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I am finding my way back home. Home, where my Soul meets my Body (yes, I do love that song by Death Cab for Cutie), where my Heart is content and nodding. Where my Inner Voices scream a big YES to me. I am finding my way back home.

I’ve been watching this video, from the Bloom Series. You may have heard of it via Flora Bowley as she did live painting not too long ago and it is part of it (you can see her now and then in the video). If you have about 10 spare minutes, I strongly encourage you to watch the following video:

I know what I want to be when I grow up. I think I’ve always knew but was too afraid of admitting it, of not being good enough, of… whatever Fear is was speaking to me.

As of today, I will let go. I will be a Vessel of the Source even more. Something you may not know about my creative process is that every painting begins with some Intention sent in the Reiki form. Kind of a prayer, if I may say so. And each finished piece is showered with good energy so they radiate their Magic to whomsoever welcome their in their home.

In the video, artist Autumn Skye says :

It helps people to see that they are that, that they carry that Light. And helps them stand a little straighter […] and really rise into their Divinity. It’s vital that we {ie visionary artists} show them that part of themselves, strengthen that Light in them and then, they’ll shine too.

YES !!! this is what I am here to do somehow.

Spirituality. Nourishment. Soul Work. Share. Open up. Speak my Truths. Tell my Stories. Paint my Inner Worlds.

Maybe some Nixies and Sprixies will show up. Maybe not. I just want to let it all come to me, welcoming it with an open Heart and a free Spirit. Whatever it will be.

I am ready.

I am a Spiritual being. It is one thing that takes a lot of space in my Heart and is a the center of my creative life.

I recently had a reading with the amazing Nicole Bowman, who was suggested moons ago to me by the beautiful Carissa Paige. See, I usually have a reading once a year, around my birthday. Just to have an idea of what can be in store for me (I don’t see it as carved in stone and know we do influence by our choices, even the smallest ones). But it’s been a couple years now without this ritual.

I felt the urge, and as everything always happens when needed, Nicole had dropped her consultation price for the rest of July, I knew it was it, so I contacted her and made an appointment.

She is guided in the bestest way possible, and answered my questions, and more. I know I have a lot in store waiting for me to keep living in Fear. To drop it and go for it. The seeds are planted.

Today, I had this epiphany. It leaves me broken-hearted. And the tears are falling from my eyes as I write it, but I need to write it, to see it in words and then let it go to the World. I realized that in order to grow in my creative process, and creative life, I need, right now, to let my Nixies go.

I will take all the time it will take to photograph the paintings I created in the last 3 years, and for some that I never shared, and will put them for sale here and/or in the Etsy shop. They will find new loving homes. They don’t fit my closet anymore (literally and figuratively speaking).

It is scary. I feel naked and lost. But I know it is my next step. In my guts. And

I will keep painting, of course. And maybe the Nixies will keep appearing in my art no matter what. But for now, I will explore and expand my wings to new horizons.

As you may know, my guiding mantra for this year is «Try {Be Daring}». I knew at the end of 2012 that I needed to take actions, that my thoughts were not enough anymore (I tend to live in my head).

Global Search Talent is organized by Lilla Rogers. I won’t lie, but before a few months ago when she announced her first online class (Make art that sells aka MATS) I had no idea who she was. If you are like me, Lilla Rogers is an artist agent. Which means that she gets artists contracts for licensing their art. Here is what they officially say about their work on their website:

We are an illustration agency representing artists internationally. We license and sell work for surface design, and we accept commissions for editorial, graphic design, corporate and advertising clients.

I bought her book, which is full of information and exercises to go deeper into why I make art and how I could still create what makes me happy, but also what my customers would like.

I could not sign up for MATS because of priorities. A lot of my budget went into going to Sugar & Spice in Port Townsend and I could not invest almost $900 for this class. But I loved following Lynda around, week after week, as she was pushing her limits for the homeworks.

It was a HUGE creative stretch for me, because 1) I’m not a literal artist, I rarely do scenes from life (not that I don’t want to or something, it is just not what comes to me at the moment) 2) I never ever plan what will appear. I do sketch now, but it barely makes it onto my paintings because I almost always see something else emerging than what I had in mind.

