Laying Down the Foundation - Water Lilies
I've been wanting to paint water lilies for a long time. One of my favourite spots is a peaceful little pond in the woods covered by lily pads and blossoming flowers. I've taken so many pictures of this beautiful and tranquil spot, and so finally I'm making it into a painting...
I've been wanting to paint water lilies for a long time. One of my favourite spots is a peaceful little pond in the woods covered by lily pads and blossoming flowers. I've taken so many pictures of this beautiful and tranquil spot, and so finally I'm making it into a painting...
As always, I first draw the image onto the canvas. This is my map where I work out the details. Then I do a quick tonal study in grey tones... This is the underpainting and provides the foundation for the layers of colour to come. At this stage of the painting, the shapes, lines and tones are creating the mood and personality of the painting. With each stage of the painting, the process becomes more and more intuitive, until I feel as if the painting is almost painting itself...
A Labour of Love
Sometimes I'm asked why I paint on (mostly) large canvases. Because, the way I paint, it can take a long time to finish a painting.... So it requires a lot of patience.
And because they are so big, they aren't easy to move around. Sometimes I have to rent a large vehicle to transport them...
Sometimes I'm asked why I paint on (mostly) large canvases. Because, the way I paint, it can take a long time to finish a painting.... So it requires a lot of patience.
And because they are so big, they aren't easy to move around. Sometimes I have to rent a large vehicle to transport them.
They're not something you can hang over the sofa either, so they're not for everyone...
They are large, colourful statement pieces with a story to tell...
Sometimes I think it would be fun to whip off a painting or two in an afternoon...
And it would be!
But truth be told, I really enjoy my labours of love. I like a big project...
I think we paint the way we are (and I love big ideas and big visions!)
So I'll continue on with my large labours of love.
And... Since it's Labour Day this weekend, I thought I'd offer a flash sale on any print in my print store - (A smaller version of my labour of love).
But just until Monday, September 4th at midnight! Just enter LABOUROFLOVE at check out and receive 20% off all prints!
What It's Like To Be An Artist
An artist’s life is a never-ending adventure into the unknown...
An artist’s life is never boring. Even when we appear to be doing nothing, we have a rich inner life that’s constantly active. In fact, doing nothing is a big part of what we do.
An artist’s life is a never-ending adventure into the unknown...
An artist’s life is never boring. Even when we appear to be doing nothing, we have a rich inner life that’s constantly active. In fact, doing nothing is a big part of what we do.
“The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider’s web.”
Sometimes doing nothing brings the biggest flashes of inspiration and ideas...
We are visionaries. We dream and imagine.
A lot.
But we’re also driven to create. So we are dreamers, and also doers.
And we love change.
An artist cannot survive long in the 9 - 5 world. Artists find they change their "jobs" often.
We like to do things differently. We are rebels.
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
An artist's life isn't motivated by money. We make art whether anyone else sees it, or likes it, or buys it.
We do it anyway.
We're a little bit crazy...
“Whether you succeed or not is irrelevant. Making your unknown known is the important thing.”
In an artist’s world, there is no separation between the inside and the outside. Who we are is what we do.
“How we spend our days is how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour and with that one, is what we are doing.”
An artist must make art.
Love and Freedom
Love and freedom. They're both important to me… And they have something in common.
They both require letting go. It’s a bit of a paradox… To receive you must let go.
Receiving is allowing...
“Painting depends on freedom. When you’re feeling completely free, you can create, and this power to create is, in turn, the greatest freedom of all.”
Love and freedom. They're both important to me… And they have something in common.
They both require letting go. It’s a bit of a paradox… To receive you must let go.
Receiving is allowing.
I wrote about this in my Little Book of Big Dreams. Receive is the 6th step in the creative process...
“I imagine it like a stream of creative life energy that flows around me. If I focus too hard on any part of this stream, I stop the flow and life becomes a struggle.
Instead, I match the energy of my desires and my whole Being then becomes a part of the stream… I ‘go with the flow’.
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. ”
You “don’t care”.
In a good way.
In a non-striving way…
And then suddenly you come to this place of love. And you are free…
People are “looking for love” and looking for ways “to be free”. I think most people are just looking to be themselves, to express themselves and not care what anyone else thinks…
This is why love and freedom are important to me. As an artist I must paint and create what I am... And it must come from that place of love and freedom.
“Freedom and love go together. Love is not a reaction ... To love is not to ask anything in return, not even to feel that you are giving something - and it is only such love that can know freedom.”
“The place where I had freedom most was when I painted. I was completely and utterly myself.”
The Art of Fashion
One evening, while driving home, I looked up and saw the most amazing sky. I was transfixed. I kept driving west towards it until I could turn off and head down to the ocean. The sky was changing quickly and I wanted to capture it before the sun went down…
One evening, while driving home, I looked up and saw the most amazing sky. I was transfixed. I kept driving west towards it until I could turn off and head down to the ocean. The sky was changing quickly and I wanted to capture it before the sun went down… I pulled over and then, walking down a little path to the sea, I came to a beach. The tide was so high that the water level was all the way up to the logs at the top of the beach. I lay down on a log and just watched the beautiful sky with shape-shifting clouds and the colours of the sunset reflecting on the water...
Secret View captures the magic of this dramatic evening sky and ocean. Although this painting represents British Columbia’s West Coast, it also reminds me of the northern summer sky in Norway where the sun sets at midnight and one can watch for hours the changing sky moment by moment; each moment more brilliant and breath-taking than the next, the reflecting colours dancing on the waves...
