how art and Leonard Cohen heal my heart

hello everyone...

I am not a big fan of social media
and neither is this little bird,
even with the tweets. ;-)

This past Sunday was a difficult day,
but when evening came,
along with it came relief
that day would soon turn to night
and night into a new morning.

During the early evening,
I found my way to the blue room,
and played with paints and paper for a while.
(a great remedy for a sad heart)

If i was a doctor,
this is what i would prescribe to patients.
Solitary time
in a room with a view,
pens, paper,
and a box of Crayolas.
Maybe some music.
And some wine. ;-)

I was all over the place
with sketching and collaging and painting.

Like i had a thousand images in my head that wanted out...

Then i opened a book i had nearby
and landed on this page
and it was fucking poetic.
Don't you love it
when something comes together?
When you read something
or see something
or hear something
at what feels like exactly the right time?

Then i read this one...

What do i do?

i paint.

i write.

i listen to Leonard Cohen.

i count my blessings.

i see miracles in the every day.

Not in heaven,

but here.

In the every day.

i light a candle.

i pay attention to my breathing.

i walk along the ocean.
i read.
i remember.

i look at the moon & stars

and consider how minuscule i am

and how vast the universe is

and yet...

and yet.

xox

(what do YOU do?)

melancholy girl

Art washes from the soul

the dust of everyday life.

- Pablo Picasso

There's a quote that i love

by Marc Chagall that reads:

If I create from the heart,

nearly everything works;

if from the head,

almost nothing.

-Marc Chagall

I always try to honour how i feel when i'm painting.

And that means painting from the heart.

Sometimes, i'm in the mood for more

controlled painting - 

clean lines, perfect dots, bold colors.

And other times, i need to let loose.

Sometimes, i feel happy & bubbly & full of joy,

and sometimes i don't.

Sometimes, life is good,

and sometimes it's not.

Art allows me to honour and express

my own truth at the time.

Isn't that what it does for most of us?

It allows us to express

how we feel at a given time.

It gives meaning to the moment.

For me, it's not just about

making pretty paintings.

If we feel rainbows & sparkles,

the art we make (or write, or dance) will reflect this.

And if we feel more melancholy,

or sad, or just more mellow,

what we create will reflect this also.

If we are true to ourselves.

If we try painting something happy

when we're not,

we are denying our own truth.

Pain wants to be painted

as much as joy. 

:-)

The best songs and poems

were created from a place of truth,

even when that place was painful.

Especially when it was painful.

Authenticity always has a way

of connecting with others.

So go ahead.

Many of you out there (i know)

are going through a messy divorce,

or suffering illness,

or have felt the intense pain

of losing a loved one.

Give yourself permission to paint it,

or write it,

or journal it,

or collage it,

or sing it,

or play it.

Go ahead.

Trust that it will help you heal.

(cause it will)

xoxo