New moon

The new moon this December 11 brought forth a really dark time. Fitting, since new moons are absent of light. Nature! I wanted to talk for a moment about how hard it is to find your footing in the darkness...

but remember the light will come again. After every new moon there is a big, bright full one.

Here is a soundtrack for today's story.

New stories

One of my favorite things to do is come up with ideas for new stories. I can almost feel the heat rise up into my head and the excitment surge throughout. I've come to realise it's what I live for. But when my personal story changes, I retreat, withdraw, hide. I forget to ask the right questions like, "what's the ending look like?" "What are some of the places I need to go in order to get there?" And most importantly, I don't give myself enough time to just let things develop.

Well, the story has changed. It's a good thing after all, even though I've been freaking out for a while.

If you go back through old journals, blog posts, drawings, you will always find some core beliefs that you hold. The truth is, they are always there and you inherently know them, even when you don't think you do.

so when someone comes into your life and makes you question everything?!? Be patient. Look at the mess and be kind with yourself. Then take a gander at what you've said before. The next chapters might have to be re-written, but the end goal is always the same. The over all lesson you know must be learned, will be learned.

Because you got this. That's why you're here.

Taking my own advice

is weird.

I keep reading/hearing this from all the wise mouths out there. "You know what you need, child." So in this fumbly new moon, where I'm not sure what I'm doing anymore, I'm going back to the roots. It's pretty funny because I've been having the same conversation with myself since High School. I've grown so much since then but I've known deep things about myself- even without realising it.

When will I trust myself to know what I need? I guess it starts now. Step one: trust that even when you don't know, you do.

Peace out all,

Annie

Painting a picture.

I saw Hanson in concert (yes, Hanson) last weekend in Portland. The trees were perfectly scarlett and pumpkin colored, and Portland's sky was heavy with rain. The entire trip was perfect and a wonderful break from the usual California scenery I'd come to see every day.

I love California, but once in a while you need to see....comething else.

Hanson was really special. 11-year-old Annie came out and danced around with 29-year-old Annie. I was silly. I made new friends and remembered something that I'd forgotten about.

How does one paint a picture?

You work on it a bit at a time. Sometimes making mistakes one day, sometimes kicking ass the other. One step might be to mix a color and not paint at all. The next step might be to paint over a part that wasn't quite what you wanted.

I looked up at the Hanson bros as they were leading their pre-show walk; a ritual of walking in your bare feet for one mile amongst Hanson fans and friends, in order to connect with the earth and each other. For each person that walks, Hanson donates a dollar to a person in need, living in a country where the average daily wage is $1. It's simple yet effective. Three brothers created something that doesn't seem like much but helps a lot. They show up before every show and walk whether bodies join them or not.

They're painting a larger picture. Their picture has more than MmmBop. It has walks and 5 different albums. It has a love for old rock and roll, family, kids, community, and helping people because.... well because we all have enough. We all can afford to share.

Their music is a part of it, too. They share stories and emotions. They connect with people as well as connect people with other people. A web of hearts!

What's your picture? Can you look at each day and see how you're adding to it, bit by bit? What will you do to make it as beautiful and rich and vibrant as you can? It doesn't have to be perfect. Some days you will mess up. The most important part is that you show up, paintbrush in your hand. Ready.

After all is said and done....

It was worth it.  The whole "making a book thing"... yeah I'd do it all over again. :)

With wonderful friends at the O.C. Kid's Book Fair, October 4th, 2015

With wonderful friends at the O.C. Kid's Book Fair, October 4th, 2015

I've gone as an attendee to the Orange County Kid's Book Fest for several years, but this year I was an author/illustrator. It was exciting, exhilerating, touching, and although it was a lot of work preparing for it, it didn't feel like work. Must be on to something here....

I shared a booth with the lovely Toymaker- Mrs. Marilyn Scott-Waters!  www.thetoymaker.com

I shared a booth with the lovely Toymaker- Mrs. Marilyn Scott-Waters!  www.thetoymaker.com

Since it's #Inktober, my instagram account has been littered with drawings like these:

annie-ruygt-inktober

More to come.

