Let’s get August off to a creative start! Here are 3 art tutorials I created recently that you may enjoy. Don’t forget to join my growing art community on YouTube here!
Here are some tutorials about elephants, bees and succulents!
Discover the most astonishing pigments that will leave you speechless! From volcanoes and mucus to animal excrement and arsenic, get ready to have your mind blown by the most incredible pigments ever used on the planet!
Whether you’re an art enthusiast, a science geek, or just someone who loves to learn, this video is for you! So sit back, relax, and get ready to have your mind expanded by the most unbelievable (and revolting) pigments out there! To watch, press the play button on the video above.
In this creative and innovative upcycled butterfly craft DIY tutorial, I’ll show you how to breathe new life into a discarded milk carton and turn it into a beautiful work of art.
From cutting and shaping to painting techniques – detailed and loose, I’ll take you through every step of the process. These make great gifts, decorations for the home and garden or something to sell at craft markets.
So, sit back, relax, and watch as butterflies emerge from trash. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more creative DIY projects and tutorials!
Ever wanted to try your hand at painting poppies? Well, I’ve just recorded the process for your to watch at your leisure 🙂
I’ll be diving into the world of acrylic magic, where bold brushstrokes and playful textures come together to create a stunning floral masterpiece. So, follow along as I explore the joy of creating with acrylic paints and bring these gorgeous pink poppies to life.
Whether you’re a mid-journey artist or just starting out, this tutorial is perfect for anyone looking to express their creativity and add a touch of whimsy to their floral artwork. So grab your acrylics, dust off those brushes, haul out your canvas and let’s get painting!
If you enjoyed this video, be sure to check out my drawing poppies with alcohol markers below:
Join me on this mixed media acrylic painting journey as I create unique sparrow birds with a very unusual, abstract patterned background!
I’ll guide you through every step of the process — from the Zentangle layer to adding the mixed media and then finishing off with the sparrows. Learn new techniques, explore color combinations, and discover the joy of mixed media art that AI cannot copy.
Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting out, this tutorial is perfect for anyone looking to improve their skills, create something unique that AI won’t be able to mimic and zen out to some chilled vibes.
So, grab your paints and let’s get started!
If you want to see the full Zentangle video which marked the beginning of this painting, you can watch that here: https://youtu.be/lA8yuuy_Ams
Thanks for watching!
This painting is currently on exhibition, but you can e-mail me any enquiries via my contact page. Otherwise, I have all sorts of prints available, starting from $40 here: https://www.saatchiart.com/en-za/print/Painting-Cape-Sparrows-on-a-Branch/94119/12723785/view
I recently recorded myself drawing a Zentangle abstract landscape. Grab your pens and some paper or canvas and join me on this creative, chilled out adventure!
Do you fancy coloring in unusual and challenging mandalas? Why not try out my digital Mandala Coloring In Book, you can purchase it here (under $7) and have it delivered to your inbox: https://www.bobshop.co.za/mandala-colouring-in-ebook-digital-download-by-south-african-artist-cherie-roe-dirksen/p/639395187
I recently saved this beautiful dragonfly from my pool. It sat in my hand for about 45 minutes, grooming and fluttering it’s wings, attempting to regain its composure after it’s soggy experience. It was such a magical moment for me as I absolutely love these insects and, you guessed it, I love to PAINT them as well.
I had the opportunity, as it sat on my hand (as you can see in the picture above and to your right), to study the intricate patterns on its body, it’s movements — especially its head movements as it can rotate its head almost 360 degrees (something I wouldn’t have believed had I not seen it with my own two eyes!) — and how calm and happy it was to sit in my hand.
Even if it was all in my head, I felt we really bonded.
If you want to know what the spiritual signs of a dragonfly are, please read my article: Why Are You Seeing Dragonflies?
If you want to see the footage my hubby took, you can watch that HERE (or click on the picture to your right). I also show, in this short video, some of the dragonfly paintings I’ve created recently.
If you want to learn how to paint a dragonfly, please watch my tutorial below 🙂
You can view my art tutorial playlist here:
If you’re more into crafts, or perhaps are looking for something to do with the kids, I also have a craft playlist here:
Take your creative business to the next level with handmade artist business cards! It’s not as hard or time-consuming as you may think. I took on the challenge in the video below and was pleasantly surprised with not only the results but also how my clients reacted to them.
There’s some important take-aways in my video if you’re looking to level-up your creative business strategy.
In the video below, I’ll show you how to create:
I’ll explain why I chose making my own artist business cards over conventionally printing them and why this makes such an incredible lasting impression on clients.
Whether you’re an artist, designer, or entrepreneur, handmade business cards are a great way to showcase your personality and creativity. So, let’s get started and make your artist business card game unbeatable!
If you enjoyed this video, you may also be interested in this video about how to sell your art, where I divulge all the things I’ve learnt in my art career, spanning almost 25 years:
Want to learn the secrets to fixing acrylic painting mistakes?
I make boo-boo’s all the time. That’s why I love painting in acrylic — you can just go over your mistakes. But what if you’re stuck and don’t want to mess up your painting by turning something dodgy into something even worse? We’ve all been there as artists.
There’s nothing more vexing than overworking a painting to create a bigger dog’s breakfast.
But I’ve found a revolutionary trick that will help you to never make this mistake again. You can rescue your artwork from common errors and turn them into masterpieces!
You can peruse all my art tutorial videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL48jvIctV3MNI60Uy-iRXMIUpVOIV4zQY
The painting I used in this video was really drab. After I reworked it I sold it within a couple of weeks! You can view it here (I also have prints for sale starting from $40): https://www.saatchiart.com/en-za/print/Painting-Poppy-Cottage/94119/12470425/view?sku=P212-U94119-A12470425-T2
This game changing tip is a great way to fix a boring painting without having the worry of disturbing your artwork even more.
Watch below:
Thanks for watching and please don’t forget to like, comment and SUBSCRIBE. I bring out 1-2 tutorials/videos every week and subscribing is free: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE4XiQ3DZ_BkKOaCECIgtqA?sub_confirmation=1
Discover the secrets to sell your paintings quickly and efficiently in this tell-all video I created documenting how I sell my art.
I reveal all — both the pro’s and con’s of the art business so you can make an informed decision about which direction you want to take your art career next.
Whether you’re an artist who’s been in the game for a while or just starting out, this video will provide you with valuable insights and strategies to help you sell your paintings and achieve success in the world of art. Find out how to turn your passion into a profitable career and start selling your paintings quickly today.
Learn how to offer variety and why that’s important, figure out your tourist trade venues, establish relationships that lead to opportunity and reach potential buyers. Get tips on how to create a portfolio, utilize online marketplaces, and network with art enthusiasts.
I’ve been in the art biz for over 20 years now and I’d like to impart all I’ve learned so you can fast-track your success.
Looking for an easy, unique and thoughtful way to show your love and appreciation on Valentine’s Day?
Create a one-of-a-kind handmade card that will surely impress your special someone!
In the video below, I’ll show you a simple yet stunning handmade card idea that’s easy to make and requires minimal materials. With just a few basic craft supplies, you can create a beautiful and personalized Valentine’s Day card that will be treasured for years to come.
So, get creative and make this Valentine’s Day one to remember!
Want to sell more art and take your creative career to the next level?
In the above podcast video, I’ll share proven strategies to boost your art sales and help you achieve success in the art market. The proof is in the statistics, looking back at my art sales from 2024, I sold 40 paintings and I’m going to show you what they were and why I think they continue to sell so well.
