IVY NEWPORT

Studioworks

Journal
a letter from ivy

Dear creative friends,

Welcome to Issue #38 of the Studioworks Journal! As always, I’m delighted you are here with me and I’m excited to share this with you. So, this month we often associate with Valentine’s Day, hearts and roses but as usual, I want to put a spin on that whole vibe and instead focus on self-love, the Victorian language of flowers, a dash of angel wisdom, some insight and inspiration from Sufi poet and mystic, Rumi and a fantastic study with master artist – J.W. Waterhouse!

My intention is to tie all these topics together in a sweet pink bow and present it to you for February! I hope this Studioworks Journal will set you up for a creatively nourishing month filled with plenty of self-love and art making.

xo,

So you may be wondering, where do I start? To that, I say, wherever feels right to you. Each month we will have a theme, a creative affirmation, a power word, a color palette, sketchbook exercises, art projects, articles, recommended reading, and access to wonderful inspiration and resources. I want you to think of this as a delicious new magazine, you know the ones you occasionally splurge on, with soft, velvety pages, beautiful images, and inspiring content!

Each issue will invite you to explore your creative practice in whichever way works for you. Experience each issue at your own pace. Take what resonates with you and put the rest aside for another time.

Grab a cup of something lovely and dive in.

MONTHLY THEME

The Language of Flowers

Artists have long since been intoxicated with the beauty of flowers. Van Gogh poured his soul into fields of sunflowers and clusters of amethyst irises. Monet drenched his canvases with his love of waterlilies and Georgia O’Keefe drew us into the delicate folds and curves inside the blossoms she depicted.

The symbolic language of flowers has been recognized for centuries in many countries throughout Europe and Asia. They even play a large role in William Shakespeare’s works. Mythologies, folklore, sonnets, and plays of the ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and Chinese are peppered with flower and plant symbolism—and for good reason. Nearly every sentiment imaginable can be expressed with flowers.

So, I thought it would be lovely to dive a little deeper into the symbolism and language of flowers. Different blossoms represent a vast array of things to all different cultures but we will be focusing on the romantic Victorian language of flowers that became popular in the 1800’s.

      “Goddess of Dawn”, 1864

      by Jean Louis Hamon

      The language of flowers also called – Floriography

      Floriography is a means of cryptological communication through the use or arrangement of flowers. Gifts of blooms, plants, and specific floral arrangements were used to send a coded message to the recipient, allowing the sender to express feelings which could not be spoken aloud in Victorian society. Armed with floral dictionaries, Victorians often exchanged small “talking bouquets”, called nosegays or tussie-mussies, which could be worn or carried as a fashion accessory.

      The Victorian Pre-Raphaelites, a group of 19th-century painters and poets who aimed to revive the purer art of the late medieval period, captured classic notions of beauty romantically. Flowers laden with symbolism figure prominently in much of their work – (including our Master artist for the month – John William Waterhouse).

          Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May, 1908

          by John William Waterhouse

          Here are a few classic Victorian messages that were delivered by way of floriography…

          “I appreciate you”

          Daffodils were given for regard and lavender for devotion and virtue. Alternatively, daffodils could also mean unrequited love.

          “I will miss you”

          Forget-me-nots were sent to a loved one who was moving away, along with goldenrod for encouragement.

          “I hope we become friends”

          Periwinkle and acacia were given to symbolise blossoming friendships.

          The colors of the blooms sent a distinct message too! Red flowers suggest passion, love and affection. Pink flowers symbolize grace, joy and innocence. Yellow flowers brought the message of friendship and happiness while white blossoms represent innocence and purity.

          Here’s a few Victorian meanings behind some of our favorite flowers – while most of the meanings came from ancient stories and myths, it seems the Victorian language of flowers incorporated these tales and symbols into their view of these specific blooms.

              Here are a few classic Victorian messages that were delivered by way of floriography…

              Peony

              Bashfulness, Shyness – In ancient Greece, it was said that nymphs would hide their naked forms by transforming into Peonies. It was also believed to be very bad luck to dig up a Peony as a fairy would surely come and curse you for doing so!

                  Lilac

                  First love, reminiscence – Victorian widows often wore lilac while in mourning over their late husbands. Giving a lilac meant that that the giver is trying to remind the receiver of a first love.

