Inspire: it's not light we need but fire!

That's exactly what I was thinking this morning at 6.30am when I awoke to find the fire still burning in the hearth. Thank goodness for small mercies! Mind you, a little light also comes in handy at 6.30am in this part of the world, when all is dark and the only sound you can hear are the sounds of mice playing in the pasta packets in the pantry. Nice ;-)

There are projects in the air here at la Rivière. Subtle (and not so subtle) changes are occurring which bring out a hint of the inner fire. And where there's fire - there's colour!

Beaker has suggested a move to further shores. Seeing none of the options include Down Under, I've resolutely declined the offer. Not because I don't love to travel… BOY do I LOVE to travel!

 But because I'm setting up my own BIG art project here with marginalised women in Toulouse. A project I can move across to India afterwards.

Yes, as well as home schooling.

Yes, in case you were wondering, as well as trying to organise my own exhibitions.

Can you find the word 'courage' in the image up there?

I have to keep painting COURAGE in order to keep pulling it from somewhere.

I'm hoping to tap into a bottomless spring of it at some stage in the near future.

 Life here is all about metamorphosis. 

Even this piece rose out of the ashes.

Metaphorically speaking that is.

I just happened to splash a bottle of indigo ink I was having difficulty opening 

all over the bottom of a finished piece of work.

It was originally ONE WORD written on a page dating from 1715.

I nearly cried in frustration. 

NEARLY!

Then I started again with what I had, mistakes 'n' all.

Interesting what I ended up with.

Nothing like my original intention.

Does that ever happen to you?

It's not light that we need but fire; 

It's not the gentle shower but thunder; 

We need the storm, the whirlwind, the earthquake

Frederick Douglass 

(Dying to know who he is? Click here to find out.)

Have a great week every one :)

Ange

PS:  When I've framed it, like I intend to this week, I'll repost photos and put it up in my Etsy shop.

A heart of Courage: giveaway

Have you ever noticed that when you finally bite the bullet and do something you've been dying to do but dreading internally, for fear of being out of your league, too big for your boots, or just plain not up to grade, that things just fall into place?

Over at Annie Blogs you can win one of my 'Key to Courage' hearts above if you leave a comment on her blog answering one not so tiny question: 'What does courage mean to you?' 

To me courage means daring to believe you're bigger than you feel inside, and stepping out even if you aren't completely sure you have what it takes to make the jump . It means not asking permission for believing in yourself.

Courage to me means: 

Daring to be the change I want to see in the world!

(thank you Gandhi!)

And you? What's courage to you? Go and tell Annie here then come back and share with me

Sending out some bursts of courage to you all till next time

Love

Sagesse et Sérénité

Mon Dieu, donne moi le courage de changer les choses que je peux changer,

la sérénité d’accepter celles que je ne peux pas changer,

et la sagesse de distinguer entre les deux.

Marc Aurèle

Mon plus petit messmonster a été malade toute cette semaine. J'aurais tant aimé changer cela, surtout pour lui.. mais quand même aussi un peu beaucoup pour moi.  Je l'avoue, j'ai regardé le beau temps dehors - si parfait pour peindre et pour courir - avec frustration. Mais - il n'y avait rien à faire. Il fallait laisser la peste suivre son chemin... 

Accepter... C'est aussi cela la vie!

Et puis, Tant Pis! Demain je peindrai à l'intérieur et je courrai sous la pluie...