You are the sweetness in all things. —Francis Lucille
Or, in the words of Atmananda Krishna Menon [Notes on Spiritual Discourses, Vol. 1]:
Objects serve only as symbols of the subject. The Self is the center of beauty, and changeless. The symbols are numerous but the center is only one, the inmost core of one’s being. Beauty is the real nature of the Self and is unlimited. Beauty anoints with its own gilt everything with which it comes into contact….
You may conceive beauty to be resting inside yourself and matter outside. When you discard the gross matter, along with the sense of “outside,” and reach the so-called inside, you find that the inside—being relative and the opposite of outside—has also vanished, leaving you alone as beauty, the Ultimate, beyond outside and inside….
Art is an attempt to express the inner harmony of the ultimate Reality through the outer harmony created by the senses and mind (music, poetry, painting)…. Beauty in nature is the ultimate Reality. But it has to be understood that it is not outside but within you as the real “I.”
And in the words of Jean Klein [The Book of Listening, Vol. 10]:
When you have found your real nature, your art is completely different. It is an offering. There is no one to offer. It is thanking. The urge comes from the need to manifest inner beauty in time and space. In true art, that is, art that comes from truth, there is no self-expression. The only impetus is to express the light and push to find it. You come out of the known into the unknown and remain in this unknown until a certain vision appears. It is a special quality of being, of hearing, of relaxing, of giving up. You have the inner position that allows you to be taken by the vision. You do not produce creativity. It comes to you. You do not try to be original. That is mind-stuff. The creation of art is a compensation for being unable to know what you are. You express adoration through words, form, or sound. All art is adoration.
There’s such helplessness for me in this adoration, which for now can only thank, with little to offer. But it’s so clear now that the sweetness in all things is felt right here. The beauty that the eyes seem to register could only come from right here where it rests: in the self. In my awkward struggles to reflect what I find in a beloved scene, I can only try to keep tracing the sweetness, the love, back to its source. While the old habit of striving for effect persists, it’s forgiven; the anxious striving for control, too. My skill can fall far short of my vision, as long as the love is pure and the intention is honest.
I’m also a coauthor, with Susan Lupone Stonis, of the Belly Books collection, board books specially designed to read to babies in the womb. Check us out at Cottage Door Press and on our blog, The Reading Womb.
You can contact me here.
Art for Tiny Houses 
Jacqueline,
Your work is great! Do you know the artist Emile Bonnard ? You should check out his scetch book drawings.
Michael
Jacqueline,
Sorry the artist I spoke of was Pierre Bonnard not Emile. Its a book of drawings from 1893-1946. Very hard book to find!
Michael
I found you on Ravelry; I love your crochet work; just fabulous. I then followed the trail and stopped by here… what you’ve written describes me to a T! I love the name, Restless Life Syndrome! You and I must be kindred spirits, as I’ve spent my entire life going from one creative adventure to another, just like a butterfly skipping from flower to flower. So far nothing has truly seemed to fulfill me and I also get discouraged very quickly, asking myself what’s the point?! I will say that crochet/fiber art seems to come the closest. I wish you luck in your venture; from my viewpoint you seem to have unlimited talents!
Thank you so much, and it’s great to know someone knows how I feel! We have to think that the point is just to let out whatever wants to come out of us, right? And keep reaching and hope to get somewhere? I’ll friend you on Ravelry for sure!
Thanks for the new friendship; must say I’ve got goosebumps after taking a few more minutes to read through your posts… it’s not very often that a true connection happens, but it seems so now, at least for me. I took a bit more time to read through your posts… the small sketch and your introspection as a result; ditto! Everything I lean towards is small, controlled, within the lines… gad! This is why I feel freeform will help me to let go… got to let go! Yes, we press on, letting out what we must, what we have to, regardless of praise, acceptance, etc!
Jac,
The water in the “Rat” is amazing! you really nailed it.
Jacqueline,
Thank you for sharing your work. Great work! I love the fact that you keep sketching! I share your admiration for Van Gogh. I copy drawings and paintings of Old Masters because there is so much to learn from them. Your oils look great: keep painting!
– Tesh
Thank you. Wow, I love your Old Master copies. I’ll have to try that. Just took my first plein air painting workshop last week, but I have to put finishing touches on the results before I post them.
Thanks for sharing your crafty and artistic talents.
Eloquently written and so true. Margie
Thank you, Margie! Your work shows me you feel the same way.
Thank you.Your landscape is good.I want to draw the picture of the tree well, too. 🙂
Lovely thoughts. I was scrolling through wordpress this morning and your conte crayon sketch stopped me in my tracks! Beautiful work.
Thank you so much. You do great work too!
Hi Jacqueline
Thanks for calling by at my blog. I’ve enjoyed your bike ride sketches.
I was interested by your reading to baby in uterio books. Interesting marketing idea. I discussed it with my wife. We wondered whether it might sell also by putting in grown up content in terms of illustrations and poetry rather than stuff aimed at babies, while keeping the reading out loud, strong rhythm concept. Pregnant mums get bored and after all the baby hears the cadence but does not appreciate the illustration.
Cool concept anyway.
Thank you so much! I love your artwork and will keep exploring your blog. As for the more adult content, yes! You’re right, and that is one of our aims, in a gentle way. Our text is from the mother’s point of view and rather more complicated rhyme, imagery, and vocabulary than would be found in a baby book. The daddy book (coming out in 6 months or so) will be even more so. But on our WordPress blog, the Reading Womb, we advocate reading what you really love most, Shakespeare, anything. Thanks again!
Lovely drawings, you have a great talent. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you! Your work is beautiful too. 🙂
Lovely words!
Aren’t they? Lots more from him that I mean to add. Thank you!
🙂