In the beginning there was Art...
For me, art in its truest and simplest form begins with pencil on paper. A drawing begins the outline for a greater vision...
And just as my paintings begin with a simple sketch, what I want to create in my life begins with art...
“I sometimes think there is nothing so delightful as drawing. ”
For me, art in its truest and simplest form begins with pencil on paper. A drawing begins the outline for a greater vision...
And just as my paintings begin with a simple sketch, what I want to create in my life begins with art.
Creating art is my foundation. It is the wellspring for everything else in my life. This business would not exist without it.
I could exist... But what is existence without essence?
We All Need Art
"Art, as creativity, is something humans must do by their very nature."
Recently I taught a painting class for seniors. Most had never painted before (or at least since they were children), and now they were going to paint their first oil painting on canvas...
"Art, as creativity, is something humans must do by their very nature."
Recently I taught a painting class for seniors. These twelve women were ages 68 to 99 years old and each one lives with at least one chronic illness or age-related condition such as visual impairment, pain and depression. Most had never painted before (or at least since they were children), and now they were going to paint their first oil painting on canvas...
Alice, age 98 and Ethel, age 99
I created twelve templates of flowers in black and white prints on canvas. There were two designs to choose from; daisies or roses. They were fairly complex designs for beginners but I knew that a blank canvas would be too daunting for most. The idea was to have a design to start with so they could be free to just mix colours and enjoy the experience of putting paint on canvas.
The women were excited, though a little anxious, to begin. Each were given an 8” x 10” canvas with their chosen design, two colours to begin with, and a little medium to mix. With a few initial instructions they jumped right in and began to paint...
After eight classes the women are finished and ready to sign their work. I am amazed at what they have not only created, but also what they have experienced through this process. Here are a few highlights:
Sheila’s hands were so shaky she almost gave up before putting any paint on canvas. With a little encouragement and direction she created a beautiful painting, surprising herself more than anyone, and experienced more confidence and belief in herself through the process.
Ethel, who is 99 years old, needed a magnifying glass to put the paint on canvas. Ethel had always wanted to try painting, and so with much determination and humour, she showed everyone that you are never too old to try something new.
Angela wowed everyone with her hidden creative talent. Alice stuck with it to create a lovely painting with light, shadow and movement… Beverly (who doesn’t normally join in activities) arrived early for each class and disappeared into her creative zone… Bea enthusiastically finished two paintings… Troy said she forgot all her troubles as she moved the paint on canvas... And Maud just happily painted away…
The more creative I am...
Inspiration cannot be forced. It’s unpredictable.
It seemingly comes out of nowhere, striking like a bolt of energy.
So I’ve been thinking…
Inspiration cannot be forced. It’s unpredictable.
It seemingly comes out of nowhere, striking like a bolt of energy.
So I’ve been thinking…
What is creativity and where does it come from?
I love the thrill of a new creative idea.
Every idea is a seed of potential. But the seed has to be planted for even the possibility of a new creation to grow.
Creativity is the process of bringing a new idea to life.
So to be creative is not merely having a unique and novel idea. Creativity requires both inspiration and action.
Inspiration meets you when you're walking on your path.
“Inspiration does exist, but it must find you working. ”
The more creative I am, the more creative I am...
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.
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.
From the Little Book of Big Dreams
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.
As you make your plan you are beginning to take action on your dreams.
“Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.”
Create Your Dream ~ Seven Tips
It's the lazy daze of summer...
Life is in it's fullest expansion and my creativity is deliciously adrift...
It's the lazy daze of summer...
Life is in it's fullest expansion and my creativity is deliciously adrift.
But with the warm summer breeze comes the subtlest hints of change. Soon the nights will be cooler and it will be time to gather in my creative energy.
Every year at this time I look at where I am and where I want to be...
Where do I want to be one year from now?
And then I make a plan...
(continued next week)
Why I'm an Artist
I am sensitive.
I notice things… And I’m curious about them.
I can be still for long periods of time…
Gathering information, processing, wondering…
I am sensitive.
I notice things… And I’m curious about them.
I can be still for long periods of time…
Gathering information, processing, wondering…
Understanding and making sense of things.
Quiet and reflective…
And then I must create.
If I don’t create, I don’t feel fully alive.
Creating is a channel for me to make tangible what I see, feel, experience…
Making art makes me complete.
I’m an artist and so I must create.
Art and Nature
Art and nature have something very important in common. They both have the potential to bring you into the present moment...
I need nature.
Nature makes me happy.
Tree of Life 60" x 36" Oil on Canvas
I was thinking this as I hummed along to myself, walking through the woods and listening to the sound of the wind through the tree tops and the multitude of birds singing… In that moment, nothing else really mattered.
Art and nature have something very important in common. They both have the potential to bring you into the present moment.
When you are in the moment and just happy for no reason in particular... Well, what else really matters?...
