It HAS been a creative year.

I started 2010 with the plan to become increasingly creative, and not hide my talent under a bushel. It's been a long year and a short year too. Long as when you look back on all the things crammed into the year, it must have been long. And short because here we are and it's "let's get ready to celebrate Christmas" again!
It was also quite a stressed year with trying to achieve all that I wanted to. And of course, if you spread yourself too thin, not as much gets accomplished.
It began with goal setting for work, family and friends. Then a few unexpected things came, along the way.
We planned a holiday mid year, and that was always something to look forward to. A holiday @ Mission Beach with Ros and Dave in July. It was impossible to imagine that while Melbourne and Sydney were experiencing temperatures of 10-16 degrees, somwhere else in Australia could be simultaneously enjoying 25-28 degrees most days.
I decided to bite the bulet and do the Advanced breast Feeding Course. Of course for extra knowlege. Of course so as not to fall behind with courses. And ofcourse to meet up with lots of interesting nurses and midwives. Gwen Moody was running the course and she's lots of fun.
Laura was planning her Japanese adventure all year. She had goals. Grace knew she wanted something more than what Woolworths had to offer, and it was so great that she was able to sort through the maze of employment and get herself a great local job. And Gem was settled into her "new house and home" in Orange. Bryce was healing out of the cancer ordeal. He was also settling into his new role as home maker. He learnt a lot this year about organic gardening to add to his knowlege, and was preparing grwat meals Come home from work each night and I was greeted with "mmmmm" aromas from the kitchen.
Work was generally OK. And then, there was a daily commitment to art. Drawing every day. Or if I couldn't, then doing a day filled with art to make up for my missing days.
Doing life drawing sessions at AGNSW was a kickstart. More than that, was meeting Alissa. She was really arty and we seemed to have a shared interest. She introduced me to online groups as well as to art groups who met regularly to sketch together, followed by coffee/ a bite to eat.
Te online groups through flickr was also very supportive of art and photography. It created a certain accountability to produce new work/ not be complacent. I feel a certain commitment to these people to offer them something new. I am also so inspired by the talent in the world. I do not feel isolated in my creativity. I have lots of people who share the sheer enjoyment of art. Generally it is all positive constructive comments given to "uploads". It is very good, and everyone helps each others process through the social connection.
Tonight I am volunteering at AGNSW Christmas party. Next week, we have a Sydney Sketch Club "sketching day in the city- focus on Christmas" so I am looking forward to these events.