Life of an artist
Today I’m continuing the series on who inspires me I started a few weeks ago now. When I first introduced you to my friend and amazing artist Amanda Deshane. I’m going to introduce you to a remarkable woman named Arna Baartz. She’s an incredible artist, writer, poet, and entrepreneur. So I’ll give you a little backstory of how our friendship came to be.
I first encountered Arna on Facebook when I came across her page I Am for kids. I was taken with her passion for making art, encouraging children, and raising her own family of 8 talented children. I was blessed enough to receive her online self help course I am Change. At the time I was a year into my grief journey, of losing my one and only Mom. I was suffering and I had just moved, and left everything I knew and loved behind. I was living in a hotel with my 2 small children and supporting my husbands career. It was a very difficult time for me, and I prayed that God would help me to heal. Then my prayers were answered and there was Arna with her program! I can’t thank her enough for sending me the I am change program. It literally changed my life, I was so stuck in rigid beliefs, grief, and I became my own worst enemy. My kids were so full of vibrant energy, and their tender hearts were hurting watching me spiral into depression. My oldest son was only 5 and trying to find his identity and making new friends, while leaving old ones behind. My baby was only 10 months old and they both needed their Mom to he happy, healed, and whole again. After I took the course I began to change for the better. I made efforts to make friends, attend playgroup, and become involved in my sons school. What I learned brought back that shining light in my children’s eyes and here I am to pay it forward. So on with the interview for the gorgeous Arna!
The artist’s world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep. ~Paul Strand
The world expands according to experience, a brushstroke is an experience ~ Arna Baartz
*All images and poetry courteous is Arna Baartz at www.kundalini.com*
Q- As an artist what gives you passion to create?
A- My deep desire to understand life is what has always driven my artistic expression , I can’t stop asking questions and art helps me answer them.
Q- Do you have a muse, music or other artists work, that inspires you to give birth to your creation?
A- Every moment offers a spark that acts as my muse… If I become present in this moment I am immediately inspired by the quality of whatever I am experiencing , sometimes music, sometimes people sometimes the sun. ?
Q- What gives you joy in your life and how does this translate into your work?
A- Everything has the potential to bring me joy, even deep grief ironically so, it translates into my work through the need to express the dichotomy and oneness I feel around me.
Q- Who is your biggest influence in your life, professionally and personally?
A- My father is a huge influence his thoughtfulness and true artistic nature. My mother is a love beast so she is also hugely influential in my quest to BE love.
Q- Have you been professionally trained, or is your gift, something you were born with?
A- I have trained at so many things but art was never one of them! It is something I have always done and used to help me explore life.
Q- What is your favourite medium to work with?
A- Professional acrylic but I love all medium. ?
Q- What is your favourite painting that you’ve done? And were you able to list it for sale?
A- Yes, it’s called Never the form and is a very large acrylic on canvas.
Q- Talk to me about Kundalini yoga. How does it help with your work?
A- I do a little of everything not kundalini yoga as such . My ideas around kundalini are about surrender into whatever energy you’re experiencing in the moment. This can be my yoga, martial arts, art, or meditating and so on. How this helps in my art is to encourage the flow and release of energy into the literal piece. Which in turn offers the viewer a unique opportunity to experience or trigger an awareness and healing.
Q- Besides being an incredible artist what are your other passions in life?
A- Martial arts, parenting, poetry, spiritual development, quantum physics, and connection.
Q- What makes your soul sing, and your spirit smile?
A- Remembering that I am one with all that is. Connecting truly with life and the beings here with me, seen and unseen.
Q- Tell me about where you live and how that location inspires you to create?
A- I live in the perfect place, in a rainforest that is on a mountain which is in a valley 15 minutes from the ocean. Perfect weather surrounded by opportunities to love. I live in a world of appreciation and joy. I live in paradise, It is safe and beautiful. And I’m surrounded by family, wildlife, ocean mountains. Greenery everywhere, wonderful open deserts. Truly a wondrous place, everywhere I look I see something to be fascinated by. And that is satisfying and exciting thing for me and for my art practice.
Q- Tell me about what makes you tick? Do you have a ritual you participate in before you’re drawn to create a masterpiece?
A- Not really, all I need to do is ask myself “would I like to draw right now?” And I get a yes feeling mostly sometimes a no so then I do something else!
Q- Can you list some of favourite things that you love?
A- My 8 children. Haha. ?
Q- What is your hope for anyone that is fortunate to own your artwork? As I’m one of those blessed people. ❤️
A- That they feel the true intention behind it in a profound and healing way. The intention if deep and utter love and connection to all that is.
Q- Being intuitive, do you connect with the meaning behind what you paint before or after it’s complete?
A- As I am painting I get all sorts of answers that are subject to change as I evolve …. Sometimes I see a painting I did five yes ago and am filled with new insight.
Q- What inspires you, and gives the desire to express yourself?
A- Everything! Sometimes a frustrated feeling inside pushes me to begin and I feel free by the end of the work. ?
Q- Who is your favourite author? What kind of books do you like to read?
A-I love reading stories, human interest stories, I love poetry too. I don’t have a favourite author I love lots of different authors, books about birth are probably my favourite kind. ?
Q- What do you do to relax and re-energize your body, mind, and spirit.
A- Make art! Swim at the beach
watch movies, or do nothing that’s usually the most effective for me.
Q- Please describe to me what Kundalini means? And what definition does it represent in your life and art?
A- Kundalini to me is the energy that is who we really are. Kundalini flows through us, is us at all times. Due to fear and learned behaviour I believe we resist it and have caused ourselves to close up . When we become more confident about being present we raise our vibration and are able to handle more of our own true energy…. This energy is the energy of all that is, or what we might call God energy. This energy is Who we are , without it we do not exist. My art works best when I am present and allowing this energy to be flowing without resistance.
Thank you beautiful soul Arna for allowing me the pleasure of interviewing you! Here is one of hers and mine favourite poems from her WP site The Silver Poet.
http://silverpoetry.wordpress.com
My Heart Pocket
Little things,
that fit
in the deepest spots
the sweetest spots.
Big things that shouldn’t and can’t but do,
things bigger than even I.
And now with the rushing and flooding
of life gathering under the crown,
of gems past, present and
tomorrow’s sun,
alongside the shoving and pooling
of desperate rust and magenta survival,
there is a tinkling and a thudding,
a shining and a burrowing.
A pyramid of sugar
of slowly melting crystal
beneath
my upturned gaze.
Here are the ways to reach Arna on social media.
—
I AM Change ~Online
The Art Of Kundalini www.artofkundalini.com
Visit The I AM Program www.iamprogram.com
I AM For Kids on FaceBook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/I-AM-For-Kids/126054554144110
Poetry
http://silverpoetry.wordpress.com
Follow Arna on Twitter
@arnabaartz
And so my dear readers I pose this question to you from Arna. “What would fall out if the heart were a pocket, and we were each turned upside down?”
This has been a joyful collaboration with the exquisite Arna Baartz at
www.artofkundalini.com. Please explore her website and support an amazing talent. ❤️
