Taking Flight: Inspiration & Techniques to Give Your Creative Spirit Wings (and a limited edition print) by the wonderful and talented Kelly Rae Roberts. Her story - and her art - will inspire you to jolt your own creative spirit wide awake.
Tracey Clark (left), Kelly Rae Roberts and Marianne Elliot pictured at a brunch Alex de Souza and I hosted in July at Samovar, San Francisco.
My signed copy of Taking Flight arrived on Thursday, along with a limited edition print of Kelly Rae's painting Harmony. Such an inspiring book! Not only does it encourage the artist in each of us, it reminds us to be fearless and unafraid when trying new things.
An excerpt:
"Taking action against fear also means embracing the notion of unlearning ourselves - breaking down the walls we've built to keep us safe until we see ourselves as we did when we were eight years old: brave, creative, curious, alive. So often, we think the older we get, the more answers we'll have. We associate wisdom with age. While there's some truth to this, perhaps we can, in reality, best appreciate our true, uninhibited selves with who we were when we were younger. I think we knew who we were in essence and in pure creative spirit, when we were eight, nine, ten years old, before we let fear enter our world and spoil our vision. Who were you in those years? What did you love to do? What made you happy? What would your life be like if you reclaimed that spirit, that childlike wonder and made it part of who you are today?
"...We can begin to see and remember the best parts of ourselves and in turn, begin to surrender ourselves to our very own possibility. We can remember our fearless selves, our inspired selves, our joyful selves. It's all possible. One step at a time. We were born for this journey - fears, struggles, love, inspiration, all of it. And we were born with a set of our very own wings. Sometimes, we just have to rediscover them."
The book also features contributing artists including Christine Mason Miller and Mati Rose McDonough, both whom I had the pleasure to meet. Taking Flight offers guidelines to many creative projects, as well as space to write your own notes and ideas. You can order a copy directly from Kelly Rae or from Amazon.com.
Kelly Rae, Christine and Mati also host various art workshops. The next one begins Wednesday, Sept. 10 (which just happens to be my birthday) at Squam Lake, New Hampshire. I'll be in London, but would rather be at Squam!
Kelly Rae and Mati are hosting an art retreat Oct. 25-Nov. 1 in Cortona, Italy. How fabulous is that - not only art, but art in Tuscany??!! If I didn't have to be elsewhere, I'd sign up! Go here to find out more and register.
Meanwhile, help kick-start your creativity with a copy of Taking Flight! You won't be disappointed.
oh, i'm so glad it made it to you (i was worried, given the french postal issues!). you are so kind to write about it and i'm SO blissed out it's reaching people's creativity and hearts. thank you, tara. looking forward to one day meeting you again :)
Posted by: kelly rae | 07 September 2008 at 06:32
It looks like a wonderful book! I must scoot on over and and take a look. Who am I fooling, I want to go order one. Wink! : )
Ahhh... Italy.
Posted by: Christina | 06 September 2008 at 23:21
Very, very cool. Inspiring ehrn people put their dreams into action.
;)
Posted by: amber | 06 September 2008 at 21:32
I am planning to order my book this weekend. And, Tangobaby's, too. How exciting! So, when can I plan on ordering a signed copy of yours? Happy weekend.
Posted by: Relyn | 06 September 2008 at 19:38
Hey Tara,Hope all is well. Looks like a good read.
xo
Posted by: Judy Wilkenfeld | 06 September 2008 at 14:38