Your individuality is your gift to the world - preparing for 2012

 

Here are a few thoughts I penned this morning and perhaps, as we are on the threshhold of a new year it's
a good time to ask ourselves a couple of questions.

If you are not being your authentic self, then who are you being?

If you're not living up to your own standadrds then who's standards are they?

Whether it's putting flowers in a vase or driving your car every thing you do is a unique expression of who you are. When you compromise your own values you water down what you create and who you are. If you stay true to your own values and present possibly a less palatable version of yourself to the world, you also give others permission to be their authentic self.

Putting what's important to you first, also allows others to do the same. There comes a point in life where if we don't respond to the urgent calling of our inner voice ( which may have been gently urging us for years even decades) then we may miss the boat. Of course there will be other boats but not this boat. Some chances only present themselves once and it's up to us to decide whether to sail into unknown seas with the possibility of adventure and perhaps danger or whether to sit in our safe harbour in a boat that may be slowly rotting.

Growth is always daunting but it is also what makes us feel alive. When it comes down to it, we are either
growing or withering. Admittedly there is a time for everything ( including standing still).

Perhaps 2012 is the year to allow you, to be completely yourself and to live with abandon ( as opposed to fear). Some people say they don't even know what it is that they want. Start by doing small things that make you happy and watch them grow, before you know it by simply pleasing yourself you will be living an authentic life and in doing so contributing to the Universe.

 There is only one YOU. No one else can be YOU!

Follow your Bliss and may 2012 be filled with joy, expansion and unconditional love.



Tracey Levett Art: Body of Light & Passion

Tracey Levett Art: Body of Light & Passion

www.traceylevettart.com

Body of Light & Passion

Body of Light

21st October 2011

When I began creating the paintings for this exhibition my original theme was Passion. Using a dramatic palette of creams, reds and black I began. As I allowed the Muse and the paint to have their way, it seemed, much to my disappointment a different idea was emerging. Passion was nowhere to be seen, instead, the idea of body and spirit, physical and non-physical kept presenting itself.


The paintings looked to me, like mists of non-physical punctuated by these little clay bodies with a pulse of red life force. The physical sat in the non-physical with no separation. I changed my theme and decided to honour what was emerging rather than force the theme I was hoping to paint.


Then in September as I was getting close to having a completed body of work my younger sister Mary died suddenly. The experience led me to ask myself many questions and also to test the mettle of my beliefs. After much soul searching I have been left with a deeper appreciation of life. It gave me a jolt and reminded me that to be luke warm about life is lazy. Like relationships or vocations or any pursuit, to thrive we need passion.  It appears my theme has come full circle. The temporariness of the body is great incentive to
live with passion. By approaching even the mundane with more energy than is required transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. A physical experience into something more.

 It appears that,  in a life well lived, we extract as much juice as possiblefrom our days.
 Life is our gift from the Universe - and passion, our gift in return.

"The Choosing" 2.1 x 1.2m

We choose what comes to us, by the thoughts we think.

Choose thoughts of Love.

"Meditation"  75 x 100cm

In the flow of Source's Abundance,

Love Joy Beauty Grace & Freedom.

River Dreaming 2.4m x 40cm

Dare to dream, this is where you create your reality.



Eternal  1 x 1m

Slow down, there will always be a new horizon.

Getting Started

Getting Started 2011.

It's already February and I'm still talking about getting started!!!

It's not that I'm not motivated but it seems I'm putting the cart before the horse by trying to create new work from an "empty tank" so to speak. Although December and January were quite full it hasn't got me to a point where I feel very inspired to paint. So falling back on old habits of "should" and being disciplined  I had decided to just get myself into the studio and spend a certain amount of time there and "work". In the old days whilst studying classical guitar you just had to buckle down and play your scales and your core pieces and then the new work. If this all sounds quite regimented and not very creative you're right. That's one of the reasons I stopped playing classical guitar, but old habits die hard and deep down I'm still the responsible
worker who feels guilty when I'm not being productive. This is a good time to remind myself about all those artists of the past who seemed to spend so much time in the coffee shops, bars and brothels.  I've no doubt that's where they got their inspiration. They sought out the company of other artists and intellectuals and the rich cross pollination of ideas and the colourful environments led to a fertile creative output. In my own experience I know that my best work like many artists and songwriters, once I'm inspired flows quickly and easily.

I know being disciplined works well  for some people and for certain artistic pursuits such as ballet and classical piano but for a free spirited creative I find it is counterproductive. Paintings created from this perspective tend to be uninspired and dry! So....what to do? I know I'm good at goal setting and acomplishing those goals but sometimes I fail to give myself the inspirational experiences needed to create new work. So I've made a list of suggestions to myself  (which may benefit my fellow artists) in order to "fill up my tank" and to commence work from a place of inspiration and joy and here are a few I'd like to share.

Buy a new CD of a singer/ songwriter that I've never bought before and consider creating a painting to go with each song on the album.

Take a class unrelated to painting that uses colour & design eg. jewelly making or something textile based

Read a novel set in an exotic location and create a painting from it.

Go somewhere new even if it's not very far and chat to other creative people eg Paddington Markets,

Write a song

Plant some flowers

Take some photographs and create from them

Look at old work and develop an idea that you never fully explored

Hang out in a beautiful bookshop, fabric shop or any shop, library or park.
Sit at a pavement cafe and watch the passers by

Be still and trust that your inner artist will come to the fore when the time is right.

