Mexico Musings

I am just home on our island from a delicious retreat in San Miguel Allende and Mexico City. Experiencing the flavour of Mexico while also having quiet time to deepen into my musings through the vehicle of dream and intentional journey gifts me an expanded view of a world beyond ‘the news reality’ projected through media. I subscribe to a belief that we make our reality beautiful through our intentional thought. It is a practice that takes detachment from the day to day obligations and news channels. I have meditations, chants and music/sound that all help to carry me to this shift.

 

Being in Mexico has given me daily opportunity to connect and practice with shop keepers, taxi drivers, vendors and people on the street where English is not a given. I practice my very limited Spanish but mostly I see each person I inter-act with through the eyes of my heart. This expands the connection that brings awareness for the beauty of each individual even for brief minutes. Every night I would go to bed with the fullest of heart deeply grateful for the smiles, touches, acknowledgments I received. Using intentional presence was the best experience I have had for years!
This afternoon while I sit by the fire with Lucy my grand dog I am still warmed by many experiences I had. With the fullest of my heart to you I send….
Warmest wishes this season of grey and cold in our northern climate. Blessings of good friends and family, abundance of peaceful harmony in all your interactions. May full unfoldment of your creative desires lift your spirit for the happiness of all.

Enjoy some photos from Mexican journal….  for more see my Facebook and Instagram

A WestCoast Life My Way

A life on a Canadian west coast island becomes a reality in early 1990.

Photos, sketched house plans and maps spread across our farmhouse table in a remote hamlet of Provence, France. We are dreaming of building our home on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.
Our dream unfolds…..and, for almost thirty years we shape our island lives by deep desire to live fully our way.
Creative pursuit in every area of life becomes a deep questing commitment. The sacrifice is financial security.
When did this purposefulness arise? What catalyst allowed it to blossom?
I trace back early remembrances dreaming of my love for our world, dancing, singing, expressing my thrill of nature and it’s landscape, people and diverse culture. I saw myself literally hugging our world.
It is the hands on, carving out, touching, holding, creating that is the thrill. We give our best to

Too Blessed To Be Stressed, my mantra…..

Celebrating over twenty five years.

Reflecting on a lifetime of meeting wonderful people from all over the world who shared their lives, enthusiasm and generosity with us, Duart and I often pinch ourselves on our good fortune to have created a life sharing my dream of visual interpretation for the beauty of our world. It allowed us the travel, expression of painting and writing that colours my work.

I thank you all for your support, goodwill and continued interest in my inspired journeys.

Our lives interconnect, mesh with each of us fulfilling our own soul yearning. I truely believe this is all we are to do while inhabiting the awesome, magical earth. We are “all one” in that sense, breathing, living, connecting, shining each our own light. The brighter and more true our light the easier it is to effect a deep connection with others, ourselves, our environment, our animal friends and the delicious spiraling movement of our planet, and constellation. We all have a sacred role to live out. I thank you for being here.
The people closest to me my awesome staff are just that! like a walking stick, a crutch that assists me while I walk my path. They are my voice and direct physical link to you. Over twenty five years I have had the honour of knowing so many enthusiastic Gallery Supporters who each personalized their interaction with clients, my art and Gallery. At the peak of my Gallery business with a gallery in Victoria, La Connor, Washington and Ganges, Salt Spring Island, I remember 16 beautiful staff! Today, Leanna North my gallery manager has the illustrious history of knowing us since the early 1990’s employed for over 18years she knows our Gallery business! We get many many complements on her service and knowledge. Her efficiency keeps our Gallery running smoothly, with grace. Carmen joined the Gallery two years ago, casual days during the summer her expertise in communication and goodwill with clients is evident to all who meet her. Carmen keeps a hand in the Gallery, one day a week over the winter. Our clients are indeed lucky to be served by these awesome people who know my paintings intimately, communicate with me your needs and exceptional requests. Leanna and Carmen work for you too!
It’s fun to reminisce, this is a tiny view of what we are. Have a look on my Gallery page for the photos I share of the gallery, clients and events since 1992! Hair colours changes, youthful figure changes, but my dedication to my art, my sharing is stronger than ever. It’s been a terrific ride! A lifetime of delicious experiences. How very fortunate am I. Definitely I am Too Blessed To Be Stressed.

Celebrating our spectacular north west coastal waters

Blog for October 2017 newsletter

Celebrating our spectacular north west coastal waters

‘Magnetic North’ my newest release. The inspiration honed from almost three decades living on a small gulf island in the Salish Sea exploring its waters by kayak our trawler, float plane and working freighter. As I travel through the seasons approaching winter with shorter days it’s diminished sunlight cultivates introspection, a deepening to inner worlds of dream and memory. In Swirled struggle I find its center where calm lives, its magnetism is a healing elixir. A force propels me north towards this nurturing journey inward.

