Finding Inspiration in Tropical Flora and Foliage

Sharing some inspiration from the Big Island of Hawaii.

I love the assault of my senses here. The colours and shapes are bright and bold. The temperature and trade winds are gentle on the skin.The saltwater invigorating. And there really is nothing like getting pummelled by the Pacific to really feel alive

 

I love sitting here listening to the sounds of seaside living.

Lots of birds, crashing waves, the clatter of geckos and the early morning return of the fishing boats back to the bay. There are no boundaries between outside and in. It’s a bit like living in a treehouse

Everything is just so different from my usual back home in Whistler. I think that is what I love most about it here.

I can’t resist the urge to pick up almost everything on my morning runs here. It makes for a bit of a run/ walk, but is always well worth it.
This is generally how my hat returns home..

I often entertain the thought of moving here one day. It’s a topic of conversation that comes up often when we are here. It’s hard to say whether it would lose some of its magic.

For now I will continue to be a dreamer, taking pictures of all that inspires me here. I know it won’t be long until our next visit.

I was thrilled to wake up this morning and discover on Instagram that Michelle Osorio had also been inspired by my #florafoliage series posted there. (you can see them here)

Look at her beautiful, delicate water-colour. I have to say it made my day!  You can find Michelle here on Instagram

 

I am going to milk out this tropical feeling for as long as possible – pineapples are up next week!

Aloha

Seed and Pod Inspiration

Looking for a little seed and pod inspiration? I have some for you!
These are courtesy of the Big Island of Hawaii.

Interesting shapes and shapes within shapes. Great texture. Lovely ,earthy colors. I wish I knew the names of some of these as I am very intrigued by them and curious to know more.

For more seed and pod inspiration you can visit Pinterest. I have started a board Inspired by Nature where I pin my images of objects found, in real life and in my virtual one too.Lots to see there!

Sketching ~ my take on seeds and pods. I have my most fun drawing objects found in nature. I love playing with organic shapes and adding in my own textures. I have no patterns made with these to date, but they have found their way into alot of my paintings and collage work.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with! If you would like to share, post to #shareyoursketch on Instagram.

I am heading off to NYC to walk Surtex this weekend. I still can’t believe I am going.

I have been hearing about this show for the past year and am super curious as to what it is all about. I get the added bonus of a trip to NYC and the chance to meet up with lots of art and design friends that I have met over the years.Will keep you posted on my adventures there!

Have a great weekend!

Finding inspiration in the spirit of aloha

Very happy to be spending time in one of my favorite places, the Big Island of Hawaii.The moment my feet hit the ground here I feel a sense of coming home.

Lush tropical flora and fauna,dark streaks of lava rock, sun, sand, a warm breeze and the neverending sound of birds and crashing waves all come together to feed  the senses and the soul. The Big Island is charged with tradition and culture that reaches deep. This island holds a very special place in our hearts.

I always love to do a post or two from Hawaii. Its a lovely place to share. Lots of inspiration and color.

Mother nature also has a very good sense of humour here. The shapes, color and texture of the flora and fauna are so unusual.I am constantly in awe of some of the crazy things I find.

My goal for this trip ~ lots of computer free time. Time spent observing, drawing and feeling present.

My sense of urgency to do it all ~ designing, blogging #365 patterns ~ slowly takes a back seat to simply living life.

I  will admit I find it very difficult to switch off and it takes more than a few days. I continue to feel like I am missing out on something, but with time I come to my senses and realize that everything I need is right here ~ family, friends, love and life.

Most believe Aloha is just a greeting, but the word is a way of life for most living here on the islands. Here, Aloha is an attitude, guidance towards living  a certain way of life ~ the Aloha spirit.

A, ala, watchful, alertness
L, lokahi, working with unity
O, oia’i’o, truthful honesty
H, ha’aha’a, humility
A, ahonui, patient perseverance

Finding inspiration on a winters walk

Last week I was thinking that spring is just around the corner. Once again, I have been fooled by Mother Nature. We are expecting 30-60 cm of snow this week in Whistler, B.C.

It is usually at this time of year that I start to crave color, lots of color, in my life. I am surrounded by many different shades of gray and white and while I still find it beautiful, a little pop of color would be a welcome change.

Todays walk had me trudging along, eyes downward, in search of some sketching inspiration. I was a bit surprised to find a bountiful of old, decayed foliage around. Lots of different shapes, colors and texture all supplied by a bit of cold weather and snow.

I was a little amazed at some of the little tidbits of nature I found.

Twenty minute sketch time ~ no thoughts on perfection just some fun mark making, paying attention to the different shapes and textures. Some more marks and hopefully some inspiration for a cool motif to add to my ever-growing collection.

This is also very nice to come upon in the middle of winter. Yarn bombing is alive and well in Whistler.

This still beings a smile to my face every time I see it. I am almost tempted to learn how to knit.

What am I thinking?No.

My husband is still trying to convince me that it would be really cool if I got a black sharpie and doodled all over our front yard birch tree. I think he may be making fun of me.

My walking companion, Cariboo, patiently waiting for what he feels is rightfully his. I swear he was rolling his eyes during the photoshoot.

Inspired by winging it!

