Light

I'm sitting here with the poodles for my morning devotion and I am reminded the night God spoke to me to paint. Rewind some 7 years ago, Tim and I were exploring wine country in Santa Barbara county when I saw the full moon over the Pacific. For some reason, I had an epiphany that I wanted to try my hand at painting. 

The word epiphany originally referred to insight through the divine. (Wikipedia)

That particular night I was unaware of the source (my Source) speaking to me, but as I began my journey and creating, I felt His presence more fully than ever before.

NIV translation Gen 1:27 says: So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;

I truly believe this verse means that we are created in His image....not of the physical form, but....to be creators ourselves. Creators of art, creators of imagination, creators of words, creators of giving, creators of --fill in the blank-

We have recently found a new Church home. I had fallen away from attending church when I started working in makeup because most Sundays I would be working. We got out of the habit of going and my anxiety of even going back to Church crept in. My fears kept me away. But, as we stepped inside of this bustling community of love, my fear instantly fell away. I was reminded we are not there to worry what humans think, but to worship our most High God.

We sing a song there that goes like this:

the other night when I lay down, these words filled my soul: 

Your light is a million times brighter than the sun

yet I cannot look away.

Your love fills me up

more than ever before

And I realize that we are One.

One with You, God

One with the Holy Spirit

One with Jesus Christ, our Savior

Your light is always there

never unending

it was and ever will be

from the beginning of time and forever

I surrender all of me to You.

Shine my own divine light

through You

in my hope of reaching others.

inspired by the imagery of the account of Eben Alexander in Proof of Heaven

where he describes God as a million times brighter than the sun.....

Shine

I want to invite you to come to church with me. If you have never been to church or have fallen away (as I did) then please come worship with me. Or if you have anxiety about attending a church building you can worship with me HERE online.

Radiant Light

When you are still, you shine your radiant, divine light.
Your true self begins to emerge.
Walking alone in the woods
you witness the birds.
The sun's light shining through the trees
suddenly becomes a star. And cross.

You wonder about the universe
and how small you feel.
Standing at the base of forest floor
leaves finally still from the crunch under your feet
you let the sun sparkle on your face.

Glistening moments, when you realize
you are not alone
A parade of light specks overwhelm your senses
You feel embraced by them. warmed
There is only this moment.
Only the tiny cricket sounds matter.
In this moment, clarity wins.
In this moment, my presence is eternal.

Doodle Circle Blog hop

My dear friend, Dawn DeVries Sokol just came out with a new book. It's called Doodle Circle: a fill in journal for BFF's to share.

Let me first say that the pages are absolutely LUSH! Who wouldn't want to create, doodle and explore on these pages. I love that they aren't blank so you are inspired each visit to your journal. The color brings you in. The textures invite you to play....and the prompts keep you coming back for more!

One of my favorite prompts/pages is "What's in a name" If you could change your name to anything else, what would it be and why? Doodle it out here and make it look fancy. I just love this. When I was a kid I wanted to change my name to Molly. no idea why.....LOL!

Please check all these wonderful, talented artists in the blog hoppers circle for Dawn's Doodle Circle book:

Oct. 1: Michelle Geller, www.michellegeller.typepad.com
Oct. 2: Aimee Dolich, artsyville.blogspot.com

Oct. 3: Pam Carriker, pamcarriker.com

Oct. 4: Tammy Garcia, daisyyellowart.com

Oct. 5: Tracie Lyn Huskamp, thereddoor-studio.blogspot.com

Oct. 6: Jill K. Berry, jillberrydesign.com/blog

Oct. 7: Carla Sonheim, carlasonheim.wordpress.com

Oct. 8: Tamara LaPorte, www.willowing.org/blog

Oct. 9: Micki Wilde, thesecrethermit.blogspot.com

Oct. 10: Mindy Lacefield, www.timssally.com

Oct. 11: Jane Davenport, janedavenport.com

Oct. 12: Dawn D. Sokol, www.dawndsokol.com

Wild Surrender

My book is here! I'm just now being able to blog about it due to some teaching in Portland this past week. My book has 7 sections: beginnings, clarity, coyote and red rock, Process, Prompts, Progression of work 2008-2011, and Recent Work.

