Now is the Time

Shining Her Light, in progress © Isabella Vickers

I believe in Beauty
the beauty of women
the power of the Feminine.

The strength of the vulnerability
to stand in the tenderness

of one’s own beauty
–not protecting
protected
apologizing
qualifying

Just standing

Standing
in the quietude of being
of being beheld
of being loved
of being honored.

Not doing anything
in response, only
receiving.

Standing in the truth
of our own unique and
brilliant light. Accepting
the sparkle. Trusting
the shine. Believing
this truth.

Oh sure, there are other things
we’ve been told or shown and
until now we have accepted
these false things
as truth.

Until now.
until now.[1]

Now, more than ever

We must stand
in our light, shine
our beauty with the fierce gentleness
and tender strength of
great wisdom.

Now, more than ever

We must reflect and
kindle the light
of our sisters, our daughters, our mothers
and remind them
of their brilliance
and hear and receive their reminders
of our own.

We must know there is room
for ALL of us, for all
of our light.

The world is full
of darkness;
The darkness around us
is deep.[2]
and Now, more than ever
we must shine
our full Lights,
wear our full Beauty,
Love our full Hearts.

Now is not the time for turning back,
for learned and practiced
humbleness.

Now is not the time for jealousy
or intimidation.

Hold hands, join hearts
Sing the songs
dance the dances
paint the paintings
plant the gardens
tell the stories
to change the world.

Now, more than ever
it is time to shine.

The world — our world –
needs Light, needs
Beauty, needs to hear
our voices rising up
in Love and Joy.

And we can do something
right here, right now
about that –

Shine your Light.

Listen to your Heart.

Be the Beauty you are.

Now is not the time
for hesitation.

Pick up your brush
Take up your pen
Lift up your voice
Put on your shoes, or
Take off your shoes
Roll up your sleeves
Pick up your shovel

Open your hearts
Open your eyes
Open your ears
Open your minds

Experience the Light and Love
and Beauty
right there inside
you, right there
next to you –
your sister, your daughter, your mother.

Be the Beauty you are.

Shine your Light.

Now is the time.

_____________________________

FOOTNOTES
1From the poem Enough by David Whyte. Return to Now is the Time. (You can read Enough on my Inspiration page.)
2From the poem A Ritual to Read to Each Other by William Stafford. Return to Now is the Time. (You can read Ritual on my Inspiration page.)

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Painted Happenings and Happy Paintings

First Color of Woman Graduating Class, Cosmic Cowgirls University

Wow! It’s been an amazing couple of months since my art show! Could it really be that long?! Well, it’s definitely time to check in, and I’m so excited to share recent happenings and upcoming events.

Perhaps the biggest news is that I’ve completed my training in The Color of Woman Method, which I’ve been studying for the last ten months with Shiloh McCloud. It has been life changing in so many ways and I am thrilled to be able to share what I’ve learned with others.

In the spirit of that sharing, I led new Painted Journal Workshops based on The Muse and The Critic at the All Things Paper Festival, a new annual Corvallis event featuring a delightful and inspiring variety of workshops, demonstrations, and vendors using and doing All Things Paper, of course!

Using hand-bound heavy paper journals, we called out our Critics and then painted right over their negative talk! Vincent van Gogh said: “If you hear a voice within say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, that voice will be silenced.” So we did! And not just any painting, we met our Muses and painted them! It was a fun gathering of wonderful people, creative energy and everyone had a great time! It was also the beginning of a whole new line of offerings I’m thrilled to share!

She Dances Her Joy, in progress © Isabella Vickers

In the coming months, I’ll be offering inspiring painting and writing workshops and enjuvenating retreats locally and at the beautiful and magical Mt. Shasta! (Enjuvenating is my own made-up word combining enlivening and rejuvenating! I do that sometimes when I can’t find a word that really fits — I just make one up!)

The summer lineup is incredible, and I hope you’ll join me! Here’s a sneak peek, additional details and happenings will be announced and added to the Art Retreat tab above. 

Summer Art Workshops & Retreats ~

June 30 ~ Celebrating the Muse in YOU!

Creative expression is essential to our well-being and enlivened participation in LIFE! Tap into your own well-spring of Joy by spending the day with your Inner Muse! All-day women’s painting and writing workshop, in beautiful downtown Corvallis. (No experience needed, I promise!) Learn more HERE.

July 9 & 10 ~ Connecting with Your Inner Artist

Learn to quiet the Inner Critic by liberating the Muse. Learn basic techniques for intuitively drawing and painting the human face. This class will be held at The Drawing Board in downtown Corvallis. Learn more HERE.

July 27-29 ~ Creativity & the Divine Feminine Intentional Creativity Retreat

Mt. Shasta Gatehouse Retreat Center. Imagine yourself playing, creating, healing, and rejuvenating in a magical mountain environment. I am co-facilitating this women’s retreat weekend with my dear friend and Color of Woman graduate, Jess Bowman. Learn more by clicking HERE.

There are many more exciting painting and writing adventures in the works and I promise to reveal them very soon! Of course, I’m also working on new paintings and exploring myriad galleries and boutiques. This summer, I’ll be in the studio, creating new workshop space, and on the road — and I can’t wait to see you and paint together!

