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.
Letting Go
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.
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's 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.”
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.
You can download the 7 Steps from Ethereal to Real, part one from the Little Book of Big Dreams here
Align With Your Dream
Dreams and goals all begin as an idea that, once planted and nurtured. begins to grow and blossom in its own unique way. From ethereal to real it becomes 'real' through a natural, creative process that I call a Dream Journey...
Dreams and goals start as ideas that, once planted and nurtured, begin to grow and blossom in their own unique way. A dream becomes 'real' through a natural, creative process that I call a Dream Journey.
The Magic Pillow
There are seven steps on this journey... (Read step one here)
This week I'm writing about the fifth step in the creative process ~ Align with your dream.
When you wake in the morning from night-time 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.”
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.
You can download the 7 Steps from Ethereal to Real, part one from the Little Book of Big Dreams here
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.
The fourth step in the creative process is to design.
Design a life you love and make a Dream 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.
A plan takes all the ideas and possibilities in your mind and begins to organise 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...
Download the 7 Steps from Ethereal to Real, part one from the Little Book of Big Dreams here
“Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.”
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.”
The second step is to imagine...
Life isn’t always pretty.
It isn’t always fun, exciting or even comfortable...
So thank goodness for the imagination!
The second step in the creative process is to imagine the details...
Reality leaves a lot to the imagination. ~ John Lennon
Life isn’t always pretty.
It isn’t always fun, exciting or even comfortable...
So thank goodness for the imagination!
The second step in the creative process is to imagine the details...
“Imagination is the highest form of research.”
Using your imagination is like playing in a sandbox; you can make whatever you want…
Sand is malleable.
In your imagination you can be wherever you want to be and you can do whatever you want to do…
Your imagination is real. Whatever you imagine in your mind’s eye has the potential to become real in your life. Everything is imagined into existence.
Once you have a dream or vision of what you want to create, begin imagining the details…
You don’t have to figure it all out. You need only play with it in your imagination…
Just imagine...
“Visualise this thing you want. See it, feel it, believe in it. Make your mental blueprint and begin.”
Download the 7 Steps from Ethereal to Real, part one from the Little Book of Big Dreams here
The first step is to dream...
Every Autumn I find myself busily bringing the ideas and projects I've been working on all year to fruition. It's harvest time in the Land of Dreams...
Every autumn I find myself busily bringing the ideas and projects I've been working on all year to fruition. It's harvest time in the Land of Dreams...
Everything we create in life begins with an idea or vision in our mind's eye... From ethereal to physical form it becomes real through a creative process. Everything is imagined into existence...
A few years ago I wrote the Little Book of Big Dreams and in part one I described the seven steps in the creative process.
Dreaming is the first step in the creative process...
“ To make a great dream come true, you must first have a great dream.”
I've always been a dreamer. When I was little I could sit for hours daydreaming out my bedroom window, allowing my mind to wander and drift...
I created stories of pasts and futures... I dreamed of heroes and heroines, love, mystery, magic and adventure... Everything I wanted to be, do, experience...
Dreaming opens your mind to other worlds and possibilities.
What is a dream?
A dream is like a blueprint in your mind. It's a vision or feeling sense that can be experienced as if it is 'real'. It isn't yet tangible but it can be very powerful.
Dreams can spark your desires, motivate and inspire you...
Where do dreams come from?
Your dreams come from your inner truth; the essence of who you are.
When you live your dreams, you live an inspired life of deeper meaning, purpose and happiness.
So listen to your dreams...
You can download the 7 Steps from Ethereal to Real, part one from the Little Book of Big Dreams here
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!
