Entries Tagged as: inspiration
Checkity Check It Out
August 18th, 2010, Comments (10)
Yesterday, I got a copy of Four Word Self Help, Patti Digh's new book. I got an early copy because I have a piece of art in it, along with many other wonderful artists from around the world. You can find my piece, "Let Others In" on page 3. What a beautiful little book this is!
I also wanted to share Jess Larsen's website. She has started offering doula services in the Northern New Jersey area. I'm a big believer in what she does and was thrilled to have some of my work, including Spring Thaw (above), featured on her site. You can learn more about what she does as a doula here.
Fire and Water
August 12th, 2010, Comments (14)
I'm a total water person. I'm soothed by the sounds of water, blue is my favorite color, and my sign is Cancer (a water sign), so it's an interesting challenge to focus on fire this month. As I was working on the piece above, a play between reds and blues, I received my weekly horoscope email from Rob Brezsny, which reads:
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Here's a thought from the Cancerian
philosopher Gaston Bachelard: "He who listens to the singing of the
stream cannot be expected to understand the one who hears the singing
of the flame: They do not speak the same language." While I mostly agree
with that poetic formulation, I think you're about to be a temporary
exception to the rule. Normally you are acutely attuned to the singing of
the stream; your skill at reading its nuances are supreme among the
zodiac. But I expect that in the coming days, you will not only have the
power to appreciate the song of the fire; you'll even be able to empathize
with and understand people who are entranced by the song of the fire.
How perfect is that?
When I read the horoscope, there was just blue below and red above. After reading it, I drew in the tree which intertwines the two. Are you resistant to firey natures? How do you bridge the gap?
Fire Red Kayak
August 8th, 2010, Comments (5)
So much fun with the hubster yesterday out on the Charles River in a fire red double kayak (how perfect for the fire theme!) Man, what a workout! It was wild being out on the river, it felt like we were in another world, far from the hustle bustle. Everything but the tips of a tower were hidden by the greenery hugging the shore and our only company were birds and other kayakers.
I was inspired by the reflections and ripples in the water, the bits of flowers and trees that grew up in the middle of the river, and the birds sleeping peacefully while balanced on one foot. At the end of it all, I was quite cooked by the sun and paddling, but we had a great time. And the afternoon nap helped. 
My attempt to snap a picture of he and I in the kayak with my iphone didn't go so well, but you can see a bit of his hairy leg in there. Hehe. I hope you've all had a beautiful summer weekend!
Can’t start a fire without a Spark…
August 3rd, 2010, Comments (17)
I woke up with that line in my head, part of a Bruce Springsteen song. How true! And what a fitting way to start the month of Fire, talking about what sparks our imagination, what fires us up creatively, the ways small and large that we move from idea to creation.
Just the way that I woke up with this song in my head is a good example of where my ideas come from. The hypnagogic state, that fuzzy land between sleep and being awake, where the mind is more open and ideas often come fast and furious. I love to keep some paper and pens on my nightstand so that I can jot them down while half asleep, because sometimes I will remember the ideas and other times, they slip away as I'm waking up.
Bits of song, dream images, short phrases, little bits of shadow, and memory will often be the spark behind an idea that leads to a creation. A spark is just the starting point. It won't always develop the way it first began, just like a fire won't always spread the way you expect. I like that bit of surprise that happens as an idea transitions from spark to form. But it's also just interesting to see where ideas come from. Sometimes the most unexpected places, like the shape of a leaf or the color combination on a billboard. And sometimes ideas seem to come out of nowhere.
Where do your sparks of inspiration come from?
Pay special attention this month, catch them as they come like the girl in "Catching Stars" above, and see which sparks become full fires!
Life Outdoors
July 23rd, 2010, Comments (10)
I've spent a lot more time outdoors in the mornings this summer as I've been jogging and it's just too hot to go later in the day. But no matter what time I'm out, I'm often using my iphone to snap little shots here and there of things that catch my eye. A gorgeous skyline, a fluffy pink flower, a path lines with eye-poppingly green ferns.
I think the summer heat sometimes makes you slow down and notice these beautiful little moments around you. What beautiful moments have caught your eye this month?
Tree of Life
July 20th, 2010, Comments (16)
Here's what the layers painting became, a tree of life, drawn with ink over the layers of paint.
Last night the hubster and I watched an installment of Through the Wormhole, a program on the Science Channel, narrated by Morgan Freeman. The program was all about how life began on earth and it was fascinating. Life is truly miraculous. In the program, they talked about the tree of life and how all living things on earth are connected. After awhile, it all starts to blow your mind!
Layers
July 14th, 2010, Comments (14)
Life has many layers, does it not? I thought of this as I played today, making layer after layer of paint. I was thinking of water and sky as I worked. I've had different ideas of where this piece is going as I worked, but at the moment, I'm not sure, so I'm going to let it sit in this layered water-sky state for a bit.
Leaving a Trail of Bliss Behind You
June 5th, 2010, Comments (18)
I was feeling a little blue this morning when I woke up, so when I left to do some errands, I was inspired by the bliss theme to add a little fun, adventure, and bliss-spreading into the day.
I took a couple pieces of chalk, put them in a plastic bag, and tucked them into my purse. I parked in a central location and as I walked around doing my errands, I occasionally stopped and stealthily added a chalk heart to the sidewalk and snapped a pic.
They will most likely get washed away by the rain pretty quick, but I hope they'll add a smile to someone's day!
What are some fun, creative ways you could spread some bliss around?
Releasing Fears
May 19th, 2010, Comments (17)
I think one of the stumbling blocks to creating intuitively is fear. Actually, it's a stumbling block for any kind of creativity. But it's not a road block. Meaning, it might make you stumble, but it doesn't have to make you stop in your tracks. And even more interestingly, you can use these fears as a way in.
What happens when you can get in touch with your fears, notice them, learn from them and then create with what you find? Fear can be powerful, but through looking into it, it can be transformative and a source of power and strength in you.
I was contemplating all this after listening to Goddess Leonie's beautiful Releasing Fears meditation. I just adore Leonie's voice and her gentle way of leading you deeper into yourself. After listening to the meditation, I had a strong urge to paint the piece above. I followed my intuition as it led me to the image and the way to create it. And I felt so much better after I'd completed it.
How can you use your fears as a way in? If you asked your fears what they have to teach you, what might they say? How might it feel to take in that information and then let go of the fear? What might your fears inspire you to create?
Along with the Releasing Fears meditation, I also highly recommend the Divine Dreaming meditation if you have any trouble sleeping or just want a soothing meditation to relax to. And if you're looking for more of the beautiful and amazing Goddess Leonie, check out her Creative Goddess e-course, which begins on the 30th of May. Leonie rocks my socks. You can get all the details for her class here.
Intuition amongst the Trees
May 11th, 2010, Comments (22)
One of my favorite places to connect with myself and my intuition is in Nature. I love going through walks through the woods, perusing local neighborhoods and sitting near bodies of water. Sometimes just by myself, sometimes with an ipod, sometimes with a sketchbook to write or draw in, and sometimes with a camera. Oh, and trees, which I love to draw and paint, strike me as great growing souls with their own personalities. I love being amongst the trees when I need to get in touch with that still, small voice inside.
I was thinking about all this as I finished up this tree swing painting yesterday. Makes me want to get on a swing sometime very soon.
Where do you go to connect to your intuition? Do you have a favorite spot? Could you make some time to go there this month?
