Make Your Soul Grow

I stumbled across the following quote by Sir Ian McKellen this week and I absolutely love it:

"Do art and do it for the rest of your life (...). Don't do it for the money or fame but to experience becoming, to find what's inside you, to make your soul grow"

I'm a huge advocate of using creativity (in all its forms) to help one's own soul. And I can speak from personal experience, that there is something significant in the creative process which can facilitate us growing as a humans being and becoming who we truely are.

I'm coming to understand myself that there is an intrinsic link between being able to fully express oneself and becoming one's true self. And I've been wondering... if its true that creativity (as a means of expression) can help to restore one's sense of self, then is it the stifling of expression that causes us to lose oneself in the first place?

It's really important that we are allowed to express ourselves and to be ourselves. Over the years I've used all forms of creativity to help with expression, from art (of course), to poetry and dance. And I'm coming to realise what an important part this has played in me becoming me. Like Sir Ian McKellen said, it really does "make your soul grow". And I would encourage every person to get creative... whether its with words, art, craft, dance or drama... do what you connect with and start the process of discovering and becoming who you truely are.

"Signs of Spring"

There's something both wonderful and hopeful about the first signs of spring. From the emergence of the first snowdrops out of the depth of darkness, to the early daffodils, and lighter evenings. When the signs of spring begin to appear, it feels like we can take a deep breath and finally look foward to what lies ahead.... Spring is coming!

My latest woodland painting, named"Signs of Spring", is not only inspired by the changing seasons but also my own life.... My husband and I are finally emerging out of what has been a very long, dark and deep winter. I remember being in what was the depth of this season and wondering whether it would ever come to an end. Thankfully Jesus carried us through! After a 4 year winter, during which my husband was bedbound with debilating M.E related symptoms, we have been blessed by God with a miracle and I can gladly say that spring is well on the way! My husband is up and about again... regaining strenght every day! Winter is thankfully passing and we can look foward to lighter and brighter times ahead!

This heart-warming and original piece of wildlife art has been hand-painted on a beautiful piece of reclaimed yew. The painting is represtnative of the changing seasons and of the British woodland's coming to life following a long winter. Even in the darkest seasons, light and change will eventually come.

As with all my animal paintings, I hope to encourage, inspire and bring both light and joy into people's lives. We wouldn't have survived this recent season without hope and for me spring is always a sign of life and hope! You can view "Signs of Spring" in my Shop via this link "Signs of Spring" on Reclaimed Yew | Wildlife Art on Wood.

A Natural Flow - Growing Wildlife Art on Wood Naturally

Having my own creative business was something that was on my heart for a number of years and had become one of my dreams. Not a dream I was striving to achieve, but one that sat somewhat quietly in the background until the time came for it to come to fruition.

Wildlife Art on Wood all began from the revelation that I needed to learn to slow down and take my time more. I had started a short course in botanical painting and noticed that I really struggled to take time to observe objects before drawing them.... I just wanted to get to the end and have a finished painting. Taking my time to sit and observing a specimen before putting pencil to paper felt immensely uncomfortable at first. But instead of running from this awful feeling I realised that this is something I need to learn to do... to sit with the feeling and allow it to pass... to slow down and take my time.... not just with drawing but with life itself.

The world around us tells us that everything is about striving and self-effort but that's not what I have learnt. Rather, things have grown best in my life as I've taken my time and allowed ideas to naturally take seed and develop in my mind.

We only have to look to nature to see that plants and tress grow naturally. A rose cannot be forced to open. A butterfly cannot be forced out of its cocoon. Everything flourishes in its right time given the right conditions. And so its been with my creative business. It all began naturally with a painting of a foxglove on wood and from there I naturally began painting animals like woodpeckers that had a connection with the wood... and so it continues to grow naturally over time.

When I become frustrated that things are not moving quick enough, I take a breath and remind myself that all things, including me, including my business, take time to flourish and grow. Although its still very early days for Wildlife Art on Wood there continues to be a natural flow to its growth and I trust that as I continue to give it time and space it will continue to do so naturally.