The end of 2006 and early 2007 bought about an enormous amount of change in my personal
life. I sat down and asked myself: What is really significant to me in my relationships with people? What
qualities of human expression do I really value? I wrote a list and at the top was Joy, which became the
first painting in this new work-in-progress ‘The Significance of…’ collection. These paintings break away
from my usual abstract style as I am now exploring landscapes.
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Following on from my exploration of ‘what is it I
want in relationship’ in the painting of Commitment, I found the
next quality I deeply yearned for was ‘Adoring Love’. I wondered
what it would be like to feel adored. I found myself pondering this
whilst listening to the teachings of Abraham by Jerry and Ester
Hicks. (www.abraham-hicks.com)
The idea of being adored by Source or God was
mentioned frequently and I felt a strong desire from within me rise
to meet this teaching. Yes I would like to know what it is to feel
Source or God adoring me. Is that possible, what would that look
like? Is that what it is when I feel Love and Joy flowing through me
or is it something different? Can I feel it all the time, 24/7? What
do I have or have not to do/be/think/feel to experience this adoring
love from Source? And can it then manifest before me in a
relationship? Hmm, so many questions. I know, why don’t I just paint
it and see what comes!
What originally started as a painting featuring a pair of lovers
kissing in the clouds quickly dissolved into the oneness of the
lotus rising from the water, receiving and giving the life force or
Source energy that it is. The lotus is surrounded by Source energy,
it flows into it from a central column and flows out of it from its
petals. If there is a male and female aspect to this painting, the
flower is the female and the large leaf which sits beneath the
flower is the male – holding, supporting, and balancing the flower –
the feminine, as she opens and gives.
There are three titanium crystals that have been affixed to the
painting. They bring an earthy element and a unique vibration. Their
colour reflects and matches all the rainbow tones that are in this
artwork.
This painting is the last in the Significance Collection and has
become the founding piece and inspiration for my next collection
called ‘Source which adores you’. This new collection is all about
our connection to Source and the feeling of being totally adored –
Always! This collection will be released in 2009.
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I wanted to paint the quality of Humility because
I am always so moved when I experience the presence of it in
another. Following on with my theme of exploring this series through
landscape I started this painting with an impression of Pandanas
trees overlooking a beach. And as what often happens with my
paintings, the initial idea is surrendered and is often lost to what
comes next in the process of creating. So even though I had
painstakingly created a landscape, as I stepped back to peruse my
artwork, I instantly knew it had to go. I had to let go and
surrender to the energy of Humility and let it take me wherever it
wanted so that I might understand it more fully.
Interestingly for me, the initial creative and self inquiry process
was quite vigorous with lots of organic material from the garden
being applied to the base of the canvas along with strong slashes of
colour in red, green, yellow and aqua. The expression of energy was
strong, palpable– even angry. Things were being shaken up and
loosened to allow something else to emerge. Shapes were formed with
circles that created windows evoking a sense of reflection; a
sweeping white rainbow connecting all three panels offering a sense
of lightness or hope; and finally an intertwined symbol much like a
DNA or figure 8 that gives the impression of eternity and lineage.
As I finished the painting the energy settled and the next day I
heard The Prime Minister of Australia, in parliament, saying sorry
to the Indigenous people of Australia on behalf of all Australians.
As he spoke it felt like my painting all over again – the wrong
doings of former Australian generations and the anger this had
evoked for many, a reflection on what had been and a learning that
can be taken from this, a sense of hope for the future, and an
intention for healing for past, present and future generations. It
felt like a wonderful moment of Humility for all that wished to tune
in and partake.
I wonder if it is through the act of apology that we gain the
opportunity to experience the essence of Humility within ourselves.
In my research of the word Humility I found the dictionary said it
is ‘having a low estimate of one’s own importance. Lower rank or
self importance.’ Somehow that just didn’t feel right for me. I
mean, I have always found that any one who is willing to apologise,
in that moment, is truly raised in their Divine Presence and is
expressing their essence of Love and Compassion for themselves and
another. I feel it is such a gift to all, especially ourselves, when
we are willing to apologise.
Finally the painting had a series of 7 crystals added to the canvas
including: Red Jasper, Sodalite, Carnelian, Labradite, Citrine,
Garnet, and Ocean Jasper for vibrational enhancement.
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With the completion of my intimate relationship
earlier this year came a time of reflection. What do I really want
in relationship? What do I need to become to have this met outside
of myself? Commitment was my answer.
I had always admired two tall and beautiful Norfolk Pine trees that
stood like sentinels at the entrance to the beach where I often
walked and played with my lover. I thought these two trees were a
wonderful symbol of relationship. Two beings standing strong and
true next to other, touching… connected, and yet not entwined nor
lost in the other.