                      Lily

                      Purity – In the Middle Ages, the lily become associated with the Virgin Mary. Paintings of the Annunciation – the moment archangel Gabriel informed Mary that she would be mother to Jesus – often depicts Gabriel gifting Mary with a white lily representing her purity.

                          Daisy

                          Innocence, Childhood – The daisy is often connected to childhood and innocence and is mentioned in many myths and stories. In Norse mythology, this flower was tied to the goddess Freya, the goddess of fertility, motherhood and childbirth. In Celtic tradition, daisies grew from the spirits of children who died in childbirth.

                              Dahlia

                              Eternal love – The dahlia flower is often called the “Queen of the Autumn Garden” because she blooms so late into the season, right into fall. It is frequently used in wedding bouquets during the Victorian era.

                                  It is fascinating to delve into this beautiful language and then consider incorporating floral symbolism and meaning into our own creations. I know I will be paying a little more attention when I decide to add a blossom to my drawings or paintings. How wonderful to be able to infuse our artwork with a secret message from our flower friends.

                                      Here are just a few examples of their art and crafts:

                                      “A flower blossoms for its own joy.”
                                      – Oscar Wilde
                                      The Language of Flowers

                                      by : Ivy Newport

                                      Rumi – Messages of Love

                                      You may have noticed that I often quote Rumi in the Studioworks Journal. His poetic words always seem to resonate deeply with me but I realized I actually don’t know much about this man. So who exactly is Rumi?

                                      Who is Rumi?

                                      Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Rumi, known to the Western world simply as Rumi, was a thirteenth century Sufi mystic and a great Persian poet, whose works have transcended all barriers. Born in today’s Afghanistan on September 30th, 1207, he spent most of his adult years in present-day Turkey.

                                          Educated at his father’s madrassa, he acquired a thorough knowledge in Islamic scriptures before being appointed an esteemed teacher at the age of 25 and quickly acquired a large following of devoted students.
                                          However, he gave all these up when he met his mentor Shams Tabrīzī. When this beloved teacher suddenly disappeared, he began to pour out his grief through poems, writing mystical verses, which had a universal appeal.

                                          Among Rumi’s best known works, most significant is Masnavi. Said to be one of the most influential works of Sufism, it consists of six books that together amount to 25,000 verses. Also known as the greatest mystical poem in world literature, the work teaches how to reach God through love.

                                          These poems, written in Persian, not only made him one of the most celebrated poets of his era, but also of this modern age.
                                          What a treasure, in our modern world, to be able to read his words of truth, love and hope. Let his messages seep deep into your artist’s soul…

                                          Messages of Love from Rumi –

                                          “You are not a drop in a ocean
                                          You are the entire ocean in a drop.”

                                           

                                          “Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground..”

                                           

                                          “There is a soul within your soul. Seek it out. There is a treasure in your mountain. Seek it out.”

                                           

                                          “Wherever you are, and whatever you do, be in love.”

                                           

                                           

                                          “Your heart knows the way. Run in that direction.”

                                           

                                           

                                          “If I love myself, I love you. If I love you, I love myself.”

                                           

                                           

                                          “Close your eyes, fall in love, stay there.”

                                           

                                           

                                          “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”

                                           

                                          – Rumi
                                          Rumi - Messages of Love

                                          by : Ivy Newport

                                          Journal Prompt & Card Spread

                                          Let’s go a little deeper and explore our relationship with self and how well we are truly connecting to the practice of self-love. Artists tend to be very, very had on themselves and we all know how sensitive we are – SO we need to take extra care when nourishing our creative path and inner artist.

                                          Knowing ourselves intimately is key to our spiritual and creative development so take a little time to do some journaling and/or a tarot or oracle card spread to reflect on this topic.

                                          I’ve chosen 3 cards for this spread paired with 3 invitational questions to go within…

                                          1. How can I better love myself?
                                          2. What is blocking me from caring more deeply for myself?
                                          3. What can my art teach me about self-love?

                                          Please feel free to print out this journal prompt & card spread and put it somewhere in your sketchbook or journal.

                                              An Angel’s Embrace

                                              When I really consider the feeling of being loved, I obviously think of my family and dear friends but I also have had many personal experiences where I feel a different kind of love. These experiences have often happened in meditation, when I’m surrounded by nature or when I’m in the flow of creating art.

                                              These moments are always accompanied by the most incredible sense of being held. Wrapped in a sweetness and gentle care that supersedes the typical human embrace. I believe these are moments when we experience divine love. This can look and feel different to each person depending on your own personal beliefs and spiritual practice. For me, I feel like these encounters involve angelic energy.

