I don’t really believe in balance. I found that trying to achieve any sort of balance in art and life was completely stressing me out. The balance never happened.

Instead, I’m learning to embrace the ebb and flow and expect change, which means I’ve deepened my painting practice.

Creating is one of the things I know I can always come back to for grounding whenever everything else feels crazy chaotic. I know getting creative will always bring me calm, even if it’s just for a few minutes of coloring or sketching in my journal.

Lately, I’ve also been stopping to smell the roses. Literally. Anytime I pause to smell a flower or even take a photo of anything I find beautiful, it immediately brings me back into the present moment.

And I really need that presence if I’m going to put any heart into my artwork.

Doing things without an agenda helps me refuel, slow down and enjoy.

Whenever I try and push to finish a painting or any creative project. I get so wrapped up in where I think it should go, so focused on the future and intense about the doing, that the painting just ends up in a big covered up mess.

That usually forces me to stop and take a break. And it’s in those breaks that I have my best ideas and inspiration.

Now, instead of reaching frustration and stress, I’m trying to give myself that down time as I go – taking time to enjoy a long weekend, go for a walk, journal, garden and then hide out and read mysteries or memoirs on my back porch for awhile.

That way, I find that when I come back to creating, I feel filled up. And I have so much more to give and to share with you.

Happy painting!
xo, Juliette

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