REFRESH WITH DAWN HERRING: WHERE BEGINNINGS ARE CELEBRATED!
Picture
  • BEGINNINGS
  • About Me
  • ART
    • Dawn's Art Demo Videos
    • Commercial Cartoon Illustration Art Gallery
    • Personal Cartoon Illustration Art Gallery
  • MUSIC
    • Dawn's Spiritual Music Videos
  • JOURNAL KEEPING
  • Blogs
    • Beginnings
    • THE WAY I SEE IT
    • The Sweet Spot
    • Refresh Daily Blog >
      • Your Authentic Refreshment Blog
  • Resources
    • The Way I See It Podcast
    • Keepin' It Sweet Show
    • The Art of Journaling Toolbox
    • The Art of Journaling Prompt Play Book
    • My Favorite Sweet Spots

2/22/2019

Refresh Daily Book Review: Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Picture
PictureHere is my Wardrobe JOY outfit, my favorite of the week!
Hello friends, creatives, journal keepers, artists and small business owners! 

I'm excited to share with you a book review for Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee. I originally found this title visually on Pinterest (​​follow me at Refresh with Dawn Herring); and I'm sure if you've known me for any length of time, that you would know that anything with JOY in the title is sure to get my attention! 

So I knew I had to get my hands on a copy, and I'm so glad I did. Ingrid is detailed, comprehensive and fun in her study on JOY as she dives deep into what initiates JOY from our Surroundings and WHY that happens. 

Through many interviews with architects, artists, designers and others who incorporate deliberate JOY into what they do, she showcases the initiators of JOY. Examples are color, shape, dynamic, energy, inspiration and a myriad of approaches to what can bring us JOY and Why. 

I love how she categorizes her 10 topical chapters (energy, abundance, freedom, harmony, play, surprise, transcendence, magic, celebration, renewal) and her comprehensive approach to sharing what each one represents, both seamlessly and with great detail. 

I enjoyed my reading of Joyful; it gave me new appreciation for my surroundings and even some ideas that I can incorporate into my space. I really loved her focus on abundance, giving examples of confetti, a ton of balloons, bubbles, and repeating wall paper as examples of what can bring us JOY visually and why it has such an impact on us. Yes, there is a science to it all! 

Somehow, this title, Joyful, really affirmed what I have already discovered and experienced as a JOY focused creative, and it just made me smile knowing that I've got this whole JOY thing right! We can have more JOY in our lives by deliberately choosing what is in our surroundings, how we decorate, how we dress, and how we connect with others in community. 

Love this quote from the book: "At the Heart of Celebration is a kind of mathematical paradox: the more we share joy, the more it grows." 

Ingrid does such a splendid job on this title, Joyful, that I wholly recommend it. Plus she offers several resources to help you figure how best to approach your choices in creating more JOY in your life every day. 

Thank you so much, Ingrid, for writing this book; it was a true blessing to read it and I'm delighted to share it with my readers. 

P.S. I've included Ingrid's TED Talk below, Where JOY Hides and How to Find it. 

As an avid journal keeper, I know it can be helpful to have more than one approach to journaling to keep it relevant, revealing and renewing, as well as a prompt or question to keep things fun, fresh and fabulous. You can now receive all this journal keeping support with The ART of Journaling Tool Box, filled with 7 Power Tools for your journaling as well as The ART of Journaling Prompt PLAY Book, filled with 31 prompts, questions and image suggestions to PLAY with in your journaling practice. Whether you're just getting started or looking for some fresh starting points, the resources are simply Perfect for Powerful Playing that leads to personal empowerment. Just click on either image and get started! And let me know which ones are working for YOU right now. 
Picture
Picture







Journaling Prompt:
Look at your surroundings and do an analysis in your journal about what you like the most about areas in your home and what you would like to change to make it more JOYful and aligned with Who You Are as Artist of Your Life. 

Art Journal Prompt:
Have fun with some JOYful images that encapsulate how you want to feel with more JOY in your life. 

Doodle Prompt:
Using JOY or JOYful as a starting point, draw circles, confetti and/or bubbles to highlight and accentuate JOY visually. 

