Artist Date December 19-26

How about a walk in nature?  Going outside....clear your thoughts, enjoy the sights and notice the colors of nature.

Where are your artist dates taking you?

Artist Date December 12-19

 Visiting other artist's studios might be a way to enjoy an artist date!  Getting ideas from others is a valuable way to learn.  Take a look through your local arts directories, arts councils, chamber of commerce, and/or downtown development associations to find local artists in your area.   Enjoy experiencing the vast talents that are right in your home town!

Where have you been going lately for your artist dates?

Artist Date December 5-12

Visiting antique shops, walking out in nature, observing in coffee shops...where are you going to have your next artist date?

What are you noticing as you look for times in your schedule to go out and explore?  Are you taking a camera?  Or keeping the images in your mind?  Do you journal or sketch when you go?

Looking for ideas!  Share them in the comments below:

Artist Date-November 28-December 2

Changes, schedules and finding time...an artist date each week...did you go out and explore?

Be sure to mark your calendar right now for this coming week's artist date!  Where will you go?  What will you see?  What is calling out to you?

Enjoy the week and the changing of the seasons...and month!  Give yourself the gift of one hour this week...just for you and your creative journey!

Artist Date November 21-28

Irene Gates

Where have you visited?  How are you "filling the well"?  What time have you taken for yourself this week to create joy in your life?

Here is a reminder to you about Artist Dates!

Artist Dates:
The Artist Date is a once-weekly, festive, solo expedition to explore something that interests you. The Artist Date need not be overtly “artistic”– think mischief more than mastery. Artist Dates fire up the imagination. They spark whimsy. They encourage play. Since art is about the play of ideas, they feed our creative work by replenishing our inner well of images and inspiration. ~Julia Cameron

Share your comments and blog url below!

Artist Date-November 14-21

Artist Date...when and how to fit them in?

Taking time at the end of each week to plan a date in the schedule for an artist date seems easy. However, there are so many things to do in a week!  The schedule is crazy...and time for ourselves usually is the last thing we schedule in.

So, here is what I suggest.  Keep your artist date simple and doable; close to home, within walking distance and simple to fit into your schedule. 

Perhaps a walk in a different direction.  Tea in a room you are not normally in.  10 minutes looking at the sky or something in nature.  Going to a HS musical/play/concert.  Local community locations that you usually do not frequent.  Local community events that catch your eye. Buying some art supplies you have always wanted.  Buying spices or ingredients for a recipe you have wanted to try.  Take some photos of something completely different. 

Where will you go?  How will you explore?

Artist Date-November 7-14

Where have you visited?  What are you discovering?  How are you planning your artist dates?

Artist dates take us out of our everyday thoughts.  They bring new discoveries to our everyday lives.  It takes time to plan an hour each week.  Yet, when you really think about it, that hour can me found by planning...or sometimes, we can just pick up some time here and there...where ever we find ourselves.

Put a comment below and let us know what you are up to!  

Artist Date October 24-31

Artist Date Reminder!  What was your Artist Date last week? What are you learning about how you "create" time in your week to "fill the well"? 

Share your discoveries with us!

Do you have a blog?  Place your blog URL here:

Artist Date October 31-November 6

Artist Date Reminder!

How are your Artist Dates going? This is the time it gets more difficult to schedule time in for yourself...but it is so important! Take a moment right now to block out an hour a week for the next 4 weeks! If it is scheduled, it will be more likely to happen!

Remember, an Artist Date is what YOU choose to do to fill the well. It is doing something that fills your soul. You are important. When you make time for yourself, you make time for others and you are more centered.

Artist Date October 17-23

Artist Date Weekly Reminder!

Where have you been visiting? What are you discovering? Are you creating time each week for your Artist Date?

Let us know! Leave a comment below on your artist date from last week...or what you will be doing this week!

Have a blog? Leave your URL with the blog post you have created here:

Artist Date October 10-16

Where will you go this week?  What will your Artist Date be?  Did you take an Artist Date last week?

Take some time to think about where you will go to explore.  What is on your mind?  What do you wish to discover?

Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below.  You can tell us about your Artist Date from last week.  You can give us an idea of what you are thinking of doing this week.  Remember that we can learn from each other!

If you have a blog, you can leave the url of your Artist Date below so that others can visit your world:

Artist Date-October 3-10

Time to fill the well!

Take some time today to think about where you will go for your Artist Date this week.

Remember: 
1.  You go alone...just you.
2.  Pick a place that brings you joy.
3.  Keep it simple this first week.  The best thing to remember is that you want to be sure to have an artist date once a week, so think about location, time in your schedule and what you really want to "see".

Then, once you have taken your Artist Date this week, post a comment!  You can either write, "Artist Date, check!", or leave a comment with more details about your adventure.  This is a blog to hold yourself accountable.  We will also learn from each other about "what makes a good Artist Date" for each of us.  We may become inspired by an Artist Date we never thought of!

I will send out a reminder post every Monday.  Take time each weekend to plan your Artist Date for the next week. 

The reminder video for Artist Dates by Julia Cameron is here.

Please take a moment in the comments below to introduce yourself!

If you have a blog, you may post the URL of your Artist Date here:

Artist Dates~Defined

Click the image to learn about Artist Dates

Artist Dates

The Artist Date is a once-weekly, festive, solo expedition to explore something that interests you. The Artist Date need not be overtly “artistic”– think mischief more than mastery. ~Julia Cameron

Are you ready to spend each week going on an Artist Date?  Will you take time each week to pull from your inner well?  How will you refill your consciousness each week?

As teachers, creatives and artists, it is so important to take time to fill the well.  Will you join me in sharing your weekly artists dates this school year?  Let's support each other and journey beyond the classroom to keep in touch with our creative selves!

Starting on October 3, 2011 through June 4, 2012 this blog will give you a place to do that!

Each week on Monday, a blog post will be sent to you.   Just a simple reminder to take time each week to "creatively play" to "enchant yourself", to take yourself on an Artist Date.  You take yourself on an Artist Date and share your thoughts and experience with us here on this blog.

All you need to do is send your email address to sloughri@oaisd.org with Artist Date in the Subject line and I will add you to this group list!  It is that simple.  You can join in at any time.  We will be here to support each other and learn how others "fill the creative well" amidst busy work schedules.

Plan out what creative exploration will be on your list for the week.  Commit to it!  and let us know in the comments below how it went.  You can share as little or as much as you like.  We may get inspired by your ideas! And you will set the intention to be creative every week!

If you have a website or blog, please post your url below!