From understanding your passions and joys to relating that to canvas, I’ll cover it all.
Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting out, these actionable tips will help you increase your personal niche as an artist, attract more buyers, and ultimately sell more art.
So, if you’re ready to turn your passion into a profitable business, watch until the end and get ready to take your art business and sales to new heights!
Or if you just want to see the art that sold, I’ve got a short video you can watch here: https://youtube.com/shorts/EXJUs26B2WQ?feature=share
I have a growing playlist of art tutorials on my channel that you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL48jvIctV3MNI60Uy-iRXMIUpVOIV4zQY
You can visit my gallery of originals and prints here: https://www.saatchiart.com/en-za/account/artworks/94119
I don’t know about you, but I need to clean the toilet / paint / relax / read / do dishes / entertain with tunes in the background. They can make or break my mood.
If you’re the same, I’ve got 3 killer playlists for you this festive season.
Number one is an hour of jazzy, chilled out, instrumental-only Christmas music with a FREE coloring in page (and you can see me color this new creation of mine in the playlist video for inspiration) so you and the family can zone out and get creative as we slide into 2025.
Download your FREE coloring page HERE. Then you can watch the video below 🙂
Did you know that coloring can help relieve stress and anxiety AND improve sleep? It can also reduce feelings of depression and body aches. Who doesn’t need that at Christmas time!
Playlist number 2 is 60 minutes of gorgeous classical music with an art slideshow to help you relax at the tensest times this season. Did you know that classical music can have a calming effect, similar to a massage? It can also improve your mood, lower your blood pressure and heart rate, and reduce cortisol levels, the hormone associated with stress — especially essential when those in-laws drop by for a sherry!
Playlist number 3 is an hour of calm. It’s my ambient playlist and will help you to zen out with a cuppa, a novel or a paintbrush, while the music washes your cares away!
Below are the 3 music playlists — don’t forget to share with your friends and family to help them bliss out this jolly, holly season!
Join me on a festive holiday adventure as the magic of Christmas is brought to life through this FREE coloring-in picture! In this merry coloring page, you and the children will be delighted with Santa’s reindeer, Christmas angels, gingerbread men, stars, baubles, Christmas trees and candy canes!
What’s even better is I’ve created a lovely instrumental Christmas music playlist you can color to AND you can see me color this picture in the video too 🙂 Click here or at the bottom of this blog to play.
Get ready to relax, unwind, and let your creativity shine as we color our way through the most wonderful time of the year. So grab your favorite coloring tools and let’s get ready for a MERRY CHRISTMAS Coloring Adventure!
Download the picture below by right-clicking on it and selecting ‘save’. This is strictly for non-commercial use only. If you’d like to donate a $1 for the use of this coloring page, please CLICK HERE, I appreciate it!
Enjoy 🙂
Click on the video below to make your own Christmas decorations and the video underneath that for Zentangle card making!
Are you making these common blunders that could be holding you back from unlocking your full artistic potential?
In this video, I’m exposing the top 3 mistakes that artists often make and how to avoid them. From amateurs to seasoned pros, these no-no’s can creep up on anyone, but with some of my stories and experiences explained, you’ll be able to identify and overcome them — capiche!
Whether you’re a painter, sculptor, or digital artist, this video is for you. So, what are you waiting for? Watch now (click on the pic below) and take your art to the next level!
Immerse yourself in the world of art and relaxation with this 1-hour classical music playlist with art slide show of over 120 artworks, carefully curated to inspire your creative spirit while painting and drawing.
Let the soothing melodies and harmonies transport you to a state of calm focus, perfect for unleashing your artistic expression, concentration for studying or just for pure relaxation. From Bach to Mozart, this beautiful classical music selection will provide the ideal ambiance for your artistic or zen pursuits. So sit back, relax, and let the creativity flow! Click on the picture below…
Other videos you may enjoy:
Create STUNNING Landscapes with Alcohol Markers
Honey Bee Painting Tutorial | How to Paint a Bee in Acrylics
I’ve just made a 6-minute video revealing what art sells the best in my experience, why my clients like this type of art and what the secret to making sellable art is. Click HERE to watch or on the picture below.
Don’t forget to subscribe if you want to learn the tricks of the art trade or even if you just like watching the start-to-finnish process of art being created :).Subscribe for free here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE4XiQ3DZ_BkKOaCECIgtqA?sub_confirmation=1
Thanks for watching!
I’ve just created this fun, free activity for you and the kids, seeing Halloween is just around the corner! Have fun colouring it in 🙂 I also recorded the start to finish drawing process, see how this illustration unfolded. You can watch that here: https://youtu.be/IoUtGyNUAz0
Don’t miss out on all my other free art videos and tutorials, subscribe HERE. Please share this with anyone else you think would benefit from my art channel. Thanks!
Click on the picture below, then right-click to download.
Here is my coloured in version 😀 Click on the picture to take you to my store of stickers, magnets, cards and other products. Or click HERE.
In my last vlog, I showed you just how much I am loving using alcohol markers for my backgrounds. Now I’m going to show you how to paint a bee on top of this background. You can recap on the background tutorial here if you missed it: How to Use Alcohol Markers on Canvas
Now, come be a fly (or bee) on my studio wall as I paint the subject matter over the poppy background. The video is under 5 minutes and I’m sure you’ll get a buzz out of it 🙂
Please don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel for more art tips, techniques and tutorials! I also love hearing from you in the comments section. Click on the picture below to view the tutorial video.
Thanks for watching!
My previous art blog was about my new discovery of the wonders of alcohol markers. You can view that here: Alcohol Markers – How to Use Them in Painting
Today, I recorded the whole start to finish process of drawing an entire background of poppies onto canvas – time-lapsed to 4 minutes with full commentary. You dont want to miss this! Click on the pic below:
Thanks for watching!
“When there is a problem, there is not something to do, there is something to know.”
― Louise L. Hay, You Can Heal Your Life
I was very inspired by this video that popped up on my YouTube feed and wanted to share it with you. Let me know what you think in the comments.
My sister gifted me with this awesome set of alcohol markers. I’ve been experimenting with them straight onto canvas. They’re so cool and blend so well.
They have like a watercolour/silkscreen effect. Below is my first attempt, I started off outlining in black then colouring in but that made the colours blend with the black (you can tell I’m a novice, right?) and produced a muddy effect. So, I then did the background colour first and went on to outline the proteas and foliage in black.
This is just a doodle and will probably be the background of a painting but if you’re thinking of giving these a try, I highly recommend it.
I have sealed this with a water-based varnish. I assume using any oil-based product with these would make them run but water-based products seem to be fine.
Update: I painted a sunbird over the above background in acrylics. Let me know what you think jn the comments below 😁 Here’s the finished artwork:
And if you just feel like colouring with your alcohol markers, I have great news! My 25 page mandala colouring in book is available now. Click on the picture below and download instantly!
A friend of mine sent me the video below of the NDE (near death experience) of Linda. It’s one of the most powerful I’ve ever heard/seen.
I especially resonated with the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ bit, which is towards the end of this 10 minute video.
That tunnel of light, I believe, entices you straight back into a body (reincarnation). So my advice is, if you don’t want to be instantly reborn after you transition, then stay in that beautiful place she spoke about. The place where you can think of something and be instantly transported there. At least until you’ve made your mind up as to whether you want to experience another incarnation.
