many blessings

I am lucky enough to have this original painting by Liv Lane hanging in my living room.  I am amazed with the amount of joy and good energy that artwork brings to a home.  Yesterday I picked a card from an inspirational deck of zen cards.  This is what it said:

It makes no difference what particular form your creativity takes- it can be painting or singing, planting a garden, or making a meal.  The important thing is to be open to what wants to be expressed through you.  Remember that we don't possess our creations; they do not belong to us.  True creativity arises from a union with the divine, with the mystical and unknowable.  Then it is both a joy for the creator and a blessing to others.  

Wishing you all a beautiful, creative day!

xo,

breaking out of the box

This is my sweet little cat, Daphne (we call her Kitty) in her favorite "bed."  Like a lot of cats, she seems to love being squeezed in a box. Honestly, this is where she sits all day long on my studio table.  She is crammed in it right now as I type this.   As the weather gets warmer, I am sure she will have to sprawl out, stretching her arms and legs since will be too hot for the box.

Seeing her in the box all winter has made me think about how the seasons change us.  Winter is more closed in, cozy, predictable and slower.  Now that spring is coming, I am finding that I am ready to shed the box I have been in for months and reach out for brighter things.  I've started taking zumba classes (what a party that is!) at my gum instead of always doing my usual routine on the treadmill or elliptical machine.  I am buying beautiful flowers to bring home when I grocery shop.  I'm taking the dogs for longer walks.

I love that spring always invites have a fresh new start!

wildflowers

By Ania

signs of spring

Family of three by Kat Eye View

Yesterday I noticed that the yellow and purple crocuses were blooming and I was amazed at how much joy this gave me!  One day soon I will pull out the dusty bikes; spring is finally here.

fresh

By Lucia and Mapp

bzzzz

by Rachel*Nicole

ruby pops

By Ania

ruby red

by four corners design

being brave

Our strength will continue if we allow ourselves the courage to feel scared, weak, and vulnerable.

-MELODY BEATTIE

I have been thinking a lot about this quote lately. Feelings of fear, weakness and vulnerability are present in my life.  I notice it when I create a new work of art, write a blog post and hit publish, share my true feelings, worry about my family and struggle with being present.

Recently, I made a custom order painting for a friend that was ordered as a surprise gift from her husband.  I think custom order artwork holds added pressure to please the buyer.  It triggers my fears around having people "like" me and often makes me uncomfortable.  When I finished this painting, I was happy with it and took it to the post office.  Then I felt scared and vulnerable for days.  My mind turned into a bad neighborhood.  I created a whole story around why my friend would dislike the painting immensely and convinced myself it was true. (It was not true.)

A while back I decided to write an honest biography of how I started making art.  I wanted my "about page" to reflect what is real.  I did not go to art school and although I could write a paragraph including lists of things that qualify me as professional and experienced, the real truth is that I fell into art picking up the pieces of my broken marriage and shattered heart. In sharing this story, I felt a mixture of fear and vulnerability, but also freedom. I know that each time I honor what is true for me I am growing stronger and connecting more deeply with others.

The challenging thing about this on-line world of facebook, tweeting, blogging, sharing and commenting is it can leave me feeling exposed and bring up my most fearful parts.  I notice the fear now, but it doesn't hold me back as much as it used to.  I know there is always a gift on the other side.  Thankfully, it is getting easier to be brave.

looking forward

My second (and last) art fair in 2005

I've been thinking a lot lately about how much of the time I have thought that other people appear to meet creative success quickly and easily.  This is, of course, always a story in my mind because I can never know what anyone else is going through.   

I wrote a blog post years back about my early days as an artist- way before I ever called myself an artist.  I was freshly divorced, living alone in a small apartment, working as a teacher/counselor, and had no idea where to begin.  So I decided just to start somewhere and spent mad amounts of cash buying a tent and mesh-panel sides and signing up for a few art shows.  

To say the first show was a total disaster is just not true enough.  

My panels arrived late, so while all the other artists got set up the night before the show, I was still setting up LONG after people were all around shopping.  It was close to 100 degrees outside and I began literally and figuratively melting down.  I needed an engineering degree (which I clearly did not have) to figure out how to set up the sides and hang my paintings- it took hours and hours of pouring through the directions with swears and frustration.  Hardly anyone showed up since it was way too hot for upstate New Yorkers who can barely breathe if it goes above 80.  And NO one came into my tent (at least it seemed that way as I watched hoards of people cluster in mobs around the guy in front of me who made PVC pipe birds.)  I sold one small painting to a girl who sort of knew me, so it doesn't even count.  And.nothing.else. Oh, and I got so SICK on the first day- I can't even discuss that here- just know it was bad.

