Hello friends!
I hope you are feeling filled up with love after Valentine's Day. If you are seeking a little more oomph and inspiration, I hope this post will lift you up! I'm so happy to share the artwork from two new collections that I've just released. Both are quite different and yet, they both grew out of one underlying inspiration.
“Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.” - Cecil Beaton
We are living in a time where the world needs you more than ever. We need you to stand up and be your most authentic and true self. We really need you to share your unique gifts with the world. And that is the underlying current in these new collections.
The first collection is designed to inspire movement - in your own unique, wacky, imaginative way. So I've created pieces featuring several modes of transportation each with a bit of a steampunk twist. As is my style, I've combined them with quotes, words, and inspirational phrases around this idea of taking inspired action from the heart.
“Every life form seems to strive to its maximum except human beings. How tall will a tree grow? As tall as it possibly can. Human beings, on the other hand, have been given the dignity of choice. You can choose to be all or you can choose to be less. Why not stretch up to the full measure of the challenge and see what all you can do?”- Jim Rohn
Or as John Muir said, "The power of imagination makes us infinite." Let's use our ingenuity and action to maximize our potential.
In talking with my friends and community members, I hear people saying that they feel overwhelmed. They aren't sure where to begin. Their voices feel tiny. They feel like their actions, their vote, their ideas - don't really matter. And that's where the inspiration for my second collection came from. It's called "Small but Mighty" and it features small creatures with mighty talents.
Did you know that the cicada is one of the loudest creatures on the planet? It's also typically about an inch long. I chose this creature to remind us that no matter your size, your voice matters. Speak up. Sing loud and proud. Share your ideas with the world. You are worthy.
“I take a deep breath and sidestep my fear and begin speaking from the place where beauty and bravery meet--within the chambers of a quivering heart.” ―
And how about the snail? If the conditions get too hot and dry for a snail, it can simply go into estivation (like hibernation) until things get better - for up to THREE YEARS. Now if that is not a model of resilience and determination, I don't know what is.
“The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must and survived.”
― Robert Jordan
The monarch butterfly is a truly extraordinary example of trusting one's intuition. These amazing creatures all make a 2,000+ mile migration to the same place their parents did in their lifetimes - though NONE of them have ever made the journey before. Talk about learning to lean into your instincts.
If you are interested in seeing the entire collections as well as two new Columbia Gorge designs, head on over to my gallery for the full experience. And of course, all of these images are available in my Etsy shop as greeting cards and 8x10 prints.
I hope these images inspire you to action as well. Follow your heart. And open it for the world to see. We need you more than ever!
Feel like you need some more inspiration in your life? Want a little help tapping into your intuition through creative play? I'd be delighted if you'd come play with me! Check out my upcoming classes, camps and retreats to enjoy these and many more benefits of creative play!