Today, on my plane ride, I was reflecting on my desire of a simpler, more authentic life. This desire has grown stronger and stronger, as my dedication to my art has grown stronger and stronger. I realized that the more focused I am on my passion, the more I experience the joy and fulfillment of being in alignment with my purpose, the clearer I get about what in my life is serving me and my purpose…or not
Read MoreLeaning Into Emptiness
I had the chance to spend last week in the beautiful mountains south of Lake Tahoe in California. I decided to spend the entire week painting. Just paint, journal and take walks...
Read MoreThe Never-ending Story of Painting
Something I absolutely love about painting, is that I know that I will learn more every time for the rest of my life. There is never-ending possibility of discovery. It’s like an excellent book that has no end, and the characters keep growing and evolving and the plot refines page after page.
And I never get to the most dreaded part of an excellent book: when I can feel in my right hand only a few pages left. And I know that this great adventure has to come to an end. None of that here.
Of course, every adventure has an end. But I like to think that painting will be my companion until the adventure of my life stops. At least, I know it has the potential to. And the rest is up to me.
Don’t Fear - For Each One They Take Down, Thousands Rise
These days, there seems to be so much darkness lurking around. In a second, each of our lives can be destroyed by horror. Whether we are in the wrong night club at the wrong time, passing the wrong car, wearing a skirt in the wrong street, or simply looking at the wrong person at the wrong time.
Or, in the case of the US, ...
Photo credit: Amelie Hubert
Read MoreThe Silence of the Full Moon
Yesterday night, I was sitting on the steps of my van, looking up at the sky and the big bright moon. I was lucky to be up in the mountains, so the only light was that of the moon. She seemed to have so much wisdom to offer.
I pulled out a card from my Zen Tarot deck: Silence.
Read MoreThe Excitement of a Cup of Coffee
I stayed at a friend's last night (and by that I mean sleeping in my van in their driveway). I woke up this morning feeling so excited! I'm prancing around, of course because I love my life and just finished a painting and all that...but also for something else: this morning I get to have home-made coffee and a shower!
Photo credit: Amelie Hubert
Read MoreOn The Road
There are many reasons why I decided to get on the road in a van: freedom, more quiet time, adventure, financial, ... But the most potent and exciting one was to discover who I am when I strip out a lot of what has constituted my life for as far as I can remember. All the comforts and habits. I want to see "what I'm made of".
Read MoreWelcome to Blue - my new traveling companion (aka Sprinter Van)
I have not written in a while as I was very absorbed in a project very dear to my heart: moving out of my apartment and into a converted van...to travel, discover new places, paint and share my art. I have kept it close to my heart for several weeks, and now it has become a reality!
Stay tuned for more... :-)
Making of Flower of Life Painting
Acrylic on canvas 24x24in.
Are You Sexy For Inspiration?
I was just reading this piece of Elizabeth Gilbert's book Big Magic, about being sexy for our creativity. Here's an excerpt:
"Also, try to present yourself to your creativity as if you are sexy - as if you are somebody worth spending time with...
It's Not What You Do...
The full moon/eclipse has a lot of old emotions and memories come up to the surface for me...or maybe it's just that I'm learning to listen better to what needs to be heard within. Probably both.
During a painting session on the day of the Equinox this past Saturday, a sentence came to me from somewhere above... or inside (or both, I can't tell). It said:
Inner Alchemy : New Paintings
It's a triptych inspired by Sacred Geometry and realized with gold, bronze and copper metallic paints.
I was inspired by the process of alchemy. The magic behind the transmutation: turn metal into gold, turn a blank canvas into a piece of art, turn words into poetry,...turn ourselves into the highest embodiment of Love that we are.
Read MoreWe Came Here To Slay
I did not come to play with you, h*es. I came to slay, b*tch.
