Spirit Girl + My Work and Process + Four Amazing Women

Spirit Girl, 2014, digital illustration

Welcome. I'm sharing a bit about my work and process, then featuring several amazing women I admire. This is a blog hop of sorts (some will continue on with a post of their own). Keep on reading. 

What am I working on/ writing?

Spirit Girl – A recent illustration. She will grow into more – I'm not sure what just yet.
A painting – Truth Journey.
Building out my surface pattern design collection.
Developing more artful products & accessories, and getting them into more boutiques.
Discovering beautiful truths in myself and in others.
Documenting my journey.

How does my work/ writing differ from others of its genre?

Words are a big part of how I identify in the world. But not entirely in the traditional writer sense. I'm more of a visual artist in love with the strength and beauty of words. I'm a creative soul that layers words into my experience but rarely writes anything to completion. I use words to convey my deepest truths and journey. I use them in blog stories, in paintings, in typography experiments where the letters don't spell anything literal but instead hold space and energy. I once wrote poetry. Lots of it. Now my writing is less structured, abstract fragments that find their way into the artful pieces of my life. Words and visuals go hand in hand for me. It is hard to connect to something without having access to both. This is where mixed media art comes in - it brings both to life.

So what else. My work has an intensity to it, but a gentle intensity. It's not dark. But it's not really light either. There is a femininity to my work that's almost nostalgic. It's driven by beauty but also by the complexity of our experience. It's about real things,  emotions, struggles and growth that isn't easy. It's a mirror of the journey I'm on and what I witness in others around me. Sometimes it's easy to look at and take in, sometimes it's not. Yet it's always beautiful. Beautiful to look at in some way and beautiful to feel the impact it has on you. That's essential to me.

And one more thing. I play a lot with space – white space, negative space, the contrast between clusters of colour/ texture/ movement and the surrounding space. This comes from my designer persona and carries over into all my work.

Story, 2014, mixed media painting (inspired by this dear friend)

Why do I write/ create what I do?

I paint faces and I create intricate beautiful visual patterns. And I blog about it. This is what I am compelled to do. I've studied art, I've played in all the mediums, I've explored other subject matter, I've had other careers, and this is where home is for me. Capturing those small moments on a face, those moments that equal a life lived. Capturing the beauty of organic lines woven together to create pleasing patterns and spaces. That's where the beauty is for me.

I write about my experiences to feel part of something bigger than myself. I share who I am and I'm drawn to others doing the same. This is one of the biggest human motivations - to be connected. And I document my life and my growth and give myself a place to come to when I'm ready for the next step or feeling lost or simply reflecting and looking back on the time passed. My blog and my artwork has become my reference point and introspection tool. Plus it's a great way to capture inspirations to inform future work.  

two of my recent surface pattern designs

 

 

 

How does my writing/ creative process work?

I have creative blitzes. My instincts are there when I write or paint. I'm usually brewing over something that's close to my heart – an experience, an emotion, a big shift or a challenging period in my life. I'm pouring my heart out. And that's the heart of my process. I have creative outpourings followed by periods of silence. I honour that. I trust it.

Each creation begins as it needs to. Sometimes I have a plan, sometimes inspiration leads the way. And all of my work is layered with metaphor and depth of emotion. I am most in flow when I work at night and when I make time for frequent inspiration gathering excursions (like this, and this). And when I take time to be in nature.

Here are some peeks at my painting process and some great in-flow creative blitzes (and another one). Yup, it's like a tornado hitting. ;)

 
Now, meet these amazing, talented, inspiring women who I truly admire. Each of these women have heart and soul and are elevated in the quality of their work. So much to learn from each of them. 

Laly Mille is a French artist who lives near Tours, in the Loire Valley of France. Her soulful paintings and poetic assemblage pieces invite you to listen to your dreams. Laly is also currently working at a nursing home where she facilitates creativity and art workshops for the elderly. You can find her on Facebook or visit her blog at www.lalymille.com. Her beautiful artwork is featured in the July/August 2014 edition of Somerset Studio, the popular artist’s magazine.

Laly has become a cherished friend and creative ally over the past couple of years (though we've never met face to face – she's in France, I'm in Canada). Her soulful art and her positive caring spirit move me deeply. She invited me to do this blog hop.

Stephanie Ryan – Artist and Designer
Stephanie Ryan is an artist and designer with 20+ years of experience in the product development field. With her vivid watercolors, soul soothing garden scenes & prolific style, she’s routinely lent her talents to leading companies like Lenox, Waterford Wedgwood  and HomeGoods. Stephanie’s art centers around heartfelt encouragement, with vivid, sweet colors, bold, blossoming flowers, and inspirational messaging woven throughout. Her goal? To remind every journeying soul of their infinite potential; of life’s wonder when times are good, and of life’s grace when times are harder. www.stephanieryandesign.com

I've been admiring Stephanie Ryan and her work for a long time! Her wholehearted small sweet steps have lifted me up and helped me find clarity on many occasions, and her floral work leaves me feeling peaceful and inspired. (New addition - see her blog post from this blog hop here. Beautiful and inspiring post).
 


