Small simple tip for biginners/Self Taught Artists.

Dear Arty friends,

Finishing the sides of a painting is as important as the painting itself. 

There are several ways to finish the sides (I have an old post that I have posted a link to at the bottom)

I usually struggled with painting the sides of my wrapped canvases from time to time. Either it was time consuming. Or I got smudges on the painting. 

Until I discovered a simple no BRAINER way of doing it. But until then I struggled even if in a small way. So I just created a short less then a minute video to help any one who could be on the same journey as me.

Happy watching.

Here is a link to see how to manage the side stapled canvas if you have any... 

Do share if you find this useful. Would love to hear from you.

Much love and light

Prerna
Catalyst for Creative compassion.

On Breakthroughs and magics and my latest art

Hello lovey souls

Its already February. Ever year I feel time seems to be flying faster and faster.

During one of my tiny creative conversations I had this little chat and I had to grab a pen and paper and write it down. One of those moments.

We can keep waiting and wanting to HAVE a breakthrough but we cant HAVE it.

Because its not a thing that we can HAVE.

We got to GO through it.

GO breakthrough a barrier to discover Magic.

GO breakthrough fear to discover the magic of fearlessness

GO breakthrough a routine to discover magic of newness

GO breakthrough a ritual to discover a another magical ritual

GO breakthrough the madness to discover that magical peace

GO breakthrough the chatter to discover the magic of silence

GO breakthrough that silence to listen to a magical sound.... the sound of silence.

So we cant HAVE breakthroughs. We got to GO and BREAKTHROUGH. Sometimes the smallest of the acts make a huge difference.

So what are we going to go breakthrough this year. I shall discover soon. I love magic. And I believe in magic so its going to be an interesting journey yet again.

Meanwhile here is my latest magical breakthrough. I call it a breakthrough because I usually paint faces. This is way different than what I create and it just came through when I felt a wee bit stuck and all my mind said was just put some paint on your brush and on to the canvas. Paint anything. Just anything. I began with the roots and suddenly it just happened. Just magically. This has stories within stories about The Buddha.

The hand touching the soil is the Buddha keeping mother earth as his witness as soon as he received enlightenment during dawn (hence the sun on the right) The flowing orange robe that he adorned all his life. The seeds depicting thoughts which when given fertile ground will sprout into trees that will bear fruits and the cycle will continue. Hence the importance of the thoughts.

Breakthrough

Original Art on Canvas board painted with acrylics.



I hope you enjoyed this post after long. Would love to hear from you.

Much love and light

Prerna Poojara

Resting, Emerging, Transforming its all happening at the right time.

Hello creative souls

Here is my latest Artwork which feels very me. Its a circular canvas and again an intuitive piece of work. On most days my artworks are not preplanned or designed to be painted as multiple pieces (like a sketch, carbon and paint job) They have oodles of layers, marks, drips and wait time, endless staring at what looks like a mess at times while something emerges out of the process that is akin to going deep within. Its a dialogue. Its a communication with the universe. Its pretty. Its ugly. But its necessary. 

The results always surprises me. You cant force them. And the downside being sometimes you cant commit to painting within a time frame (suits me). 

This artwork speaks to me on various level. I have been in my cocoon, hibernating, painting, learning new skills, practicing, breathing and waiting it out and not rushing. And yes sometimes it felt dark and scary to not have a plan or to set aside a plan previously thought upon. And risk it. And yes I color outside the lines, think outside the box.... hell I tore apart the box - no more box - no more thinking outside the box. My art is more spiritual more me. 

This original panting is made on a round canvas, with acrylic paints, the dress is a cocoon like finish, the long flowing hair, the lady turning back to find those pretty wings. The dreamy feel to the canvas. What more can I add? I wish the photograph could do justice to the layers and shades and colors. 

Today the break I took from my previous career (Out of Home Media), to take on art as a second career and then again retreating in my cocoon to rest seems like time well spent. I paint because I love it. And the process keeps me happy. What a win win situation. 

Flowing is good. Staying still is good. As far as you breathe and stay aware and trust in the universe. 

Be blessed.
Prerna Poojara
Catalyst for Creative Compassion.

July Blog hop winner and whats brewing at my stuido.

Hi Angels

Thank you so much for participating in the July blog hop and taking time to go through the post and commenting.

We had 12 comments. And the winner is no 7. (I used random number generator). Erna van Dyk. Unfortunately the system is not allowing me to paste the result in this browser.

Erna van Dyk said...