Thoughts create, in this life AND in the afterlife.
The quote above, to the right, is free to download. If you like the art used in the quote, I have prints in various sizes for sale HERE.
Thanks for stopping by!
Other blogs you may enjoy:
This is the third and final blog about my art flags flanking the Karoo Art Hotel in Barrydale.
If you’d like to recap, here are the first 2 blogs:
Come on an art-inspiration journey with me as we unwrap the flags, just before they went up, and let me tell you a little bit about each chosen artwork and how it fits in with this legendary Karoo-themed art hotel. Click on the picture below to view the video.
Thanks for looking! Which is your favourite flag?
You can recap on my last blog about the flags that are adorning the building of the Karoo Art Hotel in Barrydale HERE.
Today, I’m going to show you the spruced up images of the flags. Each flag was taken using a segment of a Karoo-themed painting of mine — 12 in total. You can click on each flag to see what the full artwork looks like and to buy prints so these colourful pieces can brighten up your living space! Or just CLICK HERE to see the collection.
If you are in South Africa, I have these prints available through the Karoo Art Hotel, just pop in there or contact me HERE to find out how you can order yours.
Here are the 12 individual flags in detail, please click on each flag to take you to the print store if you’d fancy owning some of the Karoo magic:
At the time of this publication, there are 3 of the above ORIGINAL paintings still available.
They are available at Saatchi Art for international clients (originals and prints) and/or through the Karoo Art Hotel itself:
Thanks for looking!
I got a call from Rick Melvill (of Melvill and Moon), co-owner with Sue Melvill (of Unplugged) of the Karoo Art Hotel in Barrydale, to ask if I would like to be the next artist to showcase their art on flags that will be flanking the hotel. Well, I was absolutely thrilled by the idea and obviously answered with a resounding, “Yes!”
They asked me to come up with 12 Karoo-themed designs to go on the 12 flagpoles. The project, from start to finish, took around 5 months to complete, with the creative team at the hotel meticulously choosing the designs and which printer would make this project truly come to life.
Well, two weeks ago they went up! And we were all just over-the-moon with the impact it made in brightening up Van Riebeek Street. Thank you so much, Rick and Sue, for your Barrydale-beautifying vision and for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this project.
You can see a collage of the flags below:
Rick asked me to come down to the hotel on the morning the flags went up, to do a short video about how the flags were designed and some of the work that went into creating them.
You can view that here:
Video credit: Rick Melvill.
Gavin Huart (below), the manager at the Karoo Art Hotel, called me to come and unbox the flags with him. What an exciting treat that was! It felt like Christmas had come early.
We took 12 short videos of each flag as they were being unveiled (I will release those videos soon – so don’t forget to follow this blog).
Gavin was instrumental in getting these flag images logo-ready, colour-coordinated, and into production. He also found himself running around town, trying to source a sewing machine to get some last minute work done to the flags on the day they went up, and doing all the said sewing work himself! A man of many talents. Thank you for all you hard work, Gavin.
And thank you to the Barrydale resident who lent the hotel her sewing machine.
The artwork on the flags was taken from segments of my paintings which I’ll go into in my next blog, so again, stay tuned and thanks for coming on my flag journey with me.
If you are in the Barrydale area, why not pop in at the hotel and view the flags yourself? They offer exquisite artsy accommodation if you fancy resting your head overnight (or longer), excellent fine dining, a bakery that serves the best scones and coffee I’ve had to date, a gorgeous private garden with pool area, and a bar for the wary traveler (bar menu also available). Visit them at www.karooarthotel.co.za. And, again, thank you to all the staff at the hotel for making this vision a reality! You are so appreciated.
You can purchase prints of these flags HERE.
See each individual flag HERE: https://cherieroedirksen.com/2023/09/04/the-12-individual-flags-hanging-at-the-karoo-art-hotel/
I’d love to share some of my new and tantalizing art from the first half of this year with you today.
This year saw me hitting the ground running with a mini exhibition to paint for at the Karoo Art Hotel in Barrydale (I’m happy to report I sold all 18 mini’s – you can see the collage of paintings below). The theme was anything “Karoo.” If you’d like to know more about what the Karoo is (it’s the part of South Africa I live in), click HERE.
I also added some fresh paintings to my Saatchi Art gallery (also below).
I have some of the paintings above available as prints and products (click on the picture or HERE to visit the store).
Inspiration — The Birds and the Bees!
I looked to Karoo life for my inspiration for my new art. And, of course, my love for gold brings out the magpie in me. Coupling these two passions together, I’ve taken to painting the critters from my garden and the indigenous flowers we have here in South Africa, the protea.
I’ve got a little fella that hangs out in our bamboo reeds in the garden — he’s a bumblebee that we’ve called Mr. Busby. You can see him in the painting below 🙂 All the artworks below are still available, at this time, and are also available as fine art prints and canvas prints — just click on the pictures to take you to my gallery.
We have the most magnificent sunbirds in our garden, they sing the sweetest songs and display incredible colours, predominantly a shimmering emerald green and red chest. You can see then, what inspired my painting below.
The last painting I would like to share with you today is the “Dream Weavers.” These gorgeous bright yellow Cape Weavers are a real treat to watch. They fall from the branches like yellow leaves when we feed them out back in the mornings and evenings. We feel very blessed to have them as regular visitors to our garden.
Thanks for looking! Which painting do you like best? Leave your comments below 🙂
I’m so thrilled and honoured to have had one of my quotes used in this lovely book by Judy Marie Balloff and foreward by the late Bob Proctor (as seen in “The Secret”). You can get your copy by clicking HERE. You can catch me on the July 22nd page.
You can read the book reviews HERE.
“When you pay attention, you prop the door of your soul ajar to welcome the unexpected and the uncontrolled… . You can’t access your interior landscape by banging down a closed door; you can pencil it in as an appointment on your calendar. Paying attention is a habit forming mind-set that comes with repetition and with intention. You give yourself permissiong to “do nothing.” You create quiet spaces. You open a door.”
― Cindy Crosby, Chasing Dragonflies: A Natural, Cultural, and Personal History
I’ve been paying a lot of attention to the beautiful red, blue and golden dragonflies that inhabit my garden and they sure have opened doors in my imagination! I watch them on their daily routine as they dip gracefully — drinking water from our small pond, basking on a branch with their magical, glittering wings turned to catch the warmth of the Karoo sun, and flying curiously about my person, possibly wondering what this blonde Goliath is.
If you want proof of God, just take a close look at a dragonfly. Now there’s Intelligent Design for you. They are one of the most stunning creatures to behold with their intricate, delicate wings that shimmer gold and pearlescent silver, their brightly coloured bodies and their robust fragility (they remind a bit of poppies, in that sense).
I’ve taken to painting them in all their majesty (see picture to your left and above in the header).
Animal Spirit Totems
Many cultures around the world believe that seeing certain creatures can represent different messages from spirit.
Here are some interesting traits that seeing the magical dragonfly may represent:
So, if you have been seeing dragonflies everywhere, you can now apply the above to your situation and see if anything rights true to you.
The dragonfly could very well be your animal totem for the moment. Let me know your experiences with seeing dragonflies and what they mean to you in the comment box below.
If you’d like to keep dragonflies close to home, in fact, cuddle up with them at night, then I have these rather fetching art deco-style cushions at my store sporting my latest artworks – add that bit of magic and good fortune to your home decor!