Then, as the artists were starting to pack up at the end of the weekend, A TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR occurred.  I  couldn't figure out how to take down my tent quickly (since I didn't have an engineering degree).  The rain and winds soaked all of my prints, ruined the framing on my paintings, and drenched my  art portfolio, of which I spent extraordinary amounts of money and time on that (of course) no one even looked at.  

Not to mention the soaking, ruining, and drenching of my overall self-esteem and emotional health.

The best thing I ever did after I took my defeated, exhausted, and soggy-self home was give myself 3 days to totally wallow in self-pity.  I called in "sick" to my "real" job (which was really wasn't a stretch.)  For 3 days I was horizontal on the couch, watching sad movies and eating as much chocolate as I wanted.  I had the biggest and most depressed Pity-Party Possible.  And I didn't even judge myself for that.

After 3 days, I took a shower, laughed about it just a little bit, and started over.

Maybe I have come a long way. 

Maybe it has taken me a long time to begin to find my creative path.  

Maybe it hasn't. 

What I am finally beginning to learn is that it is all happening in absolutely perfect timing.

My artwork on the wall in Cazenovia Artisans Co-op, 2010

Is this weird?

bring love with you where ever you go

I worked in my studio all day today.  I am doing a project called A Hundred Thank-Yous where I am making 100 paintings for 100 people who I am very grateful for.  I am making nearly a painting a day.  And I am putting so much love into it.  And gratitude.  And more LOVE.

All this love is making me emotional.  (It is not pms, I swear.  At least not today.)

While painting, I listened to a CD that a yoga teacher friend gave to me by Snatam Kaur.  I had never really listened to it before today.

She has a song called People of Love.  

"We are the people, 

the people of love.  

Let us people, love today." 

Honestly, I can barely write about her music without tearing up.  I'm sure you have to hear her voice to get the depth of beauty and sweetness in this song.  I called my friend to tell her about how I kept crying every time I heard this song and I started to get choked up just leaving the message.  I mean, my heart is on my sleeve, people.

Now I am definitely a sensitive-artist-type for sure.  It doesn't take a lot to bring out real, heartfelt emotion from me.  But I have noticed that since I have been doing this project, it is like my heart will burst open. 

I am learning the simple truth; that focusing on love and gratitude brings about 

more love and gratitude. 

And that really is sweet.

Love List

In honor of Valentine's Day, here is what I am loving lately!

1.  Intensati- This is an amazing exercise video that uses positive affirmations while working your arms and legs and getting a cardio workout.  I LOVE it.  Wakes me up in just the right frame of mind to start my day.  

2.  Everything by this artist, Laura Amiss.  My husband and I were fortunate enough to travel to Holland a few years back.  Her Amsterdam Canal stitched canvas prints make me swoon!

3.  Pinterest- I just recently learned about this site and I love it for inspiration. I do not have an account there (too much social media already!) but I love to visit and click on the travel page.  The images are gorgeous and fill me up with new creative ideas.

4.  This beautiful burlap flower banner by Funkyshique

 

5. Adorable coin purses like this one by The Zakka!

Wishing you all a lovely week!  xo, Lori

tomorrow is a beautiful new day

Here is the truth: Today I am feeling overwhelmed.  

I am overwhelmed with too much to do.  But, everything I have to do, is what I love to do.  I am in the middle of a beautiful new project on gratitude.  I am painting every day.  I am having my website completely redone.  I am doing guest posts and a custom order.  I am just overwhelmed today.  I have moments of wondering what is wrong with me?  Shouldn't I just be grateful?  But, the truth is, I am grateful. 

Oh, my.  This is what I would like to say to me today.

Dear Me,

It's okay, honey.  Go to bed early with a cup of tea and an Oprah Magazine.  Tomorrow is a beautiful new day.

Love you,

Me

So, I am excusing myself from this day and following my own advice.  You will be reading this post on Wednesday, a beautiful new day, a day where I will tackle my To-Do list with reckless abandon, calm and clarity.  Yes. 

