inspired by flora bowley

for christmas, bill registered me for Flora Bowley's online workshop "bloom true". This workshop has changed the way i "see". i already admired Flora's art, but now i am enamored by her holistic approach to creativity. we are already on week 5 of the e-course and because of my work schedule i have been watching each week, but not allowing myself any time to actually create.

coming off of 2 of the most amazing weeks at my studio spent with 42 of the most beautiful and inspirational woman that attended "Soulful Artist" i woke up this morning FULL...full of inspiration, full of love and full of creative curiosity.

this is my most favorite piece i have ever created...it moves me.

with the next 3 weeks off (without travel) i am going to create everyday!

thank you Flora Bowley and thank you ladies of inspired, you are a such an amazing gift!

watch the time lapse video of the canvas from start to finish...

the beautiful music in the video is by Kyrstyn Pixton. i found her music through Flora's workshop and played it in the background as i created this piece...her music has such movement and speaks to me is such magical ways. here is the link to her "Embers" album, download it now, it will be the best $9 you ever spent!

Comments

[ida]

Hey DD-
this piece really looks like you have reached up to a higher creative level. You know I am till coveting your big Poppy canvas, but this is gorgeous. And look at these colors...so rich and deep. Thanks for sharing your personal triumph.

[Kirsten Reed]

Gorgeous! You continue to educate me, amaze me and inspire me!

[Debbie McIntyre]

Donna...that was such fun to watch! Thanks so much for taking us through that step by step. Beautiful. Loved seeing all the changes come to life. Can't wait to see what you do in the next three weeks.

[Kelly Luna]

GORGEOUS! I loved watching you create this. It's absolutely beautiful.

[teddi]

i like to see how popular artists like you donna, grow, get inspired, & influenced by other popular artists like flora bowley. yes your painting turned out lovely! the most important thing of all, though is that you like it. :)

[Mary in IL]

thank you SO MUCH for showing all the rich layers of this piece. I loved watching your process and the final product. It's amazing, no wonder it is your favorite (so far)!

[cristi clothier]

Just stunning! I cannot wait to take this course myself. Thank you so much for your continued inspiration and for sharing this painting with us.

[Sherry C]

So interesting to see your process - it's beautiful!

[Laurie M]

Thank you so much for sharing this with us! It was so fun to watch the process!!

[Ellie Moore]

Donna this piece is just beautiful! Thanks again for an amazing Inspired weekend :-) you, your mom, and Bill are such great hosts :-) I enjoyed getting to know you better and I learned so much and had such a good time. Looking forward to your creation for inspiration Wwdnesday ha ha!!! Consider me there in November :-) Cannot wait!!!!

[bree]

Amazing.... Happy thoughts before bed....i think u convinced me to paint in the morning...you rock the piece is awesome!!!!

[Erna]

Gorgeous! I love to watch your creative process!
What is the black stuff you use...is it ink?

[renee logan]

wow! you have shared such a intimate personal creative process with me..your art takes my breath away. Love to see the growth and depth of your talent. i feel so honored to see this process you have created. thank you Donna for allowing me to share and see this beautiful piece of art.. your a lucky woman to have Bill and his encouragement, lovely gift!

[Carol P]

Wow! This is wonderful. I love the depth you achieved and it was great watching the experience from start to finish. It is amazing how it moved from layer to layer. The music was great too. Thanks for sharing. The video did fine for the large painting but your still shot really shows the finished painting so vividly.

[Kimberly]

I love Flora as well. I own 2 of her pieces and a few Luxe bags with her design. Your painting is wonderful. It is amazing how we can evolve and be inspired by beautiful souls. Thank you for sharing a bit of your process. Now, the cycle continues and I too am inspired to take her course online. I would love to go to one of her "hands on" classes. She goes to the greatest places. Again, "thrilling and inspiring" by your painting. I think I will put my coffee down and go paint!

[Joanne Freeman]

WOW! WOW! WOW!

[ellen vargo]

Absolutely GORGEOUS! Thank you for sharing the video of the whole process and how your painting evolved and changed! I absolutely LOVE it!

[kristin]

love....everything. the colors are amazing and the choice of words- can't get any better!

[Donna L]

Wow, that canvas piece is awesome! I could look at that all day

[Junelle]

I love her class...taking it online,too. Brilliant colors and your style definitely comes shining through~ Gorgeous!!!

[Sarah Barber]

I thoroughly enjoyed watching you create this beautiful masterpiece! Such inspiration! Off to get my hands dirty...with paint!

[Pat Healey]

I love how your mind works! This creative art just hollers "Come Play and have Fun."

[Kia a.k.a. Gillian]

What an awesome video and beautiful painting. I love how you fell in love with finger painting part way through. Was it white paint or gesso you were using? I also love how the bird shape emerged from what was there and how you are not afraid to cover up what was there before. I CAN'T WAIT until May when I will be taking classes with you in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.

[Paula b]

Donna- WOW!!! I am so glad u r taking time for your self inspiration and exploration. You have amazing talent. Thanks for sharing it with us. Looking forward to seeing more. That Bill is a good man!

[Holly S]

Love this...off to check her out...hope you enjoy your creative time and be sure to share with us!

[Debbi G.]

Love the colors you've chosen...makes me want to paint!! ha

[Kathy Gledsdale]

I found this video so helpful thank you.

[Linda Jo]

Amazing! I watched the whole video.... I usually fast forward through some things like this...but I watched it all and soaked it up. I love this piece and it was so interesting to see you working. I really don't paint much...but I feel inspired to give it a try!

[nancyk]

Amazing...I was totally mesmerized watching you work. What a beautiful result! Thanks for sharing the process; my paints are calling to me now.

