A Golden Thought
November 9th, 2008
I drew an image like this one in my sketchbook and someone suggested I make it into a painting, so I saved it for AEDM. And today, using a 6"x6" wood panel that I'd prepped with gesso last week, I painted the image in acrylic and used ink for the gold accents. When I drew the image it was spontaneous. It made me think of a person having an idea that formed the shape of a bird. I'd forgotten about that interpretation until I finished the painting today and the title popped into my head "A Golden Thought." I love how the most random things can pop into your mind at any moment. Well, sometimes it's annoying and distracting.
In Soul Coaching, Denise Linn talks about how the mental clutter can weigh us down. There's something different though, it's not quite mental clutter when ideas pop in. Perhaps it's the clutter that keeps the ideas from appearing. When I'm able to clear my mind and let it wander freely, that is when ideas come. And it seems that art is my way in. When I doodle in sketchbooks or play with paint, the part of my mind that is cluttered gets distracted. It seems I can only do so many things at once, no matter how good I am at multi-tasking. So, when I'm creating, the volume turns down on the unimportant buzzing which gives room for the little golden thought birds to fly into my line of sight.
Yesterday in Soul Coaching, we were asked to begin defining our life's mission statement. Well, that's no easy task, is it? How do you know? She suggested we just start writing and see what comes up. I started writing about how my mission in life is to inspire, to infuse my life and the lives of others with creativity, love, and light. And then I just started writing words: be creative, be, create, inspire. Then on the following page I drew a woman with a big speaking bubble, like in a cartoon, and in the bubble I wrote, "My purpose in life is to create, inspire, support, love, and encourage. My purpose is to grow, to be gentle, to be joyous, to wonder at all the beauty around me and express it in my own voice, to follow my intuition and dreams, to live and just be." Another task involved creating a life statement collage, but since I've recently created a vision board, I just took it out and put it in a prominent place. It already contains images of many of the values I pin-pointed in one of the exercises from last week.
This week's theme is water, so my mostly blue painting seems very fitting. There is also a focus on emotion and we were asked to think about the turning points in my life. My turning points are fairly clear to me. Many times they were brought about by something tragic or difficult and other times they were brought about by something exciting and wonderful. But in every case, I learned a lot about myself in the process, in each case I found that I was capable of more than I realized, and stronger too.
A few random notes to share:
- A few people have asked where I'm getting the quotes that I'm sharing at the bottom of each day's AEDM post. I make those posts the night before and I find my quotes in a variety of places. In some cases I've just typed "creativity quotes" into google and looked around until I found one that I liked, in other cases I used quotes that I have tucked away (I love inspiring quotes!), and other times I've pulled down a random book from my bookshelf and found a quote there. Today's quote was found in "The Nine Modern Day Muses" by Jill Badonsky.
- Julia at Red Otter, had the great idea of sharing self-portraits created by taking photos of 5-10 of your most treasured possessions. How cool! Julia is going to share hers this week and has invited others to share there's by contacting her through her blog.
- Journals with kitty faces on the cover are irresistible.
27 Responses
So many thoughts….
1. I love the female figures that appear in your work. So elegant and simple and beautiful.
2. I totally hear you on the mental clutter. Some days I get frustrated with the fact that my brain is full of unimportant minutiae (errands to run, chores to do) rather than creativity. I am trying to hear the creative part as much as possible this month.
3. You are fulfilling so many aspects of your life’s purpose through AEDM. You are most definitely inspiring, supporting, and encouraging us while creating amazing art yourself.
Posted by: Jul | Nov 9, 2008 at 6:21 pm |
Beautiful painting, Leah! I love it! And your statement sounds right on. You are living and breathing it!!!
Posted by: Jenn | Nov 9, 2008 at 6:27 pm |
I love this piece. Your work is so beautiful, interesting, and honest. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: leaca | Nov 9, 2008 at 6:45 pm |
Your painting is simple and graceful.
Coffee is on.
Posted by: peppylady | Nov 9, 2008 at 7:02 pm |
It’s so awesome when we realize we are capable of much more than we thought! Splendid! I adore your artwork. It’s magical
Posted by: Genie Sea | Nov 9, 2008 at 7:41 pm |
ooohhh this piece is so very beautiful, really magical! i absolutely love the facial expressions you give your women…
and thank you for sharing the link to julia’s blog! i’m so participating in her self-portrait photo project! i love the idea of expressing who we are through photos of our cherished possessions. this is going to be very interesting!
have a beautiful monday!
Posted by: jennlui | Nov 9, 2008 at 7:58 pm |
What great links – thank you :] I want to do that material self-portrait idea in the near-future…
Posted by: Allison | Nov 9, 2008 at 8:02 pm |
I LOVE the painting!!! love the expression on her face:)
(and thanks for the comment! I threw away all the ashtrays and almost empty cig packs today)
I just finished my 1st thing for AEDM, I am scanning it now! have a great evening
Posted by: trish | Nov 9, 2008 at 8:03 pm |
really beautiful painting!