Other articles you may enjoy:
Use These 4 Potent Affirmations To Fast-Track Your Desires!
The Remarkable Science of Earthing and Why You Need to Do This Daily!
I’ve written a lot about the Law of Attraction, you can catch up on some of those blogs here:
LOA – Aligning with How You Are Feeling, LOA – Are You an Accident Waiting to Happen?, LOA – Baby Steps That Snowball! and LOA: Getting Ready to Manifest the Best Life Possible!
In this blog I’d like to share some tips on the process of letting go or surrendering your goals/desires/intended manifestations. This is a vital part of the whole manifestation package.
Let’s quickly run through the first four steps:
Now, the fifth step is surrendering your desire to the Universe. But that’s easier said than done, right? Especially if you’re as impatient as I am. It’s the one step that trips most of us up. And yet it is the most vital piece of the wholesome, fuzzy puzzle.
I’ve recently really got my head around the fact that it’s not your job to figure out the “how” of what you’ve asked for. It just isn’t. Our brain doesn’t have the capacity to work it out, it doesn’t have the vision that the higher mind has to get you what you want. You will strain your backside off trying in vain to figure out how you are going to get said desire.
Stop trying to figure out how your manifestation will come to you.
Just stop.
Not your job. Not within your capacity. Capiche!
Save yourself and your backside a lot of grief and do what IS in your capacity to do…
You can affirm one or all of the following to get you into that good feeling place where you KNOW what you’ve asked for is coming:
These affirmations will help you to let go of the anxiety, doubt, impatience, timing and semantics associated with your desire.
Read related article: How to Tame the ‘Monkey Mind’
Try ’em out! Let me know if it works for you in the comment section below. Which affirmation do you like best?
Cherie Roe Dirksen
Cherie is a self-empowerment author, multi-media artist and musician living in Barrydale, South Africa. She has weekly blogs at her site www.cherieroedirksen.com where she discusses practical and insightful perspectives on taking responsibility for your life and following your bliss.
Follow her on Facebook HERE. Follow her on Pinterest HERE. Follow her on LinkedIn HERE. Follow her on YouTube HERE.
I’ve had this movie on Earthing pop up on my YouTube feed for months now and have ignored it. I thought I knew everything there was to know about Earthing or grounding — which is essentially walking barefoot on the Earth or having any part of your skin touching the soil/grass/rocks, you get the picture.
Just the other day it appeared yet again on my feed but this time I thought, ‘What the hell?‘ and I clicked on it. Oh wow, was I glad for the sudden impulse to do that!
If you don’t know anything about, or think you know everything about, Earthing, this movie is for you. So basically, it’s for absolutely EVERYONE on the planet. It’s hard for me to get my hubby to sit and watch things like this but even he was super impressed. And now we do grounding every day (and it’s going into winter now here in South Africa).
Grounding is sometimes thought of as a bit woo-woo, a bit hippy, a bit ‘out there’.
*Buzzer* Wrong!
There is an absolute science behind it and the lack of us walking barefoot is a major reason why most of the population has become sick. I’m not going to outline anything more here ’cause I really want you to watch the movie. The link is below, so give it a go. Every single human needs to watch this, it’s only 1 hour and 15 minutes of your life but it could save your life. Please share too! Enjoy…
If, for some reason, this video doesn’t want to play, please CLICK HERE.
Share the love…
If you enjoyed this blog, please share it with someone you think will benefit from the information.
Tree Art Earthing Reminders
Below you’ll find some ‘Grounding’ art prints that are available for sale — they can serve as reminders to do your Earthing if you have them hanging about the home or office! They come as canvas prints, framed prints or fine art paper prints in a variety of sizes to best suit your wall space. Just click on the picture to take you to the store.
Thank you!
Cherie Roe Dirksen
Cherie is a self-empowerment author, multi-media artist and musician living in Barrydale, South Africa. She has weekly blogs on her site www.cherieroedirksen.com where she discusses practical and insightful perspectives on taking responsibility for your life and following your bliss.
Follow her on Facebook HERE
Follow her on Pinterest HERE
Follow her on LinkedIn HERE
Follow her on YouTube HERE
You’ve heard of the monkey mind, right?
It’s the Buddhist term meaning a restless, unsettled, confused, inconstant, indecisive and somewhat uncontrollable state of mind. It’s when the ego thinks it’s in control and uses the mind (thoughts) as its conduit — a state most of us have found ourselves in from time to time (or, for some, all the time).
Monkey Business
Unfortunately, these ‘thoughts’ think they run the show (from the mind, which is running ape-shit — excuse the phrase but I had to). This impish-rogue, primate mind can only take you so far and no further. That’s why you can reach a stalemate in your life if you’re blocked from your higher states as the egoic mind is only a shadow of the higher mind.
My penny dropped about how I’ve been trying to manifest according to my unconscious (associated with beliefs), subconscious (associated with emotions) limiting beliefs.
Let me explain:
Click here to get this wall art
I recently applied this monkey mind vs. higher mind stuff to one of my life situations and had to laugh. I was trying to conceive the situation as ‘thus’ (via my chimp noodle) when the situation was ‘this’ (something completely different and couldn’t have possibly conceived through the ego mind until I let HQ speak up). Suffice it to say, I was WAY off course but things slipped into understanding when I got out of my own way.
So, how do you get out of the ego mind and step into the higher mind?
Easy! Have fun…lot’s of it! Follow your bliss. Do what excites you, even if it’s making a tasty sandwich, going for a walk or putting on some music and dancing. Follow your bliss — I can’t say that phrase enough.
The easiest way to a higher vibration (because that is where all the good shit is happening, my friend) is through joy, excitement, love and all the other delicious higher vibrational feelings. I wrote an article recently about tapping into that sweet spot, you can read it here: Find Out How to Tune Into Your Personal Higher Vibration
When you’re in a higher vibe, your soul can easily communicate ideas and thought packages to you.
Enough said, go out and do!
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Get your blustering, bicycling, ballooned baboon STICKERS here…
If you enjoyed this article, please share it with someone you think will benefit from the information. Another way you can show me appreciation is by supporting my shops – I’ve got unique all sorts from greeting cards to t-shirts and more for those special occasions.
You can enter my store HERE and why not pop by my gallery of original art and high-quality prints HERE or click on the picture box below.
Thank you!
If you’ve been despairing at the state of the world and all the sickness and pure evil that has been allowed to run rampant, if you ask yourself daily, how did we get here? Then this video is a must see. This is how one malevolent ‘influencer’ can gain traction through the idiocracy of their followers and why social media could possible be one of the biggest dangers of our time:
Let me know what you thought of this video in the comments below.
This video is coutersy of SPROUTS channel, you can subscribe here.
If after watching this, you need a pick-me-up, here are some articles you may enjoy:
Pigeon Investigator Holmes was hand painted and cut out of layers of cardboard to give him that 3D feel. He’s going to be one out of a collection of anthropomorphic animals I’m hatching! So be sure to follow this blog as the next little critter is a doozy!
The design says, “Pigeon Investigator Holmes was conducting his investigation going on the crumbs his client had left. Holmes was keeping abreast of the case.”
Holmes is a perfect fun gift for bird watchers, especially those with an aptitude for pigeons. And if you’re partial to detective novels and famous sleuthing characters, that’s just an added bonus.
Let pet detective Holmes put a smile on your face. You can enter my shop to investigate further HERE.
