Archives

I would have a lot to say about this new series that I simply titled «Let Them Bloom».

The desire to work with the symbol of the Lotus began when one invited itself on my canvas. It was November 2011, in the beautiful Artfest Annex of Teesha & Tracy Moore in Seattle. I was there to attend Flora Bowley’s workshop.

The drop magically became a Lotus. I did not see it coming. And you know what ? two of the four paintings below started as a drop first and I did not link it until right now, while writing you this. Funny. (my playlist is playing «Let the rain» by Sara Bareille… which is the title of a painting I created at the same time as the serie. thank you Universe for the synchronicity here).

I loved going out of my comfort zone. I was in the workshop with a totally open heart and mind, and no expectations. I left totally changed by Flora & Teesha’s beautiful Souls and their strong will to help people find themselves via art. I didn’t plan it. It was both a struggle and a pleasure to work on this painting (you can read more about it in this blogpost). When I came back home, I knew I wanted to explore more of it, to dig the symbolism and meaning of the Lotus in order to learn more than I already knew.

My Gratitude tattoo is a Lotus flowers with 5 stars. Even if planned in advance, Life decided that I got inked a short few days after being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. No coincidence (I don’t believe in them).

This series is titled «Let Them Bloom» because it took me a year and a half to have them appear on my studio table. I did try to push, to pull them out from my backgrounds. How many times did I start a painting session with the burning desire to paint a Lotus… But they always ended up as something else. The Lotus did not want to emerge. Maybe it was not time for them yet; maybe I was not ready for them yet.

I know more will come, I can just feel it. But these four taught me something very valuable for anything in my life: let it come. When the time will be right, it will appear in your life. If not, it was not meant to be.

Click each image to be redirected to its listing in the shop (so you’ll have more infos about what’s behind it):

… I’ve noticed recently how some things, like growing our own garden for the real first time for example, inspire me more than I would have thought. I discover the cycle of a fruit, knowing I forgot along the years that a fruit actually comes from the heart of a flower. Watching it everyday (sometimes twice a day, oops) their development, as if I was the same age as my daughters again. The pleasure of picking a beautiful ripe strawberry we cared for. YUM !

… Animals. I am working on a project that involves lots of different animals. And as I am not a drawer, I spend lots of time sketching, watching, analyzing them.

2 days ago, these two Bald Eagles were in our cedar trees. Apparently, they were mating. I’ve never heard their songs before. It was amazing.

… Other artists work. I recently came across Michelle Allen’s blogpost in which she shared her beautiful repurposed tool bag as a caddy to use when going elsewhere to paint and create. What she did is, for me, mind blowing. I could not get it out of my mind… This is why we went to Home Depot in order to find one I could repurpose. I found one that was black and red. Blergh. But I spray painted it white *and lime green when I ran out of the white can* to have a new base to start from. I’m not done yet, but I really look forward to what it will look like when done. Going with the flow, from the words that come while painting, from the images I see emerging while pushing the paint around. It is a lot of fun to do something different !

I will use it at Sugar & Spice in two weeks. Will be easier to move my art supplies from the hotel to the class room where the retreat will happen. I hope I’ll be able to fit everything in 😉

I’m stopping at three for today or we’d be here for ever. I think that we truly can find inspiration all around, especially in places and moments we would not expect it to strike !

What are you inspired by right now ?

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.

Hello beautiful Soul !

It is grey today and it feels like the sky can open up to rain any moment now. But that’s okay, the rain would water our tomatoes and strawberries, and the flowers we planted.

This week is one of those week: as the last one was pretty heavy negatively, this one felt somehow way lighter in emotions. They are true when they say it is all a matter of perspective.

This week, I am thankful for:

• Facetime sessions with Anu (she even witnessed my dancing moves while I work)
• Creative playdate with Melissa (and Mom)
• Good food we cook
• iMessage with Lynda
• Mindy Lacefield sharing her beautiful (he)art
• My new series of paintings (more on that later)
• The ATCs I made for a swap, eventually loved the process
• The tv show Criminal Minds (and that our library got all the seasons on DVDs so we can discover it from the beginning)
• Music
• The fun evening Cheridoo made us cocktails
• New work opportunities that are opening up (bring it on, I’m ready and open)
• Crazy dance breaks (while cooking. while painting. while pretty much doing anything)

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]

Being an artist working from home can get very lonely sometimes. Usually, I don’t really mind. However, it requires quite some self discipline as it is easy to find distractions and excuses for not actually going in the studio (you may know that painting is just the fun part of the job, but still…).

Today, Melissa came for a few hours with us (yes, Mom is still here).

I notice it everytime someone shares the studio with me (or in a class in person etc): the vibe totally changes. No talk even required ! just not being me myself and I seems to make a difference.
A good thing that my Mom loves me unconditionnally and that Melissa is now used to my… quirkyness. I sing, sometimes burst a move or two *especially when my iPod decides to play all the Justin Timberlake songs, out of the 400-ish songs it contains, almost back to back*, I get excited, frustrated and have a hard time simply sucking it up.

My Mom is very crafty (me, not that much), so she does all the things I wish I would do. For the past week, she has been cuting stencils for me. How blessed am I ?? A good thing that The Crafter’s Workshop offers 6×6 and 12×12 blank sheets to do it (I wish I’d know the set up for using my Silhouette machine with it; if you know, please do share with me).

Melissa amazes me with her sense of details and how she can do repetitive patterns with patience. Her journals are just pure joy, too (I think this will be my next art journal, folks !).

I think that later, one of my goal would be to share a space with another artist (or two or three). We would all work on our stuff but still be together you know. Yup, I would love something like this in my future…

(As always, Liz is inspiring me).

I think that for some reasons, I need to be back on writing on a more regular basis. I have this secret project that I have been working on for ages but that I keep pulling in and out of my life. I have this urge of keeping track of our lives as they are right now so I don’t forget, so they will remember.

Here,
I accept my energy flow and its consequences.
Here,
I enjoy seeing my Koala’s eyes ignite when she puts her tutu on and starts dancing.
Here,
I scribble and sketch and dream.
Here,
I connect with people I care about.
Here,
I realize we are not immortal but can leave a trace.
Here,
I dare to dream.
Here,
I get excited about the time I’ll meet some of the most beautiful Souls I’ve only met online.
Here,
I feel more in love with my Husband than ever.
Here,
My heart is full.