I know I've never been lazy (in fact it's something I'd like to cultivate) so allowing myself the chance to get inspired is an essential  part of the process as it is for any artist. So if you see me wandering around Newtown, loitering in bookshops looking happy, it may look like I'm just having a nice time but in actual fact I'm working, I've no doubt that in no time at all I'll be feeling compelled to start expressing in my own way all that's been soaking into my visual memory.

Part Three The Power of Words

Life is beautiful.

Life is a privilege.

Everyday is an opportunity for more joy, more love, more gratitude.

Your thoughts become your life, your health, your relationships.

You are free to be whoever you are. You are free to be whoever you want to be.

Practice consciously choosing your thoughts.

 Each time you choose a negative thought replace it with a softer more positive one.

Each time you remember something sad, try remembering something funny or happy and you will raise your vibration allowing all the good that's flowing towards you to come in to your life.

Practice gratitude.

Be grateful for everything from eyelashes to the significant people in your life.

Before you get up set your intention for the day.

Before sleep give thanks for all that happened.

Plan something, have something to look forward to whilst enjoying the present moment.

Learn to cook, if you're going to eat three meals a day for the rest of your life

 they should be delicious and healthy.

Grow something it's amazing to watch new buds appear.

Play, be silly , pretend you're a child. Buy a water pistol or crazy foam and have fun with it.

Get up early if you can, morning is beautiful.

Stay up late sometimes and look at the stars, you are a part of all this;

it's easy to forget when you're always inside.

Be interested in other people, other places, visit somewhere new.

Sing at the top of your lungs, it doesn't matter how you sound it's good for your soul.

Catch the breeze, soak up some sun, walk barefoot, lay down under a beautiful tree and make cloud pictures.

Be on good terms with everyone.

Don't have anyone that you don't speak to, they may not be here tomorrow.

Life is short.

Enjoy

The Power of words part two

Life is an ongoing process of creation.

In order to master anything one must keep choosing the same thing.

Believe it is so, don't take no for an answer.

We manifest whatever we give our attention to, wanted or unwanted.

Always go with what truly represents who you are, if it doesn't feel right

then it probably isn't 

Let your feelings guide you, if it brings you joy then go with it and let the Universe sort out the details.

Don't let fear stop you, have faith.

Always reach for the best feeling thought about a situation, especially

when it's hard to find.

Be kind to yourself, don't run on an empty tank.

Find refreshment in nature, with lightheartedness and in solitude.

The feeling behind the action is more important than the action,

therefore don't do things if you feel resentful.

Try not to judge others, they are where they are and you haven't walked in their shoes.

When standing in queues make mental lists of appreciation.

Love your parents, they are a product of their upbringing and did the best they could,

 no matter how you feel about it.

Try not to live in the past or the future but in the present moment, it's precious.

Make time to connect with Source whether in meditation or by losing yourself in something you love to do.

Don't complain.

Smile.

Appreciate, appreciate, appreciate.

If you're out of alignment do whatever it takes to get back there.

Look after your body and thank it for all that it does for you.

Keep learning, keep growing.

Nurture your relationships, like you they thrive on variety, kindness and patience.

Go somewhere new, do something different.

Try a new way of doing something you do everyday.

Keep your life fresh and exhilarating.

Follow your Bliss

The power of words part One

Words .... who hasn't experienced the joy of hearing something you want to hear and who hasn't experienced the excruciating pain of words that cut like a knife. There is amazing power in words, we don't always have a say over what comes out of other peoples mouths but just like our thoughts we can choose
what we say to others and to our selves.

In a recent exhibition I had a set of three paintings which I completed at the beginning of the year and put away. These three pieces had a lot of text incorporated into the painting and upon reading them after some time I was really loving what they were saying.

I would like to share them with you one painting at a time here is the first.

Whatever you can imagine has the potential to exist, therefore why not let go of all fears and only imagine that which is uplifting, inspiring, exciting and beautiful.

Start everyday by setting an intention. Intend to laugh more, love more, play more,

and experience more joy.

Learn a joke, brighten someones day, distract them from their cares and make them smile.

Take nothing for granted and count every blessing.

Look for good in everyone, it's easy to be critical but so much more beneficial to praise.

Observe yourself, what habits and patterns of behaviour have you stuck repeating the same experiences over and over.

Be kind to yourself, never say anything to yourself that you wouldn't say to a best friend.

Exercise your body and you'll be amazed how much better you'll feel.

 Eat well it's an act of self love.

The people you surround yourself with are a reflection of your own self worth, what do they say about that.

Travel to new places even if it's in your own city. New places, people and experiences give you a fresh perspective.

Perform anonymous acts of kindness nothing makes a person feel more loved.

Turn off your computer, your phone, your TV and enjoy the Peace.

Do something you love even if you're not good at it. You can enjoy dancing "badly"

just as much as dancing well.

When making major or minor decisions do what's best for you it will be what's best for everyone in the long run.

No-one is responsible for your happines just as you are not responsible for anyone elses.

Stay in touch with the people you love.

Make your home beautiful, it is your haven and retreat.

Don't make excuses for living the life you lead, if you don't like it then change it.