Autumn has settled and the landscape has changed radically here by the lakeshores.
This is by far my most favorite season, with her cloud-loaded skies, outbursts of copper and gold and delicious scents of turf fires in the evenings.
I have been trying to keep an healthy balance in between a heavy schedule of workshops and well overdue self care by setting up some me time wandering the woods with my two faithful furry companions. I seemed to have gone on overdrive over the summer months and autumn is the time of the year when I am planning to slow things down to recharge and focus a bit more on my own work.
Self care
I have enjoyed my walks immensely in the nearby forest which has transformed in an aria of golden hues.
These silent times have recharged my batteries and in the same breath filled my eyes and heart with a never ending source of inspiration for future works. Self-care is something I have paid more attention to this year, discovering that my body was an ally well worth caring for…who knew??
I actually encountered this quote recently which resonated deeply (and I hope it will for you too)
“For a woman who has chosen family as well as work, there’s never time, and yet somehow time is given to us as time is given to the man who must sail a ship or chart the stars. For most writers it takes many manuscripts before enough royalties are coming in to pay for a roof over the head and bread on the table. Other jobs must often be found to take care of bread and butter. A certain amount of stubbornness—pig-headedness—is essential. — I’m often asked how my children feel about my work, and I have to reply, “Ambivalent.” Our firstborn observed to me many years ago, when she was a grade-school child, “Nobody else’s mother writes books.” But she also said, around the same time, “Mother, you’ve been very cross and edgy with us lately, and we’ve noticed that you haven’t been writing, and we wish you’d get back to the typewriter.” A wonderfully freeing remark. I had to learn that I was a better mother and wife when I was working than when I was not.”
Madeleine L’Engle, Walking on Water
It does touch deep doesn’t it??
Maintaining this very delicate balance is a daily struggle. it can be so overwhelming at times and not many people do or want to understand how important it may be for us creatives to have that release, that time set apart, for this NEED, this insatiable hunger we feel to create whatever it may be, each and every day; without it, I am lost.
Creativity does not only limit itself to the studio, but extends to the time I have to ‘carve’ aside for daily inspiration. Walking the woods, the lakeshores and the seashores make me sane and do feed my soul. I come back refreshed and ready to do my work which in the past few years has been inspired by the essence of the land, the sea and the skies. It is a daily promise or commitment to my work and to myself and in the same breath to my family. If I do not feed this hunger, I am becoming irritated and frustrated, something you do not want to witness in an overly passionate French woman I am telling you! A caged wild animal would be the only way to describe how it feels within. Not good. For everybody involved.
When I feel like I do not have the time to do all the things I have to do…
This is when I set the time for self-care, because these are the moments I need it the most.
These are the moments when I have to give myself permission to take a break.
Easier said than done, I know, I know .
Once you do this, you will find yourself more focused and inspiration renewed.
My family approves and breath with relief too…all is good in wonderland again.
Some studio news
I cannot believe how quickly the year went, I feel like I am part of this whirlwind of happy faces and incredible artworks done by my customers, I am forever grateful!
A little slideshow with samples of works done during the past few workshops:
Only a few workshops left this year and then I fold in for two months off, enjoying the winter painting by my stove in my warm studio. Life is not too bad really, no complaining here!
My autumn schedule was a great success and is now almost booked out with only three spots left for the 10th November, grab them when you can!
I am already working ‘backstage’ on dates for 2019 with workshops in Dublin, Galway , Cork and some surprises, so don’t forget to keep an eye on my blog post in January with tonnes of offers and get on my waiting list, who will have priority for all workshops before everybody else…my way of saying thank you !
Exhibition Kinvara
And lastly, I am super excited to have my work exhibited among the very talented artists of the East Clare art trail, Art in Studios, at the Secret garden Gallery in Kinvara.
And when you are visiting this beautiful part of the world, why not pushing along and go for a visit to the beautiful Burren, which does wear a symphony of gold and red at this time of the year, you will not regret it!
You may even find me there, roaming the windswept hills…Just stop and say hello if you do.
Pilgrimage to Mullaghmore, framed encaustic painting on panel, now viewable at the Secret Garden Gallery, Kinvara, county Galway.
Do you want to be part of the journey and find your flow? Are you curious about encaustic painting? Are you looking for something new to spark up your creativity this Autumn? Then I would love sharing with you my passion for encaustic painting !
Have a wondrous and creative week !
Don’t forget to share the encaustic love to anyone you would think may be interested into trying their hands at this amazing process and do not hesitate to drop me a line if you wish to know more!
Thank you all for your wonderful support and looking forward sharing this amazing process with you in the near future!
Isabelle
#firepaintwithme
PS: I post regularly my artist process, free encaustic demonstrations and what fires me up along the way on my blog. If you wish to be notified by email, please subscribe to my mailing list, thank you!
