Memory Lane - Kait's Mixtape

My newest art acquisition - 'Katy Bird' Chickadee

Today I caught the overground from Vauxhall to Wimbledon so I'd not have to go underground on my way home. The sun was gloriously, richly hot as it's not been for about two weeks. It was simply too nice to be in the network of tunnels running beneath London.

I stood on the train platform, enjoying the sun on my face and the music in my ears. I was completely and entirely in that moment. There was the pulse of an approaching train in my feet, the warmth of the sun against my skin, the familiarity of the lyrics which I'd not heard in so very long.

I have always admired Tegan & Sara. Born in my home town, they are a true testimony to doing what you love. They went from being a locally known duo playing in a local coffee shop in Kensington (The Calgary Kensington, not nearly so posh at the London one, but still very nice) to having their music featured on the L-Word soundtrack.

Their second album is called, interestingly enough, 'This business of art' and today I found myself listening to 'More for Me'. This is a brilliant song. I've always thought so, but today it was just what I needed to hear.

Had a bad day, as bad as they come.

Time to get a real job - you gotta stop having fun.

So I got a real job working nine to nine.

Making five bucks an hour til the day I die.

We are conditioned to believe that we must work and that work must be done out of obligation and that if it's work then it shouldn't or can't be fun.

If I could have one wish I sure wish I had never grown up

got a picture of the way I looked when I was three

I came out laughing, screaming, dancing.

I came out laughing, screaming, dancing.

When we are young it is so easy for us to celebrate the beautiful things in life. To see even the seemingly minor things, like a beautiful sunny day, as something to be celebrated.

I used to be free spirited

Now I'm just free of sleep

I've got a burning passion in my throat

I've got a burning passion inside of me.

I've got a job that wastes my time and gift

I've got a life that needs a serious lift.

It's easy to become complacent. To stop seeing the pure joy at the simple fact that you're alive and the world exists. But we can get into a place where we feel like we're bursting to get out, fidgeting with an energy that just won't go away, and this is where we can tap into our potential. This is where we can give that push.

I'll always have more for me.

I take a little more for me.

I take a little more for me.

I take a little more for me.

More for me.

Remember to always take care of you. That you can be selfish without losing compassion. That when you take care of you and do what you need for you, you will be able to benefit others more.

Remember why you're amazing and why you deserve a job you love and that you should love the life you lead and lead it as if you own it... because you do own it. It's yours.

"Tell me what you plan to do with your own wild and precious life."

-Mary Oliver

The writer and the artist

When working on my tarot card paintings I would often find myself most frustrated by a lack of time. I'd be completely willing to paint but I had to calculate the time I had available with how much I could get done once set up and take down was calculated. If it would take me fifteen minutes to get my paints sorted, pull out my easel, select brushes and get bowls of water and another ten or fifteen minutes to clean my brushes, pallet and bowls afterwards and I only had an hour available before I had to be somewhere or do something else, it just didn't seem worth my while.

I agonised over this on a weekly basis, resenting time spent at work or time spent away on weekends when I felt I should have or could have been painting. Eventually I began to take a more sensible approach and I made the time, planning on it at regular intervals. This worked wonders and of course, having a blog which needed twelve monthly updates was also a great motivator. Whenever I was lost for an update idea I could use my latest Tarot Card as the subject and write about a new technique I'd discovered or the latest bit of symbolism I was working into a piece.

Now that the cards are done I can easily say that my methods of time management were extremely successful. Once I stopped thinking about how long it would take and began planning on making time available whenever possible the chances for painting became more and more frequent and in short order the 22 cards were completed.

With such an incredible accomplishment done I felt I deserved a break before jumping into the next big thing. The 22 cards marked more than my choice to begin living as an artist - they were key in a lot of personal growth and self discovery which has resulted in a huge amount of positive change in my life. I want to mark this with my art gallery showing, which will be held on the 19th and 20th of August.

