Wellness is the complete integration of body, mind and spirit – the recognition that everything we do effects our state of well-being’.
Through Mother Nature we see how all of life is interconnected. – watercolour
To change one fraction of a painting, – changes the whole painting. This is true for life….to change one small part of ourselves, (positively or negatively), changes the whole.
Adding 15 minutes of movement can change our whole day. (running a marathon is not necessary)
Clearing the space in which we live, can clear our minds…
Without establishing simple routines, our need to be creative can be neglected.
When we begin to address these simple needs we experience a sense of wellbeing.
This watercolour exercise demonstrates that as we change one small portion of a painting, or ourselves, everything changes.
All the pure whites you see here are ‘dry white paper’. I am sketching with brush and watercolour allowing some areas to bleed. This is very quick…don’t overthink things – simply allow the paint to flow. There is no right or wrong way to do this.
In this frame I have added a mix of burnt Sienna and prussian blue for the dark area at the bottom of the painting. Using a knife I have scraped out some of the paint while it is still wet. All the remaining white areas are ‘Dry White Paper’
As we make positive simple changes, stress is replaced with a calmness which supports the whole. This is holistic well-being.
Note I have moved the light and darker purples around the painting…in order to achieve a sense of rhythm and balance.
Make sure to begin with a simple daily plan.
15 minutes of creative playfulness can change everything.
Enjoy the weekend. Janet 🙂
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.
Dancing egrets
Egrets
Brecon Beacons Wales – watercolour
I will be back here in about ten days. Janet
watercolour/gouache sketch – The Usk Valley where the Black Mountains meet the Brecon Beacons. 
This visit was the first time since I left Crickhowell, twelve years ago, that I was able to completely relax and allow myself the joy of visiting old haunts and connecting with dear friends.
The market Town of Crickhowell has a population of approx 3,000. It still has the butcher, baker and candlestick maker and much much more. A manageable and vibrant community.
When I lived there in my little cottage on Mill Street I was able to walk everywhere, including to twelve (or was it thirteen) pubs? – all of which served good food – from pub grub to fine dining and everything in between. That is still the case.
So why you might ask did I leave. In 1999 I began working on a project for children which used the power of art and colour to teach about environment, homelessness and many other social issues. Had it been successful, it would have solved long term financial issues. After what looked like a very promising beginning, in 2003 it was clear that the project was not going to work. A very sad moment for me.
All of which brings me to ten years of blogging and social media…………
My Life as an Artist (2) 