Kelly Rae Roberts's Blog, page 18

Here we go again!

You guys.

I'm so excited to announce that I'll be running a second session of my painting e-course Hello Soul, Hello Mixed Media Mantras. 

OMGoodness! Like, big time. 


My heart is still totally gobsmacked by the reaction to the first class that I ran in February. It was quite possibly the most fulfilling thing I've ever done. From a teaching standpoint, it was a perfect marriage of my social work sensibilities/training with all that I've ever learned about painting and what it means to show up on the canvas, and for ourselves. I loved it. 

And the best part? My students loved it, too. The testimonials still pour in each week. Major gratitude. 

Because I’m expecting lots of gorgeous souls (hello, tribe!) who will want to embark on this journey with me for the second run of the class, I’ve created a wait list!


If you’d like to be the first to know when registration opens (and receive a 25% discount for class tuition), please click here to join the list. Registration will launch the first week in August and our virtual classroom doors will open on Monday, September 8th. IMPORTANT: Only those who join the wait list will receive the option to get 25% off tuition, so please be sure to join. 

Let Art Out. Let Love In.
You can learn all the details on exactly what the course is about, how long it is, etc. right here, but the most important thing I can say about this course is this: this is not just a painting/how-to e-course. Yes, we'll learn a million how-to's when it comes to painting. Yes, the student work (actual paintings) coming out of this course are stunning. But there is as much a personal growth/soul work component to this class as there is a painting component. And this alignment of the two, well, it's been total magic for all involved. And don't get me started about the community and the connections that form between students ---> Life. Changing.

Because it's true: when we let art out, we let love in.




Thanks, friends! I'm so looking forward to diving in with another group of students. Something tells me it's going to be amazing. 

XO! 
LOVE FROM HELLO SOUL, HELLO MIXED MEDIA MANTRA STUDENTS:
Below is a sampling of testimonials from my amazing students who have taken the class. I’m so grateful for their taking the time to send over a little kindness. You can see more testimonials here. 
********
Thank you for spending so much time bringing mindfulness, intention and spiritual development to your course Kelly Rae, it is EXACTLY what I was hoping to find in an art class, because it’s not just an art class, it’s evolving my creativity as a mindfulness practice, WHICH I LOVE!
I am writing mainly to thank you for what I see happening to your students and the effect this course has on us that is far deeper than paint on a canvas. The ‘creativeness’ of this course is beyond describing.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: your painting class changed my life. I don’t think I can even describe how good it feels to finally be tapped into the inner artist that’s been trying to get out for decades!
I’ve taken many different classes and no one has EVER given of herself like Kelly Rae.
My nine year old daughter and I are having a great time with the lessons, which are so easy to follow. Thanks for doing this class!
Just doing part 1 was inspiring, and made me feel as if I just had a full session with a master life coach. 
I am so very excited about this process! To be able to move my mantra out of my head and onto paper and then canvas is such a welcome release.

construction zone of life

Been thinking lately about the seasons of our lives when we are building something worthwhile - it takes so much effort, no? Even when it's in total alignment and flow, it's never easy. And how about how it often feels like we are in debris fields while we deconstruct so that we can construct? That's where I'm at right now as I know so many of us are. On those especially hard days, I've been reminding myself that I'm in a construction zone season of life. I've been here on/off for years, but this latest build? Well, it feels big and the learning curve is rich, both in life and in biz. I'm really grateful. And I'm a bit worn out. And I'm deeply excited about what will become. Through it all I'm working hard at trusting the process and holding a ton of space around the possibilities of all that is being built and constructed.


