Daily Artsy Paintings Still Life

Gentle Awakening: Alex Hanna

Hello again, my friends!  If you noticed an increased Artsy presence on social media last week, you may have guessed what I’m about to tell you– the whole job thing didn’t work out as I’d hoped it would.  I wish I could say I was surprised, but.. no.  Have you ever been in a situation where, you know in your gut that something isn’t quite the right fit for you, despite how good it looks on paper?  But then you ignore your gut and forge ahead anyway only to be sucker punched every day for not listening to that quietly persistent inner voice?

I was finding myself quite miserable, not just because of the extremely long hours and bus commute ( there were afternoons when I was on the bus well over an hour trying to get home following a ten hour day ), but because my personality just didn’t gel with where I was.  I don’t want to get into details.. maybe one day over a few glasses of wine. 😉 Since leaving, I’ve been in a bit of a fog.  It’s been like I’ve lost the confidence to trust myself and my decisions.  Mr. F has been loving me through it, but I’ve hardly been much fun these days.  So today is the day I WAKE UP!  Get back to the business of being Artsy!  As I’m going through this mental and emotional awakening, I thought these beautiful pillow paintings of UK artist Alex Hanna were perfectly apropos.

Hanna_Sweet Dreams

Sweet Dreams, oil on canvas, 75×60 cm

Hanna_Sweet Dreams 4

Sweet Dreams 4, oil on canvas, 30×40 cm

One thing that has been contributing to my fog has been the loss of my sense of purpose.  For over two years, in addition to be Mrs. Forager and keeping our vagabond household together and all that means, writing this blog has been my purpose.  It has been my baby and putting it on hold messed with my psyche so much more than I ever thought possible.  It isn’t just a place where I share amazing artwork, it’s where I work things out through my experience of the work I share.  For me, that’s a huge part of living an artsy life– using whatever creative outlet we have to better our lives and the world at large.

Hanna_Pink Pillow 1

Pink Pillow 1, oil on canvas, 15.7×17.7

Hanna_Sweet Dreams 4

Sweet Dreams 4, oil on canvas, 30×40 cm

I’m not sure what the future holds for this Artsy.. perhaps a full time job I adore working for someone else, or perhaps it’s time to parlay the past two years and all my other experience into creating my own dream job, or maybe a combination of both.  Who knows.. but I’m up, I’ve come out of my slumber and am ready to take on whatever the future has to offer.  Bring it!

Hanna_Sweet Dreams 9

Sweet Dreams 9, oil on canvas, 29.5×23.6

To see more of the work of Alex Hanna, please visit his website.  You can also find his work, including originals and prints, for sale at Saatchi Online.

Images via the artist’s website and Saatchi Online.

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  • Karen
    June 24, 2013 at 11:17 AM

    Yay! You’re back, my inbox felt incomplete! Blessings do come in strange packages, perhaps your experience the past weeks will help you realize that maybe you already were where you were supposed to be…online with us. I am so grateful for getting to know you, you encourage so many people, now we can do that for you. Don’t doubt yourself, just turn the page and keep going. God Bless.

    • Lesley
      June 24, 2013 at 1:46 PM

      Thank you so much, Karen! I have truly missed interacting with the readers and followers and encouraging the artists I “meet”. In the end, it is those interactions that mean the most.

  • Deb
    June 24, 2013 at 11:32 AM

    So glad to hear you are back, your insights were missed. I totally understand what you mean, you must follow your gut or it’s like you have your husbands shoes on, not your own.

    Glad to have you here and thank you for that soft landing above, wow weeeee, beautiful!

    • Lesley
      June 24, 2013 at 1:47 PM

      Oh, Deb, your turn of phrase so perfectly summarizes the way I’ve been feeling! You are a wordsmith, my friend!

  • Alexandra Suarez
    June 24, 2013 at 11:38 AM

    You would be an amazing curator or gallery owner, just putting it out there!!!! lol!!!!!!!!!! you have a great eye for art and the passion that is necessary for the art business:) You’ll come out of this better and stronger, trust yourself:)

    • Lesley
      June 24, 2013 at 1:49 PM

      Haha, thank you Alexandra! Don’t think I haven’t dreamt of maybe someday, having my own gallery, I think every art lover has! 😉

  • Richard Guest
    June 24, 2013 at 11:41 AM

    Sorry to hear about the job. Glad to have you back, though.

    • Lesley
      June 24, 2013 at 1:49 PM

      Thanks, Richard!

  • Silverman
    June 24, 2013 at 12:40 PM

    I wish there was some way you could get paid for this! I love this blog and it makes my job as Art Editor of Blue Lyra Review so so much easier! Thank you and gl! I will relink it to our site!

    • Lesley
      June 24, 2013 at 1:50 PM

      Thanks for the encouraging words, Matthew!

  • m.a.tateishi
    June 24, 2013 at 6:00 PM

    Oh, I like the gallery idea! Maybe a pop-up gallery? There have been some interesting ones in Vancouver, operating on short-term, cheap or free leases…
    In any case, I hope your confidence bounces back. It sounds like you cut your losses early and it’s all for the best. Your gypsy lifestyle has probably made the blog one of the few constants, no wonder you felt lost without it. And your work is greatly appreciated, I’m always learning about new and interesting artists from you. Thanks, Lesley!

    • Lesley
      June 25, 2013 at 9:21 AM

      You never know.. 😉

  • Lynda
    June 24, 2013 at 7:25 PM

    Dear Lesley, I so missed your artful discoveries and I’m sure you know there are many others who are as happy as I am to see you back online. You have a wonderful and welcoming voice in your writings and along with your keen eye for talent I’m sure something perfect will present itself.

    • Lesley
      June 25, 2013 at 9:18 AM

      Thanks, Lynda!

  • Gina
    June 24, 2013 at 9:31 PM

    You go girl!