Tiffany Joy

Tiff’s Tips: Regularly Reflect On Your Journey

by tiffanyTiff's Tips September 1, 2020July 31, 2020No Comments

Regularly reflect on your journey Tiff's tips series

As you take risks, embrace change, and achieve your goals, reflect regularly on your journey.

Some times it’s hard to be aware of your progress and track valuable milestones. Creating goals often and assessing the goals may not be enough. It is easy to lose track of your overall progress and forget how far you’ve come in your art journey.

We all start somewhere with our creative life and we can get caught up in creating that we forget that we’re making progress. I started with art and writing as a passionate hobby. It would rub me the wrong way when someone called it a hobby, but that is what it was. My desire was for my creativity to be more. However, at the start of my journey it was only something I did in my free time.

My Journey

I then took actions and plan more time around my writing and painting. The act of planning my time around my creative was the first actual step in my artistic career. It was not my last step, though. I shifted my life more and more so I could make it a business and my career. I’m still working on making it a successful business, but I have been meeting wonderful milestones.

One way I track my milestones is to write achievements in a notebook. This way when I’m unaware of my progress, I can look back at all the wonderful stuff I’ve done. Some milestones are things I can control, like publishing “To Love.” Other milestones are outside my control, like making $100 from “To Love”. It is a wonderful practice to track both what your actions and the actions of your audience.

In the recent past, I’ve also used time tracking apps to see how I’ve increased in my time spent on different projects and on my art business.

My personal journal also has notes on my artist journey. When I journal, I do reflect on how my art has changed and looking at how I feel my goals and dreams are going.

I do also have an art business notebook where I take notes on ideas, research, and plan out my business and career. I can go back and examine how my business has morphed and changed over time, which is helpful in keeping me moving forward.

All this regular reflection has kept me motivated and recharges my inspiration. I have evidence written down that I’m already making progress, so I want to keep going.

Want More?

This is part of Tiff’s Tips a blog series. I have also done a goal setting video series on YouTube.

Church (A Poem)

by tiffanyPoetry August 25, 2020June 4, 2020No Comments

I've been in battle 
with the word all my life.
The hard distant pews 
were too hard of seats for me.
It meant too much 
then too little.
I saw the rules as chains
so it's funny
that when my soul breathed
church is where those chains were broken
and I was truly set free.

Want More?

If you would like to read more of my poetry please take a look at my portfolio. You can also watch a few of my poetry readings.

Let Me Be (A Poem)

by tiffanyPoetry August 18, 2020July 31, 2020No Comments

Let me be
in the warm summer air
hugged by loved ones
with their children near.
Let me be
in the lovign garden 
without a single care
with smiles on the faces of those I hold dear.
Let us be
together for now and always.

I wrote “Let Me Be” in July 2020 while I waited for my delayed summer vacation. I was missing my family and longing for our annual summer vacation, which is always a time to relax and be surrounded by love.

Want More?

If you would like to read more of my poetry please take a look at my portfolio. You can also watch a few of my poetry readings.

God Shows Up At Elevation

by tiffanyGod Shows Up August 11, 2020August 18, 2020No Comments

I currently work for a church in the Santa Cruz Mountains called Elevation. Elevation has been around since early 2009, and I joined the church family in late 2009. Throughout the years I have seen how God shows up at Elevation. This will be more of a background to what Elevation is rather than specific stories of God showing up.

It was the second church I went to as an adult with my friends, and we quickly became a part of this wonderful church. After a few major life changes with me, I became the admin for Elevation in 2018. That is not where the story of Elevation starts, though.

The story of Elevation has to start with the pastor, Chuckk (yes, spell check it has 2 k’s). His openness to share his past, personality, and love is one reason everyone involved with the church feels safe to be themselves.

It is a beautiful thing when a group of people can be authentically themselves as they journey towards a personal relationship with God the creator. When there are no walls or barriers to break through, you can then learn and grow with people on the same journey as you.

What makes Elevation, Elevation?

The quick answer are the people. Like every church, those involved and belong to that church makes the church what it is. Church is not about the building or even the weekly service. The church is the people who make up the community of believers we hang out with.

The skill of musical people and other creative people are part of the culture of Elevation. This is also one reason I fit into this church. We are weird creative people who love God.

