Forgive

Forgive - others and yourself. 

At times it can be so much easier to forgive others than yourself. 

Contentment

 

What does contentment require?

The answer for each of us is different, but it is worth knowing what it is for you. How much is enough? What conditions are best for you? Do you really need 'x'? Sometimes it is necessary to strip things back, to simplify, to bring more contentment.

Here is the latest vase of flowers. I think it is my favourite so far. It feels like the most loose in terms of not trying too hard.

Flowers

 

I'm working on a new series of mixed-media pieces and have hit that 'messy middle' part where I have no idea where they're going and they look too samey. So I've been doing some little flower sketches. The one above is done with acrylics. The one below I posted a few posts ago, done with paint pens, and the bottom one was done a while ago with tissue paper collage and paint.

I shall explore further with a mix of techniques, I think, before going back to my canvases in the hope that some inspiration may have struck by then. I don't think there's a thing called artist's block - just a pause in whatever you are working on that calls for a change of project for a while. 

Stepping stone?

Obstacle or stepping stone? 

It's all a matter of perspective. Some of us come to a stream and try to find a way round; some turn around and go back the other way; some stop, unable to work out what to do next; others cross over. 

What you do next depends on the circumstances, but there are options. 

Ebb and flow

Ebbs and flows. 

We all experience them in all areas of life. We cannot keep up the highs forever. You have to come down the hills and go through the valleys to grow well. Just as walking on the level is good, going up and down, varying your pace, is better for becoming fitter. The valleys can allow us to process and put into practice the things learned at the top of the mountain. Conversely, the things learned at the top of the mountain give us resilience to make it through the valley and out the other side. 

The ebbs give us time to rest.

This is a quick piece done with Arrtx acrylic markers, just having fun playing.

 

Slow life

A quiet life. A slow life. A contemplative life.

In a world of 'faster, busier, more', living a slow life can be seen as somewhat anachronistic. But many things worth doing take time and patience - growing anything, for a start. Making bread. Learning a new skill. Wanting everything immediately sets us up for a lot of disappointment. If you're not prepared to put the work in, to wait when nothing seems to be happening, then you'll give up before the pay-off. Lowering expectations and changing how you measure success can lead to a happier life. 

Rising

"I didn't fall in love. I rose in it." Toni Morrison. 

I know the feeling. I am so much better for loving and being loved by my wonderful husband. I have achieved way more than I could ever have imagined because he encourages me. He believes in my abilities way more than I do myself. He supports my creativity and never belittles me.  My life would have been very different without him in it.

Just begin

Sometimes we just have to begin. We'll make mistakes, start again, learn along the way, but if we keep making excuses and never begin, we won't grow.

New toy!

 

My wonderful husband saw this tiny printing press (@openpressproject) on Kickstarter and pledged for me :) It is so cute. I immediately set it to work to make the Christmas Day giveaway for our church service - a tiny disco ball bauble. 

I had a piece of lino that was just the right size for the postcard. A quick (and rough) cut later and it was ready to get printing. These prints aren't perfect, but then neither are we, so that fit well with the idea the gift was portraying. 

How will you reflect the light this year?