I read this post from David Rogers when in Portugal….It is superb and once again David speaks with such authority about the inner workings of the creative being.
I will write my first blog about Portugal next week. Janet All images in this post are by Karin Goeppert.
Above Vinci by Karin Goeppert
This is my eighth post of quotations about creativity, creative people, and the creative process that I’ve assembled from my reading and writing. These quotes are valuable because writers, artists, photographers, and actors and other performers have expressed interest in them. They are interested in them because insights into creativity and the creative life can be applied to their work, bring them inspiration, and increase their knowledge and skills, enabling them to produce increasingly better, more sophisticated, and more popular work. That is an urge to improve and excel that animates almost every creative person from the first morning of the first day of their creative life to midnight of the last.
An important reason a creator hungers for information like this is the competitiveness of fields requiring inventiveness: painting is exceptionally competitive; writing and acting are too, and the creator is looking for an…
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After working with a group for the first week, fellow artist and good friend Bonnie Halsey Dutton 
watercolour
I With its courtyards, communal areas and excellent studio space, plus shops, cafes, markets, Lagoon all within a few minutes walk from the school – plus of course the wonderful Margarida and Joanna who take care of all our needs….what more could an anyone wish for.
The studio. 
The 150 year old Olive Tree that meanders from one of the courtyards up through the three levels of the school. You can see the blue of the roof top pool through the tree. 
watercolour
This has been one of the best years I can remember. I have visited places, friends and family I love and along the way enjoyed wonderful conversations and much laughter. I am so grateful for this moment in time and that I have been able to focus on what is truly of value in my life.
What is Holistic wellbeing? 
In our ever more complex and stressful day to day living, finding ways to balance the different aspects of our lives can at times seem overwhelming. It is for this reason that…
I start this blog where I finished off last time. I had just been driven by Heather from the beautiful Rhiwiau to the busy little market town of Crickhowell where I met up with my friend Jane at the Dragon Inn. 
I lived in Crickhowell for twelve years from 1993 til 2005. During that time, along with commissions and teaching, I worked on a project, entitled Focusing on the Future which used the power of art to teach children about their environment and issues such as trust, loneliness and homelessness. Without going into all the details, it almost made it, but sadly in the end it had to be put aside.
On this visit I stayed at the Dragon Inn which brought back many happy memories. When I first returned to Wales in 1993, I stayed with my cousin and family who initially introduced me to Crickhowell, and then I moved into a small flat over the antique shop right next to the Dragon. The people who ran the Dragon at that time, allowed me to use the functions room to paint portraits and entertain my guests….how wonderful is that……
One of the many portraits I painted in Crickhowell. This is Ken…a man of Wales. As I painted people, I asked them to talk about their lives in Crickhowell all of which I have on cassette tapes. watercolour
In hindsight, when I arrived in 1993, it was the end of an era, With the advent of technology the area has become busier, but thankfully because of protection offered by The Brecon Beacons National Park, it still keeps its charm and has a great sense of community.
It has taken a few years for me to feel totally comfortable again in returning. I think along with feelings of sadness, I felt a sense of letting many people, especially the children down because the Focusing on the Future project didn’t come to fruition. However, I am now pleased to say that all of those negative feelings have gone, allowing me to thoroughly enjoy this very special place again.
Another good friend, Lizzy Wilson joined us for a day…..bringing back many happy and some difficult memories. Lizzy was so supportive when things didn’t work out with the project, and helped me to clear my studio before moving to London.
I could go on and on, but needless to say, Crickhowell and the whole area holds a very special place in my heart. I will now look forward to many more visits.
I first visited the Rhiwiau, the home of my friends Anne and Mike Ranstead , about twenty-four years ago. Along with enjoying happy hours with Anne and Mike and painting in the surrounding hills, this place represents a ‘hot spot’ for me.
Then five years ago my two good friends, Heather and Andrew bought the Rhiwiau from Anne and Mike. Hill walkers and dog lovers, they are the perfect people to take over. They have now made the Rhiwiau into an Air B’nB – attracting people from around the world who love hill walking and all the other bounties that the Brecon Beacons National Park has to offer. Here are the links to their air BnB.
Old head stones interspersed amongst the Yew trees. A magical place
During my stay Heather introduced me to Janis Fry – artist, writer and expert on the Yew Tree. 
Interior of The International Welsh Rarebit Centre….An art gallery and meeting room up stairs. 
I haven’t mentioned yet how hot it was. Usually when it’s hot in London or even in Crickhowell….when you get up into the hills the temperature drops by a few degrees, however, not during this heatwave…and more worryingly a drought! Anyway, given that the house was filled with Air B ‘n B guests, I slept in the Shepherd’s hut which sits just in front of the barn….and I loved it.
My view from inside the Shepherd’s hut along with the sounds of sheep and birds…….perfect.
Another special visit was to the artist Janet Foster who lives and works in the village of Llanfynach. I met Janet when I was tutoring for the Brecknock Art Society and have always enjoyed her work. 
I couldn’t complete this part of my post without mentioning Bounty….a beautiful horse I met that lives just down the road from the Rhwihau. I really liked her. 
After two blissful days at the Rhhwiau – Heather drove me to Crickhowell (about ten miles) where I met up with friend Jane who had driven from London for her first visit to The Magical Town of Crickadoon, where we stayed at the fantastic Dragon Inn. Having heard me talk about it for twelve years, at last she could see it.
A few watercolour sketches painted when visiting the Rhiwiau over the years – always trying to capture the ever changing light of the Brecon Beacons. 
Brecon Beacons Wales – watercolour
I will be back here in about ten days. Janet