Heaven come down!

This is my latest painting. I live in a rural Zulu community in South Africa. The men in this area have been sidelined and marginalised by the legacy of apartheid. I wanted to paint a Zulu man immersed in God's favour and acceptance. To know that what the past has said about him, and how he sees himself is not how God sees him. 

I've had this painting propped up in my studio, for a while, wondering if it's actually finished. I tend to do this as I finish a painting, I don't consider it done until I feel some sort of closure. The problem is that this "waiting" can hinder my whole creative process. As I woke up this morning, I realised that I need to go back to having a few paintings on the go. It seems to work better for me. I know that I'm in my happy place when I'm being creative. I sometimes feel that I spread my creative energies too thinly: writing, making music and painting. I've tried to make myself draw something every day but it's not something I've been able to keep up with. I was challenged this week when I heard this quote by Shawn Bolz: 

                                                    In the waiting we create more...

It's made me realise, that while I'm waiting for closure on a piece, while I'm waiting for inspiration to paint, to be creative, I should still create, still draw, write etc; like an athlete in the off season who still trains, still works out. I know that in these creative "down" moments, I still need to press on, to create, to refine my skills and to have fun doing it!

My Happy Place!

Looking back over the various blog pages that I have, I noticed that I haven't posted here for almost a year! Where did that year go? I have been aware that, since moving here, I have really struggled to maintain a creative rhythm, so to speak. I have tried to do something about this the past couple of months. I definitely need to create and be creative! I'm in my "happy place" when I'm painting, drawing, writing or making music. But in the process of making more time to paint or be creative, I've noticed that I have to make a conscious effort to just relax. I find that listening to music, or just reading for a while tends to push me further into the creative zone. It's learning how to find that balance between leading a life that honors and supports those around me, while at the same time leaning into that space where I can just unwind and create. I love the line spoken by Eric Liddle in Chariots of Fire: "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure." I feel the same way when I'm being creative! " I believe that God made me for a purpose; and when I paint, I feel his pleasure!"

I'm not quite sure I'm finished this one, so it's sitting on my easel. It's inspired by all the beautiful, amazing women who live around me. 

The landscape is inspired by the incredible view I'm treated to every day! I've used prints of a lot of my past art work and collaged them into the painting. I am always amazed by the way the landscape surrounding me is made up of layers of colors and textures. I tried to capture that here.

And finally, this piece is in the "beginning stages"! If I have no idea of what to paint next I usually paint some sort of background on the canvas and eventually an idea begins to formulate in my mind. I try and do a lot of sketching as well so that I have something to work with.

Season's Greetings!

It always amazes me how one can begin a piece of art with one direction in mind only to end up with a final product that is totally different to the way one started out. I love the adventure of painting. You never quite know where you'll end up. Sometimes I have a very definite picture in mind and I'll sketch it out and it ends up pretty close to the image I have in my head. But, with the mixed media approach to art, there are times when I'll do layer upon layer, upon layer until I begin to sense where to go next. This happened with one I've just finished : "A Walk in the Woods".

I started it before a recent trip to England. While in England I was so taken with the trees and 'fall'. It was the first time I experienced a Northern Hemisphere fall! So when I got back home it was a pleasant surprise that 'trees' began to appear in the painting. The other painting I recently finished picked up on the "swirly-heavenly' theme that I wrote about in my last blog (featured at the top of this page). I'm excited now to begin my next painting; who know's where it'll take me...