Posted by: Tequitia | Nov 9, 2008 at 8:05 pm |
I love your artwork today – it reminds me of an angel.
I also admire your purpose in life.. I still have to sit and write.. after reading how you did it, I am not so hesitant to do it now.
blessings for your journey through water xoxo
Posted by: miss*R | Nov 9, 2008 at 8:13 pm |
The water theme is something I have been feeling with your work. Very emotional and intuitive …. Your quote for today was something I needed last night as I worked through a series of collage frustrating moments. My glue was not opening. I had to make do with what I had. I had a golden moment of intuition that encouraged me to surrender my frustration. When I let go, I opened up to new possibilities with my girlhood collage. It turned out well. Tomorrow I am headed to Utrecht to purchase my gel matte glue.
Posted by: Ananda Leeke | Nov 9, 2008 at 8:24 pm |
Oh I really love that painting. Thanks for posting it.
Posted by: Lisa | Nov 9, 2008 at 8:34 pm |
I just love the blues and whites of these paintings you’re doing. And the symbols…They’re so evocative of a healing and creatively ALIVE inner place. I love the way you’re following through on this in such a committed, and yet so seemingly gentle way…allowing things to come to you, giving yourself the space to hear your inner promptings. You’re being a very good example to me of the insights that can come through if we just sit still and listen, even for a short time each day. Thank you for sharing your Soul Coaching journey with us.
Posted by: Serena Pia | Nov 9, 2008 at 8:40 pm |
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and processes.
Love this piece of art, gorgeous!
Posted by: Sharmaine | Nov 9, 2008 at 9:38 pm |
Oh how I love your art Leah! I think your soul mission is just perfect for you and I think you are living it so very well.
Posted by: Maree | Nov 9, 2008 at 10:09 pm |
I really love the detail in the skirt. The turquoise is so rich, and I totally agree with the coolness of kitty journals.
Posted by: Autumn | Nov 10, 2008 at 12:09 am |
when I first saw your painting it was a thumb nail on flickr – and I thought it looked like an angel – I so love the bird and golden thought – just awesome!!! this one really hits it with me!!
thanks for sharing it!
-Ellie
Posted by: ELLIE | Nov 10, 2008 at 4:55 am |
What a gorgeous mission statement. Each day dedicated to those ways would be a treasure and a gift!
Reading your description of art and mental clutter is making me think about spending some time creating. I too find it helps my busy brain to settle.
Posted by: Jamie | Nov 10, 2008 at 8:18 am |
Oh, swan and woman always makes me think of the stody of Leda – Zeus was the swan. He was not a very nice swan. Anyways, the picture, as are all yours, is lovely. And I like the self portrait idea – I must go visit her blog…I am having fun trying to visit all the AEMers who post before me, or randomly when I post late (no way to get all of them then!) – there are so many wonderfully creative folks out there. thanks as always for giving us a place to gather!
Posted by: tammy vitale | Nov 10, 2008 at 8:39 am |
Oh Leah, I forgot what a fabulous inspiration you are!
Thank you for this post – I love it.
And what a beautiful, appropriate painting….takes my breath away.
*hugs
Posted by: boho mom | Nov 10, 2008 at 9:15 am |
Wow another inspirational painting. Your paintings have such an energetic flow to them. Thanks also for sharing the sources of your beautiful quotes. Warm regards
Posted by: Desire Fourie | Nov 10, 2008 at 9:55 am |
And you are already living your mission statement. How awesome to be living your life’s dream.
Posted by: amanda | Nov 10, 2008 at 10:25 am |
This one just sparks! Love the blue and white in this one. You are just cranking out the lovelies this month! Good job!!!
a.
Posted by: Andie | Nov 10, 2008 at 10:48 am |
I adore the blue theme to this picture… paintings with a variety of shades and hues of the same colour always draw me in… Blues especially. I really like the way that it seems to show her mood through the moody blues. Great job!
Posted by: Dale | Nov 10, 2008 at 1:22 pm |
Leah, my reaction upon opening this post was WOW in a soft tone of awe. I love the colors the blue and gold…her expression…so beautiful.
I also want to extend an invitation to you to come visit my new ETSY store when you have a free moment at TextileArtByLynn@ETSY.com. Thanks, Lynn.
Posted by: lynn | Nov 10, 2008 at 1:56 pm |
That is really lovely!
Posted by: papercord | Nov 10, 2008 at 2:23 pm |
She’s Beautiful!
God Bless You and Yours!!!
Posted by: Flassie | Nov 12, 2008 at 4:43 pm |