Shona Cole - The Artistic Mother: A Practical Guide to Fitting Creativity into Your Life

the Artistic Mother

by Shona Cole

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO FITTING CREATIVITY INTO YOUR BUSY LIFE

www.mycraftivity.com

The Artistic Mother. Copyright 2010 by Shona Cole. Manufactured in China. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. Published by North Light Books, an imprint of F+W Media, Inc., 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236. (800) 289-0963. First edition.

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Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Cole, Shona, 1972-The artistic mother : a practical guide to fitting creativity into your busy life / Shona Cole.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN-13: 978-1-60061-348-7 (alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 1-60061-348-9 (alk. paper)
eISBN: 978-1-6006-1348-9
1. Motherhood. 2. Creative ability. 3. Time management. I. Title.

HQ759.C683 2010
306.8743--dc22

2009028411

www.fwmedia.com

Edited by Liz Casler
Designed by Marissa Bowers
Production coordinated by Greg Nock
Photo styling by Jan Nickum
Photography by Christine Polomsky and David Peterson

Metric Conversion Chart

About the Author

As I grew up in Dublin, Ireland, I was drawn to the arts. I took poetry, watercolor, oil and life drawing classes after school and in the evenings while in college. Before I had children I was determined to follow a proper career path. I received my M.A. in psychology from the University of Dublin, Trinity College, and focused on a career in social services. During those years I spent little time creating art. But when I was pregnant with my first child, I quit work and began to decorate the nursery. It was then that I rediscovered my love of painting and discovered crafting. I have been creating ever since.

My husband Mark and I are the proud parents of five children: Matthew, 10, Lily Kate, 8, Laura, 6, Annie Rose, 4 and Max, 1. We live in a rambling ranch house nestled on five acres an hour north of Houston, Texas, with lots of dogs, singing, painting and books.

I spend my days homeschooling my children, recording everything with a lens and a pen. I spend my nights making art in my craft room next to the kitchen. My art gives me a sense of self, purpose and beauty as a woman and as a mother. I have experienced many ups and downs as a mother. I am a good mom some days and I am crabby and overwhelmed on others. But I am committed to striving to be better each day. I have noticed a pattern: The longer I walk a committed artistic path, the fewer bad Momma days I seem to have!

This book is a compilation of all I have learned over the years in becoming a functioning Artistic Mother while not neglecting my motherly duties. I hope you can glean something from my words, and I wish you all the best as you explore art and find inspiration and beauty as you raise your precious children.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to my husband and constant companion, Mark, for everything. To my children, for being such beautiful, creative, interesting souls. To my Mum for unfailing support and help. To my Dad for giving me oil paints when I was a girl and always believing in me. To Erin Lichnovsky who was the inspiration for the book. To the artists spotlighted in this book: Shannon Mucha, Corey Moortgat, Rebecca Sower, Misty Mawn, Susan Tuttle, Ellene McClay and Audrey Hernandez, thank you for your generosity and commitment to your children and art and for inspiring me to be better at both. To the artists who contributed to the book: Shelley Kommers, Mendy Mitrani, Carrie Harney, Sarah Keith and Cindy Mayfield. To Tonia Davenport for giving me this opportunity. To Liz Casler for her invaluable guidance and dedication. To Christine Polomsky for her wonderful photography. To Marissa Bowers for her artful design work. To North Light Books for their creative vision and commitment to the arts. To Jenny Doh for being supportive of my art from the very beginning. I would not be here without you.

To those artists who have shared their knowledge in the books I have devoured: Claudine Hellmuth, Karen Michel, Michelle Ward, Lynne Perrella and Nita Leland. To poets who have spoken volumes to me: Claudia Emerson, B.H. Fairchild, Billy Collins and Ted Kooser.

Contents

DEDICATION

To the Mothers who are also artistic souls.

Introduction

Why Should Mothers Make Time to Create Art?

Ah, motherhood. What a journey! It can be simultaneously exciting and exhausting, demanding and rewarding, frustrating and glorious! No matter the age of our children, whether little ones grace our homestugging at our skirts, constantly needing usor our children are olderkids or teens needing space, guidance and friendshiplife is noisy, complicated and busy. As moms we serve, guide, cuddle, entertain, teach, groom and nurture our children. Along with listening to their ideas and struggles, moms pour out tenderness and mercy, orange juice and Cheerios (sometimes it seems all at once!). We work harder at motherhood than we ever realized we would.