How to Create a Vision Board

In the middle of all the madness that has become my PBS project, I took some time out last weekend and invited invited friends and fellow artist members of my Facebook group "Manifest Your Creative Destiny," to my apartment to create vision boards.  Although I do this every year, this year I wanted to invite some new friends over and so, I put out a call to fellow manifest members. It was fun to see my circle of friends expand.

Each person brought over 2 magazines, a glue stick and a pair of scissors. Then, after introductions, we sat around my living room and cut out pictures from what we wanted our lives to look like during the next year. As we talked about our artistic goals and dreams, we eventually started sharing photos. Someone would ask, "Hey I'm looking for a photo of someone playing the guitar?" or "Did anyone see a picture of a tree?" and then a few minutes later someone else would say, "Who was looking for that photo of a tree, I found a good one?"

It wasn't a formal thing and we didn't do any prayers or deep breathing exercises. I simply opened up my apartment, made two pots of chili (one vegi and one turkey), wheat-free cornbread, tea and drinks, gave everyone a piece of poster board and said, "Hey, mi casa es su casa. Go for it." I provided the space and got out of the way.

The only thing that I offered that was unique was I invited my friend Jerod Eisenshtadt over to give a talk on health and acupuncture and he offered free sessions to anyone who wanted them. So while people were doing vision boards and eating chili, some people had needles in their bodies.

I actually had a hard time making my own vision board. As an artist, I tend to be somewhat rebellious and to be forced to "Make a vision board now!" Well, I kind of felt uneasy about it. What a weird experience to rebel against my own rules. 

The following artists showed up and if you don't know them, please visit their websites or find them on Facebook. There are some very creative peeps in Richmond doing some pretty rad things.

Eliezer Sobel - author, musician, visual artist
Shari Cordon - experimental psychology researcher and film maker
Valley Haggard- author, blogger,
Susan Singer - visual artist
Chris Singer  - grant writer for non-profits
Becca Bernard - clown and choreographer
Lara Kimbrell O'Connor - visual artist
Dawn Layne - musician, poet
Joanna Lee - poet
Shelia Grey - sculptor
Jarrod Fergeson - Gallery Owner J Fergeson Gallery
Jerrod Eisenshtadt - Acupuncturist, owner of Community Acupuncture


Oh yeah, artist Susan Singer keeps a blog and she posted photos of her vision board. Visit her blog to learn more.

For more info about "The Neon Man and Me" and other storytelling projects by me - Slash Coleman - please visit www.slashcoleman.com

A Salute to 2009 Artists of the Month

I'd like to salute all of our 2009 "Manifest Your Creative Destiny" Artists of the Week. Congratulations to you all! Thank you for inspiring us with your creative spirit and artistic endeavors. I hope 2010 will be a great year for you.

Daniel Jose Custodio, Lucia Gulino, Susan Singer, Valley Haggard, Tiffany Glass Ferriera, Dean Whitbeck, Jarrod Fergeson, Jen Berlingo, Paulo Garbonzo, Stevie Jay, Dave Watkins, Heidi Spieth Klugg, David Pijor, Noel Williams, Joan Bellefield Davis, and Kim Weitkamp.

 

Check out our Facebook group “Manifest Your Creative Destiny,” at http://bit.ly/rISx2 to read more about her, her artist-centric law practice, and her book.

Artist of the Week: Valley Haggard

Our Facebook “Artist of the Week” is writer Valley Haggard.Valley Haggard is a memoirist, blogger, journalist and Book editor for Style Weekly. Her upcoming book is about international travel, reckless sex, cruise ships, cowboys, trains, buses, lesbians, decadence, hash, red wine, Jonah and the whale, heartache, rainbows, God, dying, baby horses, and coming home to Richmond, VA.

Check out group out at http://bit.ly/rISx2.

Myth Seven: When I make a million, I’ll be set

Myth Seven: When I make a million, I’ll be set

When you begin to make a living doing what you love, there will be a flip or a change that occurs. What was once a joyous escape will suddenly become your work. If you aren’t prepared, it can be overwhelming, after all where do you escape to when the things you once escaped to no longer exist? Long hours and a constant work drive can and will burn you out and feeling overwhelmed can easily happen when you don’t give yourself enough options. 

As Book Editor, Valley Haggard, admits, “It’s easy to get sucked into the field. So much energy is put into writing about other peoples work that I find it challenging to take the time to develop my own work. There’s a fine line between doing what you love and having to do what you love. It can definitely steal some of your fire if you don’t watch out.”

Valley Haggard

Valley Haggard is a memoirist, blogger, journalist and Book editor for Style Weekly. Her upcoming book is about international travel, reckless sex, cruise ships, cowboys, trains, buses, lesbians, decadence, hash, red wine, Jonah and the whale, heartache, rainbows, God, dying, baby horses, and coming home to Richmond, VA. www.valleyhaggard.blogspot.com