Carole Stevens Bibisi
Artist, Author, Illustrator, Poet, Musician, Teacher.

America, the land of opportunity, wow, and here I am ready to use my talent and skills to earn a living, embrace my adopted country and fulfill my dreams of sharing and healing, for myself and others through the integration of Art and Music.

It wasn’t consciously part of my plan to be in America, but I’d met a gorgeous American in Australia when he was on vacation. We corresponded for a time getting to know each other, and then I took the opportunity, when he sent me a plane ticket, to “come for a visit.” Well I came; I visited, got engaged, and then married….all within 2 and 1/2 months!!

I had taken a giant leap of faith in mid-life, and for the longest time I was a homesick mixture of happy, sad, lost and lonely. I missed the support of my family and friends, and the delightful ease of life ‘Down-Under’. I lost my independence because I couldn’t cope with driving on the wrong side of the road in such volumes of crazy fast paced traffic.

A quote I’d read came to mind ‘A depressing and difficult passage has prefaced every new page I have turned in my life,’ Charlotte Bronte, I found this to be true.

I was born in Invercargill, the southernmost city in the beautiful South Island of New Zealand. Later in life, I moved to Australia.

My Maori heritage and culture involves the extended family. It incorporates a community of caring and sharing for young and old alike. The wisdom of the elders leads and guides the community in tune with the God Spirit, Father, and the Land, Mother.

Music:

As the eldest girl in a family of six, Art and Music were normal aspects of my growing life,

I studied music and graduated in both Trinity and Royal Schools of Music London, in theory of music and Pianoforte.

As a vocal soloist I’ve been singing Jazz, Ballads and songs from the great Musicals, but I’ve also enjoyed working as a team with other musicians in duos, trios, larger bands and orchestra’s, performing in five star hotels and Restaurants around New Zealand, Australia and Sarasota Florida.

I’ve loved performing in Choral groups over the years with one especially memorable performance at Carnegie Hall, soon after I arrived in America.

Teaching had been a big part of my life in Australia and I loved giving individual lessons: ‘Singing for Fun, Healing and Therapy’.

Also while in Australia I recorded my first album ‘Sophisticated Lady’ with a full orchestral backing. The soundtrack can be heard on my website.

Metamorphosis in the Garden of Life

Art:

I trained in Art College in New Zealand, studying Lettering, Illustration and Design, and earned a living working as an artist for a local Newspaper, Advertising Agencies, and as a Display Manager for a chain of fashion stores.

It had taken over half a lifetime of study, exams, vocal performing, an artistic career, marriage and motherhood; now here I was in America, reality was setting in, and I was feeling overcome, depressed fearful and dependent on my husband!

Despite my doubt, my awesome husband believed in me and showed me unconditional love, support and encouragement. Before I could click the heels of my red shoes together 3 times and say “there’s no place like home” I realized hey….this WAS home! I told myself in my best Kiwi/Aussie accent to count my blessings, find my ‘Goddess Self’, live in the creative moment, and re-connect with those things I’d been passionate about.

So armed with some colored pencils, markers, and a borrowed wobbly card table I set up my studio in the bedroom and started creating Birthday and Anniversary cards etc for family and friends. That developed into a family Birthday calendar for Christmas Gifts. I also began to write and illustrate a book for my grandkids about adopting my beautiful black cat Miss Bronte from the Animal Shelter.

Before I knew it I had created a Bronte Alphabet, and a series of Greeting Cards and another book entitled The Rainbow’s Dream and Song. I’d called upon my God Source, my earlier training, my creative muse, and began to carve out a whole new career for myself and fulfill my destiny to integrate the healing energy of Art and Music.

Hawaiian Mandala: The Seven Principles of Huna

Artist Statement:

My Art chose me to give life to Mandalas, Mermaids, Angels, Goddesses and Cats. I was inspired along the way in my growing spiritual life by a closer connection and trust in God, and the love and inspiration I constantly found in nature, rainbows, animals and stained glass windows.

I’m focusing on licensing my art on products, publishing my children’s picture books, Calendars, and my variety of unique style greeting cards.

I encourage everyone to grow spiritually and heal, through finding something to be passionate about. Cease self doubt and judgment, and realize self acceptance and love through your inner artist and voice!

If you can speak, you can sing! Training the ‘ear’ to sing in ‘tune’ is simply about persistent repetition of a note, until the ‘same’ level of sound is duplicated.

