Have you ever had an idea that has taken you a few years to complete on?

I have.  This piece is a prime example.  It was conceptualized in 2019 and I'm only now getting around to it.  I love that feeling of completing on older projects.  I was curious if I'd feel the same inspiration after all this time.  I am.  Very cool.  I think I'm even more motivated now that I started to refine the shapes and colours.  

There are a ton of details to paint in.  While you see the line drawing on the canvas, the lines only depict major elements.  There are subtle shifts throughout the entire piece.  It's slow.  It's rewarding.  It's going to be stunning. 

From deep fuschia to light pink and on to white.  These six blooms are going to be amazing.  

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Just the way I planned it. 

We all know the summer flowers don't last forever, but someone there is still a sadness when they are gone.  Part of my master plan is to bring those gorgeous flowers indoors so you can enjoy them all year long. 

But really, what does it matter that you have a flower painting on your wall?  In the big picture. Yes, it's pretty, but what is the lasting effect? 

Just image you wake up and are greeted by one of these beauties.  What's the first thing you do?  You smile.  You are in awe of the beauty, the colour, the lighting.  Guess what?  Even on the grayest of days, you immediately feel better. 

What happens when we feel better?  We smile more.  We feel more confident.  We greet our neighbours with a warm hello.  We might even have a conversation with a random stranger.  Who knows what could happen once you step outside feeling all happy.  

We have an impact in the world, we may not always know what that impact is.  We may not have any feedback about how we influencing others around us, but influencing we are. 

My situation is unique because I often receive messages from clients once they have received their paintings.  Like this one.  This is the reaction from a client who was seeing her painting for the first time. 

It still brings tears to my eyes to take in this impact.  Can you feel it to?  The amazing connection she had to the painting that I painted for her.  Does she feel different?  You bet.  

Now just imagine what that feeling can do for a week, for a month, for a year. 

We might want to change the world around us but really not know how to do anything to create that change.  I know for certain feeling good is one thing that we can all do, and it has a big impact on what's going on around us. 

Or this note from another collector of mine,,,,, 

Why am I sharing all this, partly for me to be reminded of the impact that I'm having and partly to share with you, what it's like to own one of my paintings. 

I really want to share beauty with others and by creating gorgeous paintings I have a way to do that. 

Right now, I have a special promotion going on.  For my VIP email recipients, I'm sharing a $100 voucher to use towards their purchase. (Good until 11 July 2022) Would you too like to be a part of it.  It's easy.  Simply join my email list.  Here is the link to do that.  

Maybe you'd like to see the pieces that are included in the Mid-Summer Clearance first. Before you sign up, because what if the paintings aren't any good.  You don't want to sign up to a list if the paintings are bad.  (They are not bad)
​Just take a look.  Don't take my word for it. 

Yes, I can be a bit cheeky.  Have a great day and let me know if you have any questions.  You can message me here.

You know when you have a question that you just can't seem to answer without giving it a try?  Well that has been my journey recently.  Back in January I decided to move my studio space to a vibrant art community on Granville Island.  Think Pike Place, but in Vancouver, BC.  Food vendor's, fresh vegetable market, fish market, butchers, bakers, artisans of all sorts.  It's a wonderful community.  

It is actually a wonderful location.  The drawbacks for me were the three hour commute each day on transit, no new interest in purchasing my work, and challenges with other studio artists practices.  

I'm glad I tried it out.  I have now answered that question that I couldn't seem to answer before hand. 

I've been thinking about the challenges with the other artists in the space, and there were only a couple of problems, but I must be a part of creating that problem.  I probably rub people the wrong way, at times.  I'm pretty focused, I'm organized, I'm tidy with my work space, I want to get things done, and I want a professional career.  This is my life after all and I have some pretty great goals I'd like to accomplish.  I also have pretty strong values that I'm not shy to speak up about.  So yes, I contributed to the challenges for sure.  I'm totally okay with that because one thing I've learned in relationship is that you need to be authentic and speak up or resentments build up and things deteriorate from there.  When/if people are no longer to relate to you, to be in relationship then it's time to make a new decision.

I'm so grateful to have the option to come back home.  To have the space to work and be productive.  I'm also grateful for my community where I can walk around and see gorgeous gardens, chat to my neighbours, meet new people, and enjoy myself.  

Creating a life you love comes with some risks and some bumps along the way.  Sometimes you have to touch up again the rails in order to course correct and travel straight again.  

What an incredible journey.  Thanks for coming along with me. 

When have you had to course correct?  Was it a difficult decision, or something you just knew you had to do?  I'd love to hear about it. Drop me a comment below. 