Read MoreMaking of Sacred Geometry Painting
Take a look behind-the-scene at the making of on of my sacred geometry paintings. This one is the third of a series (probably a triptych). My research was well done, so I was able to dive directly into it and have it come together pretty smoothly.
The full triptych will be available for purchase and as prints very soon.
Exhibition in Palo Alto
This painting "More" was selected for an exhibition "The Art of Love" at the Pacifica Art League in Palo Alto, CA. That's me at the opening, pretty happy as you can see!
Prints available in the store.
Celebrating One Year Anniversary
Drawing of an eye with Ipad Pro and Apple Pencil
My mother came to visit me last week, and we had a lot of fun (our version of fun being long walks, good food and meditation retreat!).
When she left, I thought I would jump on my easel, being so rested and refreshed. Turns out I got a little rusty! Mostly, I felt the pressure of not having painted for over a week...what should I do? I had the pull of doing "something productive" - meaning finishing the 3 paintings I had started...or finally make this Flower of Life tutorial that I had promised.
Even in art there is a schedule and a to-do list it seems...that didn't feel good!
So I did what I would usually feel veryyyy guilty for doing: instead of "grinding", I went out and popped in the Apple store "just to check out things" (in case you didn't know I'm a total geek on top of being an artist). Of course once I checked out the new Ipad Pro, I wanted it baaaad. So I ended up taking one "just for a trial", with the firm intention of bringing it back before the end of the 14-day trial period...
I haven't been able to put it down or stop thinking about it since.
It's quite unconventional approach to getting the work done, I admit. In the past I would have stuck to "pushing through the resistance"... but today, I'm tired of pushing through. So I'm wondering if maybe...maybe...there is another way. If maybe following my heart completely and trusting it's guiding me to where I'm meant to go, would get the job done as well (if not better), with more fun, joy and relaxation.
We'll see. I'm telling my head it's just a short trial, so my mind doesn't freak out and pulls the emergency brake. #thuglife :-)
Let's Just Take A Breath...
When I realize how fast time goes, I always remind myself to just chill out, take a couple deep breaths, and slow down. It's incredible how easy it is for me to start doing 5 things at once, soon forgetting what 2 of them were... then I realize I was so absorbed in doing a thousand close-to-useless busy things that I even forgot to breathe.
Gayatri Mantra, The Ancient Prayer
We meditate on the glory of the Creator;
Who has created the Universe;
Who is worthy of Worship;
Who is the embodiment of Knowledge and Light;
Who is the remover of Sin and Ignorance;
May He open our hearts and enlighten our Intellect.
At each moment, somewhere in the world, someone recites the Gayatri Mantra. This mantra brings light to the earth and the hearts of men. Some say it out loud, some as a whisper, while some repeat it in their heads. It can also be sung - the most famous one probably being the version from Deva Premal and Miten.
Even not knowing the meaning of this mantra, we can feel a bit of its magic and power. This mantra is considered the most sacred and powerful of all mantras.
It appeared for the first time in writing in the Rig Veda a Vedic text from India, in which it is called “Poem of the Divine”. It was reserved for a few selected priests, because it would have been too powerful for the uninitiated. Today, Gayatri is available to all and transcends all religion and spiritual traditions. It can be considered like a universal prayer.
The Gayatri Mantra mentions Savitur, God of the Sun: this mantra is dedicated to the Sun, bringing light and life to earth and its inhabitants. It’s traditionally repeated by multiples of 108, using a mala or bead necklace (see a video on how to use a mala). When we repeat this mantra, we meditate on this limitless light. But Savitur is not only in the sky; it’s also the light that shines inside of us and all living beings. Our inner Sun, our divine unconditional Love. To repeat this mantra is to awaken this light within us and all beings, helping to bring enlightenment on earth.
Gratitude Always
I want to start off by saying: THANK YOU!
It’s only my second thanksgiving ever in the US, but I guess I caught the gratitude bug (on top of a cold that I’m resting from on my couch as I write).
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