A quote on the Home page of my website reads: It’s our CHOICE to live in the bright Rainbow of our Hopes and not the dark clouds of our fears.”

May you be a contributor to World Peace, Joy, and Healing.

www.ArtHarmonyCreations.com

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A songwriter, composer and singer, I started on this journey in 2001 when I thought it would be a good idea to take piano lessons. A few years prior to this I was drawn to improvise on the piano but it was my piano teacher who showed me how to write music to lyrics.

This new found ability then spurred me on to try and become a professional songwriter/composer something that had never before occurred to me, which meant learning new skills, including improving my piano playing which I had abandoned at the age of 12 in favour of the clarinet, learning to sing as well as developing recording skills.

Writing lyrics together with music became more meaningful as there were thoughts I wanted to write about, other issues I wanted to convey to people and sometimes these are best conveyed and can have most impact when incorporated into a song. For some songs it is the music that is more important allowing the listener to be transported to a place of peace and tranquility. Other songs may have a message eg ‘Feeling Fine’ and ‘Never Give Up’ and are written so as to inspire people and to instill in them a feeling of well being. Not all my music are crafted songs, I have been introduced into the world of scoring for film and have composed many piano instrumentals which are generally more relaxing and may be used for meditation or just as a way of settling back in a chair, allowing for the calming of both body and mind.

I have done a small amount of performing at showcases and open mic nights but am also wishing to develop and focus more on performing for those people in residential homes, hospitals or similar or anyone who may most benefit from soothing music as well as inspirational songs and songs with a message.

My debut mini album entitled ‘Will & Destiny’ is available for purchase from my website at www.nickiehart.co.uk

It is also available for download from ITunes:-

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/will-destiny/id336958079

You can listen to further clips and full length tracks at any of the links below

http://www.nickiehart.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/nickiehart
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nickie-Hart/18087286938

note from Cyndi:  First -- please join me in wishing Nickie  a Happy Birthday -  I set the intention to have this post published this week to celebrate the birth of her light and I am thrilled we got it done.

Second -- would really love to know how everyone likes this -- our first ever art post that features a musical artist.  Nickie and I struggled for a way to best present her work -- and I think I can speak for both of us when I say we are thrilled that Deb Booth agreed to create the video you see above.

Finally -- Nickie isn’t the only one celebrating her birthday this week -- mine is Friday the 13th -- and I just wanted to take this moment to thank all of you for being in my life.  I love being part of this community we are  creating -- and I am rededicating myself during this upcoming year to serving all who find their way to the Evolution Ezine -- with Love, Passion, and the Intention for Us All to Live our Highest and Best Lives

With Joy and In Celebration of this Magnificent Journey

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I’m a soon-to-be 52 year old digital artist living in Virginia, USA. I began taking photographs in 2002, during a solo trip to Italy.  I wanted to bring back memories for myself, and for my friends and family who couldn’t see what I was seeing.  My husband bought me a printer so I could print out some of the pictures, and the printer came with photo editing software.  My son showed me a few tricks, like inverting colors… and I was hooked!

I like taking what “is” and turning it into what it “could be”. The actual taking of the image is only the first step on the journey for me. I really enjoy playing with my images using Photoshop Elements to add new emphasis, or remove distractions, or change the image completely.
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This image was originally a lovely pink hydrangea. I played with the hues and came up with something different… but still recognizable. I like moving the editing program’s slider bars until my stomach tightens a bit, and I’ll utter an “ooh!” – then I know I’ve hit something exciting.

I like to challenge myself to continue moving forward on my artistic studies – to try new things, and learn new techniques. Along the way, I fell in love with fractal art, and began experimenting – ultimately taking a class using a free fractal program, Apophysis (which can be found and downloaded by doing a search for “Apophysis” at http://www.sourceforge.net).

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This image is a fractal, which is based upon repeating patterns – often found in nature. Some of my favorite fractals are ones that are reminiscent of something in ‘real life’ – like this icy, windswept-looking tree.

One of the other interesting things I’d experimented with was using a flat-bed scanner to take photos. Do you have a scanner? Then you have another camera – one that’s amazingly capable of capturing extremely small detail at high resolution.

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This image is a rose laid upon the scanner with crumpled white tissue paper behind it. I liked how the paper ended up looking a lot like a granite cave wall… and I liked how it looked hard and sharp, in comparison to the softly graceful lines of the rose.

My favorite subjects tend to be flowers – I love using the macro setting on my camera to capture a super closeup of something people see every day, but tend to overlook. You know how a band will do their version of someone else’s well-known song, and it’s called a ‘cover’? Well, the way I look at it, I do covers of some of Nature’s greatest hits.

