica Wetlands Huntington Beach watercolour painting

I love how it turned out.

Especially, the final layer with white gouache on top highlighting and featuring the cacti thorns.

watercolour learn to sit with the painful and prickly parts of life

Of course she's for sale!

This piece is an exclusive offering for you, my lovely email subscribers. If you're interested in owning this painting, place your bid, and hit reply with your interest. Dimensions are 9 X 12, laid on 140 lb cold pressed watercolour paper.

Remember the seed in thought I had about getting my assignment in early.

I made the cut!

The following week Wendy presents our GUT Manifesto with these words: "Sorry folks who shared theirs after I cut off submissions! Everyone should head to the chat to see the latecomers - all are so wise and wonderful."