I have decided to commit to Art Every Day Month 2008 which starts (eek!) tomorrow, November 1st.  I’m probably more suited to NaNoWriMo, but my kind of writing is more along the lines of short, non-fiction pieces and the thought of attempting to write a novel in a year, let alone a month, is enough to melt my jello.

Yes, it’s probably nuts to commit to something like this right before the Christmas season, but I’m thinking that since we’re planning some artsy-type gifts this year that this could work well.

This blog has been silent for far too long as the waning days of summer, with its endless food storage chores along with attempts at wrangling the new fall school schedule, don’t leave a lot of blogging time.  I did take many pictures and hopefully during the long, dark hours of winter I’ll find time to actually get them on this blog.

In the meantime, check out the challenge.  It’s going to be fun!

I had one of those universe changing moments this afternoon. Blogging and message boards are a great outlet for practicing the Hidden Art of writing!

p. 136

‘Hidden Art’ in the area of writing can be developed in a practical way for the fulfilment of the writer and for the enjoyment and enrichment of the lives of family, friends, and casual contacts. Writing for enjoyment of expression – like music and painting – does not need an audience of more than one.

People from all walks of life – young or old, single or married, in school or retired – have been developing this art for years on the world wide web and most of them have never heard of Edith Schaeffer nor have they a university education qualifying them to be writers.

p. 136

…one need not feel that writing has to be a career for it to be worthwhile, nor that it has to be prepared for by formal study before it can be fulfilling to the writer.

And now I see how wonderfully appropriate this blog is – a place for me to develop my own Hidden Art of writing while I share my other experiences with Hidden Art and thoughts about Mrs. Schaeffer with the blogging world.

I’ve shamelessly borrowed the title of this page from the book written by Edith Schaeffer of the same name. Mrs. Schaeffer and her daughter, Susan Schaeffer Macaulay, are my much loved mentors and encouragers and I’ve only met them through their writing. The fact that I’ve never met them and yet they’ve had such a profound impact on my personal life, gives me the courage to share what I write publicly through this blog. If only one person is encouraged then I will say “job well done” at the end of the day! If I only introduce one person to the writings of these great ladies, I’ve done well.

Mrs. Schaeffer defines “Hidden Art” as:

“… the art which is found in the ‘minor’ areas of life. By ‘minor’ I mean what is involved in the ‘everyday’ of anyone’s life, rather than his career or profession. Each person, I believe, has some talent which is unfulfilled in some ‘hidden area’ of his being, and which could be expressed and developed.”

I consider these areas of life to be the ‘minor’ areas that have ‘major’ impact! Whether one is male or female, married or single, has a primary vocation inside or outside the home, or young or old, we all share the deep desire for enriching our everyday lives. It doesn’t have to be an “if” or a “when”, we all have the ability to make it a “now”. Created in the image of The Original Creator, we all have the desire and ability to create within us.

I’ll be writing about where I’ve found my own ‘hidden artist’ as well as ideas I glean from other sources and everyday living.

If you like what you’re reading on this blog, I highly recommend the book The Hidden Art of Homemaking: Creative Ideas for Enriching Everyday Life, by Edith Schaeffer.