But in the mean time I've begun to feel a bit aimless - lost without something to fill those spare pockets of time. I've begun to look at my writing more and edit a lot of the stuff I wrote when I was younger. This involves a different sort of prep than the painting did. I can write or edit anytime, anywhere, whenever the mood strikes me, as long as I've got my computer or journal to hand. I almost never leave the house without one or the other and as ideas strike me I'm finding myself getting back into a flow I've not felt since I was in my late teens.

It's interesting though when I try to marry these two parts of myself - The Artist: the sculptor, painter and creator, and The Writer: the storyteller, the philosopher, and the inventor. This conflict in all the thing I want to do, either because I want too much at once or because one single project requires more focus and time than I feel is available to me, is leading me to take serious stock of my life and how I live it. I've written about this before very recently as I've just begun to embark on a really important career shift.

As I begin to learn about Life Coaching and defining how I want to do this and be this, I'm looking at all the tools available to me which have been essential in promoting my creative work. My creative work will never cease as that would be like asking me to stop breathing, but I wonder about how I'm going to use the tools I've got already with the new career I'm creating. Do I keep this blog as it is and just close it - a record of my Tarot series and other art projects I did for over two years? Or do I keep it going but update it with less frequency? Or, and this is the option to which I am leaning, do I keep this blog and begin to shift it along so it becomes a practical tool for my Life Coaching?

One thing I know for sure, making time is entirely up to me. Whatever I decide for this blog, my art website, my editing and my writing, time is a limited resource which needs to be considered with great thought. In September I'm beginning a course and already I've begun a marketing program which aims to give me a lot of tools for launching my Life Coach services.

These are important first steps which require a lot of focus and attention - a lot of time.

To that end I've come to a decision. Right now twelve entries a month is just not feasible if I've got homework (Yeesh) and classes. So this will be the last month in which twelve entries will feature on my blog... for now. I want to thank everyone who has followed and read it twelve times every month. I especially want to thank everyone who has shared comments and kind words about my writing. It's this sort of genuine appreciation which fuels me and I certainly hope you'll continue to follow it as it evolves.

I'm absolutely giddy to see what happens.

Shoes!

These are some promotional sneakers I've done up for the Crazy Sexy Cool show featuring their logo and a bit of my own design work. A nice way to pass an hour out in the sunny garden.

One month!!!

Today is July 19th, which means my gallery show is in exactly one month! And guess what? You're invited!

It's where the green arrow on this map is pointing, on Heneage Street, just off of Brick Lane and only a short walk from Aldgate East Underground station.

It's located in the Rag Factory at there Apricot Gallery, which looks very barren in the photo below but won't be on the 19th and 20th of August.

It won't be barren because it will have lovely Tarot Card Paintings on the walls, like this one.

And this one.

And as if the convenient location and fantastic art wasn't enough, there will also be free wine courtesy of these guys.

Plus everyone who comes will automatically be entered into a draw and given the chance to win a pair of custom painted Faunawolf Creations sneakers, like the ones you can see here.

http://www.faunawolfcreations.com/art-gallery/canvas-shoe-creations/

So if you like good company, fantastic art, delicious wine and a chance to win unique custom kicks, you should really come by from

5PM - 9PM on Friday, August 19th and from 11AM - 8PM on Saturday, August 20th.

Pants!

For some reason my blogger image uploader won't show me the photos I uploaded today so I don't have the images I want for the entry I was going to write. Which is pants!

For today I'll just say that my lesson this weekend was to remember to relax and give myself time to do very little. I tend to feel like any time I spend not working on my art or writing is time spent idle. This idleness gives me a sense of panic and stress, as if my life is being wasted by my inaction - even if I know that's not true.

I suspect (Quite rightly, I'm sure.) that this is simply a bi-product 'knee-jerk' reaction after being in a stagnant relationship for far longer than was necessary. As though I need to make up for lost time by constantly applying myself. But I know that I'll be more productive over the long run if I give myself breaks. As important as my work is, so too must be my rest. Which is why I spent the day outside, in a beautiful shelter which allowed me to enjoy the rain from a fire warmed and dry space in the company of my wonderful supportive partner.

And I certainly don't think the time was wasted at all.