You know how the universe sends you little messages and life preservers every now and again - signs that you are exactly where you're supposed to be, heading exactly where you're meant to go? I cannot tell you how much this has been happening to me lately - super reminiscent of 2006-2008 for me when this happened so regularly I began to wonder what the heck was going on and if I was really seeing these signs or if I was just nutty. The truth is is that I was just tuned in, and those years changed my life and set the stage for many years that followed (creative growth, booming art biz, all those small steps, etc). The same is happening now and I'm trying to collect, and fiercely hold onto these messages in whatever capacity they arrive. I got one the other day when Nichole (my new employee - can't wait to introduce her later) emailed the above paragraph from this book at the exact time Betsy (my biz mgr) and I were having this exact discussion. This. THIS is why the construction zone - in my life and in my heart. I am building, friends. A team. A new foundation. A way to get these passion projects and ideas that have been in my heart for years out into the world now - without doing it alone, without sacrificing too much sleep, without the cycle of burnout. Good stuff. 
I'm so very excited and feel as if I'm learning something really important that will serve me in so many ways. I'm stepping deeper into my nature, learning how to be a boss, and harnessing all of my go power into the process vs the end product/offering. This is all really new to me yet I can sense how it all relates to bringing spirit and body together. I am, like, totally in awe and truly astonished at all the gems that live in the construction zone seasons of life. 

Around Here Lately

(Definitely adding this to the heart collection. )
I've been out of my blog writing practice. Really miss it. Really gonna try and get back to it. I think Instagram  swallowed me up, but I very much miss the practice of writing and thinking and dreaming here in this space. In so many ways, this is home for me, this blog, and I wanna come home :)
Here's a little peek into life around here lately.....




I celebrated my 39th birthday a few weeks ago! True and John took me out for pancakes at Slappy Cakes (super fun PDX restaurant where you can make your own pancakes with all sorts of toppings), and then I spent a couple of hours at the spa. Hello, relaxation. 
So far, I love being 39. I have a real sense that this is going to be a big integration year for me. More in my skin, in my body, in my power, in my possibilities. I'm excited to see how it all unfolds, and just crazy grateful to be here. I hope to have another 39 years. I really, really do. 




Had the most amazing breakfast recently with Lynx at my new favorite Portland cafe. Dear, Sweedeedee, you are my restaurant soulmate. For those of you in Portland, this place is like the restaurant version of Tumbleweed boutique (my fave store in Portland). Speaking of soul mates, so fortunate to have Lynx as one of mine. We can talk motherhood, art, business, spirit, and so much more for hours. Love her.  

I flew down to CA for a super quick trip last week. I spent part of it visiting old friends Mati and Andrea. We ate and talked, ate and talked allllllll day. Love these girls like sisters. And I miss them, dearly. Both doing and living amazing things - inspired. 



I spent the other half of my trip retreating with Betsy (new biz manager) in Inverness. What a gorgeous little spot on Earth. So peaceful and soooo California! While there, I tended to my business, my purpose, and what I want to offer up for others but also for myself. I am so very inspired and excited about what lies ahead and am so grateful for the time out to reassess and reevaluate. I love this journey I am on, and am so very grateful for Betsy who is helping me revive, restructure, and imagine all the possibilities. As much as I love my job, I think I'm about to love it even more.



Speaking of amazing women, Lilla was in town recently and we had an afternoon to visit. We ate, lounged, shopped, and gabbed, and maybe even dreamed up a secret project. How is it that I have the most extraordinary women in my life? Anyway, I kinda wanna be her when I grow up. Wanna know something crazy? In the shower I thought it would be a good idea to put a glue stick in my purse so I could collage in my journal on the go. Then, unbelievably, that very same day Lilla pulled out a glue stick during our lunch for her on-the-go scrapbook art journal! Hello, flow and synchronicity.



I'm trying on some new ways of working, creatively, and it feels really good. I'm not finding a ton of time to get to my home studio lately, but all the unpacking and decorating the new house is fueling my creative well. I'm noticing that the creative practice of being fearless applies to decorating as much as it applies to the canvas. I was stuck there for awhile after we moved in, but it's starting to flow now, and it feels really wonderful. I'll do a big house update super soon with progress shots! 



Did I tell you we got a teal couch? Photos coming soon, but it's safe to say someone else is digging the new couch, too. Bella dog just turned 14yrs old. She's recently deaf and has survived all of her 14 years with VonWillibrands disease (similar to hemophilia) along with some other issues. These days, she mostly sleeps, lounges, and begs for food. She's an oldie, but goodie. 