                                              Many cultures and religions incorporate a belief in angels or in angelic energies or guides that interact with humans in conjunction with the Creator, God, Goddess or Source energy. Universal conduits of messages, comfort, guidance and love.

                                              As an artist, I can say that I believe these energies sometimes work with us in our acts of creative expression. Have you ever created something and when you were done you wonder – how did I do that? Well, I believe that sometimes we get some extra help from these angel guides.

                                              Since we are focusing on self-love this month, I thought it might be interesting to explore one Angel in particular – Archangel Chamuel. It is believed that Archangel Chamuel is the angel of peaceful relationships – with others and ourselves.

                                              People sometimes ask for Chamuel’s help to: discover more about unconditional love, find inner peace, resolve conflicts with others, forgive people who have hurt them and find and nurture romantic love. Chamuel is linked to the color pink and to the heart chakra. This is incredibly important to artists because we create with our heart energy. If our hearts are closed, creativity is not possible. In fact, when depicted in artworks, Archangel Chamuel is often depicted with hearts or heart-like forms.

                                              You can ​​Invoke Chamuel’s love and support to strengthen your confidence and self-esteem. Through the color vibration of soft pink she can also support you in loving and healing your inner child – (this is where our inner artist lives!)

                                              To connect with Archangel Chamuel, all you need to do is ask.

                                                  *P.S. I’ve got a special treat included this month to help us tap into connecting to angel energy thanks to our dear contributor – Denise Stargazer. Read on…

                                                  “On the path of love we are neither masters nor the owners of our lives. We are only a brush in the hand of the master painter.”
                                                  – Rumi
                                                  An Angel’s Embrace

                                                  by : Ivy Newport

                                                  Loving Artist PROMPT:
                                                  • Take a quiet moment to focus on one or two colors you adore. Ask yourself why you love these colors. Then create in your sketchbook using these favorite hues.You can even ask Archangel Chamuel to join in the process.
                                                  Who You Are

                                                  by Dana Faulds

                                                  Who you are is so much more than what you do.

                                                  The essence, shining through the heart, soul, and center, the bare and bold truth of you does not lie in your to-do list.

                                                  You are not just at the surface of your skin, not just the impulse to arrange the muscles of your face into a smile or a frown, not just boundless energy, or bone wearying fatigue.

                                                  Delve deeper.

                                                  You are divinity; the vast and open sky of spirit.

                                                  It’s the light of God, the ember at your core, the passion and the presence, the timeless, deathless essence of you that reaches out and touches me.

                                                  Who you are transcends fear and turns suffering into liberation.

                                                  Who you are is love.

                                                  Check out some of Danna’s books below…

                                                  WORD OF THE MONTH

                                                  Love

                                                  Love – (noun) : an intense feeling of deep affection, a great interest and pleasure in something, to like or enjoy very much.

                                                  To define love, well…how much time do you have? This word is in one way the most simple and obvious and in another one of the most complex and layered emotion to explain. Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure. An example of this range of meanings is that the love of a mother differs from the love of a spouse, which differs from the love for food. Most commonly, love refers to a feeling of a strong attraction and emotional attachment.

                                                  Ancient Greek philosophers identified six forms of love: essentially – familial love (in Greek, Storge), friendly love or platonic love (Philia), romantic love (Eros), self-love (Philautia), guest love (hospitality) (Xenia), and divine love (Agape).

                                                  Artists often share a deep love of nature, color, poetry or music. The intense love and passion for creating almost needs its own word doesn’t it? Although, I would say it is most akin to the idea of divine love (Agape) to me. When we create we come into union with the divine energy and creative force of the Universe. How lucky are we that we have chosen this path?

                                                  “Let your teacher be love itself.”
                                                  – Rumi
                                                  Word of the Month - Love

                                                  by : Ivy Newport

                                                  Venus Goddess Meditation

                                                  WITH RACHEL HILLARY

                                                  With our focus on love this month, it seemed a Venus inspired meditation was most fitting. Venus, also known as Aphrodite, is the Goddess of Love in ancient Greek and Roman mythology. So treat yourself to some self-care and take 20 minutes or so to meditate with this gorgeous guided journey.

                                                  Rachel will share a little about this experience –

                                                  This meditation transports you to the fragrant rose gardens of Venus! Realign your chakras with a beautiful pink light, and make a love wish, a trippy and magical experience for the cosmic adventurer!

