Best day ever...

We had the best afternoon today, one I will remember for a long time.  The girls are writing exams at the moment, which means they finished school early.  But it is literally the first time in absolute ages that we all had an free afternoon at the same time.  We dropped off my painting for scanning first and then headed out for our photo shoot.  With their schedules being so busy - getting them to come along with me has been a challenge.  I literally had to pay them to come with me today.  Nothing like a little extra pocket money to sweeten the deal.  My girls are my favourite subjects to film and they are both amazing on camera, their photographic skills are quite on point too.  Taking them with me is always such a treat.

We weren't quite sure what we were going to do exactly.  We arrived at our destination and just started walking... we had glorious sun and we ended up stopping next to the train tracks, with the ocean on the one side... it was visually stunning.  We whipped out our cameras and just like that our photographic energies were ignited.  We spent about 2 hours just playing... with all the film cameras, the video camera and iphonography.

The train lashed passed us several times which was scary and exciting and that together with the train tracks, sea and beautiful girls made for some stunning moments.

My Instamatic images are breathtakingly beautiful and most of all they tell a story, our story.   Now the hard part is having to wait until Tuesday to get my film stock back from development - the hope and expectation is off the charts.  I'm literally holding my breath.... So grateful for today.

Ciao Bella...

So I started this piece in Orvieto, Italy.  In Misty's Class and this was our final piece.  

I just didn't know how to move forward or if I wanted to.  I had promised Anne in class at the time, that I wouldn't change her face when I got home and I must admit that kind of stumped me and my process.  Courteney said the same when I got home.

So I just hid her away.

You can read my post about her on my ItalyBlog.

Everything we did in that week in Orvieto was to lead us to this final Iconic piece.  The toned background, elements we captured and had drawn on our walks.  Ephemera that Misty had given us.  I was too overwhelmed at the time to bring it together in a meaningful way.  Maybe it was information overload.  But I know now when I look back, how it all tied together.

Sometimes I get frustrated that it takes me so long to get there and other times I'm so grateful that it did take me so long because I might not have done her justice at the time... and I feel letting the lessons and concepts marinate, finally brought out something precious to me.

Maybe it just making peace with the fact that everything happens exactly when it is meant to.

The door knocker hand held such deep meaning and symbolism for me.

She captivated my whole heart and mind all of Sunday. 

And I managed to keep my promise to Anne and Courteney.

My heart is so overflowing today, for sure.

It's been way too long...

Its been so long since I painted something big and beautiful.

I've been limited to teabag size, clay and photography lately.  Don't get me wrong - that's made me so happy.  And to me there is something so precious about creative play.  In fact, I think it's vital to me.

But oh my word - to pull out this BIG canvas and to start was so lovely.

I used a reference and was completely inspired by Eduardo Flores - particularly for his hand work.  I did intuitively go my own way but I'm already in love and I can't wait to start painting.

Long may we journey together.

TeaBagJournal...

I have wanted to try this for the longest time.  And I've been seeing glimpses online how to do it and I've been playing on Pinterest - looking for ideas and inspiration on how to continue playing with these beautiful TeaBags....

I'm so excited about this little one...

TeaBagJournal from JeanneMarie/Flowrs on Vimeo.

Friday, Studio day...

My day started off with a bit of admin but I didn't want to get to distracted for too long - I had a long day to myself and I wanted to make the most of it.  And I did.  Maxing out the day was definitely in order.

So most of you know I haven't done much painting lately.

In fact, the last time I did something big was with Annie in her studio.

I've been doing a bunch of other things #InMyStudio and was quite enjoying the no pressure and no agenda.  Sometimes creative play is just as important to me as anything else.

That being said, sometimes when I don't paint for a while - I get scared that I won't be able to paint again or I wonder if my abilities have regressed?  What if I have to go back to basis. etc.  I know it's fear based.  And nothing like fear based procrastination to side track you.  And I've been side tracked for a while.

But starting was all I had to do... and I was pretty blown away... I love who showed up.

For both these pieces I had references to guild me and I love how it always delivers so much more.

Once again, just like that, I'm ready to start painting again.

Beautiful old books, some damaged, some perfect.

But mostly for altered books and to cut up into TeaBag Journals.

Looking at some extra ways to play with TeaBags.

I made my first teabag journal tonight.  And I'm utterly in love.

In the week I agreed to participate in an online auction with other incredible artists for 3 of my pieces.  The Artists Gallery Nouveau auction on FaceBook.  At first I was hesitant because I'm so aware of putting myself under unnecessary pressure.  But through much discussing - I knew this would be okay.

So I said yes!!! But I can get quite stressed - no one said putting yourself out there is easy.

But we are called to Courage, daily.  And I do know this.

~ ~ ~

I can't remember when last I had such a glorious StudioDay.

I picked Digz up at 10pm from the airport after a week long trip in the mountains, with his bike.

It was an awesome end to a long and busy week... going to bed with a happy heart.

Excited for the weekend.

To teach or not to teach...

Why now...  

I get asked to teach all the time and it's something I've always said a resounding {NO} to.  My introvertness, coupled with fear and shyness, has kept me saying "no" with ease...  I am always left feeling torn between feeling ungenerous/ungiving in sharing the things I've learnt and feeling like I really don't have anything new to share in the world of incredible online teachers already available to us.  Many I've learnt and grown from through the years and through their own levels of generosity.

Click on the image to sign up :-)

My heart is definitely not ungenerous and I would willingly share anything with anyone.  I'm trying to be brave and say yes to more things this year that are completely out of my comfort zones...

This being one of them.

So why did I say yes to contributing in Camera Craft - well, it had to do with a growing connection I've been having with Galia the past while and loving what she's about.  That together with discovering this incredibly cute little Lubitel 166 {Russian Camera} by accident and teaching myself how to use it and my fascination and love for Lomography and old film cameras (that I feel is once again a growing art form}.  I would love to share that with anyone who is willing to learn.   I am passionate about playing it forward and sharing what we know especially new delightful discoveries... it's part of community.  And I just love that.

I think if you are anything like me, the technical side of photography is a little daunting and overwhelming but I've discovered something in this cute little camera that I think can bring much joy with quite simple ease, which is completely available to all of us and that is beautifully share-worthy.

Well that and I guess even though I'm sharing something... at last.  I still kind of get to hide behind the camera.  I hope you will join me together with these incredibly creative ladies and learn much about something which is equally creative as it is beautiful.

I will be spending the month of May putting my segment together.

Playing with my cameras and going on photographic play dates.

Looking forward to sharing the journey with you.

Weight of the World...

I felt pretty emotional yesterday as I was working with this piece.

It felt weighted and heavy and hard as I moulded each building into place.

I know I'm sensitive and I tend to feel things quite deeply.

And one of the things I do is feel people's pain.

I hate seeing people I care about struggling with the harshness of life.

The stories I have been hearing and experiencing the past month, has been quite painful.

Sometimes I don't fully understand, why.  I know it's life.

It takes courage to know and believe that maybe it will be okay,

different but okay, maybe even better.  But until you get there - it's heavy.

I wanted each building to be 3d and visible from any angle.

To be able to see between them, around them and over them.

I wanted the world on her back, her head and deeply in her heart.

I wanted it to be visible no matter where you were looking.

She's a wonderful symbol of weightiness and is top heavy when you pick her up.

We journeyed together today and she feels deeply special.

She's serious but then sometimes life just is.

I look forward to painting her and completing her story.