I just packed up and mailed out a painting called “The Silent Edge of Winter”. I wanted to tell you about it because it contains a story that feels important for this time of year and mostly forgotten in our modern world. Did I ever mention that every painting has a poem on the back? When I name a painting a short poem emerges connecting the work to a spiritual teaching or personal growth idea. I then transcribe the poem on to the back of …
Are You Alive?
What is it that we all crave? What are we looking for? You might think there are many answers. Maybe it's adventure, or the desire to contribute to the world. Some might say they want a nice house, a new car, to never have to worry about money, to be healthy. A few might tell you they just want to be happy. But I’ve had a couple of experiences lately that make me think that we what we really crave is to feel alive, really alive. Last Friday …
Walking Each Other Home
In these unsettling times I find more than ever it is necessary to infuse myself with things that inspire me on a daily basis. Otherwise it is easy to fall into a funk about the state of the world. It’s not like sticking your head in the sand, it’s like adding some positive tonic to the bad news that comes to us globally and in our own communities and personal lives. A friend and I discussed this as we walked down a forested, autumn road near our …
The Tiny Jewels Of Your Life
Small paintings dot my studio wall near the easel. Sometimes at the end of a day I turn my hand from a larger piece to these “littles”. I might use up some leftover paint or add a mark to one of them before I turn out the lights and close the door. These little ones can hang for months waiting for just the right bit of paint to call them done. These paintings have begun to feel like tiny jewels to me. They often require as much attention as …
Life Is Messy
This is not exactly a secret but it’s not something I usually lead a conversation with…. My studio is messy. There are bits of scraped off cold wax and paint curls on the floor. Paint tubes, jars of pigment, and brushes lie haphazardly on the table by the easel. Every few weeks the mess disturbs my peace of mind enough that I clean it up. The other day I was sharply reminded of how life is a lot like my studio - messy. And it’s not like we can …
Half A Shade Braver
Half a shade braver…. That was the title of poet, David Whyte’s recent public reading. I find Whyte is the perfect combination of wistful poet, philosopher, spiritual traveller and word magician. Half a shade braver…for me that had such a lovely ring, at once gentle in the half part and fierce in the brave part. None of us like to be bullied into action and yet we sometimes ponder pushing our boundaries, becoming more than our current …
How To Harness The Energy Of Spring
Who doesn’t love the feeling of renewal and fresh starts? A favourite quote from the Buddha is: “Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” But I think Spring offers us a special opportunity for renewal. We are coming out of a season of darker days, more time spent indoors, a sleepier season. We are ready for change, for something new, relief from the heaviness of winter. At this time of year we look forward …
How To Connect Your Inner & Outer Worlds
Most of us are finding the world an ever more challenging place, a place where many of us are asking (in our better moments) how can we be of benefit. I think it’s important to think in this way so we don’t loose heart. I recently listened to a great TED talk by Simon Sinek who asks “what is your why?” If we know our “why” then it is easier to be clear about “what” we do. This goes for so many aspects of our life. It got me thinking about …
Hoeing The Morphic Field
Welcome to the new digs! I hope you like the colour I painted the walls :) Actually the thanks go to the awesome Ainslie Greig for the design and development of my new website. Apparently it was time for me to pop completely out of my cave, buy an iPhone and get a fancy new website. Unlike the groundhog I didn't see my shadow. My older scribblings are still out there on the blogspot (that sounds a bit like something the dog left on the carpet, …