 

Stephanie Sauve – Writer and Story Strategist
Through VOICE and STORY, Stephanie strengthens everything from brands to websites, strategic retreats to internal visioning. To find the right words for her clients, she has helicoptered over the remote reaches of New Zealand, interviewed street kids in Africa, and walked the walls of a medieval silver mine in Mexico. In the end, it’s always her at her desk blending strategy, intuition, and imagination. www.stephaniesauve.com

Stephanie is a very dear friend and creative ally. We work and play together! Two of the art pieces featured in this post were inspired by her.

Thara Vayali – Naturopath & Yogini passionate about the art and science of medicine
Thara Vayali is a Naturopathic Doctor & Yoga Teacher in Vancouver, Canada. Thara is obsessed with intestinal and immune health, hormones, and pain-free movement. She is smitten with the body and its mysterious connection to our minds. She values the power of a healing hand and quiet breath. She is an avid reader and writer, loves Vancouver’s ocean air & making delicious, healthy food. And she is the creator of Change: Natural Medicine; Budget-Conscious, Membership-Based Health Advising. www.tharavayali.ca 

Thara is my chosen Naturopath and she is also a client of mine. I love her approach to health and her thought-provoking and inspirational (w)Ritings.

xo Ginger

How to stay inspired: 10 Tips for Creative souls

People keep asking what inspires me & how I stay inspired. I thought this was a topic for the experts but I’m realizing something – I’m an expert in my own process. And I’d love to share it. Here are 8 tips to STAY INSPIRED.

1. Regular inspiration gathering outings

This is probably my biggest creative practice. Inspiration is everywhere and there are so many opportunities to tune into it. Some of my favourite expeditions are: wandering around the city feeling like part of something and noticing the details around me (architecture, fashion, graffiti art, human connection…). Going boutique browsing. Watching a great film. Taking a nature walk, feeling the energy and freshness and noticing little details. Having a great talk with a creative ally. Watching a TED talk. Oh and of course Pinterest browsing – almost too much inspiration there. Anything that takes you out of your daily perspective and environment will refresh you and jolt your mind. Things pop out and ideas begin spilling forth. I need to do this frequently or my lens on the world dulls a bit. My friend calls it living like an artist.

2. Follow your own rhythms

Give yourself permission to follow your own rhythms. Work when your mind is clearest and your creativity peaks. For some this is really early in the morning. For me this is late afternoon to midnight-ish, and sometimes well into the wee hours of the morning. It’s not always practical when you’re a mom, but I try to create windows of opportunity. And rhythms aren’t only on a daily basis – there are all kinds of rhythms over weeks, months and years that creative people can harness. PMS is an incredibly intuitive and creative time. Some artists turn out work over a few months and recover for a few more. Embrace the rhythm that feels right to you (as much as you can – within the context of life, family, motherhood, work etc it’s not always possible).

3. Use your experiences and emotions in your work

Instead of looking for things to use in your art, turn it around and look at art as a way of expressing your way in the world. Tap into your own experiences in life. This gives you endless material, is a way of processing things and is a very effective healing tool. Think of it as an outlet for growth. Here’s a great quote Mindy Lacefield shared at the Sugar and Spice art retreat last year: “Art is not about thinking something up. It is the opposite – getting something down. –Julian Cameron, The Artist’s Way. So there you go, get it down.

4. Write

A habit I got from the lovely Danielle Daniel is to do a short writing exercise before you paint. Have a few prompts and free write. I find it warms me up and removes any blocks that might have been in the way. And of course I love to rip up my journal pages after and use them in my art!

5. Schedule time for solo creative retreats

Schedule off a few days for a solo retreat a few times a year. Clear your schedule and prepare beforehand to set the tone for the kind of experience you want to create. Set some goals and targets, gather reading materials & writing prompts, stock the kitchen and do batches of cooking so there are healthy foods on hand, have your yoga mat and running shoes ready, put together some music playlists and put a fresh set of sheets on the bed. And then simply follow every instinct on what you want to do next. There is no structure or schedule. Fully immerse yourself in your solitude. I’m lucky that my family heads out of town when I do my retreats so I usually get to stay in my own studio. Booking a B&B, cabin or a room at an Inn would be great too. Many people have asked how I manage to find the time for my solo retreats – my answer is, I make them a BIG priority which usually means giving something else up. I treat them as seriously as I would if I were catching a plane and investing in an expensive event somewhere else.

*Travelling to retreats and learning from teachers and other creative souls is wonderful too!

6. Trust your instincts & work your own way

This is a biggie. Mainstream society seems to often value logic over intuition, practicality over creativity, self-control over emotion, productivity over quality/ joy of use, etc. Women tend to have a more feminine approach and work differently. We tend to be more intuitive and emotional and it doesn’t always fit with the mainstream ways. For some people working slowly and intentionally is part of an important creative process that yields the best results. For me, following my instincts is at the heart of how I work, and it took me years to figure this out and stand tall and be proud of it. Acknowledge and embrace these parts of who you are, and trust that they will serve you well.

