Feb 2, 2016 | Art inspiration, New Service, Personal experience
Portrait above is Odette Marie Céline Hallowes (née Brailly) by Pietro Annigoni 1961 (ink and tempera on thick paper prepared with gesso). Licensed from the National Portrait Gallery for use on this blogpost.
Introduction
The more I develop my craft as an artist, the more hungry I become. Hungry to experience visual art. Particularly to notice its impact upon my body. What lights me up, even if I don’t understand its meaning…
I was inspired by an article in the October 2015 Issue of The Simple Things titled ‘Arts in Mind’. The article encourages us to look at art more slowly by: choosing quieter times, paying attention to your reactions and simply focusing on a few great works of art that move you somehow.
I don’t know about you, but I can find visiting art galleries (particularly in London) rather overwhelming at times. They are often busy and packed full of art with tiny little descriptive labels. I feel the need to move quickly from room to room like a bumblebee in order to maintain a feeling of spaciousness and ease.
It was my birthday last week. One of our activities was a trip to the National Portrait Gallery to see the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portraits. Of course they were breathtaking and inspiring. But they are not the reason for this posting today.
We had a little time left over to visit a few more of the free exhibits. I visited Room 32 which was brimming with sumptuously detailed portraits of the Queen, Hockney, Princess Diana to name a few….
Then I noticed it happened
I came upon a painting that met me with such a punch to my chest (in a good way). I noticed butterflies in my stomach as my nose was pressed up really close to the finer details. I stayed in front of this piece for a good 15 minutes…bobbing back and forth pondering what and why I might be feeling undone by it. You see it was more textured, loose, and unfinished perhaps. Whatever the artists intention, it was love at first sight. It moved me. I was left wanting more.
The painting is here on my blogpost. I love it so much that I have paid a license fee to keep it here on my blog. The artist is called Pietro Annigoni.
Pietro Annigoni is an Italian portrait and fresco painter influenced by the Italian Renaissance. Between 1945 to 1960, Annigoni produced a succession of important and very successful works including the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. He signed the manifesto of Modern Realist Painters which opposed abstract (interesting!) art and the various movements that had sprung up in Italy in these years.
What is it I love about the painting?
It evokes within me what I hope to achieve with my own art. It is the essence of a human soul without the finer detail. There is a flow of energy and a softness within the layered, muted colours. I love that it appears unfinished so that I may use my own imagination to fill in the gaps… There is just enough here to create an impression of the person…perhaps a teeny tiny bit abstract? (interesting!). I love the fact that the face is not emphasised as much as the background. Yet the background emphasises the face. I love, love, love the energy of it.
I have collected a few more examples of his more sketchy ink/tempera paintings that appear unfinished.
Overall the colours are duller than my palette. But, I adore the mystery of them. Their energy. Do you?
Personal conclusions
There are many amazing artists out there. There are many fine artists who can create detailed paintings where you have to look closely to see if it is a photograph or not (Pietro Annigonis more detailed art pieces like Queen Elizabeth II fit that description).
I have no aspirations to be a fine classical artist. My passion is energised when I create fresh art with a new twist. That’s why I love collaging my art and deliberately omitting details. Deliberately keeping them perfectly imperfect. They evoke a soul-connection within me somehow. The painting above touches me in the same way. It enriches me deeply. Revealing a lot about where I would like to be heading.
As well as my products and illustration services, I feel inspired to venture into Pet and Human portraiture (with my twist) and have added the service to my Etsy shop here. I am looking forward to its evolution.
Over to you
Is there a creative hobby you would love to research a little further? If so, I invite you to take the journey of purposeful awareness, with no pressure for quantity. Have more emphasis on the quality of the experience. Just study one or two objects that trigger you somehow (good and bad). Take them into your soul and feel why they move you so much. Drink them in.
There are secrets to be revealed to you in those quiet moments.
and also
If you enjoyed my blogpost then do comment or share amongst your social media.
Jun 17, 2014 | New Service, Personal experience
I would love to introduce you to Holly Worton from Socially Holistic. She helps women in heart-centred businesses to go from confusion to confidence with social media.
A few months back, I had been introduced to her fabulous Podcast when I listened to the lovely Linda Anderson chat about her EFT experience.
Just imagine how delighted I was to serendipitously sit across from Holly (at a networking event), the following day. It was her distinctive velvety voice that drew my attention and I am so glad I plucked up the courage to chat with her. I was not disappointed.
Now, I am so excited to actually be a guest on her Podcast and have an opportunity to share my very own experience and adventure to becoming a heart-centred woman in business.
