A little Red Burlesque...

This is my latest artwork.  Actually the image you can see here is a cropped part of a bigger painting but she is the main star attraction.

Yesterday, I was feeling very burlesque and channelled it into this piece of artwork.  I like it because it symbolises celebrating the beautiful curves of womanhood.  It's sexy and sensual.  Something I think that all women can embrace about themselves.  A little bit of self-love, regardless of how our external self looks goes a long way to showing the world the beauty that emanates from within.

This artwork is on watercolour paper, A1 size and 300GSM thick.  I loved playing with this paper.  I used pen, watercolours and gouche poster paints to make this one and danced around singing at the top of my voice to the songs from the movie 'Burlesque'.

All in all, I had a really fun time in my creative space yesterday.

Now I am working on drawings with lines, circles and a lot of symbology.  I'll share something when I get some of it finished.  Truth is, I am working on a number of pieces of art at one time, including the above, mandalas and oil paintings.

I've also opened up a new art page at 'MyPoppedArt' - http://mypoppedart.com/profile/SelinaShapland

Feel free to drop by and have a look at it.

Here is my Shardilmar Soulful Creations site - http://www.shardilmarsoulfulcreations.com/

This site has links to my Facebook Fan Page, this Blog, My Popped Art page and to my Deviant Art site too.

Life has been fun creating all these new networks and links with people who love art, are artists, creative souls and supporters alike.  Please visit and enjoy.

Love and Blessings,

S x

Feeling... reflective...

Tonight I feel reflective... like there is something welling up from deep inside me and it is going to manifest in the near future.  I sometimes have these moments when I feel like things are about to take off in a new direction.

I do not know which part of my life that this change will manifest but I know that something is whirling around me like a great big aurora boriealis - not sure if I can even spell that correctly! :)

This week I've doodled in my visual diary, chatted up a younger man, flirted my butt off with him and had a fabulous time.  He is really cute... anyway... erm... moving on.

This feeling that is growing inside me is best described like I am a little flower, all curled up in a beautiful bud waiting for just the right time to burst forth into the world and show off the subtle beauty of my inner world but not in a drums and fanfare kind of way... hmmm.... this is kind of difficult to explain.

Maybe over this weekend I will take some time out in my creative space and let it flow out through colour.  That could be very interesting a lots of fun.

I think that life is very much like artwork for me.  My experiences are filled with colours and tone, light and shade and that contrast brings a rich quality to who I am and how I express myself. 

Truthfully, I do not know if anyone bothers to read these words, but I don't think that matters so much.  What matters is self-expression and allowing that which needs to be expressed the opportunity to flow in whatever way best suits me or whomever may be allowing that creative quality to flow forth from them.

I guess I have been feeling reflective and I am quietly excited about this feeling of new beginnings that is emerging from within me and swirling around me. 

There may be more artwork on the way! Woo Hoo!!!

Jewellery Exploration...

The other day I was wandering through the bead shop and came across these gorgeous little howlite skulls.  I couldn't resist picking up a pair that just seemed so right together, so they came home with me to create a lovely little pair of earrings which are now for sale on my Etsy shop - Shardilmar Soulful Creations.

I love them and I think I might have to go back and get a few more skulls to put together for myself.  So cute... at least I think they are.

I also picked up a larger howlite skull for a necklace, but I've had some difficulty getting it together with other beads and jewellery findings at the moment, so I guess it's one of those times when I should leave it til something pops out at me and says 'I am what you need for that Skull...'

Yes, I am very intuitive in the way I do my jewellery and art. 

Even these earrings say transformation to me.  The skulls representing the true self beyond the facades of life that we wear and the angel wings represent the transitions that we go through in life.  I like that kind of symbolism.  Of course, they mean something different to someone else and that's great. People should get what they most need out of the jewellery and art etc that they surround themselves with.  In a way these things speak volumes of who we are to the world.  A little tiny glimpse of the internal us to outter world.

Very exciting I think!

French Starlet Melanie Laurent

Melanie Laurent - French Starlet drawing. Ink pen with glitter and pastels on pastel paper.

I was very drawn to this particular actress and her simple beauty but found myself creating a somewhat broody image of her... I don't think this reflects the actress, but more that I may have been in a moody broody spot as I was creating her on the page.

I guess that's what art is all about. There is an intensity to her look that I quite like.

Created this one on A3 paper last night, 26th August 2011.

Water Goddess in oils

This oil painting is sitting in my creative space drying. She created herself last weekend. I had a painting with a wave on it and it just never felt like it was finished to me so I started to play again as I did this beautiful contemporary Water Goddess appeared.

