Paying It Forward: Spreading Joy and Light


Almost a year ago I received a package from an artist friend, Tara L. Chang in Seattle, WA. It was full of wonderful handmade treats and copies of some of her artwork on printed postcards. Tara and I share a few common interests: Art, Gardening, and CHOCOLATE.

Naturally  all these things were apparent in the package she sent. I loved her garden and handmade treats, artwork, and the delicious chocolates. The Lavendar Bath Soother  was used while I was recovering from an icky flu, which made it even more of a treat!

This package was from the “Pay It Forward” offering she had shared on her own blog Silver Apples of the Moon.  So in staying true to the spirit of things I decided to do a similar offering the following winter.

The snow is here, the downtown is twinkling with festive lights, and my children have a running lists of holiday treats to bake. It’s officially winter. Winter is cold, can be gloomy and dark, and just begs for sweet surprises.

What I love most about the Pay It Forward concept is that it spreads a little more joy and light into the world. There simply is no better time of year to celebrate the power of kindness and hope. All the various religions out there are celebrating light which perfectly embodies these.

I am sending out to the first person who responds in the comments section an original 5″x5″ Holiday themed painting and some additional handmade goodness, and then to the next two people some prints and handmade goodness as well.

The Paying It Forward rules:

  • The first three people who leave a comment on this post shall join this PIF exchange.
  • The only thing you have to do in return is to pay it forward on your own website or blog.
  • Handmade isn’t always instant gratification; so kindly give up to a year for completion. ( Luckily I already know what I am     going to send so it won’t take me the whole year!)

In addition to Tara L. Chang’s blog you can see more of her wonderful work on her website TLC Illustration.- THANKS AGAIN TARA!

 

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Letting Go of an Exercise

Today I am celebrating letting go. In doing so, I am sharing a piece of work that will never ever be finished. I realized a certain distance in that it was not going to work out. I could fight it and make it the best I could- but there is no reason to. I have learned what I needed from the exercise and can move on. The next time I come to the subject I will have a keener understanding of process to render the effects for this subject. I will know what NOT to do- that is huge.

I don’t have to finish everything I start, especially when I have finished learning from the experience. Clearly that is not something that could ever apply to commissions.

Just getting to a place where I can accept letting go has been huge. In the past I would just do all I could to force it to be it’s best so to speak. Knowing it was ludicrous to waste the time on it when the lesson was learned and I could move on to more fruitful things. I suppose this happens in life too.

My next step is to throw the bloody things away. I mean why can’t I throw them out?? Well one thing at a time I guess. I know- I will offer them to the next fire we build in the back yard.

Now I am off to scan the image and share the failure- hope it is liberating as I am so anxious about doing it.
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Murdhuacha of the Kelp Forests – one phase left

Must fix a few areas and work in the others – but happy with the results so far. Next- warriors or beasts.
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Autumn
I love Autumn! The tulip tree outside my window has been kissed, already, by the cool evening wind; and is now showing lovely lovely blushed reds in the higher branches. The cicadas and crickets are singing their farewell serenade and the squirrels are busy everywhere gathering the tree nuts in the back yard. I am craving so deeply to take a pilgrimage out to the old growth forest- the only one that remains in my part of the state. It has been over a year now and I have dearly missed it.
That will have to be planned out, but for today I am focusing on balance. Balance is not something you do once. Life is organic, as with all its facets, and changes constantly. Even walking the well worn path requires constant effort to balance as we stride forward. On the equinoxes I like to reflect on balance on the whole spectrum- mind body spirit.
First I like to look at what needs serious maintenance because I have procrastinated to the point of creating anxiety. I do this first because it is its own way of procrastinating what I really don’t like doing and that is the destroying aspect. It is always the part of balancing that requires a great deal of work and pain. However somethings must come to end for balance to be ensured, and for other things to make way for healthier new things that are to be created. The last is easiest and that is the creating new things to aid balance. That isn’t to say that maintaining a discipline to those things is as easy as starting them. LOL
It, to me, is perfectly illustrated in Shiva’s Dance of the Nataraja. These three laws keep the universe growing and balanced. I made a strong start on the day and have finished a lot on my to do list. There are only about six weeks left till the spiritual new year for me. So a lot of working to do to prepare for the exciting new year ahead, and the beloved season of introspection and stillness that is coming.
Fire, fire, fire, where is the fire I used to have? It is not age or health that has stolen this from me, but a strange and deep lingering shadow. It is this mysterious and unknown phenomenon I have been encoutering so stronly since this time last year. It calls me and I resist, and the fire dims. I seek it, it resists, and the fire dims. Stone will alone summons the steps forward. Dreams and the fold of waking hold glimpses into the mysteries sweet presence. The great WHY eludes me, and I have the audacity to try to rationalize this watery realm- why do I fight so hard to avoid the feelings that are here. Why do I demand a justifying rationalization of their existance to even acknowledge them?
Dearly, do I need this season of introspection, of death, of suspended potential. I plant my seeds, my dreams, my goals. The earth is warm, her womb embraces life, she knows the right season. Time to meditate in all things, time to return to inward stillness. Time for me to surrender- but can I give up the idealism? I suppose I will have to follow the example of the lovely tulip tree. Sooner or later she will have to drop her leaves, brace and bare her raw form in the face of winter winds. She will wake and dream and draw deep into her core, into her roots and wait in working silence in working stillness for the thrust of spring.