It's safe to say that I have a very unique relationship to flowers. I'm a bit obsessed.  They draw me in and have me inspired to capture their beauty. I'm not entirely sure where this came from because we certainly didn't have lavish gardens growing up.  I don't even recall a relative growing flowers.  

What I do remember is the petunia's that my Mom and step dad grew at the front of Mom's house.  They were hung in baskets from the eaves at the front of the house.  Joe loved tending them and would fertilize regularly.  The blooms were so prolific, you couldn't drive into the garage without scraping the dangling limbs of flowers.  It was spectacular!!

My husband made a comment in passing the other day, that many people like flowers in the "oh that's a nice flower" move on sort of way.  Where I'm a "stop the car, I have to get a picture of that flower" kind of person.

Certainly it's the colour that draws me in and I have done some study around colour and how it affects our moods. The shapes are also fascinating for me.  Unbelievable shapes and details in the various petal styles of flowers.  They are amazing. 

Let me show you how flowers helped me recently.

The other day we had some controversy in the studio.  I work with 9 other artists and 1 artist uses spray varnish, a highly toxic airborne pollutant.  The first time he used it in the studio the director set up a new protocol so that he could continue with his process and not expose the rest of us to the toxins. He has continued to disregard those protocols.  We need to sort this out, but that's not my point. 

I left the studio angry.  I was hurt that he will not see the impact on the rest of us.  I was also questioning my continued leasing of studio space in this location.  You see I have a 3 hour commute to get there each day.  If I'm not able to work because of his varnish, and have to leave the studio, then it is not the place for me. 

Again, these are just the decisions that I need to make for my health and my career. 

The point of this is to give you some context for why I was angry.  I came home so frustrated and defeated.  I decided to walk home from uptown, where the bus drops me off.  It's not far, and I needed the walk to blow off some steam.  As I was meandering through the residential streets, of course, some flowers were shining away at me.  I crossed the street and had a moment photographing them and taking in their beauty. They were Peony Tulips like the ones pictured at the top of this blog post.  Immediately I felt calmer.  I felt happier.  I knew that this too shall pass.  Flowers are a bit of a spiritual encounter for me.  And my tears spring up as I'm writing this.  Not surprising.  This often happens in my work.  

It's my hope and intention to use this spiritual experience, these emotions, to help me capture the beauty of these flowers.  They teach me so much about patience, about trusting myself, about staying connected to my emotional self.  They are more than a pretty flower, so much more. 

​Take a look at this current piece.

Again, I cried.  This piece is called "The Duo."  22 x 36" Oil on Canvas.  Absolutely stunning.  The detail and nuances of colour bring these blooms to life in a way that rocks my world.  I'm humbled to be able to paint like this.  

So you see my work is about more than pretty flowers.  It's about the spiritual connection, the emotional connection, the transformation in us that can happen when we are in the presence of beauty.  

​I do hope you enjoy this little glimpse into my world and my process.  Leave a comment below if there is something you'd like to share about your connection to flowers. 

Are you curious about the paintings I have available for purchase?  Or the pieces I have coming up? The drop down tab will take you to upcoming piece.  Then click the link below and take a look.  Let me know if you have any questions. 

Click here to go the my available pieces.

The quick, easy answer is no, and that's not entirely true. 

I have good days and not so productive days which is certainly to be expected.  I'm in the studio six days a week and I average 4 hours a day of painting.  I'm very focused and manage to attend to the business end of things as well as the social media activity alongside getting the painting done.  I rely on my schedule and time management to keep me on track.

It is inevitable, however,  with each painting that I hit an area of uncertainty and almost boredom as I get challenged by the details I'm working on.  I've also learned that the challenge is simply a moment to breath and regroup.  Let the painting show me the way, because there is a way through the uncertainty. 

I find this such a great life lesson.  Just breath, relax and let the next right move reveal itself.  It always does.  

Painting has taught me so much about relaxing and letting things be.  Trusting in the process.  

I have a sign in my studio "Just Paint Ciel."  This is my mantra.  Don't worry about a thing, just paint. Ultimately this is what this business and practice is all about, painting, and bringing beautiful flowers to life on a canvas. 

From the multitude of reactions and appreciation that I receive, I know that I'm having a good effect on people's lives.  It brings me a tremendous amount of joy to paint like I do.  I take the up's and down's as I go.  I trust that whatever challenge I'm facing will pass as long as I allow it to move off easily. 

Does this resonate with you?  Leave me a comment and let me know how you manage the up's and down's.
​

{Why I create art}

My art is having an impact and that’s not why I create. Not initially any way. It’s about exploring my relationship to things that move me. It’s about control. Controlling my tendency to shut down, numb out and allow negative thoughts to consume my experience.

