Tag Archives: passion

Why do you make art?

Making art is an expression of who I am.

The wonders I see and experience are a catalyst for creating and sharing.

I make art because the alternative is not an option.

Quote 1: “When passion fuels your destiny, joy will appear!” ~Vanessa Lee Thomas

My morning ritual usually includes reading the latest blog post by Seth Godin. It’s a way to kick my brain into gear and give me food for thought.

His recent post, What is your art? really resonated with me. I produce my art because I want to share something beautiful with the world and because I love it!
I am so grateful to all those who tell me that my art makes them smile and brightens their day. That they think of me when they see flowers. It warms my soul.

Quote 2: “Little deeds are like little seeds, they can grow to flowers or to weeds” ~Daniel D Palmer


Quote 3: “If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our lives would change” ~ Buddha

Quote 4: ” Your soul can see the beauty that surrounds you, embrace it!” ~Vanessa Lee Thomas

Everything is Awesome – almost

Usage of the word ‘awesome’ has become increasingly common. So much so that it takes away some of the punch it can deliver. I still love using it though!

Photo 1: Singular beauty

Chrysanthemum pink

 Everything is awesome

After watching the Lego movie featuring the rather catchy song Everything is Awesome the lyrics stayed in my head for several days. My 5 year old daughter said it was the first ‘boy type’ movie she actually enjoyed. Now that statement would take another blog post to unpack but nevertheless the theme song was catchy to my kids too.

After watching the tv series Chuck and discovering Devon, aka Captain Awesome I also nicknamed my scientist husband Dr Awesome which he finds rather amusing. We would certainly like everything to be awesome all the time and being part of a team usually helps to get you there. Over use of the word can make the awesome seem mundane but there are tiny moments of ‘awesome’ happening throughout our days if we take the time to pay attention.

When I do my floral photography I can spend hours marvelling at the awesome display flowers create while simultaneously being beautiful and providing a vital link in the cycle of life.

When things get awful

Sometimes though life can be more awful than awesome. Sometimes shockingly awful things happen and in those moments it’s difficult to find the ‘awesome’.

When my Mum died last year it was awful for our family. The loss also reminded us of our own mortality.

To keep moving forward though we need to rediscover the ‘awesome’ as that gives us hope for a brighter tomorrow.

Photo 2: Intricate detail on a pink Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum pink macro

Finding the awesome

Then I watched a TED talk given by 70 year old Isabel Allende – “How to live passionately at any age” – she had decided to live her life with passion and make the most of the time she had. Inspirational!

The ‘awesome’ within us needs to be unleashed so the awful doesn’t squash us into pits of despair. When we release our own awesomeness and reflect and encourage the awesomeness of others then life feels more purposeful and meaningful.

There is only one of you. You are unique. What will you do with your ‘awesome’?