Thursday 19 January 2012

Quiet introspection

It has been a week of hard work and downtime thinking and reflection. I have not stopped and my body is complaining and urging me to both do some exercise (far too much time spent sitting in front of a computer!) and get some rest.

However, I am far too tired for the former and excited for the latter! This combination of emotion might result in a somewhat strange post, but let's just get on with it and see what happens.

Day job in the past couple of weeks has involved everything from changing tattoos on a man's head using PhotoShop to directing commercials and watching men dance along to Olivia Newton John...  I do love what I do!

Come evening, I have been partaking in my new favourite hobby - learning! I am so excited to be taking the Hello Soul. Hello Business course with Beth Nicholls and Kelly Rae Roberts. This week has been about introspection, discovering why we do what we want to do. Taking the time to reflect so we can build the right foundations for our creative businesses.

I was forced to delve deep into my passion for creativity. Why I have I chosen to take this path? What are my motivations? Well, I love to bring interest to the ordinary; colour and fun to the every day. If I can make people smile and take them on a journey of understanding that gives them pleasure and touches their heart and soul, then I'm getting that warm feeling inside of me.

Today was the culmination of weeks of hard work involving a huge team of talented people at Rackspace - one of the companies I have pleasure to work with. We put on an event to set the stage for 2012. Yes, there was PowerPoint involved... but also a theatre, cross dressing, ice cream, stunt doubles, pyrotechnics, drumming, camp performance, wigs, medal ceremonies, singing, a chariot and even an Olympic torch.

I need to transition this post into talking about art now, but am struggling to find a suitable link sentence... so let's just get on with it...

Last night I felt the urge to express through art a little of how I was feeling and this 'self portrait' was the result (I'm not blonde, nor do I have long hair... or indeed actually look like this....). Instead it just felt like me looking in. Quiet introspection. I just ripped a page out of an old book and played with my pastels and pencils. This evening, when I scanned the image in I was rather intrigued to spot a message hidden in the words... A moment of serendipity if you like...

Look closely and you'll spot...


... my name (Lisa. I have no idea who Eleanor is... maybe my Muse?) and then see how it talks about guts and instincts... just seconds after I'd listened to the course audio and heard Kelly Rae share how she believes that her intuition is her most valuable business tool! Serendipity?

(Also sharing this piece with my friends at Paint Party Friday).

47 comments:

  1. Eleanor is a lovely name for a muse. You may have more than one muse. There may be 'muses.' *smiles* Norma

    ReplyDelete
  2. that's really beautiful art my fren and it does reflect what you feel, the composition right to the prints behind is perfect :) it is good to be excited ... you are living!

    ReplyDelete
  3. oooo, eerily cool to have that message within such a introspective piece! She is lovely....peaceful and calm :)

    Your job sounds like a lot of fun! Now, get some sleep!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I agree, your job sounds great and your piece has a lot of softness to it. She's looks as if she is resting for a short time or maybe concentrating on the fact that she needs rest. Hope you get some rest too. Thanks for sharing your lovely piece. Happy PPF!

    ReplyDelete
  5. You sure do manage to fit a lot into your life - how do you do it? Passion, I think? Instinct, intuition - gut feel - essential tools for a creative soul.

    ReplyDelete
  6. She looks wonderful! Love it when the magic happens and you find little signs like that. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lovely synchronicity, your name and your muse's in your art!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful! I adore her hair.

    Hmmm, I just read a book about Eleanor le Despenser,
    the wife of Hugh le Despenser who got into so much trouble with King Edward II. I'm sure it's not her, although she was quite an interesting person.

    Your class sounds fascinating. The business part of being creative is my weak point, but I should concentrate more on it, I know.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wonderful creations ~ love your style and it would seem you are moving through a transition and expanding your life ~namaste, carol (Share the Creative Journey) Happy PPF ~

    ReplyDelete
  10. Gorgeous work..deeply potent and such stillness and beauty shining through!
    Victoria

    ReplyDelete
  11. Serendipity indeed- I LOVE when you paint on text- it's very "Lisa" to me! She looks contemplative and like she's on the verge of inspiration- and I love the thought process you share.
    Wonderful!
    x
    Stephanie

    ReplyDelete
  12. Very pensive piece!Really delicate and pretty! I was wondering out Kelly Raes soul course was! Thanks for sharing... very interesting!Happy ppf!

