I always find it fun when a landscape appears on my page. It may not be the 'correct' colours - yellow sky? - but something about it screams 'landscape' to me. This one felt like that before I added the stones at the bottom right. Our brains like to find patterns. There's something about the shapes, the composition, how the colours play against each other that suggests a landscape. I'm still trying to work out exactly what it is, but in the meantime, I just enjoy it when it happens.
Sometimes you have to be on the inside to see the full glory.
I went to a Eucharist of Affirmation at the cathedral last week, kicking off Pride week. The stained glass windows were beautiful - glorious colours. But when I stood outside afterwards, the windows looked dull and dowdy. It made me think about how we can think of things that we're not part of as dull or unworthy of our attention. A lot of people may think that way about the church, but for me, faith is vibrant and glorious. That's my view from the inside.
So what things am I looking down on, when they may be beautiful from the inside? Just because your hobby/obsession is not my cup of tea doesn't mean it doesn't add beauty to your life, not least in the people you meet because of it.
Some of the most beautiful rocks are those which have been transformed by heat and pressure. Marble is a metamorphic rock made by transforming limestone. A lot of gemstones are formed in this way.
Heat and pressure are not comfortable. We try to avoid those situations when we can, but it isn't always possible. When we endure and get to the other side, we often find that we have been transformed into something more durable and resilient.
May the times of heat and pressure in your life transform into something beautiful in you.
Talk to each other. Stronger together.
When you feel like you're isolated in a situation, talk to someone.
I mentioned that my experience with a particular exhibition this year was not a good one. The lack of care (not putting up artist's names or producing a price list) continued. I sold a painting, but when the exhibition finished, I had real problems being paid for it. A month later, I still hadn't received payment and was sick of the excuses ('my phone fell in the toilet' ?!) I was feeling frustrated and fed up. I made a complaint to the people who oversee the month-long set of exhibitions. The exhibition had been a group show, so I also got over my own discomfort, and reached out to everyone on the list. Lo and behold, I wasn't the only one. Suddenly we were having a conversation and sharing our frustrations over how things had been handled. I told everyone that I'd made a complaint, and I think some of the others then did the same. Whether it was the conversation or the complaint to the overseer, the following day we all got paid.
If I hadn't reached out to the others, we would all be sitting on our own thinking that we were the only one that this was happening to. Together, we encouraged each other, and got the outcome we wanted. So reach out. You're probably not the only one.
What makes your heart beat faster?
It's funny how both fright and excitement can have the same effect on the heart. So when your heart quickens, ask yourself - are you scared? Or are you thrilled?
Especially ask yourself this when you feel this way in creative endeavours, as both can be showing you the way forward. You might be scared because you are moving out of your comfort zone, which isn't a bad thing, just uncomfortable. You may discover something new.
Or maybe you're thrilled because you're in the sweet spot and what you are doing delights your heart.
So listen to your heart.
What is your guidance system?
Do you navigate by the stars? Is your GPS invaluable? Or does it send you down the wrong road sometimes, insisting that you've arrived at your destination when you clearly haven't.
Who do you take advice from? Who are the wise people in your circle that you can depend upon when you're at a crossroads? Why do you listen to guidance from some people but not others? How do you decide?
Ebb and flow. Life is full of rhythms.
It's okay to feel less creative at some times than at others; to have less energy some days; to feel less sociable. We can't run full throttle all the time. If we try to, we burn out. But if we lean in to the natural rhythms we can keep going with smaller peaks and troughs than if we try to overdo it.
Be kind to yourself.
Recently I've found myself using this palette a lot. Starting with a black background definitely gives a lot of depth. These are repurposed canvases, so I scratched through the black paint and the colours come through, although they don't show up so well in photos.
Sometimes it takes me a while to work out what I am painting about. This is about menopause. Not surprising, really, as it is a big transition.
I think these pieces are finished, but I'll give it a couple of weeks just to be sure.
Do you know what you're art is about before or after it is finished?
