Inspiration...

I have been deep in a listening space the past 6 months.

I listen whenever I can… while I walk, work, paint and drive. I know listening isn’t for everyone but it’s gold for me…. it’s the way my brain works. I mean, how precious it is to have someone read to you.

My heart and mind, expanded.

Here are a few that I’m still busy unpacking… Brene’s new book came at the exact right time. Finding the “language for the Human Experience” was so incredibly grounding, having the language to explain what it is we are going through, is everything. The Untethered Soul… was recommended to me and honestly was one of the most profound books I have ever listened to and I hope I can lean into the principles, perhaps a life handbook. I will need to listen to it again.

As most of you know, I do a Julia Cameron book every year and although I’ve done this book before, redoing it right at this time has allowed me to go deeper into some of the concepts and the synchronicity of it, on point. Mind you, I can honestly say that about all the books I’ve been working through lately.

The next few books on my list…. Living Untethered, a new book from Michael A. Singer and I can’t wait to dive in. If you aren’t familiar with Susan Cain, she wrote Quiet, the Power of Introverts in a World that can’t stop Talking, a good few years ago and this is her next book, Bitter-sweet. I listened to her Ted Talk recently on the subject, brilliant.

Don’t you find sharing book titles so deeply vulnerable and personal… revealing elements of our minds and souls.

A sense of belonging...

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about this concept of {belonging}.

The closer I look at it, the more I’m understanding this innate need in all of us to feel connected to something meaningful and this need we all have to feel like we {belong} to the people in our lives and to something that we do, that feeds our souls and how lucky we are when these two worlds collide. How this makes us feel significant in this world that ultimately leads us to feel loved…. no more than feel, but to be loved.

The more I have taken time to pause this year, the more I have been learning that there is nothing more important than the sense of {belonging} to oneself and perhaps to that of nature. The pulling I have to nature has got stronger and stronger as I’ve got older. I do think {belonging} to oneself requires intention and care. Reconnecting can take time… I am so grateful I’ve taken some time to reconnect to my mind, body and soul. I couldn’t create too much during this time, I needed the space to explore the interior landscape of my mind and heart and I needed to do that privately. I’ve been creating daily for 10 years so it was very difficult to allow myself to take this time for myself but I do think it was important work.

I think for the first time in long time, I’m feeling grounded with a deep sense of knowing and understanding of myself and what’s going on around me and perhaps even where I am going next.

On that note… during this month of June, my daily creative journey turned 10!!!

I celebrated quietly with that sweet significant memory of me leaping out of bed and declaring that from that day going forward I would keep bank hours #inmystudio which I did and I am still not sure how 10 years passed like as if no time passed at all. It has completely been a journey of love.

I have been so utterly grateful for everyday and every moment I have spent creating and so grateful to all of you who have journeyed with me.

I know I have been much quieter on the socials the last 6 months, the world of FB and Instagram certainly have changed over the past 10 years and I’ve been researching how to navigate it all in a way that aligns with my practice and my values. It’s not an easy one. Still not sure how to move forward with it but I am thinking about blogging more and sharing more deeply here. Please let me know your thoughts.

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watch this space…

Keep your eye out here for some giveaways I’ll be running soon to celebrate my 10 years of daily creativity. I’m working on some special things to share soon.

Can’t wait.

Orvieto is calling....

For the past two months my Instagram and Facebook have been flooded with special friends visiting Europe again. But more specifically, Italy and even more so… Orvieto. My heart has been skipping a beat at the thought of traveling again and heading back in September.

Michelle ran all her Spring classes in Orvieto successfully and that makes me so hopeful for the fall classes, when I will be teaching again. I know some folks have been apprehensive about travelling esp. to Europe but I’ve been thrilled to see so many taking the leap, going and loving it. So far the reports have been brilliant and uplifting and I can’t tell you how thrilled I am about this news.

Here is a little video from Michelle, our host for Adventures In Italy chatting about travelling in Orvieto. Please shout if you have any questions or concerns.

Please feel free to follow the link to sign up and join us in this magnificent creative pilgrimage that will fill your creative wells for the next two years.

I will be spending the next bit booking tickets and planning my trip.

The excitement is real.

Much Love, Jeanne-Marie

#InMyStudio... #30DaysofPainting...

I created a new space for myself this year, as you know it’s something I tend to do when I end a season of something. The shifting of energy in my space helps me find new creative energy. If it’s not something you tend to do, I do recommend the practice. It helps so much especially if you are a little stuck or overwhelmed about creating. I am smitten with my new space. My re-entry to daily creativity has been slower than most years and I feel humbled and most quiet at the moment and of course, I am not without some fear. I have been working on that. If you have been following me for years you will know I am good with projects, self motivated projects like #30days, #100days or #365days of something or other. I am wanting to get myself back to a place of flow with my paint, my paintbrushes and my beautiful big canvases. So I have decided to show up bank hours for the next #30days painting. Nothing specific, just painting and see what comes up. It might be the same piece for the next 30days or various works but more importantly no rules.

