big space, small space and burnt offerings

Here is my secret:

It's very simple.

It's only with the heart that one can see rightly.

What is essential is invisible to the eye.

-Antoine de Saint Exupéry - Le Petit Prince

I made no art last night,
so instead of sharing art,
i will share my space with you. :-)

Welcome to my studio/work space/thinking ground...

This is where i do a lot of my work.
(by the way, it's usually not this clean... i just cleaned it!)

It's where i read and write early in the morning,
and design and doodle during the day.

The evenings usually find me in my little blue room,
in a different part of the house, downstairs.

It's funny how this space just feels too big for me
at night.
Too big to paint.
Too big to feel cozy.

There's crap all over the floor,
but the thing i love most about this room
is the window. The sunlight.

I read somewhere that we are biologically wired
to go towards the light.

Isn't that interesting? It is to me.

Naturally, i think most of us would gravitate 
towards the window.

I surround myself with things that inspire me...
Do you?

artwork from others that i love.
I'm not great with getting things framed,
and i often end up with the art and messages
stuck on the wall with scotch tape. ;-)

But that's ok, as long as i can see them, they inspire me.

My chinese balls with the sound chimes,
for stress relief when i need it,
and these Chinese papers that I was going to use in my journal,
but then i learned that they are normally used as "burnt offerings"...

Whenever i think of burnt offerings,
i think of all those people who were burned to death as sacrifices to the gods.

They're GODS!! Surely, they already have everything they need, right? ;-)

You all must know by now that i refuse to be normal,
and that if i offer anything,
it won't be given in the form of fire...
so i'll be using them in my journal anyway. ;-)

More inspiration.

My Picasso print... (a bit fuzzy)

I just love the tenderness and melancholy in this...

And one of my own paintings, that i look at now and then,
as a reminder.

Remember to surround yourself with inspiration.
And don't let others define inspiration for you (including me!)
Define it your own way.
Inspiration is whatever moves YOU.

Thanks for hanging out with me here.

xox

Illustration Friday and Robert Plant

hi everyone...

I'm linking this to Illustration Friday.

The word this week is WATER.

For me, water means ocean.

I love watching the waves... just like my little mismatched girl here.

She doesn't care whether her clothes match or not.
She's at the ocean - and when you're surrounded with such beauty
nothing else matters. 

And then, an attempt at a Robert Plant illustration
with Sharpie markers on glossy paper.

I sort of skipped a few pics for the steps in between.
Got too excited with the scribbling... ;-)

Whenever i use Sharpies on glossy paper
i get the urge to scribble. 

the marker just glides so easily on the page,
it feels like the drawing draws itself.

It's a very liberating way to draw now and then.
Very few set or defined lines... it's more about layers of color
and of course, scribbles. 

For those of you who live on another planet (giggle) -
Robert Plant was the lead singer in Led Zeppelin,
another fabulous band from the 60's and 70's.

I love Robert Plant as much today as i did back then.

Can you feel the love? ;-)

Have a great week folks.
Don't forget to feed the black dog.
;-)

when the whispers call... listen.

hi everyone.

I've missed you all. 

Despite difficult days - the sun still rises. 

And what a beauty it is... wouldn't you agree?

No adjustments made to the photo...

it was actually this yellow.

First of all, thank you.

From the deepest of my heart - thank you all,

for showing me

that you are there.

That you understand.

Mom comes out of the hospital today.

:-)

We never know for how long,

but none of us really know

whether we'll be here tomorrow or not, do we?

The more reason to take everything in while we can,

to taste everything

to touch everything

to see everything

to be grateful for what we have,

for who we have

for who we are...

and for sunrises and sunsets. 

When i went to the mail today,

i found this in my box

and it made me smile...

A wonderful gift of speciality papers...(chinese papers?)

from the lovely Angelia 

all in a beautiful hand painted envelope.

How precious is that?

I can't wait to use them in my journal
THANK YOU Angelia... xox

During the past few weeks,
I spent very little time in my studio.

My heart just wasn't in it.

And then a few days ago,
I began to feel that stirring inside...

the one that calls for me to make art,
to write,
to create something.

The one that gets more persistent
as every day passes...

The one that reminds me,
that despite what happens around me,
there is still something inside me
that that needs to be given
a voice
a color
a form...

and within 30 minutes - a new beginning...

only after i had it all on canvas did i notice
the hearts...

At least i see two hearts.

It's only the beginning and i'll keep you posted
as it progresses.

It was good to have the brushes in my hand again. :-)

Kurt is watching on the sidelines. ;-)

I'll leave you with a video from someone that i love,

Loreena McKennitt - one of my favorite Canadians. :-)

The words in this song hold a particular meaning.

Back in 1998, she tragically lost her fiancé, his brother,

and their best friend in a boating accident.

She said she would never perform or record again after this.

But I'm guessing she felt the same stirring inside,

calling her to make music,

to give her feelings a voice,

to create something...

I'm so grateful that she listened to the whispers...

Wishing you all a happy, healthy weekend.

xox