elizabeth milligan

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I’m elizabeth ~ aromatherapist & blogger. Welcome ♥
What I write about
  • Aromatherapy
  • Contemplation
  • France
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Day 18 & 19 in #21daysinmyartworld - Celebrate & From the archives:

This is a little bouquet to celebrate five years of happily making art :) This is from the archives of my first few paintings and I think it's the first painting I ever did in acrylics.  I like it because it's nice and loose and lively.  I wasn't overthinking things too much in those days :) 

#fromthearchives #celebrate #celebrateart #acrylicpainting #happyartistmovement
Day 17 of #21daysinmyartworld - Largest Painting

I think this is probably my largest painting so far.  It's about one metre square and is on a piece of board I found in the garage.  I think it also started as a way of using up paint in my palette and then it just got added to. 

I like the energy and movement of working on big pieces and I'd love an art wall to hang up some huge canvases and really let go with them :)

#largestpainting #acryliconwood #paintbig #happyartistmovement #inspiredbynature
Day 16 of #21daysinmyartworld - Smallest Painting

This is A5 size and is a little painting I did to use up the paint in my palette. I hate wasting any paint!  I like it because it is colourful and was quick and easy to do.  I think it's probably gouache but I'm not sure.  I'd like to do more of these little paintings.

#tinypainting #colourfulhouses #quickandeasy #zerowaste #fiveminuteartist
Day 15 of #21daysinmyartworld - How I name my paintings - Quite literally I think (this one for example is called Singing Moon) but I'd like to think of some more imaginative ways of naming them.  I know that @nicolanewman_  sometimes uses lines from her journal to name her paintings which is nice.  I'm going to have a look at today's feed for more ideas and also the blog post from @taraleaver

#howinamemypaintings #mixedmediaart #happyartistmovement #whatsinaname
Day 13 & 14 in #21daysinmyartworld - Process Insight & Sold

Process Insight - I don't have a process that I follow for each painting but I do create an environment for myself that helps me to relax into things:  it usually involves burning incense or essential oils, making a cup of tea, and putting on a podcast or maybe music. 

I often find I get into the flow better when listening to a podcast as my brain is focused on what I'm listening to as opposed to what my hands are doing.  It helps me to be more intuitive and not overthink the art.  My paintings are generally mixed media.  I often start with a collage base and sometimes (but not often) work with a sketchbook.  I generally don't have a preconceived idea of what it is I'm trying to create.  Maybe that in itself is the process of watching how things unfold and evolve.

Sold - Nothing yet.  I have never offered a painting for sale but if I feel brave I may come back with another post and a painting for sale :)

#processinsight #doitfortheprocess #artrituals #mixedmediamagic #incense #herbaltea #creativeambience #essentialoils #sketchbook
Day 12 in #21daysinmyartworld - Current Motifs - I'm not sure if this painting shows it too well but I often find myself drawing the same shape which is in some ways like a wave.  It starts by going up into a sharp mountainous point (blue in the picture) and then comes down into a kind of spiral (red in the picture) - I find this very same shape doodled in notebooks going back years and now am starting to see it coming out in my paintings.  I don't know where it comes from or why I draw it.  Some hidden meaning I haven't yet figured out :)

#drawingshapes #motifs #happyartistmovement #ilovepainting
Day 11 of #21daysinmyartworld - Turning Point - Probably the day I actually picked up this little travel pack of watercolours and started using it!

I don't know exactly how long I'd had it but I'm guessing years and years.  I think my mum bought it for me and although I really loved it and always seemed to have it lying about somewhere in my stuff, I had never actually used it!

But one day I opened it, along with my (also sadly unused) sketchbook, grabbed a jar of water and started painting - just tiny little paintings and if I'm not mistaken the inspiration came after watching a short video from @taraleaver (how to paint an imaginary landscape) and I suppose it's slowly grown from there :)

#turningpoint #watercolours #travelpaintbox #happyartist #whereitallbegan
Day 10 of #21daysinmyartworld - Artist Selfie - not keen on (or very good at) taking pictures of myself and I always forget to take my glasses off.  But here we are - Hello there!

