create art - create happiness

Create art...create happiness it's my tagline right?

But I haven't ever written about why it's my tagline. So here's the story, morning glory...

The words popped up from Source on one of my very first journal pages over two years ago back in 2011.

I started art journalling when the whispers from my creative self became shouts that were just too loud to ignore. I had shut her away for so long... it's almost painful to remember that now. I originally trained in Fine Art back in the 70's; I graduated in 1980! I left uni just wanting to paint, paint, paint. For a few years I did just that; I supported myself with part time jobs waitressing and typing. But the black crow of my depression descended just before my 30th birthday and my muse left me. I felt dried up and with nothing left to paint.

Instead my creativity went into my family; a complicated tale and maybe one day I will be able to tell the full story but for now it's enough to know that I had two beautiful sons. I re-trained as a holistic therapist and lots of major life events occurred - but still no painting.

It was always at the back of my mind to be creating but I told myself I didn't have time, or that I had no space to do it in and all those other kinds of things we tell ourselves.......

Then about three years ago, something happened inside, not just one thing - it wasn't a bolt out of the blue mind blowing 'do it now' experience. Just over the days and weeks the whispers got louder and I had to listen. I read the Artist's Way by Julia Cameron and started writing morning pages and giving myself art dates. At her suggestion, I gave myself £5 and took my muse to buy kiddy art supplies. I cut up magazines and made collages from inspiring words and images. I started an art journal.

I don't even know how I found out about art journalling!! I do know that I looked on YouTube at videos and thought 'I can do that'. I was inspired by the dual role it played - accessing my creativity and self discovery. And, very mportantly at that time, I could do it in a way that was just for me. My art journal is for me and no one else need see it unless I choose to show them. I was amazed about what was actually inside of me that wanted to come out - I don't know why I was amazed - my creative self had been locked away for over 20 years!! I blogged about the joy that emerged here.

And I discovered that art journalling also had another role for me - manifestation. Right from the start, I used positive words and affirmations, creating my world for myself through the pages. My first ever page was this:

The words are a quote from Kelly Rae Robert's book 'Flying Lessons'; they made such sense to me. It was a truth and if I made a page about it, then I would be able to fly. I made pages about 'making time for making art', 'letting the sunshine in', 'being good to myself' and 'my true state of being'. (I've loaded a few to the gallery.) By putting these pages and words out there, I was letting the Universe know what I needed.

So, when I came to set up my website and blog, one year ago, and was searching around for a tag line - there it was - under my nose all the time 'Create Art - Create Happiness'

This is what art has done for me - making time for creativity and my creative self has brought such happiness back into my life. And this is what I want my art to do for others; my workshops aim to put people back in touch with their own creative selves and I hope that my work brings some happiness into the lives of those people it touches.

Which brings me neatly to the Blog Birthday Prize draw!! I hope that these little pieces of artwork will bring some light into the lucky winners, who are:

Giveaway 1 (Blue Goddess painting): Kate Cowin

Giveaway 2 (Here Come the Girls print): Margaret Abraham

Giveaway 3 (set of Earth Tribes greetings cards): Anna Tapp

Congratulations ladies!! I will get those off to you in the next couple of days.

Also a big, big, HUGE mega thank you to all those who shared on Facebook, Twitter etc and welcome to you new newsletter readers!!

See you soon

From my oh so grateful heart to yours

Love and light

Rachel xox

Mandala workshop news

You all know I love Mandalas - they're in my Gallery and on the blog - I use them frequently for healing myself through art and also for meditation.  They are a salve for my soul.

I've been planning a Mandala workshop for a while now and YAY! I have now set a date for the 23rd June (a full moon).  Details are on the workshop page.

So... why come and make mandalas with me?

Mandalas are special.  Making them takes you to a different place - somewhere to meditate or dream, somewhere to be yourself, to forget worries, somewhere to grow or be healed.  Mandalas can be whatever you want them to be.  I just know how magical they are.

On this workshop we will meditate and connect with our creative selves.  We will spend some time in a quiet space feeling into our mandala experience and then start the magic bit, the making!!

just click for a larger pic

We will try several different methods using different art materials so you can try out what feels best for you.  You don't have to be arty, no experience is necessary, which is another wonderful thing about mandalas, anyone can make them...

Most importantly, it will be fun - a day for you - a day to connect with yourself and your feelings, your hopes and aspirations, your desires and your dreams.  Come and make mandalas with me!!  

Sign up here I would so love for you to join me.

Love to you all, from my heart to yours

Rachel xox

new paintings and a giveaway heads up!

So... I've been painting - a lot - lots of lovely little goddess paintings have been coming through.  

I've given myself and the painting more time.

And here's the process for just one of them...

 

This painting (and others) is for sale and is now displayed in my Gallery.   If you would like to buy, please contact me.

The other news is that my blog and website is a year old next month!!  Yay!!

To celebrate, there will be some birthday giveaways and shop discounts.  Make sure you are signed up for the newsletter to get all the details next week.

Are you celebrating anything this week?  I'd love to hear about it so drop me a line in the comments...

From my heart to yours

Rachel xox

HAPPY EASTER

After a brief foray into Spring pastels last month my bold bright colours are back.  

And so am I!  I think I have already said in previous posts this year that up to now I have found 2013 tough going so far; some days it just felt like too much and I was worried that my black crow of depression had returned to roost. But sometime in mid March, just before the equinox, the pendulum swung back again and my mojo has returned.  Hooray!

My energy has shifted and it's feeling good. I think you can tell in my paintings.  This painting of Ostara, goddess of Spring and new growth, says exactly how I'm feeling.

I like the pastel colours, don't get me wrong (and so do lots of you - I had lots of lovely feedback on Facebook and IG about the pastel garden goddesses) they gave me a soft quiet energy when I needed it.  When my own personal energy was low and a bit lost, this is what was coming through in the art.  They were also an important part of my self care when I was not feeling like me - daily art practice even if it was just 10 or 20 minutes - using a different palette, gentle colours which spoke of hope and new growth.

But they're just not me, not the real me who wants to sing from the hill tops or run down the street and shout my joy to the world.  My true colours are strong and bold and alive. There are plenty of days when I don't feel like this but when I get the paintbrush in my hand and the goddess chooses the colours these brights are what my soul is singing about.

What makes your soul sing?  Do you do it often enough? What simple steps could take you there? What self care do you need to get your mojo back?

Have a lovely Easter weekend - go celebrate Ostara in whatever way floats your boat...

From my joyful heart to yours

Rachel xox

Shop now open!!

Yay!!  My shop is open!!

It's  been a busy couple of weeks here with not much art being done as product development has pretty much taken over but at last prints and greetings cards featuring my work are now available.

I have chosen images of my 'tribes' and details of some of my paintings.

Original paintings will also be for sale; images coming soon.... 

Another work which has been in progress in November is my yearbook: 'Goddess Inspirations - a year of creative inspirations and goddess connection'.  

This ebook will feature a different goddess energy for each month, creative soul quest tasks and exercises to take you through your year, affirmations and journal prompts. The emphasis is on self care and self nourishment. 

The goddess energy has inspired my life and art work since the mid 1980's and after a long hiatus, I started making art again at the beginning of 2011 and the goddess is inspiring my art work once more.  The yearbook is based on my own goddess connections and creative growth. The actual product will be ready for you all next week!!

I'm so excited!!  Here's a sneak peek of one of the goddesses.

Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter (top of the right hand column - except on the shop pages) to get the updates.

From my (very) excited heart to yours

Rachel xox