                                                  Xo,
                                                  Rachel

                                                  “Real beauty is in the fragility of your petals. A rose that never wilts isn’t a rose at all.”
                                                  – Crystal Woods
                                                  Venus Goddess Meditation

                                                  by : Rachel Hillary

                                                  You can download more meditations and connect with Rachel here…

                                                  Monthly Affirmation
                                                  Each month we will have a positive affirmation. I recommend you print out this affirmation and put it in your sketchbook or somewhere in your studio. Recite the affirmation out loud each time you show up to create. Saying words aloud is powerful and can begin to re-write some of our own limiting beliefs or calm our fears. Try it now…
                                                  Channeling Angelic Frequency

                                                  WITH Denise Stargazer

                                                  I’m so delighted to have my dear friend and fellow mystic, Denise Stargazer, share her manifestation wisdom with us this month! In addition to being an amazing artist, Denise is an initiated shamanic energy healer and clear channeled intuitive. This month she is going to help us get super present, slow down our breathing and tap into our heart energy so we can better connect with angel energy! Enjoy!

                                                    Invoking our angels and guides can seem otherworldly.
                                                    “How do I calm my mind?” I often hear.
                                                    Or, “I never seem to hear them talking to me even when I try.”

                                                    In this month’s video, I wanted to provide you with some easy and approachable ways to connect with the energy of the angels. As we are talking about angelic wisdom and also learning about Archangel Chamuel, why not dive a little deeper and discover the true nature of the angelic frequency? After all, every single one of us on this magical earth plane have angels and guides helping us and loving us unconditionally.

                                                        It’s important to note that angels don’t necessarily have a ‘voice’ from which they communicate. As multidimensional beings, they are comprised of energy patterns and light. This means their communication with us will arrive in the form of Sacred Language, Signs, Symbols, and Serendipities. All those repeated numbers you keep seeing? Those are angelic numbers of good will, peace, and love. They let us know we’re on the right path (and more). The ‘coincidences’ you see and feel around you are not coincidences. They are divine interventions and signs from your angels and guides, helping you realize you’re not alone.

                                                        Other forms of Sacred Language include rainbows, feathers, temperature changes, body reactions (‘goose pimples’ or intensity in your skin), sounds, smells and even orbs that might appear on your photos or in your videos (and my oh my, the angles most certainly appeared on this video I created for you…check it out!).

                                                        Belief is the first step to angelic channeling. Know that you have angels, guides, ascended masters, spirit helpers and even departed loved ones helping you and guiding you from Source. Next, we must quiet our mind and body. This means becoming present (or mindful). My exercise this month will help you do this. It’s also critical to breathe and find a calm, private, and peaceful environment within which to channel your angels.

                                                        As you watch my video and learn these simple approaches to channeling, remember that angels will let their presence be known by feeling. Yes, feeling. What you FEEL when you practice this process is your angelic connection. Allow your body and emotions to let go. To stay present. To listen to my guidance and feel the way your divine helpers activate your chakra and heart energy. Remember, spirit is the divine unconditionally loving all the parts of you. In every way.

                                                        Enjoy your angel channeling practice! And don’t worry if it doesn’t seem to ‘work’ the first many attempts. That’s completely normal. Keep going. You have so much to chat about with your angels!

                                                            Learn more about Denise by visiting her website and follow her on social media…

                                                            “Angels descending, bring from above, echoes of mercy, whispers of love.”
                                                            – Fanny J. Crosby
                                                            Color Palette of the Month

                                                            This month, I couldn’t help but be inspired by our master artist, John William Waterhouse. His incredibly beautiful depictions of women among flowers are truly wondrous. His piece – “The Soul of a Rose” – 1908 – has directly guided our color choices in this issue. A multitude of greens, misty blues blurring into petal soft pinks and deep burgundy reds – the hues of a rose garden. These colors are a delight to work with and I found them incredibly calming too.

                                                            Close your eyes and imagine being a beautiful garden surrounded by blooming flowers…what colors do you see? If they are different to what I have suggested then go with what you see in your mind’s eye. These are the colors that are calling to you this month. Trust that and enjoy interacting with them!

