New Painting, "All Around Them, the Universe Began to Unfold"

24" x 28" x 1.5"

Oil and Mixed Media on Canvas

Original is available 

Giclee prints available for online purchase here.

I am so fascinated with the symbolism of the lotus flower. The roots of a lotus are in the mud, the stem grows up through the water, and the heavily scented flower lies pristinely above the water, basking in the sunlight. This pattern of growth signifies the progress of the soul from the primeval mud of materialism, through the waters of experience, and into the bright sunshine of enlightenment.

Though there are other water plants that bloom above the water, it is only the lotus which, owing to the strength of its stem, regularly rises eight to twelve inches above the surface.

According to the Lalitavistara, "the spirit of the best of men is spotless, like the lotus in the muddy water which does not adhere to it."

The secret is in the allowing and the understanding and with that, the letting go.

Perhaps today, right now, is finally the time just to let it all go, and let it all be.

New Painting, "Each Day I Return Anew"

16" x 20"

Oil and Mixed Media on Canvas

Available

To me, yoga has become a way of life over the past few years, and in many ways quite different than the life that I was accustomed to. This painting is a dedication to my daily practice. Yoga has empowered me to embrace life, which helps me be a more enriched wife and mother. Each day I arise before my household, sneak away to practice and I return to my family anew, refreshed, inspired, full of love and post-Savasana bliss that I try to carry throughout the day and impart on my children. 


 The reasons why we embark on the yogic path are different for everyone. Simply put, we could say that yoga guides us from a life of ignorance, selfishness and ultimate dissatisfaction into a ‘higher life’ – into a life that is lived with proper understanding of Universal laws and of the true nature of ourselves and the world around us – with the aim to bring greater meaning into an often otherwise aimless and frustrating existence, and to guide us along a path of evolution during our time here on this earth.

Yoga teaches us to know what the behavior is that will support a fruitful, spiritually advancing life, and helps us to perform the right actions, in the right manner, at the right time.  For these tools and knowledge I am grateful and inspired.

The kids and I were at the Dallas Museum of Art yesterday and I saw this quote on the wall in the Egyptian Artifact room. I snapped this picture while trying to explain to kiddos that the mummy and sarcophagus is not "yucky"...it's amazing. 

Love those wall quotes...it resounded with me on so many levels, and I feel struck a special chord with me as I had just finshed this painting and was searching for the meaning behind it.

Newly Commissioned Work, "The Puzzle of the Universe"

21" x 24"

SOLD

The words of one of my favorite poets, Rumi, have the power of universality.  He lived and wrote in the 13th century of the Persian Empire yet his words speak to me so poignantly. All sacred art is like that. 

I love this translation of Rumi by poet Robert Bly:

Night and Sleep

At the time of night prayer as the sun slides down,
the route the senses walk on closes, and the route to the invisible opens.

The angel of sleep then gathers and drives along the spirits,
just as the mountain keeper gathers his sheep on the slope.

And what amazing sights he offers to the descending sheep.
Cities with sparkling streets, hyacinth gardens, emerald pastures.

The spirit sees astounding beings, turtles turned to men,
men turned to angels, when sleep erases the banal.

I think one could say the spirit goes back to its old home;
it no longer remembers where it lives, it loses its fatigue.

It carries around in life so many griefs and loads
and trembles under their weight. But in sleep they are all gone. All is well.

Yoga and Creativity

My daily practice has transformed me physically and spiritually, but also creatively as well, which has been an unexpected but much welcomed bonus given my profession.

 Who would have guessed that yoga and creativity are inextricably linked?  

I am so grateful to my fantastic teachers at Exhale for helping me see this.  The two paintings below are just a few that would not have come to fruition if not for their loving guidance.

And You Will Rise Up Like the Sea
will be on display at my upcoming 4/16 show at Elle Realty in Lakewood.

So how are yoga and creativity connected? After all, one is a physical and mental discipline, and the latter a manifestation of innovative thoughts and ideas. But what seems like the ultimate mismatch, is in fact deeply entangled. 

Both have lead me to a newfound way of thinking and seeing the world.

The Secret is the Love,
currently on display at the Lovers Lane Antique Market

Yoga has deepened my mental awareness. The meditative aspect of yoga helps eliminate unnecessary thoughts cluttering the mind, freeing up valuable imagination real estate. When my mind is clear, ideas flow easily and freely. The best inspiration comes from a calm mind that is free of constant distraction. My practice has helped me "grow up" mentally and gain the confidence to express my ideas.

