random this + that

 "Why should I not sit, every morning of my life, on the hillside, looking into the shining world?"
                                                                                                                     -Mary Oliver
 * I have been making time each day to play!! Even if it's a very short time (5-10 mins.) ...and it's making a huge difference!! Telling stories to Tara, dancing and singing around the living room, and not taking things too seriously with my art. Using different colors + techniques with a "lets just see what happens" attitude. Making big huge messes + loving it!!
* making smoothies and vegetable juices for one meal a day. My all time fave smoothie? Almond milk, hemp powder, blueberries, raw spinach (has no taste but chock full of fiber!!) banana and a dash of honey. Soooooooo good!! And trying to drink lots more water too:)

* these are the books that are on my reading list. I just completed my second reading of Dare Greatly (LOVE!!!) and now I am on to these. I have been meaning to read the Night Trilogy forever and..now is the time!! I have always admired Eli Wiesel ever since I first saw him on an Oprah show years and years ago. The sheer determination and strength of his spirit have brought me to tears again and again. I adore this man!!! Also committing to writing more and this book is wonderful! It combines the inspirational aspect with the practicalities of writing.
*if you think that we should, as Americans, have a candid discussion regarding gun violence, firearm safety, mental health and such...then perhaps you may want to sign the Sandy Hook Promise...I did. Although I personally am for strict gun control (I am Canadian, after all)...this newly formed group takes a comprehensive approach to gun violence in this country and wants to promote healthy discussions and ways we can make our communities safer. One of the things I love is that even though this community has suffered such heartbreaking, unimaginable loss and violence...they are not seeking to vilify anyone but want to promote common sense solutions. I am going to support them in any way I can.

*loving all the filters at pixlr-o-matic ...so fun to experiment! I can spend an hour messing around over here with all the fun stuff they offer. And it's so simple to use!!
* we are heading off to CA today for the weekend. Tim wants to take Tara to Disney! Hello Minnie Mouse/Princess belle frenzy:) A hundred and one things to do before we leave. I'm hoping I can fit some time in for a haircut (which I so desperately need!) ...but not sure if I can swing it...I haven't even packed yet!!! Hope you all have a super great long weekend! xxx

hello...friend

(the journal page I made tonight)

My friend Jane was over here this evening...the Jane who sends me gorgeous poems  and art cards in the mail, who brings over homemade jam and who has a huge spirit wide and deep and shining. We had samosas (from Trader Joes, of course!), pesto tortellini and tomato soup. Tara showed Miss Jane all of her recent artwork...we went outside in the cool evening air and said goodnight to Mother Moon. And after I put Tara to bed...we sat downstairs at the kitchen table and talked and created and shared.
We shared stories of our heart, of our truths. We shared our pains and struggles and heartsongs...all the while laughing and painting. We shared our tender pieces and our fierce ones too! Isn't it just amazing when we meet our kindreds? We don't have to explain who we are, why we do what we do. There is no jealousy or competition or negativity. Just an understanding and appreciation for the gift. An absolute acceptance of ourSELVES. Hello friend...

creating fearless art

 

(a page from my art journal) 

" I am the dance step of the paintbrush singing. I am the sculpture of the song, the flame breath of words giving new life to paper. Yes, I am the creativity that never dies. I am the creativity that keeps my people alive."- Alexis De Veaux

 I recently picked up a copy of Somerset Studio and the entire issue was on creating fearless art! I read every page...cover to cover! It's something I want to do too...be brave in my creating. I suspect that many of us feel that way. It may not be painting particularly but...maybe writing poetry or signing up for a pottery class or...just living a braver life! So I wanted to share  a page from my art journal on creating fearless art and...I think all of these can be applied to...well, anything really!

* make mistakes! make tons of them! it's how we learn and hey...some of those "mistakes" turn out to be happy discoveries.

* have courage to work through the "ugly" phase. Sometimes we may feel as if it will never turn out the way we want or we have no idea what we are doing. But...who knows what's waiting at the other end if we just stay the course.

                                                 (brave girl + brave life = brave art)
* it is the process that's important. Not every painting is going to work out; some may be quite hideous! But we may have to paint 10 canvases to produce a really amazing one.
*bring your heart into your art! The reason why some artists still speak to us (Van Gogh, Frieda Kahlo, Modigliani...) is because they had the courage to bring all of who they were to their art; their frailness and vulnerabilities...their human-ness.

 

(my girl Tara...she's fearless in creating!)

* don't remain stagnant, keep on growing! There is so much to learn and experience and...the person I am today is certainly not  the same person I was last year.
 *paint over the good stuff! Don't become too attached to any one part of a painting...sometimes we have to get rid of the stuff we like to make room for the new.
Well, what do you think? Is there more you would like to add to my list? I would love to hear about it!

In My Studio...

I have carved out some time to paint these last few days. It feels so good after a couple of weeks of computer/biz related stuff. Just to get in there... play my Andrea Bocelli music, a hot cup of tea and lose myself in the process. BTW..I grabbed my paint water by accident, thinking it was my tea!! Thank goodness I realized it in time...does kooky stuff like that happen to you? Happens to me all the time! Beautiful colors...paints...Indigo, cerulean, magenta, burnt sienna, crimson, paynes gray..all the magnificent shades of yellow that are calling me these days. I have been working on backgrounds, paintings in progress and new ones...happy...

A Happy Mess!

I have made some time to create these last few days...what a happy mess! I find that now that my time is so limited, it has forced me to focus more and use every minute I can efficiently. Multi-tasking, prioritising and scheduling...not pretty words to me but...so necessary!!

                                          Happy weekend...creating, living, loving...