I just love this t-shirt! it turned out great! as a fellow creatively fit coach you are such an INSPIRATION to me! i would wear anything you make with PROUD. 

Erna please send me your address on prernapoojara@gmail.com and I will be happy to send you the your lovely pendent. 

==========================

Now for a little update. 

This is what is brewing in my studio.

A plain black table has been painted.

These pretty Art Buddha art works on paper have been sent across the globe to my lovely people in the Infinite Buddhas of compassion Project.

This Buddha was created for Whitney Freya's Tree of Life online programme. I love love love the energy that it gives out.

I hope you like my recent works. My studio is buzzing with activity. So share some more goodies soon. Till then much love and light being sent your way.

Blessings and more
Prerna Poojara

When you Dance with your Dreams you actually fly.

Hello sweet souls

This is my 100th post BTW and I spent so much unnecessary time to think about the perfect 100th post. And I realized it was just another silly reason to procrastinate. Yes 100 is good. A century is a century. Its been a long time since I last wrote and I want to simply share whats brewing around me.

I looked back on my life when I was thinking about what to write and I realized one single thing. I realized I live my dream. I love the life I live. Creative, Compassionate,Radiant, Spiritual. My work is not really work that I would dread. I create therefore I am. And I enjoy the energy I bring in. There is peace. And I truly believe "The goal behind every goal should be Peace" Else the goals are just a way to distract oneself from our true life purpose. I am blessed to be living in this constant space of happiness and peace quite contrary to my 20 years of working at a corporate job. I did the scary thing that any one rarely attempts i.e say good bye to it and step into a life of uncertain situations because it was killing my soul. Slowly and gradually. And this dream that I had is now actually a reality. I embraced and danced with my dream. And my dreams have wings. So we fly and visit places and meet friends. I love the universe for showing me this lovely path. Thank you Thank you Thank you.   

Many of you know I am taking this course Dancing With your Dreams by Amy Burke O'Toole. She is a wonderful soul and my first Artist FB friend. I had no clue how this worked and I was on FB because I began 29faces. She is special. 

She put up a wonderful line up of teachers for this course. Believe me. I have had such a great time. It has really given me wings. Thats why I say I fly. 

Here are the latest artworks from the class. 

This one is a class on Archetypes by Claudia Olivos. I was introduced to Claudia's energy during AIMS workshop. She is an amazing teacher and her energy is absolutely stunning. I love the way she teaches and never holds back and no ego. I had never painted on a black background. So this was a challenge. So yay to wings. Trying out new things. And doing it again. 

This one is the Queen. 

I was so inspired by the style that I created one more for the Infinite Buddhas of Compassion Project. 

This one is a lovely class by Shelly Penko. I was always a fan of her Art so I was thrilled to bits when I saw her name on the list. And her process involved symbols. yay. something that was on my mind.  Talk about synchronizations. Here is my finished Canvas. I wish I had taken a bigger one though. I love it so much. It has a compass with words around it. The flower became a butterfly like it can happen in dreams. The fish looks naughty and it is my zodiac sign. 

And a very very happy news. Amy had nominated my name for the Bloom True e-workshop by Flora Bowley. Annnnnnddddd I got selected..... I was speechless (still am), and thrilled. She remembered I had her book on my wish list. We have began the journey and it is already so exiting. So keep in touch because I will share the lovely journey with you. My studio might just start resembling a war zone in a good way. 

Be blessed. See ya soon. 

Much love and light

Prerna Poojara

Catalyst for Creative Compassion. 

PS: I have some affiliate links in the post and blog. If you use those I get paid which means more art supplies. 

  

My first 24 hour creativity stint - definitely not the last one.

Namaste gorgeous souls

At first thank you thank you thank you so much to one and all who were present with me in spirit and cheering me on FB and were as exited about it as I was. 

This was totally a last minute decision so I could not really do it as a group activity. First about the whole concept. Its not my own and its not tried for the first time. This is totally Whitney Freya and Nikki Shanon's idea. They have been doing it regularly and you can read about it here on the FB page and the website. 

Ever since I read about it I was exited to try it. And I have been impulsive on most days (simply because I have very very few family commitments and this is the life I have embraced - I don't go out to work like I used to in my past life) I woke up on 31st. morning with a dream that I am painting energetically. I have finished teaching or assisting and now that the group has finished their paintings it is time to begin mine. I suppose I was at a retreat. But thats that. I simply wanted to start off the 24hours creativity that very same day. But I had simply not planned anything. And I decided I wanted to begin at 11:11 pm that night. say bye to 2013 and hello to 2014. Then I realized its not a logical idea - I should do it once I have woken up so that I am well rested to go on. Believe me it was more exhausting to keep my heart still and sleep that night. But it was a better decision. 