                                                            “If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly our whole life would change.”
                                                            – Buddha
                                                            Color Palette

                                                            by : Ivy Newport

                                                            Master Artist Guide

                                                            John William Waterhouse

                                                            This month, I’m so very excited to bring you the work and story of John William Waterhouse. He has always been an absolute favorite of mine. I studied the Pre-Raphaelite artists for my senior thesis in college and his artwork always resonated deeply with me. He captures the sublime beauty of the divine feminine and the encompassing power of nature while interweaving ancient myth and story – what’s NOT to love?!

                                                            Not only that but he used the language of flowers in his work to convey messages and symbols to the viewer. I love this secretive way of communicating through artwork. It whispers of intrigue and mystery! Let’s learn more about this amazing master artist…

                                                            OVERVIEW
                                                            (6 of April 1849 – 10 February 1917). He was an English painter known for working first in the Academic style and for then embracing the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood’s style and subject matter. His artworks were known for their depictions of women from both ancient Greek mythology and Arthurian legend.

                                                            Born in Rome to English parents who were both painters, Waterhouse later moved to London, where he enrolled in the Royal Academy of Art. He soon began exhibiting at their annual summer exhibitions, focusing on the creation of large canvas works depicting scenes from the daily life and mythology of ancient Greece. Many of his paintings are based on authors such as Homer, Ovid,Shakespeare, Tennyson, or Keats.

                                                            Waterhouse’s work is currently displayed at several major British art galleries, and the Royal Academy of Art organised a major retrospective of his work in 2009.

                                                            Early life

                                                            Waterhouse was born in the city of Rome to the English painters William and Isabella Waterhouse in 1849, in the same year that the members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, including Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais and William Holman Hunt, were first causing a stir in the London art scene.

                                                            His early life in Italy has been cited as one of the reasons many of his later paintings were set in ancient Rome or based upon scenes taken from Roman mythology.

                                                            In 1854, the Waterhouses returned to England and moved to a newly built house in South Kensington, London. Waterhouse, or ‘Nino’ as he was nicknamed, coming from an artistic family, was encouraged to become involved in drawing, and often sketched artworks that he found in the British Museum and the National Gallery. In 1871, he entered the Royal Academy of Art school, initially to study sculpture, before moving on to painting.

                                                            Early Works

                                                            Waterhouse’s early works were not Pre-Raphaelite in nature, but were of classical themes in the spirit of Alma-Tadema and Frederic Leighton. These early works were exhibited at the Dudley Gallery, and the Society of British Artists, and in 1874 his painting Sleep and his Half-brother Death was exhibited at the Royal Academy summer exhibition.The painting was a success and Waterhouse would exhibit at the annual exhibition every year until 1916, with the exception of 1890 and 1915. He then went from strength to strength in the London art scene, his 1876 piece After the Dance being given the prime position in that year’s summer exhibition. Perhaps due to his success, his paintings typically became larger and larger in size.

                                                            sleep and his half brother death

                                                            after the dance

                                                            Later Career

                                                            In 1883, Waterhouse married Esther Kenworthy, the daughter of an art schoolmaster from Ealing who had exhibited her own flower-paintings at the Royal Academy and elsewhere. He taught at the St. John’s Wood Art School, joined the St John’s Wood Arts Club, and served on the Royal Academy Council.

                                                            One of Waterhouse’s best known subjects is The Lady of Shalott, a study of Elaine of Astolat as depicted in the 1832 poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, who dies of a mysterious curse after looking directly at the beautiful Lancelot. He actually painted three different versions of this character, in 1888, 1894, and 1916.

                                                            Another of Waterhouse’s favorite subjects was Ophelia; the most familiar of his paintings of Ophelia depicts her just before her death, putting flowers in her hair as she sits on a tree branch leaning over a lake. Like The Lady of Shalott and other Waterhouse paintings, it deals with a woman dying in or near water. He may also have been inspired by paintings of Ophelia by Dante Gabriel Rossetti and John Everett Millais. He submitted his 1889 Ophelia painting in order to receive his diploma from the Royal Academy.

                                                            lady of shalott

                                                            Ophelia, 1889

                                                            Ophelia, 1894

                                                            A mermaid

                                                            (He had originally wanted to submit a painting titled A Mermaid, but it was not completed in time.) After this, the painting was lost until the 20th century. It is now displayed in the collection of Lord Lloyd-Webber. Waterhouse would paint Ophelia again in 1894 and 1909 or 1910, and he planned another painting in the series, called Ophelia in the Churchyard.

