The whole point of this blog is to give you an account of the things that have happened to me whilst taking the 12 week course detailed in the book "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. However it is important not to give away too many of the tasks and activities for obvious reasons.  If you are interested, why not buy the book, it isn't expensive and even if you choose not to do the tasks you will still gain some valuable information to help increase your creative output. I do recommend doing the tasks though as it has brought about some postive changes to my life already.

Week 1 had me doing many regular rituals to in order to open up my creativity, much of this was writing based with some physical activities. I found the continued writing a bit of a chore especially as it got me up earlier in the morning than I would have liked. Since it was the beginning of winter when I first started the book the mornings were dark, cold and wet and bed was such a tempting thing to go back to. However it was my desire to be a more fulfilled creative person that kept me going in that first week.

The Friday before I had even bought the book my painting tutor and I had made a bet for me to contact a Melbourne gallery in order for them to see my art with the possibility of representing me. So Day 1 I contacted the gallery who suggested I send them an email with my C.V. and images of my work. By Day 5 they had not only gotten back to me (uncommon in the art world if you are an emerging artist) but they had said they liked my work and would like to see it in person. So I am now madly painting some new work to show them. I am beginning to get excited.

While on an art excursion with a good friend I am asked by said friend if I had ever read "The Artists Way" by Julia Cameron to which I replied "No but I would love to". We had just come out of a great exhibition on William Kentridge at ACMI and were heading towards the Atrium in Fed. Square when we noticed a second hand book sale. "Perhaps we might find the book here" we both say and I proceed to ask the lady behind the make shift stall if she has the book but before she can answer my friend has already found it. We are both very excited but the price puts me off a bit, my bank balance is low and even though it is not expensive it is not cheap either. So sensing my reservations my friend suggests I open the book to a random page and see if it "speaks to me" which is does. $15 dollars later I am the proud owner of a book that has already put in motion some positive changes to my creative life.

Now even though I am a practising artist I am not full time and my wish has always been to create art works for living without any reliance on another income. This has not been the easiest journey and at times I have wondered if I could ever be a full time artist. However once I began reading "The Artists Way" small but postive changes have taken place and given me real hope that this dream will one day, very soon, be a reality.