Collage Canvas

          This week was all about letting the creativity flow.  My painting teacher assigned us to do a collage painting.  I tried to focus on what I love in order to be inspired.  My first passion is photography so I figured I'd start there.

            I painted a canvas black so I'd be able to create a slight texture with the paint.  Something I wouldn't be able to get with a regular black canvas.  I cut the black canvas the way I wanted.   I then took modeling paste and pasted it to my working canvas.  I placed it in a way to resemble a camera.  I used more modeling paste to form a circle.  Resembling the lens.  I let that dry and then built up the lens with more modeling paste, to get it the way I wanted it.  In the center of the lens I used acrylic paint, as well as a charcoal drawing and some newspaper clippings.

           The end result was a little different from my original idea, but that's the best part of art.  You can keep building on it until it fits your vision.  I don't think this is the finished product yet but I'll keep you posted.  Thanks for reading!

Happy Wednesday,
Nicole Joliada

Well that's upsetting

Check out @UberFacts's Tweet:  apparently people today are 40% less empathetic than people in the 1980's. That's upsetting :-\  Our world is becoming less and less empathetic towards others. I think it's time for a revolution.  Or a simple reality check would be nice

Today's Tiny Wins!

              I feel as if I don't always know how to be myself. When I'm home, away from my other responsibilities I have the freedom to be me.  It's like a weight has been lifted and I get to express myself.  Whether I'm reading, creating, bike riding or just relaxing, I feel centered.  I came to the conclusion I'm not good with stress. I don't freak out or anything yet I do get very anxious. My mind is constantly racing thinking of all the things I have to do.  Today after work I was able to take a bike ride to a local coffee shop.  I sat for about an hour and a half.  I was supposed to be writing a paper for school (don't worry its not due until next week).  Instead I ordered my small iced coffee and anise almond biscotti.  I sat and listened to music.  I searched for new bands downloaded a bunch of new songs.  When the coffee shop was closing i packed up my things and rode home.  I then walked around the corner and ordered a brick oven pizza for me and mom.  She met me there and we had a nice dinner and conversation.  I felt happy.  I felt normal.  These are the days I love and feel like myself again.
              I came across an article today, "20 things to start doing in your relationships".  I think this is a great list, not only for your relationships with others but with yourself.  Before I even saw this list I've continually reminded myself of several of these points.  Especially the part of staying away from negative people.  I feel in the chaos of everyday life its hard to always remind yourself of who you want to be.  After reading this it reassured me of who i want to be.  I believe if I can remind myself daily to be kind to others, not to sweat the small stuff, and to keep positive.  Then eventually I won't have to remind myself and it will become second nature.  So staying on the positive theme lets celebrate:

Today's tiny wins!

new elephantz bracelet! (only $1 at 7-11)

iced coffee made to perfection!

           AND made an awesome new playlist on YouTube!

Yay to the tiny wins!

Nicole Joliada

FUN FACT FRIDAY!

       Every month on the first Friday I'll post a fun fact.  Since I started this blog in the middle of the month I'm considering this my first Friday.  Whether it involves art, art therapy, fitness or something I think is totally awesome, I'll post it on here for you guys.  For our first fun fact I thought I would refer it to my blog.  

Fun Fact:  

Throughout each of my blogs there are links.  When I make a reference to

anything, whether it's a store, app, etc, I turn the word into a link.  If anything I

mention interests you feel free to click the links.

And remember,

If you come across anything you think me or some of the 

other readers might like please don't hesitate to post 

your own link in the comments!

Happy Friday!

