Have You Set Your Intentions?

DREAM TIME

OUR INTENTION CREATES OUR REALITY -WAYNE DYER

Time. It’s a commodity I am forever chasing.  Days melt into weeks. Rapidly weeks turn into months that segue into years.  How did I allow myself to become “so busy”? Are you the same?

Most of my daily activities are enjoyable. But sometimes I stop and wonder. Am I busy just to be busy?  Is my life just spiraling around me…or am I fully involved in the process of living? Am I still following my dreams, or is it just a happy accident when I do achieve them?

I needed time to think. And thinking is generated not only from my mind, but from my heart and hands.

I love designing with all of the Artistcellar stencils in my collection, but recently I find my Muse steering me to create using the Sacred Heart series. The traditional Sacred Heart design speaks to me. The Creative Words Pocket Stencils add the perfect accent. The words in the series are exceptional.  I took the stencils to my work table and started my collage. I wanted something I could use as a bookmark in my daily journal. I needed something to remind me to be an active part of this life that swirls around me.

My substrate is heavy drawing paper. I don’t use my watercolours as often as I should, so I decided now is the time. I splashed a wash of colours I found pleasing. When dried, I added stencil shapes and a ribbon of metallic acrylics. If you look closely you will also see a coffee wash…as I prefer to call my sometimes messy drinking. With the nib from the bottle of my liquid acrylics in hand I added the calligraphy…my intention…the start of truly living my dreams.

I may not always be able to achieve the mindfulness I strive for, but through my work I can move ahead to the place that brings me peace. And it is from a peaceful heart that I can travel in the direction of my intentions, to trust my way forward, to make my dreams a reality.

In the whirl of the day’s events, do you ever stop and ask yourself…am I making time for my dreams? Is now the time that you do?

MATERIALS USED:

Trust & Sacred Heart Artistcellar Stencils

Hand cut stencils

Art Paper

Drawing  paper

Metallic Acrylic Paint

Liquid Metallic Acrylic Paint

Winsor & Newton Watercolour Paint

Coffee Wash aka Being Messy

Finding the Sacred in Your Heart...

The Sacred Heart

When friends and colleagues learn I am part of the Artistcellar Design Team, I am often asked what I like the most about the stencils. There’s the obvious answer concerning the quality and durability of the material used for the products. Clean up is a breeze…and that’s so important to me. I know I will be able to use the stencils for a long time to come…with a variety of paints, sprays and mediums. 

I believe your tools, as much as your Muse, can greatly influence your art journey. So if I had to pick one feature that puts these stencils in a league of their own, it would be the wide variety of themes.  

From childhood to the present, an interest in religion and spirituality has shadowed my life and work. Miracles, visions, esoteric thought, meditation, the afterlife…and their believers, of all denominations…continue to intrigue me. 

That’s why seeing the spiritual leaning of many of the Artistscellar stencils is inspiring and the reason I am pulled to the Sacred Heart Series. A Catholic icon, the Sacred Heart appeared as vision to several mystics throughout history. 

Looking through the series I decided to use the traditional version of the Heart surrounded by the crown of thorns. In my collection of ephemera I have a postcard of a nun in a garden. She brought to mind the story learned in catechism class about Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, V.H.M.  A Roman Catholic nun and mystic, Saint Margaret Mary shaped modern devotion to the Sacred Heart. Her view extolled the wonders of love and compassion for mankind.

I decided to pay homage to Holy Cards so often venerating the life of Saints. Starting with a 12^th Century icon image I layered both traditional materials and digital files keeping to a colour scheme rich in metallics.

Love, spirit, compassion for others…these are principles we all can share, however you choose to worship, or not to worship.