Busy, busy, busy...

I am not sure how exactly but I seemed to forget how insane November always is for me. I think because October was crazy, I thought the busy came early and November would be mild. That’s quite funny now when I think about it… what was I thinking?

It’s my busy season… work wise. Cape Town is in full filming season and the cameras are rolling everywhere. Plus I started with a new film client in October and it has been manic. I can’t remember when last I worked like this… I always work hard but this has been hectic. I am loving it and I know it’s good for me to keep me on my toes especially regarding not getting complacent in my day job. I think I was getting bored and the change has been brilliant.

35 Days to go

Delightful finds

Lavender Love

Today we all got to breathe out a big sigh of relief because it is the end of the school year for Kitty. She has finished Grade 11 and officially has one year left of school. Both of us are getting the scent of freedom and it is good. Corks has finished her second year of art school and has two years left to go… we are half way there. She has selected her major in painting. Exciting times.

Getting through this last term has been a push because both girls have been in bed with bronchitis and so soon after kitty having pneumonia. The holiday couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. We are fatigued.

Stitching Class in the City

In all her Glory

Old boy

Even though I haven’t had any time #inmystudio since my last lesson for Life Book and my auction, I’ve still been making time to do my #365TinyCaptures project, attend a stitching class in the city with a friend. And had visits with both Anne (Annetolie) and Annie in Hermanus and that’s always creatively filling my love tank.

Sweetness in the City

Annie weekend

Tiles at my yoga studio

Tomorrow sees us finishing our second month of Budokon mornings. It is closing now for the holidays and we are hoping to return in the new year. For now we will do our Saturday morning Budokon classes and some of the yoga classes at our regular gym, together with our own practice at home. We continue to learn and be humbled by the practice as well as by our bodies.

What a life changing few months we have had.

Catching up with life... and some news.

thank you, thank you, thank you

The build up to my auction was intense and the prep work was mighty. I make sure each piece is finished well, the sides of my canvases, my backgrounds and I make sure there aren’t any blemishes. I seal some of the pieces too. To me, finishing off pieces can take as long as a painting itself. I also managed to finish some of my bigger pieces that I had been struggling all year to finish. They came together in the end and ended up being some of my favourites for this event.

My auction came and went and it was such a wonderful experience and truly a highlight to my whole year. Honestly, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. Knowing I don’t walk alone is so big for me. Thank you for those who came, who loved, who bid and more. Your presence for those few days made me feel so held. THANK YOU Stephanie for your incredible love, support and constant input.

I was blown away by the whole experience, truly.

Post auction work for me is as full on and as intense as the prep. I have been deep in wrapping paper, bubblewrap, tape and boxes. It’s why I have been so quiet here on my blog and on social media. As you know, packaging up for me is as sacred as the art itself. There is something old world about receiving art wrapped and sent by snail mail. I know how I have felt when I’ve bought art from a special artist and unveiled the beauty inside. There is no other way to describe it… it is sacred. I hope you receive you package as such.

My packages are all on their way and my studio is empty and my new blank canvases are waiting for me… and I can’t wait to start creating again. It feels like I haven’t been doing anything new for around two months. I’m missing my space.

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budokan yoga mornings

We have survived our first month of Budokon Yoga mornings. Kitty and I have been getting up at 5.15am four mornings a week. We head into the city to workout with a small group. I think it might be the hardest thing I’ve ever done, physically, mentally and emotional. Somedays to get me through the door is quite something. If I didn’t have Kitty coaxing me over the threshold, I would have run away already. Some mornings my anxiety is real. It’s a combination of knowing I’m going to suffer and that no matter how hard I try, sometimes my body just won’t or just can’t do what I want it to do. But also knowing I am weak physically. As someone who has been active my whole life, I’m not sure how I got to this place. I have always been fit but not overly strong. And I’m so stiff in body from years of being a runner and from long hours of sitting.

Looking back after our first month. I’m so proud of us.

