I very much enjoyed reading your post and seeing your beautiful little paintings. I found it interesting that you in Scotland have the same worries about where the power and greed in government will take us, despite us having different "powers that be".
Thank you! And yeah, unfortunately I think there's prob not a place on earth immune from the billionaire take over. It seems that the wealthy have hijacked governments everywhere - I'd love to be wrong. So pleased you enjoyed reading it!
This is just what I needed today. Nice to notice the beauty where we can when there’s so much scary unknown everywhere to weigh us down with worry. Drawing, noticing the beauty all around us and tea for everyone! What a brilliant idea to use your small bits of old paintings and blobs. They’re so lovely and have such nice detail, and most importantly they’re giving you-and others-joy. We need more of that for sure! Thanks for the lovely post.
oh yay, thank you Johanna! I'm so pleased you got something out of it. I really do believe focusing on the wonder and connecting with others to share it is a superpower that will get us through these scary times.
Beautiful work and words. I like how you tied the thought at the end with your colorful little paintings, urging us to focus on a small part of what is in front of us to avoid being overwhelmed when looking at the larger picture (world affairs).
Thank you Maria! I'm so pleased you enjoyed it. I really think we must work out how to find the joy despite a lot of horror. There's a lot of money being made by selling us horror - I think looking small helps counteract that! x
Anna, that an absolutely glorious bit of writing this is! And those paintings! I thought to myself ‘that’s how she’s doing it!!’ as I’ve wondered about the drying and layering. What an absolutely brilliant idea to make good use of materials, a creative challenge and the knock on benefit of making these tiny treasures extra magical.
You’ve certainly inspired my own painting journey, and I am absolutely loving the mini paintings. And ooohhh that glorious contrast of warm glows and deep blue.
ahh you're so lovely Amanda! thank you :) And super nice to know you feel inspired. It was such a revelation for myself to start with a pre-painted layer completely unrelated to whatever goes on top. Hope you're well! xx
I really enjoyed reading you, the smallest moments are important, and I think if we paid more attention to the everyday the small things become precious and the big problems of the world lose importance and especially power that are they are base on, I have the same feelings about paying attention to the small things that happen around me or big events of the earth like a big storm. I love you small paintings
Hi Alessandra and thank you! So nice to hear it resonates with you too - the paying attention to the small. In many ways it's all we have - and yet it is also everything we have! And yay for a big storm!
I loved this post! I used to live in Edinburgh and seeing your tiny pictures so beautifully capture those timeless streets with their constant stream of people made me nostalgic and happy. I enjoy your message of finding joy in uncertain times not by starting fresh, but by building on what you've got and focusing on the details like a fuzzy blue sweater. Thank you!
Oh I'm so pleased it brought you some memories and some joy! It's such a beautiful city. I think it could inspire me forever. And yes to a fuzzy blue sweater! xx
Love this comment: ...we agreed that at least we were the main characters so we’d probably be fine...' I wonder if creatives survive drama more than non creatives due to our imaginations? Also, love your paintings and in particular the windy blue one!
ooh I wonder this too! I think it can actually work both ways for me - sometimes (prob particularly if alone) my imagination is very good at taking me down the most disastrous paths! And if I'm feeling good it can do the otherwise... Having such a strong imagination definitely changes my perception of the world I'm sure.
Thanks so much Jess! I think I could never not want to be in cold Edinburgh - I always feel sad for the bizillions of tourists who only see it in the summer. It's not at its best at all :) x
Haha. That's what Ella said! My picture book paintings always get edited so much post the painting stage so for some reason I don't feel at all attached to them. If I ever get good enough that I've managed to paint the perfect spread with no editing required maybe I'll keep them! That said, I also have nowhere to put them. They're all just in huge piles taking up space and get ruined like that anyway! xx
Hahaha well I'll encourage you to consider waiting a year or two (if you're not already). If you or your publisher submits your book for an award, you may be asked to send in your art for an exhibition. This happened to Devon Holzwarth. Hers wasn't "final" either so she had to finesse it a bit for the show, but I think that's not uncommon. We all have revisions, and I saw some illustrations that had sections of new art collaged on top of the original.
That said, I love that you're doing something with your pieces. Meanwhile I'm over here holding onto proofs for basically no reason 🙈
eeek! If was lucky enough to ever get in an exhibition for a book it's too late :) I'd have to just tell them I tore them all up! There's something very liberating about turning them into other things :)
I very much enjoyed reading your post and seeing your beautiful little paintings. I found it interesting that you in Scotland have the same worries about where the power and greed in government will take us, despite us having different "powers that be".
Thank you! And yeah, unfortunately I think there's prob not a place on earth immune from the billionaire take over. It seems that the wealthy have hijacked governments everywhere - I'd love to be wrong. So pleased you enjoyed reading it!
This is just what I needed today. Nice to notice the beauty where we can when there’s so much scary unknown everywhere to weigh us down with worry. Drawing, noticing the beauty all around us and tea for everyone! What a brilliant idea to use your small bits of old paintings and blobs. They’re so lovely and have such nice detail, and most importantly they’re giving you-and others-joy. We need more of that for sure! Thanks for the lovely post.
oh yay, thank you Johanna! I'm so pleased you got something out of it. I really do believe focusing on the wonder and connecting with others to share it is a superpower that will get us through these scary times.
