I'm Having FUN creating my new video series, Walk & Chat with Dawn, where I share behind the scenes what I've been up to and share reflections on what I'm learning in the process of my creativity while walking outdoors enjoying the weather while you come along with me! 

Topics: Happy Easter, my bullet journal prep for April, our stray cat delight, watching an inspiring video, and I share a journaling prompt for your further reflection! 

Do join me and if you have as much fun as I do, please like the video and leave a comment! 
I appreciate your being part of my creative community here at Refresh with Dawn Herring. 

Have yourself a delightful day and the Very Best of Beginnings! 

Hello my friends and welcome back to Beginnings! I've been doing something that I haven't done in a long time. I'm going for walks and taking you with me! Yep! I've started a new series called Walk & Chat with Dawn, and I'm sharing one of these videos in this post in case you haven't seen this one already and/or if you aren't subsctibed to my YouTube Channel....

Today I start with a chat about the weather and then I share about how you, my viewers, are inspiring me and I share some video of my art journal spread progress plus more! So, do join me! 

And you're welcome to share either on YouTube or here in the comments what is inspiring you and what Small Step you're taking toward the things you want to be doing! I'd love to hear from you and Celebrate with You! 

Thanks for watching, subscribing and giving my video a thumbs up and leaving a comment if you're thus inclined! 

I appreciate your support and interest in what I have to share as an artist and creative; having you in community just makes it more fun, satisfying and meaningful to me. 

Journaling Prompt: 
Make a list of what is inspiring you right now. What small step can you take to make a move in the direction where your heart is calling you? How can you support yourself in that way? 

I wish you a delightful day and the very Best of Beginnings! 

My Dad, Danny Bel-Tempo, loved eagles. He loved how majestic they were and appreciated their beauty. So much so, that back in 1989, I did a pen and ink stippled rendering of one for him for a Christmas Gift. He was thrilled when he received it. His remark was "Excellent." I recently came upon this photo as I was going through some older snapshots I took in my early years. This one was the year I married. 

My father appreciated the effort I put in to creating such a piece of work that would touch his heart. I could feel how much it meant to him upon the receiving. He always told me how proud he was of me; it still rings true even with his passing over a year ago. I'm glad I have these images to remember such profound moments from our past together. 

Well, an Eagle's View comes in handy when we need it most. Sometimes life gets complicated, and an eagle's view can help us see the bigger picture; maybe that's why Dad loved eagles so much, so he wouldn't get mired in the details. 

Although he was very detail oriented, from the way he dressed to how his surroundings worked for him. He liked everything "just so." 

I feel that way about my art. I want what I create to be "just so." And sometimes it takes change to make that happen, especially when I've been doing something the same way for a long period of time.  And when I get that Eagle's View, I can see and feel where an internal shift is taking place. And I usually have an idea of where I want to go; most times, it involves a challenge of sorts, growing my skill set to get to this new place I see and desire to reach, so I can get that strong sense of satisfaction with what I create. 

I must remind myself to Go Gentle, and take it one step at a time. I'm not looking for perfection but an up-leveling of sorts. I'm always looking to improve my craft, knowing it's time for a change, when what I've been doing is no longer satisfying me. 

As an artist, I must trust my instincts, knowing that where I want to go will open up to me; it's just a matter of crossing the threshold with confidence, the same confidence my father instilled in me by being so supportive and affirming in my journey as a young artist, only now, with many more decades of experience to support my growth as a creative. 

So here I am ready to embrace change and see where it takes me and enjoy the eagle's view every step of the way. 

Journaling Prompt: 
When was the last time you needed to have a birds'e eye view of your current circumstances in order to solve a problem? How did it help you determine your next steps? Is there a situation where a higher perspective might help you see things more clearly so you know what to do going forward? Be patient and gentle with yourself as you go. 

Thank you for being on this journey with me; I appreciate your interest and your desire to know what I have to share. It makes a difference to have you on life's path as we journey together as the creative people we are in community! You're welcome to share below when an Eagle's View has helped you in your next steps! 

