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A new video, after about two weeks without ! It felt so good to set up the camera again while playing in my Art Journaling.

I have to confess something: I love trying new things, especially art supplies (I can spend hundreds of dollars on paint and fancy smoochy creative related items, and will cringe when I need to spend $20 on a dress. Gloops. What happened to me ??? ). When Dyan Reaveley announced she was releasing an Art Journal with her Dylusions line at Rangers, I was sceptical. I’ve known her for years and especially for her art journals, but still… what could her journal have that would make it really like it ? It is big. it is very fat. it is expensive (my beloved local scrapbooking store sells it for about $27 !). But you know… I wanted to try it anyway, just because I like making my own mind about things.

And even if I don’t use (yet) the inside pocket, I’ve grown to love it quite much. The paper seem to really take about any media, which is rare to find.

I loved how, when sharing my excitement at the early «getting to know you» phase with this journal, my friend Melissa (from Yellow Melle) told me «It seems like a good one… but I guess you truly have to commit to it !» (speaking of the size and number of pages I guess) and it’s still on my mind (and now on the front cover). She is so right, I need to commit to my relationship with my art journal, and I am falling in love again with it, finding my way back. not really paying attention to «it does not seem like me», if it comes out of me, then it is me if you know what I mean… Oh and don’t worry, I am still binding my own journals as well, love doing it too much to give it up !

Back to this week Art Journaling video: Not sure if I wanted to share my creative process over a painting or an art journal spread, I ask on my Facebook page. Marci nicely proposed me to start with this theme: Something related to peace in the midst of the storm. So this is what I hold in my heart when I started.

I am letting go a lot. And it feels like a painful growth spurt. But I do know it is all for the best, preparing for what’s to come (more on that later).

I am still struggling with shading my faces, but I know I’ll get there (by «there» I mean «a place where I really love the outcome»). And I know it is okay that it takes time.

To convey the storm part of it, I decided to scratch. I love applying a sicker layer of paint over another one, and then scratching so it will partly reveal what’s underneath. I also used my trusty Stabilo pencil to make intuitive marks here and there.

Please, if you have questions about what I used, don’t be shy and ask away

Gratitude Friday is a weekly ritual I started in order to focus on all the small and big positive things that happened during my week. I invite you to join me, you’ll see how much being thankful can change your life. If you want to know more about it, read my introduction post.

Happy Friday !

What a roller coaster of a week this has been…

This is what this weekly ritual really is for me: a time to ponder the negative in order to let it be outshined by the positive. Knowing that yes, it is there, but that it does not have to be what matters the most or what takes the largest place in my mind and in my heart.

I feel truly blessed. Like this inner knowing that everything is there for a reason.

This week, I am thankful for:

• Great heartfelt talks.
• Mom arrives in 5 days.
• We did arrange the guest room for her, even if the walls do need some color paint (they’re white).
• I received a fantastic and totally unexpected gift that made me cry of Gratitude
• FaceTime dates.
• It’s the week-end.
• I’m still losing weight, bit by bit.
• Listening to the crazy talks. That leads me to more acceptance.
• The book «The Night Circus» by Erin Morgensten. Listening to the audiobook on my iPad while painting.
• Zopiclone pills.
• Good health insurance coverage.
• Living close enough from the US border so it’s easy to cross it to receive parcels.
• Pep talks, encouragement. Knowing that they were exactly the answer to my prayers.
• Never giving up.

What is on your Gratitude List this week ?

If you wrote your Gratitude Friday on your blog, don’t forget to enter your NAME and URL below so I’m notified and can come to read you (you can also join by commenting this post): [linkme]

I am one that usually try to reason everything. Which is quite paradoxical when you know than I am also a supporter of gut following in almost everything I do.

When it comes to creativity, I am more often listening to what is whispered than trying to find my way out of it. However, when it seems too big, too crazy, too weird, I push it back. Like a reflex I don’t control (or it wouldn’t be called a reflex, right ?).

