It’s been quite some time since my last post on travelling to sunny destinations and I felt inspired to put out some thoughts and images to my readers.

We have all had a turbulent year with the global pandemic as well as our individual personal struggles, however; there is light at the end of this all!

This post will focus on how to be good to yourself, cope with ‘not such great weather’ by creating simulations of sunny places when we are unable to step foot in those idyllic spots. First off, I live in a beautiful part of British Columbia and do not take that for granted by any means, but sometimes the rainy weather makes me feel gloomy. The impact is shared by many who experience neurobiological physical and mental changes when Mother Nature dumps a whammy on them.

Here are some ways to get creative by using all your senses in developing that feeling of warmth and sun that we all crave these days.

I’ve started experimenting with adding colour to my life. How you ask? Simple. Trust your vision and creative juices:

1. Paint on canvas. Who cares that you are not a realist when throwing colour on a palette. Better to be a Salvador Dali than a Gustave Courbet (look him up). The point is not to imitate, but rather, create those sunny destinations you so miss these days.

The Beach and the Seaside: A Source of Artistic Inspiration

“The possibilities are endless when attempting to depict the beach. The seaside is an ever-changing landscape; its consistent motion has made it a great source of inspiration for many artists. This particular theme is well-liked, especially for its artistic beauty and the duality between land and sea. By representing the beach, artists not only practice their art but also share their emotions”.  

If you’re like me, I am drawn to bodies of water and of course, the sun and warm temperatures, so I use these sources of inspiration to paint.

Colour makes me feel like I’m actually there on the beach in Cuba, Mexico, Hawaii, California, Nicaragua (some of my favs) or wherever your sunny place transports you to.

2) Decorate your oasis with scenes or smells of tropical countries. Easy! For example, fruity candles: satsuma orange, pineapple and lemon (careful of the lemon though as it may remind you of a cleaning agent instead of what a lemon truly represents). How about a cocktail or mocktail using colours like red, orange and blue topped off with an adorable umbrella? A perfect size for Ken and Barbie.

3) Grow tropical flowers if you can. It brightens my day when the weather is less than stellar.

4) Get a tattoo. Trust me, the pain of the needle is well worth it when you choose your tropical image.

5) Last, but not least is play, play, play your music.

My final words for today are ‘enjoy the raindrops because they always lead to sunshine and warmth’. Keep dreaming of those sunny destinations and make them a reality.

Until next time.

Julie