You Are Loved
Remember that
You are loved
hello sweet friend,
Today I thought I’d share one of my latest journal pages: it is full of love, tenderness, peace and compassion, and since this first week of the year has been pretty rough around the world, I think we could all do with an extra dose of positive energy. But first, a little reminder: my free New Year art journaling series is still open for a little while, so if you haven’t already, click below to watch plenty of inspiring videos and get creating!
I actually started this page almost a year ago, just sketching the two faces over a background of book pages and gesso (one of my favorites!), then along the year, I added some paint left-overs and a few collage papers. It’s only last December that I felt the urge to finish it. I already loved the softness and the feminine vibe, and kept building from there with floral patterns and plenty of pink!
The little sparrow is from a dictionary page in the background. A first lantern appeared around it, then more and more followed, filling the page with light and whimsy! Around the end of the process, I felt called to add some loving, positive affirmations inside each of them. And another message, found in a magazine, was a perfect fit for the page:
“Remember you don’t have to do it alone”
And this is the message I would like to give you today: wherever you are in the world, remember that you are loved, that you are not alone. Many of us are in partial or full lockdown right now. Many are self-isolating. And many more just feel such a sense of disconnection, from others, from oneself, from the world, because of all the craziness that has been and is still going on (I’m especially thinking of all my American friends and students this week).
But the truth is that we are NOT alone. I know that at a deeper level, a soul level, we are all connected by a bright thread of light, even in those moments when we can’t see it or feel it.
When I look at this page, I can see my small, vulnerable self resting her head on the shoulder of my bigger, higher Self. That part of me that is eternal and made of pure light. She is so much stronger than I give myself credit for. She sees and knows so much more, she trusts so much more. And I can trust her, rely on her, and know that ultimately, it will all be OK. I don’t know how, and I don’t need to know right now. But when I focus on this feeling of trust, I feel such a weight lifting from my shoulders and from my heart.
And then I can change my perspective, shift my focus so I don’t forget all the beautiful, positive things that surround me every single day.
So here it is: what art journaling does for me, how it supports me on my journey. This creative practice is not just about painting pretty pages. It is deep and meaningful, just as much as it is fun and playful, and both are equally important! My journal is an outlet, a trusted friend, a magical portal, a playground… It has become such an important part of my life as an artist, and simply as a person. That’s why I’m so passionate about sharing it here on my blog and in my classes!
I hope you will join me in my free series New Beginnings and I would LOVE to be your guide in my in-depth class The Artist & the Journal! Registration has started earlier this week and will stay open a few more days. Click below to find out more:
Wherever you are in our world, remember that you are loved, you are precious, you matter. Remember that you are not alone, that there is a whole community of like-minded creatives who share this thread of light and of inspiration with you. Remember that creating can be your path to more wellbeing, self-love, understanding, strength and hope. I feel so lucky to have this resource to turn to in my life, and I can’t wait to share more of it with you soon!
This beautiful online course is all about creating an art journaling practice that works for YOU, so you can express your emotions, and tell your stories page after page. It is jam-packed with fun techniques and inspiration: a wonderful way to renew your creativity!