[con-tain-it]

Don't you just love all the finger painting? I'm also taking Flora's class (also a gift from hubby for xmas ;) and love how the paintings are evolving. I'm learning to be paitient and to not make MUD...lol Which is a big thing for me because I always want to get on with it. Finding my "marks" was hard...but discovered that I was using too small of a canvas...which is okay...but watching Flora use one the size of a wall...well let's just say that I had to pull in my mark making to fit my tiny 16x10 canvases...lol Last week I went out and bought a bigger one so we will see how that goes. Love all the blending you did with your fingers...it's my favorite part...that and all the lovely colors. Thanks for the link to the music...I just bought it. Reminds me of Enigma so I went ahead and got the CD since I use my CD player and pop in 6 cd's at a time at home when I'm working so that I don't have to think about the music ;}

[Rhiannon]

So interesting to see your canvas evolve - and you've inspired me to try a speeded up video of my next canvas too.

[AJ]

Wow! That's incredible Donna, watching the process and the finished piece is beautiful.
Big love
AJ

[Kirsten Alicia]

This was completely fascinating Donna, thanks for sharing the process with us. The finished canvas is beautiful.

[Joanne]

Beautiful piece Donna...I can see the influences of Flora in there, but yet a great deal of you shining through too!! It's a very freeing way to paint, and really let loose!
Thanks for sharing!

[Cathy Skrehot]

Wow, Donna, what an inspiring piece. I love how you painted with your fingers, it looked so easy. You've come a long way in your art, thank you for sharing yourself with us. You continue to amaze, inspire, and shape all of us.

[Larissa Heskett =)]

WOW!! This is VERY BEAUTIFUL!! I LOVE the movement that you created by finger painting!! I can only imagine how neat it looks in REAL LIFE!! =)
THANKS for sharing I LOVED the video and being able to watch you create it~~AWESOME!! I hope you'll do this again??!!
HAVE A FABULOUS WEEK!! =)

[Angie]

Donna, that is just beautiful - stunning!

[sandie]

Loved this Donna, always feel inspired to have a go myself when I see how you loose yourself in your paintings. Love the music too, thank you for sharing.

[Lisa Ciaravino]

Love it! Great to see you start and then actually change things thru the process. So inspirational!

[Connie]

I watched your video with my mouth hanging open. YOU ARE AMAZING!
That's all there is to it, you can't get better than amazing. Thank you for sharing, Connie

[sherry]

Donna, you are certainly in your element! I agree, one of your very best yet. You should be proud! Simply gorgeous. Thanks for sharing your process. Curious as to where you purchased your easel? I've been debating on getting a larger one.

[Michelle Mathey]

LOVE this!! I've already pre-ordered her book!

[Hope Amen]

Thank-you for sharing that creative process with everyone. So inspiring. Enjoy your free time!

[Erin]

This is a stunning piece, gorgeous!! You continue to inspire me. I will definitely have to check out Flora's work and I loved the music. Thanks for sharing this with us all.

[Karenliz]

Loved watching you work! This is an amazing piece. I love all the colors.

[joanne]

I couldnt get video to play I love your work and inspiration thanks

[Mary Werner]

Leave it to you to bring back finger painting and the joy of being a child playing with color and the feel of paint! This canvas evolution was moving to me as I watched and saw things that came and then disappeared and new stuff came and disappeared. It had a life of its own and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it's history and hidden layers. I loved the first stage but think I have seen that style before. I enjoyed the next play stage. Then came the final Donna stage and I really enjoyed watching the bird I saw evolve. You really are an innovator and thank you so much for sharing!

[Penny B.]

I loved watching the video. So cool to see the evolution and knowing the layers that went into the final piece...amazing!

My first thought when I saw the painting was "I want that!"

I see people and a bird. On the right, there is a woman's torso, the light green her neck and teal her hair and yellow her chin/face. On the left the teal blotch at the top where your words are looks like a profile looking up at the woman. Could it be her holding a young child who is looking so lovingly at her mother's face?

You can see the bird in the bottom middle. The tail, the beak, all of it.

I just want to see more of this! You definitely need to continue to explore this type of art.

[Sue]

This video moved me a deep way I have no words for, but that is what I have art for, the places words don't go. I am inspired again as I am allowed to journey with Donna. The piece is beautiful and authenic. I am enjoying it! I know I am a stranger but I sincerly appreciate all you share online. It touches my life. ...a fan and student, Sue

[Mandy]

Fascinating to watch Donna .....just fab.....for a while there I could see a great big abstract face and neck complete with eyes nose and mouth !! .......it looked fab ......but then you went over that to make something amazing ...thanks for sharing I enjoyed every minute of it ...x

[Lee]

Donna, you are simply the most giving artist I know. Thank you seems too little for all you share with us. Loved, loved, loved watching you create this...your happiness reached right through the video!
Thank you. Your work is just stunning:)
Leanne

[Miriam R Kaye]

inspiration +++++++ thank you so much for sharing your process :)

[Jen]

Love, love, LOVE!! I adore you and Flora...so this video and painting makes me smile. :) After watching this, all I want to do in paint, spray, drip, and finger paint. :) This is truly beautiful Donna.

[cheryl]

I came upon this inspiring and peacefully beautiful piece through pinterest. watching you create it seemed to add to its wholeness. gorgeous. I'd love to have it in my office where I meet with clients.

[Gabrielle Fabian]

Terrific video Donna, thank you so much!! The process is so cool to see and I also like the changing light coming thru the window as the time passed!! Super inspiring <3
xo
Gaye

[Suzanne]

Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing the process of your painting. I start the eClass with Flora in 10 days. I cannot wait.

[erica]

i love it :D how do you get the colors to be so vibrant?

[Patries]

Just great! Thanx for sharing the process!