“Too Blessed to be Stressed” encapsulates my gratitude as the inner calm in this season blankets my perception.

Celebrating memories of wild escapes into nature over the years while living in British Columbia I share some moments preserved in paintings.
“Releasing Grace” a native heritage islet reclaimed now preserved through The Canadian Conservatory.
“Princess Louisa Memories” emerges after a surreal flight into a majestic fiord ruggedly carved into our northern coast. The lush violet green mist softens melds, creating a wonderland in every sense. Our tiny float plane descends to still waters at its head. Opening the hatch to stand on its float I experience a heady mist and roar of Chatterbox Falls before us.
“Courage at Nootka” takes form while staying a night in the tiny wild side coastal village of Kyuquoat. The working trawler boat journey from Gold River through Nootka Sound services outposts hidden in coves and rocky shore, a lighthouse, a forestry camp, a native village. Then finally out into the open swells of the great Pacific the delivery freighter equipped for ocean rolls, fog and blasts of northwest wind gave no heed to hours of churning stomach. Gratefully we slid into safe haven where fish boats like “Courage At Nootka” call home. A native settlement as pristine as nature is for thousands of years, we stepped into a world few know.
Yes, “Too Blessed to be stressed”, I recount my memories over the years and gladly share my visual experience.
May you too reminisce on your wonders and find daily moments of awe.
Happy north journeys to this winter land of inner knowing.

Wearing My Art

good vibrations in a colourful world

Encouraging spirit with colour empowers positive clear energy.

I dip my brush to a palette of sapphires, lapis, purple and harmonize with my meditative side. Colours of starry sky, coastal visions and my inner landscape. I immerse in wonder and introspection. My newest painting “Island Reflections” also translates onto wearable art. A Silk charmeuse scarf to wrap oneself in enchantment. 

“Island Reflections” also available as a limited edition wall art visually imbues surroundings in wondrous feeling. I charge my paintings with hues scented in prayer and dream thoughts of possibility. 

A portion of “Bellissimo” with oranges, pinks, soft grey and lemon, I surround myself in its warming energy, it’s heat of dynamic passion.

France Originals – Gallery Showing April 2, 3, 4

Click to see show paintings

Painting in France to an art show on Salt Spring Island

“Spring in France is a wayside blossoming. The southwest a burst of viridian green meadows feed ample cows and sheep that dot this fairytale landscape. Squares of land sing as dandelions carpet landscape. Plum, cherry, pear in quick succession welcome bees as farmers prepare market gardens, help birth lambs and and put the newest foals out to pasture. Every curb is array with a graduation of colour. Daffodils, tulips, irises, while colour climbs and softens stone walls drape cracks of crumbled age, now afresh with delicate wisteria. Hanging clouds of mauve foam lazily trail over trellises as we devour our lunch quiche washed down with the lightest of wines from the region.

Inspired Journeys Interview

What is Inspired Journeys art show?
A. Inspired Journeys is a collection of my paintings assembled for my shows this Fall, that inspire an uplifting view of our world.

What motivated you to paint these?
A. My inspiration was my motivation. The majesty of our British Columbia landscape. The sweetness of snug hamlets in a French countryside. The serene presence of an Indian women gracefully caring her load of sticks on her head. It is the feeling, the energy that I get that stirs a profound love for our world. Being in a place of gratitude is the root of this.

Do you always paint from this place of inspiration?

Art Lovers Getaway Magazine launched

When one fulfills their dream, it gives permission for those close to be their best too. This incremental effect is possibly the answer to world peace! It is the ultimate “pay it forward” blessing. Being authentic is the gift we have been each given. Actualization, the setting in motion, creates a ripple effect, an energy that is felt in one, then another and very quickly spreads like the hundredth monkey….let me tell you a true passion story…..and let’s spread this belief that we are each capable of fulfilling our dreams, our authenticness… JUST DO IT!

Duart, my life partner, began to fulfill his dream of creating a magazine to celebrate the Arts on Salt Spring Island. For the past several months he consulted with some “pros” on web design and then mustered the confidence to begin. With no money, a borrowed video camera and shear belief in his idea he designed a mock up web site. Then created a list of who he wanted to video. He talked of hardly anything else. This idea was truly being born!

Listening to his plans I leaped to the opportunity of being the “interviewer”, he agreed to try me out. WOW I am having so much fun! His dream became infectious. Now with 12 video interviews his second publication just issued, the excitement is really being felt by the artists and creative people being interviewed and also the viewers, of which we’re getting a lot! have a view, we’re having so much fun meeting the talent and sharing their story….  www.artloversgetaway.com

…are you inspired?