Priorities and shifts

Since I finished my tarot card series I haven't managed to have much in the way of art to use as images on this blog. Naughty of me but I figure I can post pretty pictures I've taken of nice things and that'll do too...but don't think of me as a photographer. I do like photography in a 'my camera does all the work and my photos look spanking good when the light is right' sort of way, but start talking to be about the ISO and the filter and the zoom and I sort of glaze over. It's something I leave to the very talented photographers in my life. Besides, I have a lot of other things to get on with.

Which sort of presents a problem and was my round-about way of getting to the point of this particular post.

I have a lot of passions in life. I have a lot of ideas and creativity which sometimes feels so pent up that I can't seem to find enough ways to get it all out.

I love making costumes. I love designing and conceptualizing them and then making them real and wearable and magnificent.

I also love to sculpt and have a knack for it. I've often wondered about doing something on a larger scale and living in London can make me ache at the thought of it. Seeing a stunning stone dragon or the smooth, elegant curves of a sculpted silhouette makes my fingers twitch and my imagination run wild. Oh, the things I could do. And on a smaller scale too. I discovered Netsuke and would adore creating my own small creature to hold in my hand, carved with patience and love.

I want to revisit animation - as 'Affinity' gets more screenings I consider all the other ideas I have busting to be let out. A few cell animations, classic hand drawn ones which I think would be novel to try and fun to promote.

And of course there's my writing. I'm rapidly co-editing one of my novels, having another edited by a professional and getting ideas for new stuff which I'm jotting down here and there. I'm finding myself lost in the prose I've been dreaming of, wondering where to take it next and itching to give it another go.

Finally there is my painting - custom shoes and my tarot series, not to forget my Buddhist inspired work.

All jumbled up together these things feel like they should all come first, should all get my focus and time. But there are only so many hours in the day and unfortunately, at the moment a lot of them are spent doing menial administrative tasks so I can pay the bills and fund the supplies for this stuff.

Which is why I'm working on a shift. I'm evolving what I do to survive financially so that it not only meets something I'm passionate about, but gives me the freedom and flexibility (and funding) to continue with and truly pursue everything I want in good time. I may not be about to step into a studio with a chunk of granite awaiting my imagination. I may not be hunched over a drawing table putting the final touches on an animation. I may not be opening a box with a hard copy of one of my novels contained with in. I may not have that mascot costume I always wear entertain my cousin. But I do have the desire for it and that gives me a lot of motivation.

This motivation I have has led me to really look at my life, what comes to me naturally and what my options are for fostering that whilst creating a sustainable income. That was how I decided to look into this Life Coaching business, to explore it further. Now I'm realising that I need to look at how I'm using tools at hand, such as this blog, to promote myself. I've presented myself as a creative (which I am), but now I want to show my professional self.

This gives me a lot to think about as this blog has been an incredibly fantastic tool not only for sharing my art and writing, but for making connections and for giving me a sense of confidence in the talents I have. To that end I don't suppose it would be too different to use it for my life coaching, when I start to develop my career and put myself out there as such. The key difference will be creating confidence in others for their own incredible talents and limitless potential.

I'm mulling all this over and, fortunately, I have time to as my course doesn't start until the autumn. But in the mean time I'm practicing focusing my energy onto this one very important thing with the fact that it will be a fun, sustainable career choice for me that will allow me a great amount of freedom, as long as I go about it effectively. I know from experience that spreading yourself too thin is never effective, unless you want to suffer a nervous breakdown.

People aren't marmite.

Finding answers

"I love how you have a profound answer for everything :)" says the tweet on my feed. I reply that I don't consider myself to be profound, just repeating things which make good sense to me, which I too find difficulty remembering sometimes - all in 140 characters or fewer, of course.

"Well, it helps me out so you're doing something right! :)" comes the cheerful reply.

I like this. It makes me happy that something I passed on to someone has helped them in some way, hopefully to make them see that they are capable. I can't take credit for it. I just consider myself to have been the right person at the right time.