You can read previous book reviews:
Creative Revolution by Flora Bowley
The Creative License by Danny Gregory
I Just Like to Make Things by Lilla Rogers
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
​Watercolor from the Heart by Barbara Nechis 
Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin 


Copyright 2019 Review by Dawn Herring
Copyright 2019 Art by Dawn Herring 

Share

0 Comments

1/18/2019

Refresh Daily: My Visual View

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Picture
Hello friends, creatives, journal keepers, Artists, and small business owners! It's good to be with you again, and this week I'm sharing some things that inspired me as an Artist and Creative, including a movie I saw and something new I started up that's fun and visual, which makes sense, since I am Very Visual!

First up, I wanted to share about the movie I saw (on Amazon Prime Video) called "Temple Grandin" which essentially is based on a true life of an autistic girl as daughter and student, and how she learns in pictures to make sense of her world, rather than based in language. The movie truly portrayed this in a way that really left an impression on me and inspired me to think about My View of the World. Hmmm! Food for thought, wouldn't you say?

Of course, I see visually, especially focusing on vibrant color, detail and texture (oh how I love that texture--makes me want to draw or paint!), but the way Temple's visual way of learning was portrayed was very different from mine. Photographic memory and series of images all related by subject matter. Very interesting.

I do love associations and use mind maps with words rather than pictures, sometimes, in my journal, when I want to go deeper into a subject or word that resonates deeply with me. Of course, Journaling always has place for me, no matter what subject matter I'm covering and I even created a resource just for you whether you just want to get started or get unstuck and need inspiration. I've called it The ART of Journaling Toolbox. Just click on the image below to get access and then get inspired to find Your Creative Voice as Artist of Your Life.
Picture
PictureI had so much fun drawing this dress. Fashion illustration has been a long desired activity.
In addition to finding Temple's way of processing her world through pictures fascinating, I was really inspired by her triumphs in overcoming obstacles and her way of problem solving. Wow. It's amazing what we are capable of when we are motivated to get where we want to go! I highly recommend this movie. It continues to inspire me. 

On another Visual note, I have created an account on...wait for it...Pinterest! Yes, I decided to go visual in another venue and I'm having so much fun! I have a total of 11 boards so far.. one is for Refresh Daily blog, plus art related stuff and of course, JOY. Plus one for Journaling. You're welcome to follow me there and start your own boards. I have visuals there that I haven't shared anywhere else. See what's inspiring me visually and let's connect. 

I actually had some fun diving into some fashion inspiration and illustrated a dress. I so enJOYed this process using mechanical pencil, Winsor Newton watercolor markers and india ink pens. It's been a long time since I drew a garment. It was a nice diversion from my usual Hand Lettering. Although I'm having fun with that too...with my daily doodle in the evenings (that Never gets old) plus working on some sketches for a new Art Series I'm calling my Lyric Lines Design Series, with lyrics from some of the songs I've written in connection with my Spiritual Practice. It was fun to intuitively choose which lyrics to include. 

My process of determining how to present these lyrics is an experiment I'm working with right now...wanting more illustrated visual as the back drop and with lettering on top...we'll see how that goes. I'm all for trying something new, especially if it inspires me. I've always loved the look of white lettering with colorful backgrounds. The contrast, to me, is so eye-popping. So, Stay Tuned! 

How do you see the world? Embrace Your Unique Vision as Artist of Your Life. 
And May JOY Align with Your Creative Heart. 

Journaling Prompt: 
How do you see the world? Give this some thought and perhaps, pick a topic that deeply resonates with you and detail how you see this topic. You can even make a list of topics that resonate with you and detail how you see them. This can reveal your values and what really matters to you. 

Art Journaling Prompt:
Pick an image of the earth or something that grounds you, then choose words that resonate with how you see this image and what it means to you. Use stamps or hand-letter your message. 

Doodle Prompt:
MY View is a great doodle initiator since you can also illustrate the objects in  your life that you deeply love. 