We are showing up and as hard as it’s been, we are loving it. There is something so beautiful about rising early, I do know this in itself is such a beautiful practice. But there has been so much more. We have been humbled in the most amazing ways and we are getting stronger. Remembering the sequence is quite something for my older brain to grasp. Not to mention the beauty of the practice itself. It’s visually pleasing to watch and do.

But the greatest gift of all is that I get to do this with my girl 4 times a week but also seeing my Kitty girl so happy. It’s changing her and she’s transforming right in front of me, physically and emotionally and I can’t contain my joy some days.

We have signed up for another month and I’ve ordered a dvd too to help us practice more at home. It’s been such a gift to us this last month and I have a feeling it will continue to do so as we grow in strength.

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road tripping, just digz and I

A few times Digz and I have been able to sneak away for a few weekends by ourself. And I can’t tell you what a treat they have been for us. Kitty has joined us a few times but Courteney’s schedule this year, hasn’t allowed her to join us yet but we are hoping she will soon. This past weekend was so special. It was good for my soul, we walked in the most beautiful place and it restored so much for me. We had beautiful quality conversation, shared meals and some sightseeing. I can’t wait to go back,

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300 and 65 days to go…

I can’t believe we are past the 300 day mark in the awesome little project and I love it so much. I now have less than 65 days left. Less than two months and that’s crazy to me. Visually breathtaking and I can’t wait to lay them all out.

Hmmmm I wish you could all pop over and step a little closer to see these beautiful TinyCaptures of Love.

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Lifebook 2018 Mini Lesson

I have been a guest teacher for a few platforms this year and I have found it particularly challenging this year to come up with teaching ideas. I don’t know why it’s been such a challenge, but it has. I literally toiled for months on this lesson and finally I managed to get out of my own way to film this little lesson. My first attempt was a fail. But this one… I loved putting together for you. Yay. Now I edit and upload and I hope you will love this lesson as much as I did. It was good for my soul.

Thank you for having me on LifeBook this year.

Have a beautiful week and I’m so excited to be entering November with most of my “have to’s” behind me. I am feeling excited and so relieved by my clear schedule ahead of me.

It feels like a promise…. of new things to come.

Much Love, always… Jeanne-Marie

September is behind us...

September came and went and I’m late in sharing my month.

Yes, life has been that crazy busy. Yikes…

This has still been such a highlight to my life and I’m loving ticking off the months as we go. We are officially into the double digit days and we are already into the 2nd week of October.

If I could chat to time, I would ask to him where he was off to in such a rush and maybe ask him to quieten down a bit, to linger a little longer and to take a gentle moment to hold still.

Just for a bit, just for me.

Thanksgiving Art Bundle...

This only happens once a year!!!!

8 Workshops from 5 Online Teachers are now on sale for a whopping 70% off.

For 1 week only.

If you haven't signed up for these yet, now is your chance to get them at this bargain price.

We all discounted our respective classes as a way of saying a BIG thank you, to YOU for the love and support through the years.

Registration is officially open now and once you have signed up, you will gain instant access to all 8 courses, all videos are downloadable and for your to keep and work on in your own time. 

This offer will expire in one week, next Wednesday 17th at 12 noon EST.

***Solo Auction in just a few sleeps...

I have known about my auction all year through and it’s just been something at the back of my mind and heart. It’s always a big deal and even though this will be my 4th Auction with Stephanie and 3rd Solo, I have to say it doesn’t get easier. Vulnerability takes courage, I know this right.

And for me it is always a full body, full heart and full mind experience.

Thank you for the love and support this last while, I literally couldn’t do it without YOU. And of course, Stephanie, you are amazing. Thank you for always believing.

Counting down the sleeps….

Sown in love...

I’m not sure why these little creations are delighting me so, even with my limited skills and abilities… They are bringing me equal amounts of joy and frustrations in their complexities.

At this stage I’m overstitching and unpicking as much as I am actually stitching and that makes me laugh at myself because in many ways, it’s how I paint. Layers over layers… until something emerges and until I find my way. Sometimes fully over doing it and having to pull back. I’m learning much and loving the creative play, as always.

