Tag: #begrateful

401!

by Free Spirit Meg, posted in Artist Inspiration, FSM Updates

I just realized I’ve written over 400 posts here on my blog! This is 401, baby! That’s pretty insane. I have been keeping my blog for just over three years! It has been a great experience. The reason I started my blog was to keep myself more focused with my artwork. It was the only way I could hold myself to a schedule. It forced me to take time out of my day for my art when otherwise it would get overshadowed by other things happening in my life. Doodling once or twice a week just wasn’t cutting it. My blog has helped me with my time management and also my confidence in my work.

I have always been a quiet, modest person. It was always difficult for me to show off my work even though I knew I needed to be in the public eye to make it as a full time artist. Being on here, I have been able to build relationships with other bloggers and force myself to ignore self-doubt. I’ve met a lot of amazing people on here; a lot of them are just like me! It’s nice to have people to relate to! It helped build my confidence and made me more comfortable with just being myself. I don’t feel the need to “put on a face”. This is all Meg, baby, open for all the world to see! I’m not “afraid” to be me anymore. It’s a great feeling.

In all of this, my work has improved immensely! Not only because I’m obviously dedicating more time to it but also because I’m not afraid of how my work is going to turn out anymore. I use to waste so much time, stressing over my work, thinking it’s never “good enough”. It became difficult to stay motivated, not wanting to start a new piece until the current one was finished. Though, I never wanted to finished the current one because I was avoiding it, doubting my talent. These past couple years I’ve been able to get away from this way of thinking. Now, my ongoing goal is to just keep drawing, keep creating, just be. That’s it! Do what feels right and for god’s sake stop thinking your work is crap! It’s just work. It’s just art. It just is. Good? Bad? It’s a matter of opinion. All I can do is just make it. It is what it is. Once I accepted that, my art became carefree and easy going. The finished pieces come out so awesome and I’m more proud of my work than I have ever been. You can’t force perfection nor can you expect to work like a machine. It’s cliché, I know, but it’s the flaws that make things interesting. It’s the imperfections that attract attention.

So, long story short, I really enjoy blogging and it has done wonders for my work as an artist. What made you want to start a blog? Share your story in the comments below! Thanks for checking out my 401st post! I’ll have to do something super special for the big 500! Until then…

Just be, free spirits!

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Rhino What You’re Thinking!

by Free Spirit Meg, posted in FSM Updates, Zentangle Inspired Art (ZIA)

Hey Everyone! I uploaded the Rhino Totem to my Society6 and my Redbubble. The designs came out really cool! I am enjoying the Redbubble editor. It is so easy and user friendly. It doesn’t take forever to load like Society6 and I can change the color of the background on the editor which gives me a lot of options. I really like the red with the Rhino design.

Society6 has some awesome products though that Redbubble does not. I really like the yoga mats and the furniture is really neat too!

Make sure to give both shops a glance. They are each unique and different like these notebooks. The blue one is from Society6 and the red one is from Redbubble. Like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get! Plus the prices vary between the products. Sometimes one of my shops will be having a sale and the other won’t.

I hope you enjoy the Rhino Totem. There is so much available in the shops it’s crazy! Let me know what you think about each store and what you favorite products are. Do you prefer Society6 or Redbubble? Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Growth is key! Thanks for your support! All profits go right back into my art for supplies, equipment and helps keep the blog running! And remember….

Save the Chubby Unicorns, free spirits!

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Related Posts: Rhino Symbolism | For Sudan and Northern White Rhinos

Free Spirit Meg’s Art Shop!

by Free Spirit Meg, posted in FSM Updates, Totem Animals, Zentangle Inspired Art (ZIA)

Free Spirit Meg’s Art Shop….I like the way that sounds! Anyways…I am so excited to officially announce that I have my own online store now! It’s been a long time coming. Now, I can finally offer prints and canvases of my work. I am slowly creating an online presence starting with Society6 and RedBubble. They have a lot of great products on both sites and it is really fun creating merchandise with my art! I’ve already made my first sale on Society6 and I am so excited and grateful! This is my next step to becoming a full time artist and I feel that much closer to achieving my goal! Thank you to everyone who has supported me this far. I hope I can continue to create beautiful artwork to please your eyeballs! Be sure to check out the new shop and pick up what you like. There are frequent sales going on so check back often!

Another way that you can support my work is by subscribing to Free Spirit Meg on Patreon. It is a site that helps creative entrepreneurs build their business and put together Reward Tiers. You get to choose how much money you want to contribute and receive subscription boxes for each month you are subscribed. I currently offer monthly photography postcards, totem animal prints and custom totem cards exclusively for patrons! The more I grow, the more goodies I can put in my subscription boxes! Check it out and let me know what you think!

