Dwelling in the desert and images - I just felt like writing....

I felt like writing a piece, it is called 'Dwelling in the Desert'.  I would like to write more often, and plan to try and make a practice of it. I have included some of my past art work, I hope you like it, leave me a comment let me know what you think, if you resonate with the piece.

Dwelling in the Desert

How is it that thoughts can take hold of you - from just a few words your world can be turned upside down.

Mixed media art - Amanda Trought

The attentiveness wrapped in tender words is what did it in the guise of a stream.  It is now understandable that when you get stuck in the desert for so long, in a parched and dry land where everything seems withered you loose a piece of yourself, ever so slowly until you look in the mirror and don't even recognize your reflection.  Every now and then in what seems like a cycle a stream appears.  You've been parched for so long you wonder if you should drink, laugh, wet your feet or totally ignore it, but the very idea of the stream brings hope.

Mixed media art - Amanda Trought

Every time you look at the stream it reminds you of those unfulfilled dreams, and you are amazed at how you got into the position.  You never thought that you would be surrounded by dry land in the desert for so long and just got used to it, the days rolled weeks, months and then the years and then you looked back and things had changed, you had changed and you were just there.  Your throat aches from crying and calling out "Why".

Mixed media art - Amanda Trought

Now the sound of the stream as it bubbles over the rocks, caressing the tips of the trees that suddenly gather along its path.  It brings new life, fresh eyes, new ways of thinking and as quickly as the stream appears there is a refreshing to your soul and you are lost in your confusion, feeling guilty, wanting to dip in the stream, and lose yourself, scared that it is only a disguise and the thirst will still remain.

Mixed media art - Amanda Trought

You didn't realize that you were thirsty until you noticed the stream.  Some say that if you drink from the stream you will never be able to go back, some say a new life awaits.  As you walked along the stream bed, it looks so inviting, enticing, you long to laugh again and feel at ease.  Flowing over the rocks droplets of water rise up and touches your face, absorbed in your skin your senses are heightened as you are reminded of where and who you are.

Mixed media art - Amanda Trought

Confusion now spills into your mind, your heart beating fast.

Stop talking, let there be silence you say, your thoughts needing to be quiet, banishing them to the barren part of your mind so that you can be still, you want your thoughts to be ordered to stop what seems like madness, or is it just your mind playing tricks of yearning from another dimension.

You wait, confusion tries to come back from the banished regions of your mind to taunt you again and you are tempted to get closer to the stream, perhaps you'll just gaze for a while.  You tell yourself that your perspective has changed, and that you'll be stronger, and if you look through squinted eyes perhaps the desert isn't so bad, the years still passing and you can see that the desert has a different cloud formation going on, perhaps there is change ahead, perhaps it isn't enough!

Quote Wednesday - Esther Davis-Thompson

Welcome to Quote Wednesday for 2016, the first of many.  I hope to share inspiring and encouraging quotes that will live and brighten your spirits.  The words that we speak to ourselves and to others can have a dramatic effect on our health and well-being, and impact on the way that we view our lives and our purpose.

I hope the words that you speak to yourself and others this year will be filled with love, peace and grace, and will serve as a reminder of how special, gifted and talented you truly are!

Mothers, teach your children this. 

Teach your children that Wisdom is everywhere. In pieces. 

Some of the Wisdom is in the trees, some of the Wisdom is with the animals. Some of the Wisdom is with the planets and the stars and the moons and the sun. 

Some of the Wisdom flows with the waters. Some of the Wisdom was with our ancestors. Some of the Wisdom is in our minds. All of the Wisdom is from the Spirit of God. 

~Esther Davis-Thompson

Each Quote Wednesday I share a quote with a painting or photograph that I have created. Quotes can be so inspiring and uplifting it is a good idea to meditate on the words and make a point of saying something encouraging about your life!

Do something great and share your favorite quote in the comments below. Join me next week for the next inspiring quote and image. Blessings!

One Badass Art Journal - Blog Hop and Giveaway!

I HAVE A FREE SPOT TO GIVE AWAY - SEE BELOW

Do you want to learn how to become a badass Art journaler? 

Want to learn new, fun, exciting Art journaling Techniques that will take your Art journaling to a whole new Level? 

