Exhale

This cheerful portrait painting was created as an inspiration to lean into the times of inner growth that we face in our lives.

Creams, golds, and greens mix with subtle pink and blue florals. 

The beautiful model for this piece is an Inspirational Speaker, Best Selling Author, and Founder of Anita by Design, Anita Morris.  You can find her videos, book, and community in the links below.

This piece is not for sale, but rather being donated to "Dress For Success Orillia and Barrie".  The good news is that you can still order a print of the floral patterns of this painting with all profits from the sale of the print being donated to Dress For Success Orillia and Barrie, a charity that supports women and non-binary individuals at critical life transitions of employment or re-employment!  See the print here

https://www.anitabydesign.com/

https://www.instagram.com/anitabydesign/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc3bcyZ9Q4HGODXAbL3fGMQ

https://www.amazon.com/STEP-Into-Overcoming-Trials-Purpose/dp/1736502905/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2N851VBA3S8K0&dchild=1&keywords=step+into+it+anita+morris&qid=1615530104&sprefix=STEP+INTO+IT%2Caps%2C228&sr=8-1

Read more about Dress For Success here 

It is the little things that seem to make up the best parts of our days.  Moments with family, warm sunny spots, cozy times with a pet, tiny flowers.  I am trying to remind myself to cherish those seemingly little things that add up to be the real and truly important things in my day-to-day life.

I created this piece with these thoughts in mind and I hope that they bring to mind your "little things" that are actually the important things.

18x24" Oil on  1 1/2" gallery wrapped Canvas

The trees in the small Ontario town that I live in must learn to thrive throughout all four of our Canadian seasons from subzero to heatwaves, and everything in between.  I'm in awe of their resilience, and how they can grow to tower above my head on my morning walks.

There is something about their gentle presence that reminds me to stay resilient and not give up, and it is my wish that these colourful Muskoka tree paintings do the same for you.

11x14" oil on gallery wrapped canvas

14x18" oil on gallery wrapped canvas

This group of trees "speaks" to me as I drive through my little town in Muskoka, Ontario every morning.  Each tree is growing slightly differently, but still supporting each other, and reminds me of a sisterhood or tribe.

Let this painting remind you of your time in nature and your "tribe".

18x24"

oil on gallery wrapped canvas

I know that many times, we as women struggle to embrace ourselves and every part of our journey.  This painting is a reminder that it is okay to embrace ourselves fully in every part of our lives.  

Read the full blog post about the inspiring woman behind this piece here

Model Char Blair, instagram.com/art_of_healthy_aging

8x8" oil on gallery wrapped canvas

Each piece in the Exhale Collection was created with the intention to speak of the places where we heal.  Inside of ourselves, in nature, and in the simple beauty of the everyday.

"just as you are" was created to remind us to embrace ourselves exactly how we beautifully are.

24x30" Oil painting on canvas

be still

and hear the voice within 

wisdom unearthed

and liberated to trust in you

Inspired by the beautiful Aysegul, an advocate for living in the present moment so that we can truly experience being alive, wild and free.  

https://www.sunflowertribe.com/about-aysegul/

6x6" acrylic on gallery wrapped 1" canvas

The scent of earth, grass, and flowers underfoot, wide-open spaces, quiet and free. 

A little reminder to savour the little things in life that are truly the fundamentals of life.

The crooked trees are the ones that always catch my eye.  

They grow in unexpected ways but always towards the sun.  You can tell that their growth journey hasn't always been easy by the strange directions some of the branches have taken.  But that's what makes them interesting and beautiful.  The imperfections, the uniqueness.  

It wasn't lost on me the metaphors that could be made between trees and us as humans.  I think that even when we face adversities and still forge on, that is when we become most beautiful.  Our crookedness - ever reaching for the sun and refusing to stop blooming makes us who we are.  This tree now has spring buds and I pass it most days when I drive my son to school, but I snapped this photo back in late winter because the crooked branches spoke to me in their "perfect, imperfection".  My apologies for the cheesy song reference... but I do think he's onto something.

11x14" oil on 1 1/2" Gallery Wrapped Canvas