Oh and the book is available online! Just head over to the shop if you want to pick one up.

Still working on the last pieces for the kickstarter folks. They get some extra swag and have to wait for their books, but I think it'll be worth it. The swag is starting to look legiiit.

Lots of love,

Annie

Creating an environment for yourself- one that you WANT.

So....I'm going to create an environment for myself. One that looks like this.

I don't necessarily mean a physical one, although I might incorporate some of those lovely light strands into my decor, I mean an internal one. I want space, connection with the outside word AND the inside world.

It's a great time of year to push the good ole reset button. In order to do this, I'm going to try and few things:

I'm going to refuse text messages.

Yes, I said that, folks. I'm going to take a break from texting.

I'm going to call people when I want to talk to them.

I haven't talked to so many "close" friends and family, because I resort to text messages. Enough of this and thanks, Hannah from more love letters. I don't want to be Socality Barbie.

I'm going to choose some other activity over web surfing.

I have "The Wake" by Paul Kingsnorth on my bookshelf and it's whining to be read.

If I order out food, I will make a date with a friend.

The goal here is to either prepare my own food, or enjoy company, and get away from the isolation and convenience of take out.

It's an experiment. A chance to implement some new habits and dig around for old patterns in hopes of identifying what's holding me back from being creative and connected. And it's also a chance to see if I'm full of bullshit. ;)

Want to try? We can have a discussion via email. Contact me and let me know how it's going!

Back a brother up

I headed down to Santa Cruz this past Saturday to paint a bit on the beach. I hadn't done this before, at least not with a proper canvas and acrylic paints, so I had a marvelous time even though there's a lot of sand all up in my paint box.

annie-ruygt-paint-beach

I cruised Pacific avenue after a healthy amount of sunshine and seawater, stumbling upon a wellness fair which is right up my ally. After listening to a very stoned man talk about herbal suppliments (which I'm totally into...the suppliments, not the stoned man) I treated myself to a meal at Cafe Gratitude. I love this place with all my heart. It's delicious and vegan, and has a neighborhood cafe vibe pulsing through it's walls.

I thouroughly enojoyed my solo art date and I smiled to myself as I strolled by shops and musicians, feeling elated that I had granted myself the sacred time to make a painting on the beach. Out of the corner of my eye I spied some men in costume. They were dressed in colonial garb and pointing to art prints on tall pieces of plywood. I crossed the street and introduced myself only to recieve a great message at the end of a great day.

The man posing as a founding father was named Alex Skelton and he is an artist. He and his fellow creative were trying to make a point about free speech on the streets of Santa Cruz, and give a clever middle finger to the city for trying to drive them all away.

As we got deeper into his story it was clear that this guy had something important to share. He quit his 9-5 and hit the road, selling his art and living out of his car. You could say he's living the dream, or you could say he gave up a decent life for constant struggle and gosh what a kook he is. But this thing is, he is highly intelligent and he seemed happy.

alex-skelton-art-santacruz.jpeg

"Get involved with your community, get involved with art, get involved with life!" he said. "It's cliqué to say art is important, but it's true. I mean, look at what's happening here. I share my art and it opens a door for you all to come over and talk to me, and therefore we're all connected right now, whereas in other situations we might just pass eachother on the street and never stop."

Now, I hadn't thought of it that way. The part about being an artist that scares me the most is the part where we connect with others. It's exhilerating when you experience it, but it's so very difficult to open that door sometimes. That's what held me back from launching my kickstarter for so long. What made me stop playing music after my tour. What makes me scared for the next leap I'll need to make- the song that's calling in my heart that is telling me to sing loudly and dance wildly even if no one understands.

But when you open the door. Oh....the beauty. I know it's worth all of that, and that's why I'm trying my hardest to push it open.