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This is an iris – up close and very personal.

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This image of a tulip is alllllmost abstract, to me. It’s readily identifiable as organic… you KNOW you’ve seen it before… but where?

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Here’s a beautiful, all-white peony bloom with the colors more saturated. Aren’t those petals’ curves and ruffles gorgeous? Like a dance, in flower form.

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This was a beautiful confluence of lines and colors in a small garden center on a gray and blustery November day. I loved how the fronds seemed enmeshed in each other.

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This was a puddle in my driveway… it was right after a rainstorm, and the sky still had clouds scudding along, looking threatening. I took the shot, and then came in and played with the colors… and suddenly, it looked like a night sky to me. But if you look closely, you can still see the asphalt in the upper and lower corners – and a stick that breaks the water line. And those things that look like stars in the night sky? They’re really just rocks in my driveway.
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Here’s one of my beloved kitties, Caramel. She’s no longer with us – we lost her 2 years ago – but I still smile when I see this shot of her. She was a lovely light in my life.

I get my inspiration from seeing sunlight streaming through the leaf of a plant…
or the lines of a building, or the swirl of ice etched on the windshield of my car.

I keep my camera in my purse at all times, just so I don’t have to kick myself for missing a shot. I’m constantly reminded that photography is a metaphor for life – the best, most dramatic shots are those that show a ‘battle’ between dark and light. It’s the contrasts that make it interesting.

I offer classes in digital editing (one on one at my home, or online), and in creative sight (how to help yourself “see” more wonderful opportunities for creativity, no matter what your chosen creative outlet is – photography, stained glass, quilting, cooking… everyone gets stuck sometimes. I have a few ways to help folks get UNSTUCK).

One of my newest favorite activities is creating slideshows using my images set to beautiful music… picking the perfect image for the crescendo in the music, and allowing it to change color, or mutate into another shot seamlessly, flowing gently one into another. I began my first slideshow as a project for my mom, who is in end-stage renal failure. She spends hours in dialysis each week, and I wanted to be able to give her a way to be somewhere else, mentally, while her body was a hostage of the tubes and machines that keep her alive. I call them relaxation videos – or visual meditations. The plan is to donate them to hospitals, hospice centers,patients and caregivers – and to sell them to the general public to finance those donations.

If you follow these links, you can see examples of my work on YouTube:

All Things Green and Gorgeous
Images of the Sky Throuout the Day
Different Shades
Serene and Tranquil

You can see more of my work on my website, http://www.DifferentLightStudio.com where I have prints, notecards, bookmarks, books, and videos for purchase. You could also sign up for my free newsletter there if you like. Or feel free to email me at deb@differentlightstudio.com – I’d love to hear from you.

I wish you light and laughter,

Deb Booth

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Artist’s Bio:
Lahn received the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Otis College of Art and Design in California. While in school, she was the first recipient of the Fredrick Monhoff Design Award and a member of an elite design group, Brooklyn Seven. Upon graduation, she worked as a graphic designer until a life-changing experience led her to graduate studies in theology and philosophy of religion. Subsequently, Lahn worked as a bilingual minister, teacher, translator, and editor while engaging in graphic art as a freelancer.

Continuing on the quest for new learning, Lahn began to explore the mind-body healing, which led to the study of fascinating, powerful human mind. She eventually became a certified clinical hypnotherapist. The unanticipated benefit of exploring the subconscious mind has been an opening of renewed creativity for Lahn and the result is her deeply personal recent artwork. Lahn’s diverse cultural and professional background has informed and enriched her creative endeavors and affirms her belief in interconnection and interdependence of all things in life.

Artist’s Statement:
My art is inspired by what I see in the natural world with its expressive qualities and how it evokes varied emotional responses. I am also fascinated by an individual’s inner world: its complex thought processes as well as rich, dynamic layers of feelings, and how they are manifested outwardly.

Creative process is a form of meditation that allows me to approach each piece with intuition and discovery. My artwork evokes lyrical, contemplative, and at times intense feelings expressing externally what is experienced internally. By incorporating natural materials into my paintings, the pieces are very tactile resulting in compelling physical presence.

For me, visual art is one of the most powerful, efficacious means to experience, express, and ultimately embrace all of human experiences. And from that acceptance and openness, authentic connection and communication occur with people and the world around me. I view the creative work in the same way as myself… growing and evolving.

