As someone who seeks to convey Hope & Joy to my fellow sojourners of this human experience, I constantly look for the beautiful.

-A tiny stone with its unique colouring can bring me visual delight (and it almost feels like stealing when I pocket it to bring it into my happy room to be my little companion). – Its smoothness provides me with physical pleasure. – The sound of leaves rustling among the Trembling Aspens relaxes my whole body as does the sound of water. -The aroma from a rose… the wet forest after the rain…  what pleasures!

     I feel my surroundings. The negative and dark, heavy realities, can weigh me down. I am definitely not immune to it. The environment we spend time in affects us, whether we are aware of it or not. That is why I seek to make my home a haven of rest, peace, inspiration and rejuvenation, starting with my happy room and working my way into all the other spaces including the property itself. This takes constant effort. I can’t let it slide. Left to happen “organically” it will turn into chaos, disorder, broken and weed infested..totally stressing me, even though some chaos is acceptable as my creative process can look/BE  very messy until it is not (so please don’t judge me if you happen to step into that part of the chapter!), but sometimes that section can be almost unbearably long…

Tidying up is not a waste of time, but sometimes I use it as an excuse, as a way to avoid something that feels more challenging. This is when Kerstin Maxwell Art knows she is experiencing artistic block – something very real and frustrating, but not artistic-life-threatening 🙂. 

Beauty can also show up as an unexpected, reassuring, calming, loving presence of Someone or Something that touches the deepest part of me. This has happened during some of the most challenging times of my life. And I am so grateful, – thankful, – really trying my best to honor that Someone or Something with my choices and my way of being,…trusting…hoping…seeking to engage Faith as a way to sustain my life.

Paintings come to life with light effects. This is how Hope shows up in my art. Light is accentuated and emphasized by the darker. My wish for you is that when you set eyes on that painting, you will be stirred to hang on to what is good and hopeful in Your life, my dear one.