I’ve got a range of over 90 products with this design to choose from. All made to order, so it’s carbon neutral and all made in safe working conditions so you can feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Here is a taste of what my store has to offer:
Thanks for stopping by!
Other blogs you may enjoy:
If you prefer, you can listen to this article on my podcast HERE. Or click on the picture below.
“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Who’s in Charge?
You’re probably familiar with the saying ‘what you think you create’ but how can you seriously filter every bad thought? There is a way, I promise. But before we delve into the amazing powers each of us possess, we have to get one thing straight.
There’s only one person responsible for what you think and do and that’s YOU.
If the thought of being the creator of your reality scares the willies out of you, then read on…
The Freedom to Be Happy, to Be You
Can you remember learning how to swim or ride a bike? Can you see how determined you were to succeed because you knew the pay-off was going to be huge?
You may have started off with water-wings, splashing about aimlessly— gulping in water — or peddling your heart out whilst trying to maintain your balance even with the training wheels on! But that child never gave up.
Then what came next once the wheels were removed? Probably scrapes and bruises the first week but did that deter you? Did you give up then? Probably not. You wanted to ride! You were hell-bent on feeling the wind on your face and the freedom that would bring with it.
Same goes for swimming — gliding about in the water refreshes and frees your body of weight. You knew that swimming was going to be the biggest trip ever!
Where am I going with this? Your thoughts need training wheels/water-wings if you want to experience the same freedom from negative thought. And here’s how you’re going to do it…
Getting Real Right NOW
Here are a few things you can start to do today to become more aware and proactive with your thoughts:
Re-Member — We often get lost in ‘doing’ and not ‘being’. Try to remember all the things that make you happy and bring you joy. Start a gratitude journal (see my gratitude journal to your right and you can get yours by clicking on the picture) When you smile the world smiles with you. So, remember to feel gratitude for life, nature and the people that make your world spin. Look at every magnificent dawn or sunset as a blessing, every fragrant flower or birdsong as a gift, every smile or hug as a gesture of love and draw on those experiences when you’re in a negative frame of mind. See if you can remove yourself from a negative situation and sit under a tree or listen to some soothing music. Seek out those small but beautiful moments in your life and embrace them. Hold them close to your chest and bring them out when you need to. It’s bound to make you smile. You can always alter your reality at any time. Don’t forget that. If you choose to stay in the gloom, then just know that ‘this too shall pass’.“You cannot have a positive life and a negative mind.” — Joyce Meyer
You will get a grip on your oh-so-powerful thought stream and you’ll be able to eventually steer those thoughts to benefit your life in ways that will make your head spin — in a good way!
Now it’s up to you to give yourself a reason to smile every day.
Cherie Roe Dirksen is a self-empowerment author, multi-media artist and musician from South Africa.
To date, she has published 3 self-help and motivational books and brings out weekly inspirational blogs at her site www.cherieroedirksen.com. Get stuck into finding your passion, purpose and joy by downloading some of those books gratis when you click HERE.
Her ambition is to help you to connect with your innate gift of creativity and living the life you came here to experience by taking responsibility for your actions and becoming the co-creator of your reality.
Other articles you may enjoy:
Inflation affects us all. I wanted to share a few simple tips that helps my household budget withstand all the recent price hikes.
I hope these tips help you to thrive even on a limited budget. Do you have a great savings tip? Please share in the comment box below. Oh, and, one last savings tip! I’m having an unbelievable sale at my store with up to 50% off. Please see below.
Up to 50% Off – Think Christmas!
My artsy cushions are only $12.57 each! You can click on the pictures to take you to the store. Funky socks, cool iPhone cases, hoodies and blankets are on sale too! Christmas gift shopping isn’t looking so bad after all! The sale is on from 7 -11th November 2022.
Check out my top cushion Christmas Picks 2022 HERE.
Thanks for looking!
“I just found out it takes 5 sheep to make one wool sweater. I didn’t even know they knew how to knit.” – Anon, coolfunnyquotes.com
I’ve just launched my Cherie Roe Dirksen Designs TeePublic store and to celebrate, my tees (and other products) are on SALE. Get up to 35% off all products! Grrr, baby!
I’ve chosen some designs from my beasty collection to whet your appetite. ALL TEES ARE $14 UNTIL TOMORROW EVENING 4//11/2022.
From Zen baboons, bee’s with attitude and cute chubby pandas to feisty chickens, Schrodingers cosmic tortoiseshell and big cats on the prowl, there’s something for everyone’s taste. And at $14 a pop, why not take advantage and get yourself a new summer look? Not forgetting that Christmas is just around the corner! Click on the picture below to take you to my store:
Do you have a favourite design? I’d love to know. Please leave a comment in the box below 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
Other topics you may enjoy:
Never cut a tree down in the wintertime. Never make a negative decision in the low time. Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst moods. Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The spring will come. ~Robert H. Schuller
My friend and I were out walking this morning around the neighborhood when we noticed some magnificent landscaping and flower beds to die for! We were also, funnily enough, talking about having foggy, congested heads (physically and mentally) because of the amount of time we are spending on our computers. We both happen to be writers.
I found that looking at these spectacular gardens really opened up my heart space and led me to think about this concept of the mind/garden metaphor.
If we can just give ourselves time in our own gardens (minds) to prune back, weed and cut off any dead branches and scrape up old leaves off the grass, we would be able to temper that stuffy headedness.
Back to my morning stroll…we then went on to discuss how meditation, exercise, getting out into nature and yoga work to unclog this tightness and tiredness in the head.
So, some good practices to follow when you feel your thoughts aren’t being honorable paying guests in your head are to:
This doesn’t have to be for very long stretches (however long you want) but make sure it is at least 10-15 minutes of down-time. You can sit in your garden, park or in a comfortable quiet space and reflect on your thoughts. Realign them to what you feel comfortable with. Then simply let all your thoughts dissolve and sit in stillness. Observe what comes up and then put it aside. Enjoy the space of just being. We are human BEINGS not human DOINGS. Don’t forget that.
More important than the quest for certainty is the quest for clarity. ~Francois Gautier
If you are having a lot of negative, worrisome thoughts, ask yourself if they are really necessary? Is worrying about it going to change anything? How can you steer them onto a different more nurturing path? Can you list a few things you are grateful for? Better still, get yourself a gratitude journal and make it a daily practice.
There is a basic law that like attracts like. Negative thinking definitely attracts negative results. Conversely, if a person habitually thinks optimistically and hopefully, his positive thinking sets in motion creative forces — and success instead of eluding him flows toward him ~ Norman Vincent Peale
Any kind of exercise can actually give you a huge boost. I know a lot of people who are tired and worn out from a hard day’s work don’t particularly care for physical movement. Perhaps you think it is the last thing that can help but it really can. Just 20-30 minutes can really get you to shift stagnant energy and get your system up and firing.
Walking is a man’s best medicine. ~Hippocrates
If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk. ~Raymond Inmon
Take a few good and hearty breathes. This is a wonderful grounding tool and can get you into balance very quickly. Most of us breathe very shallowly, not allowing for the body to become fully oxygenated. Try to take in enough breath as to fill your lungs and spill over into your stomach (you should look like your pregnant — that is an indicator that you have got in enough air). Breathe in to the count of 5, hold it to the count of 5 and then consciously breathe out to the count of 5. This enlivens and awakens your mind — try it, you’ll see.