Just me and my paint, brushes and canvases.

SOLD “My Dear Girl” - 15.5” x 19.5” on watercolor paper, blockmounted.

I have also been working on a miniature collection of blockmount paintings, usually little warm down paintings at the end of a painting session with left over paint and big brushes. It’s a wonderful way to stay unattached to outcome, and also not wasting paint. I am trying to grow this little collection to around 10-15 pieces. They will be available soon. Some have been booked already so please feel free to reach out and put your red dot on one. Hopefully share more about that soon.

Today was day one of my #30Days and I managed to do another two blockmounts. I will be sharing here more regularly over the next #30days of my painting journey. I will be on a tight schedule of working the first 6 hours of each day painting. I will be turning my phone off for this and I hope this commitment to my practice will bring me back to a beautiful place of flow.

I sure have missed that incredible feeling with beautiful souls flowing right out of my brush.

©JeanneMarieArt 2022

Filling my creative LoveTank...

When my creative energy is low I know I have to do things to woo my creative inner child out of hiding. One of the ways I do that is with creative play dates.

That way it also helps me feel like I’m learning and so I don’t get so bored with myself or my practice.

So I started this year off taking a few classes in and around my city. I took a sun-dyeing (Cyanotype) class and a polaroid emulsion lift class and they were heavenly. The beautiful thing about these classes, is the permission it gives one to play. Isn’t it funny how we feel we need permission? Maybe it it has something to do with adulting but either way, I got to visit two exquisite buildings in our city, an old Herbert Baker building in the old silk district of town and a stunning boutique cafe which I know I’ll visit again.

Capturing elements of my garden in blue on different substrates - cotton, pebbles, Japanese washi paper and watercolor paper.

Pebble from Sedgefield with an impression of my Persian Silk tree bloom. Combining these two worlds in blue dye, priceless.

The beauty of this is that now I get to experiment at home. I have been testing different substrates and also working hard to get my chemical ratios correct. Each yield has its out outcome and with our winter sun, there are limitations. Exploring and playing is awesome and the results encouraging.

This was the most pleasing little class - I need to get some more equipment if I want to play more with this technique at home. I am definitely keen to set that up.

I can totally see how doing this will add to my creative play and works and I can’t wait to continue learning and playing. With winter now in full swing I have a Mushroom foraging class coming up…

Winter has arrived...

At last….

But more importantly, so have our rains. You know this is what I am always waiting for and to be honest, they have arrived a little late this year and that always makes me a little anxious. I am happy to say we have had a few back to back rainy days and they have been wonderful and I’m so grateful. We have a high water table in our area during winter so our garden is usually saturated all winter long and I have beautiful creatures like moss and mushrooms blooming everywhere. It also means I can now use my new queen size throw.

I have spent the last few months crocheting this beautiful throw. It held me during my down studio time and it held Riley too, who never leaves my side these days. I feel like some of my life has been woven into the fibers of each treble stitch, as it helped me process much of my life the past 6 months.

It started off as a small granny square and I kept going around and around until it was queen size. Every time I think I’m done, I sneak on another row. I have loved this journey with my granny’s old crochet needle and I have to say Riley loved the journey with me too. I think he might think this is his blanket now.

As for these colors - I’m stoked.

Italy - Madre della Citta

Have you heard… the soft calling and sweet whispers of this beautiful place…

I can’t tell you how moved I am to have been invited back to share creativity and my love for Orvieto in art form through painting, clay and beautiful photography. Capturing the feminine essence of La Madre in everything we do.

I know life and the world at the moment feels like such an uncertain place and time but I know one thing that remains constant - is our need for art and to create art and to do that in community. There is something so nurturing and soft about Orvieto and about creating in the upper room of the monastery together.

I hope you will consider creating with me this September in this incredibly sacred place. Please follow the link in my bio for more details or message me directly if you would like to chat more about it. It’s a topic I adore chatting about.

Stealing moments...

SOLD Inner Growth - 6”x8” Stretched canvas

I have started a few new paintings for this year. I am trying to be mindful with finishing these works before I continue with new work. That might be challenging for me because I do love having multiple projects on the go. This is the first little one I’ve completed so far and it felt good.

I am painting rusty but as I shift the paint around and work with my brushes, the longing to return to my practice is deep and finally starting to feel more ready. As some of my energy returns I am finding myself at my easel with less resistance, which is delightful right now.