Again, I just want to say thank you to everyone who has helped me get this far and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here! Let me know what you think of the new shop and what your favorite items are! Also, if you have a favorite totem animal that hasn’t made it to the shop yet, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll be sure to add it in with haste!

Take care, free spirits!

FSM Update: Equipment Galore!

by Free Spirit Meg, posted in FSM Updates

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Earlier this week I posted a photo of my new camera, a Nikon D5500. I use to have a Canon Rebel xTi which I adored but sadly lost in a fire a year ago. I have been camera-less ever since and had to settle with the camera on my phone. Ugh! Better than nothing but it was extremely frustrating at times…most times. The worst is over though and I have finally replaced my beloved equipment. Although this time I decided to go with Nikon. Honestly, there is no particular reason other than that was the model and price I decided upon. I was looking at both Canon and Nikon with no prejudice to either brand. I have used Nikon while working as a photographer for Lifetouch so I am familiar with both. Both take great pictures and are user friendly. It all boiled down to what I could find in my budget that offered what I expected from the camera.

I came across an amazing bundle which gave me an overwhelming amount of accessories. I truly do not know what to mess around with first. I received four different lens, seven different filters, a tripod, a very nice bag to hold everything and countless other items….memory card, card reader, table tripod, flash…the list goes on. All of this for less than $1000. I could not pass this up. The camera is considered an “entry-level” camera but comparing it to my Rebel which was 10.1 MP, it greatly outshines it with 24 MP! So for me, it’s quite the upgrade. I have taken a few pictures here and there to start getting a feel for it. No special lens or filters yet. Nor have I been able to take pictures outdoors but I hoping to go out this weekend for a little photo adventure. I am very excited to play around with the macro and telephoto lens. I have been wanting a macro lens for a very long time! I can’t wait!

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Also, my husband and I have recently improved our computer station. We each have our own computers now on a two person desk with three monitors. I’m not going to lie, it is surreal. It’s nice being able to work next to each other; my son also gets more time to play his PC games so we are all happy. My husband and I want to start streaming our own channels; now we have hardware to do so. I still need to get a good webcam or two and a mic but other than that I’m ready. Starting a stream is another thing I am excited to mess around with! By the way, do you like my Starry Night mousepad? I couldn’t resist! 

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I am truly grateful to be in the position to gear up with new toys and hardware. I’ve worked really hard to get to this point and I am finally seeing the harvest. It’s a great feeling. I do not have to “settle” with outdated equipment that barely works, is poor quality or any other headaches I have dealt with in the past. Work hard and you will be rewarded. I feel like I have finally earned it.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing in the excitement! What kind of camera do you adore? Or perhaps there are some streaming artists out there with some tips for a noob? Any suggestions for a good webcam? Leave your comments below. Thanks for reading!

Until next time,

“You got to dress for the job you want, not the job you got.”

 

 

 

DeSoto: A Heart of Gold

by Free Spirit Meg, posted in In Memory of, Photo Journal, Zentangle Inspired Art (ZIA)

RIP DeSoto

It’s hard to say goodbye when someone has been at your side for ten years. On March 10th, I had to say goodbye to my greatest friend, DeSoto. He had been with me nearly his entire life. I received him from a friend of a friend when he was no more than a few months old. He was so tiny at the time with big dopey ears that stood straight up. He came everywhere with me; he was my shadow.

DeSoto has been all across the country with me. He was with me when I had my first place in Ohio. Then we moved to Tennessee, back to Ohio, then to New York where we have been for the past seven years. He would sleep by my side every night and even after I got married, my husband had to compete for his place next to me. DeSoto was always there. His love was truly unconditional and he expressed it often. He would squeal with joy every single time I got home like he hadn’t seen me in years; even if I had just ran down the street and back. Usually the knuckle head would be so excited, he would headbutt me in the face. It hurt like hell but I couldn’t be mad. He could not contain his excitement!

He was a mutt. We guessed something between a rottweiler and a black lab. Don’t ask me where those pointy ears came from though. That will always remain a mystery. Regardless of his pedigree, he was a very handsome dog. He had a shiny black coat and was always toned. He loved to run, although, his beloved Sasha could always outrun him. He was an incredible jumper as well. He could easily clear any backyard fence he came to. No matter though. He would never run away. He would just come to the front door and paw at it, as if he was knocking to come in.

