HAPPY JUNE NEW MOON!

Thankfully this month has brought some much-needed rain! As I write this, yet another storm is approaching. I'll take the storms! Last night we had quite a loud one! Now that I think of it, I should have gone out and photographed it!
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Last month, your creative mission was to notice the things that speak to you and compile them in a folder or on a board. What did you learn about yourself? I'm dying to know. Reply to this email and share your board with me or tell me about what you learned. Inquiring minds want to know!

CURRENT EVENTS IN THE SPELLING ROOM

A lot has happened since we last spoke! While I am still feeling a bit sluggish creatively, I did get myself out there and do some shooting.

Mine Rescue

My husband's Mine Rescue Competition was a couple of weeks ago and I spent the entire day photographing his team as they progressed through the various challenges. If you have never attended Saskatchewan Mining Association's Mine Rescue Competition, you should check it out next year. It's interesting to see the types of problems they face in the mines.

Softball

I have been trying my hand at some sports photography and have been photographing my youngest's softball games. Last year one of the parents on her team was a sports photographer and he made such fantastic images of them, I am awed at how challenging it can be. She has another day of games this weekend so I am looking forward to learning some more.

The Witch Experience Galleries

I have sent out about half of The Witch Experience galleries now. If you've been waiting and haven't yet received an email please check your junk folder or send me a message. I still have a few more to finish.

Sarge

My outside dog, Sarge, had a run-in with a porcupine earlier this week. He was super good about me pulling quills out of him. He's still having some trouble with one of his paws. Here he is enjoying a foot bath!
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4-H Beef Show

I spent some time photographing the West PA 4-H Beef Club at the 4-H Beef Show in Prince Albert last weekend. West PA 4-H Club chose my client, River Valley Resilience Retreat (RVRR), as the recipient of their Charity Steer. RVRR will be using the proceeds to build cabins for families to stay in at their site when first responders/veterans are seeking rest and respite. If you'd like to know more about what RVRR does to help our community, you can visit their website: https://rvrrsk.ca/. They are always seeking volunteers and funds to help support their cause.

Grad Season

If you, or a graduate you know, are still looking for a photographer, I am still taking bookings! Just email me at tara@theportraitwitch.com to start planning. Let's make epic stuff together any time this summer and even into the fall.

Currently Reading

I am still reading The Art of Game Design by Jesse Schell. This book has been a little bit of a beast! I am only about 35% done but my eyes have been opened to just how much thought goes into developing a game.
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I am also currently reading Business Model You by Tim Clark and Bruce Hazen. It takes a design approach to model your work. While I am currently pursuing my creative business part-time, I am planning to go full-time and this book is helping me consider a bigger picture of what my business looks like and where I would like it to go. I am very much looking forward to discussing what I've learned with the rest of The Creative Trifecta (aka my homies Lee and Gina) when we meet next week.
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And, because I am keen to learn, I am also reading Designing Your New Work Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans. This book was recommended in Business Model You and also takes a Design Thinking approach to business and work. What is Design Thinking? According to Interaction Design Foundation, "Design thinking is a non-linear, iterative process . . .to understand users, challenge assumptions, redefine problems and create innovative solutions to prototype and test. Involving five phases—Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype and Test—it is most useful to tackle problems that are ill-defined or unknown." I'm finding the subject quite fascinating at the moment and am excited to embrace this approach in developing my creative business.

Values

Do you like quizzes? One of the rabbit holes I went down this last week was about determining your values. While I have previously considered my values and taken other tests regarding them, I took a quiz this week that I feel has been the most accurate. What I like about this test is that after you select a bunch of values that speak to you, it asks you to choose between two values over and over until it narrows it down to your top 5.

My top five values are:

Curiosity - A willingness to learn and explore. If I had a patron "saint" it would be Alice in Wonderland! I continually follow my curiosity wherever it leads me and I learn the most exciting things and often come up with interesting ideas. When you work with me, I will take the time to get to know who you are so we can create something magical together.

Family - Caring for loved ones. I am a nurturer at heart and I love my family deeply. Two-legged, four-legged, and finned alike. My family is always my priority.

Did you know that I do family photos? I'm most interested in creating photos of your family that tell the viewer something about who you are both individually and altogether. It's nice to have pictures where everyone is smiling pretty at the camera, but wouldn't it be better to have pictures that show your interests? Your craziness? For example, I have a vision of making a family portrait where my eldest daughter is sitting calmly with a drink (she's an adult) and a puzzle amongst the chaos that the rest of us are in (we lovingly call her the White Sheep of the family). My husband is a mechanic and carpenter, and my youngest is a softball player and is learning to play bass. I am a photographer/digital artist, seamstress, hula hooper and crazy witch lady. Shouldn't our family photo reflect that about us?

Variety - Frequent change, diversity. "Variety is the spice of life." I've been known to get bored easily, so I often work on multiple projects at a time to stay interested. Part of it is my intense curiosity, once I start asking questions I start chasing rabbits! I might have both a sewing project and a photography project on the go while learning to speak German and reading up on business skills all at the same time!

Growth - Physical, intellectual and spiritual development. Growth is seriously important to me. What is the point of remaining the same all the time? I think this ties in quite closely with variety. What is growth if not continual change? We are all reaching for the sun, right? Because I also like to nurture people, I love to promote growth in others as well. If you choose to learn with me, expect to be challenged!

Independence - Self-reliance, self-sufficiency. I like to be my own boss and carry my own weight. Having the ability to care for myself and stand on my own two feet is important to me. What I need to remember, though, is that no one can do everything alone. My community is important! I am grateful to all those who support me. Thank you!

Would you like to know what your values are? I highly recommend this test: https://personalvalu.es/​

So that's what's been happening in The Spelling Room lately!

THE LATEST GRIMOIRE PAGES

A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE

A first look at the Mine Rescue Images.

A MESSAGE FROM THE POWERS THAT BE

Your mind and your heart are unbalanced. Are you putting boundaries in place? Or are you erecting barriers to keep everyone out? Often when we are feeling wounded, vulnerable, or lost, we do whatever we can to protect ourselves. Our hearts tell us we are unsafe even when our minds tell us we are being unreasonable. Take a minute and go somewhere that you feel comfortable and safe. Close your eyes and listen to what your mind and your heart are telling you. Are they arguing? Pulling you in different directions? What can you do to bring them into balance? Let those who love you in. They only wish to help and support you. And despite telling yourself you can do this all on your own, your community can help you do it better. Break down barriers, but keep some healthy boundaries.

This card is from The Witches Tarot by Ellen Dugan and Mark Evans

A CREATIVE MISSION

ITERATE

Whatever you decide to work on this month, photography, painting, sketching, writing, etc, make multiple versions. I don't mean go out and make extensive workups, but take the main beats of your plan and make variations. See which ones feel stronger to you. Edit your image in multiple ways and see what you like. Compose the sketch of your painting in different ways and see which one stands out. Change elements of your story summary in different ways. The goal is to experiment.

Tell me what you learned on this Creative Mission by replying to this email, or tagging me in your post about it on Facebook or Instagram: @theportraitwitch.

Thank you for joining me on this journey! I can't wait to see where we go from here.

PO Box 301, Meath Park, SK S0J 1T0
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