More soon! 
XO
Kelly Rae

Food Changes Everything

In honor of Lacy's last week working for me (we are SO going to miss her), I bring you her final  Food Changes Everything post. Over the last year or so, she has used this series to share some of her wisdom with you - everything from delicious green smoothie recipes to how to make those hard, but life-affirming small step changes around food. Lacy didn't always take care of herself. And neither have I. Luckily, she changed her food habits which changed her life. And I've been learning, through her, how, in fact, food changes everything.
See all posts in this series here.You can find out more about Lacy on her website. 

Just like your spirit, your physical body speaks to you all the time in sweet little whispers. A twinge here, an ache there. It's that feeling that you get before you eat something you know will not sit well in your belly. When the whispers are ignored, your body will speak to you a bit louder. I call it a nudge, like a dog sticking it's nose under your hand. You know he wants more love, but you have a million things to do so you pat him on the head and go back to what you were doing. You've been there, right? Me too. Profound sickness, chronic pain and disease are whispers turned shouts, turned full on tantrums in the body.

It's not too late to start listening. There's always room to invite more awareness and mindfulness into your life and your body. It starts by doing one kind thing for yourself. Some days that's going to the movies or to getting a mani/pedi. Some days it's preparing food that is life-giving and beautiful.

This salad is on repeat at our house right now. It's fresh, beautiful and the dressing is so good you're going to want to pour it over everything! The recipe makes extra so you can. :)



Raw Summer Salad with Basil Shallot Vinaigrette
*Gluten-free *Dairy-free *Vegan *Raw

Serves: 2+

Basil Shallot Vinaigrette Ingredients
• 1 cup fresh basil leaves
• 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 2 tbsp maple syrup (or raw honey)
• 1 tsp spicy mustard
• 1/2 large shallot
• 1/2 tsp salt
• pepper to taste



Directions
Place all ingredients in high speed blender and mix until liquid.

Raw Summer Salad Ingredients
• 2 ears corn, cut corn kernels off cob
• 1 cucumber, thinly slice and quarter
• 1 cup grape tomatoes, quartered
• 1/2 red onion, minced
• 1/2 avocado

Directions
Mix well, add pepper to taste. Toss with Basil Shallot Vinaigrette and serve.

Dressing will keep in the fridge for 3 – 5 days.
Salad is best enjoyed within 1 – 3 days.

Remember that gentleness is your very best friend in this journey to finding more balance in your life and body. Learning to listen to your body and respond with gentleness will turn into tremendous peace. Veggies are a really wonderful support tool to use along the way. There are loads more recipes to support your beautiful body on the journey over here. 

Keep going, you've got this!

With love,
Lacy

Back in love with Rumi

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice. Meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes. Because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.
--Rumi

******

I am falling back in love with Rumi. Reminds me of the early days of being 20 something. When I spent time with my journal, my books, my spirit. I'm finding my way back to those pockets and it feels like home.

Be grateful for whatever comes. Because each has been sent as a guide from beyond. 

 Truth. I'm grateful for all of it. And I'm so back in love with Rumi.

XO! 

Celebrate Love to Nourish Your Soul

Each week, I shine a spotlight on a few creations that I'm particularly proud of.  May you be inspired - and perhaps find a little something to nourish your soul.  Click here to see all the posts in this series. 

If there's one thing I trust it's that love always wins. Here are a few of our very favorite products that celebrate that truth. 

This manifesto is for anyone who believes in living a joy-filled life through struggles, triumphs and all the moments in between. It's my favorite of our big 18x24 wall manifestos. You an see them all here.  Get the one above right here.
ps: Prefer a smaller version for your wall? This one also comes as an 8x10 signed and matted print right  here. 


Of all our new figures this one is my favorite. It's her message, the flowers in her hair, the sweet birdie... well, all of it! You can find here for purchase online here. 

Our cuffs have been a favorite for two years now (holy cow!). This one still makes me smile every time I see it. You can get yours here.  Or check out all the other cuffs here. 