We must be cool because we meet at a nightclub. The actual location of the building doesn’t matter. We just need a space to meet. Plus, more people may be all right going to a nightclub and not a cathedral or other church building.

I’ve learned a lot from being part of Elevation and see God show up a lot throughout the years of being part of Elevation. It is such a beautiful group of God-loving people.

Want More?

For more information about my amazing Church, you can go to Elevation’s website.

For more blog posts in this series, you can visit my God Shows Up page. I also have a YouTube series that goes hand in hand with this written series.

Tiff’s Tips: Try Different Things

by tiffanyTiff's Tips August 4, 2020July 17, 2020No Comments

It is important in your creative life to try different things. You should experiment with different mediums, styles, and subjects. As you explore unique aspects of art or creating, you’ll find what you enjoy and also your own style. You will learn what does and doesn’t work for you. As you try unfamiliar things, you’ll also grow in your understanding of art and as an artist.

Trying new things is also good in life. With each unknown experience, you can learn more about who you are and life. Do not shy away from what is new or foreign to you. It’ll grow you as a person and artist if you let it.

I have many experiences where I tried unfamiliar things. A lot of them had to do with jobs I had. I tried out 9-12 jobs that could become a career. Funny enough, besides the ones I have now, I would only go back to cleaning dog kennels or theater carpentry. I just didn’t fit well with the others. Trying the different jobs I realized being creative was an important aspect in my career path.

I also experimented in my writing as you can tell if you look at my older writings. I’ve done short stories, poetry, articles, and even my memoir called To Love. In doing all this exploration I learned I am a fiction writer, poet, and love sharing what I’ve learned throughout my life.

In my visual art life I have drawn, sculpted, painted, and do digital art. I have done more than just those few things, but that has been my main focuses. In doing all that I learned that it is easiest and highly fulfilling for me to do digital art, but I also love painting. There is almost a need for me to paint. That is why I sculpt and draw less. My focus is on painting and digital art.

I have noticed recently that as you experiment and try new things, certain elements will remain. I will always be me, and my art will always reflect who I am. An example is that long before I focused on hearts as a series I have put or painted hearts in most of my visual art pieces. This is most likely because I focus my art and core on spreading love, happiness, and sharing my heart. I shared this focus of my life before I even realized it or spoke it.

Learning about your core and more about yourself are the 2 primary values of trying new things.

Want More?

This is part of Tiff’s Tips a blog series. I have also done a goal setting video series on YouTube.

A Romantic Monologue ( To Love Excerpt)

by tiffanyTo Love Updates August 1, 2020April 17, 2020No Comments

A Romantic Monologue is the next excerpt from my new book To Love. All the excerpts of To Love can be found on the To Love section of my site. You can purchase the book on Amazon.

A Romantic Monologue

[A lone female in a flowing floor-length dress with a dark pattern, stands center stage on an empty black stage with a solo pale amber spot light. She starts with her eyes closed.]

Female

Let my mind be clear of thoughts of you. Quiet my heart from the daydreams your appearance creates.

[Her eyes open. She looks into the audience.]

How do I make reality out of these girlish fantasies? You are further than a world away; living among the nobility of this age, while I toil with only my dreams as an escape.

Truly the dreams are but mere lies, that my heart tells my mind. Perfection such as yours cannot honestly exist. You must wear a gentleman’s mask as a ploy for the ladies of your kingdom. Yes, the bright, warm person on display must hide a rotted center. I am sure that the loving smile and open heart is an act to create loyal subjects.

How would a charming prince, such as the one portrayed, survive in this cold hard land? The noble are as wicked as the corrupt rulers, that allow the wealthy to step on the poor? Understanding how a heart can stay intact and open, while among the pressures of aristocracy is beyond my mind.

Perhaps a day will come when fate will bid us a meeting, then my aloof admiration will yield to knowledge of your inner workings and reveal a beautiful mind. If fate is so kind, then my girlish fantasies will release into reality. Until that day comes, I will assure myself that you have perfected your art and the public is seeing a seduction act.

[FADE TO BLACK]

Want More?

To Love is sold on Amazon and if you would like to read more excerpts you can go the To Love Updates section of this site. I also created some fun promotional videos on Youtube.

