Showing posts with label sailboats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sailboats. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Finding Love




How often do we self-sabotage ourselves, pick on ourselves or find fault where there is none?  Our negative self-talk follows us around and around and around and it takes away from our true selves -- Pure Love!

I found myself walking out of Stop & Shop the other day,  doing just that -- first, I lamented to myself that:  I was alone, then I found issues with my neck, then something else, and when I got to the fact that I even have “brown spots” (what am I a dog?),  I literally burst out laughing and laughed all the way to the car!  It was a revelation of how often I “pick on” myself instead of saying loving and nurturing words.

An excerpt from the book “A Return To Love” by Marianne Williamson that was also used in the speech by Nelson Mandela quotes:  

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that
other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone!
And, as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other 
people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”    
       

Well, why not Me?  We can choose every day -- be happy or be sad -- it’s a choice!  Let’s face it -- happy is certainly a lot more FUN!

So, let’s correlate that to our art or whatever creative endeavors we aspire to do -- look for the good -- look for what you love (I am talking to myself here) and there it will be -- right in front of you -- start with that and the joy will also be there.I live for the day when I only say  nice things to myself !

I say a truthful compliment to one stranger every day, and the smiles that I receive bring so much joy to me.  Try it -- there is always something special about everyone.  And in Art, there is always a compliment to be had!

It’s easy to find Joy and Love in everything you do -- choose it!  

And let me know how you are doing!

Here is one of my paintings that I painted in pure Joy!

"At The Lake", 12 x 9, Oil on Ampersand Board
Diane@DianeLeonard.com

                                                                       


Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Finding Your Own Art

We are all “Info” Junkies -- we love to learn -- learning is what keeps us motivated and using that information is what makes us grow.
The “McDonald” mind set is evident throughout our world -- we want it NOW!  We are all seeking the “short cut” !
In art, and in everything, there are no “short cuts” to greatness.  What makes anyone great is practice, studying and believing in yourself.  A ballet dancer starts at a very early age to learn the ballet positions, a golfer - how to hold the club, a singer learns how to read music, and an artist -- well, there is a lot to learn, starting with basics such as colors of paints, brushes, what to paint on, composition -- the list goes on.
It has taken me a very long time to get here -- and yet, today, I feel as if I am just getting started -- again.  I have a very unique and beautiful collection of books that I have learned so much from reading about the artists that came before us.  You should see how many incredible books I have.   The ones that did not have the internet to exchange ideas or look up subject matter, or copy someone else’s works.  The artists that did not have cameras to take all of the amazing photos that we can now do with digital cameras (love them).  
These artists broke through their own fears and found their way to paint.  Yes, they learned from a master teacher and one another, and yet each one found their own art in their souls.
And each one of these artists can teach us something -- Modigliani, Renoir, Monet, Sargent (everyone knows his work), Cassatt, and of course, Vincent -- read about their lives and their struggles to find their own art and their style -- and, here we are now recognizing their “genius” in their art -- and guess what -- we recognize their “style” because that is what made them famous!
I encourage you to find your own style -- yes, learn from one another, take workshops, and then find your own “Authentic Art”!
I can feel my art growing in the direction that I love.

"My Brother's Boat"
12 x 12, Oil on Canvas

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Teachers

       
Teachers come to us when the “student” is ready.  We are all students -- students in life and in art and in love.  Life is a learning experience.
And art, like golf or music or dancing, is always a learning experience.  Sometimes the message comes from a book or a movie or a song.  And, sometimes, the teacher is yourself.
When I reach a place where I am not sure how to get the result on the canvas that I want, I sit down and go back through my older paintings and see what I love about them.  Often times, I am amazed at the painting and wonder -- HOW DID I DO THAT?????
This is one of those paintings!!!!
"On The Rocks"
12 x 12, Oil on Board




Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Perfectionism


Perfectionism -- what is it exactly??  And, who is to judge what is “Perfect” anyway?  I am an avid fan of Neale Donald Walsch, and I read his daily newsletter that always seems to hit home with me -- His words of wisdom are exactly what I need to hear that very day.
Yesterday he wrote:  “What I have judged full of flaws, so many others have called terrific!  Maybe the definition of Perfection is something that actually gets done.”
I wonder how many times I have wiped out a painting, or give up on it thinking that it was not Perfect!  It would be wonderful to have someone come into the studio and take the paintings away before they are overworked or “judged” as not good enough!
As I ponder Neal’s words from yesterday, I am reminded that each day is a blessing and being able to create is what we are all about.  Soooooo -- I am putting my “judge” on the shelf and letting my creative soul -- CREATE!
And, it is Perfect just the way it is!

"Wading"
16 x 12 Oil on Board





Friday, December 10, 2010

Fantastic Friday

It’s Fantastic Friday where life smiles at us and wishes us joy!
Today is a great day to paint for yourself -- with no thoughts of sales or pleasing others -- just painting to paint!  
When Beethoven went deaf, he could still hear his music in his soul -- and he wrote those amazing symphonies that we still listen to.... all of these years later!  Imagine that -- the world still listens to his music -- symphonies play his music -- aspiring musicians learn to play his music -- and his symphonies are beautiful and captivating. They resonate in our souls.
And, that is what I wish for us today-- creating art that resonates in our souls.
Have a Fantastic Friday!
"Summer Sails"
24 x 24 Oil on Canvas
This painting Sold yesterday at
The Wright Gallery, Cape Porpoise, Maine

      


Tuesday, November 9, 2010

The Beach

There is a special bond with a mother and daughter -- add the beach and magic happens!
What a special gift -- the gift of love.

"My Daughter"
10 x 8 Oil on Board

Monday, March 15, 2010

Impressionist Mondays

This is a painting from one of my many trips to New York -- a place I love to visit.  There are so many great things to do and see while visiting the incredible city -- spring is almost here and Central Park will once again be filled with magic in the air.  
Thank you to everyone who has enjoyed and appreciated my paintings!  
And thank you for supporting my art.
Have a Magical Monday!

"New York Summer"  24 x 24  Oil on Canvas

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

impressionist Sailboats


Tuesday is a great day for creating new paintings, or cleaning out the closet -- I wonder what I will do today!
Wouldn’t it be fun to just hop on a plane and take off for Europe -- France, Italy - London.  Our world is such a magnificent place to see and I want to see all of it.
This painting was created after my trip to France.  I have been painting sailboats throughout my career -- sailboats in New York, France, at the beaches -- everywhere -- I love sailboats.  This one is so colorful and the children use sticks to push the boats around the small pond at the park.  Watching children play makes me smile.
Find the child within you today and play!  

"Toy Boats" 8 x 10  Oil on Board