                                                            Waterhouse could not finish the series of Ophelia paintings because he was gravely ill with cancer by 1915. He died two years later, and his grave can be found at Kensal Green Cemetery in London.

                                                            Style & Technique

                                                            Waterhouse is often classed as a Pre-Raphaelite painter, because of his dedication to painting beautiful women, fondness of the femme fatale, and realism. His most Pre-Raphaelite painting is The Lady of Shalott which he finished in 1888. Often drawing on well-known stories or myths, scholars identified Waterhouse’s liking for choosing tragic or brutal stories and yet finding the beauty or calm in them.

                                                            One example of this is, St. Eulalia, the story of a young Spanish girl who was horribly martyred in Roman times. Instead of showing some of her horrific injuries or the act of martyrdom, Waterhouse depicts her lifeless body almost in calm. Her mutilated torso is partially covered in red robes and the snow falling around makes the scene almost otherworldly and magical.

                                                            St. Eulalia, 1885

                                                            Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses, 1891

                                                            One painting which uses almost all of Waterhouse’s compositional techniques is Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses. The moment Waterhouse captures is when the witch Circe is about to trick the hero Ulysses. Waterhouse paints her in a raised seat, with her face turned upwards, looking down on the viewer.

                                                            This superior stance indicates the power the woman has over others. The chair and mirror behind Circe act to frame her body, almost like a throne.

                                                            Waterhouse often chose to paint stories which were about heroic male characters and yet in his paintings they became background characters, their faces turned away or partially covered. This technique allowed Waterhouse to focus on his passion, the beautiful heroine, whilst often indicating how the viewer should be interpreting the woman in front of them.

                                                            For instance in Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses, Ulysses can just be seen in the mirror, small in comparison to Circe and with his head slightly bowed. This again indicates the woman’s superior status.

                                                            Waterhouse also used mirrors and windows in the background on his paintings to further develop narrative, examples include Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses and his series of The Lady of Shalott paintings. In the latter case, the mirror in which the lady can look through to the real world, is used to show Lancelot riding by as he does in Tennyson’s poem.

                                                            The artist created equal detail in the background of his paintings as he does his foreground and this is complimented by his use of color throughout. The colors used in the background are often muted so as not to distract from the main scene and yet they also reflect the feel and mood of the piece.

                                                            The style of clothing which Waterhouse places his women in is ultimately romantic. A cross between medieval and Greco-Roman, the artist uses drapery to create movement. Waterhouse also uses color to represent the characteristics of the person portrayed.

                                                            For instance, dark blues or purples are often used for dangerous or powerful women. Pinks and softer shades are more commonly used for lighter moods. Translucent fabric is used to create subtle sexuality for the women, without them being completely nude or too provocative.

                                                            Waterhouse manages to create a great deal of movement in his paintings and this helps to add realism, the viewer feels like they are almost in the scene as well. In order to do this, he uses light and shadow, and creates rippling clothes and flowing hair. The level of detail in Waterhouse paintings certainly helps to create movement and mood.

                                                            The Lady of Shalott looking at Lancelot, 1894

                                                            Circe Invidiosa, 1892

                                                            Windswept, 1902

                                                            Like the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood from which Waterhouse took so much inspiration he used symbolism to establish key themes in each piece, giving a narrative to his paintings. As previously mentioned, he also incorporated the language of flowers into his works. The artist infused his depictions of women with layers of complex botanical symbols. This floral symbolism was appropriated by Waterhouse as a method to further enhance the profoundly theatrical qualities of his work.

                                                            In his painting, Dolce Far Niente, 1880, the work depicts a woman reclining on a kline. To her left, yellow narcissus flowers delicately lay on a marble table. The narcissus flowers (daffodils) that dominate the right corner view are derived from the myth of Narcissus, who perished due to a curse that Nemesis had unleashed on him. As the personification of his self-obsession, he was forced to spend the last of his days gazing into his reflection in a pond. In the myth, Echo had fallen in love with him but her feelings were unreciprocated. The Victorians held the tradition that daffodils were in fact symbolic of unrequited love, so we can attribute that Waterhouse used them in this piece to further emphasize this woman’s emotion.

                                                            Dolce Far Niente, 1880

                                                            Studioworks Master Artist study exercise
                                                            • Look at more of John William Waterhouse’s paintings and see if you can identify flowers within them. Then look up the meanings of those flowers, what do they say about what Waterhouse was trying to express?

