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When I recently asked on Facebook what you’d like to see from me on my YouTube channel,  most of you asked for a painting video, so here it is 🙂

«Lost In the Echo» — Original painting for sale

My mom was in my studio the whole time I was recording (she is making me beautiful stencils ! I’ll share more about it soon) and at one point, she said to me «I am amazed at how easily and quickly you see your subject appearing when you create». I stopped the camera for a few minutes to show her that I do struggle too, and pulled out some of the paintings I’ve been working on that I don’t know what to do with for now… And I told her that I find it weird that it seems easier when I am on camera than when I am not (should I record more ? ahah).

I chose to use a 8×10” canvas board. As usual, I started with the surface oriented as a portrait size, maybe only because this is an habit, I don’t think about it when I start and this is what I am comfortable doing. But you know… there are always surprises showing up in the process, and seeing the Nixie’s face emerging in another orientation was one of them…

I am currently loving using my Gelli Plate with Deli paper. Making marks with the different Catalyst Blades I have makes me happy too. So I used one on the first layer of collage for this painting.

Watch the process (click on the little gear logo to watch in full HD):

Supplies I used:

Gelli Plate 8×10 Brayer Deli Paper Catalyst Blade 04 Sunset Sunrise paper Liquitex Matte Gel Catalyst Blade #6 Golden Fluid Acrylic Golden Heavy Body acrylic paint Stabilo All pencil Black Silk-African Jade Blick Matte Acrylics Oil Pastel Sharpie Marker On Target stamps Archival Ink Deep Purple

For more than a decade, I banished creativity from my life (the only form I did was cooking). It was not really a conscious choice, but I guess as many young adults, the result of thinking I simply can not draw, or whatever. And for me, it was all about being able to draw properly… realistically.

Oh was I wrong ! I guess we all carry these ideas about what creativity should be, what an artist does etc.

In the summer of 2008, I discovered Creative Journaling with a book from art-therapist Anne-Marie Jobin (she is in Québec, Canada). It is blending writing and collage and drawing in order to help us go through the hard moments of life, but also to help us in the discovery of who we truly are. This is how I got started again (after a failed attempt with oil paint).
This really was for me the starting point: from there, I wanted to know more about this way of healing and letting it out so I googled and found Suzi Blu, Tamara Laporte (aka Willowing) & Samie Kira on Youtube (thank you girls for the lessons, for the fun and for the Love you pour in your videos !). I got obsessed and watched video after video, eager to know more, to learn, and… eventually to try *you know how sometimes it is hard to go from theory to practice. yup. Fear is there again*.

I was creating just for me, sharing now and then on my blog (the francophone one) because I wanted people to discover it as well. Then I discovered Art Journaling, that is a bit different. It made me fall in love with painting and acrylic. It made my heart sing, all the possibilities and the tangible shift in how I was actually feeling. It was the way I found to help me cope, to rewrite the stories I could not hear myself telling anymore.

My style is a neverending experiment. Blending what I learn from others with what is natural to me. I have so many creative styles in me, I sometimes wonder if this is normal, what people would think of it (for example I create my Nixies who look like girls, my Sprixies who are creatures that do not exist in real life, but I am also drawn into abstract painting more and more as well, that come in my «Deep Beyond» serie now and then)

As of today, I still create. Almost everyday. I found my passion. What moves me beyond what I thought was possible (and as a passionate woman, trust me). And I really hope that sharing with the World what comes through me unto my paintings move someone as well, inspire, gives Hope somehow.

This is why, despite the sometimes very deep creative holes I fall into, I always rise eventually. I stand taller and taller, knowing in my guts that this is what is meant to be.

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.

Darling Soul,

I find it sometimes so much easier to stay in a complaining pity party, and then I remind myself to look around for what makes me happy, and to appreciate the little things. Such a powerful shift happens then.

This week, I am thankful for:

• Friends. The ones who know your heart and love you anyway. The ones who stick around no matter what. 
• Daily walks with Mom.
• Making new paintings and falling in love. This feeling of «I am meant to do that (anyway)».
• Raw Bliss Cacao Balls, made them twice this week.
• Catching up with Nancy, even under the pouring rain.
• Grenouille’s new shorter haircut.
• Cooking.
• Reiki.
• New ideas sprouting.
• Releasing new paintings in the world.

What’s on your 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]

Yaay !

I added two more new original paintings in the shop. If you follow Inner Voices on Facebook, you have already seen them around this week or so.

«Already Within»

«Already Within» was created on a 6×8″ cradled wood panel. This is a very textured painting, and if you become her new owner I highly encourage you to run your fingers on the surface to also appreciate her by touch.

This Nixie embodies the power of introspection.
She knows in her bones and in her heart that she already holds the answers. That she already has the stregnth to move forward, to move pass the obstacles, that she is way greater than she thinks.

«Ameenah»

«Ameenah» is slightly bigger in size, she was also created on a cradled wood panel, 8×10″.

She is very strong too. After living years in regrets, and then in putting every single drop of hope in tomorrow, she realized this patterns needed to stop because none was making her happy, fulfilled. When she wondered how come, to find a solution, it occurred to her that the answer was oh so simple: the only moment that matters is Now (you can hold the positive experiences close in your heart. you can dream as big or as little about tomorrow than you want, it does bring joy; however, you need to focus on what you can do now, what you need on that precise moment to find your long lasting happiness).

Sketching has never been natural to me. I’ve always thought it was only for people who can draw, and I don’t really.

I’m amazed at people/artists who sketch so beautifully daily life items, landscapes or whatever crosses their mind.

I started to give it a try, just to see. I bought a simple sketchbook and began using it for collecting color combos, symbols that talk deeply to me… and little by little easy drawings.

Now, I’m hooked 🙂 most of my sketches won’t make it on a painting, but it’s because I suck at planning what I’ll create in advance (funnyhow one’s process can reverse over the years! ).
I always date them, too. As I do in my Art Journal.

Do you sketch?