"How Can I Keep From Singing" - Original artwork by Lara-Jane Stewart

Artwork details: 
21cm x 29.7cm (A4) on 300gsm 100% cotton Arches watercolour paper 
Mixed media: Watercolour, InkTense pencil, acrylic ink, stabilo pencil, water soluble crayon
 
 
About:
 
This piece is named after the song, "How Can I Keep From Singing", particularly the version of it as performed by Enya. I listen to Enya a lot when I'm creating in the studio, and particularly when I'm deep in the flow with these floral artworks.
 
Her songs, for me, carry the energy of the place from which I'm most often creating - the "sacred garden within". A place that is just a touch heavenly, a touch magical, and yet, still informed by all the material wonder of our realm here on Earth. Filled with blossoms and greenery, plants and animals and all the earth's elements - air, water, fire, earth... and... spirit.
 
This piece, "How Can I Keep From Singing", expresses for me the absolute joy and wonder that flowers inspire in me everyday and always. My response to the beauty and wonder they ignite in my soul is to simply paint them - with all my heart. It is my "moving prayer" if you like, of gratitude and delight.
 
May it bless you as you take in its qualities. It's earthly qualities and it's slightly magical ones too, drawn from the sacred garden within. May it ignite in you, gently or boldly, those feelings of wonder and delight at the beauty of roses and flowers of all kinds; the exquisiteness of these small but mighty offerings of the natural world around us, and indeed, that feeling of not being able to keep from singing.
 
Enjoy xx
 
~ Lara