"I knew I needed to just play."
I am grateful to share this newest collection of original paintings with you…THE SERENITY COLLECTION
As per usual, the inspiration behind my work is a reflection of what I am going through in my personal life. I was recently asked by a Follower why I share so much intimate content. I think she was bit shocked by how much I share but I'm so happy she asked because it made me think perhaps more of you would like to know too and I think I have an important motivation. I believe communication and transparency is key to human connection which is SO crucial to our every fibre of being (if we didn't know connection was important before Covid, we sure do now!) Equally, I am interested in normalizing the human struggle we all experience. In talking about our experiences we can turn off the insecure chatter in our heads that wrongly tells us we are alone in our struggle. None of us have unique struggles. To be human is to struggle. Some say it is the true equalizer. If you start sharing what you're going through you will soon find a comrade with a parallel experience to support you. Some of the greatest artists shared their intimate suffering in their paintings like "Without Hope" by Frida Kahlo, "Love and Death" by Fransico de Goya and "Self portrait with Bandaged Ear" by Van Gogh. (side bar: I'm stoked to be going to the Van Gogh Immersive Exhibit in a few weeks! eeek!) I personally prefer to paint the other side of the struggle, where there is light and hope and renewal. I know that I have gained so much humble confidence and genuine gratitude from every challenge I have had. And that has brought me real joy, not superficial happiness. Does any of this resonate with you? Send me an email here if so.
"If I can inspire just one person."
To sum things up... if I can inspire just one person by sharing my life and build a connection with just one person to see that life should be a blend of struggle and triumph, I am fulfilled. Now on to my inspiration behind this series...
My father passed away June 18th and I gave myself the gift of time. Time to grieve, time to rest and time to restore. I have been hustling for 3 years to build my art business all while running my hair salon and supporting all the responsibilities in my personal life. I have painted in every spare moment I had. I sacrificed sleep and exercise and even washing my hair (what hairdresser does that!) just to make time to paint. I even took inspiration from what Michelle Obama said in her book that Barrack did and pared my wardrobe down to just a few pre-selected options so I could maximize every second of the day. But for 3 weeks after my Dad passed I did nothing. Not even paint! Nothing except what normal people do, take time off! I didn't take even one day off after my Mom passed because I still had my Dad to care for. But not this time. I have given for so long I was beyond my capacity. I have taken so little for myself for the last 7 years. I knew I needed to stop looking at lists, to stop watching the clock.
"I knew I needed to just play."
So what did I do for 3 weeks? I did everything on my own time. I did what I wanted and when I wanted. I did summer. Summer is my favorite time of the year. I LOVE the sun. (So much so, I gave my daughter the middle name Soleil) I bought the last two remaining floaties (can you say heat dome necessity) and went to the beach with my daughter. We kept falling off one because we didn't realize it needed to be inflated. We laughed and laughed and took great pride when we finally conquered that floatie. I went on walks with my hubby down the country road near our house and took time to stop and watch the horses graze in the neighbours farm pasture and watch the eagles soar over the valley. I planted a perennial cut-flower garden that will fill our whole house with bouquets by next year. I went with my family to watch the sunsets in the warm evening summer air and filled my soul with the myriad of electric colours. I paid attention to the small things that bring me joy; the differences of aroma of each of the roses on my deck; I found a new favourite novel; which plant in my garden the hummingbirds like best; I went on a holiday to the Yellow Point Lodge which turned into an art retreat. And I did something I rarely do. I asked for help.
"I asked for help."
It started with needing to get "back in the saddle" with painting. I needed one more painting to finish the body of work I started in the spring. I just wanted a good photo, so I thought I'd host a contest to find a good reference photo. But I got so much more. I asked my followers to share why that photo meant something to them. I received the most inspiring stories of human connection. Connection to family and to nature. You all filled my bucket and restored my creative flow. I chose two winners (the second winner will be painted soon) and started painting. Juanita's photo became the final painting in this collection and my favorite because of how it flowed out of me so effortlessly. I was channelling every bit of magic the contest entrants gave to me. . If you click here, you can see the painting.