Then this one’s for you …

I’m thrilled to share that here is another great collaborative

Project that I will be part of in 2016 … ONE BADASS ARTJOURNAL … and here is a sneak preview of what you will be making in my session:

We will be drawing strength and nurturing ourselves with these exercises, and creating different levels and layers and building (literally!) on our journal page.

There will be more than one message that comes through, messages to encourage, nurture, inspire, and make you feel loved.

I hope you enjoy!

One BADASS Art Journal will empower you to create, to learn, to feel confident and provide you with the tools, techniques and encouragement needed to feel

BADASS every day!

Check out the amazing Teacher-Lineup … you can find more Information about the Artists teaching, and much more information about this fantastic class here.

But WAIT I have a spot to GIVEAWAY

In this workshop you will get so many wonderful videos and techniques - such as:

• get 16 badass art lessons

• learn wonderful mixed media techniques

• be infused with confidence and creativity

• learn great tips and tricks you can use again and again

• make badass art journal pages......and MORE

Here is the Blog Hop line-up, and each teacher has a space to give away, so more chances of winning one!:

12/26 – Andrea Gomoll 

12/27 – Robin Mead

12/28 – PanArt – Cristin Stevenson 

12/29 – Grace Howes

12/30 – Jeanette Montero

12/31 – Keri Sallee

1/1 –  Jennifer Albin

1/2 – Susanne Rose

YOU ARE HERE .1/3 – Amanda Trought .YOU ARE HERE

1/4 – Ayala Art

1/5 – Kiala Givehand

1/6 – Nicci Battilana

1/7 – Tracy Scott

1/8 – Tiare Smith

Be sure to follow along with the rest of the blog hop! Just scroll down to find their site urls and their “hop” date. Be sure to visit on each date so you can learn more about what each artist will be bringing to One BADASS Art Journal and for chances to WIN!!!

I am really looking forward for the class to begin and I know that you will be blown away by some of the things you are going to learn!  I hope you will join us!

Click for more information

For this Blog Hop, 

I have ONE FREE SPOT to giveaway 

for the BadAss Art Journal Class  

To enter the draw:

Leave a comment below letting me know why you would like to win a place in the class AND 

click my Facebook page like button

Closing date for this draw will be 

Friday 8th January 2016, I will announce the winner on Saturday 9th January 2016

Happy New Year - 2016 - What's in Store!

I am late in wishing you all a Happy New Year, but better late than never.  There are so many things that I have planned for this coming year, I feel as if I am a roller coaster ride, and its one of those ones where you say 'I'm ready to come off now' before you go up another steep climb and let out the loudest scream you can muster:)  

I will be reflecting on 2015 this coming week, that seem to go so fast as well as share on the exciting developments that have been taking my attention away from the blog.  I have been painting and creating and exhibiting, but I guess we all go through the moments where we hide ourselves away, and work through things, and get a sense of where you are in it all.

2016 has found us in a very different location than last year and we have been able to enjoy the warmer weather of Barbados.  Many of you know we have been spending more time here and I have yet still to share that transition and the ups and downs, and it's also coming as we continue to go through a process of change!

This year I am teaching in two exciting online courses that you are going to love, there are so many inspiring artists taking part, I feel honored to have also been chosen to teach.

The Journey Within - Click here for more information

The Journey Within starts today and I had two seats to give away, the two lucky winners who have been selected will be announced shortly.  

You can still register for the course HERE

The other course is One BadAss Art Journal which starts on 1st February 2016 - we are currently on a Blog Hop to meet the artists.  It will be my day to share and show a sneak preview of my class on Sunday 3rd January, so please do come back to see what's in store for you!

Click HERE for more information

The other great news about courses for this year is that I will be a guest artist on Embrace Your Art 2016 JAM, and will be sharing some more information about what I will be creating on this.  

I know that creatively 2016 will be a year where the seeds sown in previous years will begin to bear fruit.  I am excited at all the creative possibilities, the revelations, ah-ha moments and more and look forward to connecting with you as you dive into your creative self where ever you are around the world!

I would love for you to join me on the journey, that is going to be bursting at the seams, so strap yourself in for it is going to be an extremely exciting year!