Simplicity

I was reminded yesterday of a beautiful little painting that I did several years ago.  The simplicity of the painting and the flow of the strokes showed the joy that I put into the painting.

I sat at my computer and enjoyed my own painting -- once again!  As I looked at it I wondered how I ever painted such a little beauty so simply and yet filled with so much emotion and power.  My first thought was WOW!  How did I do that?  Why don’t I paint like that every day?????

Then I thought of how many times I have struggled with my work -- agonizing over my strokes -- re-working it, adding doubt and truly not enjoying the process.  And, so, there it was -- a simple beauty staring at me.

And there it is -- it’s simple --just paint from your heart, knowing that the love and joy of God is in every stroke!

Have fun painting today and every day, and please let me know how you are doing.

"Secrets"

12 x 9

Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

A Great Read

  

What an awesome reminder
Of why we are here.

The Cab Ride

I arrived at the address and honked the horn.
After waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked.
'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice.
I could hear something being dragged across the floor..

After a long pause, the door opened.
A small woman in her 90's stood before me..
She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it,
Like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase.
The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years.
All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters.
In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said.
I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb..

She kept thanking me for my kindness.
'It's nothing', I told her..
'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated'.

'Oh, you're such a good boy', she said.
When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked,
'Could you drive through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said.
'I'm in no hurry.
I'm on my way to a hospice'.

I looked in the rear-view mirror.
Her eyes were glistening.
'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice..
'The doctor says I don't have very long.
'I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city.
She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived
When they were newlyweds.
She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once
Been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner
And would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing..

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said,
'I'm tired. Let's go now'.

We drove in silence to the address she had given me.
It was a low building, like a small convalescent home,
With a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up..
They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door.
The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?'
She asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.
She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said.
'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.
Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift.
I drove aimlessly lost in thought.
For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk.
What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,
Or one who was impatient to end his shift?
What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once,
Then driven away?

On a quick review,
I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware - beautifully
Wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY
WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID
~BUT~
THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER
HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

You won't get any big surprise in 10 days if you send this to ten people.

But, you might help make the world a little kinder
and more compassionate by sending it on and
reminding us that often it is the random acts of
kindness that most benefit all of us.

Thank you, my friend...

Wishing you Joy every day!

"Joy"

30 x 30, Oil on Canvas

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Making My Heart Smile

One of the greatest compliments to an artist is the purchase of their work.  I just finished a beautiful painting for a woman in Oklahoma.  And to my greatest delight, here is what she emailed me upon receiving it.

“Your painting of Magical Splendor arrived and I am in awe!  It's absolutely beautiful.  I just stand back and admire it.  Thank you so much for taking the time to paint Magical Splendor for me.  No words could better describe what your painting means to me.  What a blessing you are to others through your art!

I hope some day we have the opportunity to meet.  I am sure I will be asking you to do another painting for me in the future.  God's blessings to you!!!

With sincere gratitude,"

DC

Oklahoma

This truly made my heart smile!

"Magical Splendor"

8 x 10, Oil on Board

Stretching Ourselves

 After my total hip replacement last February, I literally had to start over with little baby moves and stretches to let my muscles and ligaments start working again.  It was a long and slow process as I began to learn  to walk again with my new hip.  Almost like teaching a baby to walk!  With help from a physical therapist, a nurse, and my sister, I began the process of healing.

A year later, I am fine, and yet I am still doing small movements to stretch those muscles that had atrophied.  Now that I am back at the gym, I can feel my strength returning.

And yesterday, as we were snowed in, my sister was showing me some intense yin yoga stretches that you hold for two minutes.  As you hold a pose, you can feel the “Ahhh” as your muscles begin to stretch.   While I was holding a long and great pose, I thought of how I have to keep stretching myself as an artist to keep myself loose and to keep growing.  Sometimes, it is a painful process to grow and stretch yourself, and as you do, you can feel that “Ahhh” as you learn new methods and figure out how to get that paint on the canvas the way you want!

And, sometimes, beginning again, is a good thing!

Here is a quote from Ray Chambers, a philanthropist who is creating programs to make our world a better place.

