I thought today, I would share a little bit from the behind the scenes of my life as an artist. How my day begins, the bare essentials I need to connect myself to my creative journey and how it unfolds.

I am a lonely painter, I live in a box of paints.

Joni Mitchell

I adore that line from Joni’s song ‘Canada’. I also love this song because I used a few lines from it for my wedding vows (thanks Joni!)) such as this one…

I could drink a case of you darling and I would still be on my feet, oh I would still be on my feet.

..but yes being a painter can definitely be a lonely profession. I think for me though, it is one of the key ingredients to creating meaningful art. Being alone/lonely can conjure up some really deep and meaningful thoughts and emotions to create the kind of art that speaks your truth.

Of course you can feel lonely at any time or feel completely fulfilled being alone. I think both have something to offer and both are necessary at times.

When we feel truly lonely, it can be painful, isolation and endless. I think facing these oceans of vastness with a sense of surrender and curiosity can bring answers, a path for the seeker, slowly etching its way out in front of you. Then…being alone becomes essential to sourcing happiness within. Its that inner wild place, where our internal compass sits. With that being said , lets look behind the scenes…

How my morning begins

A few months ago, I situated my bed so that when I open my eyes the first thing I see are the branches of my birch tree outside my window. Depending on the day, those branches are sometimes so still, like a painting. Other times, they dance wildly in the company of the wind. The sky is in the mood it is in on that given day. Sometimes I can hear the songs from the little birds singing proudly. Other times there is a thick silence and I stare right into it.

My curtains are always open so that when the day wakes, I wake. I often wonder about being one of those people who get up at the crack of dawn and do yoga outside on the dewy grass while a pot of coffee brews on the window sill! My warm bed however, pulls those thought under the cover for another few minutes. My eldest son wakes very early every morning so I savor these few moments, alone in the silence with this little view outside my window.

Here, I focus on nothing but breath

Dee Ci

Nature then studio

Once I have dropped my boys to school, I drive straight to the beach. I change into my swimming gear and leave my thoughts on the seat next to me! This part of my day is sacred. It’s me and the icy water. An intimate embrace of surrender and acceptance. Here, I focus on nothing but breath. It really is the most delicious cup of coffee! Yes it’s bitter at first but then you feel yourself come to life, waking up, ready for the wave!

I always bring my apprentice with me (a.k.a Millie, my sweet sweet dog) She usually barks at the shore line until I am out safe and sound, both feet on the sand and of course…ready for her walk!

Once I am back home in my little studio, it is time to unbottle the essence of that morning’s embrace with nature. I feel I should point out though, in case anyone is thinking so far that my mornings are composed to perfection- I walk through my house to get to my studio and when I pass the kitchen, I am like a horse wearing blinders! I don’t want to become alarmed by the view of the kitchen counters in my peripheral vision. I simply refuse to clean that morning’s chaos until later on in the day (priorities!)

The Creative Process

Listening to music is such an essential ingredient to my creative process. It is the catapult that sends my soul soaring through time and space. My brushes move in rhythm to the melody. The often subtle notes of music allow me to pause, to cast my gaze outside my window. To that world outside of this one. It is fleeting and I am pulled back into hear and now, inside and above. I am in the flow. Pure source energy flowing through every fiber of my being. This feeling….this is why I paint. (You can lean more about my process as an artist in my About page.)

Like a dart zooming past my line of vision, time always moves from morning to afternoon in an instant. Time to put my brushes down and run out the door to collect my boys from school. My studio time usually ends there but sometimes, after an evening of activities, when there is a beautiful, satisfied and relaxed energy in the house and my boys are immersed in their own worlds, I quietly slip back into mine.

Sometimes it is just for a few moments. It’s enough and never enough! Like a budding romance, you long to see your love interest for just a few more moments but it’s never long enough.

And that is all I have to share from behind the scenes of my life as an artist for now. I will bid you farewell,

until next time folks,

Be wild. Be free

Dee Ci