Personal Practice, Personal Style

A big project I've been working on is now over and it's time for a mini breather until the next one. I was thinking about this one pattern I was working on and how style is such a personal practice and a personal choice. I'm loving florals and black and white coloring books so I decided to combine it with a pop of watercolor (which is my fave). I love the heaviness of black, the openness of white and delicate line art has been my favorite since I first picked up a liner pen in the late 80's. So this piece is about hard meeting soft. Heavy meeting light. Black and white is so striking, it makes your eyes dance. It's a personal style I love to see in fashion and in art. People often ask me where I find inspiration for my subject matter and color. I have studied styles from the past but at some point in your life you have to close the books and turn off the internet to come up with your own thing. I have no clue if something is going to work or not. I follow trends very loosely and mostly go on my intuition. If it jumps out at me or speaks to me, I know it's a yes. If I vacillate, I usually lean towards a no. I just keep practicing, trying new things, sticking to favorites old things, evolving my style, moving forward and expanding into something I am always surprised by. This is usually where personal style comes from - just quietly listening to your inner voice and going with it. What have you been practicing and noticing in your personal style?

Happy Wednesday ❤

Sophisticated Kittens

I've got another animal totem for you this week and it's cats! I'm more of a dog person but I can't resist a kitten (or anything baby for that matter!). Kittens are super soft and super playful - they make my heart melt. I've been asked a lot lately if I would make a cat repeat pattern for fabric, so I thought of this sophisticated kitty design that I would actually wear or like to see in a home. Cats are a symbol of communication, mystery, power, magic and trust. Many believe that cats can see and communicate with the spirit world. When a cat crosses your path, it is most likely trying to tell you something and your listening and trusting skills need to be sharp. They are also a symbol of independence, fearlessness and an agile body and mind.

Happy Wednesday! 💞

Animal Totem Love

I've been drawing animals in my work for many, many years now. I've studied animal totem symbolism behind the scenes for about 20 years or more now too. About 4 years ago I started infusing that knowledge into the written information I put into each print that is purchased. I absolutely love when people write to me or walk into my booth at fairs and tell me their spirit animal - it's so cute and special, I love that. I have so many animals that speak to me and I often look up meanings when a particular animal catches my eye on my daily path. What animal did you notice today? Check out it's meaning. Today, it's the swan! Swans are a symbol of grace, beauty and the power of the self. Swans are the most powerful of totems because they symbolize trusting your intuition and seeing into the future. They are also a symbol of belief in your abilities, new ways of thinking and going with the flow of life. They are a token of true love.

Happy Wednesday 💞

Be, Do, Have

Sometimes I just want be given the map to my life, have the answer to all my life's questions or told my future so I can just know for sure. Sometimes I really do feel like I have all those things at my life and other times, not so much... I was pretty disappointed by some news I heard yesterday that a magic wand would have come in handy. But then I remember that the contrasting moments in life are all part of the ride and definitely make for an interesting one. In those moments when you feel like you can't have what you want, remember to just step away from what's going on and find some way to relax about it. You just have to. Because railing against it or pushing to make it happen, never makes it better anyway. It's in the release of the resistance that a new idea or new way pops up. In the peace comes your ability to be, do or have anything you want. Believe it and then you'll see it. Happy Wednesday ❤

Mushroom Fruition

I'm in the final stretch of finishing up a long project for the upcoming Surtex show in New York. I am so relieved to be in this stage of it and it got me thinking about all the preparation that goes into forming an idea in your mind and bringing it to fruition. So much imagining, thinking, writing, then sketching, then painting and combining it all into finished pieces. I hope that whatever you are working on is becoming real for you. If you are in the way beginning stages, don't fret in anyway because it all works out one way or another - and you might even have a few good surprises that come in along the way. And the bumps, yeah those just make the ride that much more interesting. This is one of my repeat patterns from a Ladies  Drawing Night. This was just a fun doodle that I ended up recreating into a pattern. Enjoy!

Happy Wednesday ❤