Announcing Beautiful World’s Canada Legacy Project

Announcing Beautiful World’s Canada Legacy Project

by | Artful Living, Beautiful World Project, Contemporary Art

Last year as I dived deep into asking myself what type of an artist I really wanted to be and what legacy I wanted to leave behind, this idea for a BEAUTIFUL WORLD PROJECT whispered in my heart. A project devoted to lighting up the world through art by celebrating a full expression of the truth and beauty of humanity and the planet that gives us life and sustains us.

It took several months to find the courage to commit to this mission because I knew I would have to completely let go of expectations of how it would be received and follow the call of my heart and what intrigues it, no matter what.

I dipped my toes in with my Toronto passion project. Now, I’m ready to go bigger with the next phase. Way bigger. Celebrating all of Canada in a body of work that will displayed in an exhibition in the Fall. I’m dedicating my entire year to this project, which wonderfully coincides with Canada150 !!

Honestly, this idea came to me BEFORE I knew that 2017 was a special year for Canada!

I’m excited to really get going upon my return from Miami next week!

Becoming truly alive…

Becoming truly alive…

by | Artful Living, Contemporary Art

I had recently completed my first passion project painting—something that became so much more than I imagined it could be. It was a very intense experience over several weeks, but it was also incredibly rewarding—liberating in fact. Creating a life changing epiphany, revealing that only by living in full appreciation of each and every day do we experience true happiness. A happiness not dependent on some future desired outcome.

Becoming Truly Alive—is an ecstatic expression of living joyfully, celebrating the freedom that comes when you free yourself of worries and live in the moment. Wake up! Make right now the most wonderful moment of your life!

“This is now. Now is.

Do not postpone till then.

Spend the spark of iron on stone.

Sit at the head of the table.

Dip your spoon in the bowl.

 

Seat yourself next to your joy,

and have your awakened soul pour wine.

 

Branches in the spring wind,

easy dance of jasmine and cypress.

 

Cloth for green robes

has been cut from pure absence.

 

You are the tailor,

settled among his shop goods, quietly sewing.”

~ Rumi

Becoming Truly Alive by Kiernan Antares

Becoming Truly Alive 30×30 in by Kiernan Antares

 

The mantra every artist must adopt…

The mantra every artist must adopt…

by | Artful Living

“Love the moment, and the energy of that moment will spread

beyond all boundaries.”

~ Corita Kent

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks here, between finishing up my Toronto painting and preparing a reveal and getting word from Art Fusion Galleries in Miami that they selected seven of my pieces for the January – March ‘Everchanging Spectrums’ Exhibition – yay exciting news! But then I had to deal with getting them all packaged up and shipped off – all in the midst of not feeling well.

I’m happy to report the unwell feeling has finally passed! Yay again! I’m feeling so much better and happy to say the art shipment is now on it’s way to Miami – whoo hoo!

Now… in all of this I posted the photo of the group of paintings selected by the gallery on Facebook, thinking this is pretty cool news. Then, I see one of the comments posted by a ‘friend’ who has been a fan of my art, or so I thought. He had the gumption to write that people who like this kind of stuff are weird and he much preferred my earlier works.

Thick skin. Thick skin. Thick skin.

Develop. Thick. Skin.

Became a mantra.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Artist’s need to develop thick skin and shrug off comments such as this – if you want to stay positive and committed to sharing art that you pour your heart and soul into – it’s a must mantra to live by.

In my earlier days as an artist, all I wanted was to create beauty to heal my heart, body and mind. Then, when I felt full enough I turned to abstract which freed me to paint what I was feeling – in all the crazy glory and angst – no holds barred and true to my body and spirit.

They might not necessarily be beautiful – but they are real, and raw, and messy, and alive – as life should be lived.

A little bit shaken and a little bit stirred…

A little bit shaken and a little bit stirred…

by | Artful Living

“Love is the vital core of the soul.

And of all you see, only love is infinite.”

~ Rumi

A quick update, my friends. I had been feeling off for a couple of weeks and Saturday I ended up going to emergency. I’m so grateful for the kind and compassionate doctor who looked after me and I was able to go home the same day. But it’s kind of taken the wind out of me. I’ve been mostly home recuperating and unplugging since then.

I have to admit, while it wasn’t serious, it was enough of an event to realize that there are some things that need to become more of a priority with my health – in body, mind and heart. More ways in which LOVE must lead the way.

I find times that when the ground beneath me trembles and quakes, it stirs a powerful elixir of healing and deeper gratitude to be alive. It shines a light on a pathway home to the heart.

Wouldn’t you agree?

Sometimes it’s a hit, and sometimes it’s a miss…

Sometimes it’s a hit, and sometimes it’s a miss…

by | Artful Living

“Come out here where the roses have opened.

Let soul and world meet.”

~ Rumi

It’s not all sugar and spice and everything nice. Nope.

Sometimes nothing works. The question hanging in the air… do I scrap it and begin again, or keep at it, hoping for the flash of genius that ties it all together?

The photo in the post is a work-in-progress detail shot – of a second piece I started up, when the first one was going deeper and deeper into the ugly phase, and I had to switch things up.

I kind of like the play on colours in this close-up. Sadly though, not so much in the over all piece.

Why oh why did this song suddenly pop into my head… maybe we all needed a little pick me up… Enjoy!