how do you make sense of a crazy world?

hello everyone!

My journal entry from

November 29th, 2016:

*****

I just came back from a beautiful walk.

The sun was shining and as I walked,

it started snowing at the same time.

Part of the sky was dark and cloudy,

ant the other part was blue sky.

So pretty.

The snowflakes falling

looked like little sparkles

or sprinkles in the sky.

It's moments like these

that feel blessed to me.

And i hesitate to say blessed

because it implies there is someone

or something

doing the blessing,

and that's just not what I believe.

It's just that whenever I see something like that,

or hear beautiful music -

even just a single note sometimes,

I feel like my insides turn to mush

and I am somehow weaved in

with the note or the snowflake

or the singing bird and for a moment -

we become one.

I know it sounds corny,

but whenever these moments happen for me,

everything makes sense.

It is no doubt what Eckhart Tolle calls

being in the moment.

It's not that everything makes sense, really,

but more like nothing else exists

outside of my tiny moment

with the snowflakes.

Like the rest of the world comes to a stop

and my moment happens in slow motion -

to make sure i grasp the significance.

It is during times like these

that I am grateful

for my artist heart.

*****

So it's been a rough past few months
for many of us
and as much as I am still saddened
by everything happening in the world,
specifically the hatred
I am reminded every day
that there are still small miracles
all around me and that
I am still the same person.
Only maybe more resilient now.
Maybe more determined
to speak out when it's time
for my voice to be heard.
I still love books.
I still love painting.
And writing.
I love my family
and my friends.
I love connecting with others
around the world (like you!).
These things will never change,
regardless of what is happening
around me.
I hope you are finding 
some sort of peace with it all too.
Especially my American friends.
Regardless of who you voted for,
let's face it,
there's a lot of uncertainty
for a lot of people right now.
Sometimes, having the world around us
shift in strange and unpleasant ways
makes us even more determined
to take our place in it.

On another note,
I did some cards with my acrylic paintings
and ordered them from Vistaprint
during their Black Friday sale (60% off!)
and I got them yesterday.
So exciting!

I like sending a little something extra
to those who buy from my ETSY shop,
so I'm pretty happy with these.

I'll be sending some
in Christmas cards this year as well...

I love the combination of
art and words.
Both are equally important to me.

Big love to every one of you.
xx

i am one with the world - but not with spam.

Excuse me while i kiss the sky.

Jimi Hendrix

no words are necessary, right?

 except maybe beauty

This is what i find at the end of the road
after a long early morning walk.

Some people have attained that guru state
where they feel "at one" with the universe all the time.

i haven't yet.

But in places like this...
i am one with the world.

 or when i'm painting funky oranges... ;-)

a 15 minute sketch done with colored pencils and markers.

i like the rough sketches now and then...

art doesn't need to be perfect.

Art usually expresses a feeling, or an emotion, or a thought,

so actually - it should be anything but perfect.

At least that's how i see it.

 then i did this in my little Moleskin book

micron pen, watercolor and colored pencils.
i found the photo on-line and just added text.

On another note...

i've been getting a shitload of Anonymous spam comments lately.

i hate to resort to the WORD VERIFICATION thing,

but i may finally set it up this week.

18 spam comments in my inbox on one day is too much.

If anyone out there knows of a way to get rid of them

without doing the Word Verification thing, please let me know.

By the time i trash the 10th comment,

let's just say i am not feeling very zen.

Wishing you all a beautiful Sunday and a great week

filled with health and happy things.

And maybe ice cream.

Or rainbow lollipops.

Or chocolate.

Yes. Definitely chocolate. 

xox

the woman in the moon

Life shrinks or expands

in proportion to one's courage.

Anaïs Nin

I decided a while ago that i would blog less often

and paint more.

And guess what i discovered?

That blogging is what kept me painting more often.

Knowing that i would be posting something in the morning

inspired me to be creative at night.

I blog less now (about twice per week)

and instead of using the extra time to paint

(like i thought i would!)

i clean the house

or go for coffee

or read

and more often than not

i work.