I grew up with a lot of trauma. I was disconnected from my body, surviving, shifting with conditions around me. Trying to make sense of things and protect myself from the pain and confusion I was feeling.

I’ve been reacting and making decisions from my ideas of how things are versus knowing what’s really going on. Our thoughts are not necessarily the truth.

I navigate shame, fear, self criticism, and doubt pretty regularly. Anxiety is a common companion. These are all residues from these traumatic times.

Art, flowers, landscapes have brought me back to a place of feeling. A purity of knowing what’s true for me in the moment. Creating from this inspired, connected and emotionally charged place is magical.

I’m addicted to this level of feeling and enquiry.
I want more. I want to understand how I am impacted by nature. Thankfully my inquiries are resulting in beautiful art works that my audience loves too.

My love + viewers love = more love in the world.

Win, win, win.

#flowerpaintings #flowerart #federationofcanadianartists #cielellisartist #fineart #bcartist #realismtoday #federationstudio

We all lose confidence.  It happens.  Either we have others influence us, or we simply doubt what we are capable of. 

I, like you, have had people tell me things that tore my confidence down.  Like the time my drawing teacher waltzed me out of class saying "Sweetheart, this clearly isn't for you."  Did drawing become a passion of mine? No.  Never was, and this comment certainly didn't help. 

I'd like to say it was the pivotal comment that had me turn away from my love of drawing, but that's not how it was.  I drew things because I needed to express something in pictures which was easier than trying to explain it. But drawing was never my first love.  It is more of a utility than anything else.  And I'm okay at drawing.  I can express what's on my mind through images.  

When I decided to go full time into my painting career, it was not from a desire to draw, but a curiosity about painting.  How could I get to the painting process without drawing?  I didn't focus on drawing.  Drawing is not the point of my art.  Colour is.  Depicting realistic images is.  Expressing a mood and feeling is definitely the focus. 

I know that if I had to draw the flowers that I paint, I would not be an artist.  I'm not willing to spend 20 hours drawing a flower onto my canvas before I can dive into painting it.  I'll spend 30 hours, 50 hours painting it - no problem.  Like this 39 x 39" Painting of a peony.

So where is the thing that has you stop?  What's the barrier to you making your art?  Where do you lose confidence? 

(I'm really asking you this.... so pause for a moment and consider the things that are stopping you.)

I looked for ways to get to the painting process quickly and in my case the projector was the solution.  I project my image on to the canvas so I can get right to the painting process.  Now some would criticize me for this.  There is a bias in the art world that if you use a projector, or an image to work from, or some other technology that you are 'cheating' somehow.  Not a real artist simply because you aren't free handing everything you create.  

This bias is the problem.  This measurement that we aren't a real artist unless we do things in a certain way.  

I'm kind of done with the judgement.  I want to encourage you to be done with it also.  This is your life, your creative life.  What is the thing that has you lose confidence?  Find a way around it.  You do not have to get stuck at this hurdle. Your art is the point and whatever process you need to create it, is your privilege to decide and use.  

Maybe the fire and passion for your work hasn't kindled strongly yet, For me, I have a fierceness about what I'm spending my life energy doing.  I'm not really open to other people or ideas telling me I'm wrong.  I trust that the fire in my belly, which inspires me to create, is a more trustworthy source to follow. 

Where do you lose your confidence?  Stop it.  Decide what you want.  Learn the skill you need.  Find another way.  Use your creativity to help you design a way that works for you.  Your creative urges are the point and what you contribute is valuable and necessary.  

As I see all the challenges we are facing socially and globally, I know that falling into despair may be a part of the journey.  I also know that my despair over the events of our current times is not going to help anyone.  I will process it all and take care of my emotional/spiritual self along the way, however, what I can do is keep my creative spirit alive and well.  I can continue to contribute beauty and passion by producing my gorgeous paintings.  

I'm reaching thousands of people through my social media channels.  One painting received over 6500 reactions.  Each one of those reactions is evidence that my work affected another human being.  

I don't really care if I'm criticized for using a projector because the end result is that my work is brightening the lives of people all over the world.  The ripple effect of that is unmeasurable.  I feel blessed to do the work that I do and grateful for the gifts I've been given.  

You, your art, your desire, are also a part of this.  What you contribute is necessary and important.  I'm repeating myself here, for a reason.  Judgment, comparison, lack of confidence are all things that are stopping you from sharing your gifts.  Set these limitations down, don't give them any attention.  Find a way to allow yourself to create and share it with everyone you know.  You will have a positive impact and you will inspire other people to meet their day with a bit more hope, a bit more joy, a bit more encouragement.  

This is what we do as artists.  It's not necessarily about what we make, but what we inspire in others.  Please find a way to continue to produce what you feel inspire to.  