Focusing on the act of breathing clears the mind of all daily distractions and clears our energy enabling us to better connect with the Spirit within. ~Author Unknown
Kick out fear, worry and drama to finally start renting your headspace out to positive, nurturing and creative thinking — the paying guest.
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I’m so happy to announce that The Waterford Puzzle Company have selected 4 of my artworks to add to their custom puzzle collection.
They range from $325 – $3,000, which may seem a bit on the high-end but they boast bespoke wooden pieces that include shapes, like animals or your name, within the puzzle (see details below).
Such fun!
Which is your favourite one of the 4 below? I’d love to hear from you.
Get yours here or click on the picture below:
I finally decided to try my hand out at single line drawing. For those of you who don’t know the technique, it’s simply drawing something without lifting your pen/pencil.
For my subject matter I chose a bee ’cause my garden is swarming with them at the moment and it felt appropriate as we head into spring in South Africa.
So without further ado, here’s my first ever single line drawing called “Beeline.”
I’d love to know what you think, please leave a comment 🙂
Have you ever tried your hand at single line drawing? Why don’t you send me a link in the comment section? I’d love to see!
I’ve got a selection of products featuring this design, I’ve selected a few below to whet your appetite. Just click on the picture to take you to the store:
Thanks for looking!
We’ve all heard of the old saying “the calm before the storm“, the anticipation of, well, the manure hitting the proverbial fan. It can be a time of great excitement or anxiety, whichever way you choose to perceive it.
The thing is (actually two things): firstly, anxiety is pretty much the same energy as excitement. Try alchemizing your nerves to excited anticipation next time the opportunity presents itself. And secondly, ‘storms’ help us to grow.
Here are three beautiful quotes to embody this concept:
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”
― Vivian Greene
“When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”
― Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore
“There is peace even in the storm”
― Vincent van Gogh, The Letters of Vincent van Gogh
You can Read more “storm” quotes here: Storm Quotes
Before the Storm Painting
I have just finished a new painting called, “Before the Storm“. It’s a moody, colourful piece that I hope evokes a sense of that excited anticipation and awe of a passing storm.
I’m experimenting with using different colours. Here, I stepped out of my usual comfort-zone palette to incorporate pinks and purples in the sky, they liven up the feel of the building deluge.
The original and prints are available HERE (or by clicking on the picture below) – please note that the international courier is inclusive in the price.
If you are from South Africa, you can view my SA gallery HERE, where I offer complimentary courier within SA.
Thanks for reading!
Here’s another article you may enjoy:
I’ve been having fun with some still life drawing.
I gathered a bunch of flowers and foliage from my garden for my dining table centerpiece and, one day whilst taking in the beauty of the flowers, decided to draw them. You can see my vase of delights to your right.
I really love vintage-style botanical pattern in design so I tried my hand at creating one of my own with these lavender and poppy illustration I had done.
Are White Lavenders a Thing?
I’ve had many people ask me if there really is such a thing as a white lavender. I’ve got to be honest, I would’ve been disbelieving too if it wasn’t for a few years ago when I saw my first white lavender bush in someone’s garden on one of my morning walks.
I had to have one!
For the naysayers out there, let me introduce you to my gorgeous white lavender bush (you can see my regular purple lavender bush next to it for a colour comparison) in my little Karoo garden in South Africa…
Isn’t it magnificent?
Below is a close up snap:
And yes, they smell as good as they look!
Let me know in the comments below if you’ve ever seen or own white lavender? I’d be interested to know. Please also include where you come from.
Back to the Illustration…
So without further ado, here is my botanical illustration featuring the white lavender and poppy combo:
I really had fun creating this botanical pattern and it’s even more rewarding when you start designing various products and get to play with background colours – I especially like the teal background.
Below are a few of my products with this pattern, if you would like to visit my store and see all the available goodies, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
I’d love to hear which product stands out for you – let me know in the comment box below 🙂
Thanks for reading!
I’ve got a new Mandala Colouring Book for you! Click on the pic below:
You can listen to this as a podcast HERE (or click on the picture below) or continue reading below.
It’s so very important to keep your dreams alive and your imagination well-greased, as the quote below suggests.
Of course, not the dreams where you’re in your underwear being chased down town center by a T-Rex or rocking up late to school without your PE kit. No, I’m referring to those personal goals and ambitions.
Lately I’ve been musing on my dreams and desires and have found some sneaky outdated ones.
And that’s okay.
I’m entitled to change my mind about what I want now. I thought that maybe not following through meant I was a failure. Upon reflection, I think I was failing at being true to where I’m at now, and clinging onto outworn ambitions has definitely been holding me back.
New dreams pop up like mushrooms. And it’s healthy to assess which ones to keep and which ones to spring clean.
I’m a person that feels the need to follow every idea through to conclusion, to my detriment. I’ve come to face it though, that’s just a recipe for burnout. My new mantra — like the old adage, ‘pick your battles‘ — is ‘pick your dreams.’
An Easier Way to Dream Up a New Objective
The best tool in your manifesting basket is your imagination.
Imagination isn’t just child’s play, it’s a potent projector. It’s a really beneficial practice to engage in some proactive imagining or lucid dreaming (where you get to control where the dream goes) for say 15-30 minutes a day, give or take.
Do it over a cuppa, or when you’re having some downtime. It’s important to be comfortable and to not be interrupted where possible.
Let your imagination soar and explore all possibilities, outcomes and scenarios of your most heartfelt dream. Keep imagining and strengthening your belief in that particular path.
You’ll be amazed at what you can manifest!
Have a Good Cry (If That’s What You Need To Do)
Funnily enough, after I had reassessed where I wanted to point my compass, I had a bit of a…well, you know…meltdown. I went through all the things I was doing ‘wrong’ and had a bit of a tearful moment and, of course, a ‘poor me’ pity party (and, yes, my stoic husband had to sit through the rant).
I was aware that I was being very negative in this rather dark doldrum but I let it happen. Purge time!
You guessed it, literally 15 minutes after I released my tears and fears (yep, ‘shout, shout, let it all out’ moment), I received a very unexpected business phone call that just confirmed the Universe had opened a floodgate for me (yes, very punny seeing I had just released my own tearful floodgate).
I hope this little blurb has ignited a ‘dream spring clean‘ if that’s what you need in your life right now. Share your thoughts in the comment section below 🙂
If you’d like a reminder of using your imagination to pursue your dreams, the illustrated quote above is available on posters, cards (remember cards also serve as mini prints ;D) and magnets, and also a plethora of other products (click here).
You can listen to this article in my podcast HERE or read below. 
“There is only one thing for us to do, and that is to do our level best right where we are every day of our lives; To use our best judgment, and then to trust the rest to that Power which holds the forces of the universe in his hands.” ~Orison Swett Marden
Trusting the Universe Has Your Back
One of the Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz was to ‘do your best’ in every moment. It’s a great philosophy to practice. Always do your best and make sure you’re following your highest excitement — which simply means you have no resistance to what you are doing, and in most cases, you are actually having fun with what you are doing (singing while cleaning the toilet type stuff or getting excited about the lunch you just made yourself).
Another key aspect to having a great life is to dream big and take action where you can. However, this does not mean that you have to manipulate or control every step of your journey. There is a huge facet of ‘letting go’ involved.
Sometimes we think we have to be in charge of every minute detail but that only gets you bogged down and farther from realizing your dream.
Why?
This happens because, in my experience, you only think you know how to get somewhere or how you want something to play out. In fact, you only have one tiny graphic mental picture of what your dream is. The Universe (or quantum field/Higher Intelligence, etc) holds the blueprint and has the birds eye view of what is going on. You, on ground level, only perceive what is necessary.