I know I've been fortunate in life to know so many people who have given encouragement and support unconditionally as I venture forth. I consider my so called 'profound' statements as a bi-product of that. Plus I'm a straight forward kinda gal. I don't believe in fiffy-faffing about (to use a very English saying) when I can get right to the point. If someone presents me with a problem I will offer a solution. If I find myself with a problem I only share it as a way of asking for help, of seeking solutions from those around me.

Ultimately though, change can only be implemented by me, myself and I. Someone can offer advice, give support, provide ideas or just say something sensible which seems profound in its simplicity, but unless you're willing to do the work it won't amount to much.

Here's to always doing the work and knowing that learning never stops.

General goings-on

The year continues at its lickety split pace.

Everything seems to be falling into place so I’m not feeling terribly overwhelmed. As my gallery show approaches I feel like everything is coming together nicely, especially with the development of Barefoot providing the wine.

There are other little things cropping up and they too seem to be making themselves happen. A fellow artist here in London twigged me onto the Crazy Sexy Cool Show, a general showcase of various artists which will feature a pair of my custom sneakers.

At the end of April my animation, ‘Affinity’ screened at the Paris Lesbian and Feminist Film Festival. Apparently it was watched by one of the organising members of the Some Prefer Cake Film Festival in Bologna and now they too wish to have me send a copy for screening.

Then there’s the exhibition for Trees for Life up in Edinburgh, which both my partner and I have pieces in and it looks like we’ll be going up to attend.

I have to admit that it feels a bit surreal. I’ve not really done much beyond my usual blog updates and tweeting regularly. It’s incredible how, the less you cling to making something happen, the more likely it is to naturally occur.

Exciting Developments!

This is me looking very excited! Why am I so excited? Well, last night I attended the CityPink drinks night at the Adams Street Private Members Club (Very swish) and whilst there I met some very interesting and cool people, as well as bumping into a friend. The result was that a lot of my cards were given out to a lot of people and my gallery show was well promoted for the entire evening.

But even more fantastic than that - and that was pretty fantastic - I got to chatting with Gemma, a representative of the Barefoot Wine company. Established in 1965 and relaunched in 1986, Barefoot likes to partner with not-for-profits and small businesses. They don't pay for any advertising so they get out there by offering their wine at events like the CityPink drinks night, or even at a starving artist's gallery show on August 19th and 20th.

So yes! For those who enjoy a nice robust red or a crisp white, there will also be wine courtesy of Barefoot at my Apricot Gallery showing. Hussah!

Devon and Sunny - Excerpt II

Cracking on with my editing and I've now gotten back the first third of my manuscript back from one of my editing volunteers. I have yet to go through her notes and see what she's done. To be honest I figure it's best to leave it until I've finished my own edit all the way through before I start looking at her contribution. It's a good motivator though because the more I finish the more I can send her way and the more I get back the more I want to finish my part so I can see how it was received.

See the clever circle I've created?

So here for your reading pleasure is another excerpt from it. At the moment my working title is Devon & Sunny. This is a working title in every sense as I really have no intention of leaving it as that. I'm open to suggestions or ideas for titles so if this excerpt gives you an idea please do share by posting a comment.

...

Devon and Sunny - Working title

...

On Monday morning Sunny slid into her seat in homeroom early, turned to Devon and asked, “Why do you hate me?”

The classroom was empty except for the two of them. Devon always came in early to work on homework. He could never get anything done at home anymore. It was too loud. Things with his dad were getting worse.

“Huh?” Devon looked at Sunny blankly. He was really tired and had a lot of work to do. He didn’t have time for Sunny, who had been dubbed The Weird Witch by everyone else in the eighth grade. If she was the Weird Witch and he spent too much time with her he’d become the Total Loser Toto or worse, Dorothy Devon.

Sunny was on a mission though. She was fed up with Devon’s attempts to thwart her. Moving to Calgary had been a chance to reinvent herself and reinvent herself she would. She was going to be assertive and not take crap from anyone, especially some shy kid who obviously could use a friend as badly as her.

“Why..do..you..hate..me?” she spoke clearly, enunciating each word perfectly.

“I never said I did,” Devon looked away, unable to handle the way she tried to hold his eye contact.