Copyright 2019 Dawn Herring
Copyright 2019 Images by Dawn Herring 

Share

0 Comments

10/24/2017

Refresh Daily: Making Space for Creative Goals

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Picture
As an artist and creative, I’m always looking to stretch myself and try new things, sort of change things up to keep me on my creative toes but not so much that I feel strained or burdened. 

JOY is what drives me to pursue different paths. My curiosity gets initiated and then I eventually just MUST make space to try out what’s been in my heart and desire to do. 

One of the issues I face as a artist is putting myself in a creative box, one I invent for myself, sometimes, without even realizing it. Then I begin to feel the confinement of that box, like something doesn’t feel quite right. Like my creative freedom is being minimized somehow. 

We all put ourselves in boxes of one sort or another, don’t we? And often, we have no idea that we have done so. 

We just start to feel restless, like something has to change, or we might just get a little annoyed! 

As a painter, for the past several years, I’m delved into intuitive transparent watercolor, both on canvas and on watercolor paper. ​

I built myself a portfolio, both for public viewing as well as some personal paintings I have tucked away. 

But, alas, I have still felt other artistic urgings begging for attention, and I think they were starting to feel forlorn that I hadn’t done something about it already! 

Well, it was just a matter of time before I broke out of my transparent watercolor box and decided to try some mixed media, often a combination of transparent watercolor and gouache paint (which is more opaque in nature), as well as adding pen work with india ink. 

Plus the subject matter that has been pining after me has been fashion focused whether garments, jewelry, or handbags and shoes, etc. 

In the past year, I did do several pen renderings of my own jewelry and then I added a bit of watercolor marker for a colorful flair.

But recently, I decided to make space for a fashion rendering of a colorful fur jacket that I’ve had pinned to my inspiration wall for some time now. 

Out came my gouache paints and my sketchbook, and I finally went to town with a paintbrush. I didn’t do any sketching ahead of time for structure or for figure work. I just started applying paint and ran with it. 

After the initial gouache groundwork, the next day I used my Winsor Newton watercolor markers and Faber Castell Artist Pitt Pens for added depth and texture. 

So this is basically my first attempt at rendering a fashion piece with paint and pen after many years of sketching/drawing fashions with pencil in my youth. ​

I was quite delighted with the result. 

Picture
On the left is an image I saved from an ELLE magazine that I pinned to my inspiration board. On the right is my rendering of the image in gouache, watercolor markers and india ink pens. Copyright Art Rendering 2017 Dawn Herring
No, it isn’t perfect and I see my flaws. But it was a complicated piece and I’m satisfied with how it came together. 

I’m sharing this with you, dear reader and friend, to show you the importance of making space for what is calling to you. Whatever it may be. 

I know we all have busy lives. And we all fall into our ruts of sorts that we just naturally follow, until we feel that pining inside and finally decide to do something about it. 

I’m glad I did. Yes, it took me a while from the time I pinned that image. But timing is everything. 
And I did this rendering on the heels of another painting I just completed, that is a combination of transparent watercolor, gouache, and collage with card stock, which is another creative goal I have met. 

Yes, in a sense, I feel like I'm on a roll with breaking out of the boxes I was in for a long time and really making space for the new. 

It doesn’t mean I’m going to donate all of my time to those new ventures. I like dabbling. And I still have my go-to stippled watercolor painting I so love to do and have from the beginning of my watercolor journey that started almost 7 years ago. 

My aim is to follow my intuitive heart wherever it may lead and indulge in what brings me the most creative JOY for my path. 

What will your Creative Path pine for next? 

Journaling Prompt:
Make a list of 10 ideas you want to follow. Which one is pining most for your attention right now? Start making plans to open up space for one or two ideas that you feel the most drawn to. Remember to keep it simple so it’s do-able and brings the most JOY. 

Art Journaling Prompt:
Break out of your art journaling “box” and try a new approach to a spread that you’ve been wanting to try but simply haven’t made time for. See what this new approach opens up for you!

Doodle Prompt:
Draw a box and items in the box that that have been your go-tos, things you’ve been doing for a long time or using that you want to put aside for now. 
Draw another box with the items that you are pining for or that are pining for your attention! 

