Jane Hinchliffe - Embrace THIS Moment

Morning tea...

I have to have tea when I wake up...  Yep, I know that hot water and lemon or just hot water would be so much better for me.  But I am a total out and out 'tea girl'. It has to be in a special mug too...  I have various mugs for different times of the day - weird but true!  Is anyone else so 'A' type about their tea?  

Over the weekend, lack of tea bags snuck up on me!  Total mayhem!  I was in that tea cupboard, well, very quickly shall we say.  I did manage to find some rogue 'bags' that we had been given at Christmas time. Phew!!  My husband saw this process taking place and he said it wasn't pretty.  In case you are wondering, this happened at night, so no shops open (it is the UK and a small village at that you know)... ha, ha.

So, my new painting is called 'Morning tea...'.  It sums me up to a 't or tea' shall we say (sorry for the pun - it was intended!)  My three big must haves in life are: tea, contemplation time and flowers.  What could be better? (I do have other 'life requirements' too but these are biggies). 

etsy shop

What drink or food item could you not be without first thing in the morning?  

Source: theviolethours.typepad.com via Lori on Pinterest

 

 

I love the photo above, btw!

Source: janeaustengiftshop.co.uk via Beth on Pinterest

 

Thinking of the photo above, do you use loose tea?  I have not regularly had loose tea since my Granny was alive.  She used to read the 'tea leaves' that got left behind - you know the dregs, she called them.  I was fascinated.  She would 'see' boats, people, events for the future - of course this was totally enthralling for a seven year old.   

Anyway, happy 'tea making'.  Hope you like my new painting...

J.Hi. xo

Video of Jane Sketching....

Just thought I would share a little video I made of some recent sketching that I've done.  Just bits of foliage that I collected from my walk with Mia the other day.  I think it's so important to keep sketching things from your day to day life that inspire or touch you... 

All it takes it just trusting your instincts, not listening to your inner critic analysing your work and to just make a start...  Go with your intuition and trust the flow...

 

I used pen and watercolours for these sketches.  

Hope this week ahead finds you well (it is Sunday night here).  

J.Hi xo

 

Unfurling - 20% Etsy Sale on everything!

Just enter UNFURLING - (the coupon code name) for 20% off everything in my Etsy store.  When you come to pay, it will ask for any coupon codes - so just enter it then...  My Etsy Store.    

Bird series -  fine art mounted prints

This morning I went for a walk with Mia (see a pic of her 'ladyship' below) after the school drop off and was just bowled over by the sight of these ferns 'unfurling' by the road side.  I get really carried away by stuff like this and it just gives me a real sense of joy.  So, I got my camera phone out and started snapping away.  Mia hates it when I do this.  She always pulls on the lead and so I end up having to stand on the lead to keep my hand steady whilst I take the photo.  Mia puts this look on her face like '....here we go again - she's got the camera again.  When can we just get on with the walk? Or, '..Hello, I'm here remember....'.  In other words, she gets grumpy...  

ferns - 'unfurling...' - from my walk with Mia this morning

Mia 'ladyship' aka 'diva dog'

So, all of this snapping of photos got me thinking of spring - the 'unfurling' of new life.  New life literally of lambs, birds etc. but also warm weather (well, you have got to have the faith), more time enjoying the outdoors, having picnics, bbq's and the seeing of friends and family.  

Of course spring is also a time of new beginnings, new horizons and welcoming in the new.  So, with this in mind, I have decided to do a mini sale of ALL my artwork and hope that you see something that inspires you this spring!

Here's to spring!

J.Hi xo

 

Memory Monday - me as a little girl of eight, writing...

For about two years now I have been writing a journal and blog.  I've always heard that writing was therapeutic, cathartic and releasing but never took that on board for myself somehow.  It's only been recently, that I have begun to really take it more seriously and now I try to make the practice or writing/journalling a regular part of daily life.

one of my recent journal pages

It's like a gift to myself.  It's where I can explore feelings and emotions, write down memories, sketch something without anyone else seeing it, its uncensored, messy, raw, beautiful and its all me!   I can stick photos in, slip in cards or notes I've received when I want somewhere to keep them.  When one of my children say something that tickles me, I write it down in my journal (when I have it handy!).  

There isn't any pressure with this.  I push that 'inner critic' to one side and firmly tell it to 'get lost'.  There also isn't a right or wrong way to do it either.  Sometimes I might write one word, one sentence or a few pages.  Other times I may just add (and often do), random colour from my palette when I am working on a painting.  Or, I'll stick down papers, fabric, lace etc and then embellish it however I want to.  I'm not making it pretty for anyone else but me.  That is such a fantastic concept to me!

It's just so freeing and wonderful...

Anyway, back to the title of the post.  My memory of writing when I was eight years old...

I was at school and it was spring time.  We had each collected daffodils from outside and had returned to the classroom with them clutched between our little fingers. Then, we were given yellow card and coloured pencils on which to draw our daffodil anyway we wanted.  Then underneath our drawing, we had to write a poem about the daffodil again, anyway we wanted...

I still remember that exercise so vividly as if it were yesterday...  I remember really looking at the flower and writing how I felt about it.  What it meant to me and attempting to describe its beauty.  I was amazed at how intently and adoringly I wrote about this little flower.  I remember too, drawing it affectionately and with such love.

Afterwards, I read that poem out loud to the class and showed my drawing and I was just awestruck by what I had written.  It was beautiful and it came from ME!  

We all have such wellsprings of creativity and love inside of us.  It doesn't matter whether you can draw, paint or write eloquently (to your mind)... What matters is that you just put some of this stuff, your thoughts etc. on paper - it's powerful!  This then becomes a springboard for all sorts of creative endeavours, insights, memories and healing etc.  

One woman who writes about her life beautifully is Liz Lamoreux - be present, be here, on her blog.  She also has a book out which I own and adore.  It is called Inner Excavation.

Another book I go to a lot is by Natalie Goldberg - Writing down the bones...

Lots of love,

J.Hi xx

 

The good earth - NEW Paintings!

I just wanted to update you with some new paintings that I have just completed.  They are abstract landscapes with trees.  Wild, vibrant colour with oodles of texture, iridescence and boldness.  They are eight inches square, with a depth of 1.5" on artists wooden panels.    

The good earth I

I used a palette knive (mainly) to apply the paint and it felt so good applying it!  Like spreading butter on toast...  There is such a feeling of decadence and glee - feels fantastic!  I had such fun with the colour and the layering of glazes.  There are lots of texture in the paintings and this is a necessity for the most part in my work and these are no exception.  

The good earth II

The sides are painted black and all are signed.  At Etsy at the moment, there is FREE postage for a limited period on my original paintings. 

The good earth III

Can you see that gorgeous texture and iridesence?  

Side view of 'The good earth III'

I hope you like these...

Have a wonderful weekend. 

J xo