“And you haven’t said you don’t. You act like a totally jerk.” Sunny pressed on.

“I’m not jerk!” said Devon with far more confidence than he felt, “I’m a loner.”

“Even loners need friends. Why are you so uninterested in being with people? You never talk to anyone. I’ve been trying to be your friend and the effort has been killing me,” despite her bravado, Sunny was actually quite afraid this might not work and she would lose her only chance of making a friend in this school.

“Well, maybe I just don’t want friends,” Devon felt how weak his argument was.

“Well that’s just great. Now I have no one to give this invitation to,” Sunny flashed the white envelope, her secret weapon and the thing she hoped would bait him.

“Invitation? For what?” Devon asked, unable to hide the curiousity from his voice.

“Nothing, it’s for a friend,” Sunny slid the envelope across her desk so Devon had to crane his neck to see it.

“But… you don’t have any friends, you said…”

Sunny blinked slowly, daring him to finish his sentence. Then she arched her pierced eyebrow and looked away.

“Oh,” Devon remained still. Then he looked away too and slowly the other students began to arrive and Mrs. Hoober came in and then Sunny slipped the envelope into her bag as she pulled out her binder and Devon couldn’t ask about it anymore.

...

The contents of this blog and all of it's creativity are copyright and property of Kaitlyn S. C. Hatch

Sushi - The Art of Food

Just last weekend I was in Canada on a secret visit which involved a lovely wedding on the river bank and spending time with my nearest and dearest. It's been eighteen months since I've been home (A word I find conflicting as I find I am just as much 'home' in London as I am in Calgary) and seven days hardly seemed like enough time to pack in all the catching up and bonding I have been craving for about sixteen months.

I managed to squeeze all the pips out though through a variety of different get togethers and gatherings including a wedding party breakfast, dinner at the Calgary Tower and a lunch of Peter's Drive Through enjoyed atop a hill overlooking the city.

For me family and food go hand in hand and one of my favourite days across the pond was spent with my wonderful grandma, who just happens to be Japanese. My now lawfully wedded sprout enjoys food as much as I do and had repeatedly said that she'd really like to learn how to prepare sushi. I figured who better to ask than my grandma, who agreed emphatically. What was originally just going to be me and my partner trying our hand at hosomaki and saimaki, turned into a family affair.

Over bamboo mats and sticky rice it occurred to me that there doesn't seem to be a single member of my family, my new sprout included, who doesn't exude a strong creative energy in everything they do. As we all took turns making the absolutely poetic rolls of sushi you could see each individual style coming through, be it an eye for detail or a flair for the extravagant.

It was delightful when, afterwards, we all sat down and enjoyed our edible art over fantastic conversation.

It was last Sunday that this wonderful gathering occurred and this weekend my partner and I decided to test out our new found skills to see what we could remember and what new things we could drum up.
Clare prepared the Miso, as she'd been taught by my aunt just last weekend. The result was absolutely smashing and made with a twist as she used a 'salad mix' of seaweed so along with the traditional green, red and white algae could be found.

We prepared the rice and veggies together and she cut up the salmon and tuna.

With all our ingredients spread before us we set out our sushi mats and went to town on what we had thought would be too much rice. It was true that we were only able to make three rolls and two nigiri, but when we were finished we still had a feast that could probably have fed three if I'd not been one of them.

I think it's important to remember that there is creative energy in everything we make and do. Even if you're not painting/drawing/sculpting/writing/acting as much as you'd like, you can always find ways to bring creativity into the little things, like the food you have to eat any way. This incredibly beautiful meal was fun to make, delicious to eat and way better than anything instant or microwavable.

Dance you fools, Dance! - Instalment V

It's the 1st of July which means it's Canada Day and what better way to celebrate than by sharing my Calgary instalment of 'Dance You Fools, Dance!'

Location: The River Bike Path, Calgary, Alberta CANADA

Present: Clare Stuart-Adams, Photographer and Allison Windle, Fan Club/Photographer

Song: Never Gonna Leave Me - Sia

"We are anything but unremarkable."