Wooden and gorgeous! We think these new wooden sculpts make a thoughtful addition to any desk, bookshelf or hang them on the wall! This "Love" one is a nice sized piece at 18 inches wide and 7 inches tall! Love sculpture is Available for purchase here. 
Want more LOVE? Get ready, here's a huge selection of all of our products that are love-filled. 
XO!


Thanks, friends. Our mission is to continue to create products that blend creativity with meaning, beauty with function. I so love what I do.
Warmly,
Kelly Rae
PS: The products featured above (and more) are sold online via Garden Gallery (a local shop here in the Portland area), but if you're looking for signed/matted prints and/or originals, you can get these in my online shop.  International customers, Garden Gallery is HAPPY to ship worldwide. Please email them at gardengalleryorders@gmail.com to get started. 

Rise And Sunshine

There is a morning inside you waiting to burst open into Light. ~Rumi
(New prints of this lovely one have been added to the shop. I love the birdie's heart-shaped wing. It arrives signed, matted, and ready to frame)
Each morning when True wakes up he yells from his bed, "RISE AND SUNSHINE!!!!!" It's his way of saying "Hey, parents, I'm up. Let's get this thing started." And I love it so much. So much. I'm always so amazed by how he never seems to wake up in a bad mood. How is this possible? He certainly has his off days, but he always starts the day chipper. 
I've been listening to Brene's CD series on vulnerability (it's a once or twice a year listen for me - perfect for commuting) and there's a part in it where she talks about how so many of us go to bed with our last thought being "I didn't get enough done today" and we wake up with our first thought being "I didn't get enough sleep." This really rang true for me, and something I'm consciously practicing unlearning by paying attention to what I'm telling myself as I fall asleep and as I wake up. Really powerful.
And so. Being awoken to True's chipper "rise and sunshine!!" is in total alignment to that practice and it's helping me make the lane change in my head from lack to full - and I felt compelled to create a piece inspired by his little morning mantra. I kind of love that it's the morning version of this recent nighttime piece, also inspired by True. 
Thanks, True. You. Are. Sunshine.XO

ART IN MOTION :: Loved + Grateful

With Art in Motion, I share the visual journey through the life of one of my paintings — from the blank canvas, to the first splash of inspiration, all the way to the finished piece. Enjoy to the fullest!
Click here to see all the posts in this ongoing project series.



For this one, I started with a painted and textured background that I created while teaching my painting e-course. One of my favorite things to do is to make a bunch of background and then use them later when I have a more complete painting idea. For this one, I grabbed the already painted/textured background, then drew a couple of heads, gesso'd the faces, and then randomly patchwork collaged what would become their bodies. 


I used the Shiva oil paint sticks (product links below) to fill in their faces and my Stabilo pencil for more sketching of hair and bodies. 
I added some green paint to the bottom of the piece, and some fluid acrylic (transparent) paint over the collaged area. Next, I played around with some collage placement but couldn't decide if I wanted the leaf wings vs the butterfly wings. Sometimes I'll snap a iphone photo of both options and take a look at them on my camera roll, side by side - ALWAYS helpful. In this case, I did that and I also posted the side by side image Instagram and Facebook for opinions. SUPER FUN. Love how opinionated everyone was and it was definitely a 50/50 response. 


In the end, I went with the wings...


Added a few meaningful words......

And called it done and done. Love how this one turned out. They are all such stories and chapters in the unfolding of my life....

Signed, matted print available here.
Thank you guys. I hope you enjoyed a peek into the process!XO,
Kelly Rae

ps: I get so many questions about which art supplies I use and love. You can check out my favorite supplies for making art  (with descriptions) over here or if it's easier, I've put some easy links below for you :)

Tabletop Easel Canvas Boards Golden Fluid Acrylics Spray Bottle Liquitex Soft Body Acrylics Brayer Gel Medium (Gloss) Stabilo Pencils (Black) Gesso Shiva Oil Paintstiks Alphabet Stamps Alphabet Stencils Face Color Pitt Pens White Sharpie Paint Pin (fine tip) Black Pitt Pens Ott light Heat Gun Stencils My Book (Taking Flight)InLinkz.com

