Why so many Fairies, Angles, Unicorns and Mermaids... well, first of all, I know it all seems quite child-like and maybe a bit silly to some and to others lacking in any real depth or meaning... but, I'm a mummy of two small humans, and through the stories we explore and the games we play I spend a fair amount of my time in the land of fairies, angels, mermaids and unicorns, not to mentions the prince and princesses of traditioanal fairytales and more recently Disney films... and I enjoy it there.
It wasn't always that way.
When my daughter (second child) was born almost four years ago my brain seemed to change too... suddenly within a few short months of her birth our home was filled with fairies and angels - images, little ornaments, toys, greetings cards - to me and to her - that were then framed... they came from everywhere, gifts we were sent, little things that I myself bought when out and about, things I wouldn't have noticed before...
They just kind of moved in, all these fairies and angels...
Without a doubt this was a time of heart-opening and going with the flow... after the fairies moved in I began to draw again.
Slowly, just little sketches, but the images just kept coming... and gradually as I drew, created and crafted more, people around me began to encourage me to try selling some of my creations - again, this was something I was previously closed to, it was a mixture of uncertainty and lack of belief in my own gifts, as well as contentment at letting my creative process be just for me - as a kind of art-therapy, that held me back.
But the deeper impulse to share and not hide it all away was stronger, and also part of this greater heart-opening. And here I am two years later trying to sell my wares...
Sometimes I feel that in the context of this 'shop' and the act of trying to put a price on what I do, the soul is stripped away, the soul of where it all comes from... because on the surface of things, so what about another fairy drawing, how does it relate to real-world themes and experiences - unless some-one comes accross this page and happens to like fairy imagery and the like, the deeper aspects of what I'm sharing will be un-seen...
I do like it also that the process is hidden - a picture tells a thousand words after-all, and when engaging with any creation or piece of art it is the end piece that is being engaged with, not the whole personality of the person who created it...
But this week my heart has once again been calling to open and share and even remind myself of what it's all about...
So, when the fairies moved in they showed me that -
I believe in exploring the deeper mysteries of life, regardless of whether I actually believe in them (the fairies) or not...
I believe in the spirit of play and playfulness and freedom to feel through play - and if fairy-tale imagery can take us to that child-like place, then why not!?!
I believe in making time for stillness, solitude, listening and the science of meditation - maybe Angel imagery can convey some of that?
I believe that storytelling is healing, so I draw simple pictures that tell a story...
I think it's as simple as that, and if ever I were to write an Artists mission statement about these child-like drawings that have poured out of me these last two years then this would be it! There is always something deeper that drives the inner impulse to draw or create, whatever the end imagery might be...
Thank you for reading this post, whether you 'get' my work or not, like it or not... this wasn't meant to be a self-indulgent post taking it all far too seriously (I don't think the fairies are very serious folk!) - I just wanted to be open and honest and put the soul back in! This is me dancing as if no-one is watching...
Thank you for following my journey this far!