What You’ll Learn
- Lisa’s top tips on how to get the website of your dreams
- Why you need to spend one month getting clear on what you’re about
- How her experience as a coach and a therapist has made her a better artist and web designer
- Why it’s so important to trust your intuition when having a new website created
Inspiring Women in Business
Things We Discussed
– See more at: http://sociallyholistic.com/shp47/#sthash.wP4NDwGf.dpuf
What You’ll Learn
- Lisa’s top tips on how to get the website of your dreams
- Why you need to spend one month getting clear on what you’re about
- How her experience as a coach and a therapist has made her a better artist and web designer
- Why it’s so important to trust your intuition when having a new website created
Inspiring Women in Business
Things We Discussed
– See more at: http://sociallyholistic.com/shp47/#sthash.wP4NDwGf.dpuf
What you’ll learn in this Podcast
- A few of my top tips on how to get the website of your dreams.
- Why you need to spend one month getting clear on what you’re about.
- How my experience as a coach and a therapist has made me a better artist and web designer.
- Why it’s so important to trust your intuition when having a new website created and not worry about knowing exactly what you want.
I hope you get a sense of the passion I have for my work and how I value friendly and fun conversation [Tweetable].
I love my new career and am looking forward to sharing more nuggets of information about my work and processes in the future. It is my clients who craft my business and I learn sooo much from them.
So todays blog is the link to the Podcast ‘ How to get the website of your dreams, with Lisa McLoughlin‘. I would love to know what you think.
If you like it, then I would love you to share it with your social media preference.
I’m Holly Worton, and I help women in heart-centered businesses go from confusion to confidence with social media, so they can use it to build relationships online and get more clients.
Why? Because as a heart-centered business owner, you do amazing work, and I want to help you help more people. The way to do that is through Connection, and social media is one of the best ways to connect with others and to build your tribe.
– See more at: http://sociallyholistic.com/#sthash.akkeRBM1.dpuf
I’m Holly Worton, and I help women in heart-centered businesses go from confusion to confidence with social media, so they can use it to build relationships online and get more clients.
Why? Because as a heart-centered business owner, you do amazing work, and I want to help you help more people. The way to do that is through Connection, and social media is one of the best ways to connect with others and to build your tribe.
– See more at: http://sociallyholistic.com/#sthash.akkeRBM1.dpuf
Apr 6, 2014 | New Service
What an exciting first 6 months of my new illustration business!
I have enjoyed connecting with you and so many new business women.
I have listened carefully to your needs and, at the beginning of this year, I took inspired action to create a new service because some of the concerns you and others have shared with me had a theme!
Many women approached me and asked if I could create a new website for them – as well as doing the art work. I was intrigued by why I was being asked. Of course it made sense to do both art and website together – but there had to be more to it. I was surprised to find that quite a few of you had tricky or bad experiences with your websites.
Many women told me:
* You were often disappointed that your Web/Graphic designer didn’t keep you informed and updated – often it took days for anyone to call you back!
* There was no clear process and you often felt lost and out of control during the design and build phase, so you lost confidence.
* Technical people didn’t always relate to you and understand your specific needs.
* You were often disappointed by the end result and didn’t know how to tell them. The designs were ‘not quite right’ and not capturing the essence about what was unique about what you have to offer.
* They did not communicate in a way that was easy to understand which made it hard to make informed decisions and feedback your worries.
So I set about making a difference to that. I have a perfect blend of skills to effectively transform your concerns into solutions so that you can have a powerful online presence without the headache.
How?
* My background as a Healer, Coach and female entrepreneur means I understand your needs.
* I speak your language – I keep my inner geek locked away when I talk to real people!
* I have the artistic skills to interpret your vision and the technical skills to transform your online home to meet the needs of your audience.
* I have a process in place to make sure you regularly get updates and are fully informed at all times. That means you are free to be a part of the feedback process and add to your ideas throughout your journey – no more feeling awkward!
* As well as building your website, you can have your site hosted and maintained if you wish, or I can show you how to update your new website, so you can manage your content without additional cost or worry.
If you can relate to these points then we may be a perfect fit.
As the website creation service is a new development, until the end of April, 2014, I am offering a 25% discount off the Standard package to clients who reserve their place with a 50% deposit (£375). Yes, that is £750 ($1245) , instead of £1000 to create a unique combination of a simple modern design with beautiful artwork included. Connect with me here to reserve a place.
So, instead of just thinking about that new site – now is a great time to take action and see if we would be a good fit.
How does that sound?
Still unsure?
Then I invite you to connect with me further here to begin a no obligation conversation about your vision for your site.
Not ready to invest yet?
If you are interested, but the time isn’t right for you – the offer will expire but a beautiful new website with bespoke art work will be still available so bookmark my website or subscribe to my updates.
Sharing is Caring
Do you know of anyone who has been struggling with finding someone to build a new website for them? If you do, feel free to pass on this email to them or share one of my social media pages.
Onwards and upwards!
Lisa x