For this weeks Illustration Friday ~ wings.

This is a motif I have been meaning to explore more. The opportunities are endless here.There are so many facets of the wing to be explored ~ movement, texture, weight, the beautiful delicacy, all the lovely lines,color…

I was reminded of a post I made over a year ago about a beautiful book I stumbled upon at Anthropologie. The link is here, but I will show you some pictures to peak your interest.

Designer Belan Mena inspired me by her practice of taking everything she discovered about the moth and breaking it down to its fullest.It’s a concept I love and mean to practice more. It’s also a concept that I need a bit more patience for!

I laugh at myself because I take these themes so literally. I hear wings I see butterfly wings. I am practicing my thinking outside the box but it can only come with more patience and with more work. So my goal for the next week- wings. If you want to see wings explored come back for a visit! Will keep you posted on my progress.

Back to my entry for this weeks Illustration Friday.

Butterflies for children. I am building my portfolio and whats a portfolio without some bright, colorful butterflies and flowers.

I love taking time to explore Illustration Fridays’ site at the end of the week. It’s a very talented community and I guarantee there will be some very creative ways of interpreting wings.

I will be back on Friday with this weeks efuto ~ also inspired by wings.Drop by and say hello and I just might send one your way.

Inspired by…mother natures fancy free business card

I am often amazed at what mother nature can create. She is a bit of a funny lady…

Twenty photos later of just this one flower…who his laughing now!? She has definitely captured my attention.

I have spent many an hour sketching flowers this past week for my surface pattern design course. It has made me stop to think what is it that I really love about them.

I love their carefree whimsical nature, their texture, their odd shapes.

I love them in any color…especially complementary colors!

I love the attention they demand.They are little pieces of artwork onto themselves.

My friend Lori who is hosting this months flower challenge refers to flowers as natures way of smiling. I like that!

Still patiently waiting for the flowers to bloom here. Mother nature is a bit of a tease….hot, sunny weather all week, but still no leaves or a flower in sight!

Still having fun in the sun…

Inspired by…sunlit sugar magnolia

One of my all time favorites…

Sugar magnolia, ringing that bluebell, caught up in sunlight, come on out singing I’ll walk you in the sunshine, come on honey, come along with me.

Shes got everything delightful, she’s got everything I need,
A breeze in the pines and the sun and bright moonlight, lazing in the sunshine yes
Indeed.

Everybody loves a bunch of flowers ..here is my bouquet for you!

Wouldn’t you love to have a branch or two of these in your entrance way…

And thats only from one tree! Imagine a boulevard lined with these…

Only in beautiful Vancouver , B.C. ~ April showers brings an explosion of May Magnolia flowers…

Do you have some flowers to share? Anything goes.. print, paper, paint and even jewelled.

Head on over to Lori Moon’s blog and join in her May Flower Challenge.

The sun is shining here. The birds are singing. I can even here a lawn mower…

Do I dare say spring is here!?

Inspired by…april showers,may flowers and a little skunk

April showers bring May flowers. Well one can only hope..

Around here all my flowers are painted…not planted. Forecast calling for snow flurries tomorrow. I smile only because it’s almost funny. I dare Mother nature…

In our neck of the woods April showers also brings Skunk Cabbage! A sure sign that more spring is right around the corner..followed by more spring like weather. Lots of spring around here.

Pretty~ Pretty smelly.

Western skunk cabbage is also known as swamp lantern. How pretty is that name?  Want to take a guess as to why its called skunk cabbage? Thats right…for the skunky odor it emits. A favorite saying around our town

You know you’re a local when….when you actually love the smell of skunk cabbage swamp lantern.

I do! For me its Whistler…its spring. A sign of summer to come.

I went for a dog walk yesterday to take pictures of things inspiring me. I knew that once I was out in the fresh air all thoughts of warm breezes,sunny days, bluebird sky would dissipate. Because, truth be told, I am actually quite inspired by death and decay.

I don’t know why..I love the antique, distressed feel, the organic shapes formed?? Maybe its just the experience of getting out there in the rain, at one with nature (insert eye roll).
Soft smelling skunk, a light mist rolling over the mountains and lake, many shades of gray, the anticipation of summer, my goofy dog…..or maybe it’s just my rose-colored glasses. Whatever it is ~ it makes me smile.

Whenever I need a hit of inspiration I get out my camera and start with my birch. I love my birch. They have been the subject of many a photo shoot. Look at all the lovely layers of paper…which of course have made their way into my daily collage.



It’s all good. I don’t know if I could imagine a life without seasons.

Thanks today goes out to Lori Moon. I started this blog post to participate in her May Flower challenge. Look where it led me…to a fine, appreciation of this gloomy rainy day!
If you would like to play along or just need a dose of prettiness, go on over to her blog and have a look!
I hope you have on your rose-colored glasses today! (especially if you live in the pacific northwest:)

Inspired by.. the shape,color and texture that nature provides.

One hour..

One kilometer..

One camera….

113 pictures later…

Ready??

Ok…I promise not to post them all.

And one gecko thrown in…

I love my zen time,camera in hand. Time to observe the beautiful show that nature provides. Unbelievable textures, shapes and always color.

Absolutely  madly in love with the Big Island….