I moved away from my lover to a new house and found I was blessed
with one beautiful Norfolk Pine outside my bedroom window, somewhat
younger than the two sentinels at the beach, but still growing
strong with fresh green pine leaves that seemed to offer hope in
their youth.
So it was that the Norfolk Pine became the symbol for my next
painting – Commitment.
The first layers of this painting went down like a treat in my
favourite colours of blues and greens. The design of the pine tree
branches flowed with ease as did the subsequent layers of colour. I
thought it may have been finished at this point, except for this
nagging feeling that there was something more I hadn’t touched on
within myself yet. What occurred next was an agonising journey of
trying to find something deep within myself and express this on the
canvas. The green became darker and darker. Still not right. Finally
I heard BLACK, and it was with the application of black into the
bottom section of the canvas that I experienced the emotional
internal relief I was seeking. Ahh, there it was. Lighter colours
followed as did a strong desire for love and abandonment to the
feeling. A sense of complete joy came over me as I felt the merging
within with my divine Source and saw a vision of how this is shared
with another. The two Norfolk Pine trees - anchored to the earth,
standing tall to the breeze, space or transparency between them,
connected to each other and yet not entwined. Symbolising
relationship as two individuals committed to oneself, whilst being
transparent, co-creative and lovingly supportive to the other.
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Recently I was inspired to create 'The
Significance of Compassion' painting. Following along on exploring
this collection's theme of landscapes and qualities of human nature,
this painting was birthed.
Originally I thought the colour would be soft and gentle... however in its
intuitive creating it became very strong in pinks and orange. The underlying
landscape is a lily pond, mud flat and field of reeds lifting to a narrow
skyline. And across the whole painting are lines and lines of golden
'language of light' (uplifting vibrational language) bringing all sections
of the painting together. Each section is individual and yet interrelated
and in absolute allowance of the others. Compassion - a beautiful quality to
embody and radiate in life.
And then I received a lovely
email from a lady resident in Sydney who saw this painting during a
recent visit to Byron Bay. She shares:
"When I saw your painting in the Medicine Wheel,
where I was not looking for anything in particularly, I was instantly
drawn to its pink and orange. I felt comfort and warmth and gentleness
and much more which I cannot quite put into words.
The reason I happened to be there that day was that
I participated in the Hoffman process (family of origin work) the week
before and we had been asked to rest and re-integrate back into the real
world somewhere quiet in the Byron Hinterland. I went to the Hoffman
process partly as I had not been able to feel compassion and hence
forgiveness for my father.
I felt deeply troubled in my heart because I knew
he did his best and yet I was stuck with anger and resentment towards
him. And then I was feeling guilty that I could not be compassionate for
his hard life and could not love unconditionally (without making his
behaviour right). So I felt that compassion in the workshop which was
rather intense and undescribable.
And then when I saw your painting it just summed
everything up and soothed my inner heart and soul somehow. And then I
had to look at its label and read 'Compassion' and almost did not
believe it... "
[By request, name withheld]
I sometimes wonder if the viewer feels what I feel when I
am creating these paintings. So it was wonderful to receive this lovely
lady's sharing of her experience with the painting 'Compassion.' I feel deep
appreciation and am encouraged to continue to do what I do.
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I am blessed to live in a beautiful part of the
world and experience the majesty of Mother Nature on a daily basis.
She is a great teacher when given the time to sit and observe her.
So I feel some of her qualities of kindness have been captured in
this landscape by...
...the way the sun gently kisses the face of Mt
Warning, which it does here every morning in Byron Bay, like a lover
to her beloved...
...the way the morning mist arises from the land
to meet the trees, like a caress or touch from someone that would
call you to stop and take a breath in your busy lives...
...the way the water lilies lean towards each
other to share the ‘in between’ moments, where magic often happens
in our relating.
Yes, kindness: be it in a kiss, a touch, or a
sharing; an action or a receiving, it is a moment not to be missed.
And wow! Doesn't it leave its mark on you - on your heart? Kindness
lifts you to hope and gratitude.
Thank goodness for kindness.
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What brings you Joy? Where can you feel the Joy in this moment? How does Joy wish to express
itself through you to others?
Joy is our essence. I believe I was born with the clear gift of Joy and it is important to me that this is
nurtured and expressed freely. I believe it is one of the most valuable qualities/ emotions we have as human
beings. When we are in Joy our hearts are open and our minds are relaxed. Try being stressed whilst having a
good belly laugh: it’s impossible.
This painting depicts a seascape. But when you get in close to the canvas you can see raindrops falling from
the sky, and some of them have gleeful faces exclaiming ‘Weee…..’. For me this captures the childlike
innocence and natural state of joy that we all contain and can tap into in any moment. It also depicts the
joy in the birth of a new day. What a blessing!