I created the Secret View Dress from this painting. This dress comes in either a flare or fitted style and can also be worn with the Secret View Kimono, as featured in last year's Harmony Arts Festival fashion show.
This year's show; The Art of Fashion is on Wednesday, August 9th at 1:00 pm and I'll be showing all new designs and creations! The show is on an outdoor stage (weather permitting) and features 25 artists with their unique clothing and accessories.
Thinking From The End
When I begin a painting, I've already created it in my mind. The painting is complete and hanging on my wall. This is what imagination is. It's tapping into the universal mind, or spirit, and visualising what already exists in essence, and then bringing it into the physical plane.
When I begin a painting, I've already created it in my mind. The painting is complete and hanging on my wall.
This is what imagination is. It's tapping into the universal mind, or spirit, and visualising what already exists in essence, and then bringing it into the physical plane.
It's easy to understand this when you think of making dinner. You first think of what you want to eat. Perhaps you picture the entire meal laid out beautifully on the table, with candles and wine... you imagine if you are sharing the meal with someone... you imagine what it looks like on the table and on the plates; the smell of the food, the taste...
All of this happens in a flash when you think, "What should I make for dinner?"
Once you know what you want to create, you get out your recipe book, head off to the store for the ingredients, and then you make dinner. Within a few hours you are enjoying your creation!
It's the same when I paint. I create an image in my mind, perhaps as an idea that I want to express...
I'll picture the size and shape of the canvas, the colours, shapes and images that will express this idea and feeling that I want to create on canvas.
I keep the finished painting in mind, but of course, there are little surprises along the way... I let go of the outcome and allow it to unfold and come to life as it is meant to.
Like giving birth - when the baby is born there is joy and surprise, yet you also feel that you knew this person all along.... everything is exactly as it is meant to be.
Right now I have a few paintings in mind. They are there, just hanging in my mind, until I'm ready to give birth. This is the joy of creating; having a vision and then experiencing the coming into being...
Enchanted, 60" x 36", SOLD
Fine Art into Wearable Art ~ video journey
I made a little video documenting the journey from painting to finished product... Fine Art into Wearable Art. It's a slow process (so I speeded it up for this two minute video!)...
I made a little video documenting the journey from painting to finished product... Fine Art into Wearable Art. It's a slow process (so I speeded it up for this two minute video!).
You could call it "slow clothes" as each clothing design is created from original artwork. The painting is digitally reproduced onto fabric, then hand cut and sewn.
I will have a few of my new clothing designs modelled in the fashion show ~ Slow Clothes, The Art of Fashion at this year's Harmony Arts Festival on August 9th.
Until then, I'll be working behind the scenes... Lots of creating going on... And travel!
(It's all about the journey after all... And you can follow my journey on Facebook and Instagram)
The work is the journey and the journey is in the work. (Any reward is just the icing on the cake!)
Hope for the flowers...
Flowers as Muse
I’m in love with colour and all things beautiful...
And a flower represents the very essence of beauty.
Flowers lift my spirit and make my heart sing!
A flower has its own unique character and personality,..
Flowers as Muse
I’m in love with colour and all things beautiful...
And a flower represents the very essence of beauty.
Flowers lift my spirit and make my heart sing!
A flower has its own unique character and personality,
(This is what I paint).
And there's a story in each painting.
With colour and shape the characters are created on canvas,
Then the painting takes on a life of its own...
I'm starting a new little flower painting. Here's a video of the very beginning... Mapping out the details:
Off to Hawaii!
Everything that is created begins as a seed of an idea.
One painting began as a pretty photo I took from a spring garden. Looking closely at the garden was like peeking into a tropical jungle… The vibrant and lush paradise of a tiny garden world of dancing flowers and hidden creatures swimming in greens and blues…
Everything that is created begins as a seed of an idea.
One painting began as a pretty photo I took from a spring garden. Looking closely at the garden was like peeking into a tropical jungle… The vibrant and lush paradise of a tiny garden world of dancing flowers and hidden creatures swimming in greens and blues… Each flower appeared to be dancing… And so I called this painting Three Graces.
And just like all gardens, many more seeds were planted… The cycle of creativity continues.
This week my newly designed Three Graces dress is off to the lush and tropical land of Hawaii...
Watch the creation of Three Graces:
The Three Graces Dress is off to Hawaii!
It's About Time
I really don’t mind the rain. It makes for a good day-dreamy sort of day…
(Though I do have the luxury of a cosy, warm studio from which to dream…)
I can sit on my chaise (under my blanket!) and just watch the raindrops rolling down the telephone wire outside my window…
I really don’t mind the rain. It makes for a good day-dreamy sort of day…
(Though I do have the luxury of a cosy, warm studio from which to dream…)
I can sit on my chaise (under my blanket!) and just watch the raindrops rolling down the telephone wire outside my window… Slowly getting bigger and bigger until suddenly bursting into a big drip.
I have time.
I have time to look at the sky and watch a seagull drifting by... high in the grey clouds...
And just listen to the constant drone of traffic splashing back and forth… it’s mesmerising.
Today I’m just watching the day go by. I’m the observer.
“The timeless in you is aware of life’s timelessness. And knows that yesterday is but today’s memory and tomorrow is today’s dream.”
And as I watch the day go by, it allows my thoughts to flow freely… I see things in new ways.
Having time to not “do” anything allows my mind to relax. I have time to dream.
Today I have all the time in the world...
“Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in.”