Colour and Pain: A Realization

I've been sitting her most days of the last 2 weeks

with a pounding head, an aching wrist and a throbbing knee.

I am feeling a bit like how Flynn looks in this photo, ha ha!

(that being said, isn't this such a cool photo of him, I think I'll have to do a pastel of this one soon!)

 

I've been thinking about how many people out there are SO lucky that they don't get migraines.

I've been thinking how I am lucky because I could be much worse off...

I could have more troubles...bigger troubles...

even though these migraines feel pretty big to deal with a lot of the time!!!

 

I've also just begun to realize the correlation between my art & the pain I deal with...

suddenly it's seeming very clear.

...

I love colour, period.

I've been told many times to calm down my palette!

but I know I could never do that because

my spirit just thrives and flourishes with colour.

colour is just part of my heart and soul...part of what makes me happy.

Colour is simply a part of what makes me me.

 

 

BUT, I am also realizing that my use of super bright colour in my work

is also a way for me, body & soul, to cope with all this pain that I have.

(and also is a way to leap over & look ahead from all of the bad happening in the world).

 

I woke up this AM with a very sore head, a screaming wrist and such a sore knee that I wanted to cry!

but after those first few moments of waking and taking inventory of how my body was feeling

I had the strongest urge & need to get to my desk...

so I could sit and bask and relax within all my colours.

 

A knee that dislocates at the drop of a hat and which throbs every single day...

the really shitty and horrible chronic & acute migraines and headaches...

the repetitive stress disorder and insistent pain of my working wrist...

the shortened muscle in my shoulder that leads to a sensation of being stabbed over & over again...

the wrong curvature of my upper spine that leads to discomfort...

the giddy up in my hip...

the arthritis in my neck...

It all leads me to colour like a horse to water.

 

Colour...bright and pure and joyful...unbridled...uplifting...vibrant...transporting!

I just NEED it.

I rely on it, body & soul, because of the drudgery of all this pain...

and well, I just LOVE that despite the negative,

I have this amazing escape that no one can take away.

Colour saves me, it pulls me out of the negativity!

Even if sometimes the pain keeps me away from it for long periods...

when I get back to it the comfort is not one iota less.

Colour...

it's always there patiently waiting for me,

ready to engulf & lift me...waiting to soothe and embrace

and I love love love that.

 

XO

Beautiful Blogosphere Friendships

I am not able to show new work this week as planned but I did want to pop to post about a special person, Lori Portka over at Happiness Through Art. Blogging has become a lovely part of my life, I now not only call myself an illustrator, an artist, and a creator but also now I proudly add 'blogger' to the list. Over the past few months I've finally been feeling like I am getting abit of a 'blogosphere family' and that means the world because it means lots of lovely, supportive, beautiful people taking precise time to reach out and leave comments and encourage me. Lori is one of my new blogging buddies, we started chatting and encouraging one another a few months back now and I don't think we'll stop doing so anytime soon, which I am so grateful for. I am convinced now more than ever through this lovely new friendship that indeed you can find kindred souls and inspiring friendships in the huge world of blogs...So today I send out a big hug and thanks to my New York pal, ha ha Lori Portka. Also Lori was super sweet by doing this really lovely and long post about me on her own blog a few weeks back, I just love what she composed, thanks again Lori...

I've also been meaning to thank Lori for the little surprise package of goodies which arrived in the mail a couple weeks ago, I honestly had to wait 2 weeks for the sun to make an appearance so I could take a nice sunny shot of the goodies...the cards she picked out for me are lovely and I will proudly and happily hang them in my studio for inspiration, I admit though that her sweet little thank you note was my favourite part of the parcel almost, ha ha...

Lori's blog and work is fun, cheerful, bright, honest and inspiring...so do have a visit.

I plan to do a few interviews sometimes soon on this blog oh mine, mostly of local artists I think but I'll make a few exceptions and have already asked Lori if I could interview her and she agreed, yay! When that's coming however, I don't know yet ha ha...but cheers to beautiful blogging friendships.