To See More From Lahn Jules:  The Healing Art of Lahn Jung JuLes

To watch directly on youtube: Lahn Jules

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I Paint
And the world reveals itself to me.
I Paint
And I forget who is painting.
I Paint
And Light seeps in through the darkness.
I Paint
And I am Life and Life is me.
I Paint
Who Paints?

For a more details about me and my works you can visit my website : www.hufreesh.com or contact me at info@hufreesh.com

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Birth of the World
(Diptych 24″ x 48″)

In the vastness of the Universe
Two energies floated around
Each thinking itself alone
Unknowing that whole cosmos
Conspired, together to bring them
A new world to be born.

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Conscious Shakti
36″x36″

In the abstraction of matter
A woman of strength
A woman of peace
A woman of love
A woman of light,
Emerged from the formless.

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Cosmic Light

We need time to dream,
Time to remember,
Time to reach the Infinite
Time to Be.

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Fire Fairy
34″x34″

In the depths of my heart
A fire burns
In the depths of my heart
A fairy dances
In their passionate fusion
My love so pure was born.

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Eternal Presence

Why doesn’t the world topple over
who is holding it so strong?

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Laughter in the Universe
( Diptych 36″ x 48 ” )

When the mind is quiet
And all the noise of the world left behind.
Slowly, but unmistakably,
I hear the sweet laughter of the Universe.
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Pink Blossoms
(Diptych 24″ x 36″ )

When my heart doth brim over with love
Pink blossoms of love flower in my heart.

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Waves of Delight

Energy is an eternal Delight.
Waves come pouring out
When the centre within is found.

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If you’re an artist and you would like to be featured in this gallery, please contact us using the form found here: Inspirational Artists Wanted

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Images do have great power.

Therefore, as an artist I strongly believe I have a great responsibility regarding what I create and put out in the world, therefore I choose to induce blissfulness through images…

It is my intention to elevate the vibrational tone of my surroundings and I infuse my paintings with that intention so that looking at them soothes the mind, lifts the spirit and feeds the soul with primal exhilaration.

I work in a tiny studio, in the small coastal town of Bolinas in California where I settled in 2000. I am a self taught painter, born in France in 1958, I always loved drawing and painting, and started exhibiting and selling my work in 1989.

Today I have the joy to be a full time self supported artist through the sales of my work at the studio or through my website http://www.emmelinecraig.com.

I am currently looking for publishers because my dream is to see my images go all around the world…

I currently paint with watercolors on paper, and non-toxic oils on canvas. They are both exhilarating mediums in different ways, I really enjoy them as much.

The pieces presented here are all watercolors, because in time I created a lot more of those than oils which I started using only 2 years ago. One can look at my work on: http://www.emmelinecraig.com

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The Kiosk

Imaginary scene, inspired by a real colorful coffee cart here in my town.(I only modified the roof and “transported” it in a different place)

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The Portal

This piece is about transition, in life in general, in relationships, in health…

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The Chair

This is the second version of an imaginary scene that is dear to me. The first version, called “The Lantern” is posted on my website.

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Peace and Quiet

What is more stress relieving than gazing at a blue ocean, in presence of a lazy cat stretched out in the sun? I played with the different depths of the scene to get a little surreal feeling.

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Embracing It

It was a time of change and I was re-affirming my love of life in the Now.

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Backyard Zen

This is preparatory work for a large oil on canvas, available on my website, called “Backyard Zen”. It’s about the daily bliss of sitting in one’s backyard, surrounded by wild grasses and open sky.

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Laundry in the Wind with Green Hills

For me there is something extremely homey and joyfully free in fresh laundry hung on a rope out in the wind…

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Early Morning on Bolinas Lagoon

Just the bliss of very early morning on this beautiful body of water that we are blessed to have close by !

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If you’re an artist and you would like to be featured in this gallery, please contact us using the form found here: Inspirational Artists Wanted

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CT Michael – Biography

CT Michael is a 40 Year old multi-national American. His heritage comes from three separate Native American Nations, The Scots, The Irish, The French, and Egyptian..

CT is also a nature photographer, musician, writer, and poet. His Native American paintings have never been publicly displayed before..

Aside from his current position as a moderator with the Super Mind Academy, CT main endeavors exist in the arena of No-Limit Texas Hold ‘em Poker..

CT Michael – Native American Paintings

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- Night Prayer: Circa 1995, An experiment with dual imagery, this painting portrays
the solitude of the “Hanbla Ceya” Ceremony; The Vision Quest.
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- Wohpe – Makanagi: Circa 1997, One of the last paintings created by CT portrays a
character from the Lakota origin stories “Wohpe” who is companion to the Earth. In
essence “Wohpe” is the living spirit of the Earth.
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- Vision of Change: Circa 1995, With its beginnings as a pencil drawing ‘Vision
of Change’ achieved a fullness of life as a painting showing the grand dream and
desire of a land of peace and prosperity.
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- Akicita: Circa 1997, A simple painting of a warrior seeking the truth of his
personal nature and spirit guide and the realization of relation to the Hawk Nation.
The messengers of swift mind.
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- Generations: Circa 1996, The first painting in a would-be series, ‘Generations’
shows the three dance styles for the men’s Native American Pow-Wow regalia; Men’s
Fancy Dancer (upper right red yellow and white), Men’s Grass Dancer (upper right
blue yellow white and black), and Men’s Traditional (foreground baby boy).
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- Now That The Buffalo are Gone: Circa 1997, With the title borrowed from a song
by Buffy St. Marie, this painting portrays an actual vision which was received in
the late 1800s by a young woman of the Cheyenne Nation in which the vast herds of
buffalo returned into the Earth.

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That sounds a bit like a B movie title, doesn’t it? But, no, it’s about my journey into understanding and working with this particular art form.

It all began as I became more curious about spirituality and the nature of the soul. I was raised in the Baptist church, and my questioning up to that point had been limited to finding which aspects of Christianity I resonated with and which didn’t fit. So, Joseph Campbell books in hand, I broadened my quest to encompass other theologies and, perhaps more importantly, basic spiritual concepts across cultures and time.

At the time, I had been working for some decades in Advertising and Marketing. It wasn’t quite the work I had dreamt of in my art school days or as a holder of a degree in Psychology, but it paid the bills. In my final job, I created some lovely starbursts for a project and became fascinated by that process ~ not only in the ethereal quality of the bursts, but with the precise, gentle, mathematical placement of the glowing soft lines creating the circle.

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Mandala 1

When that job ended, I began playing with shapes and lines on my own. After creating a few pretty images, I showed them to some friends. One mentioned that they were mandalas. I vaguely remembered having heard or read the term before, but I had no idea exactly what a mandala was. Not wanting to appear wanting, I nodded in agreement. The moment I was able, I rushed to research what that was and what was meant by that word, mandala. The results fascinated me and dovetailed into my personal spiritual quest.

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Mandala 7

Mandala is a Sanskrit word literally meaning “circle”. However, subtle nuances of the language, as I understand it, also open the definition to include everything from the basic circle to the vastness of all creation.

The circle form has been used as a common symbol since the beginning of humanity. Cave drawings show reference to circular forms thought to be reminiscent of the sun. The pyramids, whether in Egypt or the Americas, all have circular symbols resonant in their construction and decorative motifs. While researchers believe that Stonehenge was constructed around, and to understand, astronomical events, it is also a glorious mandala of stone. The Aztec and Mayan calendars are excellent examples of mandalas. It would appear the circle has always been a reference point for humans in understanding the vast nature of existence.

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Mandala 4

Nature itself is replete with rich and glorious mandala shapes. Flowers, trees, bushes all appear as vivid reminders of our connection to all that is and to that circular form. The very shape of our planet, the moon, and the sun are circular, although irregular. It is my understanding that the natural world is created according to pure geometric formulas and principles such as the Golden Mean. The recognition of nature’s use of the circle may have inspired its use throughout time.

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Gelatinous Light

Perhaps the most culturally familiar of today’s mandalas are the beautiful Hindu enameled mandalas found throughout India and beyond. Even the mehndi hand paintings echo mandala forms. Or maybe the glorious sand mandalas meticulously created by Buddhist monks over several days then destroyed as an example of life’s impermanence are more recognizable. Of course, Christian churches also use mandalas in their worship, although they’re not called mandalas. My own childhood church had the most beautiful stained glass rose window, simply glowing with color and design. Carl Jung, early psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychology, was fascinated by mandalas as a metaphor of our individual and societal psyches. He even became something of a mandala artist himself.

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4 Elements

Mandalas in one form or another seem to be resonant throughout all societies. Because they are so present in our lives, I believe they deserve recognition and attention. They are used cross culturally as tools for prayer, meditation, and contemplation, as well as simple graphic forms of beauty. Once I recognized the near omnipresence of the mandala form, I found myself noticing all the circular forms surrounding my daily life.

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Pyramid

As I researched and learned about mandalas, I developed a deeper connection to the work I had been creating. These mandalas were helping me understand myself, my place in the world, and the world itself. Creatively mandalas were now a constant presence.

My mandalas are rather unique. I use Adobe Illustrator to create brush strokes, then, in Adobe Photoshop, I isolate one stroke and place it in the center of the canvas. That stroke is copied and rotated repeatedly using simple geometry. The layer created by this repetition is copied and flipped horizontally, producing an initial mandala shape. I then attach the next stroke to one of the previous strokes and repeat the process continuously until a base frame is formed. With this foundational form, I’m free to place colors in the voids. Then the background and bursts are added, finalizing the image.

The result is a mandala with a certain resonance in the past, but holding a purely modern feeling. While there are many mandalas created daily around the world, thus far I’ve been unable to find anyone else using my particular technique. My conclusion is that my work is remarkably rare.

As with all artists, I use every aspect of my being as fodder for my work. Reiki is a form of energy healing which includes the use of long distance healing techniques. The practitioner uses focus and intention to connect with an individual to remotely affect healing and well-being.

I am a Reiki master teacher, but in my work, I’ve altered the application of this technique a bit. I have two specific types of mandalas in which I intentionally use my Reiki training. In the Spiritual Energy series of mandalas I focus on a spiritual principle with the intention of connecting to the resonance of that energy and representing it in the mandala form. The energy exchange becomes cyclical, with the resonance of the spiritual principle guiding every stroke, rotation, color choice, and movement in the mandala. The result is, hopefully, an image that invokes the feel and energy of that principle.

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Spiritual Energy of the World Wide Web

I also create Personal Soul mandalas, which are essentially portraits of an individual’s soul energy. The Spiritual Energy series is available to the public. The Personal Soul mandalas are commissioned works and owned by each of the individual clients. They are not available for purchase by the public.

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Soul of Sarah Davis

As much as I love mandalas and creating them, they are by no means the only type of artwork I produce. Over time, I’ve developed a line of inspirational greeting cards. I’m also a fiber artist and have a number of sculptures I’m developing. I would love to learn how to create in stained glass. Wouldn’t my mandalas look beautiful as stained glass windows? Texture and shape have always piqued my creative interests. As you can see, that interest translates into many areas of expression.

Please visit my website for more information and to see a range of my work. Thank you for taking time to consider my mandalas!

For more Kristen visit: life-lites.com or on facebook: Soul Mandalas by Kristen

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As artist, entrepreneur, mother, teacher, mentor, shepherdess, rodeo queen, cowhand, correctional officer, lumberyard owner, web designer, blogger, shaman….my roles have evolved and shifted throughout my entire life. I count this as a blessing. The Universe may not have given me these roles forever, but I have been and done things that the hesitant only dream of…I don’t look back. I am content and eagerly anticipating my continuing journey.

Art has always been a part of who I am; no matter in what paradigm I find myself. I am in love with beauty and creation and color.

I’ve traveled on spiritual and artistic roads, and have been blessed with teachers who have encouraged me to be true to myself. One shamanic teacher told me that my colors would change the world. (Pretty awesome for someone who took a plain air painting class in Montana and was asked by the instructor, during a daily painting review: “Why are you here? You don’t paint what you see…you paint what you feel…you could be anywhere.”)

As I mature, I have been drawn to the feminine aspects of this life. Many of my paintings reflect the maternal goddess/angelic aspects that surround us on a daily basis.  As someone said upon viewing my work, “The pieces that call to me the most are the ones of the women – I recognize them although I don’t know from where.” That was an accolade beyond price, for my artistic visions are meant to be universal…perhaps Universal.

Being a secondary school art teacher has afforded me the opportunity to stay young in spirit and mind. I am always eager to try new things, to discover new ways to express the joy I feel with each new sunrise, fresh flower, or good cup of coffee. I guess that is why I am so versatile in my creative journey. There is a connectedness with my palette…and an expansion of topic and themes that ranges widely from realistic to expressionistic. My life is an ebb and flow of constant creation, and when I start a new project, I never know what the end result will be. It is all serendipity….and that is joy in itself.

I consider myself a proponent for positive change. I cherish this Earth we inhabit, I love blueberries and lilacs and that good cup of coffee. I write several weekly blogs about healthy living, and am a co-founder of Women Vitamins, a company built on the promise of promoting women’s health.

Be happy.
Be healthy.
Be blessed, Kersten
(image above entitled Self Portrait, 2010 it is 8×11, cardboard and tempra)

http://womenvitamins.net
http://womenvitamins.wordpress.com
http://basicswomenvitamins.blogspot.com

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Solstice

Solstice (acrylic 16 x 20) is the raw energy of light and darkness, the balance of creation and potential for destruction.  It’s my statement piece of my love for the electric joy of color and textures dancing together on canvas.  I was so excited while painting this, that I lost track of time, forgot lunch and dinner, and couldn’t believe the time that had passed….and it still makes me smile when I sit and just observe it.

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Goddess 1

Goddess 1 and Goddess 2 (monoprints 12 x 18) I was playing around with plexiglass trying to teach myself the art of monoprints. I was not really trying to create portraits, rather, I was hoping for abstract prints with contrasting colors. When I rolled the ink on the plates and swirled the colors around, I discovered facial characteristics that immediately bespoke the divine feminine. A few finger strokes later, viola…the goddesses appeared.

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Goddess 2

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My Seraphim

My Seraphim (acrylic 16 x 20)) came in a period of introspection, after I lost my second child.  Faces of angels, serious and watchful, appeared in  my canvases.  I notice that they do not look at us; they ponder serious issues that transcend the viewer.  There is energetic tension behind them indicative of their power that reminds us we are all under careful consideration. “You know not the day nor the hour…”

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Pensive

Although it was not my intent, everyone who sees Pensive, (acrylic on canvas 28”X54”) assures me that this is a self portrait.  I do often sit with my fist in front of my mouth, thinking…. Sometimes one has to acknowledge the various layers that are the complexity of life lived.   We are a composite of experiences, auras, acknowledged and unacknowledged truths.  We need to remind ourselves that it is okay to be grounded, to be focused, and to be still.

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Never Look Back

Never Look Back (acrylic 24 x 38) started out as a tribal fabric design, and the persona took over the canvas.  She has a huge presence that is not comforting but compelling.  A hint of sadness reminds us that looking back and regretting, cannot change what has occurred…we must move on, bravely and steadfastly…

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Icarus Falls

Icarus (acrylic 20 x 24) is poised on that balance beam of life…unaware if he is soaring or falling…that one clearly pivotal moment when anything is possible, no certainty has been cast, that moment of suspended belief and disbelief.  I try to find that non-judgmental place as often as I can, and because it is elusive, and so fleeting, it must be cherished all the more fiercely.

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Global Helix

Global Helix (watercolor/collage 11 x 17) has undertones of the divine feminine, Gaia.  Bearing fruit, giving life, passing on the codes of our existence, our Terran mother is everything, everywhere….

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Chrysalis

Chrysalis (acrylic 16 x 20) is my interpretation of the soul as it morphs from a universal existence of light into this physical existence of life.  The pulse of pure energy expands as it chooses to experience a 3 dimensional moment

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Cherries and China

(watercolor 15 x 17)  Cherries With China began as a high school demonstration piece on how to paint porcelain.  I started with the covered dish in the middle, and got so involved that I just kept adding pieces of china, and then finally the plate of cherries.  It needed a foreground, so the table cloth was added, and finally the background tapestry was painted in.  We all laughed because the order of painting and composing was all WRONG…but it ended up looking so RIGHT.

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If you’re an artist and you would like to be featured in this gallery, please contact us using the form found here: Inspirational Artists Wanted

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I was born in Birmingham on 7th April 1949 and after I left school I worked in a commercial art studio until the age of 18. This was followed by three years with an exhibition and display company before I ended up as a full-time professional freelance artist.

One day by chance I was introduced to Bill Ward, the drummer of a local Birmingham band Black Sabbath and we soon became good friends. Eventually along with Bills girlfriend and a couple of roadies for the band we moved from the city into a farm house in the country.

Over the next four years life became pretty crazy and I started to spend more and more time with the band, touring, at the recording studios and of course the mad parties.

Although at that time life was mainly centred around the band I still continued painting. I received a number of commissions from stars including a mural in the house of John Bonham (Led Zeppelin) and paintings for Alvin Lee (Ten Years After) , Ian Paice (Deep Purple and later Whitesnake), Ozzy Ozbourne (Black Sabbath) and George Harrison (The Beatles).

In the late seventies I moved to Devon and my love of the ocean grew as I began painting seascapes to sell in local exhibitions. In the early eighties I painted a number of portraits including those of Bob Marley and John Lennon as I felt inspired by them and what they stood for. In these years I was becoming more aware of environmental issues and became a member of Greenpeace for whom I went on to paint The Rainbow and The Rubicon.

Nature and the environment and especially dolphins and whales began to feature heavily in my work. I became interested in whales because they are the largest creatures upon this planet and yet a perfect example of grace and harmony in their environment and dolphins for their wonderful playful spirit.

In 1990 I joined an agency and for the next eight years my work was sold internationally as posters, prints, cards, jigsaws, plates and many other formats. Relations with the agency eventually broke down and I decided to leave and go solo again.

My work since the agency once again took a more fantasy type direction and I worked on number of themes from hobbity type dwarf characters to visions of imaginary magical lands and images inspired from dreams. I have also in my time been involved in many projects on a voluntary basis for local charities, schools and good causes. Ive created a number of large scale murals in local schools as well as in private houses.

In more recent years I discovered the wonders of digital art and have experimented with a mix of digital and traditional techniques to not only create my work but also distribute it.

To See More  of Malcolm’s Work: www.malcolmhorton.co.uk

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“This portrait was created back in 1983 as a tribute to Bob Marley, his spirit and his gift to the world through his music. A vision of Bob Marley set against a sunset with his guitar and the lion of Judah.  Interested in purchasing this  Print from Malcolm? Visit: A Tribute to Bob Marley

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The original idea of an Angel came from a photo I took of a little french girl I met in Goa India her name is ‘Norangel’ I was then inspired having been at a Healing Ceromony where I learnt more about 2012 and the ending of the Mayan calender being a time of transformation a new beginning of conscious expansion of great Love and Light coming into the world and into our Hearts.

Want a Copy of this Angel in your home? Angel of Light

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Dolphins playing under the light of the sun as it beams down shimmering through the deep blue ocean.  To Purchase your own copy of this print: Dolphins at Play

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A tribute to John Lennon revealing the essence of the man and his music.

In 1981 I was contacted by an old friend who was at that time the road manager with the band Whitesnake. The band were not happy with current ideas for an album cover that EMI studios were suggesting and so I was asked to come up with a few ideas of my own. The album in question was called Come And Get It and my design of a glass apple with a snake inside was accepted. The album become a best seller for Whitesnake.

At a meeting with Whitesnakes vocalist David Coverdale and the rest of the band to discuss ideas it became evident that the house where they were recording was the very same house that John Lennon & Yoko Ono had once lived and where they recorded the song and video of Imagine. The house was Tittennhurst Park and was at that time owned by fellow Beatle Ringo Starr.

Later that night I took a look around the house and eventually wandered into that famous white room and sat in the spot where the legendary white grand piano would have been. A shiver ran down my back and at that point a I imagined the image as you see it now. It was only a few weeks after John had been shot in December of 1981 and a very moving experience. To Purchase a copy of this print: Tribute To John Lennon

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In 1988 I received a newsletter from Greenpeace in which there was a photograph of a boat which was to sail around the UK to research causes for pollution and the decline in sea life. The sailing boat was called The Rubicon.

History tells us that Julius Caesar and his army made a decision to flout an ancient Roman law and cross the Rubicon river in Italy and commit himself to action. I have always tried to do what I can and where possible use my talent to help the planet and good causes. As a keen supporter of environmental causes I committed myself to action and painted this picture with the intention of helping to raise funds for Greenpeace. It was made into posters and over a 2-3 year period raised over £20,000. I am duly proud of this image and the good it has done.

To Obtain Your Own Copy of this Poster from Malcolm: The Rainbow and the Rubicon

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Reflection in the eye of an elephant. This painting came together through a meeting with a guy who told me of this dream that he had often had. He explained it as being a close up of an elephants eye with three elephants at a watering hole at sunset reflected in the eye and asked me if I could paint it.

It is said that when you put down a recurring dream on to paper that the dream stops but I never found out if it did.

Want a copy of this print in your home? Through the Elephant’s Eye

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This painting represents the fact that we, the human race, hold the future of the Earth in our hands and that if we don’t get things together we may drown in our own tears. The dolphins represent the spiritual side of our nature.

I donated the original of this painting to help raise funds for the Tsunami Disaster that shook us all that Christmas morning in 2004

If you want your own print visit: World Healers Poster

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If you’re an artist and you would like to be featured in this gallery, please contact us using the form found here: Inspirational Artists Wanted

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