Subscribe to The JOY Finder here!
Get Creative with Dawn's Directives and Life Affirmations Coloring Pages with Prompts here! 


Copyright 2017 Art Rendering by Dawn Herring
Copyright 2017 Blog Text by Dawn Herring 

Note: The image to the left is from Elle magazine and is copyright to them. Thanks for the inspiration, Elle! 


Share

0 Comments

9/29/2017

Refresh Daily: Acronym for September

0 Comments

Read Now
 
I've been having some fun coming up with acronyms for the months of the year. I find them to be insightful into what really matters to me. Today I'm excited to share with you my new Acronym for September here at Refresh Daily. 

Staying
Ever 
Present
To 
Every 
Moment
Brings
Each
Rest


The more often we take moments to be really Present, the more rest we will create for ourselves (instead of worry and fear playing games with our thoughts!), and perhaps, activate more daily JOY in our lives. 

Journaling Prompt:
What does the word Rest mean to you right now? What does it look like? What are three things you can do to implement being more present and restful in your days. 

Art Journaling Prompt:
Create a spread that really shows REST both with color, image, text or whatever feels the most restful to you. Be very aware of the moments as you create this spread, honoring where you need rest in your body, mind, heart, soul. 

Doodle Prompt:
Create a doodle with the word Rest or Present and incorporate what they mean to you in the way you draw your letters. 

Copyright 2017 Dawn Herring 

Share

0 Comments

5/17/2017

Facebook Live 5-17-17 What is Creatively Inspiring You and Me?

0 Comments

Read Now
 
I so enjoyed a Facebook Live today as we shared what is creatively inspiring us! I share about my creative practice, my painting, my music, plus news! I trust you will be inspired, and you're welcome to leave a comment on what is creatively inspiring you right now! 

May JOY Find You in the Most Unexpected Places. 

Share

0 Comments

5/10/2017

Refresh Daily: #wearyourjoySPRING Video for Kelly Rae Roberts event

0 Comments

Read Now
 
I am back with another fun #WearyourjoySpring hosted by @kellyraeroberts . I really had fun with this one since I recorded it outside! I share my jewelry choices my favorite color red orange and my funky socks. 

Share

0 Comments

5/10/2017

Refresh Daily: #wearyourjoySpring Video

0 Comments

Read Now
 
I decided to try taking part in a @KellyRaeRoberts #WearyourjoySPRING event where we're supposed to wear that brings us joy and post a selfie. I am a huge advocate for wearing what brings you joy, I call it wardrobe joy. So I thought I would take part in this event and I decided to create a video for it instead of taking a selfie. Hope you enjoy when I share about what I'm wearing with what brings me joy.

Share

0 Comments

4/26/2017

Dawn's Facebook Live: April 26, 2017

0 Comments

Read Now
 

Dawn's Facebook Live from April 26, 2017: What is Creatively Inspiring You and Me?

I am excited to share with you my Facebook Live video recorded on April 26, 2017. I am joined by several Facebook Friends as we share what is creatively inspiring us. I talk about my FB Groups, Pages, my 21 Day Refresh Intensive Course, and I show my new painting, Phases, as well as some art supplies I use for my doodles, plus more! Thank you for watching; I hope you get inspired in your Creative Practice, whatever that looks like for you! 
Here are some links for things I mentioned on the video broadcast:
21 Day Refresh Intensive Course 
Dawn Herring Collection Art Gallery Fine Art Page
Your Refreshment Connection that provides links to my FB Pages/Groups and IG
My Dawn's Life Directives blog post with Audio

EnJOY! 
May JOY Find You in the Most Unexpected Places. 

Share

0 Comments

2/2/2017

Refresh Daily: What is Creatively Inspiring You and Me? Facebook Live Video

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Hello dear Refresh Daily friends! This is my first post of 2017 after the relaunch of my new website. 
Today I did my first Facebook Live video (after working with Periscope late 2015 and early 2016.) What is Creatively Inspiring You and Me? was our topic and we had a wonderful time sharing on both sides! I talk several times about our new Private Facebook Group, Your Path to Joy,  plus other specific things that I've been excited about in my creative life. 
The original video in it's entirety can be viewed on my Facebook profile as well. 
I hope you get inspired to initiate more JOY in your life as a result of tuning in. 
Journaling Prompt: 
What is creatively inspiring you right now? Has this been repeated or is it something new? Write an entry to whatever it is, telling it what you love about it and why you want to do it again. 