Celebrating the inner well-spring of creative joy, 

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Art Show Extended!

Light of Awakening © Isabella Vickers

Kindling a Light: A Midwinter Illumination
Art Show EXTENDED to March 7!

Where? Stash Local, 110 SW 3rd Street, Corvallis, OR 97330 ~ 541-753-9276

Imagine my delight, when I was asked to extend my art show — my first art show! I mean really! Having an art show has been beyond anything I ever imagined until a very short time ago. Just as the installation came together and the reception happened, the event has continued to unfold with the sweetest grace and joy. And then, to be preparing for the closing only to be asked to stay longer! Well! Isn’t that what we all want when something good is happening?! I mean really!!? You know, that lingering {passionate} kiss, that stimulating dialogue, that delicious espresso, that savory dinner, that succulent {chocolate} dessert, that book that is so good you feel like you know the characters and wonder what they’re doing even when you’re not reading…? Do you know what I mean?! I hope so! And that’s how I feel. An extension of something really wonderful! A lingering of something luscious. 

If you haven’t made it to the show–good news, there’s still time! And if you have, well, now you have time to grab a cuppa at one of the fabulous nearby cafés and take it in again. And while you’re there, be sure to check out the cards and pendants as well as the wonderful yarns and other gorgeous handmade samples and gifts at Stash! I’d love to hear about your experience, so be sure to sign the Guest Book and let us know here how it was!

Art Cards © Isabella Vickers

With warm regards and joyful creativity to YOU!

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How lovely it was…

Song of Grace © Isabella Vickers / Flowers by Bjorg

The Artist Reception of my art show took place Saturday at the hip and happening Stash Local in Corvallis. The responses to my paintings were wonderful!! We had a fantastic turnout and enjoyed great conversation, delicious food, and tasty wines served by the fabulous Nina of Emerson Vineyards.

The number of times my eyes met another’s eyes filled with tears and emotion surprised me. And seeing others’ emotional responses to my paintings brought powerful insight for me. In preparing for the show I realized that painting has given me a way of communicating and connecting that doesn’t need words, and even goes beyond words into feeling, emotion, imagination, and the collective unconscious. As someone who has spent her life treasuring words–verbal and written–this has been an unexpected discovery. Don’t get me wrong, I still treasure words (after all, this is a blog on painting and writing), yet I have a deepened and still deepening understanding of nonverbal communication through sharing image.

Guests at Kindling a Light Artist Reception

I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed story-telling that allows each individual imagination to create its own accompanying images for the unfolding story. I’ve also always hesitated with guided visualization because it often feels imposing. And still, I am strongly visual and experience so much through image. I know many others are this way too, so I continually try to hold the tension of those opposites–encouraging unique imagination (my own and others’) and suggesting or receiving and relating to the images of others. The combination creates a rich palette that ultimately supports and even enhances imagination and connection. This was a big part of my experience Saturday night. Realizing that my paintings are of me and more than me; they come through me and go beyond me. They are unique and archetypal simultaneously. I knew this previously, or at least some of it, but on Saturday night I experienced a felt shift into a much deeper knowing. Sitting with this wisdom still has me trembling.

Guests at Kindling a Light Artist Reception

For the first time in my life, I am stepping out and into the spotlight willingly by showing and sharing my art, and I’ve never felt so naturally positioned there. With every other stage and spotlight, I have suffered such dreadful performance anxiety I’ve stopped short, retreated to silence, or exhausted myself completely in fighting the inner critics. But this, this is different. It feels right and real. I get it. I’m excited and I want to do this. It’s a whole new world of visual language and emotional communication, creating connections I never fathomed.

Art Cards © Isabella Vickers

I’m already planning my next show with sketches for a new series! In the meantime, I’ll continue developing my new card and pendant lines, as well as Creative Bliss Art Retreats.

Heart of Love Series © Isabella Vickers

Art Pendants © Isabella Vickers

Peace Art Pendant © Isabella Vickers

Thank you to everyone who attended the reception and helped to create such a meaningful and memorable event! How lovely it was…

Joyfully,
Isabella

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Please join us for an Artist Reception this Saturday!

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What's the Buzz from Glitter W.A.S.P.?

Reblogged from Cosmic Cowgirls Magazine:

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“As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being.” ~ C.G. Jung

I am delighted to share with you the radiant art, presence and work of the beloved, legendary Isabella Vickers this month. Congratulations and celebration are called for as she claims and shares the brilliance of her light with the world……her first art show, entitled “Kindling A Light” opens this month!!!

Read more… 1,468 more words

Dear Readers, My friend and colleague at Cosmic Cowgirls Magazine, Elizabeth Gibbons, wrote an amazing feature interview about me and my show, Kindling a Light! Just click the link above to read more. I hope you enjoy it! xoisabella
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My First Art Show and You’re Invited!

It’s really happening and it’s really here! My brushes have been dancing, the paint is still wet, and I’m installing my first art show this week — I’m so excited! Please come by and have a look! (Shhh…you can have a sneak peek right here.) 

Where? Stash, a hip and happening boutique filled with wonderful local yarns and artistic treasures.

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