Around Here Lately

I have this sticker on my computer - big reminder for me these days as I'm in the midst of big transition, both personally and professionally. Did I tell you I hired a business manager? It's making a really big difference for me in the realm of focus, clarity, and management of all the moving parts of what I do. Over the years as I've grown my business, I've been really good at following my heart, but as I add new and exciting exits and roads to the large highway that is all things KRR, I have sometimes felt lost and a tiny bit directionless. It hasn't necessarily been a bad thing as wandering (and leaping!) from exit to exit and road to road is an essential part of the process, and it's always been so good to me. But I'm noticing I need a bit more help finding my way back to the main highway if you will (the bigger vision/mission), as well as concretely defining the new exits and paths that I want to take. I'm ready for the next big step, and I can feel myself slowly and consciously inching my way there, and getting clarity along the way. All such good stuff, good musings, good planning - but it's definitely a process that is taking time. And I'm so grateful for the help. 

Meanwhile, my right hand girl Lacy, is leaving her position at KRR (waaa!) and setting off on a big adventure of her own (which is why I posted the job earlier this week. As much a I hate to see her go, I'm so learning that it all unfolds for our highest good. Lacy is meant to go and grow and take her big leap. And she is meant to go precisely at the time that I'm doing the same. But man, am I ever going to miss her!



Speaking of big transitions.....they continue! On the house front, I'm happy to report that we finally unpacked the last box from our move a couple of days ago! There's definitely a lot still left to do, but we're really loving how it's all coming together. Between work and family and wanting to squeeze out every morsel of all this amazing weather we're having in Portland lately (priorities!), getting the new digs totally unpacked, decorated, and settled often feels like we're crawling a mountain at a snail's pace. We're taking our time, though, I can't wait to share the room tours. We bought a new couch, and friends, it's TEAL. I love sharing small updates as we go over on Instagram (my fave). 

I had my chart read recently. Have you ever done that? FACINATING and incredibly, and I mean incredibly accurate and insightful. I learned so much about myself, or rather it was more like a confirmation and explanation of why I am the way I am. I feel quite grounded in who I am, yet I left feeling like I made so much more sense to myself, like I was given a giant celestial permission slip that I was built and meant to do and be certain things, struggle with really specific things, have tension in some parts of my life, coast in others. It's was SO specific, so accurate, I was left in awe.

I'm in a huge self-development learning curve at the moment, so one of the things I loved about it was that it gave me really good insight on how I can maximize, and really lean into trusting certain parts of myself while also seeing and understanding the blindspots. I found it to be 100% amazing. I've never done anything like this before, yet I keep finding myself saying YES to things like this, to being open, to exploring. And all those yeses are leading to learnings that deeply resonated with what I know to be true. 
I have to be honest. I used to think that people who did these things (anything under the woo woo category) were searching for something that was missing. But now I'm seeing it as discovering in a deeper way not what is missing, but what is and has always been there. It's about self development, self care, self awareness. It's about  uncovering, unlearning, untangling down to our truest of trues, our nature, our essence. I love this particular part of the seeker's path. I love the interior wide open spaces not yet explored, waiting to be discovered. Yes, yes, yes. 




The three of us took a little vacation to Hawaii to celebrate John's 40th. It was the perfect amount of relaxing, family adventures, time with friends, alone time. I especially loved that True and I fell asleep each night around 8pm and woke up around 630. BLISS. So wish I could do that in my real life. So grateful for this man and all of his 40 years. How adorbs is he?


More soon! Big xo's to you.Kelly Rae

PS: Can we please talk about Rob Lowe? I loved his first book, and now his latest is the perfect ending to my days. I just really love the way he tells stories. I was never a big fan before I read his books, but now I'm totally going back and watching his films and shows. Love him. 

I'm hiring - gotta live in Portland, OR!

Friends, I'm hiring. Are you my girl/guy? Click here for full job description/posting and instructions on how to apply. Please note: this job is based in Portland, OR. 
THANK YOU! Crossing my fingers that the right person is out there!