Right now, it is feeding my soul and that’s always a good place.

All these pieces will be in my Auction next month. I hope you will swing by.

265 done and 100 to go...

The days have been slipping past and this year has moved at such a pace, that has at times left me breathless. Documenting this year in picture form has been such a gift to me. I have loved my journey. Visually… it’s moved me deeply. One thing has been clear the whole way through is being able to recognise the patterns of our life and our life is beautifully simple.

And simply beautiful.

Even though we have had challenges this year, a lot of them… it is SUCH a BeautifulLife and it’s really helped me not only focus on how hard things have been but it’s helped me hold on.

Thank you #365TinyCaptures for reminding me how precious our life is… each day, each memory, and each moment. You have taken my breath away with your beautiful reminders. Looking back with such fondness - I have loved every single day even in it’s fragility and in it’s vulnerability but mostly in it’s love.

#ObjectiveAchieved

Seeker of the Light...

This piece has captivated me for months.  I started her last year for my {Held}Captive class and I thought she was finished but she keeps calling me back.  These were originally flowers but now they are Lightseekers.  I guess pretty much where I am a this week, seeking that little light at the end of the tunnel.

I am learning much about painting fabric moths and I want to continue here for a while.  Finding ways to incorporate them into my art and stories.  I am still waiting for my MisterFinch book to arrive for beautiful inspiration but for now I continue to play and explore and fall more in love with painting these  mysterious fabric creatures.

I don’t think we are finished with each other yet but I’m hoping to wrap her up soon for my Auction that is coming up.  I am thrilled to say my Auction page is up and running.  To find out more, follow my button bellow.

Much love, always.

Budokon Yoga Mornings...

The past few years I’ve been doing on and off yoga. More off than on. For ages I giggled at myself for not being any good at it but I just kind of loved it for what it was. It wasn’t about being good or bad but more about me being. Stretching my stiff body. I sit a lot and stand a lot so I’m stiff in body. By the end of last year, something shifted and I’ve been going regularly, around 3 times a week. I’m a little hooked. And I’m slowly getting better, slowly getting stronger and slowly understanding more. More than that, I’m slowly loving it more and more. At our silent retreat we did such amazing yoga and our teachers recommended where we should go if we wanted to do more of that style of yoga. I did. I have been researching for 2 weeks and at last I signed up for a month long course, 12 sessions. to learn more and grow more, deeper learning. I feel like I am on this beautiful private journey.

Silent, intentional and utterly beautiful to me.

I am nervous, excited. It’s a new studio that I’ll be going to and that always takes courage. It will be 3 early mornings a week. It starts early October so the mornings will be lighter and warmer and I think it will be a brilliant way to start my day and make my weeks so beautiful.

#SoGrateful #SoHumbled

PYHAS2019 Winner

Thank you for participating in my free space giveaway. I had almost 100 names on my list.

Congratulations Mikell Duncan on your win.

Thank you for all your incredible comments, messages and stories about where you live and your beautiful homes. I learnt so much about new places and it felt like I got a little glimpse into your lives.

The early bird special continues. Please follow the button. Thank you so much for the sign ups already.

Happy Spring Day...

Since our beautiful silent retreat, we have been struggling to keep our head above water. Kitty being so sick, threw me right off kilter because she is so seldom sick and if she gets sick, it’s always so mild. And this was bad. Besides becoming an expert wound dresser the past few years from cycling crashes and road roasties, I realised I didn’t know what to do. It’s been so long since I had really sick babies, right. I am just so grateful for her doctor. I can’t remember when I felt so held and so heard by my doctor and that I was in a safe place. I took the rest of that week off and the weekend too, to be with her. She slept for 3 days straight. While she slept and healed, I spring cleaned her space and life and we regrouped together. Sometimes life just shows you what needs to be done.

We listened, we heard and we obeyed.