(note to self: Do not start entries while starting dinner- the smoke detector isn’t going to save the food.)

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Palaeography and Ancient Manuscripts

Above clipped image compliments of the work and resources of:
Trinity College, Cambridge, and to Scriptorium: Medieval and Early Modern Manuscripts Online

Eccentric  probably only scrapes the surface of the areas I am researching now. Lost ancient arts that met their death with the birth of Gutneberg and later his printing press. However there are many of us in love with these arts, and few of us that have the patience and passion to pursue them. And even for those of us who want to pursue them- few to study under, fewer still the artisans and skillsman upon which our arts are dependant.
Almost ten years ago, eek gods am I already another decade old, yes about a decade ago I was researching and studying the medieval arts. I am especially fond of the fold of the medieval and renaissance periods.  At that time it was so daunting. The internet then offered far far less than what it does now in archives of manuscripts- illuminated or not. Further libraries were often limited in what they stored on these subjects. Mind you visiting Trinity College, or Cambridge would indeed have helped out greatly- that was not something that could be budgeted.
Today I found this wonderful website Scriptorium Medieval and Early Modern Manuscripts online. It is full of wonderful wonderful archives and resources on Palaeography, which is one area I am currently researching.
The explosion in what I can find and access in archives online now is ASTOUNDING! I can download PDF documents of books that are never loaned out. I can resource amazingly high detailed images to study. This is a huge step up from the limits of a book and magnifying lense. To me it is also proof that passion will pave its way on your intent. Here we are a decade later and so much is readily at my fingertips. Due much in part to the internet- yes; but also in part to the passions of others and their arts.
I think I often fail to appreciate enough Tim Berners-Lee, the founder of the World Wide Web. What an amazing revolution in information and communication. It has truly allowed so many of us to find information we would not otherwise have. Especially in bridging gaps of both distance and monetary resource in acquiring so many resources.
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Moving and Moving
What an unbelievably busy last few weeks. It feels like I am on the information highway. So many new mentors popping up to share valuable information, so many new prospects for commissions in my genre, so many new ideas to mull over and set on the schedule.

I am in the middle of moving closer to my studio, closer to our business, closer to a bubbling arts community. I LOVE our new location! Granted the house is in the throws of some restoration- but the work they are doing looks GREAT. I love the solid original wood floors, love the woodwork around the windows, love the gigantic old oak trees in my yard. It is a soothing and inspiring place and a few minutes walk from my studio, my favorite coffeeshop, the library, the bank! Being able to walk is so nice and so Green.

We were working towards a house in the country, luckily that fell through. It brought to mind the prophetic words of my best friend “I am confident you will find the best thing for you.” She is always right- and never tries to be. HOW DOES SHE DO IT! LOL.I am so looking forward to her visit next month. The back yard is so huge and it is so quiet at night we feel like we are in the country, and we can still have our camp fires! :D

I have been stressing a bit over the lack of painting I am doing in the throws of it all. However, when you are dedicated to working as an artist, and having taken tips from the mentors I mentioned- There is always work that can be found. So I am researching, brainstorming, working online, and whatever I can squeeze in where ever I can do it. Something is done everyday- and that keeps the stress and work load very low.

Right now I am researching productivity ideas and tips so feel free to email them to me or leave them in comments. Here are some great and inspiring resources on the topic:

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Energy and Potential- Life is Good!
I feel like I am surrounded by a million ideas and all of them are temptations. I have been quite a lot done lately. On the whole spectrum of my life. I am moving very soon, this will save me so much commute time and more and result in more productivity. I am very excited about that. The school year is over so that also will help. Organizaton = time. 
There is so much more I want to share and post, but I have learned to be careful about the timing of such. I have run into several mentors through twitter that are inspiring me. It has helped me to see that I want a coach specific to my goals. So I am shopping around and sampling personalities and such. 
I love the diversity in the art world and there are a lot of great people out there- twitter is proving a resourceful tool in both directions. I am enjoying it so much I think I should start sharing some fo the great art articles I have been finding on twitter too.
Also did I mention about the Celtic Friend Network via Ning. Great place for artisans of all types if you like the celtic genre- I will share more soon!
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Llewednae – concept drawing and original sketch

I am beginning this painting this week. I still have to work out sketches for other mythical beings and creatures to round things out. We can’t have all pretty faeries. I had decided to put a pine woodland in the backdrop and continue to play with contrast. The original sketch was done years ago, and was inspired by a similarly noble person, whom I was reacquanted with this week online. So now I am even more excited to paint it, and not just offer up the sketch for sale.

It will be interesting to see how it continues to morph and develope. Inspiration is everywhere! I need to develop the literature concept a bit more by going into some welsh and scottish myths with Faeries more. I will be posting the progress again. Aiming for phase one and two by Friday- we shall see!

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