Hi Everyone,
Thank you all for your lovely comments last time.
I don't have many words today
so I'll simply leave you with these quotes.
“The object of art is not to reproduce reality, but to create a reality of the same intensity.”
Alberto Giacometti
“The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery.”
Francis Bacon
“To create one's own world takes courage.”
Georgia O'Keeffe
xo,
Julie
Sanctuary
Where have I been? Well the short story is, during the Winter I felt the need to hibernate, unplug, disconnect, simplify and reevaluate things. I meant to take just a short break. There were several reasons why I was away so long but let me simply say, Winter turned into Spring and then Spring turned into Summer! Here it is almost August and I've been away for months. So what did I learn in the time away? I learned that I really dislike clutter, if there is clutter in my life and in my house I can't create. And even though my house didn't look cluttered at all it felt that way. So I got rid of old paperwork and donated clothes that I was never going to wear again. I also got rid of any and all self help books! The one thing that all those books taught me was, no one knows me better than I do and I have the answers within me. Happiness isn't complicated, sometimes all it takes is a pot of early morning tea, a pen and a journal, from there so much can flow. I also learned that art is important. And I have been creating lots of it these past few months. There have been times that I convinced myself that art isn't important. I told myself my art isn't important. But I think I did that because if I told myself it was important than I would cling to it, become constricted and be afraid to show it and share it and I didn't want that to happen. I realized that art really is important. For example when I look at another artist's paintings of birds, flowers, trees, or houses I am reminded how much I love those things. When I see a gorgeous photo of the ocean, I am transported. When I look at an abstract I am reminded of the mystery in life. And it goes on and on, what would life be without beauty and charm? When I'm finished creating a piece of art it re-awakens the enchantment in me, it is a bridge to another time when I was deeply connected to the magic of life. And I hope it does the same for others. I am often asked what my favorite painting of mine is, and I always say it's the one that I am working on at the time. And the reason is, I love the process and I love being surprised. I never know how it is going to turn out or who or what is going to show up. So although I don't have a favorite, I really like this one because I love the mystical creature that showed up on the canvas, I don't know what he is or where he came from but he is peacefully sleeping in his sanctuary gently being watched over by a very wise owl.
:)
Love and Magic,
Julie
Time has been flying! I've been creating and preparing for the new year.
I wanted to pop in and wish everyone a joyful yule, a merry christmas, happy holidays, season's greetings and blissful celebrations!
I'll be visiting and connecting with you all in 2014.
Magic, Joy and Love,
xo
Julie
There is an exact moment in the air when Summer is gone and Autumn returns.
I love the heat of Summer but I also love the chill of Autumn.
And
The scent of apples,
cinnamon,
burning wood.
The splashes of
burnt sienna and
ruby in the trees.
I wasn't sure what direction this painting was going in when I was painting it.
But now I feel it represents a being coming out to dance under the Summer sun one last time and say goodbye.
Magic and Love,
Julie
I've been making changes. I've been editing things. I've been keeping what I love and eliminating what I don't as best I can. I believe Mother Earth is sacred. So I have been editing my art supplies. I am gradually eliminating all my art supplies that aren't kind to the Earth and replacing them with non toxic, green, eco friendly, and sustainable supplies. I have been using recycled canvases and am going to experiment with different types of canvas material. And instead of paper I've been painting on teabags! I love painting on tea bags. Here is some of my latest tea bag art.
I've been in a very artistically intuitive mood lately. My favorite way to paint is to let the paint and canvas tell me what it wants to be. I love letting the paint be wild and free to be what it wants. And I love when the painting is complete because I really like being surprised! When I paint this way I feel like I'm in another world and that is where I feel this type of painting comes from. I feel this type of painting comes from that place between sleeping and waking, just on the edge of a dream when the images slowly slip away. Do you ever create this way or from this place?
An Enchanted Life
What does an enchanted life mean to me? To me it means living in harmony with Mother Earth and her rhythms. It means knowing that there is seen and unseen magic and beauty in the world and seeing everything as miraculous. It means using one's gifts and talents in a way that creates a meaningful fulfilling life and benefits others. An enchanted life is a pared life. Chaos and clutter have been released and removed to make room for what one truly loves, is delighted and inspired by. An enchanted life is a life that has been spring cleaned. Once it is cleansed there is space to breathe and there is time. Space and time to decide what is lovely and meaningful and what to embrace and include. And space and time to notice what is already there. Planting a seed and watching it grow, sipping tea, hearing the crows chat, following the moon, pens, the color of paint, laughing with my love, expressing kindness, the scent of honeysuckle, an unknown forest trail, the memory of salty sea air. These things are touchstones for me, gentle reminders of present joy. Life is a mysterious gift. There is so much to be grateful for and so much to be enthralled by. Living an enchanted life means remembering this when you've forgotten.
Love,
Julie
xo
“The Wisdom Keeper” is the latest piece on my easel.
It is mixed media on canvas.
Today's Tale
She was born on the Summer Solstice
the day most likely to connect with the fae
inside her she held
magic
beauty
enchantment
but somehow she let it slip away
the fae came to her
when she needed them most
the fairies, the mermaids
all manner of nature spirits
arrived
and reminded her
of what she held
and the enchantment
was alive once more . . .
I started this blog to share my art and poetry and thoughts on life. Lately I've been thinking about what I really want my message for this blog to be. I know we live in a world of polarity, dark and light and every shade of grey. I know we can get caught up in the darkness, the fear, the sadness of this world. But I also know in this world is incredible delight. So my message is a reminder to myself and others that this world is a place of beauty, magic and enchantment. Is it possible to live in a place of enchantment most of the time? All of the time? In the near future I hope to explore and share this even further. And I will scatter sparkling breadcrumbs on the path. :)
Enjoy the Summer Solstice.
Love and Beauty,
Julie
xo
Sky Angel
Dream Walker
I love this time of year, when the bees are buzzing and everything is starting to bloom. Life feels enchanted. These paintings are pages that I altered and then painting on with watercolor, gouache and metallic acrylics.
Thanks for your sweet comments always and thanks for stopping by.
Love and Magic,
Julie
xo
born awake
in a world asleep
trying to keep eyes open
trying to stay awake
all the while
the sleeping voices
whisper . . .
sleep
sleep
sleep