Anne Gudrun Anne Gudrun

Painting Pollination

When I painted Pollination five years ago, I didn't yet realize what I was birthing... Painting Pollination became the seed for a complete garden. So it's interesting that I named her Pollination...

Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.
— G.B Shaw

 

When I painted Pollination five years ago, I didn't yet realize what I was birthing... 

 

Painting Pollination became the seed for a complete garden.

 

Pollination-iPhone-6.png

So it's interesting that I named her Pollination...

 

 

One seed planted creates many more seeds.

Life creates and re-creates itself continuously...

 

Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street... Fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening...
— Coco Channel
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Anne Gudrun Anne Gudrun

12 Ways Creativity Is Good For You

It's January, dark and rainy (here in Vancouver)... So it's a good time to get cozy in the studio, make plans for the year ahead, and just be grateful for everything already created.

Here is a little video I made a couple of years ago called 12 Ways Creativity Is Good For You:  

It's January, dark and rainy (here in Vancouver)... So it's a good time to get cozy in the studio, make plans for the year ahead, and just be grateful for everything already created.

Here is a little video I made a couple of years ago called 12 Ways Creativity Is Good For You:  

  1. You grow younger

  2. It keeps you flexible (a flexible mind is a flexible body!)

  3. You have loads of energy (creativity is life force energy!)

  4. You become happier

  5. Life is fun

  6. When you tap into the creative flow, synchronicity and magic shows up!

  7. You become self-expressed

  8. You see and experience life in new ways

  9. Life is more beautiful

  10. Life is less serious

  11. You laugh and smile more

  12. You wake up excited for each day...

May you have a creative, happy and healthy 2015!

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Anne Gudrun Anne Gudrun

New Designs!

I love dreaming up new ideas and visions, but there is nothing as exciting as making them real. 

So I've been dreaming and painting and dreaming and painting...

And busily at work in the design lab... 

The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers. But above all, the world needs dreamers who do.
— Sarah Ban Breathnach

I love dreaming up new ideas and visions, but there is nothing as exciting as making them real. 

So I've been dreaming and painting and dreaming and painting...

And busily at work in the design lab... 

New Designs!

Mom and tot leggings. Baby leggings in sizes 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and 3 years. Visit the Boutique

More designs coming soon...

 

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Anne Gudrun Anne Gudrun

New Year, New Dream

Do you have a dream? Do you know what you want to create in your life?

Knowing why you want something helps you become clear. When you resonate with the essence of your desires you are in alignment with the truth and purpose for your life...

Do you have a dream? Do you know what you want to create in your life?

Knowing why you want something helps you become clear. When you resonate with the essence of your desires you are in alignment with the truth and purpose for your life.

Your Essence Art is a picture of what your soul desires to be, do and have in your life. It is creative expression from your soul and connects you with the vision from your heart.

Join me for a special Soul Art® workshop on January 25th to Create Your Dream.

Pre-registration is required and space is limited so please register early. Click here for more information and to register.

*All participants will also receive a copy of the Little Book of Big Dreams.

To make a great dream come true, you must first have a great dream.
— Hans Selye
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Anne Gudrun Anne Gudrun

The 'Little Book' is an eBook!

I'm warm and dry in my studio and listening to the rain pounding on the rooftop as I happily paint away...

The days are getting colder and darker (and wetter!) here in Vancouver, as another year is coming to an end.

But with each end is a new beginning, so already I am thinking of what the new year will bring...

It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.
— Ernest Hemingway
Korsfjord Forest, work in progress

Korsfjord Forest, work in progress

I'm warm and dry in my studio and listening to the rain pounding on the rooftop as I happily paint away...

The days are getting colder and darker (and wetter!) here in Vancouver, as another year is coming to an end.

But with each end is a new beginning, so already I am thinking of what the new year will bring...

I love having new ideas, dreams and goals, but to make them real requires action.

The Little Book of Big Dreams describes the '7 Steps from Ethereal to Real' and is a Dream Journey guide to 'Make Your Dreams Real'. This book has just been released as an eBook!

Sometimes it’s the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination.
— Drake

 You can click here for more information.

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Anne Gudrun Anne Gudrun

Stepping into the unknown...

I like the known. The known is comfortable and predictable. But sometimes I think I like the unknown better… The unknown is a sea of endless possibilities.

Each time I begin a painting, I step into the unknown. I don’t know how it will turn out...

One is never afraid of the unknown; one is afraid of the known coming to an end.
— Jiddu Krishnamurti

I like the known. The known is comfortable and predictable. But sometimes I think I like the unknown better… The unknown is a sea of endless possibilities.

Each time I begin a painting, I step into the unknown. I don’t know how it will turn out. I have to embrace uncertainty and trust in my vision coming to life. But this is the creative process and ultimately the reason why I paint.

The act of creation is the process of making the unknown known… Creating something out of nothing. If the outcome is known, then it ceases to be creative… It already is.

There is no greater joy and excitement than seeing the unknown become known… This is what life is.

And then it's time to create all over again...

How can you know what you’re capable of if you don’t embrace the unknown?
— Esmeralda Santiago
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Anne Gudrun Anne Gudrun

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.
— Vincent van Gogh
anne-gudrun-forest-painting

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?

 

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Anne Gudrun Anne Gudrun

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

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…

 

 

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Anne Gudrun Anne Gudrun

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.
— Pablo Picasso

 

 

 

The more creative I am, the more creative I am...

 

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Anne Gudrun Anne Gudrun

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.

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.
— Joel A. Barker
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