Sitting on the sofa, computer in my lap. I look up to a scene of organized chaos. 
I have a festival this weekend in which I will sell my art and vintage goods. Today I spent the afternoon creating the inventory list, pricing and organizing all the things I need to take for the art side of things. 
To say that our living room is covered in art... well... it isn't a lie. The windows are open with a soft breeze flowing in. My pajamas  are the only clothing that made sense. I am in that crazy work mode. When I hit a flow and things just have to happen. (Also it should be noted... this is the product of procrastinating)
Yet. Here I am, blogging. Checking off all the things on my list. 
Price Originals (Check)
Repackage Pendants (Check)
Update Financial Spreadsheet (Check)
Organize Art into piles for safe travel (Check)

It is times like these when I forget to eat. So Matt reminded me 12 times about the pasta he had ready for me. 
It is times like this when Ellie needs a walk and I can't take her. So Matt took her.
It is times like these that I forget to take a break. So Matt snapped a picture of the blooming daffodil in our yard. 

Well, hello. 
I'm here to talk about the Daily Mini project. 
When I started the project at the beginning of 2018 I knew that I wanted to commit to doing a project. I knew it was going to be mini 3x3 canvas and sister sketchbook pages.
 I didn't know how long the project would last. 
The idea of putting time restrictions on the project seemed like the fastest way to suck the fun out of it. So I didn't. 
I just began and it was really fun. Each day... paint, explore, play. As an artist who mostly paints...I paint often but I had yet to do a true daily practice.   I loved the ritual of coming to my work space every day.
Plus, there was the joy of having social media content to post (Ha) but seriously. Sometimes it is hard to have fresh new content. This project was really helpful in that aspect. I gained a lot of new followers on Instagram. I had people come up to me and talk about the project.  I have new clients because they've enjoyed following this daily practice!

I kept thinking "If I make it to 100 days... awesome! If it goes to 365... that'd be cool too"

It didn't get old. I love it. 
But here is what did happen. 

The process of showing up to my art everyday... meant new ideas were jumping up and down to win attention in my brain.  The mini's inspired new work, new color combinations, new marks. New relationships. And (bonus) people want to buy the minis! 

So I thought about the project. I sat down and really looked at it from all angles. 

100 days would be cool- logistically I need to get ahold of about 20 more 3x3 canvas, the frame to hold them all is no longer big enough... build something for that. 

365 days would be cool too, imagine all those minis together. But really imagine ALL those Minis together.... where, how, and don't forget the cost associated. Also people want to buy them NOW... not in 9 months.  

The more I thought the more I had to return to the beginning of the project... my heart behind it.  
Why--- I wanted a daily habit project... boom, it's working. Daily habit (Check)
                I wanted to increase excitement  in the community about my work. (Check)
                
So... if both of my goals are being accomplished then why force myself or this project to be something that fits into a clean cut mold? Because I don't.
I'm messy, with torn edges and mood swings. I have flaws and shoes that are too big for my feet. I like to change my mind, I like my art to be free from rules. I talk too much, sometimes I don't talk at all. I am not a 100 day project kind of gal. I am not a 365 day project kind of gal.

You know what I am. I am a 81 day project kind of gal. 
81.
That's all the mini canvas I currently have in stock. It'll be a nice collection of cute little mini's. I can take a group photo. They could all go on sale soon. And the people who love them can buy them. Just in time for me to begin working on my next big project. And guess what.
It'll all be okay.
Because I did what I set out to do. I loved it. And rather than push it from a place of love to a place of obligation, I am just not going to do it. Because I am in charge here. This is my zone. 
And if I choose to continue the sketchbook pages, well then I will. And if I miss a day, oh well.
Because I can't run my life or my art business  based on some arbitrary guideline on a personal project. That's just silly.
And 
I kinda think it's cool. 81 mini's from the 2018 daily project. (81 ----18????) Maybe this project had it's own plan the whole time. 

Jaci 

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Follow along via @artbyjacimusec on Instagram. And you can spy all the mini's searching the hashtag #jacimusecminis2018    

"A Little Fun One"
5X5 CANVAS
Acrylic Paint & Correction Tape

People ask me if I run out of ideas. 

