Bleugh

The gist of this is that I am not well and feeling exceedingly sorry for myself! I thought making art might make me feel better but it just turned out a mess and made me feel even worse...

Sulky sulky moan groan...

I'm retreating

One must work and dare if one really wants to live.

Vincent van Gogh

Do you have some money saved for the preverbial rainy day? Or do you plan on spending on something special. You just aren't quite sure what that 'special' is. Some would say it's new carpet or furnishings, a newer car or topping up your pension. Yeah that's your head talking, it's pretty loud and often helped out by that microphone called well-meaning family..

At some point we have to realise that we are not anybody else. We aren't the person who needs the comfort of lined curtains. Instead we are the one who wants to spend a bit of money on doing the thing the heart craves.

Four days hanging out with other artists, painting and getting creative in the beautiful Yorkshire dales. Working with artists I already admire and making the acquaintance of others. Delving deep into what I want for my creative enterprise and nurturing my soul. Did my heart want it? Oh yes!

I'm going!!  Here...

Do What You Love art and creative enterprise retreat (Yorkshire, England – May 2011)

"Imagine a magical place in an area of outstanding natural beauty, deep in the ancient English countryside. A place where you can escape from everyday life, reconnect with the real you, and nurture your creative spirit.

Imagine a time when you are free to indulge your creativity. When you can step out of your creative comfort zone and take risks, supported by a warm community of like-minded souls. And all this under the guidance of an outstanding teacher.

Imagine a space where you can explore the ideas you have been quietly sheltering for so long. Where they will be motivated by inspiring entrepreneurs and where, nurtured by your new community, your self-belief will soar. Where you can grow your creative business ideas, or simply plant the seed of belief that you really can find a way to do what you love, for life.

All this exists.

You can find it at the Do What You Love retreat (May 11-15, 2011).

It will be an intimate gathering of creative souls, sharing a special journey of change.

Everything will be taken care of. You just have to take care of yourself."

Well, I read that and leapt off my chair screaming "Yes!!!" It's the first one like it I've seen advertised in the UK. I got ready to apply... I nearly hit the button... Then the head kicked in with its spreadsheets and financial planning and I 'thought about it' for a few weeks, but everywhere I went links to this promise of magic and self-fulfillment kept pushing me back. I dithered. I contacted the organisers to check a place was still available on Flora Bowley's workshop. I dithered some more. And then.... I booked!

When I make a big decision, instinct usually kicks in as the no return moment passses and tells me if I was right or wrong (yeah, I know a bit late!). This one feels really good!

Who else is going? Anyone I know? I, for one, can't wait!

Pic is some digital play with a photo of the Dales. Lots of layers - just like me!

A deep blue breath

As I swam deeper and deeper among the coral I couldn't help but follow that beautiful music, as if a seashell orchestra was luring me in. Then as I rounded the old wreck and despite the oxygen tanks on my back, I found it suddenly impossible to draw breath. There before swam a shoal of mermaids, laughing and playing with the fishes and tangling an octopus' legs. They saw me and stopped and stared bemused. I finally gulped down some air but movement was impossible as fear kept my limbs from movement.

Mermaids are stories, fiction.... No one had ever really seen one.... or at least lived to tell the tale. What would be my fate?

As I floated in that deep palace of greens and blues, the beautiful creatures pulled at my tanks and played with my flippers but with no real strength or aggression. They were fascinated by the bubbles my spent breath leaked out into the ocean and chased them toward the surface before racing back down and pulling at my arms encouraging me to join in their games.

Their sweet smiles and gentle natures thawed my fear frozen limbs and I began to swim alongside them, joining in their games in the same way I had raced the dolphins the day before. They took me deeper, in and out of caves and crevices. We swam, span and swirled in the currents and laughed at the startled sea creatures that fled from our path.

Time lost all meaning and I did not notice my tanks empty; I just kept on swimming and diving and playing and splashing and swishing my tail and undulating my body like the waves above that had now become my home...

My entry for 'breathe' the Inspiration Avenue challenge this week - and also some of the work I've been doing for Tam's Mythical art class on Willowing.ning.

I'm kinda liking these sea creatures. Expect to see more...

While we are on the subject of 'breath'... Seven years ago today, my son took his first as he popped into the world full of love and wonder. Happy Birthday my little Munchkin! xxxx

Layers

No prize for guessing what movie I've been watching*. It was rather good... I'm not going to say any more than that because if you haven't pirouetted your way to seeing it yet, then it would certainly spoil it to say more than it's a film about a ballet dancer! Go see it and enjoy and let the director, cast and cinematography tell you its story.

Then, put on some Tchaikovsky, grab your artist materials and follow Nina and... let go...

Last week while on my photographic assignment - to capture some magic - I snapped a shot of the movie poster inside the British Film Institute. Tonight I drew... It was the first page of new sketchbook - all pristine, no paint sploshes, no crumpled sheets. Just 110 pages of delicious anticipation. What shapes and forms will appear over the coming months? What magic? What pain and disaster? (not much I hope, but we do learn from those!)

For Sunday Sketches - see what everyone else has sketched this week.

I thought it was also rather appropriate for Illustration Friday's 'layers' - once you see the film you'll know why...

*Postscript: If you don't know what I'm talking about - it's the new Natalie Portman film, Black Swan!

OWOH winners

A quick post to announce the winners of my giveaway.

Congratulations to Beth of Elizabeth Studio 54 who wins the print.

Large postcards also on their way to:

Sheree - Raven Moon Magic
Diane - My Art Journal
Fiona Whitehead
Yoborobo

All the winners should have received an email from me requesting their mailing address.

Faded

'Tis the last rose of summer left blooming alone; All her lovely companions are faded and gone

St Thomas More

I wondered what to write to accompany this piece of digital art I made for Inspiration Avenue. I feel a bit faded myself truth be told. I've dipped again after a more positive weekend and have spent most of the week in a depressed and tired mope. Artist angst perhaps, or maybe I just need a good rest.

All I can think of to write is to share some coincidence. I created this piece then found the quote to match it. My primary school was named after St Thomas More - Henry VIII's chancellor who was executed for his religious beliefs. While I was at the school we performed a play about the last rose of summer. I was a flower. It was a poem which we acted out and recited. My Grandma liked hearing me read it.

What a weird post.... I think I'm losing it...

Well red

I love spotting art in unlikely places and sometimes being a messy chick can really turn out to your advantage. There I was snipping up some red card to make fancy backing for love poetry - I ran the Cupid Love Desk at work (she writes that like it's a perfectly normal work-a-day occurrence!). I had little bits of red card all over the carpet and balled them up ready to take outside to the recycling bin (we are trying to be green in this house, even with our red).

The cat found the ball and chased it round the carpet, unravelling it somewhat in the process. Was I cross? Did I see red? Nah, I saw abstract art!



Fun in PhotoShop later and we have some sizzling red hot metal for The Three Muses challenge. I just love how the images and colours blended - don't touch... they're hot!