​I wish you the very Best of Beginnings! 

Hello and welcome back to Beginnings! This post makes me smile since I am featuring my Illustration Pic of the Week called Leap Day! Yay! I had so much fun with this one, showing me Leaping for JOY with the extra day we had this year on February 29th! I was wearing a crew neck sweater with a fun colorful scarf. I also enjoyed creating the polka dot pattern in the word DAY, bringing some whimsy and FUN to Leap Day! 

Did you celebrate Leap Day this year? I enjoyed creating this illustration as a way to honor an experience that only comes around every 4 years. Why not, right? This leads me to ask myself and you as well: What are we leaping into right now? What is exciting us about our days, our work, our self discovery? Or perhaps we can look at where we've lost our zest for something we've been doing and how we can get it back! Sometimes we end up creating boxes for ourselves which makes it very hard to LEAP into much of anything. So break open that box that may be holding you back and see what you decide to Leap into next! 

Journaling Prompt: 
Is there an area of your life where you feel "Boxed In?" What change do you think would make all the difference so you can feel excited about it again? 
What do you desire to Leap Into? Do you feel confident about it or a little reserved? Detail how you feel and why in your journal. Happy Leaping! 

Note: I only had 6 illustrations to choose from this week since, much to my surprise and amazement, I did not create a journal entry on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Did it feel odd? Sure. But I got right back to it the next morning! It's ok to take a break when you need it for whatever reason. 

Thank you for your interest in my illustrations and reflections; I trust the journaling prompt will give you interesting and insightful food for thought. 

You have yourself a delightful day and I wish you the Very Best of Beginnings! 

Welcome back to Beginnings! This week, I am choosing to share the more Vulnerable Side of my Illustration Practice for my Illustration Pic of the Week. 
The title of this one is Confusion, and it illustrates how we can sometimes put ourselves in a box of societal expectation with a topic that is very personal. And when we allow that to determine the decisions we make, it can create an incongruence that doesn't align with what our heart is telling us. 

This happened to me recently and it created an unexpected heaviness that was hard to shake; but once I recognized the box I had put myself in, I was able to relieve myself of the Confusion it caused. Confusion has an energy that can be unnerving, undermining your confidence, especially when making decisions, whether small or large. 

When we recognize that the elements that create an incongruency are not coming from within but from without, we can get really honest with ourselves about why we are allowing these elements to have such a direct impact on how we feel. Letting go of those societal expectations and instead, embracing what our own hearts are telling us is an act of courage, but it also affirms who we are on the inside. And that is necessary for moving forward with confidence. 

May we stay aligned with what our hearts speak, knowing it's the Best path for Beginnings. 

Journaling Prompt: 
Describe a time when you struggled with making a decision based on other's opinions. How did that make you feel? What one step of courage did you take to align with what your heart was telling you? Affirm yourself with an empowering heart message of support and love going forward. 

Thank you so much for being a part of my creative and spiritual journey with me; you motivate me to continue to share snippets of my life with you which is an essential part of our community here at Refresh with Dawn Herring: Where Beginnings Are Celebrated! And I celebrate with you as you follow your heart! 

(And what a perfect way to end February on this Leap Day of 2024!) 

I wish you the Very Best of Beginnings!

Hello and Welcome Back to Beginnings! Today's post is focused on my Illustration Pick of the Week! Yes, it's that time again already. Where do the weeks go? I don't know. February is almost over...

So, anyway. My choice for Illustration Pic of the Week makes me laugh. I find it to be seriously conceptual, which is not my typical way of portraying a moment in my day. But I actually LOVE it. It really got my attention when the idea came to me of illustrating what could appear to be my wranging with film after a day of being on camera. Yes, much of my content now-a-days is such, between my Art of Journaling videos, Fashion Styling videos, sharing in my stories, and showing my art process, the camera is often front and center. 