I sent it to my daughter and she loved your post too.❤️
Johanna you have stated exactly how I feel. Ditto. Art heals.
Oh Anna, these tiny artworks are absolutely magical! Each one tells a little story, and draws you into the scene - just enchanting!
Thanks so much Julia! I'm glad they felt magical. They really feel that way to make - like a superpower somehow, so much joy in something so small.
Beautiful work and words. I like how you tied the thought at the end with your colorful little paintings, urging us to focus on a small part of what is in front of us to avoid being overwhelmed when looking at the larger picture (world affairs).
Thank you Maria! I'm so pleased you enjoyed it. I really think we must work out how to find the joy despite a lot of horror. There's a lot of money being made by selling us horror - I think looking small helps counteract that! x
Anna, that an absolutely glorious bit of writing this is! And those paintings! I thought to myself ‘that’s how she’s doing it!!’ as I’ve wondered about the drying and layering. What an absolutely brilliant idea to make good use of materials, a creative challenge and the knock on benefit of making these tiny treasures extra magical.
You’ve certainly inspired my own painting journey, and I am absolutely loving the mini paintings. And ooohhh that glorious contrast of warm glows and deep blue.
ahh you're so lovely Amanda! thank you :) And super nice to know you feel inspired. It was such a revelation for myself to start with a pre-painted layer completely unrelated to whatever goes on top. Hope you're well! xx
I really enjoyed reading you, the smallest moments are important, and I think if we paid more attention to the everyday the small things become precious and the big problems of the world lose importance and especially power that are they are base on, I have the same feelings about paying attention to the small things that happen around me or big events of the earth like a big storm. I love you small paintings
Hi Alessandra and thank you! So nice to hear it resonates with you too - the paying attention to the small. In many ways it's all we have - and yet it is also everything we have! And yay for a big storm!
So beautifully written and drawn Anna and a wonderful way to be present in a world of larger turmoil
Thanks mum xx
Love hearing from you and seeing these smaller pieces
Thanks so much Thea! It’s lovely to make small sketchy pieces! Glad you enjoyed them ❤️
I love your picture puddles they are always so exciting to see
I’ve become quite addicted to making them! As soon as I have a puddle of colour it really feels like a tempting invitation 😊
Really enjoy your art and your posts - both are illuminating. Hoping to see many more!
Thanks so very much Shannon! An absolute delight to hear you enjoy them. Thank you for reading!
Very happy I discovered you! Thank you for your lovely art and writing and photos too!
Thanks so much Lara! So pleased you enjoyed them :)
This is wonderful. I love everything about this post. Thank you.
Thanks Charlene! So pleased it resonated with you :)
I loved this post! I used to live in Edinburgh and seeing your tiny pictures so beautifully capture those timeless streets with their constant stream of people made me nostalgic and happy. I enjoy your message of finding joy in uncertain times not by starting fresh, but by building on what you've got and focusing on the details like a fuzzy blue sweater. Thank you!
Oh I'm so pleased it brought you some memories and some joy! It's such a beautiful city. I think it could inspire me forever. And yes to a fuzzy blue sweater! xx
Love this comment: ...we agreed that at least we were the main characters so we’d probably be fine...' I wonder if creatives survive drama more than non creatives due to our imaginations? Also, love your paintings and in particular the windy blue one!
ooh I wonder this too! I think it can actually work both ways for me - sometimes (prob particularly if alone) my imagination is very good at taking me down the most disastrous paths! And if I'm feeling good it can do the otherwise... Having such a strong imagination definitely changes my perception of the world I'm sure.
So much beauty in your gorgeous drawings and photos Anna! It makes me want to be there in cold Edinburgh.🥰
Thanks so much Jess! I think I could never not want to be in cold Edinburgh - I always feel sad for the bizillions of tourists who only see it in the summer. It's not at its best at all :) x
So much gorgeousness! I'll admit I had a mild panic attack when reading " I’d tear up most of my picture book paintings" though hahaha!
I also have a lot of paper I need to use up
Haha. That's what Ella said! My picture book paintings always get edited so much post the painting stage so for some reason I don't feel at all attached to them. If I ever get good enough that I've managed to paint the perfect spread with no editing required maybe I'll keep them! That said, I also have nowhere to put them. They're all just in huge piles taking up space and get ruined like that anyway! xx
Hahaha well I'll encourage you to consider waiting a year or two (if you're not already). If you or your publisher submits your book for an award, you may be asked to send in your art for an exhibition. This happened to Devon Holzwarth. Hers wasn't "final" either so she had to finesse it a bit for the show, but I think that's not uncommon. We all have revisions, and I saw some illustrations that had sections of new art collaged on top of the original.
That said, I love that you're doing something with your pieces. Meanwhile I'm over here holding onto proofs for basically no reason 🙈
eeek! If was lucky enough to ever get in an exhibition for a book it's too late :) I'd have to just tell them I tore them all up! There's something very liberating about turning them into other things :)
Yeah, and you could always recreate stuff if you really wanted