Art has a flow where it can literally go anywhere it wants. Everything is image. What we see around us. What we see in our minds. These are all subjects of art. And it is only a matter of time before our creative selves catch up with our thoughts and our lives.

But, art must be explored or it fades. When we have an idea or an inspiration, we need to pursue it while it is still alive. Otherwise, the artist within us has no outlet. An artist needs expression, needs release.

The process of art isn’t very complicated at all. When you have an idea about an art project, what you should do is let it form in your mind before writing it down. If you begin writing at the moment your idea is forming, your train of thought will stop. You don’t want that to happen. So, let your thoughts simmer like a well made stew until they have run their course. Then, immediately go over as many details as you can.

Make sure you eventually write your ideas down, as many details as you can recall. Running through a review immediately after you begin forming an idea will help you recall most of the details and even pick up new ones. Writing them down will help you organize the entire project so that you are more prepared to begin putting it to life.

There is a style to art that you will soon get to understand the more you practice. But, an artist can pick the perfect genre for the theme of an art project. A little reflection through the various genres – oil, watercolor, charcoal…etc. to name a few – and the artist has a better understanding of the project and what it means. Picking the genre to fit the theme is important to the overall composition. Of course, some artists love to carry a theme through different genres. But, that’s just mastery of the subject matter and it only works when it is pursued with a great deal of passion.

Find the time to allow your artistic side to express itself and make sure that for that time, you have distractions. Kids are at school, phone is off the hook, you aren’t expecting company…etc. It’s hard to find the focus when everyone in the world is knocking at your door.

A few hours of artistic exploration and you’ll be off to a great start. You just might even have it wrapped up in a fairly short amount of time, opening yourself up for further ideas. It’s a process that never dies as long as you keep it alive. It grows like fire and it only goes out when we stop fueling it. That’s the process of art. It’s a beautiful thing when you let it thrive!

An internationally known artist as well as a mother of six, Rivky Shimon founded Rivkys Art Workshop in New York. Rivkys step-by-step method for teaching children how to create and enjoy art has earned high praise from students, teachers and parents alike. Through her new training series, Rivky plans to teach artists from across the country how to duplicate her success. Not only to ensure that art education remains a vital part of every child’s life, but also to enforce the reality that "The Rivky Method" tm works the same magic for adults as well.