What do you do when you are feeling overwhelmed?  I would love to know!

etsy gifts

Here are some of the beautiful gifts I got for the holidays from etsy that are making me happy.

mirthmarket

 

 

 

liz lamoreux

blue eyed freckle

maisy and alice

a garden in the snow

I don't know about all of you, but I live where it is cold and gray at this time of year.  And snowy.  And did I mention gray? 

Usually, I am okay with it all.  I  love snow.  I love being snowed in, hot mugs of tea, cozy blankets and fireplaces.

Recently, I read this post from Jen Shaffer about finding color in the gray days.  It got me thinking.  My art is so full of color and so is my house.  As you walk into my home, the breezeway is painted blue, the kitchen is red, the dining room is yellow, the living room is green.  

Maybe I like to surround myself with all of this color to balance out the gray skies.  Color helps me to feel happier and uplifted.  I'm curious, if you live where it is dark and cold,  how do you get through the winter?

current inspirations

I'm not sure about all of  you, but all of this shopping has made me want to shop more!  Here are 4 etsy shops I cannot get enough of lately.  Clockwise from top.

leaves and feathers

studio enrouge
painted path

mishmish market

trusting that it is always the right time

  Curly Girl wrote a tweet today that said, "Dear Santa...all I want for Christmas is more time."  I re-tweeted, "YES!  Me too, Santa."

*Big sigh*  Sometimes the feeling of not enough time overwhelms me. 

I sit here, looking at my computer, and a table full of blank canvases are looking at me.

It is always this way with time.  I know this.  When I get it done, there will be more on my list to get done.  Especially at this time of year it seems there is even more time pressure against time. 

My work this winter is to make friends with the never ending to-do list.  To start to feel comfortable with it.  To do what I can, and let go of the rest until the next day, or the next.

My work is to really trust the right timing of everything.

Which means,what doesn't get done just has different timing.

Ah.  That thought is so much more peaceful.

And peace is good.

meeting the ugly parts with love

A finished painting that I abandoned in the ugly stage for about 6 months titled,
I am changed because of you. 

I wrote a post over on my blog last night about a very large painting that I am currently working on.  There are layers upon layers of paper and paint.  

I've been a little stuck for the past couple of days because the painting is going through an ugly phase that feels like it is lasting too long and I am starting to loose my confidence.  But all of my artwork goes through that stage and most turn out exactly the way they should and I am happy with them.  Some need to be painted over- a bright new beginning ...No matter what happens, it's always all good.  

This got me thinking this morning as I am ready to dive back into the painting again, and I'm feeling afraid and wanting to quit, that this art process I go through each time, is a metaphor for my beautifully messy life.  

I am no stranger to therapy.  My husband and I, both in our second marriages, decided to start this marriage in therapy.  We go as a way to be kind to ourselves, because we know good marriages take both love and hard work.  We are committed to doing our own work as part of our spiritual growth and partnership.  Two times a month we sit, in a safe, sacred space, and feel the not so pretty parts and celebrate the progress we make.  Sometimes we need to toss things and start over, other times just working through it gets us to the other side where we breathe deeper and feel abundantly grateful.  

But life is always layers and layers of love, beauty, peace, fear, anxiety, happiness. 

I've decided that I am going to meet the ugly phase of my very large painting with love today.  

I think it just needs a little love to make it through. 

creative dreams

A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to meet a really lovely couple that had purchased several of my original paintings.  The husband went to art school for ceramics.  

He told me that in art school, it was "drilled in his brain" that putting 

words on artwork make it not real art.   

He said, that for years he would completely overlook any art that had words written on it.  He was taught that art should speak for itself and not need words to portray meaning.  

I am a self-taught artist.  I know little about what it is like to go to art school, but I do know that I reject conversations about "real" vs "not real" art.  The creative spirit that is within each one of us is personal and unique and very real to each individual.  

This couple decided to question this long held belief about what defines real art and now purchase art that speaks to their hearts.   

They buy art that they love.  

Without rules.   

Without limitations.

Me too.

brighten your world

I think it is impossible not to feel JOY when you see work from these four artistic beauties!  If you haven't met them already, you MUST!  Their work exudes positivity, humor, love and happiness.  

(From top left, clockwise)

1.  Artsyville - Glass of Wine

2.  Rachel Awes - Speak the Truth

3.  Choosing Beauty - So Many Blessings

4.  Valentina Ramos - Luisa (Original Painting)