Summer Rose
Rose in full bloom will romance you with her fragrant beauty, drawing you in... She is in every golden pink sunset and each blossoming garden. She is a summer day...
Rose in full bloom will romance you with her fragrant beauty, drawing you in... She is in every golden pink sunset and each blossoming garden. She is a summer day...
Roses 48" x 48" oil on canvas
And she loves.
Her red velvet petals surround her heart, and it's from here that all truth flows... That truth is love.
Rose is love.
Essence Word: Love
Colours: Rose Red, Pink
Element: Water
Summer is about love, beauty, and deepening into your essence. What is your essence? Your essence is the vibration of your soul. When you peel away the layers of life, you discover your True Self, beyond the roles you play in physical existence. As you rest into Being, you experience your Soul’s vibration. This is a time to deepen your connection to your Spirit and experience the Beauty in the world around you.
When you experience Beauty, you experience your Soul.
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... Life is a never-ending cycle of becoming, blossoming, creating and transforming... Everything that is created in this world moves through these seasons... cycling continuously through life, death and re-birth.
Where are you in Life's Cycle of Creativity? ~ Take the Quiz!
In the forest painting...
In stories and legends trees are symbols of wisdom, strength, protection, secret knowledge, life and fertility. In fairy tales the forest symbolizes the unconscious and is a place of initiation...
In stories and legends trees are symbols of wisdom, strength, protection, secret knowledge, life and fertility. In fairy tales the forest symbolizes the unconscious and is a place of initiation.
Entering the dark forest and the unknown, one confronts hidden aspects of the self in order to experience a re-birth and gain a new understanding and knowledge of life...
I loved reading fairy tales when I was young. And now, as I work on my latest forest painting, I see this symbolism come to life. So what better place to explore this than my ancestral home of Norway?...
Next week I'm off to the land of trolls and the midnight sun!
Dream Catcher
Rose was free. There was nothing left of the Old Woman but a puddle on the ground that slowly began to seep into the earth.
The woods came alive now that the Old Woman was gone. The birds sang joyfully and all the animals came out from hiding bearing gifts of jewels, crystal and gold, and Rose filled her pockets with the treasures...
(read the previous episode here)
(read from the beginning)
Rose was free. There was nothing left of the Old Woman but a puddle on the ground that slowly began to seep into the earth.
The woods came alive now that the Old Woman was gone. The birds sang joyfully and all the animals came out from hiding bearing gifts of jewels, crystal and gold, and Rose filled her pockets with the treasures.
Rose looked up at the golden web shimmering in the sunlight. In the centre was a large circle or hole. But there was something odd about it. She walked closer and saw that the centre of the web appeared to be a circular window.
“Look through the web and tell me what you see,” said Lucky. So Rose climbed up a tree and perched on a branch next to the web.
“Oh it’s beautiful!” exclaimed Rose. “It’s another land and looks just like my dream!”
“What do you see there?” shouted Lucky, who began to jump up and down excitedly.
“The sky is the most brilliant blue,” said Rose, “With little puffy white clouds floating by… Oh, I feel like I can almost reach out and touch one! There is a green meadow full of flowers… And I can see a castle in the distance. Is it real?” asked Rose.
“It’s your Dream Catcher,” said Lucky, his eyes shining bright. “You wove your dreams into the web as you slept. What else can you see?”
“There is a long, winding road through the meadow with a forest on either side,” said Rose. “On the edge of the forest is a small, white house. It has a lovely garden full of red, yellow and white roses. It looks like home!”
Just then, the door to the house opened and a woman came out with a basket. She went into the garden and began to gather roses from her garden.
“That’s your mother,” said Lucky, who was now sitting next to Rose on the tree branch. “And look, there is your father.” Rose recognized her father instantly as he came out from the forest with his axe in hand. Before she knew what she was doing she called out to him. He turned in her direction but couldn’t see her.
Rose’s eyes welled with tears. “I want to be there more than anything,” she said.
“Just close your eyes and imagine you are there. That’s all you need to do,” said Lucky.
“Will you come with me?” asked Rose.
“No, my job is done,” grinned the little green man, then he jumped down from the tree and disappeared into the forest.
Rose closed her eyes and imagined her dream. She saw the little white house, the red, yellow and white roses, her mother and father, and a path leading off into the hills toward the distant castle. She could feel the warmth of the sun on her face and the warm breeze as it rippled across the tall meadow grass. A tickle on her face made her open her eyes and a golden butterfly flew away. She followed it as it crossed the meadow, stopping here and there on a flower, then flying off again as soon as Rose came near.
Finally she came over a hill and saw the little white house with her mother and father in the garden. Overjoyed she called out to them and ran into their welcoming arms. As they embraced, Rose’s pockets emptied of all her treasures and they all three rejoiced and lived happily ever after until the end of their days.