Eating clean

Sandy has fully healed

Yay Art Supplies

Sharon’s Porcelain rings

Beautiful scented Jasmine

Wisdom teeth removal

She slept for 3 days

2019 Planning already

Riley has healed

Hanging onto the goodness and celebrating the victories in the heaviness of these final winter months. We are all feeling it.

Today was the first official day of Spring in the Southern Hemisphere, Spring Equinox. Even though we had snow this week. I know around the end of winter, we are wary and holding on tight and this year feels no different. I am hoping with the change of seasons, we will feel lighter and feel refreshed from things that always seem a little heavier during the winter months.

Looking forward to milder, calmer days.

The beautiful art of quiet...

This weekend past Kitty and I escaped to the beautiful Kogelberg Nature Reserve and Mountains for a Silent Retreat.  We went together with my oldest friend from school, we are still connected after all these years.  We had been planning this trip since April and it was hard to believe it had arrived.  Our hearts were expectant and our bodies were ready too.

We arrived on Friday afternoon and the drive into the mountains with all those yellows and greens were like my color palette in life form.  I couldn't believe the synchronicity of that.  It felt like I was in another country.  As we hit the nature reserve, the cellphone signal was gone and I thought I would struggle, but I really didn't.  Plus our schedules were full on so I didn't have too much time to think about connecting outside.  We were connecting right here in the present.  Digz and Corks were also away for the weekend doing a stage race.

Our days were filled with yoga, meditative yoga and quiet and gentle sessions of being introspective, intentional and deep thinking.  We also shared beautiful intimate meals together.  Our teachers were really two of the most beautiful people I've met in a long time and our little group was quite something.  Some of us knew each other from gym and other places and there was a unity with us that often happens when one is on retreat.  I never forget how meaningful this is.  It was hard work and deep work too.  It was a slower yoga than some of the gym classes I do and I've realised I love this way more, it suits my temperament and nature much more.

I think I will tuck this experience away deep inside as one of the most moving things I've done in a long time.  The yoga was the most beautiful to me.  I learnt so much about was my breathing technique and also my tummy.  I don't know why that affected me so much but I think it has to do with the work I've been doing this year in surrendering.  Funny enough the name of the retreat was "LetGo".  I realise I hold my tummy in so tight all the time, without knowing it, I'm always clenching.  I am still holding on so damn tight.  Although I've been doing the daily work in yielding and moving with rather than against... you know, like my paint, creativity, life or everything else really, I still have so much work to do.  I shared more about it previously, in this blog post here.

It hit me hard this weekend and my body isn't quite there yet.  It felt like deeper work in this area.  Like bringing my body in line with the thoughts I've been having this year.  Maybe deeper levels to complement the work I've been doing with Gillian, my art and creativity.  I don't know, I'm still unpacking it.  But as I slow down and contemplate, release my tummy and breathe out, I will continue to do the work and that this was the start of something rather beautiful.

Mister Finch Inspired...

I know most of you have seen me share this image on FB/Instagram but I wanted to share it here too.  It was a delightful surprise that happened on this piece and I'm so captivated by the outcome.  And rather grateful too.  I've been needing something to captivate me and hold my thoughts.  As I was contemplating how to move forward with this smallish portrait.  I had stumbled upon these incredible fabric moths on Pinterest at the beginning of the year and I knew I wanted to paint them.  I was just trying to find the right time and right amount of courage.  I had saved the image but not the details and I wasn't sure how to find it again.  I shared this image on Twitter when a kind friend introduced me to Mister Finch, as I shared in a previous post.  I am so utterly captivated by his fabric works and I am completely smitten.  I can't wait for his book to arrive.

How utterly incredible to find flowers on moth wings, quite simply the most perfect combination to me.  Long may I stay here, captivated, intrigued and deeply moved.  I hope I will continue to find simple beauty and mystery in this place.

Thank you Mister Finch for adding so much beautiful to the world, especially mine at a time when I needed it the most.

