Ailsa Brims Blog
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Love is in the air……
As it is Valentines day, I had a romantic notion that today I would go on a mindful photowalk and look for hearts. I figured that today of all days, the lichen would form itself into hearts, heart shaped pebbles would litter the beach and that the planes approaching Gatwick would carve hearts in their …
The delight found in stillness…
Tim Watson (@BeatLiturgist on Twitter) wrote an mindful poem in response to the picture I posted yesterday, which I wanted to share – I find it very moving. A beautiful image on a very moving day. A reminder of the beauty of peace. Of the delight found in quiet stillness. An acceptance of the autumn and …
Corner of a foreign field…..
I post this picture on Twitter most years, it is a (watercolour) painting I did after visiting the WW1 battlefields in 2010, to retrace the steps of my grandfather William Brims. I grew up hearing about my Dad’s dad and knew a little bit about what he did in the war, but going over there, …
Today's painting – it's coming along!
Earlier this year I decided to take a year out from exhibiting and doing my photography and concentrate on playing. The last couple of years have been fairly intense with three large exhibitions (& a few smaller ones) and doing an MA Fine Art and I wanted time to just have fun with my paints. …
America's cool modernism – at the Ashmolean now!
I’d highly recommend at trip to the Ashmolean, Oxford (before the end of July) for the America’s Cool Modernism show – abstract expressionism in the making. Some wonderful work, very cleverly curated to create a story as you wander round. Saw some fantastic work there, work that takes my breath away, especially the Georgia O’Keeffe, …
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Mindfulness and Creativity – how artists are benefiting from meditating
I came across this article yesterday (link below) – I totally agree with the author – mindfulness is essential for me for all my practices, photography, drawing or painting. I use it to settle my mind before creating and for me that is a very productive way of working. Of course there are huge benefits …
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Not my body, not my mind
Imagine waking up one day and everything you thought you knew about yourself had changed. Going through the menopause recently was a frightening experience, nothing worked like it used to, my tastes changed, my mind changed, my body changed, everything was alien and to make things worse, I now also felt invisible to the wider …
Ageing beautifully
Two weeks ago I was given a lovely bunch of tulips and I have loved watching them age, and I realised today what a metaphor they are for growing older and seeing beauty where many might only see decay. At first the flowers were upright and prim and proper and within a couple of days …
Blooming tulips
A little early for the garden yet, although I do have daffs now – I love these tulips – they start off so prim and proper and after a couple of days really let it all hang out!