    Hugs Giggles

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a wonderful post, Lisa. Funny how your muse literally works you right into your artwork. It's a very pretty pastel. I love that you did it over a book page. Work sounds intriguing. I hope your year is off to a good start!
    Miss you,
    Tammy

    ReplyDelete
  14. Beautiful painting, and how cool to find a hidden message to yourself in it when you were done. I'd be all giddy with delight.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your introspective painting is beautiful, Lisa. And what a joy it must be to get paid for working at a job where you like what you do!
    Faye

    ReplyDelete
  16. your job does sound fun and inspiring, full of play and more.

    love how you found a perfect message for you in your art, that is a gem. also awesome to hear of you playing and expressing yourself in this wonderful piece.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Ah, so revealing, so thoughtful, so inspiring!

    ReplyDelete
  18. beautiful 'self portrait' Lisa, I had to laugh when you described her as looking nothing like you!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Great post and a beautiful painting. Sounds like you've been having a terrific year so far!

    Happy PPF!

    ReplyDelete
  20. She's really beautiful, those eyelids of her are stunning... and love the blue shades in this piece!

    // -T.W-

    ReplyDelete
  21. Ooooooh mysterious forces are at work!! I love your work, as always happy ppf xx

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love how the words show through behind your painting. So beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Eleanor is a great Muse name... I wanted to call my daughter Eleanor, but Phoebe won the vote.... mind you she hasn't used it in a long time so could have called her anything... fascinated by the description of your week, pyrotechnics, cross dressing and Olivia Newton John... quite a combo there!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Serendipity indeed Lisa! Love your new girl! :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. What a great piece and how fabulous to find hidden meaning within a piece about introspection!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Oh my... I love your work and how you paint on book pages! I'm now following you and would love it if you'd follow me too!
    PPF xoxo
    Renee!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Love the light, translucent layers of paint and text. Beautifully done!

    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

    ReplyDelete
  28. I soooo want your job! It sounds so exciting! :0)

    Love this piece Lisa, the blues in her hair and skin tone the expression you have captured on her face and painting on the book page! Absolutely gorgeous and so brilliant that you found that hidden message :0)

    ReplyDelete
  29. She is beautiful, love the translucence and the words peeking through...Wishing you success in all your endeavors and continued inspiration always!

    ReplyDelete
  30. You've created quite a lovely piece busy lady! Happy Paint Party Friday #56 Robin Panzer Art Studio 33

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love the effect painting over words brings to this piece!

    ReplyDelete
  32. She is beautiful. I love painting over text.

    ReplyDelete
  33. i really like the way you have used so many different shades in this piece with that touch of aqua. really lovely! thanks for sharing,
    hugs, peggy aplSEEDS

    ReplyDelete
  34. Love the text showing through the painting. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  35. I like so much the transparent colors, and her dreamy expression. Very sweet

    ReplyDelete
  36. She is beautiful and I love the transparency to the words in the background, awesome! Your day job sounds fun! At least the day won't drag,you probably get some good laughs in,lol!

    ReplyDelete
  37. ~good morning my dear friend...everything about this picture is magical indeed...i love the thought of "looking in" a wonderful perspective to attempt to create and you executed it perfectly...serendipity...those moments truly are the best...fascinating that your name is right below her eye..."looking" hhhmmm...keep digging and delving inward cause the more you are finding the more beautiful your art is evolving...be well and much love light and blessings~

    ReplyDelete
  38. I love, love, love this work. Fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  39. she is beautiful...i love that word...serendipity...and yes...it was indeed...xxx

    ReplyDelete
  40. This mixed media is beautiful!
    Happy PPF!
    Sheri Cook/HappyHorseStudio

    ReplyDelete
  41. You know, I do believe in signs.

    Your girl is lovely. I especially like the colors, and here again especially how you mixed in shades of blue in her hair and her face. So far I haven't dared to mix "strange" colors into faces/heads, but your painting is a huge inspiration for me. Ever since I saw your portraits on book pages I've wanted to try that and so far never did - now I simply have to. Thank you, Lisa.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Lucky you to have a job you love! :)
    Your painting is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  43. This is my favorite!!! Your really captured the feeling and expressed it beautifully in your art.

    ReplyDelete
  44. What serendipitous bleed through indeed!

    A beautiful introspective girl. I really need to make some time for that myself.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Happenstance - wow, that is truly exciting. To actually know you are on the right road. I do like the picture on the page of writing. . . . it give intrigue. Blessings, Janet PPF

    ReplyDelete
  46. LOVE this and the hidden message!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for your comments - I always love to hear what you think :)

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...