Behind the Brush: Creating Art that Spreads Joy and Optimism

Everyone who went to see Coldplay this year seems to have come back glowing. I didn't go - but I really wish I had. I've a few friends who went, and all of them had the same reaction of being almost speechless afterwards. From what I hear, the band filled the stadiums with such love and joy that everyone's spirits were lifted. Some of my friends and their families were even brought to tears of happiness.

In a world where we are constantly hearing heavy or unhappy news, it felt like Chris Martin and his band had managed to lift people's spirits so high that it helped to address the balance.

It all started with some lines...

And that got me thinking: maybe I could intentionally spread some of that joy through my paintings too. I've loved playing around with layers in my artwork for a while now: adding glazes, swiping on paint, wiping it off, drawing into it or onto it, painting over areas... But this time I decided to create all of that on top of hidden messages full of positivity.

Sunshine hues layered over hidden affirmations

I chose some phrases that made me smile, and some words that help me pause and breathe - things that just thinking of them for a moment make my shoulders relax a little. I wrote them out on repeat with a fine liner on beautiful thick art paper, before taking a very playful approach to covering them up. I intentionally wanted to leave some of the words readable - but they are hidden enough that your eyes are drawn in to look closer and work out what they say.

Beautiful brights formed the base layers

And that is how my Secret Messages collection began! A new series designed to spread good vibes and optimism, which might cause people to pause and smile, feel gratitude, or look for the positives. Each message peeks through layers of colourful glazes and mixed media mark making. The end results are vibrant, playful and eye-catching - and have been finished off beautifully in gorgeous frames with flashes of highlight colours inside.

The soft glazes and layers catching the light in the studio

The first four in the series are 'Mountain air and blue skies', 'I love those laughter lines', 'Today could be the best day ever' and 'Feel the sunshine on your face' - but I'm sure more will follow. Each one holds a quiet reminder - that beauty and positivity are always there, even if they're not immediately visible.

If you’d like to have your own Secret Messages artwork created, I'd love to paint something just for you. It could capture a favourite memory, song lyric or affirmation - something that means something only to you. Together we can tailor the size, colours and framing to create the perfect piece for your space.

Find out more about commissioning a bespoke secret message piece here.

The Secret Messages paintings featured in this post are available to buy in my online shop.