Your job, ergo, is to take whatever action is necessary and then ALLOW for the Universe to do the rest. This usually never looks like what we visualize because we are usually directed to something even greater than our little pea-brain can conceive.
However, if we want to insist that the pea-brain version is what we want we will limit ourselves and our manifesting prowess.
Result
Don’t sweat the small stuff. If you’ve dreamed up something wonderful and you’ve taken appropriate action to tell the Universe you mean business, then relax. Even if what you wanted doesn’t happen in the way you think, it could be ushering you to something even better.
And when you think that way, you open up to receive so much more great stuff. Remember to inject gratitude even into the ‘future’ so that you can just snow-ball and enjoy the way your life unfolds. Be in awe when things go even better than you think.
If you liked this article, you may consider starting a gratitude journal. Every day write something you are grateful for, no matter how big or small. You’ll see your life start to change when you focus on the positive!
Get your gratitude journal today (click on this link or the picture below) for yourself or for someone you know who’s starting out on a self-empowerment path and could use a bit of motivation!
These gratitude journals can be purchased lined or blank (depending on whether you prefer drawing what you’re grateful for or writing it). They are 13.2cm x 18.6cm – a handy pocket-sized journal!
“We are humanity and we are totally and utterly dependent on the Earth.”
Don’t you feel like a lot of people are losing their connection to the Earth (and to reality)?
Of course, it’s understandable in our current climate; we have lost loved ones, we are faced with division every day, financial stress, emotional strain, the toughest decisions, inhumane lockdowns, relentless talking heads punting fear, the breaking of the Nuremburg Code — I don’t need to remind you, I’m sure.
With all that is going on, we need to, now more than ever, ground ourselves and be more present in nature. Spend more time staring at a tree than your device. Spend more time listening to bird song than listening to iTunes. Spend more time contemplating a glorious sunset than your next post.
Meta-Fascistbook: Name Changes and Game Changers
And now, trumpets sound and angels sing, Mark Suckerberg wants us to join him in the ‘Metaverse’. The Metaverse reminds me of Nero fiddling while Rome burned.
No thanks. Talk about Mark of the Beast!
“They Tried to Bury Us, They Didn’t Know We Were Seeds” ~ Dinos Christianopoulos
We are humanity and we are totally and utterly dependent on the Earth. We don’t need more distractions and fake realities, we need to get down and dirty, with our hands and feet in the soil of our very real planet who needs our help and our attention — ALL of our attention — because we ARE the Earth. We are made of the Earth.
We need the trees for oxygen, we need the soil to grow food, we need the flora and fauna to sustain us (whether chosen for fuel or for clothing), we need to work in symbiance with nature to truly be happy.
Let’s Weigh In
On one hand we’ve got “Mark of the Beast” and his Meta-whatsit, luring us into an AI world of bullshit and triviality while our planet needs our love and attention. And on the other hand, we have the Earth, to whom withouteth we cannot liveth. No-brainer, eh?
I’m sure Mark’s Metaverse, as lame as it looks now, will — in a few years — be like the holodeck in Star Trek. I’m sure it’ll be very tempting indeed to escape reality and get sucked into Suckerberg’s world of machinastic cyber frivolity.
But, please, let’s not forget that we are flesh and blood and our humanity is on the line. The more we get duped into staying glued to our devices and the more we are welded to our social media feeds, the more we take a step away from what is real, what makes us truly happy and what sustains us. And I think most of us can agree that this is found in the wilderness, it’s at the seaside, it’s in a jungle, it’s waiting for us in the garden or park, it’s beckoning to us in a forest, it’s outside just waiting for you to say, ‘hello’.
I’ll Be Happy When I’m Rich, Famous and Thin
Money, although useful, doesn’t make us happy. Having ‘stuff’ can be cool for a while, but soon loses it’s thrill. Fame certainly ain’t all it’s cracked up to be (just ask any celeb who, and there are many if you look, have had their hand caught in the cookie jar or whose hypocrisy has back-fired). And, of course, trying to fit the societal ideal of ‘perfect’ certainly keeps you at arms bay of ever being happy — in fact, it can make you darn right miserable.
People search for happiness when, really, it’s right underneath their noses.
Happiness Is…
Happiness is sustainable if you know where to look. Happiness is sustainable if you remember to connect with nature. Just the act of staring at ‘green’ has a soothing, calming effect.
Read this article by Christi Wharton to learn more about the colour green: The Psychology of Design: The Color Green
The Great Resignation
If we can take just one positive thing from this pandemic, it’s that a lot of people woke up.
They woke up to how much time they’re missing out on with their family and loved ones. They woke up to how much is taken for-granted. They woke up to how much wool is being pulled over their eyes. They woke up to how much time is wasted sitting in traffic on their way to work. They woke up to how much time is wasted at work, especially working at a job you do not care for. The Great Resignation is upon us!
If you don’t know about this latest phenomenon is, please read the article below:
What is ‘The Great Resignation’? An expert explains.
I bet the powers that were didn’t see that one coming! Which reminds me of a line from a Greek poem:
“They Tried to Bury Us, They Didn’t Know We Were Seeds” ~ Dinos Christianopoulos
We can even go a step further and say, not only did they bury us but they shat on us and then wept with laughter…and we all know what happens with seeds, manure and water!
New Ways of Expressing My Love for the Land
I’ve been dreaming of creating something new with my art. Something that explores a diverse range of styles and mediums. My desire was realized when I came up with my new series called, “KAROO ELEMENTS.”
KAROO ELEMENTS takes physical pieces of slate (shale), pods, quartz, tin, bark and other fascinating things I pick up on my hikes in Barrydale, Klein Karoo in South Africa, and merges it into an authentically telluric landscape.
I want you to smell the hot, baking air, experience the nutty aroma of the Acacia trees, touch the slate and quartz crystal that’s been around for thousands of years. Come take a walk with me every time you glance at this piece.
My hope is that this new series of art, that takes physical aspects of the landscape, keeps the channel of love, appreciation and fascination of nature wide open. May we never give up our awe for nature and our love for our beautiful planet.
May we never resign our humanity.
“Unity in Diversity”
Here is a picture of some of the artworks in my new series, they are currently on display at the Karoo Art Hotel in Barrydale. Don’t forget to follow my blog to receive new updates.
Other blogs you may enjoy:
Dust Off Those Nike’s and Don Double Denim
I know I’m not alone in absolutely loving the Back to the Future Trilogy. Everything about these movies transports me back to my youth and the wonder of time travel being a possibility in the future (and the mind-bending dichotomous perils that doing so implies).
What is your favourite scene from this trilogy? I’m going to reveal mine later on in this blurb.
But let’s get back to…er, the future? Why is the 21st of October Back to the Future Day?
Well, because that is the date Marty McFly originally travels to the past and catalyses this epic existential time-traveling adventure.
The quintessential moral behind the trilogy revolves around Marty’s pride and caring too much about what people think of him, which get’s him into a heap of trouble. He ultimately relinquishes this egoic pitfalls and becomes self-realized (in an 80s adventure movie kind-of-way).
Read related article: 7 Ways to Tame the Ego and Become Instantly Likeable
Another more touching aspect of the movie is the love-across-time theme. And who could forget Huey Lewis and The News’s gigantic hit, The Power of Love? Well, let me tickle that memory just a little bit with this video:
I recently collaborated with UCS LLC & Amblin and Redbubble to come up with an illustration/ digital design for the Back to the Future franchise and I picked my favourite scene of the movie, which just happens to be the opening scene.