That's just yucky.

;-)

So i'm back to posting more often,

every day or two.

Yay for me!

It just gives me the kick in the ass i need

to keep myself creating.

I did this one in my journal last night...

acrylics, markers and white pen.

I really have a thing for twirls, don't i?

colors are off and i don't usually fiddle much

with making adjustments,

but you get the idea.

The woman in the moon. 

:-)

and this is my little blue room,

after the painting last night.

more stuff

and still more stuff. :-)

i took this pic this morning, in natural light.

By the way, i got a lovely invitation a little while back

to be a featured artist on Jennibellie's fabulous blog.

For those of you interested in reading the little interview

just click here.

Jenny is a talented and kind artist and spends much of her time

making beautiful things and spreading the love by

sharing her artwork and her tutorial videos for everyone.

I just love anyone who's willing to share so much of themselves

with the world.

Thank you Jenny!

Wishing you all a wonderful week

filled with sunshine and lollipops. 

xoxo

woman at train station and blue waves...

hi everyone!

I'm linking this to Illustration Friday,

another weekly challenge that encourages art.

The word for this week is: HURRY!

:-)

It's always so inspiring

to see some of the fabulous work there...

(this is mixed media - acrylic on paper, charcoal, micron pens.)

I've made a conscious decision in the past few weeks

to spend less time on the computer,

and more time with art.

I am determined to make a decent living as an artist

if it kills me, dammit. 

:-)

A few posts ago, I wrote about  how i believe

it takes a lot of courage to be an artist. 

It also takes hard work.

It may look easy,

but it's not all sparkles and rainbows.

Besides the naysayers

and the awkward feeling of never fitting in to society,

some things may happen sometimes

that cause us to question

the value of our own work.

In the past few years,

I've sent my work to several magazine publishers,

and have been rejected.

I've sent my paintings to a juried show -

rejected.

I've sent my writings to book publishers -

rejected.

I've sent more paintings to another juried show -

again, rejected.

I've sent paintings to a gallery,

rejected,

just in a more chi chi poo poo kinda way. 

;-)

See where the courage comes in handy?

In addition to courage, it also takes

perseverance

and hard work

and determination

and vision

and confidence

and clarity

and patience.

Yes, above all, patience.

Chocolate and wine don't hurt either.

;-)

I am comforted by the fact

that many successful artists and writers

had their walls plastered with rejection slips

at one time or another.

I am also comforted by the fact

that I know this is where my heart belongs.

I know this is my truth.

This is where my love lies.

And so, i will carry on -

regardless of who likes or doesn't like,

regardless of who approves or not,

regardless of sales,

and i hope that those of you

who are struggling sometimes,

all do the same.

If it means getting yourself a part time job somewhere

to allow yourself to keep creating,

do it.

You'll find a way.

Keep making good work.

Keep sharing it.

Your art needs to be put out in the world...

because that's where it belongs.

Your songs need to be shared

because that's how they become songs...

Don't die with your songs

still in you.

He who has a why to live for

can bear almost any how.

Nietzsche

girl in water, woman and wavy hair, the beginning...

She's scary, isn't she?

She scares me and i'm the one who drew her. :-)

I'm posting her anyway because i believe

flawed art is still better than no art. 

This little wavy haired woman was done right after the girl in the water,

and it's a work in progress.

In BIC marker and acrylic paints.

These kinds of doodles are always so meditative for me.

The quote you see on the left is one that i love

by J.R.R. Tolkien...

Not all who wander are lost

I'm reading the FIRE STARTER SESSIONS

and working on some of the worksheets.

I'll tell you a little secret about myself.

i am not a goal oriented person. 

At all.

So whenever i see someone with calendars

or a strategic 5 year plan on their wall

my heart starts to palpitate.

It just all seems far too mechanical for me.

I'm just saying.

It's just not who i am.

For those of you who can fly with 5 year plans on their walls,

more power to you!