I have decided to take a bit of a break from filming for the next bit. I worked out that I filmed and edited for around 9 months of last year as well as creating a massive clay body of works and I think it’s part of why I burnt out.

I am on a mission to look after myself a little more mindfully this year. And I think there is no better way than focusing on my practice and painting big beautiful canvases as I heal.

©JeanneMarieArt 2022

The gift of sacred spaces....

I took a whole month off from my yoga practice in December. Most of my teachers were away. I tried to do some self practice but mostly I just rested. I think it’s good for the body too. I have been returning slowly to my practice.

It really is one of my great loves in this life.

I have a little weekly yoga routine and I’m so grateful I get to move and practice in sacred spaces and work with the most incredible teachers. Some of which I have been working with for years now. The gift of practice and repetition is not wasted on me. The best part of having my constant routine is the element of community I’ve found in these spaces that comes from moving and flowing together every week. It’s about finding the small connections especially in a world that has felt so disconnect lately.

I am so humbled by this.

Class is in Session....

As you know my little class launched last week on Ivy Newport’s creative platform.

I am so thrilled that it’s out in the world.

I actually filmed this little class last year before I had my auction in July and I spent a few month editing and building my classroom. Thank you to all of you who signed up and there is still time to join us and come create with Mother Nature and PaperClay.

This too shall pass...

It was with much contemplation and sadness that I decided to cancel my one class… ComeClay3DwithMe.

For those of you who signed up and received your refunds, thank you for being so gracious with me. It is the first time I have not finished my class commitments. It was very tough on my soul to pull the plug on this project but my body was telling me what I had to do and ultimately, I had to listen.

I was so utterly exhausted in December and I knew something was wrong. In January, I decided to see my doctor to see what was up. I suspected my iron was on the down low and it was the lowest it has ever been, along with my blood pressure. It explained my physical and mental fatigue. As for the emotional fatigue… well I’m still working on that.

I am on a treatment plan and I am starting to feel a little better. Some days I am able to get through the day without needing to go back to bed but my creativity and time in the studio hasn’t fully recovered yet. I’m still going slow with most things, especially social media and resting as much as I can in between life. How is it that we are half way through February already?

I am looking forward to being back to fuller capacity.

Thanks once again for giving me the space to figure out what was going on and giving me the time I’ve needed to heal and recover.

The Nature of Clay...

I am so thrilled to be sharing this new class with you on Ivy’s beautiful platform.

Brand New launch…

Nature & PaperClay

EARLY BIRD PRICE!

$67.00  $87.00

CLASS OPENS FEBRUARY 10TH!

As always these little classes are a complete labor of love.

Each classroom I make, feels like a mini body of works and it’s own canvas and the process of putting a class together feels no different to putting a small body of work together just in a different medium.

I hope you love this new class and I can’t say thank you enough for letting me share another little instalment with you. What a beautiful combination for merging Nature and PaperClay. It been a kind of alchemy.

Can’t wait to see you there.

From my heart to yours, Jeanne-Marie

Walking slowly...

I’m still in a bit of denial that we have crossed over into the New Year. I haven’t wanted to make a big deal or fuss about it, to be honest and I felt this way about Christmas too. Moving quietly through both moments and lulling myself from one day to next, is pretty much all I could manage.

I am fatigued, the deep in my bones kind and it has been a little on the chronic side. Me and fatigue have met before so I kind of know what it looks and feels like. I think the toll of the past two years has caught up with me, amongst other things but it certainly has made life a little tricky the past few months. I haven’t been able to be as optimal as I would like and I am trying to get through that with limited guilt as possible.

I am basically taking one day at a time.

In South Africa, December is when we all shut down, close up shop and rest. Some businesses close up to 3 weeks at a time and our schools close for around 2 months. This is a good time to press the pause button. So I did, I took some time off to sleep as much as possible, walk and swim often in this beautiful place and have been walking towards restoring myself back to health. I’ve been taking a bit of a break from social media, which has been really good for me and I’ll start heading back into my studio as soon as I can.

I know I have some deadlines coming up and I know everyone has been patient with me which I’m super grateful for, more about that in another post. I don’t have too many plans for the year ahead, I’m not there yet. For now, I am just focussing on getting stronger.

Thank you for being so understanding with me as I take this time to recover.

Much love, always Jeanne-Marie

Auction is up and running....

The Heartful SoulArt Collective Monthly Auction is currently underway and I have my last few pieces for this year available there.

I have a variety of pieces from small to big, painting to clay and I always try consider something for everyone.

Please pop on over and see if there is something there for you.

SOLD - ©JeanneMarieArt 2021

Our auction will close out on Tuesday 5pm EST.

