Dreams Do Come True

Dreams Do Come True

by | Artful Living, Contemporary Art

Years of living with chronic fatigue, pain and stress forced me into finding a new way to live. It’s taken practice, lots of practice to unplug from the hectic, push push push lifestyle North American society has become noted for – it used to be seen in a positive light, but I think too many people have suffered and burned out from the exhaustive pace it requires.

Even as an artist I tended to put a tremendous amount of pressure on myself to succeed, but my body continued to complain. In 2015 I did a lot of unplugging and spent three weeks in France, with time to reflect and contemplate what I wanted and how I wanted to live.

Mostly I wanted to learn how to do what I loved in a pace where I could thrive and with lots of time to breathe.

As I began 2016 with a fresh perspective, I immersed myself in painting to get ready to secure gallery representation. There were lots of things to do but I armed myself with a plan, thought out achievable goals and a scheduler to keep me focused and in check.

Having this disciplined studio practice became a fascinating experience and what became apparent was how tuned in it had allowed me to become to the changes of the season. The style and colours of my painting shifted along with the seasons and I’ve loved it immensely. It’s made me tune more into the energy of each season and live it in my life too. My inner landscape shifts and changes along with the paintings.

As a result, I’ve fallen even more in love with painting than I was before. With my consistent and disciplined time at the easel, my tools of the trade are becoming extensions of my emotions, how my body is feeling, and how I’m tuned in to my environment – i.e. the cycles of our planet.

My Resurgent Spring series was fiery and alive and I was enthralled in their painting, now the season is shifting again and I feel the energy of Magical Summer weaving in. You might think that with longer days and a fiery sun, it might be even more passionate, but I’m finding the energy softer and with a playful loving grace influence.

In my first two pieces of this series, Tender Embrace and I Believe in You, I was inspired to do some childhood healing. I wanted to reflect upon my tender years and fill them, me, and my family with love. I found that it came naturally and I painted these feelings and this energy into the paintings as I glanced periodically at some photos of my childhood.

 

Top left is me on my dad’s lap. Top right I’m front and center. Bottom left is a photo that I have remembered all these decades. Bottom right is me and my mum on a family vacation in Prince Edward Island.

I feel like this process of feeling, remembering and choosing to love has changed me. I loved seeing which colours wanted to reflect what I was feeling in these two paintings and I loved how it just flowed with ease. I was reminded always of sweetness and innocence.

 

When I finished Tender Embrace I felt so much gratitude and peaceful. The following day I went out with my sweetie, dropped him off while he got a hair cut and went to a park to enjoy the summery weather. I saw a swing and smiled. I just had to.

I swung and didn’t have a care in the world. I thought once again of my childhood and simply enjoyed the experience of feeling like a kid again.

My darling friends, when I got home I read this email I had received from a top-rated gallery in Florida, and my heart was exploding with joy!! Here is a little bit about what they said:

“I would first like to tell you what a dynamic and talented artist you are. We are extremely impressed with your diversity and range.
Your paintings are incredible. Every single one of them!!!
Typically I like to point out a few paintings that truly stand out, but I can honestly tell you Kiernan that your entire Mystical Winter and Resurgent Spring Collections are brilliant, truly brilliant!!!
Each and every single one of them would look phenomenal in our gallery and be perfect for our art market.”

Ah… listen to the soft whisperings of your heart, stand tall and do the work. Dreams do come true.

With love,

Kiernan

Raw and messy has its own beauty

Raw and messy has its own beauty

by | Artful Living, Contemporary Art

In many of my abstract pieces I begin by connecting with the panel of wood through my heart. I get quiet and I feel it. I get a sense of what may be the dominant colours it ultimately wants to be and that gives me a starting point. It guides me as to the potential colours to use in the initial layers to get me where it wants to go.

So, in this manner as I begin adding paint, I’m actually thinking and feeling a few steps ahead, because I love the feeling and look of a painting that has depth, weight and thickness – it’s very symbolic of the inner workings of our personality, our emotions, and our soul.

Many of my pieces are also created from a place of surrendering – me and my thoughts stepping aside to allow for something to come through me and speak to the world. I simply love to create. It’s a necessity for me.

None of this was the case in painting Window Cracking Open.

That day, I just needed to paint. I needed to express. I needed to release. I needed the colours, paint and panel to experience how I was feeling. I needed not to do anything but simply approach it and swiftly release what was in my heart and body at that moment.

It was a hugely cathartic release and I felt hugely satisfied.

For me, this piece wasn’t about creating something extraordinary or beautiful, or being an instrument for something to work through me to benefit the world in some way.

It was simply a raw, emotional, and physical outlet.

Whatever its form, purpose or expression, art is transformative. Its effects far reaching into the hearts, minds, and souls of humankind. It opens us. Ah, but that is a topic for another post.

 

Artwork Statement

Sometimes windows need to crack. And, they need to open just that little bit for messy to come in and break the brittle crusted barriers around the heart. What would happen if we let it? Maybe the body would experience miracles. Maybe our lovers would look into our watery eyes, with watery eyes of their own while whispering the secrets of their own heart… letting you know you’re not alone… that you are loved… that you are important in their world. Maybe then the world will feel a little bit safer, and brighter, and hopeful. Maybe then our dreams will be nourished by the inner fortitude that’s growing in the allowing of our deepest self seeping in through the crack.

