Experiencing the World - seeing, feeling

As we express ourselves, we explore who we are in the world. And just as the spoken or written word is a translation of our thoughts and feelings, art is a visual expression of what we see and experience.

Forest - first colour layer

Art is a way of discovering who we are.

Last night I had a discussion with another artist friend about painting.

"I know what I do when I paint!" he said excitedly, "I feel my painting. That's what painting is all about!"

I thought about this. We all experience life differently through our senses - and so we express it differently. I thought about my own creative process. Why do I paint what I paint? 

I am constantly organizing in my mind's eye; lining up shapes and balancing colours. I see the beauty and harmony in nature and I want to express this onto the canvas.  So for me, it is a very visual experience. This is how I perceive, experience and connect with the world around me. 

How and what I paint is an expression of what I see and experience. It tells me something of who I am.

How do you connect with your world?

And how do you express what you see, feel, and experience?

Little Book of Big Dreams

‘To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.’ ~ Anatole France

My 'Little Book of Big Dreams' is almost complete. It began as a seed of an idea that once planted and nurtured, began to grow and become what it was meant to be...

Two years ago, the title for a book popped into my head. I liked it so I wrote it down.

And I didn't think of it again.

It's as if I planted a seed in my garden... forgot about it... and then one day I realized that this flower that's blossomed came from that seed long ago!

And ironically, this is what my book is about. It's about creation. 

It's about having a dream and making it real...

'The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.' ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Coming soon... Little Book of Big Dreams.  

Click here for more information.

Forest of Dreams

In the Forest of Dreams anything is possible... 

Beginning a new dream is like walking into a forest without a clear path. 

You have a destination in mind but you don't know what you will encounter along the way. You trust its unfoldment as you venture into the unknown... 

Like a fairy-tale forest, the path to your dreams is full of signs and symbols to guide you on your way. 

You need only to dream, imagine, and have courage to step forward into the magical realm of creation. 

 'But have the courage to write whatever your dream is for yourself.' ~ May Sarton

In the Forest of Dreams, anything is possible...

Autumn Feature ~ Emerging Red

Red is the dynamic energy that flows through all living things... and emerges as herSelf.

Emerging Red   30" x 36"   oil on canvas

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.

Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... Which one are you? Take the quiz! 

Purchase a Fine Art Print here.

The Final Step

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.

I allow it to become it’s own unique expression.

‘This world is but a canvas for our imagination.’ ~ Henry David Thoreau

Express is the seventh step of the creative process.

Your life is an expression of You.

When you live the essence of your dream, your life and dreams are created from the inside out. What you express is what you are.

'My painting is like no other. It is an expression from my spirit and soul. It is who I really am.' ~ Billie F. Mathis

What was once a vision in your mind’s eye is now visible in your life. What was once a dream is now real.

The Divine Paradox

There’s a divine paradox in life; to receive what you want you must first let it go.

Once you have a dream or desire in mind, it is already there and ready to be received. But you cannot push or pull it to you… you allow it into your life.

Receiving is allowing.

Imagine a stream of creative life energy that flows through life. If you focus too hard on any part of this stream, you stop the flow and life becomes a struggle.

Instead, match the energy of your desires and your whole Being becomes a part of the stream.  

You ‘go with the flow’.  

‘The real skill is to raise the sails and to catch the power of the wind as it passes by.’ ~ Thomas Berry

Become the essence of your dream and what you create will match this energy.

What you receive in life is a reflection of what you are Be-ing.

So it’s a delicate balance. You have the desire and intention for something, yet at the same time you are completely at ease whether you ‘have’ it or not.

When you open and allow, you receive sudden insights and synchronicities. You are in the creative flow...

Receive is the sixth step in the creative process.

Align with your dream.

The fifth step in the creative process is to align.

When you wake in the morning from nightime dreams, you know and understand that the dream does not exist outside of yourself. Your dream comes from you.

Your dream is you…

All dreams exist as energy in the unseen world and you ‘see’ and experience them on another level of existance. To make your dreams ‘real’ requires aligning with this energy and acting as if what you imagine already exists.

What you dream and imagine comes from your essence. When you follow your dreams, you are saying “yes!” to your truth and who you really are. You trust that your dreams and desires are what your spirit wants to express in the world. As you align with your dreams you begin tapping into the creative flow of life.

When you lose touch with inner stillness, you lose touch with yourself. When you lose touch with yourself, you lose yourself in the world. ~ Eckhart Tolle

When you are in alignment, you become ‘whole’ in all areas of your life. There is no more separation between the inside and the outside. Your life becomes a true expression of You.

When you align with your dream, you are in alignment with who you truly are.

Design a life you love.

You have a dream.

You’ve imagined the details and are clear on your goals and desires.

You make a decision to follow your dreams… And so, you need a plan.

The fourth step in the creative process is to design.

This is your dream and you can decide where you want to go, which path to take, how you want to travel and how long you want to take… You decide what you want for your life.

Design a life you love and make a Dream Plan.

A plan takes all the ideas and possibilities in your mind and begins to organize them into concrete steps and goals. A plan provides structure for your dream to take shape.

‘Reduce your plan to writing. The moment you complete this, you will have definitely given concrete form to the intangible desire.’ ~ Napoleon Hill

Making a plan is taking action on your dreams.

A Touch of Paris on Pemberton ~ Open Studios

195 Studios will be presenting our 3rd annual 'A Touch of Paris on Pemberton' open studios during Culture Days on September 27th, 28th and 29th.

Meet 10 artists in their studios for a Parisian experience and enjoy original art in a friendly sidewalk cafe atmosphere. The artists include both painters and sculptors who employ a variety of mediums and techniques.

Our studios will be open 6 - 9 pm Friday, Sept 27th and 11 am - 5 pm Saturday and Sunday Sept 28th and 29th at 195 Pemberton Ave in North Vancouver.

The turning point.

Imagine you are on a surfboard, paddling out to sea…

In the distance you see a wave and you wonder if this is the one.

You paddle towards it...

As the wave draws nearer, looming larger and larger, you turn your board away and keep paddling. You can hear the roar of the wave coming closer and closer… You feel the energy of the wave just behind you now, about to lift you up...

And you must decide.

Will I let this one go or will I jump?

You jump… And ride the wave.

This is the turning point.

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 existance. 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.