Calmness in the Park, 4x4in. Oil on linen/board. Sold
Today's Small Pause...
This morning I watched the robins and squirrels dart about. I could feel nature's long awaited desire to awaken. The winter had been harsh. I could sense nature's eagerness to embrace the change of seasons.
She longed for wispy shades of green, warmth and the joy of renewal. It is an exciting moment when the world is about to awaken from its deep slumber. It is a time to shed one's layers and dance to nature's beat!
Have you ever purchased a handcrafted item because you can feel the "maker's" touch imbued in the item? It might be a painting, pottery bowl or some other tangible item crafted by hand that elicits an emotion from you. I have purchased work because I feel this sense of charged energy or love as I hold or observe the item. There is something special present...almost like the artist is speaking directly to you.
Being an artist, I have believed for a long time, that handcrafted items made with love and passion, are much different than big box store items. Not just because they are one of a kind, but because the "maker's" own energy and love of craft becomes an intricate part of the item.
This is one of the reasons I paint from life. Observing my subject from life, triggers my emotions and engages my senses. It helps me pour my whole person into my work. In the end, it is hoped that my love and passion for what I create can be felt by the observer.
I recently watched a short video on this very thought, where Jonathon Fields explains this point beautifully. I have included it below. I hope you enjoy it and it gives you food for thought. The festive season will be upon us soon. Recalling this truth may aid in the type of shopping you do for your loved ones. Maybe, it will also entice you to create something handmade for someone, whether it be simple or complex. Handmade cards, baked goods, sewn items all come to mind.
Warmly,
Debbie
Jonathon's Video (May take a moment to load)
P.S. Please feel free to add your own small pause or comments below.
P.P.S. You may also like to Subscribe to my free Fine Art Ezine and Fine Art Blog. Thanks!
Upwards, 20x16in. Oil on wrap canvas. MacLellan's Brook, Nova Scotia.
Today's Small Pause...
As I opened my front door today and looked up the hill, I was struck at how swiftly the clouds were moving across the sky. They moved along like a rapid slide show, changing continuously. At times there were patches of clear blue sky and cloud; while, other moments merged into a gray cloud mass.
I thought it was a great metaphor to life. Life seems to move along swiftly by times, moving from sunny moments to gray ones. It maintains a continuous flow, where change is the only constant. Time pays no attention to our wishes. It marches on inevidentably.
Thus, it is up to us to savor the moments of joy we experience, whether they be large or small. Be present with these times. Drink them in with your mind and spirit, because the memory of those times are what help us move through the gray clouds that pass through.
Warmly,
Debbie
P.S. Please feel free to add your own small pause or comments below.
P.P.S. You may also like to Subscribe to my free Fine Art Ezine and Fine Art Blog. Thanks!
After being very busy the last two days completing domestic chores and projects, I felt like I had been in continuous motion. We have been blessed with an extra warm October day, so I decided to set my to do list aside and sit quietly on my back doorstep for awhile.
While I sat in stillness, I suddenly realized how the roles had switched. I was still and nature busily flitted on around me. If I had not become an observer, I would not have noticed the abundance of ladybugs. They were soaring through the air on my deck, landing on objects and even me.
I smiled with amusement as they crawled along my arm, tickling me as they ventured along. Chickadees were extremely active and entertaining as they ate from my feeders. A large blue jay landed on our outdoor umbrella, initially unaware of my presence. It was rejuvenating to just " stop" and become aware of the present. To slow down the pace of life and sit quietly in time out.
Interesting Autumn Shadows
It is easy to forget the importance of becoming still when the demands of life drown out the silence. Remember to slow down; your inner self will be thankful!
Warmly,
Debbie
P.S. If you have subscribed to my Small Pauses Blog, I apologize for my long absence. I was involved in a 30 paintings in 30 days challenge and it kept me hopping! I literally did not have any extra time to write this blog along with my other one. However, I continued to observe small pauses on a regular basis. My posts should be more frequent again. Thanks for your patience!
P.P.S. You may also like to Subscribe to my free Fine Art Ezine and Fine Art Blog. Thanks!
