Together, We Are Strong

In the vein of letting go and freeing up, today I did what I love to do with watercolour- 

play with lines and balance.  

Of course, important messages and statements are swirling around my mind, after spending a rejuvenating march with maybe 40,000 other humans who took a stand for humanity today here in San Diego.  

So today, these lines that I often paint felt like they were representing the people of the world coming together. Let's stand- for all we believe that humanity can be and hold it true.  Embody love, hope and unity to model positive energy for our future generations!  

The Sea Emerges

Here's my second week's endeavor of this year's weekly challenge to flow, relax and be with a painting and not overthink it.  This one I was thinking would have a word or phrase on it, but then I loved the movement and subtleties I captured and decided to let it be "done".  It's much more pastel than I've done before, but feels great in person.

I love the ocean so much, it makes total sense that when I relax and let go, the sea emerges...

Enjoy your weekend!

Not-So-Precious-Saturday-2

Simplicity: The First Not-So-Precious-Saturday post!

Happy Saturday, everyone! I have been pondering what my new creative steps would be for 2017, and I am excited to finally share my plans! 

When I began the 2106 Creative Quote challenge, my goal was to foster consistency, to ensure that I made creating a priority for myself, and I am proud of a full year of quotes! 

For this year I asked myself what I most need in order to go deeper, and I realized it is about not holding so tight to beautiful parts of the creative process so much that I become stuck and don't finish a piece. 

So- this year's challenge is called Not-So-Precious-Saturdays: to remember that each layer is a journey, and nothing is so precious that it stops me from moving forward or discovering the piece's full potential. It is also about saying I'm done to a piece, rather than putting it indefinitely on hold because I'm not quite sure how to proceed and am afraid to "ruin" it.

This piece: This is acrylic on wood with ink, stamping and a golden paper triangle.  I enjoyed leaving some of the wood showing through, and the word just felt like the right element and is so apropos for my life right now.  I am going for more intention, more discernment and less of what I don't fully believe in.  It was lovely working on this wood panel- so sleek and inviting!

I am looking forward to challenging myself to get messy this year, and I imagine some Creative Quotes will still be an added bonus here and there! Thanks for all of your support and feedback! 

Sending out lots of love!

You Are Infinite Potential!

You are 

the infinite potential

of love, peace and joy.

~Amit Ray

This being my last Creative Quote for 2016, I wanted to end with something important.  

This piece: I used Daniel Smith watercolours, which are made from stones of the earth, which I love-  that direct connection to nature.  I also used stones I just collected at the ocean, today, as they are my infinite potential of becoming more crochet stones, which are my way of spreading love, peace and joy in the world.  Each are a little imperfect, as is this oval, which is part of their beauty.  

I hope they remind us of ourselves- 

beautifully imperfect, and full of potential 

for positive energy,calm and joy in the world.

Sending you and the world a positive and beautiful 2017!

Namaste!  

Like a star at dawn...

This is not my quote writing- I cheated,but I am also playing with using text in new ways- using newsprint, magazines, old books, etc .  This is a quote from a yoga card I bought and thought it was pretty cool how well it went with a painting I created.  Then I used yesterday's crochet stone and some little bits of nature (the tiny stones are from a beach in France that was no sand, only those!).  

This is almost the end of my 2016 challenge- it's fleeting, too!  I am so grateful to have completed it and kept the commitment!  Love to you all!

Today is your better day.

The future is no place to place your better days.

~Dave Matthews

A great reminder to revel, relish and appreciate the little things- here and now. 

This piece:  This was a busy and exciting week!  I participated in two craft fairs and sold tons of stones, jewelry, scarves and once-was-a-sweater stuffed animals.  For this reason, I returned to pens- but I am keeping to my commitment of every Monday this year! (What will I do for next year???)  Also, my lovely Daniel Smith watercolours are at school since I am lending their luminosity to my students so that their character portraits will be as magical as their creativity.  

Just like wildflowers

Like wildflowers; 

you must allow yourself to grow in all the places 

people thought you never would.

~E.V. Rogina

This quote (and painting!) has layers and I am still thinking about all it's possible meanings.  Is the word places geographical, or internal?  Might be both, which leaves quotes like these so open for interpretation and reflection!

This painting: I used an Aquaboard, which give such lovely effects with the ink.  I also used a page I had painted with Daniel Smith watercolours, which has a sheen and sparkle to it for the flower piece cutouts.  It was fun to put together and I may continue exploring this collage style.  

Enjoy your week!