collage study...

I've been doing much paper and scissors collage lately

simply because I wanted continuity in my creative process 

and 

I am learning so much

from it all

and

once I start pasting down my collage materials...

very soon I find myself engaging in layers of shapes, colors, looking for dark and light shades etc....

and

often times when there's an urge to use a particular image or collage material

I said to myself..."just do it" as it's pure experimentation in every way...

"song of joy"- collaged ephemera

6"x6" chipboard

I critique my own work thereafter and just like this piece, I certainly can see

some changes I would make

but I love this anyway...... :))

the way it is

it reminds me of the learning process I've so enjoyed..

truly refreshing.

Have an artful weekend!!

steph

Connection

"Connection" : collaged ephemera

these days..

my art is evolving...

visual journalling is all about

making art the way you like it...

it is a learning process

all the way..

I'm learning to

enjoy the process and be happy

with

what I create..,

inspired by many others

and learning from them..

steph

The "preciousness" of life..

This is a page in progress

using the idea of embedded journaling

 background collaged with vintage papers and image of 

a stalk of bougainvillia which is found around the resort. 

I've had a wonderful weekend, resting and reflecting on 

the "preciousness" of life.. 

and as Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche puts it

" Life is fragile, like the dew hanging delicately on the grass,

crystal drops that will be carried away on the first morning breeze."

and so

Live Life

Live meaningfully

Live doing what you love..

steph

Perfect Hideaway....

We've been away to this beautiful hideaway in Singapore called

The Sentosa Resort and Spa

And so,

I packed our luggage

which included

the

"Art on the go"  bag ;)

and once in our hotel room,
I had them laid out on the table looking out to the lush foliage below.

And better still, what's a holiday without catching up on 

a good cuppa..

and also

to my delight

I found

GARRET (of Chicago) at the entrance to the
Universal Studios not too far away from the hotel!!! YAY!!!

 We spotted our beautiful feathered friends..

Peacocks, peacocks everywhere...

and I am totally inspired by their colors!! 

with an ideal space for art within  tranquil surroundings..

I couldn't help but stayed up each night, cutting and pasting and painting....

more on the art in my next post...

Happy Easter!!

steph

Respect

"Respect leads to caring- a quality of impeccability in what we do.

Respect and faith nourish each other and give birth to many skilful actions.

As we foster the quality of respect in our lives, we can also begin to see the world in a different light.

The tone of caring that arises from giving respect can transform how we interact with society.

We begin to explore the possibilities of service, of taking an active role in seeing what needs doing

and lending our energy to those endeavours.

Compassion motivates us to act,

and wisdom ensures the means are effective"

Joseph Goldstein

Have a Happy Easter weekend!!

steph

Being reflective.....

"Great spiritual traditions are used as means to ripen us,

to bring us face to face with our lives, and to help us see in a

new way by developing a stillness of mind and a strength of heart"

Jack Kornfield

hope you've had a good week so far.

I've been reflecting

on

what I've read

what I've seen

what I've experienced

this week

and

I'm thankful

for this

brings about

change...

Blessings

steph

Humility...

I've been thinking much about this 

since I've met not one but three individuals in a week

who are 

successful

somewhat powerful

important 

high achievers

influential

visionaries

and

most importantly

they spoke to me as individuals who are

down to earth

and

humble

and so I want to share this

and a quote:

Humility does not mean believing oneself to be inferior,

but to be freed from self importance.

It is a state of natural simplicity

which is in harmony with our

true nature and allows us to taste the freshness of the present moment.

Matthieu Ricard

I feel so blessed!!

steph