Today, it's a...

Hey out there!  To all my fellow Vancouver Islanders, specifically my Cowichan peeps...hoping you are all safe and warm and WITH POWER! Woah, what a wind storm we had!
Crazy town.
My daughter is home from school today because her school is still without power.  Those lucky little rats get a FIVE DAY weekend due to the Rembrance Day holiday next week.

Anyway, due to the wind storm, I did not post my art share yesterday.  My internet was out, my phone was dead and, well, there's just something sacred and awesome about having NO POWER AND NO DISTRACTIONS.
Hanging out with your family in candlelight with nothing but conversation to occupy you is a pretty special thing, so I decided to put it off and take a moment to remember.

That just means that you lucky rats get a DOUBLE SHOT of art, which I would always say is an awesome way to recover from a scary storm.  Whew (phew?)
That's cool, yo.

Here we are with DOUBLE SHOT #1:

QUOTE BY RUMI

I created this piece by hand-lettering the words with a marker in my sketch book.  I then scanned them into Photoshop and made them white.  The background is a cropped photo of a painting I am working on.  The colours didn't come through exact but I like them all the same.  In Photoshop I played with the brightness and contrast as well as the levels to achieve a cohesive light to the background.  Then I pasted the letters onto the background layer and added a few illustrations of feathers that I did in black ink (turned white).

I like it.  I think the painted background adds depth and I love the poet Rumi.  His words written so long ago are still succinctly relevant today.

DOUBLE SHOT #2:

This is a second version of the same.  Instead with this piece, I left the feathers out and used a differently coloured part of the same painting as the background.  Basically though, the creative process was the same.  I like this one too.  It feels more mysterious and a bit more relevant to the words.

What do you think?  #1 OR #2?

I find it interesting that this was the art I planned to share on a day that we got spun into a fury by a highly intense windstorm.  Actually, this week feels like it's been a five day long whirlwind of crazy.  That crunchy Taurus moon has created some interesting tension and pushed stuff to the surface, casting doubt and confusion to the cosmos, leaving it to float around like feathers in the wind.  Whoa.
I'm learning in these moments, these crunchy-hard-confusion moments to brace myself with calm, to root my feet firmly to what I hold sacred and to grip hard to the truth of what I know to be right. And so I stay grounded while I spin, scattering stars like dust.

Sometimes, anyway.

Hey, you know what?  Last night while my family and I hunkered down, my girl and I spent time drawing by candlelight.  I think as a little bonus to the DOUBLE SHOT, I will post that piece as well later on.  We'll see how much I can accomplish today between kid-at-home and work-out-of-home and house chores.  We'll see.

Stay warm.  Stay safe.  Do good.  Spread joy.
Peace.

Waiting in the wings. Art share no.2

Oh, hello Wedesday:)

Here is art share no.2 (I know, that title is so intriguing!!). I call this piece "Waiting in the Wings". It's an acrylic painting done on art board (Masonite) and I love it. 

This piece signifies a first for me. It's a painting that was guided mostly by my intuition instead of a photograph. I did use a few reference photos to draw the basic owl but from there I used previous experience with painting owls to guide me. 

Right now I am pushing myself further into intuitive creativity. I want my work to reflect my voice as clearly as it can and that means I have to rely on stylistic representation as much as possible. I have always been more of a stylized artist than a realistic artist. I love photorealistic art. I think it's amazing! But when I try to make my work look photorealistic I just get frustrated and want to give up. That's not a good thing. When I go with my gut and create in my own style and in the way I feel most guided, I want to soar. It makes me want to jump out of the shadows and fly. 

I called this piece "Waiting in the Wings" because when I look at it that's what I see. And when I look at my progression with art that's what I feel. Like I've been waiting in the wings. Waiting for my wings. Waiting to emerge from the dark into the light. 

Here's to choosing the light, stepping into ourselves and learning to fly. 

It's a PERFECT day to...

SHARE.

It's time.
Time to dive into the heart and the thought and the action behind using one little word to inspire my days and open my heart.
You may remember I wrote about using one word (read it here ) to excavate meaning and push me to goodness in my daily and yearly life.
To me, this idea functions on the belief that we have many, many opportunities to start our lives over in a single day.  To make it better.  To make it good.  To give it a go again with renewed gusto! 
Choosing one word anchors us to our good life.  We all know how simple it is to get stuck in the rut of  negativity and self doubt.  This activity helps keep our eyes on the good.

This past year, in honour of my chosen word light,  I subjected myself to some steep challenges in order to help myself lighten up.  To be light.  Spread light.  Connect to the light in the world and in myself.

