I recently ordered a mystery box of old papers and got a box full of play money. These tough economic times have brought most artists I know to their knees and I, for one, would love to once again hear that phrase "the check's in the mail." So what an ironic gift to get a box of play money! What a perfect time to paint about money fears and to dig up my old copy of Simple Abundance. "Transforming every 'what will I do?' into 'what can I do?' fuels your fiscal creativity, restoring a sense of peace as you pursue prosperity," says the brilliant Sarah Ban Breathnach on October 24 (if you're following along.) So even though I can't pay the phone bill with monopoly money, I can continue to do what I do and hope for the best. And as Sarah states "Above all, follow Janis Joplin's advice: 'Don't compromise yourself. You are all you've got." Bounty
Patty Griffin has this fantastic song called Nobody's Cryin'. She says the song is about everyone hanging on during the weird changing times in our world. I can't get the song out of my head! I listened to the whole album over and over as I painted this one.
"...may the voices inside you that fill you with dread Make the sound of thousands of angels instead"
Art is my therapy and here is another session. And something in me believes I am meant to share it. Secret Hope.
...happiness. I can create my own happiness was the lesson I learned during my trip to Greece over a decade ago. I remember the timing of the lesson well because of the precious photos that were taken on that trip. You could see it on our faces. I'm so grateful for the snap shots. Especially yesterday when I painted this one. I needed to remember. I need to share. That is why I am an artist. I need to re-create. Creating Your Own
I just read this in an Eckhart Tolle newsletter and had to share it! This is for all the parents and teachers out there. Enjoy.
Inspirational Story It is the little things that are really the big things.
This year I have been teaching kindergarten students.(5 & 6 yrs )
We start off each morning with a visualization so that we can find the
still place that is inside ourselves. When we find that place we can
get rid of all the silly stuff that has come in from the playground etc
and make room for all the great learning to find its place and settle
into our minds.
Throughout the day I ring my special 'peace bell' and we have a minute
of peace. Usually this is when the class is off task and getting out of
sorts. It also gives me a chance to stop still and gather myself
rather than losing my patience. Id rather that than feeling ugly, anger
is an ugly thing in the classroom.
When we have our minute of peace, I say 'freeze and breathe'. For a
minute we breath in and out slowly. At the end i ask them to cup there
ears ''Can you hear that? Can you feel that?' I ask them. 'Its
beautiful isn't it?' I say. The children agree. Then the best part, I
love to remind them, 'that's who you really are, beautiful, still, calm
and full of love and happiness. You know you can go there anytime,
anyplace'.
Perhaps it sounds a bit ideal. They go on to make a racket again in a
short time. But my learning is to accept that too as a teacher.
After a year of Mondays only on this class it is lovely to see that
children are starting to stop and breathe on their own now, when they
come to floor for lessons, standing in line etc and they say 'look at
me I'm taking my breaths'.
Imagine everyday having this in kindy and right through their schooling
, wouldn't the world be a calmer, more relaxed place to be?
Here is a preview to my work that can been seen at Arts on Douglas Gallery in the Small Works Considered show. Each piece is mixed media collage and is 8" x 8". The opening is December 3rd from 4 to 7pm and the show runs until December 31. I will be at the opening and I hope to see you there!
This is a question for you Moms out there. Remember when they were babies...the sleep deprivation...the relentlessness...when completing a thought, never mind a sentence was a small miracle? Well I guess I had forgotten it this morning because after 2-1/2 hours of painting, I had to stop and I got angry thinking "I don't even have time to think!" Well, after I asked myself that first question, I did remember that things have changed...a lot. The demands that come with raising a 4 and 6 year old are at times still relentless (and I mean relentless with the utmost affection.) BUT, and there is a but, is DOES get easier. Different and easier. Today I had 2-1/2 hours to think. I do believe in miracles. Time To Think
What a great word, dwell. Emily Dickinson wrote "I dwell in possibility." This is the mantra of an artist. The belief that if you can remain aware, any emotions, good or bad, can be channeled through a person and molded into an image, a song or a sentence that inspires. I had a roller coaster ride of emotions this week and I am so grateful to have been able to focus it and and release it onto these 4 panels of wood. I've said it a hundred times, "Any day in the studio is a great day". This is my therapy. This is for me. Esther Hicks-Abraham says that when we talk about creators, we are talking about the creating of your state of being. I hope to always linger in the idea that art in all its forms has the potential to fill me, to heal me, and to save me. I dwell in that possibility. Dwell
