The world needs more heArt
It’s interesting that the word ‘art’ is in the word ‘heart.’
In the state of creation you are so focused in the present moment that problems disappear and you lose track of time and space…
It’s interesting that the word ‘art’ is in the word ‘heart.’
Silence is the doorway to greater knowing.
If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then the heart is the doorway.
Art takes you into your heart, through the doorway, and connects directly to your soul.
In the state of creation you are so focused in the present moment that problems disappear and you lose track of time and space. You’ve moved into your heart.
Art has the ability to transform and transcend the problems of everyday life. When you connect to your heArt, you connect with every other heart. There is no separation.
Fears drop away...
“Art washes away from the soul the dirt from everyday life.”
When you’re in your heart, time does not exist... You’re in the ever-expanding now…
And you just know.
“Art remains the one way possible of speaking truth.”
In every work of art is the energy of the heart.
The world needs more heArt.
Creating space for transformation...
The harder you chase something, the faster you go and the less you’re able to let life meet life. If you’re having difficulty coming up with new ideas, then slow down...
Lilies of the Woods, oil on canvas, 36” x 36”
“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak. ”
The world is a little quieter these days (at least, my world is). There's still a steady buzz of traffic outside (but much less!), and more cyclists and pedestrians everywhere it seems... But the drive from A to B is less focused on the A and B, and more on the drive itself. Even standing in a line-up to get into a store has become a new activity. Like going for a walk... It's more about the walk and less about the destination. (You know you'll get there eventually).
In some ways life is changing at an incredible speed... Yet ironically, day to day life feels slower.
Feeling impatient won't get us there sooner, so we might as well enjoy the walk.
I'm using this time to clean up, clear out, and simplify.
“The harder you chase something, the faster you go and the less you’re able to let life meet life. If you’re having difficulty coming up with new ideas, then slow down …Creativity exists in the present moment. You can’t find it anywhere else.”
Every year I choose a "Word for the Year" and this year it took me some time to choose my word. I had a feeling early on (since last Fall) that this year would be different (but I had no idea how much!). I eventually chose the word 'transformation'. I don't really know why, other than it felt right for this upcoming, big year of change.
So now that I've cleared space (in my mind and my surroundings), I'm going to take the opportunity to create some Soul Art®!
Soul Art® is a unique creative process that acts as a bridge to your spirit, revealing your inner truth and providing clarity, insight and deep transformation.
(You can read more about how Soul Art helps me as an artist here).
Harvesting Dreams
Autumn is about stepping out, creating, energy and action.
As you emerge with a new sense of self in the world, you are clear on who you are and what you want to create. It's time to reap what you have sown as you harvest your dreams and make them real.
After Summer’s inhale into Being, Autumn exhales into Doing. This is a time for…
Autumn ~ Emerging Red
Red is the dynamic energy that flows through all living things... and emerges as herSelf.
Red is smart and knows what she wants. She takes decisive action to bring her dreams to reality... Red is strong, courageous and ready to step forward into her dreams. Bold and dynamic, she walks her own path...
ESSENCE WORD: CREATE
COLOURS: VIBRANT RED, ELECTRIC BLUE, BRILLIANT GREEN
ELEMENT: FIRE
Autumn is about stepping out, creating, energy and action.
As you emerge with a new sense of self in the world, you are clear on who you are and what you want to create. It's time to reap what you have sown as you harvest your dreams and make them real.
After Summer’s inhale into Being, Autumn exhales into Doing. This is a time for action and creating your visions into physical form.
Opportunity ~ You are clear on your passions, purpose and desire. With clarity comes effortless creativity.
Challenge ~ When you move into action, you can be drawn away from your centre and original inspiration. Caught up in the Doing you forget to rest and breathe in, running out of fuel for your fire.
Action ~ To keep your energy and creativity flowing, create a daily practice to bring harmony and balance into your life. Follow every action step with a rest period, just as the inhale follows the exhale.
