Mid Summer Solstice - Mid Year Check In.
Hello and welcome, ah we have got through half of 22 already. The summer solstice on June 21st, our longest day of the year, marks the beginning of the astronomical summer and occurs when the earth has its maximum tilt towards the sun.
The Summer solstice is an energetically charged day. It is thought to be an important time to set intentions, to practice self-care, to connect with yourself and the Universe through spiritual rituals, and to take advantage of the energies of illumination and clarity to invest in your healing and growth. Right now, I’m on a roll, I’m feeling connected and I’m still going. (& I’m here on my 3rd Newsletter, for me, a major achievement in itself.) Now, mid year, it’s the perfect time to re-evaluate where we are. Am I on track, in line with my new year’s goals? Are you?
I’d like to say I am, all be it by a thread. My focus for this year was - is - to write a newsletter - I’m doing that - and to create a collection of paintings. Not there yet - but, I’m exploring on my 100 day project and I’ve made one bigger painting. I still haven’t found where I’m going, but I’m actively moving towards where I want to be.
Surprises?
Well yes, actually. Like most, I’m loosing my love for Instagram and shock horror, I can’t believe it myself, I’m trying / testing TikTok….. Yes the kids continue telling me it’s a good idea and yes it’s taken a couple of years, for me to listen, but hey, I think they might be right. I’ll keep you updated.
How are you doing?
Studio Stories
This Week in the Studio for my 100 days, I have done a couple of oily flowers paintings, heavy and abstract and I love them but it is tricky to see what’s coming next, into my bigger paintings.
I saw an application for an exhibition and liked the theme, CHROMA - To apply with 80% of one colour. So I thought there is nothing better than a bit of a kick up the backside to get you going. I also liked the challenge of it, limiting me to minimal colour when usually I go full whack using every colour under the sun. I also like the idea of certain colours having various associations and meaning to them and I’m interested in how they make us feel. Particularly as I’ve started to meditate and have become aware of the chakras and their colours.
Getting into the groove from the night before, stepping up at 6 am - even the cat is loving the vibe!
So which colour then?
I chose green. Why?
Because I have been soaking up so much green on my daily walks, through the golf course, surrounding woods and fields. On my walk I was thinking of Thailand and the Emerald Buddha, (although more likely made of Jade) I also love that on the day I started the painting, earlier in the day, of a sudden while I was thinking of the word green on my way to work, a green car drove past, there was signage and pillars all green, obviously always there, but somehow now jumping out at me. It all felt so significant.
Inspiration
At the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.
’m so excited and proud that Mandy Jane Lyne’s painting, ‘Out of the Darkness’, was selected for this year’s Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy. Here she is on varnishing day with her sister, Tracy. Mandy has been coming to my Tuesday Morning art session’s at Arthouse Unlimited for as long as I have been there, 11 years this June. She has an incredible talent for making all things fluffy, even houses and trees. As you can see, her face says it all, enough for me too well up inside.
The theme this year , chosen by the exhibition’s coordinator, Alison Wilding RA is ‘Climate’
This is particularly momentous for ARTHOUSE Unlimited is the second year in succession that artists’ work has been chosen: recognising the talent and creativity whilst encouraging social inclusion. Last year three other artists from the same art class also had their work selected, so 4 out of 7 artists is pretty amazing - Er and…as for me - I’m still working on getting my own work in - one day hey. Congratulations to friends and others who did get their work in, I can’t wait to visit soon.
The Book I’m reading now: The Energy Codes: The 7 Step Guide to Awaken Your Spirit, Heal Your Body and Live Your Best Life, by Sue Morter
Following from last week’s book The Morning Miracle by Hal Elrod, I wanted to read more in connection with the mind body and spirit, to understand more about our energy. This book, ‘The Energy Codes’, is really fantastic and if you are worried about it being a bit too woo, don’t be - its backed by scientific research. I liked how Morter says that our body holds the key, showing and guiding our true self, from our subconscious mind, in the form of energy, as a feeling, a gut instinct or even illness. In other words, The body knows before our mind.
I also like the idea of ‘The Bus Stop Conversation’, It is like our soul contract, made before we are born. It’s the events, circumstances and the people we meet, all that we attract, the good and bad, for us to experience our life in full. Our learning and our lessons to awaken us to who we are, our true self. The gift then, is in our learning, and our seeing. Listen to more here.
Quote : “Colour is a power which directly influences the soul.”
- Wassily Kandinsky.
He continues,
‘The artist is the hand that plays, touching one key or another, to cause vibrations in the soul. Colour is a power which directly influences the soul. Colour provokes a psychic vibration. Colour hides a power still unknown but real, which acts on every part of the human body.’