I started off at 11:11am (simply because it was all about sending out energy and what better number than that) on 1st Jan 2014 (post a lovely shower and pouring some sea salt water neck down to cleanse me) and painted straight for 24 hours with my numerous tea/coffee breaks and lunch/dinner/breakfast. Even at that moment I was sitting at my kitchen table communicating with the canvas. 

Frankly I was dreading the post lunch and dinner sleepy syndrome. But it just did not show up. At the end of it I was not sleepy but more charged but my back was already giving me signals. 

While I started on a fresh new circular canvas. I worked on some smaller pieces that I was almost 3/4th way. So its not like I painted so many of these during the 24 hour creativity. It surely was not a race and a production assembly line. One can paint simply on one canvas through the 24 hours too.  

These are the pics I posted @ 6 hours......  

In the evening I did a little cleansing ritual with my incense stick and the bell. Creative and energy work needs cleansing.

Of course I did keep asking myself why I was doing it. hmmmmm. To prove myself to any one? na. To myself. may be. Was it a torture? na. Will I do it again??? yes. Have I gone nuts???? hhhhmmmm ya may be in a good way. At least I am not being mean to any one.... believe me there is no right or wrong answer.  

This is where I was at half way.

I did learn something very profound. I can tolerate the something if I want to. On any other day a guy croaking on a karaoke from 2am to 6am continuously (simply drunk) would have probably seen me walk down the building security and sent a request because it was simply unbearable. I have this thing about not being able to tolerate sound. (Although I do have a booming voice myself) I like to paint in silence. I like to paint without music. But that night I was thankful to that man who kept me awake with that irritation. The learning for me was only I have the power to irritate myself. That man was just who he was. I changed - my perception changed. I kept blessing him. I kept feeling oh dear you too are being creative so have fun. Although it became unbearable by 6am because the song was now reduced to just one. So it was repeated. LOL. 

Of as time went by it went much slower. But hey I did say it was not a race. 

My advice go in without expectations. Every one is different. Every one will have a different experience. I am sure when I do it again I will have a different experience. Don't look for that special moment at a particular hour or so... The entire experience is special and magical. When I finished and took a short nap (in broad daylight) and woke up my body simply told me in many many ways that it existed with all the bones and joints aching. And I did question - dear body if this is you and who was painting for those 24 hours???? Hmmmmm. 

The important thing is I showed up. My muse was amused and played along. And the universe obliged. I got to send out this beautiful energy into this world and I feel so blessed. I had lovely souls who cheered me and kept sending me encouraging words. I will forever be grateful to you folks. You know who you are.

And these are all the paintings.

These are 4"x4" on MDF/Wood. They were 1/2 to 3/4th done when I started them.

Here is a Ganesha painted over an old painting which had some texture and sand (from 5 years back) I had already added paper and covered it with one coat of paint when I started this. This might get gifted to my first boss. He did say he loved my Ganesha and Buddha. That makes this Ganesha no 8 for the 108 Ganesha Project

This is a Buddha on a canvas board. This too was an old painting which I wanted to redo. The textured stem was once a braid like look. The background was already painted. I was not sure until I started if this would be a Buddha anything else. Its approx 50cm x 60cm 

This one is an OWL I painted for a friend. He has owls near his current residence and mentioned he will miss them when he moves back to his new home. Apparently they brought him luck. Well I just new the best gift for him would be to gift an owl painting. Owl is well. right. Well I had not planned for the owl to come on this one. This too was already covered with bits of paper and some background colours. Some how this one wanted to be an owl. I had initially planned for the owl to be on one of the circular canvases. Well thats intuitive painting for you. 

Thats the round canvas I started fresh with the words in red marking the beginning of the 24 hours creativity. It decided it wanted to be a Ganesha.   There is some crackle medium on the elaborate head decor. I absolutely love this piece. That makes this Ganesha no 9 for the 108 Ganesha Project

This is a small 5" (end to end) mdf wood  which again had the background colors on and was ready to work on.

That makes this Ganesha no 10 for the 108 Ganesha Project

This turned out to be a Tara. While I wanted to make a Buddha. She insisted on showing up. The hair here is crackled. Again I had already started the background of this one before. It was a respite to have smaller pieces to work along because then I could sit and paint in between the large canvas.   

