Have you ever failed to exercise, even for a short period of time?
You get sidetracked with an injury, or caught up in life’s flow — and before you know it, those thigh muscles jiggle when you giggle?
Yeah, me too.
Here’s the thing ... just like the physical muscles in your body, if you want to gain strength in your artistic he❤️art muscle (you know, refine your tastes & feel a bit more artsy, get a better handle on what art you like, feel a sense of joy when you buy a new piece for your home) — then you gotta flex that muscle now & then.
But here’s the good news … unlike those jiggly thigh muscles, which don’t take long to lose their shape (Am I right? Ugh.) — the "mind's eye" muscle you build in order to deepen your love & appreciation for art, doesn’t take nearly as much work or time.
At all.
And it’s a heckuva lot more fun!
The "no pain, no gain" song you have to sing to firm up those bouncy thighs, does not apply when it comes to your he❤️art muscle ... Hallelujah!
The only thing that’s required is time & consistency.
And I’m gonna let you in on a little secret ... I spent years not making art.
More of my adult life has been spent not painting, than the number of years I’ve actually spent honing my craft. Yes, the latter is catching up with the former as I merrily go along. But for the most part, I have logged wayyy more years purely in the “art appreciation” phase.
And even if I had stayed firmly planted in the land of art appreciaton & collecting, and never picked up a paint brush — when I look back on those years, I realize they were so full.
Just bursting at the seams with color & line.
And I could have quite contentedly stayed there.
What’s my point?
My point is, you don’t have to make art to want to learn more about it, and to love & appreciate it.
You don’t have to ever lift a brush or a pen or a quilting needle or a crochet hook or a woodworking tool to grow your he❤️art muscle.
Ever.
But here’s what you have to do if loving & appreciating art are important to you...
You have to begin to weave the acts of observing & absorbing the art around you into your one precious he❤️art fairly consistently.
You don’t necessarily even have to go gallivanting to museums, festivals & galleries if it’s hard for you to carve out the time. You may have young children, or health issues, or some other something that doesn’t allow you as much free time to do artsy things “out there”.
So in addition to occasionally seeing it out there in the world, you can browse Pinterest, Instagram, and online art sites. Look around you the next time you visit your doctor or dentist. I’ve found some beautiful art hanging on the walls there. And the next time you’re at your favorite local bookstore, browse the artsy section. Flip thru those pages & see what you see.
Why, you can even read my blog to stay tuned in ;-)
The point is, start noticing & absorbing art little by little. Weave it into the tapestry of your life.
I promise if you do so, then when you want to buy art, or even if you decide to dabble in making it, you’ll have a whole visual catalog in your mind’s eye that you can draw on ... #punintended ;-)
If you want to learn more about my journey as an artist, and understand how it goes much further back than my hands-on art-making time, you can read more about my creative journey here.
Absorbing the art around me over the years has been so instrumental in growing my he❤️art muscle. ... and it can be for you too.
Rambling along this path has given me a richer, fuller life ... and it can do the same for you.
Pursuing an art-filled life doesn’t have to be hard.
Just show up.
Consistently.
You will be amazed at what gets absorbed into that one & only beautiful brain of yours ;-)
And if you’re not already — sign up for my weekly art newsletter so we can travel that creative road arm in arm.
With your first welcome email you'll also get a freebie PDF download that describes several fun & easy things you can weave into your everyday life that will help you discover your unique creative vibe.
There are soooo many ways to strengthen that he❤️art muscle by working it into the nooks & crannies of your life. You’d be surprised how quickly they add up!
No more jiggly he❤️art muscle for you, dangit.
And it won't hurt a bit.
Comments below are always welcome! I’ll be sure to reply.
xo Barb