Window Cracking Open—represents a true merging of understanding, healing, and love for self and others. When we have the courage to feel, to be still and feel, a light shines revealing perfection in the imperfection of ourselves and our lives. Messy is not very pretty, but it’s often necessary to let us go down the road we seek—because the truth sets us free. If we’re lucky, one day maybe we’ll find where we’re coming from and where we’re going to.

The Shaman’s Journey

The Shaman’s Journey

by | Artful Living, Contemporary Art

Shaman’s are powerful medicine doctors trained in the ancient ways of healing and spiritual teachings. They are found in indigenous cultures throughout the world. As wise elders of their tribal communities, these highly respected men and women are intimately familiar with the hidden realms of nature in all her forms. They guide us into the wisdom of the ‘dream body’ where we can seek answers to life’s most important questions. Your inner shaman calls you back to your true essence, your home in nature—where your soul speaks directly to you, delivering messages through your body, your dreams, your secret desires, and whisperings of signs and synchronicities. Your muses are enlivened and beckon you to venture into the mysteries of creative visualization and dream journaling to access important information.

The Shaman’s Journey—reveals a pathway into your deep centre which encompasses both light and dark aspects of life—for both are equally important to learn from in the process of becoming healthy and whole. When fully exposed to the white and shimmering gold light, the deep black centers and veins are revealed and they are able to fall to the earth to transform into beautiful blossoms inviting harmony to your life.

“For years, copying other people, I tried to know myself.
From within, I couldn’t decide what to do.
Unable to see, I heard my name being called.
Then I walked outside.

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Don’t go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the door sill
where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don’t go back to sleep.”

~ Rumi

The Shaman’s Journey

Acrylic Abstraction on Gallery Wood Panel, 11″ x 14″

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Copyright 2016, Kiernan Antares, All Rights Reserved

When Destiny Calls

When Destiny Calls

by | Artful Living, Contemporary Art

In your deepest self lives a well filled with your truest essence where purity and innocence resides. It entices you into quiet surrender, beckoning you to ride the magical waves into the inner regions of the Essential Self where you can remember the creative gifts your birth agreed to carry into this world.

The process of discovering this well filled with love and imagination is nothing short of enlightening, for your greatest joy and fulfillment resides there. For many adults, this ‘luminous child’ within has been long forgotten, but it awaits patiently for its time of reunion. In this way, the heart of the child meets the wisdom inherent in all of life. Destiny calls you now—it is time to accept your birthright, drink from this well of luminosity, and hold dear the treasure of your original magnificent self.

When Destiny Calls—The well of luminosity expands, offering a band of light to guide your way in. Surrounded by colours of passion, love, creativity, healing, enlightenment and a universal love of everything sentient. Misted with an iridescent violet for a touch of higher vision—this piece encourages you to answer the inner call and let your true self to shine.

“We have fallen into the place

where everything is music.

The strumming and the flute notes

rise into the atmosphere,

and even if the whole world’s harp should burn up there will still be hidden instruments playing.

This singing art is a seam foam.

The graceful movements come from a pearl

somewhere on the ocean floor.

Poems reach up like spindrift

and the edge of driftwood along the beach, wanting.

They derive

From a slow and powerful root

that we cannot see.

Stop the words now.

Open the window in the center of your chest,

and let the spirits fly in and out.”

~ Rumi

When Destiny Calls

Acrylic Abstraction on Gallery Wood Panel, 11″ x 14″ SOLD

Time Keeper

Time Keeper

by | Artful Living, Contemporary Art

Grandfather Wisdom is the elder who carries time with him. He understands that all of life is made up of archetypal patterns, and that these impressions are imprinted in our hopes, dreams, intentions and self-knowing. What is important to know is that these patterns change with the advancement and evolution of Earth and all of the galaxies. But, Grandfather Wisdom, our Time Keeper, patiently watches over all sentient life birthed from Grandmother’s Sacred Womb, protecting us all the while.

Time Keeper is a powerful healing presence. He gracefully dances with infinity, with roots sure and strong in the ground, symbolizing the shift you are undergoing in relation to your own personal power. The masculine principle within yourself is rebalancing at this time, making you open to receive Grandfather’s Sacred Knowledge, which resides within your heart.

Time Keeper—with 60+ layers, helps us align to a higher order of personal authority and integrity. It’s dynamic fiery energy helps us to dance with life, build anew with strength while balancing wisdom and power with love and acceptance. See with an inner eye—the male and female united by a rose.

“This is the night of union,
when the stars scatter their rice over us.
The sky is excited.

Venus cannot stop singing the little songs she is making up.
Pisces is stirring milky dust from the ocean floor.
Jupiter rides his horse over to Saturn,
Old man, jump up behind me. The juice is coming back.
Think of something happy to shout as we go.

Mars washes his bloody sword, and puts it up,
and starts building things,
The Aquarian jar fills,
and the virgin pours from it generously.

It is finally time to learn how the sky is a leans to look through.”

~ Rumi

Timekeeper

Acrylic Abstraction on Gallery Wood Panel, 30″ x 30″

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Copyright 2016, Kiernan Antares, All Rights Reserved