And this was the last hour. This was also a fresh canvas which I had started along with the smaller circular one. I had this strong urge to write blessings on and send it out. And I ended it with the tree as a grounding feeling to the whole painting session. This one I will continue to work as and when it speaks to me. 

If you every wanted to do it. Just go ahead and do it. Its an experience which simply cannot be explained. Sit and paint, sleep and paint, but paint and remember to simply enjoy it. Its not a race, its not a game and its not a test. 

Be happy. Wish you all a fantastic 2014 and beyond.

Much love and light
Prerna Poojara

Catalyst for Creative Compassion.

Ganesha 7 for 108 Ganeshas project

Hi Every one

Wish you a Merry Christmas. I do hope this season brings you lots of reasons to cheer and look forward to the new year. I can already feel the shift in the energy and the excitement like never before. Frankly I was never about new years etc. But now I simply enjoy every moment of celebration. I take it as one more reason to celebrate. Clear off everything that is bothering you in 2013, not working and needs to go into the bin etc etc and start off fresh.

Here is my Ganesha for the 108 Ganeshas Project. This is an intuitive painting done on canvas and have layers and layers of energy with affirmations, blessings in the full moon and has been painted with the purest energy to ensure that is bound to melt away the blocks wherever it finally decides to find home.

Here are the finished projects of the Dancing with your Dreams. I am yet to finish 2 lessons from the workshop. We resume after the Holidays. If any one is still considering joining or gifting its still open. This a lovely group of teachers. I absolutely had fun with all these projects. They made me step out of my comfort zone but still kept my love for intuitive painting going strong. 

Have fun. Enjoy the Holidays.

Much love and light
Prerna Poojara

Catalyst for Creative Compassion. 

I so want to kick myself right now. Arrrrrrrggggggg

Hi soul friends

Here is a little bit of mystery solved for me. And now it feels silly because its been very obvious and I have been ignoring the signs and symbols. And I paint intuitively so this should have been something very very obvious. Its about the moon cycle. 

We have always celebrated Diwali considering I am a Hindu. But I always remembered the reason for celebrating it as the mythological one ie. story of return of Rama post exile etc. And thats one of the reasons I kind of never enjoyed celebrating it whole heartedly. Don't get me wrong - I love mythology. But I like to follow rituals that have some reason and meaning to me. Alas there was no valid explanation to the huge gift exchange, traffic, noise and air pollution and anxiety over food to be cooked by the dozens and all that.So I used to keep it low key. If I could I would simply enjoy at home and chill. This Diwali however the notion changed. Stay with me. I read the actual reason it is celebrated with lights and crackers etc is because it is the darkest of the new moon and hence the rituals to keep the evil at bay. Hmmmmmm now that made sense. And I could accept it. And I truly enjoyed my festival this time with rangolis, the diyas and prayers.

Since then I have been wanting to study the moon calendar and information has been pouring in. But this one simply laded in my lap. The book - Create a Dynamic Year 2014 by Lisa Michaels. I was lucky because it was free for a couple of days. And this book turned out to be just what I wanted. I love the way universe functions. Ask and you shall receive. BTW in India we have always followed the Hindu calendar which is the moon cycle since ages. But alas it is not taught in school. We still follow this calendar for all special occasions like marriages, pooja ceremonies, starting a new shop etc and with the help of a priest.  

So here is the painting that I finally understood. The reason I say understood is I usually treat my canvas as a huge art journal and a conversation with my self. So this piece spoke to me in pieces. Two weeks back she insisted I paint stars around her and also a crescent moon and a sun. And she was persistent. I gave in. I thought perhaps she is a Tara. I knew from day one she was about unveiling. I was not too sure if she was done so she sat there in my studio silently. And as soon as I read the book I realized oh dear she has been wanting me to follow the elements of nature and the moon calendar.

Unveiling - Acrylic on Canvas. 

And I suddenly realized the moon, the sun the elements of nature have been in so many of my paintings. I just want not paying attention to the symbol. I do feel silly. See what I mean? I dread to go check all the pics now. 

So the universe is your friend. It will guide you gently till you learn your lesson and awareness is the key. Just because I painted for fun did not mean I should have not taken my symbols seriously. Lesson learnt.

This year the Amazing Business and Life Calendars and Workbooks will be used differently.

I would love to hear your story if you related to this and have encountered something similar.