“Live in the moment

It's better to be loving than to be right

Be a spectator to your own thoughts, especially when you become emotional

Be grateful for at least one thing every day

Help others every chance you get.”

And let me know how you are doing!

"Bliss" 7 x 5 

Oil on Ampersand Board

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

                                                             

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

                                                                       

Elvis

Did you know that there is a satellite radio station named Elvis -- that just plays songs by Elvis?  Isn’t that amazing!!!  Elvis touched so many people during his life, and he is still touching our hearts with his music.  And long after his death, he is still revered and remembered in our world.  I love listening to his sweet voice and his songs of love.

He is the most impersonated person on this planet -- there are even contests about him.  And, you can get married by Elvis in Las Vegas!

Here’s a question -- do you want to be famous now or when you are gone?  

Some of our greatest artists did not become famous until after they left this earth!  Legacies of the life of Vincent have touched our lives and we see the “genius” in his work.  Other artists who struggled with poverty are still alive in this world as we discovered their creative genius after their passing.  Amedeo Modigiliani -- watch the movie with Andy Garcia -- was so poor and his paintings now grace the walls of so many museums.  Paul Cezanne opened the doors for artists such as Picasso and so many others by stretching himself in his art.  He was laughed at for his paintings, and yet when we see them now, we see the beauty in nature that he saw and then painted.

We all have genius inside ourselves -- each in our own way -- today I celebrate the creative genius in all of us!

Paint from your Heart!  

All of the self-help books say the same thing -- love what you do and you will be rich!  Isn’t it better to be happy now!

Okay, here it is -- I want to give my art to the world so that when I am gone, I have spread joy and happiness through my art.  So many of my collectors write to me and tell me that I have brought them joy -- that truly makes me feel so wonderful.

Here’s to feeling wonderful and blessed today and every day.  And I am changing my name to Elvis!!!!!

Please let me know how you are doing!  

This is a little painting that I did several years ago, entitled, "Loving thoughts" !

                                                "Loving Thoughts"  12 x 12  Oil on Canvas

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

You can see my work in giclees and prints and cards at:  http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/diane-leonard.html

Defending Your Art

I found myself defending my art last week.  I have been working on two paintings for a long time now, and after wipe outs, sanding them down, wiping out again, sanding them down again -- whew and then starting over and over again -- thinking -- I got it NOW!  I can do this -- I can paint these with ease!  NOT!

These are commissioned paintings and I want them Right!  I want my collectors to love them -- but do I love them?

My sister and her husband keep asking me when they are going to be done.  They have given me deadlines -- and of course, that doesn’t work either.  Then they asked what is the matter -- and I found myself giving reasons why they are not done.

And so it is -- they are not done because I have too much pressure on me to paint to please someone else, and not myself.  And, consequently, I wasn’t feeling confident and I wasn’t having FUN!

There is no time in Art -- creating is a passionate pursuit and the joy of a painting comes from painting from your heart!

A dancer practices a new dance until they FEEL the movements -- a singer sings a new song until they FEEL the music and even a golfer must be “In the Moment” to truly play the game.

And so with Art -- you have to be in the painting and feeling it -- not thinking about each stroke!  Then you will please yourself.

Paint from your Heart!

I think I will try a new Brush today and see what happens!

"Little Sunflowers"

12 x 9 Oil on Board

This little painting just happened -- and I love it!

Making Your Dreams Come True

Debbie Ford -- Allow Your Dreams To Come True

Debbie Ford, a brilliant and loving author, speaker, coach, radio personality, gave so much to our world.  As her sister, Arielle Ford wrote:

“Debbie innovated groundbreaking work around the human shadow and grew into her role as a teacher, sharing her insightful shadow work through her many books, lectures, workshops, coaching programs, TV and radio shows, and even a movie -- helping hundreds of thousands around the world transform their pain into "their best life." Debbie helped so many people go beyond their limited perspective of themselves and reconnect to the love, joy, and peace of their true selves”

We are all our own teachers as well learning from one another -- we are here to share our gifts in whatever direction they take us.  