Yip, you guessed it, it’s Marty plugging into Doc’s amp and blowing himself away. I can’t help wetting myself every time I see it. So, I chose that to be the main element of my design, with one tweak — the amp had to be the flux capacitor, seeing that Marty was just about to embark on his epic life-changing journey.
Here it is, what do you think?
Here’s the scene to refresh your cache:
Don’t forget to let me know what your favourite scene is in the comment box below!
Here are some of my favourite products with this design:
I’m absolutely delighted to finally be able to show you around Barrydale, where I live, and why it is such an inspiration to my work. This short little 3 minute reveal will give you a great idea of the area that inspired my new print collection. You can now put a (terra)face to the art and get to compare the landscape to the creations.
Just cllick on the picture below to view the video 😉 Please feel free to comment, I’d love to hear what you think of this remote South African slice of heaven.
Read the full article here. 5 Tips on Getting back in the Groove.
If you liked the visuals in this quote, you may like my paintings below:
I haven’t painted for a while as I’ve been concentrating more on my graphic design work. But a couple of weeks ago I felt the creative bug bite me in the derrier, I just had to get my hands dirty.
I recently watched My Octopus Teacher (I highly recommend it if you haven’t seen it yet). It was filmed just around the corner from where I grew up. The spectacular cinematography got me all inspired. So without much ado, let me show you the photographic process of my double painting duo, “Tentacle Soiree“:
I had a really great time experimenting with the different metals and foils I used in these pieces. The finished paintings are below and available to purchase – just click on the picture below or HERE.
Thanks for coming with me on this octopuses garden journey!
Other blogs you may enjoy:
A recent initiative to rekindle hope and celebration in our beautiful community of Barrydale, South Africa, has resulted in 944 prayer flags being made by the children of our disadvantaged community along with residents and local artists alike.
In combination with this uplifting flag installation, the team at Net vir Pret worked with the University of the Western Cape and their Centre for Humanities Research to bring the world, Reboot Eden: Celebrating Ten Years of Puppetry in Barrydale.
The prayer flag committee first met early August of this year to brainstorm a way to bring the community together in a creative and positive way, and this is what transpired…
Article below published by News62 by journalist, Mickey Mentz.
Photo courtesy of Mickey Mentz, News62
They set out to create something positive, something artistic, something creative, something that the whole community could be involved in and as a result of an astounding group effort, 944 Prayer Flags of Hope will line the streets of Barrydale from 14 to 19 December.
The children and interns of charity orginisation Net vir Pret painted most of the flags under the guidance of their teacher, Cherie Dirksen, while the rest of the contributions came from local artists, businesses and villagers.
In fact, to illustrate just how village-focused this initiative became, we can today reveal that radio presenter turned axe-man Rueben “the screwman” Hart serves on the hanging committee.
Earlier this year Rueben played his axe in the Dung Beetle and Country Pumpkin restaurants and he is now part of the flag hanging committee that will in charge of decorating the Karoo Art Hotel and other places of interest.
The project is the brainchild of the prime genial Mez Karoo Kitchen owner Michelle Berry who, during the early days of lockdown, rediscovered a box of prayer flags she had made for a Barrydale in Bloom celebration of years gone by.
She instinctively knew it would be of great value and relevance as the world entered a strange space in time.
With her foresight a group of about 40 people united and focused their energy on sending out a message of optimism during the most uncertain winter in human history.
“A prayer flag has a positive connotation and during this time we thought it would be appropriate to do something that brings hope and reminds of the dreams we have,” said Michelle.
She was quick to point out that everyone she had approached to help with this idea had jumped at the chance to contribute. One of the first persons was Cherie and subsequently her under privileged art students became involved.
From sometimes unsung heroes at Net vir Pret like Herman Witbooi and Clarisa Esau to seaming sensations Richard Panaino and Katye Lovegrove, the willingness to contribute was overwhelming.
Businesses support worthy cause: Picture: Cherie Dirksen
Even the local poetry society pitched in and their work will form part of the 10 flags from the town’s artists that will be on display at the Karoo Art Hotel in what is a very fitting reminder that the Barrydale Art Meander will also be in full swing during this time.
“It was a real community effort and we owe a lot of gratitude for a lot of people,” Michelle added.
She highlighted that a donation of table runner material by Arran Bastable of Barrydale Hand Weavers was very generous indeed and with the contribution from Colour Screen Fabric Paint in Cape Town they were all set for action.
As always, Ant Chidrawi of The Hub also contributed in his unique way by providing stencil work at no charge.
Flags of Remembrance
He will be missed. Gari Crawford. Picture: Facebook
Just a few weeks prior to the finalisation for the Prayer Flags of Hope, Net vir Pret and the community of Barrydale suffered a huge loss when beloved and respected music teacher Gari Crawford passed away following a stroke.
Gari had just completed a compilation of 10-years of music Net vir Pret created as part of their annual Puppet Parade.
“There was a general consensus that we wanted this project to be about hope and celebration of last 10 years of Net vir Pret, but we did not expect this sad setback,” Cherie explained.
Cherie made it her task to ensure that that flags representing the love that exists for the mentor Gari were created and that in doing so, the music maestro’s life would be celebrated.
She fought off her tears when she explained just how moving this final tribute to a much loved turned out to be.
A final tribute to the inspirational Gari Crawford. Picture: Cherie Dirksen
Flags can become part of annual event(s)
The 944 Prayer Flags of Hope that were created will be sold in bundles of 20 from the Magpie Art Gallery on December 19 and should any of these reasonably priced items go unsold, they will be utilised for 2021 celebrations.
All proceeds wil go to Net vir Pret.
Michelle noted that the flags will not be expensive and that Cherie might as well brace herself for the pressure related to producing such great volumes of excellence.
Cherie unofficially confirmed that they would double the number of hand crafted flags next year and fully supported the idea of creating these decorative gems annually.
“I was taken aback with Michelle’s idea and I immediately thought this could become a yearly event.”
“What a lovely theme for attracting tourism back to Barrydale. It is something positive, something artistic, something creative, something that a whole community can be involved with.”
Cherie Dirksen
Article by Mickey Mentz and published on News62
Now wouldn’t it be great if YOU could start a prayer flag initiative in YOUR community? Let prayer flags and messages of love, hope and unity go viral globally!
Below you’ll find some more pictures of the giant puppets and some of the flags that will be on display:
Thanks for looking!
Cherie Roe Dirksen is a self-empowerment author, multi-media artist and musician from South Africa.
To date, she has published 3 self-help and motivational books and brings out weekly inspirational blogs at her site www.cherieroedirksen.com. Get stuck into finding your passion, purpose and joy by downloading some of those books gratis when you click HERE.
Her ambition is to help you to connect with your innate gift of creativity and living the life you came here to experience by taking responsibility for your actions and becoming the co-creator of your reality. You can follow Cherie on Facebook(The Art of Empowerment — for article updates). She has an official art Facebook page (Cherie Roe Dirksen – for new art updates). You can also check out her Facebook band page at Templeton Universe.
This article (Prayer Flags of Hope Set to Soothe Community Anxiety) was originally written for and published by Conscious Life News and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to the author Cherie Roe Dirksen
Cherie Roe Dirksen 