Frogs, Flora, Fauna, and Creativity by Raphaella Vaisseau

The other night in a dream I was swimming in a beautiful body of water and met a frog. It was a large green frog coming right at me, eyes saying something intently to me as it approached. I was mesmerized by the scene. The blues and greens and yellows were stunning, and neither one of us spoke. When I awoke, I was aware still of the presence of the frog and I wondered what message it might have for me.

I thumbed through Ted Andrew's Animal Speak until I found Frogs on page 356. "Transformation through Water and Sound" it said. "A totem of metamorphosis, [the frog] is a symbol of coming into one's own creative power." The author asks "Are you needing to dive into some fresh creative water?" That sounded good to me so I took out my paints and let creativity flow forth from my inner being. The result is Flora and Fauna, a 5x7 swirl of blended color evocative of rain forest ambiance and lush watery spaces. Enjoy my art. Love frogs.
-Raphaella Vaisseau

Forever Looking Forward - Original Art by Raphaella Vaisseau

Having an affinity for transcendentalism as expressed by Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, I was impacted in my coming of age years by three things: (1) learning in my college psychology classes the difference between goal-oriented and process-oriented people, and choosing to be the latter; (2) Ram Dass's landmark book, Be Here Now, published in 1971; and, (3) my own Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness and my ministerial ordination blessing of January, 1978, in which it was stated that "as I give in to the moment I'm in, my ministry will unfold of itself."

These things have assisted me greatly over the years. I suspect that living in either the past or the future held pitfalls for me (perhaps regret or worry). Countless times during my life I have thanked Spirit for this insight, the gifts of focus, surrender, and reminders to live in the present moment.

Acceptance is keynote of course. Whatever happens, and wherever I am, is an opportunity for acceptance. Then, with new knowledge and experience gained, I go forward from there with new choices.

All of this focus on living in the present does not mean, however, that there is no place for goals, intentions, and desires. Thus, my newest creation in art, a 10"x10" acrylic painting on canvas entitled, "Forever Looking Forward." Enjoy. - Raphaella Vaisseau

Two Mixed Media Art Cards by Raphaella Vaisseau for 30 Days of Get Your Art On - 9.25.11 (RV Days 6 and 7)

What a week I've just finished! Big wholesale orders, new gallery possibilities, keeping up with inventory from dozens of consignment vendors, plus keeping my word to myself by doing 30 min of new art per day for the "30 Days of Get Your Art On" project.

I'm learning to do the creating new art thing in the morning, so I'm not blogging in my sleep. Leaving it to the end of the day has been challenging. Yesterday I couldn't do it first because Saturdays I am up at 5am to get to the Venice Farmers Market early and have my booth set up before daybreak.

So yesterday I fudged a little. I did my 30 minutes before the end of the day, but I did not stay up an extra hour to scan, post to Etsy, blog, and post links to facebook and twitter. I'm doing that now instead. My day of rest will have to wait a week, or at least until I ship the orders I'm still working on today (and tomorrow, and the next day). Nevertheless, I must say, even though this commitment has added a new pressure to my already pressured life as an artist, I'm loving the creative aspect of making new art every day.

I am gearing up to spending my 30 minutes a day on bigger paintings that have been sitting in various stages of creation in my studio for weeks. Some, I must confess, have been on my studio walls (and floor) for months.

Presenting two new ACEOs from Day 6 "Sticks" and Day 7 "Respect Women" of the 30 Days project. Click here to see all my original artist trading cards in my Etsy store. They are OOAK (one-of-a-kind) and when they're gone, they're gone. Maybe some day I'll start selling ACEO prints but for now, they are all original creations of art. They are the same size as a baseball card, 2.5" x 3.5" and they're affordable and adorable. Of course, they can be framed as wall art, but they're also collectable since artists from all over the world are creating them and selling them on Etsy. Browse the ACEtsy Street Team blog to discover more artists making art cards. Have fun. Buy art. Share it with others.
-Raphaella Vaisseau

Sun and Moon by Raphaella Vaisseau for 30 Days of Get Your Art On - 9.22.11 (RV - Day 4)

"Sun and Moon" is my latest ACEO (artist trading card). It represents my love for our earth, and our benevolent celestial bodies, the sun and moon. A continual source of wonder and amazement, I honor their place in our sky.
-Raphaella Vaisseau

Tulips of Grace by Raphaella Vaisseau, in honor of my Daughter and Mother's Day

My most recent tulip painting reminds me that I first started painting tulips because they were my daughter Cate's favorite flower while she was growing up. We lived in Minnesota then. Tulips were the first sign of Spring. Their stems would burst through the icy ground, sometimes still snow covered. The tulip buds would blossom like a song happy to be sung.

Over the years I've painted many tulip garden paintings and still they remind me of the hope of Spring and my daughter's love. Mother's Day is coming soon and my thoughts turn to mothers everywhere. My Mother has a gallery of my tulip paintings as well. I guess for me, tulips and Mothers go hand in hand.