Can we do it?
Can we bring softness and kindness to battlegrounds, both inner and outer?
Art helps.
Senior Venus
Sally Swain © original art
Senior Venus, apparently, is
Senior Venus
Author Archives: Art and Soul Creativity Coaching since 1993
Looking the Monster in the Eye
In Which
One Artist Attempts
to Transform Fear and Loathing
into Peace and Power
A (Literally) Ripping Picture-Story Comprising Alternative Art Heart Facts
{Warning: you might not be able to stomach the ensuing facial photos}
{on the other hand, the face has been difficult to avoid, unless you live in a remote cave in an exotic location}
Preface (a poem):
There’s no need to ration
self-care or compassion
when tending a wound
of the heart.
To deepen the healing,
allow space for feeling
and channel your hurt
through your art.
Chapter One
in which
How to tend a hurt heart
Creative Wellbeing in a Time of Trump
I cannot pretend. I cannot send out a glib, pretty message disconnected from deeper realities. I want to speak with you directly, from my heart to yours, and hopefully back again, in a loop of realness.
I wish to inspire the feeding of creativity, the gathering of community, the radiating of authentic connection.
Sous
Sally Swain © original art
But here comes the Old Steam Train of Doubt … choo choo … puff puff … TOOOT!
Don’t
Words in your Wallpaper
Power (with a bit of Flower)
detail from Sally Swain © original art
Maya and Me
Do you have words in your rugs?
In your upholstery?
Maya Angelou, amazingly versatile, talented poet, actor, director, dancer, everything-creator, said this to her pal Oprah:
“Words are things. You must be careful, careful about calling people out of their names, using racial pejoratives and sexual pejoratives and all that ignorance. Don’t do that. Some day we’ll be able to measure the power of words. I think they are things. They get on the walls. They get in your wallpaper. They get in your rugs, in your upholstery, and your clothes, and finally in to you.”
Which way?
Katoomba sign
Maya inspired me to
Love is the Answer
The spirit of creative play is alive and well
in Newtown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, the World
and….shh…
The Nature and Culture of Newtown 1
how about a
The Nature and Culture of Newtown 2
What would you like to bring to fruition
in the new year?
And what’s wrong with pears anyway?
I’ve never understood why Pear-shaped means something’s gone wrong.
Pears are beautiful.
They’re smooth, balanced and voluptuous. They are nature’s art – alive and juicy. They even stand up by themselves. Perhaps they need to stand up for themselves, along with their pear supporters.
Pear-shaped World 2
Sally Swain © original art
2017 vision
What do you think is a
Looking backwards, floating forwards
Beyond our control, whether we like it or not,
2016 slurps, skids, stutters and slides into 2017.
How is this time of year for you?
The Dream
Sally Swain
© original art
Are you adrift in the sea-sky
of the supposed festive season?
Are you firmly grounded in the daily laundry of life?
Are you lonely or surrounded by love?
Or both?
What bird are you?
We have reached
Solstice,
which leads directly to
Christmas and Chanukah,
which lead directly to
New Year.
What bird are you in this possibly frightening or despairing time in world politics?
What bird are you in this possibly delightful or joyful season of festivity?
I am not a victim
Sally Swain © original art
You saw it here first! I tucked the painting away out of view in case of appearing too grumpy. It’s time for this particular bird-woman to show herself.
I had the privilege of
Climbing Trees, Knowing Home
How lucky am I?
My original muse was David Swain.
He helped me find my niche.
He helped me find my balance.
He helped me find my footing.
He helped me know home.
My original
Leafettes
micro mini canvasses
Sally Swain © original art
muse, David Swain (1923 – 2010)
would be turning 93 right now. My dear Dad.
He taught me to climb trees.
Folds, Spots and Wrinkles. A tree has no need for anti-ageing cream.
and know home.
I was not a confident little girl.
When I was seven,
Let weeds tickle my bumper bar
Art and Soulie Spot 7
Stories from the Creative Path
Remember my favourite gate in the world?
Favourite Gate
Art and Soul Space 