At the last journal workshop, which was #11 in the Creative Journaling Series, we focused on ‘Healing and Expanding’ as the theme. After making a ‘wound’ in our journal, weaving soft, plush wool across and through the opening to ‘heal’ the scar, we moved to the expanding wings of a bird in flight. Phoenix rising! Well, when I finally found time and focus to complete mine, it had turned into a Snowy Owl. Here are a few images of that owl.

Next workshop in the series is “Extraordinary Explorations: Playing with Colours, Textures, and Space.

That inner voice was strong and determined to have me paint this Barred Owl, and it was a mystery WHY the message to do owl, instead of the rocks I’d intended to paint. It was a mystery solved when Martin saw the owl, and had to have it! A wonderful young man, very conscientiously a conservationist like his wife. I knew when I spoke with both of them, and felt the passion in their dedication to preserving our natural world, that I had painted this owl for them. I thought that was the full story of owl, but I was wrong. A dear friend was losing her beloved husband to cancer, and I awoke at 3:00 one morning with a strong message to give her husband a photograph of the OWL painting. He loved it, and Owl found a place in his palliative care room, along with the symbolic meaning of Owl as the enlightener of darkness, the visionary that connects the physical world with the spiritual world. Owl brought him great comfort. Thank you Owl, and these two wonderful individuals, for giving me such a profound gift that inspires me onward along my painting journey, and them on theirs.

This painting, “Come Walk with Me” is one of a series of paintings I am working on for a special solo show dedicated to my father, Gordon Muttitt.  He had an artist’s soul, and I was many times inspired by the directions his need to express his creativity were realized through his life.  I have included a photograph of one of Dad’s drawings under my painting.  He began his working life as a teacher of art and mathematics, an interesting combination.  He was a brilliant man, quiet in nature, great sense of humour, and full of a deep tenderness and respect for nature.  Most of his professional life, though, was spent as a meteorologist.  He would often describe the character of skies to my sister Barb and I.  So, in this new series of paintings, there will be many BIG skies!  It’s some of the best work I feel I’ve done, and I hope that Dad would be excited by the results.