                                                            Enjoy this slideshow of his work

                                                            Here’s a Pinterest board full of work from John William Waterhouse:

                                                            Videos to Watch

                                                            “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”
                                                            – Rumi
                                                            Master Artist Guide

                                                            by : Ivy Newport

                                                            Sketchbook Explorations

                                                            EXPLORATION 1

                                                            Inspired by J.W. Waterhouse

                                                            I’ve always been obsessed with Waterhouse’s painting – “The Soul of the Rose”, so I decided to do a detailed study of it. Being a portrait artist, I wanted to zoom in and focus on the model’s face and her interaction with the rose. I did my study in PanPastel and pastel on stretched linen. I first prepared the surface using Golden pastel Ground and then built up my layers, spraying with Sennelier Pastel Fixative in between. Now it’s your turn, pick a Waterhouse painting you love and create your own study in any medium you enjoy. Feel free to focus on one area of the painting like I did! Enjoy!

                                                            EXPLORATION 2

                                                            Angel Energy

                                                            We touched on tapping into Angel energy this month, with a focus on Archangel Chamuel, who is associated with the color pink, hearts, self-love, and peaceful relationships. Try your hand at creating an angel-inspired piece. You can be inspired by Chamuel or any other angel that you feel drawn to. This could be realistic or very abstract!

                                                            I created this Archangel Chamuel card and I wanted to gift it to you in a printable format so you can enjoy it at home. I made this on my iPad using the Procreate app. I’ve included the original photo reference in case you’d like to use it too!

                                                            Here is a Pinterest board I’ve curated to inspire you:

                                                            EXPLORATION 3

                                                            Flower Language

                                                            I loved learning more about Floriography this month so how about we create a sketch, painting or collage with a bloom in mind. Pick a flower you love and see what it means then create from there. Can you express the meaning of the flower in your work? I can’t wait to see what blossom you choose!

                                                            “As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.”
                                                            – Rumi

                                                            MONTHLY LESSON

                                                            with Kiala Givehand

                                                            I’m excited to share a beautiful and relaxing creative lesson with the fabulous Kiala Givehand! Kiala is a pro when it comes to creating gorgeous handmade artists journals and exquisite book art! In this lesson, she combines her gifts to show how to create floral inspired painted pages that she then builds into a beautiful blooming book art piece! This is a unique and wonderful process that I know you are going to enjoy!

                                                            Let yourself sink into this sweet lesson.

                                                            “Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.”
                                                            – Rumi

                                                            FEATURED Monthly LESSON

                                                            From The Studioworks Library

                                                            Don’t forget that your Studioworks Membership gives you access to over 100 creative classes from teachers all over the world! Each class comprises of three to four creative lessons! That’s a lot of artsy goodness, right at your fingertips!

                                                            Each month, we will highlight just one of these lessons as a sweet invitation for you to explore all that the Studioworks library has to offer. This month, along with our flower theme, we bring you a beautiful, healing lesson from talented teacher, Donna Marie Buchanan from her class Upon Healing Wings. Enjoy.

                                                            STUDIOWORKS

                                                            Submission Calls

                                                            If you’d like to be featured in an upcoming Studioworks Journal, we’d love to have you join our Creative Network! Our intention with Studioworks has always been to cultivate community involvement and collaboration. Featuring members from our creative community is such an honor and a beautiful way to share the light you all bring. Come join us!

                                                            STUDIOWORKS PODCAST

                                                            issue thirty-eight

                                                            You can also listen to this month’s issue of the Studioworks journal. I find I love listening to books, podcasts and music while I draw, paint or go on a long walk. Enjoy.

                                                            Studioworks : issue thirty-eight

                                                            by : Ivy Newport

                                                            inspiration: curated
                                                            One of my favorite things to do is to curate inspiration. From Pinterest boards to books, resources, playlists and more – I love to share anything that might facilitate learning, expansion, and sparks of curiosity! Being an artist, we naturally crave these things so here are some of this month’s picks from me to you.

                                                            Books to Discover & Enjoy

                                                            MUSIC PLAYLIST

                                                            I had so much fun curating this list. I hope you enjoy!!

                                                            THINGS TO WATCH

                                                            PINTEREST BOARD

                                                            CLASSES TO TRY

                                                            Here are just a few of our fantastic classes! They feel in alignment with this month’s issue! I highly recommend checking them out if you haven’t already. Enjoy!