Bold and Loud

This clementis is flowering out loud in the garden. Not one ounce of modesty, absolutely not. The colours are bright, the flower is large and the stripes are so bold.
Everytime I see them, I need to smile!

Little Guide Book: Remember Your Strength

Something to remember: all the things - great, small and even smaller - that I have achieved in my life. Just by not giving up, using my strength an determination to keep on going. Although I can see my weaknesses, I can also see the strength that I have developed during the past years. I think it is good to stand still so now and then, and remember my own power.

Little Guide Book: Nourish

Sometimes you need to take the time to nourish your soul. To fill it up with light, ideas, inspiration, peace and space.

Little Guide Book: Reconnect

Reconnect: the word says it all. Reconnect with oneself, with nature, with people, with the world.

Little Guide Book: Express

A great reminder: go ahead girl, express yourself freely. Something I have to get used to after all these years of carefully weighing my words and considering them before saying something.

Little Guide Book: Shine

Another spread in The Little Guide Book, a reminder to stand still and see what - despite all the rough years - I did accomplish in my life despite everything. There are no medals, no awards and no papers to remember these achievements. And I am way too modest to talk about it. I have to learn to let it all shine instead of hiding it all away.

This artjournal has good drawing paper, the pages were coloured with watery acrylic paint washes in soft colours. Gesso has been lightly brushed over the picture and page - smeared with fingers as well.
The big letter text has been traced from chipboard letters, small text has been stamped. Journaling text written with a thin marker (the old Tria Markers). The edges of the spread has been inked with a brown stamppad.

Question: Where Do Cats Come From?

So I finally understand where cats come from: they just grow in pots. And here is a snapshot from Pico (the dark, moody and black cat) proving this theory of mine. :-)

Have a nice day!

Art Journal Becomes a Personal Guidebook for 2011

My little art journal is starting to become a little personal guide book with kind reminders for myself. This spread was all about Compassion.

To me, it is so much easier to feel compassion towards others, even people I have never met, then to allow myself some compassion.

I expect from myself that I have to bounce back immediately after each adversity, I am very critical about the things that I have done and often blame myself when things are not going the way they should be.
Strange, because that is not the way I feel about other people. I experience patience, compassion, understanding and - as long as I am not driving :-) - I am not that crital at all about others.

So this spread is a reminder for me to allow myself more compassion to myself, the same way I feel towards my family, friends and even strangers.