Supporting My Mom in Her Adventures With Lung Cancer

Note: I purposely did not use the words "fight against lung cancer" in this blog post title because for me it has very negative connotations. I think that fighting is generally a bad choice in life. I prefer to think of my mother working with her body in the healing process. Also, it has indeed been - and continues to be - an adventure...

Three years ago I quit my job to follow my dream of pursuing art as a career. My mother wanted to help, so we each packed up our one bedroom apartments and moved into a very small two bedroom apartment. We did this to minimize expenses while I got my business off the ground. The business I've created - Painting Soiree on Santa Fe - is my life. So is my mother.

My mom hasn't been able to work since November of 2012. Since the majority of my income goes right back into my business in the form of supplies to keep working, our finances took a terrible hit. Suddenly I was responsible for the majority of the bills. Not only that, I am my mom's only child (we lost my sister in 1995), and she is the last of my immediate family, so I've taken time away from my business to care for her.

On one hand, I'm lucky to be able to take some time off since I'm self-employed.

On the other hand... I don't get paid if I don't work.

Added to the enormous medical bills that we're facing, there are additional expenses in the form of medical equipment and supplies, medications, as well as basic living expenses that I'm having trouble covering. Making matters worse, I can't work as much as I did because I spend a great deal of time caring for and supporting my mom. I'm honored to do this. She's been an amazing mom, and I want to give her the best care that I can. But frankly, I'm exhausted. And I often feel crushed under the weight of the responsibility.

You see, my mom, Linda, was diagnosed with small cell carcinoma (lung cancer) on January 2nd of this year. She had gone to the emergency room because she could hardly breathe or eat. It turns out she had a large tumor between her trachea and her esophagus, and it was pressing on both. Soon after being admitted to the ICU she had to be intubated to keep the fast growing tumor from crushing her windpipe, and she couldn't speak for three weeks. She could only communicate by writing, which the nurses and I could only understand about half of the time.  It was devastating to see her like that, and there were times when I didn't think she'd make it. She spent the first five weeks of this year in the hospital.

She is now home. She's weak from the terrible hit her body has taken from radiation, chemo, and being off her feet for five weeks, but her spirits are high.

People ask me what they can do for us; really the thing that we need the most right now is money. We need to pay the bills, and I would love to have some of this pressure taken off of me, so I can focus on my mother.

I've always been very independent, and asking for help is not easy for me. It’s taken quite a bit of thought, reflection and courage to get to this point to reach out and ask, but I am asking. There is no donation too small and every little bit helps.

If you would like to help out with expenses, please visit http://www.gofundme.com/24l96g

Thank you so much for helping me support the woman who has supported me!

Learning To Be Creative

Often people come to my painting classes and say things like "I'm really not creative." Kind of makes you wonder why someone would show up for a class that will require some creative effort. Sometimes they were dragged by a friend or spouse, and sometimes they just want to try something different. Or perhaps they're holding out hope that then can actually learn to be creative. Whatever the case, I give them loads of credit for just showing up; that's half the battle.

True be told, I used to say the same thing. From the time I was a kid (when creativity should come naturally), through my 20s, I thought I was just not the creative or artistic "type". And I was right, really. At least until I found that I was wrong. What I mean to say is: whether you think you're as creative as Salvador Dali, or as unimaginative as Eeyore: you're right. (Until you change your mind, that is.)

I think the most common misconception about creativity is that you either have it or you don't. The truth is that we're all creative people. But it takes work. Contrary to popular belief, creative people are not overwhelmed with ideas all the time. It does take work, and we do get blocked. Part of the creative process is actually taking a break from the physical part of creating. Part of the work is play, daydreaming, frolicking. And part of it is thinking, researching and contemplating. Creativity is like a muscle: the more you use it, the stronger it gets. If you don't use it, it atrophies. But it can be built up again.

I just found this great article on creative thinking. I recommend it to everyone - creative thinking can help in every part of your life. It's not just for artists.

Thankfully, I finally found that I am a creative person, and I'm lucky to make a living helping others to be creative. If you think you're not creative, just create something. Anything. Make the main idea be not to create something beautiful or meaningful or funny; the idea should be to just create. Art for art's sake. And here's the key: don't judge your work or yourself. Judgement is the enemy of creativity. But that's a whole different blog entirely.

Now go create something. 

"Wash Away The Pain" acrylic on canvas 16x20 ©Tabetha Hastings

The Artist's Way Creativity Workshop

Artist's Way 12-week Creativity Workshop

The Artist's Way is a life changing "spiritual path to higher creativity". This 12-week program is designed to remove your artistic blocks and free up creative energy.
I've done this program twice, and I'm here to tell you that it works! It's not easy, however. It takes work. Daily work. There is a lot of soul searching and digging into your psyche, but there are fun exercises, too.
It's totally worth it.

The first time I did the program, in 2006 (I believe), I was only able to do the first four weeks of the course because my life changed so much in that time that I simply did not have time to finish. Nor did I feel a need at that time; I was on a creative high.

I did it again in 2010 and ended up starting my art business as a result.

The program is all detailed out in the book, and a person could go it alone - that's what I did back in 2006. But after doing the program with a group in 2010, I have to say that I recommend the group. You get dynamics in a group that are just missing when you go it alone. And it's nice to get feedback from others, and to know that you're not alone on this journey. Also, having to be accountable to the 12-week time frame, and to a group, helps keep you on task.

 I offer Artist's Way creative classes a couple of times a year. We do creative exercises that I've designed, in addition to following the 12-week program that Julia Cameron maps out in the book. 

If you're in the Denver area and are interested in joining a class, check my website for the schedule, or email me to find out when one will be offered.

You'll need to purchase the book if you're going to take the class, and you can purchase it pretty much wherever books are sold.

Questions? Feel free to email me.

Painting Like Klimt

I'm thinking of doing a Gustav Klimt style Painting Soiree. I absolutely love Klimt's work, and think it would be fun to try to paint a version of one of his paintings. 

Since it's for a class, I would probably keep it as simple as possible - perhaps do the center section of "Tree of Life". Or perhaps do the painting in three classes on three different canvases...
At any rate, while researching Klimt online, I came across this lovely body art. Apparently it was done by a local (Denver) artist, Kandi King.

While researching, I also came across this site, which compiled some recreations of Klimt's most famous painting, The Kiss.


Pretty cool, if you ask me. Here's a version of The Kiss with Superman and Lois Lane.

  

Bond By Bots

Don't know why, but this just made me smile :)