Inner Excavation

Hey everyone

Since my last post things have become much clearer. It seems as I go along this path the twists and turns become more apparent and I feel as if I know where I am headed regarding my career. 

This is hugely freeing. 

It has made more room for my other passions. 

For mother's day I received the amazing book called "Inner Excavation - Explore Your Self Through Photography, Poetry and Mixed Media" by Liz Lamoreux. 

I feel like this book was written for me! 

I have been working through the sections for about three weeks and already it is proving so rewarding and insightful. It truly feels as if I am delving deep and chipping carefully away and the layers to gain a better picture of myself. 

Inside cover

First section

Collage from my own photography stash

Today, I was working on the poetry section and using the idea of collecting words and phrases for a "Word Tool Box" (love that) I wrote this:

Beyond miraculous.
How the smoke on the water
makes peace and euphoria.
It is a test of both worlds.
Everything is illuminated.
Where are you?
Dream catching?
Mischief pretends punishment.
One longful day leaves us
thirsty for the night.

I dedicate this poem to a dear friend who is in need of a little extra love and joy right now.

Writing in this way - spontaneous and with the aid of a treasure trove of delicious words - is new to me and I am so excited.

Happy arting everyone!

Fate Loves the Fearless

I cannot believe January was my last post, that wonderful insight into my collection of quotes seems such a long time ago! It' s down to such a busy time owning to a recent change in my job with children ( I love my new role) and also my children's literature studies (which I also love and am currently rocking!)

I spend a lot of my time feeling that everything I'm doing -  my job, studies and my art, is all leading to something, that a bigger and better destiny awaits. I have long felt that this is all leading somewhere - a career in the arts? Writing and illustrating children's books? Publishing? Yet, is this a cultural idea, that we are all headed for greatness if we wait, work hard and/or 'believe' it will happen? 

Is this also a mere frivolous belief that fate is guiding me along to an unknown marvel, that perfect situation that perhaps I have not dreamt of yet but which will be where I'm 'meant' to be? What of the here and now? Is this not enough?  

 I do believe that if we want something badly enough we have to work at it, create situations which encourage it and draw it towards you if you will. It sounds a little New Age, but projecting out what you want into the Universe is a practical thing, you start attracting certain friends and connections, opportunities arise and sometimes you find yourself a step closer to what might be the 'dream' situation.

I work with young children and have stepped up the ladder recently, my setting is amazing and I'm so lucky but I don't always feel it is where I will be long term; so where does this come from? Is it fate nudging me along? All I know for sure is that things change very quickly, so who knows where the path will lead?   

Thoughts?

Pinning all my Hopes and Dreams

Hello everyone

I don't know about you but I'm a Pinterest addict. I totally adore that site and all my boards can be found here. I find it an incredible resource for so many aspects of my creativity and well being including quotes. I love words, beautiful, inspiring, delicious words - I'm a quotation magpie and while browsing my delectable collection I realised something. All the quotes I had pinned essentially encapsulated ME, the me of where I am currently up to at this point in my life. 

It was quite a realisation and so I spent time reading through all 117 pins to select the ones which resonated the most. I found 22 which hit the spot and only intending on writing them down in rough I ended up making some of them into mini doodles. I cut them out, laid them on the bed seeking out themes and links. 

The thread running through the whole collection was that of a fragile yearning to be truly allowed to be me. To able to live a creative, fulfilling life and have nothing hold me back. To seek out and celebrate the magic, the mystery and the beautiful. I think this encapsulates what my own art is to me and it is something repeated by many artists whom I greatly admire - Manet, The Impressionists, the great Post-Impressionist Van Gogh and the Pre-Raphaelites in particular. 

This all links up with my Uncharted Waters theme as this is me pushing myself beyond my own limits. I keep trying to do this in all areas of my art but particularly my smash booking which continues to be extremely fruitful. 

How do you seek to push yourself? 
How has your creativity provided insight into yourself? 

Happy arting everyone

The Journey Continues

Hello blogland

I haven't logged on since my last post in October with the mundane almost pulling me under but I'm still continuing with my theme of "Uncharted Waters". The theme continues to reveal itself as relevant more and more in all aspects of my life which is amazing if not a little spooky...

Entry two of my Uncharted Waters journal

"I Must be a Mermaid"

Over this Christmas break I had the great joy in being reunited with my best friend of old. Huge thanks to my friend who has read my blog and told me I must continue to post as I was feeling at a bit of a loose end with it. I am starting to wonder if it needs a focus? Or should I just enjoy documenting my journey? I have no idea where I'm going with it but isn't that also exciting? 

Entry three "Beautiful Freedom"

I feel as if I'm done with being afraid of the unknown and am choosing to set sail and see where the wind and waves take me. Wish me luck...

Happy arting everyone

xxx

                  

Uncharted Waters

I recently decided to theme the second half of my art journal as "Uncharted Waters". While browsing the internet for themes this one leapt out at me - so much potential and so much imagery from oceans, ships,  pirates and mermaids to the healing power of water. There was also the idea of doing things I hadn't done before, pushing the boundaries and exploring. So exciting.

 

        

 Page one of themed section

of journal

 

 

The theme seems to be following me around as potential change arises in my every day life allowing me opportunties to embark on said uncharted waters...funny how that happens.

 

As for my art, well, yesterday I went for a medium I have been wanting to work with and hadn't gotten round to. Perhaps lack of time and also a lack on confidence. Here are day 1's results :)

 

 

Square canvas

 

 

 

 Rectangular canvas board





 

 I am so excited about this new way of working and have plans to keep exploring, keep pushing myself and ventured into the unknown. It's fantastic when you feel as if all your previous art works, journals and general art play have lead you to a point.

Happy arting everyone!

 

Smash it in!

Over the summer I accidentally made a smash book. If you're not familiar with the term it's essentially like the old style scrapbooks - you glue down anything you think is cool, fun, interesting, linked to a memory, humorous etc.

However the term "Smash book" belongs to K and Co -check out this very short, fab video here.

I heard of the term smash book quite a lot via art journaling people but didn't really look into it until I saw some of K and Co's products at a local art shop. I then watched the above video and to my delight realised I already had my own smash book! Check out the pics below of what I had made up to that point:

London Trip page 1

               London Trip page 2

Using own photography 

I think because I also employ other media the lines between Smash booking and art journaling are a bit more blurred but I find this method such fun! It's also a way of using my altered book which I tried to use as my regular journal but didn't work out. The book is An Illustrated History of England and I love incorporating some of the images into my pages.

Cool stuff I like plus art play

A work in progress

So, why not have a go at Smash booking? Hark back to that child who lay on the carpet gluing odds and end into a scrapbook for the pure joy of it? 

Happy arting everyone!

How strange everything is today...

 

It’s been an odd few weeks, summer holidays were great and as soon as the new term started I felt such a shift in myself.

 

I have grown into myself more, my career plans have changed and I’ve gone back to my life long love of literature. All in a few weeks, people are marvelling at the outward changes as my appearance has altered too and I feel amazing.

 

I was looking at a photo of myself from nearly three years ago and it shocked me because I hardly recognise that person…

 

 

 

 

Thanks to all my nearest and dearest for supporting me through this transition, it’s making everything seemed in half a haze as I change and grow and now it’s gathered momentum it feels like outside of my control…Scary and exciting at the same time.