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Komodo Island, Indonesia

When facing a poisonous lizard

Mixed Media painting: Watercolor, Guoache, Markers.

I went to Komodo National Park while in Indonesia. Known for the Komodo Dragon, the largest lizard in the world. In Komodo Island the lizards are free to just walk around. Why did we go visit this island?! These lizards are poisonous. 7 days prior to our visit a Swedish man was attacked by one while bird watching.

Shivers. Still wondering why we went.

They look like dinosaurs. Their saliva is poisonous and they have no natural predators. They are at the top of the food chain! They sometimes eat each other to maintain their population. Cannibals! Tell me again why we went to visit them?!

While the thought of our visit is still anxiety inducing, I am also oddly grateful we did it. The Komodo Dragon is in danger of becoming extinct, and starting in January the cost to enter Komodo National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site, will be raised to $1000.00 for a group of 4. Yikes! I am not sure I would pay that much to visit these beautiful monsters, but if it helps in conservation efforts, I’m all for it.

 

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Bali, Baby!

BALI 2022

For a good friend’s 40th birthday we went to Bali. After 40+ hours of travel, we landed in paradise. We had a wonderful time. We adventured, we had quality girl time, and we enjoyed this lush and verdant environment. If I had my way, I would have stayed a couple more weeks to be a beach bum, but maybe that will be for the next trip. Enjoy a few pictures while I get my stuff together and round up some quality information for you.

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NYC Marathon Energy

Marathon Day Energy is Unmatched!

Marathon day energy is unmatched. The joy, the people, the cheers – it always makes me so happy! Lately, NYC has been very harsh for me to be in. The lack of trees, nature, in addition to all the loud noises, makes it very harsh for me to spend time there. But the NYC marathon hits different. All the conditions are the same – lack of trees, nature, and loud noises – but the energy is so uplifting, you’re happy to be there. Those 26.2 miles ain’t easy, but year after year the runners look so happy being there. And the people who go out to cheer this feat are so happy to motivate them along. It’s quite moving and inspiring. Here’s to the best day of the year (in NYC)!

Marathon Runner
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Money Mondays

Money Mondays

Skagen, Denmark

Money Mondays…on a Wednesday. I’m off so this is coming today.

I think about money a lot. A LOT. Not because I want to go buy a lot of crap. Yano –shoes, bags, makeup, workout clothes, art supplies. (I do want to buy a lot of art supplies, but I digress.) No, I think about money a lot because I want to be free of having to pay bills and working. I would like to design my life in a way that is aligned with my values and priorities. I want to spend time with loved ones. I want to read so many books. I want to spend a lot of time painting. I want to cook healthy meals. I want to be of service to my community. I want to take long walks. I want to travel. I want to be able to help people when they need it.

I am currently working on designing my life in such a way, but until then I have my 9-5. Which is a good job, affording me stability and comforts that a lot of people don’t have. It still feels like shackles tho, putting me in a position where I am stuck and don’t have many options in terms of freedom with my time. There will always be more money to make, but time is finite. Time is what I am working on valuing more than money. Seems fairly simple but because of the grind culture it’s actually not so.

Because this blog is about creativity I will speak on how to live and design my life creatively. I will achieve the freedom I seek, but I still don’t know how yet. But I will document it all here, and I will take you along for the ride.

I hope you get inspired to design your life intentionally and creatively too!

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Hi There!

Cochechton, NY guoache watercolor 2022

Hi there! Welcome to my blog!

I’m starting this little space as a journal of sorts to my artistic journey. I am a photographer and photo editor working in digital media based in NYC. I am always creative–to a degree– in my work, but am looking to be really free in that process. In the last few years i’ve started painting watercolors. And I love it! It’s always been an amateur hobby, but lately I’ve been yearning to do more, learn more, and become better. I love being creative but also find it incredibly hard to prioritize. There is not enough time in the day. What with cleaning, work, paying bills, working out, and my job, those things take up a lot of time. How boring. But I intend to make this space my creative commune. A place to be authentic and inspired. Hopefully this space keeps me accountable and motivated to create room in my life in a more disciplined way for my creative process. I hope you like it here – you can sit with me!

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Welcome to this creative community. My goal with this space is to satisfy my curiosity and continually explore creativity. As a self taught painter I am constantly battling imposter syndrome - but here I am proclaiming and emphatically expressing my artistic journey. I welcome conversation and new ideas. In this house we value; education, kindness, growth mindset, freedom, love, science, and inclusivity. Welcome!

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© 2024 Iretak Studios Images and content are copyrighted - infringement subject to penalty