Art Journaling/Doodling prompt:
Use Creative Inspiration as your word prompt for an art journal spread or doodle the name of what is creatively inspiring you right now using the colors that bring you the most joy! 

May JOY Find You in the Most Unexpected Places! 

Copyright 2017 Dawn Herring 

Share

0 Comments

8/23/2016

Refresh Daily: Full of Surprises

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Picture
As the creator of a 21 Day Refresh Intensive Course, I wanted to get a Fresh Perspective on the course content and decided to engage with it once again. One of the things I appreciate about Refresh Intensive is the fact that it's evergreen, so it never grows old. We change every day, so each time we engage with questions we can answer or an activity that can show us something about ourselves, we can learn something new and profound. 

I wasn't disappointed! I was quite amazed with the discoveries I made throughout the course; it really did reveal things to me I was unaware of and it also clarified and affirmed some things I've experienced before. 

I don't mean to make this post an info-mercial for my course. My purpose is to simply share with you how I benefited from the journaling and other activities I engaged in and why I think it was a good investment of my time. 

First, I determined to do each day's Journaling either before or after my usual personal journaling since it seemed to fit and resonate with that time the best. I was fresh and ready to dig in at that time, so I could get the most out of it. 

One of the things I really love about each day's content/engagement are the options for further reflection and activity, such as art journal prompts, poetry ideas and more, and I felt like I could just run with something that really resonated and not feel obligated to do something that didn't interest me. 

I think the use of COLOR was the most FUN element in whatever context it was contained in. I found the music topic to be revealing and even profound as I worked through the questions. 

I think really focusing on my preferences and why I loved what I was drawn to so much helped me appreciate my own personality on a deeper level because of what I learned about myself in the process. 

I've shared an image of items I found during two of my "Field Trips" I did for those portions of the course. 
Picture
This was a fun and colorful item I found during one of my Refresh Intensive "Field Trips."
I had a great time following the directions and questions about my Field Trip experiences and what they had to teach me on a deeper level. I was surprised by how much I learned from these activities. 
Picture
Another "found" item on one of my Refresh Intensive "Field Trips."
Journaling is a powerful tool that I use daily, and yet, engaging in the journaling exercises in this course showed me things I might not have otherwise discovered if I hadn't worked through those specific processes. I answered the questions as honestly as I could and I think that really initiated a more profound and enlightening "opening up" to Who I Am in the process. 

Each activity truly gave me food for thought. And as I looked back on each one during my Wrap Up time, I was freshly appreciative of what I learned and look forward to going even deeper in the days ahead. 

There are suggested ways to extend each activity, if it especially resonated with you. I found this especially helpful in the EMOTION days and the DECISION MAKING activities. 

Of course, COLOR is a part of my daily life as a watercolor painter, so using it in a fresh context really made it fun and insightful and revealing into deeper dimensions of Who I Am. 

I really look forward to more insights, reveals and fun fabulousness as I engage once again with a Refresh Intensive, with the purpose of always Activating My Intuition, Honoring My Preferences and Listening to my Life Messages. I always want to know what my Life has to say to me! 

Creating Awareness and Appreciating Myself For Who I Am are key elements to Refresh Intensive, not to mention being personally empowered by recognizing things that I didn't realize before where positive change can be initiated toward a more refreshed life. 

Journaling Prompt:
What specific choice can you make for yourself right now that will create more awareness of your preferences? How can you celebrate specific elements of your personality? What there something you did today especially that you can celebrate as a direct result of a choice you made today to honor your preferences? 

Art Journal Prompt:
Create an art journal spread to show appreciate for a specific aspect of your personality that you don't normally like to pay attention to and give it homage. Do this from the heart without hesitation. 