I've never been good at setting goals for myself

and yet,

i've accomplished most of what i set out to do,

through passion

and determination

and perseverance

and courage

and work.

Oh, and love is important too.

If you don't love what you're doing

chances are good you may meet the deadline

but you'll still feel empty inside

and almost always drained at the end of the day.

I know. I've been there. It's not a good feeling.

Danielle Laporte gently asks this question in her book:

how do you want to feel?

An important question, wouldn't you say?

Once i thought about this for a while,

i realized that one of the most important values for me

is freedom.

Maybe i really am a hippie at heart. :-)

I want to feel free more than anything,

which probably explains why i've always struggled 

with the 9 to 5 job.

I've done it, for years, but i never strived there.

I was trading my freedom for financial reward,

and that just wasn't cutting it for me.

There had to be another way.

There was another way.

i just had to claim it as my own. 

:-)

When i walked on the beach last weekend,

in this one spot on the sand,

there had been a bonfire there the night before.

Out of the ashes, i saw this one piece of paper...

and these 2 words made me smile.

Wishing you all a happy Wednesday.

xoxo

what IF and little bird on a branch...

This ended up being far more collage than anything,

but it was still fun to do

and such a relaxing way for me

to end the day.

That's my new motto. 

Is it fun?

Great!

Then do it!

Does it help make the day just a little better?

Great.

DO. IT.

We spend far too much time

justifying art.

It is what it is

and if it makes you happy -

do it.

So i spent over an hour last night

in my little blue room,

with good music,

a glass of wine on the left

and brush water on the right ;-)

and I played.

I've realized in the past year or so

how essential this playtime is for me.

Twyla Tharp calls it The creative habit.

I sometimes call it play but in reality, it's work.

It is my life's work

and it is no less important

than anyone else's life work.

And sometimes...

while painting and collaging...

when your mind is free,

and you no longer hear the chatter

you may even find answers

to some of your own questions.

little bird wishes you all a wonderful day...

filled with more color than you can handle.

:-)

funky girl & happy Monday!

Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.

Erich Fromm

Last night's play time.

A bit of collage for starters...

at this point, i rarely know what i'll be painting.

 

A quick little sketch...

At first i just wanted her to have curly hair,

but then it quickly became out of control. :-)

I usually sketch the outline on the canvas/collage with charcoal...

she seemed more sad than my sketch...

sometimes i mix the paint on my palette,

other times, i put the paint directly on the collage (as i did here)...

I kinda like the orange lips... 

  

having fun with the hair & gave her

a bit more of a smile...

added black, white, and a bit of detail

and there you have it.

Happy girl with funky hair & snazzy flowers. 

I use tissue paper for part of the collage

and i love how the fibres overlap.

Wishing you all a great week

filled with sunshine & lollipops. 

:-)

quick sketches & dreams...

100 years ago today, the Titanic set sail from Southampton,

and thousands of dreams died...

(stay tuned the next few days for a few

paintings & stories I want to share)

Just a few quick sketches today,

from last night.

I sketched it while watching TV with my son,

who unfortunately, tuned into "Strange addictions" -

another reality show about mental illness, basically.

My son is 16, so he just thinks it's cool.

:-)

A friend of mine used to joke that we were all mentally ill -

just at different levels.

Somehow, it doesn't seem so funny anymore. 

Sometimes I think we're not far off from the Romans

feeding Christians to the lions...

Millions of people tune in

to watch the suffering of others.

I don't get it.

Maybe it brings us a strange comfort

to know that someone else on the planet

has more issues than we do?

Maybe it makes us feel like we're ok after all?

As long as it's someone else's home

overflowing with clothes 

and junk

and food

and dead cats under piles of debris...

We're ok.

I can't imagine tuning into such shows

on a weekly basis.

That in itself would be enough

to drive me to the edge

of insanity. 

But my son laughed at a few things

and we had a good chat about it

after it was done.

I'm happy his heart is in the right place.

Wishing you all a day filled with 

awesome-ness,

and a home filled with love & comfort
rather than things.

:-)