There is a sense of knowing, when one becomes engaged in the present. This can happen in numerous ways. Being still and paying attention to the breath or engaging in a meditative activity such as yoga, can induce this sense of now.
For me, it is when I paint in nature. All my senses are engaged as I experience each brush stroke and moment. It is meditation in motion, allowing me to set aside to do lists and live fully in the present.
I was reminded of this truth today while I sat on my doorstep reading Pem Chodron's book " The Wisdom of No Escape". Her words of wisdom were a catalyst for my small pause today.
"This sense of fresh start can be applied not only to formal meditation, but throughout your whole life. This teaching, one-pointedness, means that you can be thoroughly present. If you find yourself feeling distracted, you can simply come back and wake up and give yourself a fresh start."
May you enjoy a small fresh start today, living in a quiet present moment!
Warmly,
Debbie
P.S. Please feel free to leave a comment or add your own Small Pause in the comment section below!
You may also like to Subscribe to my free Fine Art Ezine and Fine Art Blog. Thanks!
Blue Skies Return, 10x8in. Oil on linen/panel. Painted En Plein Air in Grant's Lake, N.S. Available
Today's Small Pause... This morning while on my daily walk, I discovered a new place with hidden treasures. Being an artist I am always scouting out new view points and inspiration. While admiring all the beautiful wild roses below the roadway, I realized a ready made trail below the ditch would make a great place to paint future work. Off I traipsed along the pathway, tilting my head to view different angles and looking beyond the ditch to interesting views. The same views I have seen many times, but this time with a new perspective. Funny how the ordinary can become once again interesting when viewed with fresh eyes from a new angle.
A view from the ditch
A trail in the ditch
Being in the ditch felt fun and secretive. It brought back childhood memories when we used our imaginations to play. We sought out nature and made our own fun in secret spaces that we thought only we were privy to. We giggled and laughed at the delight of seeing others, believing that we were invisible in our etched out nature spaces. Imagination sparks the mind and connects to one's true spirit. Playfulness and curiosity are the entry point to imagination. Today's youth often miss out on imaginative play,when their world becomes consumed by technology. I think both adults and children need to maintain a playful spirit to allow joy's entry. Warmly, Debbie P.S. Please feel free to leave a comment or add your own Small Pause in the comment section below!
It was a joy to finally return to the park to paint on location again. I felt like I had arrived home once more. The sights, smells and memories of being totally immersed in the vitality of the park embraced me. There was a familiarity, like the presence of home, that made me feel joyful and relaxed.
Painting En Plein Air in Powell's Pt. Park, Nova Scotia.
I believe everyone needs a space where they feel "at home". A place where they can just be at one with themselves. A quiet refuge where the noise stops and truths can be heard. This is where we catch our breath. It is where the noise of the world subsides and rejuvenation takes place.
Warmly,
Debbie
P.S. I would love to hear where you find the feeling of "Home". Feel free to share your small pause or thoughts in the comment section below!
Window to the Sea, 7x5in. Oil on linen/panel. Powell's Pt. Park, N.S. Available
Today's Small Pause...
Sometimes it is essential to unplug from the noise of life. Leaving everything man-made behind and seeking out nature provides a welcome change of pace and solitude. Today I crunched through a snowy path to reach such a spot.
Once I arrived I sat quietly on an empty picnic table and allowed nature's pace to envelop me. Trees wavered in a gentle breeze as nature sounds soothed. It was a peaceful, centering moment that brought calm waters to my soul.
Warmly,
Debbie
I would love to hear your thoughts or small pause today! Please feel free to share in the comment section below.
There is something incredibly peaceful about a gentle snowfall. Today I felt a great sense of peace and contemplation as I watched tiny white flakes drift gently to the ground. This type of day reminds me of a whisper. It is cozy and nurtures a slower pace. I very much enjoyed this small pause as I sipped on hot tea in the quiet of my home.
A meeting of doves during a gentle snowfall.
Join me in sharing your "Small Pause" today in the comment section below!