Wild Surrender is image heavy with over 200 paintings in progression from 2008 forward. I wanted others to see the progression my art has taken and the time it takes to evolve your art. It doesn't necessarily happen overnight. I didn't create amazing art at the get-go. I hope you find that refreshing, if by chance you are just starting out. My book also features a few tutorials on how to paint a face as well as painting and journaling prompts. The beginning of the book is my favorite. It showcases poetry (birthed from my morning pages) married with my art. If you are a visual person, you will love this book. My hope is through surrendering up my words....surrendering up my fears and childhood rainy days...that you will connect and open up to new possibilities of expression.

Wild Surrender is available on Amazon

or you can order a signed copy through ME here.

Serendipity

My girl Juliette Crane is hosting a year long painting class! She is giving away one free spot. Click here to check out all the details and how to sign up.

Also she has put together a little sneak peek video of the goodness that is to come: HERE

I had the opportunity to create and teach with Juliette this past June in Port Townsend, WA and let me tell you her videos and attention to detail and MAGIC is something not to be missed!!!

Alive process

Lately I have been wanting to withdraw a bit. I don't want to admit to anyone that the fear of my love for painting is waning. I'm hoping its one of those dark spells again that surface every now and again. I have been through this so many times, yet each time it feels different. Each time I feel raw and exposed and want to hide away from all social media. But there are definitely some pros for social media. oh yes. The other day while I was thumbing through the newsfeed I saw this quote.
f you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. - Vincent Van Gogh

I have been hearing this same voice. I go to paint. I sit. I am disturbed and disgusted at what is coming out of the end of my brush.  I guess what I'm saying is that I always want this to be a joyful process. To be happy while I'm doing it. And yes, most of the time I am. Apparently, like the rest of life it doesn't always work this way. I have decided to see this as a gift. A sometimes wrenching process that must be this way to build within it's own character. This process is alive. This process is a voice that's sometimes weak. It's not always "sure of itself". It has a dynamic that artists' have been trying to wrap their brains around since the beginning of time. Who am I to say I've got it figured out? Who am I to say I ever will? All I can do is continue to paint. Continue to silence the dreadful voice. This process is an extension of my soul. Something I put into God's hands. 
God is the magician. We are the magic. 

my studio table with Works in progress at various stages

Him and the birds

I chat with my Creator through Stillness

Just me, Him, and the Birds

Divine Light

On my trip back from Port Townsend in June, my flight from Dallas to Little Rock was cancelled. There were no flights available until the next day at 6pm so I opted to rent a car and drive the 5.5 hours back home. At one point, I called my husband and told him I would probably stop in Texarkana, get a room and drive the remainder the next day. But as my trip went on, (playing 80's music really loud to keep me awake) I began to feel more energized. I decided to stop off and get a coffee and donut to get me through the rest of the 3 hours home. After I got back on the interstate, I saw a meteor. At first it was really bright. Too big and bright for just a "falling star". It turned blue. Then green. And soon disappeared as it got close to the ground off in the near distance. It all happened so quickly that I was a bit stunned at first. Did I really see what I think I saw? I had just written about a metaphorical meteor a few weeks back....here.


I have the power to release it with writing and painting. 
I can come here and send it out into the universe until it begins falling to the earth and is consumed by the atmosphere. 

Beautiful obliteration!
seeking somewhere to rest for a while, it's molecules break loose
the matter of its makeup all of a sudden make no sense.
the reality is no longer held together by turmoil and verbal abuse

This piece of writing proved to be such a healing turning point in my life. And here is this visual turquoise beautiful light coming out of nowhere. This gift. This sign. And it was just seen when I made the decision to make the drive home. 
Coincidence? 
I don't believe in coincidences. 
What I saw that night around 10:30 pm was no coincidence. I saw this beautiful sign only after little intricate details and decisions must have been met for me to witness its descent. 
This lining up of circumstances gave me pause. What we are doing in this creative journey matters. It heals. It catapults me into stratospheres I never expected. It holds me there and I feel renewed and comforted. This is why I write. This is why I paint. I must. It is what my Creator designed me to do. In His image. 

This is Divine Light.

original SOLD, prints available on request