And it wouldn’t have been fun without a little challenge added at the very end. You see, I was pretty sure the deadline to submit the artwork was July 29th (why this date ? No idea !). But while texting with Lynda last Friday, she told me «uhoh, no, the deadline is next Monday, 9am EST *so 6am PST, my time*». You imagine the rest… me freaking out, cursing, not having done anything yet, just starting brainstorming on my iPad while in bed at night…

Running to the Studio I was, cutting cardboard to be 10×14” (our artwork had to be 5×7” pasted onto a 8×10” background), and I came up with this painting (the slide you may see was just a late idea, did not make it to the final art):

I used my brayer, my Gelli Plate, alcohol inks, sprays… everything I usually love and use effortlessly now because they are part of my go-to supplies.

Hopscotch was one of my favorite game to play at school. I often was the one drawing it on the ground with chalk. So many memories… I wanted to integrate it somehow. My Nixie was inspired by the first project we did, back in January, for Mindy Lacefield’s online class «True Free Spirit». This class brings so much in my Life (and it is not too late to sign up for it !).

As much as I was loving the girl and the foreground, I felt like there was way too much «blank space» all around. After redoing the sky entirely, reducing its size (putting the horizon line further away), it was still not it… This is when I started a second painting. To have more options.

I listened to Lynda, who just told me: «bring back the joy, do what you love». So here I went, finding my happy place again. Acrylic paint+stencils+Lindy Stamp Gang’s shimmery spray+alcohol ink splatters=LOVEEEE.

Ohhh yea. It was way better. So then I decided to go hybrid: I scanned both paintings (good thing I have a large scale scanner) and played with it in Photoshop.

I still have a lot to learn about using the software; I know the basics but even when I think that, my Husband shows me that I actually don’t and still have a very long way to go… yup. After a few mini nervous breakdowns, he helped me effortlessly (we are so meant for each other ).

This is my final piece, submitted about 12 hours before the deadline:

I did it ! Proud of myself for having been able to get something I actually like in three short days.

NOTE:

• I can achieve anything as long as I focus on it enough.
• Never look at what others are actually doing before submitting my own thing.
• Ask for help, it’s okay not to know ever.
• Everything is a learning curve.
• The most important is not winning, it’s participating. (Pierre de Coubertin).
• Thank you so much Lynda and Chéri, would not have done it without you two.

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.

The Sun is shining on this Friday morning. Cheridoo just left for work, Grenouille is still eating her breakfast (every meal take forever with her, to tell you the truth) and Koala is playing with their Lalaloopsy dolls (she’s been trying to convince me to give her or swap my Mermaid Lalaloopsy lately).

Everytime I stop to write and share this weekly ritual with you, I feel my heart expanding, being filled with Love. deep deep Love. Don’t hesitate to join me

When in pain, physically or emotionally, hold on to Gratitude. Even if it is sometimes so hard to find one thing to be thankful for, look for it.

This week, I am thankful for:

• New and old friendships.
• My Husband.
• India.Arie new album, Songversation (I wanted to share one of the song with you but can’t find it on Youtube yet).
• Help received.
• Self-portraiture.
• Art making.
• Shimmer (and being a DT member for Lindy Stamp Gang definitely fill my shimmer love).
• Prayer (not in the sense you may think of).
• Oneness.
• Family meals.
• The sun’s warmth on my skin.
• Soul and R&B music (like in the 90s until maybe mid 2000s).
• Honesty.
• Healing.

Time for me to head in the studio, as my dear soulsister Lynda reminded me gently that no, the Global Talent Search was NOT on July 29th but… this Monday morning (which I make Sunday to be sure). Gotta paint playgrounds idea. Reaching for the sky *hint hint*.

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]

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 darling Soul !

My heart is heavy, so it is important for me even more to sit down, let my girls for a while until this is published… I make it short today because my body is on fire; I knew it was coming but it doesn’t make it any easier.

This week, I am thankful for:

• Questioning our Spiritual boundaries, digging deeper, and sharing.
• Getting out of my creative comfort zone.
• India.Arie new album, Songversation.
• Being able to sign up for an in-person workshop with Donna Downey at my local scrapbookstore next January.
• Texting with my far-away friends.
• Colors.
• Chocolate.
• The last minute cocktail party to say goodbye to Mom.
• Movie date night with my hottie Husband (and the movie was great !).
• Working on my new website/blog.
• My past, present and future artwork.
• Night time family story reading.
• New possibilities.
• Memory keeping.
• The ocean.

What’s on your Gratitude List today ?

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]