I am an over-thinker. Nothing overly good or wrong about it, this is just my reality and I go with it.

I noticed that last year, and the beginning of this one as well, has been filled with sometimes very high peaks of creativity (you know… when you only think about what you wanna paint next. And this color you use over and over. and this series of painting you are dying to start. and and and…) alternating with sometimes very deep holes. A rollercoaster it is, my friends. And now and then, it gets scary no matter how loud I scream to let it go.

When my Inner Voice tells me that this would be a good idea, I answer a loud «HELL YES ! (thank you)* but right now, I am pushing the Voice away even if I know she is right. How do you do when you know you are just facing a big useless stupid resistance but don’t know what to do against it ? I don’t like fighting my feelings anymore, been there too much for too long.

You know how it is always easier to give advice to someone, and when you face the same kind of situation you find it impossible to practice what you preach ? I hear you.

I was talking to my Studio Buddy (ie my lovely neighbour) yesterday, she asked me what I’ve been doing lately (since it’s been a while and we needed to do some catching up). So I told her: I am inspired, but every time I come to the Studio I look at my in progress paintings and go back upstairs without doing anything. And I showed to her the ones I’ve been working on and told her: «this is not my usual style. There is a freaking boat on this painting. I mean… A BOAT !!!!!!» and while talking, I realized: «I know what’s wrong now ! Until now, I felt like I needed to paint my Nixies because it is my signature style. But I don’t HAVE TO, I can do abstract if I feel like it. Or a booooooooooat if this is what appears, and I need to be okay with the changes in my style and in what I create. And let go of the fear of what people could think of it.»  This was my epiphany moment.

And that was a good crazy talk. I now know that it’s okay not to paint the same thing over and over again and that change can be good even if it is scary at first.
Use that fear.
Push in the right direction.
It’s okay.

So you’ll soon see a boat painting about journeying. And I am called to work with Totem Animals. It is a subject I’ve been fascinated with for more than a decade now but was afraid to tackle in my art. Afraid not to make them justice (if that makes sense), but I don’t believe in coincidence and if that Hare appeared in my Art Journal, it’s for a reason (I don’t usually do animals except Owls). So I am researching in my books, online and inside of myself.

I don’t know if that Mr Owl is done or not, he is teaching me a lot. And Mr Hare may get out of my journal to be on a painting of its own…

Hi guys !

I am taking a few minutes from watching my daughters play outside with the other kids on that wonderful last day of Spring Break to let you know I’ve added a bunch of new original Nixies in the shop.

I wish it would get easier for me to list them, I am always so afraid of not pricing them right. But I go with my gut and I hope this is right.

I love them all, but I create them not only for me, but to inspire people as well. I hope you’ll like their stories, and will relate to their stories (you can read them on their page in the shop).

Here they are:

«Breathe» is created on a 6×8” cradled wood panel.

She is all about taking the time to introspect and to remember this simple automatic thing we all do without even thinking about it: breathing.

Breathing to center herself, to ground her in the Present moment and what it has to offer, to slow down on the craziness everyday life is.

Letting everything flow, not being

This painting can be purchased here (and you’ll have more info about it as well): Breathe.

Prints will also be available.

All the following Nixies have been created on 8×10” (±20x25cm) canvas board. They are all currently for sale at $69+shipping.

Kowana is the caregiver.

She teaches you to take care of yourself.

She is very tender, very kind. There definitely is something about her that makes me want a hug.

Asha was my first brown skin Nixie, and I guess this is partly why I cherish her so much, still now.

She is from where it’s warm all year long. She is what they call a priestess. She knows her way with Nature, with animal and everything that is living. She hears them whisper to her.

She is the healer.

This painting, as the others, is meant to be discovered with your fingers running on it, not only with your eyes.

Bethanny is the sweetness behind the strength. She is an hidden softy.

She’s the one you can rely on to find solutions.

Hope is the light in the darkest moments.

She makes conscious choices about how she wants to feel on a constant basis, and her happiness is contagious.

Each Nixie has more info in the shop, I hope you like them