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter ~ Which One Are You?
Just as in nature, we are continuously moving through these cycles. I made a little quiz that you can take to discover where you are in this Life Cycle of Creativity.
A Happy Mistake
I've made mistakes and I have some regrets... And if I could go back, I'd do some things differently... But if there's one thing I've learned, it's that sometimes what is thought to be a mistake, often opens up a whole new way of doing things. Sometimes a bad thing turns out to be a good thing..
Forest Floor Detail
I've made mistakes and I have some regrets... And if I could go back, I'd do some things differently... But if there's one thing I've learned, it's that sometimes what is thought to be a mistake, often opens up a whole new way of doing things. Sometimes a bad thing turns out to be a good thing (or vice versa!).
In other words, there truly is no such thing as good or bad. Mistakes are really just experiences. It's how we learn, grow and create...
“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”
What I'm painting now is because of a mistake I once made. When I painted Norwegian Woods I had a deadline to have it finished and dry, so I used a fast-drying medium that I mixed with my paints. This caused the paint to be much thicker... Normally I paint a grey underpainting and then add layers of colour, but this time I couldn't do that. The paint was too thick.
So instead of wiping the paint off and starting again, I thought, how can I make this work? I took a chance and tried something new...
And it worked!
So I'm doing another :) This painting is also part of my forest series. I'm just using five tones of grey, black and white. With lots of abstract details, I'm working my way up from the bottom in one, thick layer of paint.
Creativity and new ideas come from taking chances on doing things differently. So, as it turns out, I'm quite happy with that mistake!
“Mistakes are the portals of discovery.”
Dream on...
When I was very young, in elementary school, I was often called out by the teacher for daydreaming and not paying attention. I’d be gazing out the window, lost in the reverie of another time and place, when I’d hear a voice...
When I was very young, in elementary school, I was often called out by the teacher for daydreaming and not paying attention. I’d be gazing out the window, lost in the reverie of another time and place, when I’d hear a voice... far away at first, then louder and louder, until I’d hear the teacher’s voice saying sharply, “Anne!” and I’d be shocked back into the reality of the classroom. I got the message that daydreaming was bad...
And so, eventually I adapted to the primarily left-brain world.
Thought is the labour of the intellect, reverie is its pleasure. ~ Victor Hugo
The left brain brings your mind into sharp focus, one thing at a time. You pay attention and your mind contracts.
The right brain allows your mind to soften and expand... bringing awareness of many things all at once. You play with attention.
But it is this lightness of thought and energy that opens you to creativity, inspiration, sudden insights and inner knowing.
Daydreaming is actually good for you.
So, dream on...
Daydream: To have dream-like musings while awake.
“I live in two unique worlds, travelling between both with just the opening or closing of my eyes. ”
Freedom and Creativity
What is certain is what’s known and what is now past.
It’s what’s in the box.
Outside of the box is where the possibilities are. It’s the great unknown; the Land of Uncertainty.
Creativity comes from this place...
“Creativity can be described as letting go of certainties.”
What is certain is what’s known and what is now past.
It’s what’s in the box.
Outside of the box is where the possibilities are. It’s the great unknown... the Land of Uncertainty.
Creativity comes from this place.
Freedom is in the Land of Uncertainty... A place where all possibilities exist in any moment...
In the uncertainty of each moment is pure freedom and creativity...
The heArt of the matter...
Today I am resting and I’m thinking about what matters most...
When the whirlwind of life threatens to take me away... my studio is my sanctuary.
I can gaze out the window and watch the busy world go by, but inside it's quiet and still.
To create you first must be inspired. But inspiration doesn’t come from busy-ness. It doesn’t come from pushing hard to reach goals or left-brain thinking, planning and analysing...
Today I'm resting and thinking about what matters most...
“You are never more essentially, more deeply, yourself than when you are still.”
When the whirlwind of life threatens to take me away... my studio is my sanctuary.
