Filling the World with Love

Looking through old journals and photo albums from India recently, I came across some words spoken by Mother Teresa that I had written down, and that have profoundly affected my mindset about what a career is (or should be):

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"To the cast of a musical performance in Calcutta, I said: your work and our work complete each other. What we are doing is needed in the world as never before. You are giving them joy by your action, and we are doing the same by service. And it is the same action whether you are singing and dancing and we are rubbing and scrubbing. You are filling the world with the love God has given you." 

[Mother Teresa]

I love this mindset, because it stops you from thinking too much about your sense of obligation, duty, or guilt, and frees your mind to focus on identifying, strengthening, and acting on the particularly wonderful, unique, powerful set of blessings and talents you've received.

Because, at the end of the day, sharing those talents is how you're going to spread the most love around this crazy world, right? Not by doing what you feel obligated to do, but by doing what you were put on this very earth to do, since you've already been given everything you need to make it happen.

PS - shouldn't we all take a cue from the Missionaries of Charity and paint "God Bless You" on our car/truck bumpers?







As always, more photos on Tumblr and Instagram. :)

[Photos taken by Ann Howell Brown in India, 2009.]

The Creative Process: Sun in the Morning + Moon at Night

Morning sunlight in my apartment is blindingly beautiful -- maybe not always welcome when I'm trying to sleep in, but it's hard to get mad at something so pure, bright, and cheerful.







I've created two small pieces for Imagined Art, both reflecting on the ways that the sun and the moon shape our moods, feelings, and relationships: "Sun in the Morning" and "Moon at Night."

And if you're interested, you can see a short, six-second clip of "Moon at Night" being painted right here.

These pieces are much smaller than what I normally gravitate towards, and it was quite fun figuring out how to fit so many letters and colors into such a compact space.

In terms of putting art in a home, I think that a well-placed, tiny, unexpected pop of art can have just as much of an impact in a space as an oversized work. I'm also really drawn to gallery-like clusters of small pieces, like here and here... and then, I see large, single statement pieces, like here, here, or here and come to the conclusion that floor-to-ceiling art, of all shapes and sizes and styles and colors, is probably the most ideal option. :) What's your style  -- big art, small art, or both?

For more information on these works, visit Imagined Art.

PS -- more art-in-the-home inspiration here and here!

[All photos and content by Ann Howell Brown, 2013]

Rug in the Room

Remember the rug Instagram from this color post? Well, I convinced myself that I needed this rug, and it has totally lived up to its promise to make winter in my apartment cheerier and brighter. My feet are a thousand times happier since they can feel this rug every morning. :)







































Rug from World Market (similar one here); bedskirt is an Indian sari that I repurposed; quilt is an heirloom from my mother's side of the family; "Every Day I Love You" collage is from my Imagined Art collection.


[All photos and content by Ann Howell Brown, 2013]

Frosty Mornings, Frosty Paint

A calm, cool balance to all the super-saturated color festivity exploding in my recent consciousness, don't you think?

In the face of these freezing temperatures, I've been desperately trying to find ways to stay WARM, and to remind myself that winter, besides being the most miserable season ever, does have some beautiful parts: snowflake frost on my windshield; blustery winter clouds; warm glowy windows; the calmness of black and white winter palettes.

Also, I'm telling myself that we wouldn't have this video if it we didn't have winter:



Hope it's warmer where you are, and cheers to an impending and lovely spring. :)

[Polar bear GIF from Tumblr. All other photos and content by Ann Howell Brown, 2013.]

Rainbow Weekend Favorites

The most amazing pig chandelier at NOFO @ the Pig...



New rug from World Market (I think it's made from strips of Indian sari fabric), which now has a home brightening the floor beside my bed.



Remnants from face painting at my elementary school's Valentine's Day Dance...



Rainbow chard that's going in this soup for dinner...



Jamming out with the Asbury Jukes at the Carolina Theatre in Durham.

PS -  Not sure who Renee is, but her hair, Southside's sunglasses, and this video sure are magical.

PPS - This song, too.

[All photos and content by Ann Howell Brown, 2013]

Bits of Hearts

Happy St. Valentine's Day to you! 

Hearts of all shapes and sizes are surrounding me today: a sweet heart-shaped refrigerator magnet from my awesome and talented friend Betsy...

...a grubby conversation heart pulled out of a pocket and lovingly presented to me by one of my kindergarteners...
































...love and Carolina basketball...



...and most of the pink things in my closet + sparkly heart shoe clips.

Oh, and obviously John Lennon.

xo

[All photos and content by Ann Howell Brown, 2013]

The Creative Process: Hey Babe

When any North Carolinian is struck with a fiery, gorgeous, baby blue sky, no matter where we are, we're up and gone to Carolina (even if just in our minds). If you're a follower of my Instagram feed, you've probably seen my obsession with sunrises, sunsets, and the sky in general. (See also here and here.)

I think much of this obsession is directly linked to James Taylor and my blood as a North Carolinian -- no matter where I am, or what I'm doing, when I see that big blue Carolina sky above me, I'm reminded of home, family, warmth, safety, and endless possibilities in a gigantic world. 

My latest piece for Imagined Art is born out of this. 

"There ain't no doubt in no one's mind 

That love's the finest thing around, 

Whisper something soft and kind. 

Hey babe, the sky's on fire, 

I'm dying, ain't I? 

Gone to Carolina in my mind."

-James Taylor

Visit my Etsy shop for more information on purchasing "Hey Babe" or any of my other artworks.

PS - have you ever heard of Vine App? I'm still getting the hang of it! Check out a short, 6-second video of the styling of "Hey Babe" here, if you'd like! (Make sure you click the little sound icon in the bottom left corner of the video so you can hear the sound:)

Materials used: watercolor paper, acrylic, pen and ink, recycled grocery bags, thrifted frame. 

[All photos and artwork by Ann Howell Brown, 2013. Song lyrics by James Taylor.]