7. Incorporate tiny creative releases into your days

For me it’ll be sketching or zentangle for awhile, then it will shift to cooking and creating new things in the kitchen for awhile, then it will shift to nurturing the garden, then it will be a stretch of painting in the studio… it changes, often. But the habit is there and it always involves doing something with my hands – regular small things I do that release creativity into my day.

8. Be careful about looking at others too much

It’s great to look at what’s out there, who’s creating what, and what you like. Especially when you’re first exploring your creative style. But over time you need to step away from this and focus more on your own interactions with the world around you, your own interpretations of what you see and feel, and put your own heart and soul on the canvas. I feel like having a few key anchor mentors or idols that linger in the back of your mind is good, and you can often see they are influencing your work, but you’re not looking at their stuff frequently or it suppress your own unique creativity from flowing. Also looking at others too much can lead to comparing yourself too much, which I just don’t find helpful.

9. Let go of inspirations being fixed

We can hold ourselves to some strange rules sometimes – if I once loved florals it means I will always love florals. This may not be true. Allow yourself to change your mind, to evolve and grow out of things. It’s a necessary part of evolving your creative style and staying inspired. This great gal reminded me of this recently.

10. Read!

I have a pile of books going all the time, which I don’t read in any kind of order. I pick them up and read bits here and there that speak to me at the time. There are a few blogs I follow, and a couple of magazines. It would be interesting to know the science behind what happens in your brain when you read vs watch TV, but for now all I can say is I am much more inspired and creative when I opt to read instead of plunk myself in front of the box that talks.

Thanks for reading & hope there is something new in here that you’ve learned. How do you stay inspired? Leave a comment and let me know.

Late Winter Bloom

It’s the tail end of winter and life has been unfolding slowly. Just a few more weeks before spring begins to bud and sunshine returns to these grey skies. My heart yearns for it and I eagerly await the fresh beginnings of springtime.

Lightness/ Bloom

In progress, 2014

9x 12

It’s no secret I am a seeker of beauty, light and vitality. Little moments of beauty feed my soul, startle me out of my thinking and producing, and connect me to my heart. Light and lightness of being inspire, uplift, soften and heal. And vitality, well it surrounds us. Anything with life and movement and nature grabs my heart.

Remembering these things is helping push me through these darker days and highlighting the positive during a time when I’m feeling depleted. I’m letting the Hello Soul, Hello Mantras course by Kelly Rae Roberts guide me and I’m using every scrap in my creative process. Combined with lots of rest and permission to slow down, these weeks are a period of renewal, introspection and transformation.

Here are a few of my mantras: 

 

 

 

And so, from the dark days comes light. Sending out love as winter lingers and we await its' bloom into spring.

xo

Evolving Art – Harmony

Evolving Art is a new series documenting the evolution of my mixed media paintings from beginning to end. I'm so happy to share this with you.

HARMONY – a woman sits quietly, her thoughts alive bursting with emotion, remembering, feeling uncertain. But on the surface she appears calm. Sadness mixes with peacefulness.  She is not alone.

[ Harmony – 2013 ]

[ My inspiration board/ collection for this piece ]

[ Typography papers I created from my bio, to be ripped and cut and used in the painting ]

[ Laying down my first layers of paper and fabric with gel medium, on a cradled wood panel – a range of business papers, typography and patterned papers I made, a sewing pattern, some handmade cotton paper, a scrap from a soap package, and fabric from a discard bin ]

[ Adding paint with a brayer and fingers ] 

[ Standing back, deciding which sketch to use ]

[ My choice: this sketch I did last fall ]

[ Transferring my sketch onto my cradled wood panel. I used art transfer paper for this. It can be easier than freehand drawing on rough surfaces ]

 [ Ready to paint ]

[ Painting with acrylics, first layer ]

[ Filling in her hair with a black pitt pen - these are a recent discovery for me and I love them ]

[ Adding another layer of paint to her face and body. Giving her nice rosy cheeks. And using my pitt pen to enhance her eyes and add dramatic hair — which is a metaphor for her swirling thoughts ]

[ Using grey pitt pens to layer more into her hair, smudging with my fingers to create texture. Using white rollerball pens to add doodles and scratches. And using green and blue shades to fill in her loyal perched friend ]

[ Final enhancement of features with black pitt pen ]

[ My finished piece displayed along with two others painted at the same time. Left to Right: harmony, winter, surfacing ]

Harmony
18" x 24"
Mixed media on cradled wood panel
© Ginger Deverell 2013

It's wonderful to share with you. Prints and greeting card sets are available in my little shop.

In Flow

Happy New Year friends. I'm a believer in documenting our journeys. Over the holidays my creative journey was in full swing – I was in flow. You know that magical amazing state of focus and fluidity. I'm sharing some shots...

 

xo