#captivatedCompletely

Paint your Heart and Soul 2019

Earlier this year Olga Furman invited me to join her as a guest teacher on her year long art class called:-

Paint your Heart and Soul 2019

I'm thrilled to be sharing my intuitive painting ideas with you and I am especially excited to be walking and working alongside Olga and her great team of participating international teachers for the variety of art techniques we are going to explore together.

WOW!!!

All of us are very excited to share our knowledge and tips and tricks with creative people like YOU.  The course includes over 50 downloadable video lessons and PDF documents, which will be provided weekly, starting January 2019. Artist instructors will share their unique creative process with students, from start to finish, including a list of art supplies they use.  This course is designed for individuals of all skill levels, ranging from a total beginner (no previous experience in drawing/painting is required prior this course) to an experienced artist!

We will also have a closed FB group where students are encouraged to share their progress, receive support and meet likeminded friends. This is a very friendly and inviting environment.  Being a part of the art community has a tremendous positive effect and makes the learning process even more exciting! 

In this course I’m going to provide two lessons.  My first lesson will be around creating intuitive and emotional portraits and my mini lesson on the study of things.

This course is now open for registration (insert your affiliate link) and if you register by December 5th, you can purchase the course at a DISCOUNTED PRICE of $99 (save $30 from regular price of $129!) Don’t miss out!

And what’s more - I’m going to give one of you a FREE spot in the course, please see details below!

GIVEAWAY

To enter the Giveaway raffle, do the following: 

• Share this link on your Social Media (FB, Instagram, Pinterest)
• Comment on where you shared the link and I will add you to the raffle.  Each share on a different social media counts as one entry – multiple entries are encouraged!
• Sign up for my newsletter here.

I will announce the lucky winner on the 19th September 2018

*If you’ve already paid for the course and win the spot, you will get a full refund!

I can’t wait to start creating together!

Love, Jeanne-Marie

Building a body of works...

Thank you for all the calls and messages about Gillian's class and I've loved giving feedback.  Not to ever take away from the classes I've done before because they have been so part of my journey and my creative process and for that I will be forever grateful.   It wasn't by any stretch of the imagination easy for me and it was deep and hugely vulnerable at a time in my life, that I really needed it to be... about my art and my creative process.  

It was one of the most intensive and deeply life changing classes I've ever taken.  I loved the smaller intimate aspects of this class and of course, the mentoring was quite something. 

This is what I had to share about Gillian's class...

Gillian's Studio

“This class has by far been the most enriching and challenging class I’ve ever taken and I think it came along exactly when it was meant to. I was ready to go this deep and deeper. I felt I had reached a cross roads in my art and my creative process and I wasn’t sure how to move forward. I wasn’t sure I was going to cope with non instructional videos being a visual person but actually it has been the greatest gift about this class. I now see how important this step was for me because it forced me to do the work and find things out for myself, what’s inside of me and doing my art, my way. I will continue to do the work with these tools as I continue to learn, grow and go deeper. Researching, free writing and intensive mentoring has deeply changed the way I approach my creative process. I realized that this approach has been something I had been longing to learn for a very long time. Thank you Gillian for your gentle but firm mentoring and your deeply thought provoking material that has deeply changed my creative life. ”

I hope this helps you as much it has helped me, I know I have a long journey ahead of me but I'm on this road and I'm so thrilled that I got to get a space in this class.

Let's talk about color...

Color keeps coming up for me this year and it was a full chapter in Gillian's class.  I was afraid to face it when we got there - not sure why exactly because I'm a big color person.  I have this thing with color where we dance together but I don't really know the steps, right?  Admitting that I'm clueless felt a little shameful to me on some levels.  But as I started exploring it, I realised it wasn't the big boogie man I was making it in my head and dare I say I'm soooo enjoying exploring it more.  Giving myself permission to use it unashamedly.  Gillian said some things to me in the class and my notes that brought up some childhood memories around my relationship with color that moved me deeply and maybe even shifted something for me.

Corks shared this wonderful app called Adobe Capture with me.  One of it's lovely little features if you are moved by a color scheme or mood in front of you, hold up your phone to capture it and it works out the color palette for you.  I did this against one of my latest paintings and it's pretty spot on.  It has other awesome features too.  I hope you love this as much as I do.

