af Lise Meijer | nov 27, 2013 | Finding courage, Finding strength, From my life, My songs, Painting process
Lately some of you have been asking me where I get the inspiration for my paintings from. Of course there are many answers to that question; inspiration is a living thing, constantly moving. Often the lessons in life is turned into inspiration, and the hardest learned can be the biggest source of creativity, once we step into transforming action. I know that to be true.
26. “Every Body needs water/Alle har brug for vand” mixed media on canvas, 24 x 30 cm – 2.100 kr.
There is however a story that I treasure very much, to do with how it all began, just 3 years ago or less. If you like, you can read it HERE, including a song I wrote to a very special lady! (Yes, involving me in a youtube clip, guitar and all!!!)
And then that special lady, Kelly Rae Roberts, shared the song on her blog. Accompanied by the kindest words, which she is so good at. I am still moved by her words (and her blog in generel) – HERE is her post with the song in it!
I am inspired by many people, and Kelly Rae has definitely been a big source of inspiration. For me, AND for thousands of other people. Had I known back then how many people she reaches with her blog and books and courses and art, I probably wouldn´t have allowwed myself to write the song. Or sent it to her. I am so happy I did send it!!! After all, we are all just humans, trying our best with what we have got, and you never know who your song or painting or kind words is meant to touch or inspire. So, I learned along the way to just simply let it out, and let life (or God, The universe, the Angels or whatever you choose to call it) take care of the rest.
PS: for those of you who are more interested in the MAKING of paintings than in the inspiration behind, click your way through my Tuturials pages where I share the step by step in Paintings in process. Like this ONE.
With love, Lise.
af Lise Meijer | sep 27, 2013 | Collaborating, Finding courage, Finding strength, Paintings, Uncategorized
“And I know I am naive, but if anything
That’s what’s going to save me
That’s what’s going to save me”
From the song “New years eve” by First Aid Kit
Recently a lady told me that until she heard me talk about the background for my paintings she thought they were all very naive. Hearing the background changed her mind, and she saw many levels in one painting.
“Journey together/ Rejse sammen” Acrylic and paper on canvas, 24 x 30 cm (sold/solgt)
(To purchase Journey together as print, head over HERE)
To me, the right kind of naivety is precious. And I believe it can save us. Keep us refreshed in a child-like, yet mature belief that goodness always wins. Believing in the goodness in our own heart and in others. And knowing that such a belief is contagious. Just like cruelty is contageous, or anything else we decide to occupy our minds with, so is goodness. And since goodness feels so much more right to the healthy human, so much more joyful, I do believe it will be the strongest force as long as there is one sane human on this earth. So much inspiration, care and joy can live inside this just one human, housed by one body. This house that each single one of us is gifted on the day of arrival her on earth.
And I believe that together we can create wonders. Still, like many of us, I struggle some days to remember that. Then comes along a video like this, and any doubt is washed away; we were born to work together, and to have enough naivety to keep believing in goodness and joy:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz63M3v11nE&w=560&h=315]
af Lise Meijer | jun 9, 2013 | Finding courage, From my life, Soul speed
(The goldship is made from paper, covered with pure gold leaf. I got it from a visionary artist friend, Liza Krügermeier. Attached was the little note that reads: “Inspiration for all the ships you are going to be launching”. Totally melted my artist-heart!)
I feel surrounded by helpers in many forms these days. And I am so grateful for that. It helps me literally keep faith in my vision during a time that seems to hold a lot of tests. The kind of tests that inevitably comes when we begin to act in the world in a new way, winning new territory. Starting my own business based on the joy of creating and passion for life definitely means winning new territory.
(From a recent photo-shoot with the incredibly talented photographer Justine Hoegh, taken on the danish island Bornholm.)
It is as if this year has been a vacuuming process of my inner household. A crowd of little gremlins come out each time I turn on the vacuum cleaner, looking astonished at the housecleaning going on. They usually search for a new dirty corner to settle in before giving up and quietly leaving the establishment. And this cleaning seems unstoppable; when one room is done and the sticky residents has left their nest in the corner, the alarm bells goes again in the next room of my inner house: if you want to use this space to create something true and beautiful, there are a few uninvited ancient sticky guests that need to be shown the way out, lovingly but firmly.
(A picture of a full, evolving life: Paintings on the easel, boxes full of cards to be packed and suitcase for travelling the country, selling the cards. In the background on the door: my visionmap 2013)
Deep exhaustion from the process that apparently includes everything from economic tests to, well, personal imbalances, coexist with an emerging deep faith. A belief that wonderful things can and will happen. A belief that everything that I deeply want in life is not only possible, but has long been on the drawing board. And that I at this very moment am laying the foundation for those things with my housecleaning, and with my growing deep wonderful-possibilities-faith. And every now and then, a helper comes around, sometimes in the form of a person I barely know, other times as my own dear husband, who recently decided to give me weekly help with administration! Those helpers all seem to bring the same message: just keep up the work, believe and be genlte with yourself whilst you proceeed….you are on the right track. I am so, so grateful for eacj encouraging whispers, in whatever form it comes along!
(Rune – my husband – during the building of the house we now live in)
