It starts with a Feeling.

Amorphous at first, it begins to coalesce into an idea.

From there it branches out into myriad paths intersecting, joining past, present, and future together into a sketch perhaps, maybe a drawing.

Ah, but the drawing looks too “perfect,” too exact. Where are the mushy, gooey feelings that ignited this journey?

That’s where my “Hide-N-Seek” technique comes into play.

Which parts will earn a piece of textured paper?

Where do I place the jute or the lace, the color, or anything else?

What will be hidden and what will become visible as the painting progresses?

Only time & the painting process reveal answers.

Painting is magical and mysterious. It keeps the hope of birthday presents alive in my soul and in my heart. It brings tears of joy to my eyes as I wonder what will be.

Sometimes, when I haven’t begun a new painting in a while, a fear that the magic won’t happen stops me from starting.

Only more starts, more new beginnings, and more new attempts can banish this fear.

Paint On!

Life is a continuum of shifts and changes, some subtle others radical. Some, like graduations, birthdays, and weddings are marked with celebrations.

Others slip past as though they’re no big deal — or aren’t celebrated because we feel sorrow or fear. Still, we notice these shifts.

Fortunately, BIG changes don’t happen every day. Mother Nature knows we need space between big life events.

The idea of “spaces between things” popped into my head on a one-day trip I took to Hawai`i Island in April. Tiffany’s Art Agency in Hawi held an artist reception and my florals were among the featured paintings.

Hawai`i Island is BIG. It’s spacious and I feel calm immediately upon landing there. I flew into Kona and drove North to Hawi —an hour and a half drive through old lava fields.

On my way back to the airport at the end of the day, I noticed places the lava had been cut through to create a road. There were definite spaces between the layers of lava.

The spaces I saw alongside the roadway were likely spaces formed as the lava flowed. Some might have been created years apart, others, days apart, still others formed by the flow of the molten lava as it moved and cooled across the plains of the island.

The spaces between the flows captured my attention. I’m not sure why, but I noticed them.

“Deep, Wide, and Spacious” is the title of this painting, now on exhibit at Tiffany’s Art Agency in Hawi

I remember a time about 35 years ago when I was fascinated with “the Tops of Things” like the tree tops against the sky. I didn’t know why I was so interested in them then, and I’m not sure why to this day.

It’s possible that “the tops of things” represented the future to me. If so, perhaps “the spaces between things” represent the present to me now.

Noticing that which captures your attention is a great way to discover something new about yourself.

What’s capturing your attention these days?

Expansion begins on the inside and works its way out.

When we’re nurtured, and when we nurture ourselves, we’re encased in a warm cocoon of love that grows along with us as we grow. This love is soft and gentle, never doubting, never judging, always holding a space for our growth, and expanding along with us. Always ensuring there is a comfort zone around us.

Take time to think about the nurturing you’re receiving from yourself and from others. Maybe it’s time to increase the feeling of being nurtured in your life, or maybe it’s time to give thanks to, and for, your nurturers.

We’re always nurtured by the love of our Source Self. Breathe in the energy of being nurtured.

The desire to be nurtured, supported, and encouraged in our growth is a constant. Acknowledge this for yourself and allow a new nurturing energy to enter your life.

We each have our own sources of inspiration — thank goodness! We don’t need to rely on any one person, place, or thing to be inspired.

Each of us is responsible for being aware of our “AHA” moments, and sometimes backtracking to discover their origins.

Sometimes the genesis is clear. We’ve seen an incredibly beautiful sunset or vista and want to capture the way it touched our heart.

Sometimes the source is obscure. Inspiration is a flash of insight, out of the blue.

We can stoke our inspiration by following our heartfelt curiosity.

Being curious is different from being “nosy” or “niele” (Hawaiian word for “nosy”). When curiosity tickles us, it sends us on a journey of discovery.

I’ve been on such a journey the past few months — one I wasn’t fully aware of until inspiration for my newest painting struck.

Finally! Yippee! It’s felt like F-O-R-E-V-E-R since I’ve felt this level of inspiration. I’ve missed the feeling of eager anticipation that sometimes precludes the start of a new painting.

Yes, every new painting starts with an idea or inspiration.

Sometimes my inspiration is a piece of coral, or a stone, or a flower — something that catches my eye. These can be great fun to sketch, draw, or paint.

The level of inspiration I received last week is connected to the books I’ve been reading and the questions I’ve been asking in my journal.

This kind of inspiration is a product of my heart working with my brain to give me a visual representation of what I’m learning.

This intensity of inspiration doesn’t happen as often as I’d like. I’m hoping that now that I'm more aware of the process, I’ll be able to entice deep inspiration to happen more often.

STEPS TO ENCOURAGE A TRULY INSPIRED, CREATIVE LIFE

1. Make more drawings of the things catching your attention. This can mean making more starts and fewer finished pieces. It can mean making many smaller drawings or paintings.

2. Focus more on what is wanted rather than on the lack of what is wanted. Be more aware of the things that inspire us and nurture the pursuit of them — and be less aware of missing the inspired feeling. (We find what we seek!)

3. Continue to read books that inspire. Recent reads include a novel, “The Luster of Lost Things” by Sophie Chen Keller and “Into the Magic Shop” by James R. Doty, MD.

4. Listen to podcasts that inspire: “On Being”, “New Dimensions”, “Hidden Brain”, “Ted Talks”, “Abraham-Hicks”.

5. Pay attention to the questions we’re asking and look for the sparks that often launch inspirational “AHA Moments”.

6. Keep our hearts and minds open to the possibilities swirling around us —

Trust in Your Possibilities.

By taking inspired action, I began the creation of this painting — which is almost (but not quite) complete.

If this feels like a formula you’d like to follow, please do! I can’t promise it’ll work for you, but it might. I definitely feel more inspired when I remember to follow these steps!

If you have another way to encourage inspiration into you're your life, please share it with me.