I can gaze out the window and watch the busy world go by, but inside it's quiet and still.
To create you first must be inspired. But inspiration doesn’t come from busy-ness. It doesn’t come from pushing hard to reach goals or left-brain thinking, planning and analysing... It cannot be forced.
Inspiration comes from the right-brain, feminine, intuitive way of being. When you are in this state, you're open and receptive to insights, new visions and ideas... Inspiration comes when you're relaxed.
What we create in this world comes from the non-physical realm of the imagination. To create requires the feminine energy of intuition and insight as well as the masculine energy of action to give it form.
It's a fine balance.
Too much action without rest and we can easily become depleted.
Too much day-dreaming without action and we'll never see the results of what's possible.
It takes inspired action to create.
So, after a flurry of activity, today I'm resting. No matter what happens out there in the world, I must always stay connected to my Self (my heArt).
It’s the heart that matters most.
Water Lilies and Why I Paint
There are lots of reasons why I paint.
I paint because I have an over-whelming desire to create; to have a sense of creative discovery is deeply satisfying. Every painting is a new adventure...
Water Lilies, 36" x 36", oil on canvas
There are lots of reasons why I paint.
I paint because I have an overwhelming desire to create; to have a sense of creative discovery is deeply satisfying. Every painting is a new adventure...
I paint because it's fun. Making art is sometimes just pure, playful fun! And that's healthy...
And therapeutic. When I'm painting, time disappears and I can let go of all the noise of the outside world. I'm in my world now... I never feel depleted after a full days work in the studio.
I paint because I'm very visual and constantly noticing the colours and shapes in the world around me... And I want to express what I see and experience.
I painted Water Lilies purely as an expression of the beauty and tranquility of one of my favourite places... a little pond in the woods in Norway where all you hear are the birds singing and the wind whistling through the trees...
Beauty makes my heart sing.
And sometimes, all I want to do is paint a pretty picture.
Painting Lilies and the Creative Process
When I create a painting it’s just like creating anything in life. It begins with a vision; an idea...
I imagine the details... The size of the canvas, the colours and feeling sense I want to create…
From Ethereal to Real; The Seven Steps of the Creative Process
Dream ~ Connect to your true heart's desire.
Imagine ~ Imagine the details.
Decide ~ Make a commitment.
Design ~ Make a plan.
Align ~ Align with your dream.
Receive ~ Receive insights.
Express ~ Live your dream.
When I create a painting it’s just like creating anything in life. It begins with a vision; an idea...
I imagine the details... The size of the canvas, the colours and feeling sense I want to create…
And then I decide.
I buy my materials and take action to begin...
I start with a drawing on canvas, mapping it out and creating a structure for the painting.
As I begin to draw and paint I get to know my painting… Aligning with my vision.
There comes a point when I no longer ‘think’ about what I am creating and it becomes an intuitive process. The painting paints itself.
It becomes its own unique expression.
“The goal of art was the vital expression of self.”
The final step in the creative process is the expression.
What was once a vision in your mind’s eye is now visible in your life. What was once a dream is now real.
You can download the 7 Steps from Ethereal to Real, part one from the Little Book of Big Dreams here.
Make a Decision
The decision is the point between intention and action. When you make a decision you move the flow of energy and possibility into focused direction.
Making a decision is the third step in the creative process...
The decision is the point between intention and action. When you make a decision you move the flow of energy and possibility into focused direction.
Making a decision is the third step in the creative process.
When you have a dream, vision or goal in mind, there comes a point when you must decide. You can let the idea roll on by, or you make a decision and act.
When you have an idea, it’s already real on one level of existence. The more you think about it, imagine it, and play with it in your mind… the more energy it gathers and begins to take form.
Once you take action, you’ve made a commitment and all the energy of possibility is summoned forth and given direction.
The decision is the turning point between idea and action.
Download the 7 Steps from Ethereal to Real, part one from the Little Book of Big Dreams here
“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.”