Just keep going

That's been my mantra these past few weeks. I also like to tell myself, "get comfortable with being uncomfortable."

Sometimes there is a LOT of work that needs to be done, and even though you want to sit in front of the television and veg out on Orange is the New Black, you have to stick to your guns and get 'er done. So I've been sleeping as much as possible to keep the energy reserves up, and dedicating extra time to get shit done. (I found that putting on Orange is the New Black while sketching is a great way to feel like I'm not working!)

These are sketches of some t-shirt designs to promote "The Three Things".  The book will be finished in about 2 weeks, so I'm trying to get everything else made for the kickstarter pledge members!

I attended the SCBWI conference in Los Angeles at the beginning of August. The people were wonderful! Everyone wanted to share their love for stories and art with each other, and the whole time I felt like I was spending my days with old friends. In a way I was because I also got to connect with some really lovely colleagues I haven't seen in forever. We shared our portfolios, discussed the market, talked about art and books and life.

The keynote speakers were especially superb in their comedic timing and emotive perfomances. Every inspiring speech and every breakout session had a thick root hidden inside from which all magic and success stems: perserverence. There is no key, no answer, no "right" way to go about anything. There are smart ways and strategy, but really, it comes down to doing what you love.

These metal sword holders were from the 1800-1850's in an Art Nouveau style.  They caught my eye at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco and I used them as inspiration for the t-shirt designs above.

It was a message a lot of artists need to hear but have a hard time doing so. We always ask, "How do I monetize my art? How can I make a living??" But that isn't what artists should focus if they want the muse to visit.

So, I've been working on getting freelance off my plate and the promo images finished for The Three Things t-shirts and what not. Then... Oh, then.... I'm going to start on the next project. And my soul is softly singing for this project. She's waiting for me to stop stacking things in front of her path because all she wants to do is walk on down to Waldan's pond and create freely.

A freelance project I've been working on for a really cool tech company.

A book. A story of a painter. 'Twas a seed planted several years ago.

In time, my friends!

Love,

Annie

Stay sweet y'all!  My sis made some delicious peach jam over the weekend.  Make time to family and enjoying earth's gifts. :)

Why I love Instagram

I find that social media keeps me connected to people in a great way, but most of the time it overwhelms and agitates me. Being an artist and absolutely needing to share your work, social media becomes this big ole "to-do" list. I usually have a flood of ideas of what I want to post, how often to post it, and then that voice inside my head starts firing off rounds of "should do it now! you're not making enough stuff, Annie, what are you waiting for?!" Ahhhh!

Therefore I always give up.

But then there's instagram.

I've made Instagram something different for me. It's not social at all. It's research, inspiration, curiosity, and love. It's not a to-do list, either. I look forward to snapping a photo of a sketch and uploading it.

I do NOT follow friends.

Instagram is the one place I curate my feed to give me something every day. It's a meditation. I can see what other people are creating and how they see the world in a unique way. I can get away from the "look at me, look at me!" and immerse myself in the "look at this, look at that!".

This is not a new idea. I read online somewhere about curating your instagram feed and I tried it. It was so wonderful that I wanted to share the idea with you.

Ask yourself what will make your day? What will remind you to play?

I follow people in several different categorys that include:

  • Illustrators
  • Plant photography
  • Vegan chefs
  • Street Art
  • Donut cats

I've noticed a huge difference in my attitude when I post and peruse instagram. There is less validation, more inspiration. Less superfluous account checking, more intentional viewing. I have warm happy thoughts when I think about Instagram. :)

This may not be a new concept to any of you, but I hope it is a reminder or an suggestion that strikes a chord. I notice people on their phones together at restaurants all the time, barely sharing a word the entire meal. I wonder, if we used social media in a proactive way to enhance and educate us, would we spend so much time on it? Are we just on social sites for the validation, or is it really the best way we can connect with people now-a-days(probably not).

Next on my agenda: how to curate my facebook.

Oh gosh, that's a task.