The breathing techniques I practice in yoga also help me keep unnecessary distraction and negativity at bay. A mind free of dark thoughts breeds clever ideas without playing devil’s advocate and dismissing what may be constructive or worthwhile ideas.

Yoga also makes me mindful and subject to a higher plane of  thinking (thinking about thinking) when in the process of creating. The importance of this is that I am constantly made aware of the background, possibilities and limitations of my work.  Everywhere I look I see the art in it...it's almost as if a veil has been lifted and the universe is revealing its beautiful secrets to me.  It's like I am tapping into an unused part of my brain for the first time.

Yoga has helped me surrender my ego and give into the creative process. One thing that severely hinders the creative process is the need to control it. Drop the ego and immediately one is less defensive, more open minded and more creative.  This is something I work on every day.

This enhanced focus my practice gives me is one of the reasons I have chosen to practice yoga early in the morning. I feel more centered and productive during the day. Yoga calms me and aids me in concentrating on what matters and shifts the focus to my art.

It's important to realize that creativity needn’t necessarily be painting, sculpting or writing a novel, one can be an artist in the smallest of his or her endeavors from doing chores to planning out an afternoon. People are creative when the things they do are executed with passion, imagination, a sense of humor or a new approach.  Namaste!

New Paintings, "Connected and Detached"

22" x 36"

(2 canvases, 18" x 22" each)

Oil and Mixed Media on Canvas

"In the space of letting go, she let it all be.  A small smile came over her face.  A light breeze blew through her. And the sun and moon shined forevermore."

-Safire Rose

I worked on these canvases at the same time and simply cannot decide if they are supposed to remain connected or not...they work both separate and together.  All this thinking about connection led me to the title, and got me thinking about the meaning behind the connections between all of us.

I think the easy part about manifesting/creating those things that we want in our lives is the desire and the imagining.  These are the fun parts. For me, the hard part is detachment.

Often, we get attached to how we expect certain things to come to us, when or where. Or we are attached to how certain things/people "should " or "ought to" be.  And of course, these expectations hinder us. We get in our own way.

The secret is in the allowing and the understanding and with that, the letting go.

Perhaps today, right now, is finally the time just to let it all go, and let it all be.

This painting is currently on display at Momo's on Knox in Dallas and available for purchase. Fine art giclee prints available on Etsy.

New Painting, "Awake, My Soul"

8" x 10"

Acrylic and Mixed Media on Canvas

This piece is currently available for sale.

 "All nature loves an honest person. Then you need not run after things, for they will run after you. And if you are always truthful, if no lie comes from your mouth, a time will come when all you say will come true...the more we lead a life of honesty the more we will see the results, and that will encourage us to be more honest."

Satchindananda

I have been fascinated by my study of the yogic teachings and exploring the concept of Satya, or truthfulness. This painting was inspired by the idea of finding something so relatable that it awakens your soul and connects your understanding and identity to your expression.

Keeping this in mind, we strive to incorporate truth in all that we do, whether it is in thought, word or action, so that in the end we become firmly established in truth. This is no easy feat, but with practice and clear intentions, we live an honest, truthful way of living. When you are established in truth things will come to you automatically.

To take this a step further, when we practice yoga we go within in order to unite with divinity or inner light. Ultimately we discover that this divinity is Truth and by uniting with this inner light we understand that "I am That" or "I am Truth." 

To be firmly established in truth is to be firmly established in your own true nature. Every time we are dishonest, whether it is with other people or ourselves, we then get further and further away from our true Self. By practicing truthfulness and honesty in our thoughts words and actions, we then come closer to the ultimate Truth.

Follow truth and truth will follow you.

The Flow

“Artists and athletes speak of something called “flow.” When they are deeply involved in what they are doing, time ceases to exist. So does their sense of themselves as separate from what they are doing…

Awareness blooms, as the individual self escapes its confines to become part of something bigger than the self.” 

– Barbara Brown Taylor – An Alter in the World

I love that. I have been searching for the connection between the dedication I feel to myself as an artist and the dedication that comes with being a runner and yogi, and that quote captures it. It is all in the quest for The Flow.  I can't explain what happens when my brian reaches that state, and it has happened in the art studio, in the yoga studio, and outside with feet pounding the pavement, but it is as close to enlightenment as I've ever come.

"Trial"

Original on display at the Blues Jean Bar in Dallas

Prints available on Etsy.