#artistselfie #happyartistmovement
Day 9 of #21daysinmyartworld - Where the art happens - In one half of a spare room in the little cottage where we live.  The opposite corner has a desk which I tend to use for writing but sometimes also doubles up as an art table.  Feel very lucky to have a space where I can leave stuff out and it won't get disturbed...

#wherethearthappens #aroomofonesown #artspace #happyartist

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Elizabeth's handmade skin cream - good enough to eat!
Contemplation

In the name of Beauty

It is twenty two years since The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf was published.  I read this book avidly, absorbing its every detail, nodding my head in astonished agreement.  Yes, she was right.  As women gained more and more political Read more…

By Bee, 7 years4 years ago
Geese heading west
Contemplation

Do you know your limits?

A couple of days ago we went for a walk through the fields and little country lanes, past swollen rivers and sturdy trees hanging on to the last of their colourful leaves.  As we wandered along we heard something, a Read more…

By Bee, 7 years2 years ago
Over the rainbow
Contemplation

What’s your reality?

How many times have you been told in response to a new idea or plan that things just don’t work like that in the real world? I have, countless times!  I’ve heard them all: “Oh no, no, that won’t work Read more…

By Bee, 7 years4 years ago
It's not often you see a leaf just standing there, perfectly upright in the middle of the path
Contemplation

Are you a pleasure seeker?

Yesterday was a wet, grey Tuesday.  When we woke up the house was enveloped in cloud, the finest drizzle.  The trees in the distance had disappeared into greyness and the sun was nowhere to be seen.  We muddled through the Read more…

By Bee, 7 years4 years ago
Lavender and rosemary - two beautiful and versatile oils to use in aromatherapy
Aromatherapy

The true essence of aromatherapy

What is the true essence of aromatherapy?  A complicated question and one that is difficult to define in a single post, but here is my very simple explanation.  As I said yesterday, it’s all about the vibes! Aromatherapy is a beautiful and Read more…

By Bee, 7 years4 years ago
Leaf hearts
Aromatherapy

Love bombs from ancient times

I’ve been re-reading a lot of my aromatherapy books recently and while spending a comfy few hours with Marguerite Maury’s Guide to Aromatherapy I came across this: “The famous love potion of Tristan and Isolde was composed of extracts of frangipani, Read more…

By Bee, 7 years4 years ago
Collecting leaves to make into compost – a good soil improver or mulch.
France Photography

Elizabeth’s top ten autumn activities

I always love autumn, but this year more than usual.  This year I feel like I’m living autumn, not just seeing it from a distance like I did when I was in the city.  This year it’s right on my doorstep.  Read more…

By Bee, 7 years4 years ago
Lavandula angustifolia, sometimes called true lavender, has many uses in aromatherapy
Aromatherapy

My top five essential oils

As an aromatherapist I’m currently in possession of around 50 different essential oils.  It’s great for me to have such a large choice at my fingertips and gives me endless combinations to cover a variety of needs.  But what if Read more…

By Bee, 7 years4 years ago
My reflection through an old window with cobwebs galore
France Photography

Hello, it’s me

Sometimes pictures do speak louder than words.  Here is a little snapshot of me and my life…..

By Bee, 7 years4 years ago
Fresh homemade lemon curd on toast – delicious
Recipes

Lemon curd recipe

After my previous blog post on lemons I was asked for the recipe for my lemon curd, so for all lemon curd lovers out there, this is the one I use! You will need: 4oz/125g butter (I use non-salted) 6oz/175g Read more…

By Bee, 7 years4 years ago
Lovely tangy homemade lemon curd
Aromatherapy

Reasons to LOVE lemons

Yesterday I was making lemon curd.  Extra tart and tangy!  It’s rather good I have to say (see photo) and I don’t think it’s going to last very long.  If you have ever been to a café with me for a piece Read more…

By Bee, 7 years4 years ago
Lavender products for sale in a Provence market
Aromatherapy

What’s your potential?

“Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”  Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh (A.A.Milne) I saw this quote recently and, remembering my younger Winnie the Pooh years, Read more…

By Bee, 7 years4 years ago
About to go over the edge – snowboarding in the Alps
Contemplation

Feeling the fear?

I was recently asked an interesting question through an online blogging course and I wanted to share my thoughts as part of my first ever blog post.  So here it is: Do you fear not reaching your dreams? No, not at all, Read more…

By Bee, 7 years4 years ago

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