My style is so free and playful and fun. That's where it begins. It starts with a mindset of play. And there are endless possibilities. 
Maybe some days I don't feel as bold, as creative, as ready ... but once I begin... the ideas come. 
​

hold the phone

(do they even say that anymore?)
I have completed 51 mini 3x3 canvas paintings and sister pages.  Imagine my eyes getting really big like a cartoon character.  
Friends, I am so happy with this project. SO very happy so I thought I'd pop over into blog land and leave a little love note of sorts to my first 50 +1 mini's

((ps. sister pages live in an art journal that I get to keep forever and ever! yay))

​

I am not really sure how long this little project is going to go. But here is what I do know...
I want to make it to 100 days. At least.
After the project is complete I will sell the mini's. They will be available to purchase in groups or individually. 
I'm still working on the fine details.
 Are you following along???
@artbyjacimusec

woah.
hello. It's 2018 and though I have been on a youtube binge, a netflix bender, and reading a hefty book... I've also been working on my art like a boss.

that's right. I've been busy. 
and for me being busy is all about balance, because if I don't balance out then I could bottom out. Emotionally and physically. And sometimes that happens. (I am human, which means I am an excellent mistake maker).

(Just look at all those grammar errors)

I just wanted to pop in to this blog space... clear the cobwebs and fill you in on some of my projects in the works.

Daily Mini's- I started a daily painting project.  I paint a little 3x3 canvas (palm size) every day. DAILY painting is a huge goal of mine so I thought to create a project that is both small and huge. Something I can easily do in a short amount of time each day that will add up to something significant. And bonus, because I am such a generous paint squeezer-out-er I have also been painting a "sister page". The sister page is just for me, to keep a tangible document of this project for the days when all the mini's find new homes.
What I love about the mini project- 
            the daily practice it promotes, the joy and playfulness of exploring new ideas, having something to post on my Instagram everyday that is brand new, how stinking cute they are, the feeling I get when I display all the mini's together, now I am keeping pretty good track of what day it is.

What I don't so much love-
          cleaning my brushes or lack there of said clean brushes, bad lighting.... if I have to paint late in the day it means my photo is late in the day which means less than stellar lighting. 

​

You can follow the Daily Mini project on my Art by Jaci Musec social media. Instagram updates daily, Facebook twice a week. 

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas.

​

Recently I had the honor of painting a special commission for my friend Xochitl. She wanted  a commission piece as a gift for her niece Rebecca.
The story she told me, Rebecca's... is brave and beautiful. I knew right away that I  wanted this abstract to unfold like my Through Infertility paintings. Every layer representing a piece of Rebecca's journey.

Rebecca was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at a very young age. She  spent 15 years of her young life in and out of hospitals, undergoing treatment and grappling with the realities of her diagnosis.  As time went on it became clear to her doctors and her family that Rebecca's lungs were failing.  Then in October 2017, after a much anticipated wait, Rebecca received the call she had been waiting for. Lungs.  This brave girl underwent a double lung transplant, and manages to post the most amazingly positive posts on her facebook blog. You can help support Rebecca and read all about her journey at https://m.facebook.com/Rebecca.cfstrong/



This is her painting. An abstract representation of her story.

Standing very still
I stood
looking up
at the moon
as it stood in front of
the glorious sun
together
they made
magic
the world
and 
God
move me

Mountains of hard. Endless and overwhelming they rise up before me. I feel tired and overcome. The mountains of hard. They undo me.

That's exactly how I was feeling as I sat in my latest therapy session. 

 exhausted.  Feeling the weight of everything.
All the grief, depression and fear. Frustration, loneliness and heartache.

It felt like this huge daunting task to even think about beginning to step towards anything. 

Mountains of hard. 
That's where I was. 

Talking helped. Sleeping helped. I took one step and then another. 
The medicine began to work, I felt energy seeping back into me. Giving me a little more energy. 
I saw people. Friends. My family. I hugged. I talked. 
I began to sing again.
I painted again.

and 

the small shifts. the small steps forward.
they moved me. To a new place. to a spot where I could finally breathe and stay awake. 
Where I could see the mountains but I could also see my strength. Not a valley. 
More like an open field. With tall wavy grass and sturdy oak trees. Where wildflowers bloom and butterflies roam. Where the light hits golden on every  inch of land.
Oh my soul.
I took deep breaths.

The mountains are still here. But they are on my canvas and they have less power. I know I will climb them and face them and be surrounded by them. But I will not be undone. Not now.

I found my way back. 
and 
here I will rest a bit.
​

Somewhere, deep within me, my authentic self is calling "come back to me"
I've been out lately. Not out on the town, or out of my mind... just out. Checked out. Clouded by a haze of depression and loneliness. Fog filled days of napping and surviving. 
It all seems so dramatic to write out. But when I look back over the past two months I can see it clearly... like a river flowing through, wide, deep and unrelenting. 
I didn't realize I was somewhere amidst it's depths, struggling for air and light. But now as I work my way to shore it is so clear. It is so incredibly clear. The river was so loud I couldn't hear, I couldn't see, it took me for a ride. I think it's letting me go now. 

I'm holding on to hope. Moving forward, doing the things I know that can help me crawl out of this. I can see it. I can feel it. Things are shifting and I am on my way back. Forward.