I am a bird

I am a bird

The forest was my home

It brought me peace, nourishment and a place to rest 

My wings. 

Forever aching from the long days search for this place to reappear

Out of the darkness - clung to the stale air like a sleeping bat

Swaying with the draft, along side the others 

Waiting.

But my tired wings, they tremor while I sleep

They feel things I cannot think 

The flight of my dreams is shouting to my soul

Defeating my fatigue with electric charge

With the warm breeze - my eyes open to see

This place is real

My wings brought me here

I am a bird. 

The wind is my home

My talons cling to this dying branch

The sweet smell of the North bids me farewell

I embrace the current, my wings stretched as far as they can reach

And the wind frees my spirit once again

I glide up and far away from the last moment

I am a bird, I am home.

LH 

Happy Valentines Day.

Of love

In front of you

I sigh

My breath searching

            for a place to rest

Beyond the past

You stand tall

And lead my memories

            Through despair

            And aching

With a tender heart

            Your eyes

Console my weakness’

            With laughter and youth

Familiar kindness knows

            You just know

Me

Your eyes

            Caress my skin

            Charm my soul

            Bring me home

To tell a tale

            Each day

The fairy tale

Of us

Our story lives

            Inside

            And out loud

Of love.

LH.

You would never know it to look at this painting, but it is the sum of many months, and many moods. It has been my go to painting for the staggered moments I have spent in the studio over the past 2 years of my life. A symbol of my painterly limbo while I work on my children's book, 'Little O'.
It started out as an exercise to loosen up my mind, to release the tension I would bring with me from my busy, scheduled life.
The many layers of paint that coloured this canvas were decided on at the very moment I sat in front of that immense drawer full of colours.

Once I had haphazardly applied my paint strokes to this piece - with whatever brush was first at hand - I could work on other projects with freedom. I would toss it aside and move on to my 'real' work.
But now I feel that it is something more than a punching bag for my brush and paint. I feel that it represents what I strive for in all of my work. Honesty.
Each layer was created in the moment, and though these moments have not always been pretty or kind, there is always another layer of truth that awaits. There is always possibility and mystery in each new day.
I have left this painting titled "Blue", but it is not finished. I think I will keep the name, but it will continue to change and grow, just as I do.

Someone asked me about my faith the other day...I babbled a response that sounded flakey, even to me.It has always seemed clear enough in my own head, but it did make me think...

God and Religion mean something different to each person who embraces it.  I was fortunate enough to have had liberal parents who didn't force any one religion on me, though they casually followed a Christian belief. 
I have always felt that God is my own.  God is my generator, my giver of wealth, my spiritual force.  If I feed God the fuel, God gives me the inspiration.  

My inspiration comes from somewhere outside of myself that finds solace within me, but only for the time it takes to set it free; to build it into something that can communicate thoughts and ideas...beliefs and ideals.

I am thoughtful, I am aware…but I have created works, painted works, written works, that flow from my soul and once they have left my visceral, no longer confined…find freedom, find bliss…find their home.

During this process, I feel connected to my world in a way that is fulfilling and complete in every way.  It feels like instinct, something I was born to parlay...  

God is art.

Today...

Breathe.

The sun’s reach punches through the thick fog of neglect.

Blood streaming through the quake of a dream;

crumbling blows delivered with each beat.

Anxious breath dampens my lips with burning heat,

a stranger to the abrupt silence.

Covering belief; thoughts create the truth.

Breathe.

Abate the night’s torture;

chaining your tension by all of its limbs.

My Knight, the constant trickle from the right,

            undimmed to the inspiration that awaits.

LH.

The squids and the whales

The squids and the whales...living in harmony. Not the traditional tale of these two creatures, but the harmony of these two, & many more creatures has inspired my latest piece.  I'd say if you were to look back in 100 years and label the last 10 years of my artistic career, it would be called 'the rainbow period'.  I am always drawn to the energy  of these bright beautiful pigments. It's really great to be back in the studio imagining and painting with out any time frame and expectation for results. 
      

Thank you to everyone who attended the opening and supported me through out the many months of prep.  Thank you to Johanne and Festival du Bois for the great opportunity to be part of this tradition and celebration. The night was a great success.  I cant believe it's been up almost a month now and the show comes down this Sunday.  

I will take the next months to re-group my thoughts and enjoy some "free flow" creative process.  The season's finally changing, the flowers are blooming and with this come new life and creation...I think I will follow suit.