To begin

Since I was a child, I have loved to create. At different times of my life, I've channeled it in different ways.

I was an excellent student. I loved writing essays, stories, and poetry. Even the sheet of notebook paper that I turned my math homework in on had to look right.

Playing with handwriting and general design have always excited me. So has architecture. And photography. I've had a cake decorating phase and a scrapbooking phase. I love flowers and floral design. One of my motto's is "whatever anything is, it ought to begin by being aesthetic."

In college, I began training in proper, fine art. I learned to draw and paint. I especially enjoy recreating people and figures. For many years after this point, I felt like if I wasn't creating in this specific way, I wasn't living up to my potential. This type of creating is in many ways the most difficult. Not getting positive feedback from fine art is hard. It got me in the habit of only wanting to show anyone finished pieces, or my very best work.

It has taken being a mother, being older, some suffering, and most of all some growth to realize what I finally did a month or so ago.

The important thing is not what I create, the important thing is that I create. It feeds my soul.

The other important thing is that I not fear sharing what I create with others.

And so, this new blog. At least once a week, I will post. Sometimes it will be a little drawing. Perhaps a photo that I spent some time setting up or learning new editing methods for. I might throw in some writing. I won't apologize if it's a rendering or some building elevations for work, I've realized how insanely lucky I am that my day job lets me use my talents. If I am working on an art piece, I will post the progress up until the finished product. Even if it's not quite right on that particular day.

It will be an adventure. I hope you will follow along.

"But to what end were we created? We were created with the express purpose and potential of experiencing a fulness of joy. Our birthright—and the purpose of our great voyage on this earth—is to seek and experience eternal happiness. One of the ways we find this is by creating things.

What you create doesn’t have to be perfect. . . Don’t let fear of failure discourage you. Don’t let the voice of critics paralyze you—whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside."

-"Happiness, Your Heritage" President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidencey of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints