Painting isn’t about control or perfection —
it’s about trust and surrender.
It’s when I stop trying to ‘get it right’
then something true begins to appear.
Here, I share that unfolding journey —
messy, honest, without judgment or expectation,
and always surprising.
Personally Speaking ~ Art. Kindness. Connection.
In my last post, I shared a little about starting this blog.
Today, I want to go a bit deeper—about how I arrived here, and why animals and art continue to guide me.
Moments That Open Us
This all began with a simple idea: that animals have this unique power to open something in us. Something real, and deeply human.
Over time, I’ve realised that even a tiny, quiet moment with an animal can shift my internal tectonic plates. It’s a gentle surrender—a letting go of what I think I know so I can see the world a little differently.
Painting from Presence
My paintings and my words both grow out of those moments. I’m not trying to capture a perfect, photographic likeness; I’m trying to feel into the essence of the creature.
I’ve learned that I can’t force it. Most days, it happens quietly, almost by accident. Something passes between me and the canvas, and suddenly, the spark is there. But let’s be real—I still get in my own way. I try to make it “right” or “perfect.” I’m sure you know that feeling! It’s taken me years to learn how to pause and just let go.
For a long time, I’d battle on with the canvas, which is just ridiculous when you think about it. Now, I try to start in stillness. I try to actually listen.
Sanctuary visits changed everything
When I spend time with animals in a sanctuary, something shifts in my gut. I don’t always have the words for it, but I feel it deeply.
This isn’t about creating “decoration” or trying to impress anyone. It’s about checking my ego at the door and allowing for the mess, the journey, and the trust. Each canvas teaches me something new, as long as I let it unfold.
An Invitation
Sometimes, it feels like the animals I paint are coming through the canvas to speak to me. I know that sounds a bit “off-centre,” but each story is a real experience that has stayed with me. There is so much we don’t understand about energy and connection, but being open to it feels like a good start.
The bottom line is this: you don’t need to “understand” my art in any academic way. Just spend time with it. Notice what it brings up in you.
There is no right or wrong interpretation—just an invitation to feel. If my paintings stir something in you, that honestly amazes and humbles me.
What Matters Most
For now, this is my way of sharing what matters to me:
Kindness. Connection. The choices we make and the unpredictable flow of our human lives.
Thank you for being here—it’s a gift to connect with you.
Stay warm. [ it’s winter here] and keep creative …….blaze
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