(Shop new prints here)
“Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.” -E.B. White
This year I’ve been exploring different ways of mark making on the canvas. It’s been SUCH a deep dive into shaking up my creative process, something I think all of us creative spirits need from time time. Some of the questions I’ve been asking myself are “How can I make painting fun again? What wants to come through?” The answer? Doodles and colors and wonky flowers!
And so it is. Wonderment wins again. And always.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about Wonder. Maybe because my dear friend, Andrea Scher’s book is about to launch. Have you seen it? It’s called Wonder Seeker and I can hardly wait for it to get here!
Or maybe because Wonder it feels like a dear old friend, coming back around to remind me to DELIGHT in mark making, to delight in finding small moments and bits of wonder in my everyday life as well as in myself. It’s such a lovely way to see the world. I want to be sure I’m paying attention.
(Me, with Bruce Hornsby at the Sanctuary Farm I volunteer at. How adores is he?)
5 ways I’m practicing looking out for the presence of wonder this week:
- I’m pausing. This morning when I was in a lengthy outside line at the bagel shop, I allowed myself to get lost in the lives and sounds of the birds around me.
- I’m looking. Always looking for hearts, ya’ll. I found the one above in a tree stump.
- I’m noticing and saying a mini prayer of thanks for that gorgeous flowering weed and all of my amazing indoor plant babies.
- I’m stopping my kiddo mid sentence so I can capture his essence at this age (10!) with my camera.
- And I’m allowing my inner 10 year old self to come paint her doodles and marks on a grown canvas with grown up paints.
Tell me what’s rocking your wonder-filled world. I’d love to know!!!
After a heavy, long bout with Septic and loosing the use of my legs and still slowly learning to walk again … has certainly let me slow down and rethink things. Kelly has made me want to go places her paintings take me. I may
even pick up a paint brush and free my mind to create.
Good wishes for all of us that may want a change … either big or small. “If you can walk … you can run”
Fran, that sounds really really scary. I’m so glad to hear that you are recovering and thinking of picking up a paintbrush. Follow your whispers, slow and steady. Sending love.