Flower sketches

I drew these flowers to illustrate 'Get Well Soon' and 'With Sympathy' cards for my craft stall. I love drawing, especially faces and flowers, and hopefully will continue to do so. Drawing nature is a good way to de-stress and relax.

Mindful doodling and colouring

When I was going through a very dark period in my life in 2018, I discovered new therapeutic ideas to hep me through my difficulties. I knew about mindful colouring, but didn't know how therapeutic it could be until 2018. Soon after mindful colouring I discovered mindful doodling. Sometimes I think I could spend my life mindfully doodling and colouring, but unfortunately I can't.

Amy's Eyes

While working on her A'level Art projects Amy drew and painted a lot of eyes. They were supposed to represent various psychological states such as psychopathy, BPD, avoidant personaltiy, schizoid personality, depression, PTSD and anxiety. These are a few of the most striking images.

Take me to church

I was a regular attendee at my local Church of England for ten years between 2008 and 2018. I found it quite helpful, but the church wasn't well attended and the vicar seemed to resent getting up early for so few people. I fought a little to keep the service going, but now I enjoy my lie-ins on a Sunday morning. I kind of miss church and maybe, when I have more energy, I may become a regular church goer again.

Self portraits by Amy

While studying for GCSE and A'level Art Amy started to produce a lot of self-portrait paintings, these are a few of my favourites.

Small Joys

  

From April to July my daughter has been doing an online art portfolio course with the City Lit. The last project was a personal project that she entitled 'Petite Joyeaux'. Small Joys seem to be even more important at the moment. These are a few of the ideas and pictures from the project.

   

Finnigan's Travels

From 2006 to 2020, I traveled around Britain and a little bit of Europe and North America with Mum and Amy. We were occupied with other things at the time, like work and school, and also had my dad with us from 2006 to 2012. I have begun to think that ideas from our fifteen years on holiday could be a springboard towards other creative projects. Below is the basic itinerary for our fifteen years away.

The holidays specifically inspired my mum to paint these two pictures. The first is based on a photo of Amy looking out of a hotel window on the Isle of Wight. The second is based on me looking through our patio doors in a holiday apartment in Torquay.

Wellbeing Cards

My daughter and I love playing with and making cards. Cards we have been enjoying throughout Lockdown are Simple Pleasures from the School of Life, Mood cards, Mindfulness cards and Self-care cards. I have been mindfully doodling and colouring since 2018 and have now made 24 of my favourite drawings into wellbeing cards that will hopefully see us through Lockdown and beyond.

Twelve Years in Film

I have been celebrating various anniversaries in 2020. One of the ones I nearly forgot about was that it is twelve years since I made my first home made DVD featuring my home made movies. Recently, because of the Covid19 Lockdown, my life has become a bit more virtual and my interest in making movies and DVDs has returned. The first DVD I made in 2008 was called Teacup Typhoons and features many of the animations that can still be found on the LornaJHart YouTube Channel. Other titles in my homemade DVD collection include Pictures at an Exhibition, ALFA Fantasia, Showcase and Moving Pictures. My latest DVD is called Tales from Three Cities and features videos based on my special visits around London from 2010 to 2020 and trips to Paris in 2008 and New York in 2017.

Sixtieth book review on GoodReads

The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien


I have attempted to read the Lord of the Rings before but not got much further than the Council of Elrond. I got on much better this time around, after having watched and enjoyed the film trilogy several times. The book is like a long adventurous holiday read, I enjoyed the filmed parts and also the bits that were missed out like Tom Bombadil and the river daughter. There was more to the ending than was portrayed in the film and there was a strong environmental message. It's probably one of the best books I've read.

Lavender cats

After creating my lavender owls it was only a matter of time before I created my lavender cats. Maybe my lavender owls and pussycats should get together; they could 'sail away for a year and a day', 'in a beautiful pea green boat'.

Art Therapy

Art is therapeutic on a number of different levels; expressing yourself, the practical side of just doing art, flow, engagement, creating something beautiful or striking. The materials used can be comforting, time spent can be pleasant and meaningful. Visiting art galleries can also be therapeutic; connecting with other creative minds and lives via a work of art. We can see the struggles and thoughts of others and it could help us feel less alone. I intend to visit more art galleries and maybe get to know more artistic and creative people too.

Humility

I started my virtue project in 2007. Since then I have created artwork, writing and crafts, all reflecting the qualities of the various virtues. Humility is sometimes described as the greatest virtue, from which all other virtues flow. Whether it is the greatest or not is debatable, but I still think it is highly important. I use purple to portray humility, as it is the contrary virtue to the vice of pride and pride is often illustrated with a purple peacock.

Ten Years of Arts and Crafts

I don't consider myself good on home decor, but after discovering 'Kirsty's Homemade Home' in 2009 I thought I would make more of an effort to bring inspiring art and craft into my house. After Christmas 2009 I had a strong feeling that I needed to improve the overall ambience of my home. I bought picture books, calendars with pictures I could frame, prints, attractive frames, cushion covers and I specifically ventured into charity shops to buy knick-knacks. I'm not very materialistic but the things I bought I now find useful for the mindful meditation of homely things.