I’ll Wait: A Throwback Video

by tiffanyPoetry, recorded July 30, 2020June 13, 2020No Comments

I’ll wait is a poem I wrote in 2014 and a throwback video. It performed well on my site, so I did a poetry reading recording of it for YouTube. It then did pretty well on YouTube and is one of my throwback posts.

My throwback posts are my attempt to highlight some of my older work to display my growth, while making sure the work is properly promoted.

I will wait for inspiration to come
for thoughts like a word bubble 
to appear above my head.

I will wait 
until my mind is ready
and my brain turns on
like a computer boting up.

I will wait until my body tells me
it is time to write
and then when patience is no longer needed
and inspiration comes
I will write.

I will write 
watever my mind tells me to write.
My mind whispers to my fingers
and what is scribbled 
in the thought bubble above my head.
When I know what to write
I will ready my body
unleash my mind
and write
but until then
I will wait.

Want More?

If you would like to read more of my poetry please take a look at my portfolio. You can also watch a few of my poetry readings.

Breathe (A Poem)

by tiffanyPoetry, Poetry Portfolio July 28, 2020January 5, 2021No Comments

I remind myself
Breathe.
Close your eyes if you must
but breathe.

One, Two, Three.
Inhale the exhale.
Your heart doesn't need to beat so loud.

Breathe. 
There is no real danger,
nothing to truly fear,
so breathe.

Breathe
in with the peace that surrounds you
out with the anxiety that built.

Breathe
in with the love we share
out with the bottled up fear.

Breathe
sometimes I need to remind myself 
to breathe.

Want More?

If you would like to read more of my poetry please take a look at my portfolio. You can also watch a few of my poetry readings.

Love Nerd: Lessons From A Single’s Life

by tiffanyLove Nerd July 21, 2020July 17, 2020No Comments

You can learn a lot from every chapter of life if you keep an open mind and look for learning opportunities. There are lessons you can learn from a single’s life. There are always lessons. Once you’re comfortable being single, you’ll be able to learn a lot. Among the things I’ve learned while being single, there are two important lessons that stick out in my mind.

Lesson 1

The first lesson is that doing things alone is okay. You won’t spontaneously combust if you go to a restaurant alone. The sky won’t fall if you go to the movies alone. It is a valid choice to be out in public doing things you want to do with no one else. You can go to the beach without other people or go on hikes with just yourself. The more you are alone, the more you’ll realize how nice it is.

Lesson 2

The second lesson is that it is important to take care of yourself. When you are single, you don’t have another person to go on dates with or to pamper you. There isn’t someone making you feel special or talking to you about your issues. The wonderful news is that you can and should do that all by yourself. You can pamper yourself and do most normal date night ideas alone. Self care is important in any chapter of your life. When you are single, it is easier to find time to make self care a part of your life and routine. You can build habits of self care and see that you can do nice things for yourself.

It is liberating to become self-sufficient. It frees you from a lot of things you may assume you need to do or think you can’t do, because you are single. There are no rules against going out by yourself or taking care of yourself how you see fit. If you do, you may even find you are marvelous company.

Want More?

This blog series stems from my book “To Love,” which has a whole YouTube Playlist devoted to it. I will also be posting more in this series on the Love Nerd page of this site.

Where Are You? (A Poem)

by tiffanyPoetry July 14, 2020July 7, 2020No Comments

God, where are you
when the world seems dark?
Lord, where are you
when I've lost my way?
Savior, where are you
when I feel alone?
My King, where are you 
when your throne seems far away?
Father Above, where are you
when my heart breaks and turns numb?
Father Above, My King, Savior, Lord, and God
where are you in this day?

God, you are the light of a new day.
Lord, you are the dim lamp that lights my way.
Savior, you are the one holding me up.
My King, you are by my side.
Father Above, you are hugging me tight.
Father Above, My King, Savior, Lord, and God
you are with me making day from my night.

Typically, I publish my poetry towards the end of the month not in the middle of it. However, I really loved how Where Are You came out and couldn’t wait to share this poem with the world.

Sometimes you can’t see God and feel alone. However, He is always there. Most of the time you just have to look for Him. Know He loves you and He is with you.

Want More

If you would like to read more of my poetry please take a look at my portfolio. You can also watch a few of my poetry readings.