Our world will miss this incredible woman, and her work certainly made a difference in my life and her wisdom will live on and on!

Thank you, Debbie Ford, for your life here on earth.  Here's to the "Joy" that Debbie Ford brought to our world!

Let’s all allow our dreams to come true -- today and everyday.  

"Joy"  30 x 30 Oil on Canvas

http://dianeleonard.com

Love Your Work

       

The magical number these days is 97 -- yes, 97!  It’s all over the Internet -- people are selling their products for $97.00 and it seems to be working!  Some of them are worth it and others -- well, let me say this -- no way!

A painting is worth what you feel it is worth -- and you know when you put your heart and soul into a painting and when you “just paint”!  The paintings of Vincent were utterly worthless to the people of Arles after he died -- they destroyed so many of them -- even his mother destroyed dozens of his paintings -- and NOW -- they sell for millions!

Value your work -- put your Soul into your work.  The value of your work comes to you when you step back and feel great about the painting right in front of you.

Love your work!

"Party Lanterns"

14 x 11, Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Happy Summer Painting!

       

As summer approaches, it is time to take some “time out” for ourselves.   When we are relaxing or doing garden work, swimming in the pool or at a picnic at the beach --  new and creative ideas pop into our heads.   These little gems inspire us to create.  

Taking breaks from the studio is a necessary part of growing in our art.

I keep a sketch book with me at all times, and even late at night in bed, I will sketch out new ideas that are inspiring me.

Here’s to inspiration and here’s to great new art this summer!

Happy Painting!

"Tranquility"

10 x 8, Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Painting for Fun

It’s May and Spring is here!!!!  Yeah!  I can’t wait to paint outside!!!

Today is a great day to just LET GO!  Just paint for yourself.

Paint for the sheer joy of it!

And Just Have FUN!

"Afternoon Light"

7 x 5 Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Helping Japan

The devastation in Japan has touched all of our hearts.  My heart just hurts so much for the people of Japan -- I think of these beautiful and fun-loving people who are cold and hungry and homeless and who have lost their loved ones, and I hurt. 

My time in Nagano so many years ago was like a movie, and it was one of the best experiences of my life.  The Japanese taught me why I paint -- to bring joy and happiness to the world with my art -- I remember being in their homes and listening to them speak Japanese and somehow I understood them -- art is a universal language that can touch all of us.  They told me that when they were cold in the winter, my paintings would make them smile and bring them joy.

And to help in my small way, I have just released a limited edition note card to help raise funds to heal the country of Japan.

They love children and they love flowers, so this is why I chose the painting, "The Little Flower Girl".  This painting was shown in five U.S. Shows and won Second Place in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana Fine Art Show. this is original oil is available for sale!  If you are interested, please contact me at my email address -- and a large portion of that sale will go to Japan!

So, in my own small way, I want to contribute! 

I will appreciate anything that you will do to help.   

Here is the link to the notecards:

http://dianeleonard.com/content.asp?page_id=16

If you would kindly forward this blog on to your friends, it would be greatly appreciated.

With loving gratitude,

Diane Leonard

"Little Flower Girl"

20 x 16

Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Happy Monday!

       

I am a dreamer and I like that part of me -- it keeps me thinking of sweet days and happy times.  

When we look for our blessings and what gifts we have, we create more of them!  It’s the glass half full theory and it’s a good theory.  Sometimes during a painting you can focus on what isn’t working instead of what is working -- that’s when it is a good time to take a break, walk away, stretch, get a glass of water and return to your work with loving eyes and see what beauty is already there -- and then start over from there.

On this beautiful Monday, it is a great day to dream big dreams and count your many blessings!

Have a great week filled with smiles and love.

"Party Lanterns"

18 x 14 Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com

Red Fridays

       

It’s Friday and the day to wear RED to support our troops!  Sometimes being a Hero means being there for the people that you love.

Life has a beautiful way of bringing smiles to us --- in so many wonderful ways!

Here’s to a day filled with smiles and the people we love!

"Friday Afternoon"

8 x 10, Oil on Board

DianeLeonard.com

Diane@DianeLeonard.com