A couple of moths ago I was asked by our lovely local Naturapath Jess, to be interviewed for her segment of the Elder tree podcast. I was asked to share some of my stories about my relationships to plants and my lifestyle and how it's all woven into and informing my practice as an artist. The experience got me thinking about starting to share more stories surrounding my art practice and the moments of my life as a homesteading mother that inspire and are interwoven into my creations. I felt called to do it so I pocketed the idea for a couple of months as I unpacked the reasons why.
Why? A question I've been asking a lot lately as I navigate this multifaceted world as a creative in these times and in this place. Working out how to balance the making, the documenting, the sharing, the algorithms, the constant flow of inspiration and ideas and the channels I am choosing to share them through. I wonder if the act of writing down the feelings and moments that inspire me to create my artworks and continue to choose to live this life we are creating would keep me even more connected to my purpose and processes? I wonder if through sharing the intricacies, the successes and the failures of my own unique journey, I might be lucky enough to inspire some others to bury their hands in the soil, or stop for a quiet moment and reconnect with the calm of the lavender bush in their garden, the seeds in their pockets or the starving artist buried deep within them?
Of the many why's that arose through my inner explorations, these are the ones I am choosing to focus on and share here in this space. Stories of the beautiful, simple, challenging, connected moments that inspire me as an artist, meshed in with my stories as a mother living life with my family and community as we (quite literally) keep growing, building and learning how to rock life as a creative, homesteading, school free family on the land.
I'm looking forward to getting into the joy and the dirt with you all. My great hope is that some of these words I start to share here may open new pathways of thought or action in some people, as well as acting as a balm of beauty, connection and simplicity in these complex and sometimes tricky times. I'm looking forward to meeting you here.
xx Dalee