You're welcome to check out my 21 Day Refresh Intensive Course to see how it might benefit you. 

Share

0 Comments
<<Previous
Details
    Subscribe to Refresh Daily

    RSS Feed

    Picture

    Dawn Herring

    Dawn engages in many roles:  As Writer/Blogger and Artist/Creative and Founder of Refresh with Dawn Herring: Where Art and JOY Align, She enjoys sharing from her vast experience as award-winning, life-long artist and leader in the field of written journaling, offering encouragement and proven tips to other journal keepers. Dawn's focus is on written journal keeping, artistic expression and finding your Creative Voice, and positive change that leads personal empowerment, encouraging you to  leave your authentic and positive mark in the world. Dawn is a Commercial artist, hand letterer/illustrator and writer/blogger and enjoys sharing insights, humor, and encouragement as she shares from her life experiences as a woman, wife, mother of two grown daughters and as a Grandparent to a special needs grandson. She enjoys keeping a journal and reading spiritual texts to help keep the light on.  May JOY Align with Your Creative Heart.

    Archives

    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Categories

    All
    2016
    2017
    2018
    2019
    5 Minute Refresh
    Acid Free Card Stock
    Acronym
    Appreciation
    Artists
    Art Journaling
    Art Journal Prompt
    Authenticity
    Autism
    Awareness
    Back To School
    Birds
    Birthday
    Body Language
    Brayer
    Change
    Clothing
    Collage
    Color
    Contentment
    Costume
    Creative Conversations
    Creative Expectation
    Creativity
    Creativity Is A Gift
    Decision Making
    Design
    Doodle Dynamics
    Doodle Prompt
    Emotions
    Fabrics
    Facebook Live Video
    Family
    Fashion
    Filling Your Creative Well
    Food For Thought
    Fresh Perspective
    FUN
    Generosity
    Gift Giving
    Gretchen Rubin
    Halloween
    Handbag
    How Curiosity Can Enhance Our Creativity
    How To Gain Clarity In Challenging Situations
    How To Recognize Illusion When You See It
    How To Recognize New Growth
    Illustrated Birthday Doodle
    Illustration
    Interview
    Intuition
    Jewelry
    Jill Winski
    JournalChat Live
    #JournalChat Live OPEN HOUSE
    Journaling
    Journal Prompt
    Joy
    JOYFest
    Layering
    Layering With Watercolor
    Listen To Your Intuition
    Memoir
    Merry Christmas
    Mindset
    Mix And Match
    Mocking Bird
    Modeling Paste
    Movie Review
    Music
    Nurture
    October
    Oil Pastel
    Patterns
    Periscope Broadcast
    Physical Well Being
    Place
    Refresh Daily Audio
    Refresh Daily Book Review
    Refresh Daily Interview
    Refresh Daily Movie Review
    Refresh Daily Podcast
    Refresh Daily Product Review
    Refresh Daily Rewind
    Refresh Daily Video
    Refresh Intensive
    Refreshment
    Refresh With Dawn Herring
    Self Care
    Sketchbook
    Sleeveless Blouse
    Staying Present
    The Art Of Journaling
    The ART Of JOY
    The Birthday Wall
    Video
    Watercolor
    Why Documenting Your Life Is Important And Beneficial
    Winsor Newton Watercolor Markers
    Work Habits
    Working With Card Decks
    Your Authentic Path
    Your Creative Center
    Your Creative Practice

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • BEGINNINGS
  • About Me
  • ART
    • Dawn's Art Demo Videos
    • Commercial Cartoon Illustration Art Gallery
    • Personal Cartoon Illustration Art Gallery
  • MUSIC
    • Dawn's Spiritual Music Videos
  • JOURNAL KEEPING
  • Blogs
    • Beginnings
    • THE WAY I SEE IT
    • The Sweet Spot
    • Refresh Daily Blog >
      • Your Authentic Refreshment Blog
  • Resources
    • The Way I See It Podcast
    • Keepin' It Sweet Show
    • The Art of Journaling Toolbox
    • The Art of Journaling Prompt Play Book
    • My Favorite Sweet Spots