Much love and light
Prerna Poojara
Catalyst for Creative Compassion

Ganesha my guide and a helpful tip for FB page

Hi divine souls

Last time I mentioned I had a Ganesha painting on a canvas on my easel. This canvas came as such a blessing. It practically guided me all through gently and it emerged lovingly. I just enjoyed the journey so much and the whole process was very energizing. I love the expression of the Ganesha here. It is chubby like a baby face and demanded I have the trunk hold the brush and why not.I think the divine energy that these paintings bring forward they have to be appearing from the universe magically. Every morning all I am doing is showing up at my studio (few steps out side my bedroom and into my living room is my studio) and the must has to show up. 

This is becoming a daily ritual and a lovely practice. Loving every bit of it.

I have used crackle medium on the Modak (a sweet dish and Ganeshas favorite) and the shawl. 

Psssst it might look that I spend so much time on FB posting on my page but let me tell you a secret - I schedule my posts. There is a clock like icon to the left on your status window. Click on that and a calendar will open up and you can schedule your posts. I had to share this with fellow artists because it is such a time saving option especially for the ones who run workshops etc. I am glad to share what I learn so that we all can spend more time creating.

Would love to hear from you. Or better still join me on this journey. We have a closed FB group too.

Much love and light.
Prerna Poojara
Catalyst for Creative Compassion   

Divine energy flowing through my studio into my soul

Hi happy souls

My studio is getting full of Buddha and Ganesha paintings. They are charging the energy around my studio and me. Some days magical flow of energy takes over, some days its calm. But it is all good. I am completing my canvases because I am working with my favorite divine guides. 

I have been pulling cards in the morning to understand and bring in the energies that I need to carefully observe, work on and connect with. 

Here is my latest canvas. I love the way the Buddha is emerging from the waters, lotus and the candle lighting in the center. calmness of it all. I have used Artual Stencils by Whitney Freya. They are just amazing.

Acrylic on Canvas

This week I have mostly set an intent to send out energies into the world for peace and healing.

I love hearing from you so drop me a comment. It will mean a lot to me.

Much love and light
Prerna
Catalyst for Creative Compassion.

Original Painting - Acrylic on Canvas - Invoking the Green Tara

Hello sunshine

This is a quick post to share my latest painting.

I so managed to invoke the Green Tara in my painting below. She came as a surprise.

I am an intuitive painter so a my process allows a lot of surprises, messages, and gratitude. I had so not planned for her to appear but she did. The most uncanny part is just before this I was stuck at a background phase (Sploshed and splished and played to my hearts content)  I had pulled two cards from different decks which surprisingly had the same message related to "Taking Action" and the next day I got this urge to paint a Tara. I looked for my White Tara card but The Green Tara insisted on receiving all the attention. The card was about calling upon her. So I began the process of painting the Green Tara all the while invoking her energy.

However I wanted to check more on her symbols and what she was all about and surprisingly the net showed some write ups which talk about the Green Tara as the one who will spring to action. I truly love the way she has turned out to be. She is truly about invoking her. Bringing her energy into your life.

Acrylic on Canvas - approx 20"x14"

 

So yes action it was. Green Tara was pretty much vocal about what she wanted. So yes she has emerged with a lot of love.

I would love to hear from you and see you art so drop me a line and we shall catch up.

Much love and light
Prerna

PS : You guessed it right - the tripple spirals are from Whitney Freya's artual range.

Acrylic on Canvas - Original Painting. - Unlock your Heart and be fearless

Hello every one,

We are already mid way to Jan and time seems to be flowing. I had started this painting towards the end of last year. I paint intuitively and some times they take longer to get completed as they are more like messages relayed to me. 

I had already finished the Buddha on the RHS last December and my muse refused to let me touch it. But it also kept silent regarding the LHS of the painting. I added a leaf shape to begin with and had it covered with old shreds of paper (my latest obsession LOL) but some how it kept saying it dint want to be a leaf. Finally after sitting on the easel for more than 12 days it spoke last week. One fine day it said it wanted to be a heart not a leaf. And then the muse just took off. The heart became a lock because it had a soft message "unlock your heart" The heart shaped lock is unlocked and if you notice it does not have the typical slot that shuts the lock. So the locks we put are more imaginary and are so easy to open without a key - as the key hole it self is a key which says love. And the 8 circles were drawn before and I had almost decided to inscribe Namaste (7 letters so I was wondering what to do with the 8 the circle) But no again my muse whispered "fearless" and it kind of went on to become a message. Unlock your heart and be fearless. And here it is. 

Unlock your Heart and Be Fearless - Original Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Happy creating. May the message resonate with some of you reading this too. 

Love and Light

Prerna