I am not sure if this one is actually finished yet... sometimes I need to let my work sit and cure for a while until is 'speaks' to me again and encourages more interaction.

My latest artwork

This is my latest oil painting. It's about 12 x 18 inches and 1 inch thick.

I have created it specifically for a lovely friend of mine in the US. Once the oils dry that's where she'll be off to.

Very exciting.

Although, I don't think that this photo does the painting justice. It is much nicer in the flesh as far as I am concerned.

When I was painting this peice I was listening to Caroline Myss discussing her concepts 'Defying Gravity' and moving through the Shadow self into the inner Graces. I was thinking of my friend, of healing, emotions and burlesque.

This image was based on a movie star but that's about it. The image created itself after the initial drawings and came out as you see it now.

I love it and I am so pleased that my lovely friend in the US loves it too!

What I've learned about dating, dudes, dudettes and relating so far...

It's the 4th January here and the first day of the working year but I'm on holidays and so so so grateful. Actually, I have to admit I feel very relaxed at the moment, I am loving it!

I was just sitting here contemplating; enjoying a quiet moment of internal reflection on life and relationships and being single to. I guess I think about that a lot. Maybe it is because of where I am in my life and my age... I don't know but I find it to be a fascinating subject actually.

I've learned a thing or two about relating to guys in my life now and it feels good to know what I do know and apply it to my life so that I can be happier in myself and not confused.

It's what helps me work things out when I'm interested in someone... so I thought I'd share a little of what I've learned about dudes, dudettes and relating so far:

• All the guys I've known have been up front and told me exactly who they are and it's in my best interest to listen to what they're saying about themselves and their values in life. I find it interesting how many women try to read something into a dude's words or actions that isn't there, why bother? If they tell you that all they want a fling and you want a long term loving relationship, it's an instant mismatch, so move on sista;
• It's important to know my own values and what I'm looking for in a relationship so that I don't fall in to something that is a mismatch core value wise. I've done that a few times and it's taken a number of lessons, but I'm finally getting it;
• If a guy likes me, I know now that he doesnt forget I exist, so there's no need to panic about hearing from him. I like that a lot, it takes a lot of stress off me and I don't wonder if they want to get to know me or not cause the answer is right there. They either take action, ask me out, call me or contact me or they don't. If they don't, well, there's the answer, I'm not on his mind - very liberating;
• If a guy says he's going to call and he doesn't, it's not much use wondering why? Gawd, it's obvious isn't it! He's not into me. Again, it's kind of liberating to realise that if I'm not on his mind, then I'm free to find someone who can't get me out of their head - yippee!
• I've found that women try to figure dudes out but it's a massive waste of time. Seriously, if you listen to what is coming out of their mouth and take notice of the actions they take, it's all pretty self-explanatory. They either like you enough to be in your life or they just don't. It's too much effort to worry about those who aren't into you, why put so much energy into that??? Why give your personal power away to someone who isn't interested??? Why not move on to bigger and better things in life??? Who is to say that the next person you bump into might not be the man of your dreams!
• Don't try to change a guy. OMG - why??? If he isn't matching with you why try to recreate the person? He's his own person and that should be the way it is.... why oh why to do we try to change a person to be more to our liking? It does not work and it's a destructive behaviour to boot. He is who he is, you are who you are and that's just the way it is. Love is about acceptance, understanding and forgiveness, regardless of faults and foibles. We're human and change should only come through the individual's internal choice that they want to change for their own reasons, not because another person thinks they should. GAWD - I hate that, but I have to admit I've done it and had to learn that lesson the hard way too...;
• I've learned that to build a loving relationship, I need friendship with my man, I need to get to know him and there must be trust, it's about building a firm foundation in life.

Anyway, that's just a snippet of what I've been thinking about and considering as I wander into the new year.

There is much to be discovered and all forms of relating are important for self-development and enjoyable.

Oh and I forgot to add that:

• If a guy likes a girl he wants to get naked with her. He can't keep his hands or his eyes off of her and when it is time to play sexy love making together, he's delighted. I guess if he doesn't want to get naked with you at some point and stick around to see you after... he's either a player or he isn't really that interested.... sorry;

I love this and I learned it in life and through the book 'He's just not that into you' - that book is strangely liberating for women I think. As depressing as it is at first to realise that the guy you've been lusting after isn't worth you're time, effort or precious self at all, I think it's liberating to know that you have just found out how to easily move on and be ready for the right kind of guy to come into your life. I love that book!