Namaste my dear friend. ​

It sure has been a great unfolding. When my client proposed this idea of leaving the pencil sketch, greyscale, then moving to full colour, I really wasn't sure how I was going to pull it off.  My main concern was that the painting would look unfinished.  What unfolded was my process of conceptualizing the idea into a reality.  

As much as I'd like to say I 'knew' how this piece would come together, I'd be lying.  I really didn't know.  Where do I stop and start the greyscale?  How much of the pencil drawing do I leave?  None of the questions could be answered before I simply began. 

I've learned to trust myself, or rather trust my guides.  When it comes to my creative journey, I am really not in the driver's seat.  My intuition, my muse, my creative guides are really guiding me.  I honestly feel that my creative work is a spiritual practice.  I show up and commit to doing the best work I can and my guides agree to show up and lead me.

I trust that I'm exactly where I need to be and I'm so darn grateful for this career, for the beauty I'm creating, for the love I'm sharing with others.  

I do hope you enjoy it as well.  Please leave any comments by clicking below.  

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Last fall I became aware that studio space was available for rent on Granville Island.  Now if you are not local, Granville Island is a wonderful community of artisans, quality food vendors, clothing stores, restaurants, fancy card shop etc.  Wonderful diverse community of stores.  In the main market is the food vendors.  Fresh veggies, specialty butchers, cheese importers, handmade soups, pies, chocolates, you name it, you can likely find it in the market. As well as the Federation of Canadian Artists Gallery and Studios. 

The Federation of Canadian Artists is a not for profit organization that I've been involved with for a couple of years, and it just so happens they have studio space available for artists. 

Again, last fall, I thought it would be wonderful to secure one of these studio spaces. I wasn't sure how to swing it, or what size was available etc.  I hopped in the car on a particular drab day and went to see the spaces in person.  I'm a big advocate of taking your dream for a test drive.  Actually experiencing the space to see if it is a fit.  In this case, I could totally see myself in the space.  I came home dreaming about how I would decorate it and arrange my artwork for maximum effect. The only thing stopping me from taking a space right away was the long wait list of other artists wanting to rent these spaces. 

​I forgot about it and carried on with the painting I had in my home studio to finish.  

I had submitted a piece of artwork to an upcoming show at the Federation so my husband and I drove down there to wander around and have a lovely bowl of our favourite soup.  While we were there, the studio coordinator called and said that there was a space available for me in the studio.  Oh my gosh.  How exciting.  So we walked over and took a look at the space in person.  It would be perfect.  

Yikes.  Now to figure out the finances of it all.  I wasn't sure how I would afford the added expense, but I knew I was going to dig in and make it happen.  I quickly put a call out to my network asking for help and boy did my community come through.  I sold a couple of pieces within a couple of days and this dream became a reality.  

It has now been just over a week that I've had the studio and I've been so productive and loving the community.  I now have 7 other artists that are in the studio with me, working, creating, laughing, and sharing.  It's wonderful. 

This was such a fabulous decision and I'm excited to see what I can create from here.  Here is a commission piece that I'm currently working on.

Thanks for being on this journey with me.  I'd love to hear your comments about my dream coming true or something that came true for you.  Simply comment below. 

This is the message my client sent me after she saw her painting, in person, for the very first time. 

As I write this I can feel the emotion rising again.  I feel so blessed.  She was speechless.  The painting that I created, from scratch, from simply my inspiration, moved her.  It moved me.  I feel the impact of this work.  Sharing delight and beauty with clients.  

This is the painting.  |Luscious White | 18 x 30" Oil on Canvas.  

There are many hours in the studio, while I'm working on my own, that I lose sight of the bigger picture.  Ooh that's a pun.  The process that I immerse myself in, for hours on end, can feel so removed from the impact of that creation.  However, you need to know that I'm addicted.  I love the feel of oil paint on my brush, the glide of beautiful colour sliding across the canvas, the subtle nuance and change in colour that brings the whole piece into 3-D reality.  This process still amazes me.  I can transform a 2-D canvas surface into the impression of a 3-D image.  It's quite an amazing process. 

What's even more surprising, is that my paintings have an emotion, or rather they can cause an emotional reaction from the viewer, bringing us closer to intimacy and true presence in the moment.  

I feel so blessed. 

Are you curious what else I've created?  Come have a look. 
Click here to be directed to my website. 

Do you have a piece of art that's moved you? I heard from a woman in the UK, how she saw a painting of cherry blossoms in bloom a few years ago and she can still remember how it made here feel.  She is still kicking herselt for not purchasing it right then. Ahh, the regret of the painting that got away. 

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