This is a great little secret to help me in my studio notes book and research journal.

I love finding clever little things like this.

Beautiful pages of love...

I love art books and I love buying them and finding gems that help fill my creative love tank.  I am so thrilled to have found two beautiful books this week.  I haven't done too much book buying lately to finding these two books has been such a gift.  I am thrilled to share them with you.

Ivy's ColorFlow book couldn't have come at a better time, I've been doing color practice in Gillian's class.  I am so thrilled about this perfect little book and as for Mister Finch, well he's new to me and I'm giddy about this find.  I found some of his incredible creations on Pinterest at the beginning of the year and lost track of the details around these works and today I found it again.

I've been soooo inspired by his works.

#InMyStudio...

My creative process has felt different this year and while I was working on this piece and I was painting her mouth, I realised hey haven't painted an open mouth portrait this year.  I wasn't sure I was going to be able to.  I felt rusty but I'm happy to see that came out quite nicely without too much difficulty.  Phew.

I see I've also got a little locked into doing straight on faces and I need to practice variations more.  I know I have so much work ahead of me and so much to think about and not enough hours... gulp.  Otherwise I've loving the darker elements here.

Palette - Venetian Rose, Olive Green, Warm Grey, Process Black, Titanium White.

Finishing old pieces...

I started this piece in 2015 and never finished it.  It originally had two figures and it was part of my first year of 365Faces, 1faceaday journey.  The faces were lovely but the bodies were unfinished.  It has been waiting patiently for me all this time.  With many many layers and frustrations later, even scraping and sanding back... I started to find my way.

I love working this way.  I don't mind the messes and the fixes at all.  I almost can't get through any painting lately without what feels like has become this necessary step in my creative process.  I don't fully understand why exactly but I'm moving with it.  I think it might have to do with discovering new paints and how they work together with my old paints.  I'm intrigued.  Yes, I'm still very much in my green mode and I'm hoping to linger here a little longer, without feeling guilty about it.  I'm playing with the different shades of green and what happens when I add different blues to it, yellows and black and whites too.

So for now this is where I'm playing, repeating and playing some more.

Vegan butter... yummy

Ingredients 

• 1.5 x cups of coconut oil

• 0.5 x cups of almond or soy milk

• 0.5 x cups of olive/avocado/sunflower oil

• 4 x tablespoons soya lecithin granules

• 2 x teaspoons apple cider vinegar

• Salt to taste

My friend's hubby is vegan and while we were having dinner, it opened up many delightful conversations especially for Kitty and myself as we have been doing lots of research around vegetarianism and veganism.  We have been slowly making lifestyle changers not only in the way we eat but also in the way we buy food.  I'll share more about that soon.  They kindly introduced us to their homemade vegan butter.  I was intrigued and it tasted like pure heaven.  They gladly shared the recipe, which I tested today.  I used a fairly strong olive oil, which has added a taste variance because he used avo oil.  I also used almond milk and not soya milk.

All in all, rather delicious.

Method

Smooth and buttery

1. Add almond milk and soya licithin granules into the blender and make sure the granules are covered by the milk.

2. Add Apple cider vinegar and salt to the mixture.

3. Add the olive/avo oil and coconut oil next.

4. Blend together until thick and creamy.

5. Place into your containers and refrigerate / freeze.

Notes:-

1. Start your blender off on the slowest dial and move up to a faster speed.

2. Blend for a fair bit of time.

3. If mixture is runny and separates relatively soon after you have poured into your containers, then you have not blended enough.

4. Mixture must be thickish and creamy in consistency.

I love butter, all kinds and I don't use synthetic alternatives at all.  When I'm very lucky, my mom shares goat's milk butter with me, which is a rare treat.  I am currently waiting for my vegan butter to set so I can tuck in and I'm going to be testing alternative recipes in the next few weeks.  For our next dinner date we are going to be having a vegan butter tasting to start off our evening.

I love this.