I gave up alcohol and coffee (well, to be specific, I gave up caffeine--I still drink decaf coffee and every so often I slip and drink a full pull caffeinated brew).
I thought about giving up dairy--for health and ethical reasons, but that's been hard.
I gave up on ego too.  As best as I could anyway.  I mean, I'm no guru and I don't think I ever will be, but through this process I feel am more connected to my higher self and relying on my intuition and observer self more by using meditation and loving personal (self) talk to help me navigate my life with love and patience.

I have lightened up and it's been a great year.   I feel great.  I feel happy.

Lately I have been pulled to the word share.  You can read a post I wrote about it in the above link.

Usually the one little word phenomenon begins at the beginning of the calendar year.  However, I'm starting mine now, to get my feet wet and feel it out because my personal year is about to start.  I'm a Sagittarius, so in around one month it will be my birthday (yay!) and I thought that getting started on using my new word would be a great way to lead into my new personal year.  After all, this is the time where I should be committing to culminate a plan for my new year's intentions and desires.

So!

In order to make the new word and my desires go hand in hand, I am hereby committing to SHARING a daily piece of art here on this blog as well as on my Facebook page and my instagram profile for the next month.  From today to December 4th, which is one day after my birthday, I will post a piece of artwork that I have created.  The pieces will be a mix of work that I will create this month and stuff I've already made and haven't shared properly.  The pieces will be a mix of all the styles I feel comfortable with: paint, script, ink, illustration, digital design, photography, writing.  Some of the pieces will be for sale and some won't.  Some will go on sale later and some may never be for sale.

The idea behind this challenge is to get out of my own way and keep putting my work (and myself) into the world.   I am forever doing something creative: doodling while on the phone, photographing while on a walk, writing poems in my head, etc.  It is time these things saw the light of day! I need to force myself to quit waiting until something is completely perfect before I share it, because it will never be perfect! But it is all very good and lovely and I must share that with the world.  Plus, it is my goal to be a working artist.  This is how I figure I can get that energy rolling.

I am declaring this challenge publicly in the hopes that someone will take notice and call me out when I slip.  I should be able to manage it as I have created a schedule of what art to share for each day, but I may get busy and forget, so I hope someone will take note if I do and say hey! get back up on that horse lady!

Ok, so, for today, the above graphic is what I have to share.  It is called "A perfect day to love." and it was created with the simple thought that each day we can choose to love or to leave.  We can choose hard (to love) or easy (to leave) but if we choose the path that seems easy, we may have to go back and do it again, so really, any day is the perfect day to choose love.  I think it's a simple and beautiful thought and idea expressed in a simple and beautiful illustration.
It was created by scanning two separate pen drawings I made into my computer and then working them up in Photoshop using the paint bucket, paintbrush and text tool.  This is one of my new favourite ways to create art these days.  I love the simple versatility of illustrations and Photoshop.  They are delicious to me!

Hey, thanks for reading along.  Come back tomorrow for share #2.

The things I know for certain: a poem about living.

I know for certain that trusting in the process instead of trying to control the outcome is frightening.
And I know that ego and fear makes it so.

I know that deep breaths and relaxing into my body keeps me here on earth and not floating into
the dark, black skies of my monkey mind.

I know for certain that creative people sometimes get really quiet.
I know it looks like they're doing nothing.
Like, they are unproductive.
But I know that isn't true.

Inside my brain is a kaleidoscope of furious, colourful thought about how to
be better, make better, love better.
I know that sometimes productivity needs to be the focus
and, sometimes, quiet thought is where productivity is born.
I know that my quietness scares some people.
I know that's ok.
Because I know that sometimes I just need time alone.
Everybody needs some time alone.

I know that walking and swimming and gulping in the elixir that is Vancouver Island air
brings my anger, sadness, judgement, fear, loneliness,
into perspective.
It calms my heart.  It fuels my breath.  It relaxes my monkey.

I know that stuffing and gravy and potatoes aren't certainly healthful, but they are soulfully comforting.
I know that so is chocolate, and I know that it's incredibly hard to give up dairy.

I know I can do hard things, like let my children go and grow into their own souls and
cut the cords from difficult people and
check into my own bullshit and be accountable for it,
without blaming others.
I know I can do that.