He was very obedient. He wanted to please anyone and everyone he met. He was your typical happy hound and he loved being a dog! He was good at it. He would be so hard on himself if he did something wrong, I could barely scold him. Half the time, I didnt even know he did something wrong until he would rat himself out with his guilty manuerisms.
He was a good boy. He had an affect on everyone that met him. His genuine happiness rubbed off on all. I miss him dearly. I believe we were meant to be together. He wanted nothing more than to just be with me. I am a huge animal lover and have always had a strong connection with every creature I meet but DeSoto was so much more. It’s hard to explain. I literally feel like I’ve lost a peice of myself. Everytime I open the door, I’m sad he’s no longer there to greet me. I often feel the need to let him outside so we can chill in the sun together but then I remember he’s gone. He would always be there when I was sad to comfort me and let me hug him as long as I needed. Now when I cry, it’s for him and I want nothing more than to squeeze him tight.

I guess it just takes time. Time heals all wounds, right? I just need to keep thinking of the great life we had together. I am the luckiest girl in the world to have had such an incredible friend at my side. DeSoto taught me to enjoy every second we have. There is no need to dwell on the past. Everyday is a new day and our attitude is what makes everything brighter. DeSoto was a friend to all and had no prejudice. We could all learn a thing or two from such a loyal and loving heart.
This is for you buddy. I miss you tremendously but I will always stay positive and embrace everyday, just like you did.

Until next time,

“Our bodies are prisons for our souls. Our skin and blood, the iron bars of confinement. But fear not. All flesh decays. Death turns all to ash. And thus, death frees every soul.”

 

It Burns…Burns…Burns.

by Free Spirit Meg, posted in FSM Updates, Photo Journal

It is hard to truly imagine the damage a house fire can bring if you haven’t experienced it yourself. I was outside with my dog, Desoto, my husband and my father-in-law. We had no idea what was happening until the fire alarm started to holler. The kids ran out of the house in their pajamas and slippers. The adults ran in and out trying to get everyone to safety, including my mother-in-law who was sleeping upstairs. Within minutes the smoke became too thick to see anything inside. Everyone was trying to get to her as we called out her name until finally she came out of the cloud.

The walls are crying.

Our kitten, Exmoor, and other two dogs, Dali and Mila, were still trapped inside. My brother-in-law managed to get the dogs, running in blindly and carrying them out. Despite trying over and over again, we could not get close to the basement which was where our kitten was trapped. That is also where the fire started and the thick smoke billowed out the stairwell. There was just no way to get to him. I fear he was already gone before we even knew the fire started, yet we still tried.

We looked like coal miners; our faces covered in black. The soot was everywhere and the smell is one that will haunt us for a long while. Trucks and firefighters poured in from our town and surrounding areas. The firefighters tore holes in the roof so the smoke could escape and they could fight the fire properly. It felt like an eternity before the fire was finally out.

This was the Xbox.

My sister-in-law took the kids to her house so they didnt have to witness the chaos. My family and I didn’t know what to do. We wandered around, mostly, staring at the house in disbelief.

Everytime a firefighter came out, I hoped they had Exmoor in their arms. They never did. I felt like a little kid. My “voice of reason” said there was no way he could have made it but the child inside held out for hope. Unfortunately, the moment he was found was the same moment he was lost. He was only four months old and had survived so much in his short life but this was just too much. It is a tragedy what happened to you, Ex. I am truly sorry.

Of course the hydra is intact!

We recieved an immediate and tremendous amount of support from neighbors, friends, family, organizations, and so many more. Our heads were spinning but the community jumped right in to help us. I can never truly express how grateful I am to everyone.

The fire even melted Iron Man!

Eventually we were able to go inside to see what was lost. What wasn’t incinerated was covered with soot and suffered smoke and water damage.

This was my wallet; my handbag it was in is nonexistent.

Much of our things were left unrecognizable. Electronics melted into goop while wood and cloth became char and ash.

This use to be a snowglobe.

The entire ordeal was surreal. I watched it all before my eyes yet I could not believe it was happening. Going through something like this has completely changed my perspective on a lot of things.

Though everything lay in ashes, the smoke has cleared and I can see the light down a new path. It will still take time for certain wounds to heal but the fire brought a violent and radical cleanse. This is the beginning of my next chapter.

Until next time,

“I’ll keep this world from draggin’ me down; gonna stand my ground.”

My camera bag and all its contents.

…..one lens melted a bit.

She looks beautiful! Safe inside the bag! Too bad the water got her.

I had over 20 different kinds of cameras, time to start over!