My realization with this illustration is the need for Balance. Making sure that what I choose to do (filming in order to show you the essence of my creative practices) always brings me JOY in the sharing. I do LOVE to show you what I'm up to, thinking about, wearing, deciding, creating. And I'm excited about the possibilities of how my sharing inspires you, my friend and reader! It motivates me when my viewers and readers share how my content is giving them ideas for how they dress, create or keep a journal. Yes! 

Yet, Balance is a necessary reminder that there are days when there needs to be a rest between the camera lens and what I'm doing behind the scenes. 

I'm calling this Illustration Pic of the Week Focused Filming with the subcontext: When you realize how much you got done in a day! Whew. *wink*
 
Journaling Prompt: 
Do you ever recognize all you do in a day? Or do you wait until overwhelm hits? How can you slow down to see clearly all you have accomplished and celebrate as well as determine where you need balance? Detail how you have felt recently. Be honest and recognize when you need to take a rest. Take care of you! 

Thank you so much for being a part of my creative journey and for your support of my YouTube Channel. Your views, thumbs up, choice to subscribe and comment hearten me, knowing that what I share is bringing you joy too! 

Thank you for being present in my community here at Refresh with Dawn Herring: Where Beginnings are Celebrated! 

Hello and Welcome Back to Beginnings! For this post, I will be sharing my Illustration Pic of the Week that is titled, CONCLUDE. I chose this illustration out of the 7 I created from the week since this one features something that I was sad to see go after watching, sort of like a good novel that comes to an end…(Thus the hands over the heart.)

I enjoy watching shows on Prime Video and one that I chose was outside of my usual fare but I found it an intriguing storyline. The series was called Being Human, the American version starring Sam Witwer in one of the leading roles, playing Aiden the Vampire, with the other two roles of Josh as the Werewolf and Sally as the Ghost. 

I’m not one for blood and guts by any stretch, but the overall series really captured the essence of their desire to be better and focus more on their “human” side rather than the “monsters” they knew they were. This series went on for 4 seasons, and many conclusions were surprising but very well done. (I won’t share any spoilers in case you haven’t seen it and want to!)

I especially appreciated the skill set of acting with Sam Witwer’s character; much of his anguish over ones he loses over time are seriously on point, so much so, I could feel it myself. I think it is interesting as the timing of my viewing, especially in the last few weeks, coinciding with the passing of my mom on January 15. Seeing how others, even if in an acting context, dealt with grief, was comforting to me in a sense. Life does keep going; as Mom used to say, Time Stands Still for No One. 

You just keep going, yet learning from each loss and what it shows you about yourself. And allowing others to be there for you when you need it most. And that can sometimes be hard to do, especially when you’re dealing with personal loss that goes deep and wide. 

The character Aiden really taught me that. That’s why I felt inspired to do a sketch of the actor in the garments common to what he wore in the series. 

For this pencil sketch, I used a 6B pencil, which has a heavier lead, in comparison to a #2 pencil. When I created this sketch, I used the Shape and Shadow method rather than contour (line) drawing. I started with lightly laying down structure, light shading to give it form based on shape and shadow of the facial parts starting with the brow line and nose and mouth. I did not choose to erase any forms of shape and shadow but rather just adjusting as I went. I plan to do more in the future; this is just the first one. I feel I captured what I intended with the result. I do not see this as final art; just a sketch. I learn something with every sketch I do; it informs me for the next time. 

Journaling Prompt: 
​Detail a show you have watched that left a lasting impression, feeling a loss when it was concluded, Iike finishing a novel. What did that show teach you? Who was your favorite character and why? Who do you most identify with and what does that show you about yourself? 

Thanks so much for checking out my Illustration Pic of the Week; I enjoy sharing my art journey with you! 
​And I wish you the very Best of Beginnings! 

Hello and Welcome Back to Beginnings! Today's post features my Illustration Pic of the Week, choosing from 7 illustrations, one for each day of the week, from my personal journal, where I highlight a memorable moment from my day. For this week's Pic, I chose VISION, which highlights the time I spent refreshing my Vision Board, which I try to do about once per month. What is a Vision Board, you may ask? 