I know for certain that alcohol doesn't mix well in my blood,
even though it has brought me a lot of fun times.
I know that coffee is so damn good,
but caffeine, in the end of it all, is better left alone. (or maybe just for once-in-awhile's)

I know that babies are miracle workers sent to earth from the greatest source of Love there ever was.  And I know that trusting in the way things are is the greatest lesson.
I know for certain that I miss the people who were once here and
are now not here in this body incarnate.
But I know that when I need them
I know they are just right there, over my shoulder.
(probably having a glass of wine, or a mug of cold brew)

I know if I walk, eat chocolate, stay in my body and breathe,
if I walk, and think think think, be quiet, talk to my Angels, hug my children and
look deep into their souls,
I know then that my faith is strengthened.

I know for certainly certain and for certainly sure that creativity is my blood and bones
and I cannot live without it.
I know those who try to take it from me will float away.

I know for sure that I am still learning and that getting older is awesome.
I know the Western world may not think an older woman is desirable, but I know I never want to be that kind of desire for anybody.
I want to desire myself.
My truth.
Who I AM, without the mask, without the lie, without any apology for being who I AM.
I know that age brings me the wisdom of my truth, gifts me the grace of my heart and honours me with the glory of my being.
I know that I want all the humans to know for certain that they are loved! and they have nothing to prove, only light to give.
I know that right now at this moment I know myself better than I ever have;
I love myself better than I ever have;
I care for my heart better than I ever have and I know--I know for certain--that this feeling,
this knowing, this love and care--it is so so beautiful.
I know that this knowing will change and sometimes I will be confused.
I know that's ok.

I know sad songs sometimes make me feel so comfortable.
I know that loving people in spite of their flaws is everyone's job.
I know that this is the truth and this is the reason we are here.
I know we are supposed to heal our own hearts so we can heal other's.
I know that love is more powerful than hate.
I know it's hard to keep an open heart.
I know it's hard sometimes, to love, and I know it's easier sometimes to hate.
I know that fear is the reason why.

I know all that I know and I know that I don't know and I know that that is ok.

XO Dalyce/14

Hello baby

This post is going to shock many people, but in a good way.

Recently I became a grandmother to a beautiful wee baby girl named Damaris.
(Yes, I am too young, but that's my business, thank you:)

Now, before I continue, I want clear up a few things because I know many will wonder.

Yes, I cried when I first found out.  Yes, it was hard news to take.  Yes, I was shocked.  And sad.  And scared.  Yes, I was worried sick.
I cried, and I didn't sleep and I was so completely caught up in my own feelings I failed to help support my scared and worried son in those first weeks after I knew.

Not a proud parenting moment.

Then one day, as I arrived at work bewildered, heart full of my own regrets, head full of bullshit stories about my horrible parenting skills, I confessed this truth to a colleague who ever-so-bluntly and graciously told me to basically get over myself.

BEST. ADVICE. EVER.

Not even kidding.  I needed that smack upside the head so bad because it turned everything around for me and I began to see this new development in our life as a blessing to be joyful about.  I mean, after all I was about to become a grand mama.  What a gift!  A baby was coming to bless us with the beauty of life and beginnings and love.  No greater gift on earth.

Opening up into that joy and acceptance was a game changer which helped my son open up to me about his fears and his excitement.  I became able to really hear him and be there as he poured out his heart.  I was able to soothe the fear or guide the uncertainty and remind him that there was so much love surrounding the baby and him and his partner, and they would be just fine.
That felt great.
It felt right.  It felt infinitely better than stressing or worrying about their future and all the roadblocks they were potentially up against.  It was freeing and calming and felt so good in the pit of my soul.
Which is what this whole parenting gig is about.
I have learned a great deal through this lesson, but really I have learned just one simple lesson.
Life is the ever present journey of walking through the peaks and valleys of trial and triumph.  We stumble, we stand up.  We learn, we forget.  We get scared, we succeed.  No one gets to bypass this truth, we are all doing this same dance, and if we can remember to hold each other up in kindness and love, while staying true to our own path we can do a much better job of helping others stay true to theirs.
This is never more evident, I believe, than when we are parenting.
The reality is we all have our own paths to walk.  We all must choose our own way to go and we must stay true to what calls us into greatness.  Children are the teachers whom we are here to guide and nurture, but we may never claim their journey as ours, even though it feels as though we own them because of how attached we get to their well-being when they are young.
We don't.
They are not our possessions, they are gifts on loan from the universe, here to teach us about humility and grace and patience and joy. Overwhelming joy.

They say parenting is a journey in letting go from the moment we begin, and it's true.  Heartbreakingly and heart-openingly true.  I wouldn't trade this ride for any other because most of all what it has taught me is to trust that everything done in love will always be fine.  Great, in fact.  And I cannot wait for the new leg of this journey to get underway...parenting with experience, time and pure love.
Being a grandparent.

