Choosing Rest; Creating Space

Last week didn’t unfold the way I imagined. I had a long list of things I wanted to tick off — artwork to share, ideas to sketch, admin to clear — but I woke up feeling awful day after day. Full of cold and achy, foggy-headed, and with absolutely no creative spark to draw on.

So instead of pushing through, I did something I haven’t always been good at: I stopped. I made cups of tea, snuggled under blankets, watched Christmas movies — and tried to forget the to do list.

A few years ago, I wouldn’t have allowed myself to do that. I would have added “rest” to my to-do list just so I could justify it — as if it were something to accomplish rather than something essential. But as I’ve learned over the years, rest isn’t optional. It’s fuel. It’s clarity. It’s the difference between running on empty and creating from a place of genuine flow.

Why listening matters (especially in December)

This time of year can be intense — deadlines, expectations, events, planning, the never-ending sense that everything has to be done now. But our bodies tell the truth - if we pause to listen. Mine certainly did last week, and instead of overriding that message with pressure or guilt, I chose recovery.

The space that rest creates

There’s a particular quality to the space that opens when you slow down. It’s quieter, steadier, more spacious. It’s the same feeling I look for in nature, and it’s a huge part of what drives my artwork.

So much of my painting — especially my mountain pieces and the work that falls into The Calming Collection — is inspired by the moments that feel like an exhale. Expansive horizons. Grounding lines. The sense of everything settling back into place.

Perhaps it’s no coincidence that I return to these themes again and again. They remind me of what I need most: room to breathe, think, restore, and reconnect.

A permission slip you might need too

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, under the weather, or simply stretched thin right now, here’s your reminder: You’re allowed to pause. You’re allowed to rest before you hit the wall. You’re allowed to take the pressure off and trust that the world can wait a day.

Your energy matters. Your wellbeing matters. And your creativity — whatever form it takes — depends on moments of replenishment.

If you’re craving calm…

If this message resonates, you might also enjoy exploring my paintings which grew from this same place of quiet clarity. These pieces were created to bring a sense of grounding, ease and spaciousness into your home — a visual reminder to breathe a little deeper.

Explore The Calming Collection: Paintings that bring stillness into your space.