A little tribute to my grandmother...

La Madre…

Where do I start with this beautiful Mother.

I have sooo much to share about this precious Madre and my exquisite day last week Friday.

Since my Gran passed I had one deep regret that I never got to sit along side her and let her teach me how to crochet. She was an avid crocheter and I couldn’t understand how I let that pass me by. For years it became this thing that I couldn’t do but wished I could... after playing with weaving last week for my little class, I knew I wanted to try this and after searching Pinterest and chatting with Daniela - we made a date online to crochet together. She was super patient with my baby hands and got me through my first crochet pebble.

©JeanneMarieArt 2021

I sat alone after our time together and managed to figure out how crochet my spoon-shaped shell. I had to improvise a little but what I did, worked well. Once I was happy with my crochet covered shell, I pulled out my clay. I ran out of white clay halfway through so had to combine it with the only clay I had on hand which happened to be my terracotta clay but the combination of clay was wonderful.

I am beyond humbled by her presence.

I am hoping this is the start of a beautiful new practice for me and to learn new patterns but honestly this combination of shell, thread and clay… mind blown!!! I kept thinking about my gran as I worked and I wonder if she was smiling down on my fumble fingers.

The response to my new La Madre Class has been so wonderful - thank you so much for signing up and once again allowing me to share concepts and ideas with you, as one idea leads onto the next… like this delicate Madre.

It's that time of year...

I love this time of year.

Winter has passed and the days are beautifully mild and have definitely warmed some. The sun is up early and staying up late, which means we have slowly started moving back into the garden space again.

Spring is in the air and so is spring cleaning, a bit of a promise after the long hibernation of winter. Shifting things around helps me feel more renewed to start new seasons, whatever that may be. We spent a few days repainting the outside furniture, only my benches left to do but I can’t wait to finish that this week. We have also got back to painting some zones inside the house and we are busy getting quotes to have the outside painted too, a little overdue but I’m super excited about it.

I also have some new season plantings to do. I love my outside space so much and my early rising means time on the stoep sipping coffee, meanderings in the garden… watering, weeding and feeding the birds…. yes, my beautiful birds and butterflies are back.

It’s good to be outside again.

Heartful Soul Holiday Show...

16th to 23rd November

I’m so thrilled to once again be invited to join Olga Furman and the rest of the Heartful Soul Holiday auction team to participate in this event. My day will start at:-

3pm EST on the 21st November and close out at 5pm EST on the 23rd November.

I will have around 10 or so pieces available, a good mix of paintings and clay works available.

Please follow the link below and click on “going” if you would like to join us for the coming week. The artworks that will be flowing from today are amazing and so thrilled to be part of this collective again.

Thank you for having me.

La Madre goes live...

“My Mother was my first country, the first place I’ve ever lived.”

— Nayyirah Waheed

This quote, this theme and this tutorial so close to my heart.

Not only is the theme of Mother so close to my heart but so is this theme of the sacred home found within. I loved finding this precious way of using my beautiful sea shells to create this interesting portal to go within. The Oyster shell was a perfect archway and of course, being inspired by my beautiful Orvieto.

If you signed up, please keep an eye out for your login details. You will receive your email today. I will be around in the classroom for the next couple of days sorting out little glitches and gremlins that always show up on the first couple of days. I will also be adding some extra bits and bobs on the go. Please keep refreshing your classroom page incase I’ve made some adjustments. Please reach out if you need me for anything.

If you haven’t signed up yet, there is still time.

Much love, Jeanne-Marie

Filming, Filming, Filming...

I have been deep in filming my new classes and I’ve been working steadily.

I’m so grateful for this beautiful time #inmystudio because I love this part of my work as much as I do creating. I love sharing what I love and I love sharing my quirky little discoveries.

It makes me so happy.

La Madre is a lesson I’ll be sharing with you on how I’ve been working into beautiful organic shells that create the most exquisite archways to the souls of these emotive beings.

I know we don’t all have access to shells but for this lesson I wanted to share how using the humble basic oyster shell combined with our beautiful clay, can create magic and the sweetest storytelling.

I hope you will join me for this new sweet instalment class.

Omgoodness she kicked my butt...

Wow she was hard to find in the paint. She took hours and hours of working and reworking until I found her and was happy enough to call her finished. That’s super hard when you are filming but I’m always so humbled by this. Working intuitively can be so vulnerable and sharing that vulnerability is always a big energy pull for me. Sometimes things don’t flow or go to plan but they still have a way of teaching you such beautiful stories and lessons. I’m so grateful for that and I can’t wait to share this lesson with you in my new little ComeClay3DwithMe class.

Now to edit those hours and hours of work. Eeeck.