Nicole Joliada

Inspiration

              I've been feeling uninspired lately.  Not wanting to paint or create anything.  I needed something to spark my interest.  Last month a friend invited me and my mom to take a workshop at The Mermaid Art Studio in Long Beach.  It was something new and exciting, so we went.  For this workshop we started making our own art journals.  The studio provided materials for us to bind them ourselves.  I started by pasting decorative paper on the front and back.  Then I bound my book.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to do first. I started with a color that I liked and painted a page. Before I knew it I was using stamps and paint pens.  I didn't want to stop creating.  The beauty of this class was that it opened up my desire to create again.
                Since the workshop I've done several pages and used new mediums.  The best thing about art journals is you just keep working on it.  I leave it near my art materials, so whenever I feel inspiration hit I start working on it.  Everything I love and everything I'm thinking I put into my journal.  It can really help with working out your thoughts or worries.  As a result you get a beautiful piece of art to share with others or keep for yourself.  I encourage everyone to start an art journal.  Especially if you're having a creative block.  For inspiration here is an example of mine.  

              I placed an envelope on the inside cover and put a letter to "my future self" inside. This is a good way to reflect later on. Almost like a time capsule. It can also be therapeutic.

Happy Journaling,
Nicole Joliada 

Road To Healthier

            I've been adjusting my eating habits this week.  As well as my activities, or lack there of.  I'm trying to create a more "health awareness lifestyle" for myself.  I've walked a couple of times this week.  I also bought a new bike and have ridden it several times already.  My friend introduced me to a couple of apps that are suppose to help you track your progress.  One is called c25k, which stands for couch to 5k.  It helps you prepare yourself from being a "couch potato" so to speak to being able to run a 5k. There are plenty of other websites and apps that have similar plans yet this is the one I tried. I've only used it once this week but so far I really like it.
            The other app is called endomondo.  You enter what activity you're doing, i.e. cycling or walking.  Once you start your activity you start the timer and it lets you know how far you went and how long it took you.  Some other great factors to this app are it will show you the route you took during your activity.  It keeps track of how much you need to rehydrate and how fast you were going.  I'm in love with this app and suggest everyone downloads it.  Even if you're not physically active a lot, it's fun to see your stats when you decide to go for a stroll.

Me and my new bike!

             Food wise I've been trying to stay away from carbs.  I have also been looking for healthier snacks to eat. To help me out with making better decisions I downloaded an app called fooducate.  This app lets you scan an item's barcode and it will give you an A to D rating on how good it is for you.  This app is especially useful when you go food shopping.  I love going to Trader Joe's, when looking for yummy healthy snacks.  I'm a vegetarian and can always find something to eat there.  My most recent snack obsession is their gluten free granola: cranberry maple nut.  With fooducate it is a B rating.  When I buy a bag, I measure out a serving size and put it in a ziploc.  So when I make my lunch I grab a ziploc and don't have to worry about overeating.  

            Another change to my intake is my beverages.  I've been drinking only water the past week. With the exception of a cup of coffee in the morning some days.  With just a few small changes, I feel healthier already.  Next week I'm going to find healthy drinks to start incorporating into my new "health awareness lifestyle".  My new motto, "healthy body, healthy mind, healthy life". 

Stay fit my friends,
Nicole Joliada

With The Bad Comes The Good

       I'm sure you've heard people say, with the good comes the bad.  Well I think that is a little pessimistic.  So I say "with the bad comes the good".  Whenever you feel as if there is no hope, something amazing happens.  Within this past year, my life has really been flipped upside down. I lost my house in a natural disaster, I met the love of my life, I went back to school and I quit a job I hated.  Even with all that good I've been feeling lost.  Like there is something bigger and better I should be doing.  Currently I'm on my way to finishing my bachelor's in fine arts.  After that is a master's degree in art therapy.  Then, who knows?  Yet I do know that there is a reason for everything and we should never give up hope.

       I've recently taken a class titled "Quest For Fulfillment".  Hoping it would answer all of my thoughts and worries.  It has not.  Although who can honestly say they found the answer to all of their problems with just one class.  Even though I have not found my way yet, this class has inspired me.  I found a new craving to search for enlightenment.  Which brings me to why I'm creating this blog.  During this new journey I will mention a plethora of things (side note: plethora is such a great word).  I'll mention my new experiences, as well as many interests and passions.  Art being one of the main topics and of course the search of finding an old friend... Myself

Keep positive,
Nicole Joliada

Niagara Falls ~ Canada