To me, a vision board is a visual I create from intuitively choosing words and images from my stash of magazines and then I lay each piece out to see what messages I might receive. It's a spiritual, creative and intuitive practice of mine that gives me an interesting vantage point with what's on my mind and what I want to see happen in the future. It's deeply personal and covers many aspects of life: personal, marital, inspirational, and multidimensional. 

So I decided to make a new one for February 2024. In the illustration, I am pinning items to the cork board, which is the substrate on which I create my vision board. On the table are bits of text, pins to attach the pieces and my trusty colorful scissors that I keep in my studio space. 

Do you keep a vision board of sorts? What is your focus and process for making one? I'd love to hear from you; you're welcome to leave a comment! 

Journalng Prompt: 
How do you focus for your future? Do you write things down? Are you more visual and like text and pictures to inspire you? Have you considered making a vision board but haven't yet? Detail how you feel about Visioning for the Days ahead. 

Thank you so much for being a part of my journey creatively and intuitively. It means so much when you take the time to view my work and read my perspective on things. 

I wish you inspiration as you look to the future and I wish you the Very Best of Beginnings! 

Hello and Welcome Back to Beginnings. We are having Fun in the art studio creating a new art journal spread. We started with cutting fabric for a new design. This week we’re splashing paint on the substrate! I’m thinking in terms of negative space and how I want it to look organic and spontaneous in the way it shows up in the design. 

In the video I show what art supplies I used to make the fun marks, along with my plans going forward with fabric. I also share the positive aspects of following intuitive clues as I make my designs and have fun. 

It is my delight to be a source of inspiration to you in your own creativity! Do join me and leave a comment about what creative pursuits you are engaging in! I’d love to hear from you! 

Journaling Prompt: 
​Do you pay attention to the intuitive cues that come to you through your curiosity? If so, what was the result? Did you have fun following what you were drawn to? Do you want to do it again? Explain how this felt for you and why you want to go back. 

Thanks so much for being a part of my creative journey with me; I enjoy sharing it with you. 
And I wish you the very Best of Beginnings! 

Welcome back to Beginnings, where we talk about Fresh Starts, New Cycles, Exploration, Experimentation and Creativity! This particular post is in two parts. The first part is focused on my Illustration Pic of the Week. The Second part is focused on the video content above and what I am sharing with you from my studio space. If you're interested in my illustrations from my personal journal and/or you would enjoy an inside look at my art journal process, then this post is for you! 

Now on to the Illustration Pic of the Week. I create an illustration in my personal journal each evening as part of my daily journaling practice. So that's 7 illustrations to choose from for the Pic of the Week. This week I'm sharing "Prepping," an illustration to highlights the time I spent in my art journal, using a new tool for cutting fabric! I'm excited to experiment with using something other than a regular scissor to create a new design in my art journal. 

For this Part 2 segment, I am sharing a video of my behind-the-scenes activity in my Art Studio space, and I am showing some new cutting tools, my experience with each one, and I demonstrate how I am building a design for a new art journal spread. I'm excited to try new tools that might make my work with fabric easier, since I love using fabric as collage material, which I discuss in detail and show in the video. 

I decided since the Illustration and the video cover the same topic, I thought it would work well together to put them in the same post, so you can see the process of my art journaling and how it translates into something worth remembering from  my day! 

My goal and my delight is for you to be inspired by what you see that will lead to your own creative pursuits! It can be exciting to find a tool that really works to make creating easier and more fulfilling. I wish the same for you in whatever creative activity you enjoy engaging in. If you have recently found a tool in your creative trade that has made a difference for you, you are welcome to share in the comments below! I love celebrating with you in community! 

Journaling Prompt: 
What makes keeping your journaling practice easier? Is there a particular tool such as type of pen, journal or other accessory that you especially enjoy using? Why? Is there something you would like to experiment with that you have yet to try? How do you think it will enhance your experience? 

Thank you for being a part of my artistic journey. I appreciate your presence here. 
And I wish you the Very Best of Beginnings!