Welcome sweet Damaris and congratulations Damon and Kayla.  I am so proud of you two beautiful souls and honoured to be walking these peaks and valleys with you both.

Share

I do this "blogger" thing where I choose one word every year and try my best to let that word guide my process of doing life throughout the year. It's a cool and nifty thing and I'm getting better every year.

This year my word is light. 
The feeling I had when I choose the word light was (for lack of a more interesting way to say it) heavy.

I've  been going through  a lot of transitioning and shedding of false skins in the last three point five years. It all gets to feel heavy at times. 
I wanted to move into the light. 

So. I painted reminders on stones and on feathers and I tucked them into my studio.

Every time I create I see them and they help ground me to the notion of what "light" is. They remind me how I can choose to be light and spread my wings into joy rather than sorrow.  How I can choose to remember my inner light and that I am divine. How I can make light in the world by spreading loving feelings and laughing in difficult moments rather than mourning. 

The action of choosing one word and excavating its meaning has really worked to put me on the right path to wholehearted living. It has guided me to make loving choices in moments of fear and to find ways to help heal and honour my heart in moments of stress. 

It truly has helped me be more conscious of my life and has been subtly pivotal in turning things around. It was the small push I needed to begin living my life according to how I feel about it. And how I want to feel. Which is free. And joyful. Clear and kind hearted. 
I want to feel light (free, unencumbered, whole, buoyant, joyful) and I want to feel lit up (from within, a sacred flame burning strong in my soul) as though I am on fire with curiosity and a passion for goodness. 

Because life is full of goodness if you allow it to be so. And when you get closer to the light you can see it so much better. 

Normally this choosing of words is officially revisited and changed at the beginning of the year, but right now my subconscious is continually being poked and prodded by the word "share" and I feel like I need to pay attention to that, so I've decided to begin trying this new word on now. It will be in conjunction with my current word light, and it won't be full-blown focused-on yet but I'm going to start allowing it to permeate my days and see how it feels. 

Share. 

Share my heart. 

Share my art. 

Be light and open into myself so much I can allow others to see my truth. Allow myself to see it.  By sharing and perhaps by knowing when not to share. 

Because there are always two sides to every story. 

Thanks for letting me share:)

Ritual for my creative work.

Hello Friday Lovers!  

This morning I got to thinking about establishing rituals around my creative work.  For awhile now I have known that it's a headspace I need to open into.  Because I spend so much time entrenched in the world of linear thinking & doing (THINK: school, media, work dogma), I get easily distracted from staying focused creatively.  Creative work is such a free and open avenue & I seem to follow any intuitive spark down rabbit holes of forgetfulness and end up starting too many projects and not staying focused on just a few, or not getting my finished pieces TO MARKET so I can make some cosmic cash for the work I do.
I am so used to having deadlines provided for me that I find it hard to do it for myself, BUT, I also know that if I put my mind to something I have a great deal of inner strength to see it through.  The trick is to put my mind to it though, which is easier said than done.  So today I  jotted down things that spark intuitive inspiration while keeping me focused on the task at hand.  I have found that repeating things over & over gives our Monkey Brain a kick in the can so we can access our available power. (I LOVE kicking the Monkey Brain in the can).
Once we establish a routine that feels soothing & honours our need to be inspired, we are better able to get to it and WORK! Which is awesomesaucery in all its glorious forms.

Here's my sweet little list. Keep in mind, it is a work in progress and subject to my ever-changing cosmic inclinations.

RITUALS FOR MY CREATIVE WORK

-aura-cleansing, REIKI, meditation (for centering)

-mindfulness in my body and in this moment ( to keep centered)

-tea and incense (to set the core of my center deliciously on FIRE)

-feathers, or A feather (to remind me to stay free and loose; to be courageous and take a flying leap OUT OF THE BOX)

-a moment to free think/write/ create (to keep me OUT OF THE BOX & in my center)

-time to read (sparks my creative soul-fire)

-music of various types (this is like air for the soul-fire; helps the flames dance)

-wear cozy, soft clothes and be in a warm, grounded environment (to soothe me into my rhythm)

And sometimes...

-take a walk, stretch, plank, elliptical (to break it all up and crack it back open; keeps the soul-fire a-burning)

These are things I can do one-by-one or altogether to help spark the flame.  They get me in the groove and set me on a path to accomplish a task.  They will never be followed in linear order, but will circle around and evolve and fall away just as life does.

What would your rituals be?