Love Yourself Gorgeous!

I paint in part to show that women's body are BEAUTIFUL. In an attempt to show women that THEY are BEAUTIFUL. Because, unfortunately, so many women think their bodies are not. There are a lot of reasons for this - social pressures, the ridiculous amount of air brushing that occurs on just about anything you see in print. The absolutely fabulous lighting that accompanies any professional photo shoot or on-camera interview these days. Past sexual abuse, verbal insults from middle school or high school, or thoughtless comment from a former lover. Whatever it is - many women struggle with self-image issues.

Ironically, even I, knowing better, still fall into that trap of not always honoring and loving my body. Of at times beating myself up about my body. Like this week, I was looking at this painting - called Shadow Play - and caught myself thinking negatively about my body. Cause - OK for this one, I was the model. And I was looking at the stomach on this painting and thinking - "Damn, why did I not suck it in for that photo?" And "Damn - why did I not paint that stomach flatter and skinnier?"

When I use myself as a model, it's not a vanity thing, it's a I need a new painting and it's 2 in the morning and I'm my the only model available, kind of a thing. So I have taken pictures of myself to use as reference at the worst possible times likes during my time of the month or right after my miscarriage. But hey, I had the urge to paint something new, something my previous reference pictures weren't showing, or to finish a story I needed to tell. So I did.

I suppose I wish for myself, what I wish for all women - to love yourself, curves, "flaws" and all. I promise, most men and any man worth his weight, will look at those seeming imperfections and LOVE them. So give him a head start, and love yourself first.

Inspiration

People always ask where I find inspiration. I guess I find inspiration all around, when I'm creating a new piece of art. But when it's like day 5 of painting on something, I sometimes need to be re-inspired. That's when I head to one of two places, or sometimes both at the same time. For some reason a Starbucks Latte and a trip to the beach works every time.

Where do you find inspiration?

Anything Can Happen In the Blink Of An Eye

I was looking at my photo cards recently, because I am working to create more - of various places I've visited around the globe to go into the new online shop my Mom and I are starting together. And I came across the ones from my trip to Greece.

Greece was always this amazing place in my mind, that I would "someday" go. I didn't even put it onto my 5 or 10 year plan, because I felt it was that out of reach. Then one day, someone I was working with asked me if I would like to go to Athens in his place, to do new manager orientation for the new european managers. Of course I said yes, and within 2 weeks, I was in Greece.

That experience was amazing for many many reasons. And I grew a lot, both professionally and personally. I was in a foreign land, spoke none of the language, and when I took the time to travel, was traveling on my own. But as always happens in Europe when traveling, I met many friendly people and had a really amazing time. Made all the more incredible, because a few weeks earlier I was in the States, nursing a broken heart, and feeling like life was heavy and sad.

So every now and then, if I'm feeling a little down, and thinking nothing I'm doing is getting me from point A to point B at quite the speed I'd like - I look at my pictures of the Athena Temple in Athens - and relax. Because you never know, things can change for the better, for the wondrous, in a few seconds. That's the beauty of life.

For another positive post see The Power Of Time Off