• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Books
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Art
  • Cassandra Arnold
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
Cassandra Arnold

Cassandra Arnold

Author

Imagining Something Better

June 25, 2020 by Cassandra Arnold Leave a Comment

Well, hard to know even where to begin to talk about the world right now…

I used this quote from J K Rowling in the beginning of my novel The Greenleaf Project: 

We do not need magic to change the
world, we carry all the power we need
inside ourselves already: we have the
power to imagine better

I think that is where we need to start. There is ever worsening injustice and inequality in our culture, and it is right and necessary to fight against that.  BUT, and it is a big but, what do offer in its place?

Beyond the trite approaches of politics, we need a new vision, one that excites us enough to lure us out of our comfort zones and get us to take action.

We can all be a part of this. Some of you might believe in the power of prayer or a universal energy field to make a difference, others might be of a more pragmatic disposition, either way, we need a vision of the world we would like to inhabit. 

Do you have one yet? 

What helps you see and feel and long for and work toward it?

I know I have so many new resources to help me become a stronger part of the change. Let me know if you want any links!

golden landscape

Clearly, books are part of the answer for me! I love fantasy, and here are two I recommend this month.

Debut Novel from a Jamaican Author

I was lucky enough to get an Advanced Review Copy for this, can’t wait for the next one to come out next month. 

Does reading about being a hero inspire you to be braver in real life? Click the image to see on Amazon and help her launch her career.

Snarky funny very short stories

Time for some Covid-19 sized relaxation? Wake up with wings? Accidentally find a portal? 
Read for free by clicking here to sign up for her newsletter, or find this and her other books on Amazon to read the Look Inside sample.

I was a guest on a Podcast for the first time this month, with Victoria Smith from Girl Tries Life. You can listen and read the show notes here:

https://www.girltrieslife.com/category/podcast/

We talked for an hour and covered all kinds of topics! She has so many great episodes there, from self care to activism to parenting. I encourage you to check them out.

Girl Tries Life

Providing tangible, actionable tips to lead your most vibrant life


My non-fiction highlight of the month was Fungal biologist Merlin Sheldrake discussing his book, ‘Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds and Shape Our Futures’ (Random House), with bestselling writer Helen Macdonald, author of ‘H is for Hawk’.

You can watch it here on Youtube: 

Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds and Shape Our Futures

They know each other which made for a very relaxed and humorous approach.


I would love to hear about what you have been exploring and discovering recently. Any great insights about the world? Good books? Movies? 

Until next month,

Cassandra

Another painting to inspire you… a different style this time, mixed media on birch panel.

Surf’s up! Byron Bay

Filed Under: Newsletter Tagged With: books, fiction, non-fiction

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Join my Newsletter

And get a heartwarming story in your inbox right away

cassandra_art_and_stories

Day 15 of #21daysinmyartworld
How do we name ...

View
Open
Day 15 of #21daysinmyartworld
How do we name our paintings?
.
Which relates for me to why I paint them. I feel like they are embedded stories that hopefully evoke memories and emotions in the viewer. 
.
#happyartistmovement #paintingtitles #landscapeartist #landscapepainting

cassandra_art_and_stories

Sunday afternoon poetry, hopefully live again ...

View
Open
Sunday afternoon poetry,  hopefully live again next week!
.
Everything nestled and interconnected.  Every tangled thought one breath away from peace.
.
Anyone else experimenting with meditation? I'm starting really small, and loving it.
.
Photo of the cutest baby spruce down by the river this afternoon 
.
#poetsofinstagram #poetsofig #naturepoetry #natureconnection #poetryforhealing #naturephotography #naturephoto

cassandra_art_and_stories

Sometimes the simple ones are mesmerizing.
...

View
Open
Sometimes the simple ones are mesmerizing. 
Day 14 of #21daysinmyartworld, the prompt is either sold... or available!
.
Available on my website,  link in profile.
.
#simplynature #natureinspiredart #lakepainting #galwayireland #galway #acryliconcanvas #acryliclandscape #acryliclandscapepainting #artforsalebyartist #artforyourhome

cassandra_art_and_stories

Day 13 of #21daysinmyartworld .
.
Process ...

View
Open
Day 13 of #21daysinmyartworld .
.
Process insight.. LOL
.
This piece was a fun piece of experimenting.  The best process is total play, BUT I  almost always need something like a show call out to get me motivated. I don't always achieve what I am aiming at, but it's like having a starting point,  the grain of sand that irritates the oyster into making a pearl!
#creativeprocess @taraleaver #mixedmedia #minimalistart #sketchbook#happyartistmovement

cassandra_art_and_stories

Day 12 of #21daysinmyartworld, current motifs.
...

View
Open
Day 12 of #21daysinmyartworld, current motifs.
.
Simplicity and collage... both super appealing right now 
.
#happyartistmovement #artexploration #artistchallenge #creativity #creativeprocess #simplicity #minimalistart #collage #collageart #mixedmediaartist #mixedmediaonpaper

cassandra_art_and_stories

Day 11 of #21daysinmyartworld - a turning ...

View
Open
Day 11 of #21daysinmyartworld - a turning point.
.
It's a never ending journey for me of learning to trust myself in making art. This one had so much paint on and washed off again! 
.
And then I liked it. I  called it Where the Big One Got Away because looks like a tangled fish/line in the water to me. And mysterious elements please me.
.
It was rejected for a show,  but then, you know, someone bought it, which made me deeply happy as it felt risky when I signed and framed it. 
.
So now I am facing new risks in making things that feel true to me.  I bet it's the same for you.
.
#happyartistmovement #acryliclandscapepainting #acryliconcanvas #risktaking #turningpoint #natureinspiredart #fishinglife

cassandra_art_and_stories

Day 9 and 10 of #21daysinmyartworld - a selfie in ...

View
Open
Day 9 and 10 of #21daysinmyartworld - a selfie in my currently too messy to show you yesterday basement/studio🦚
.
I'm in the middle of rearranging the space now inspired by being too embarrassed to show it!
.
#artistselfie
#artiststudio #artiststudios #artistatwork #artspace #artbasement #myartstudio #artforsalebyartist #artforyourhome #acrylicartist #yycartist

cassandra_art_and_stories

Day 8 of #21daysinmyartworld. Today is about ...

View
Open
Day 8 of #21daysinmyartworld. Today is about inspiration, where we get our ideas from.  I took this photo down by the river about a week ago, as it seemed such a great image for something like 'a light bulb moment'. Being in nature helps me relax and enter the creative state.
.
But, actually, it's not often like that for me. I frequently start a blank canvas or paper with a backgound wash and then turn it in all directions to see what it suggests to me, what the painting would like to become. Is it a lake? Mountains? A seascape? An abstract image of a feeling?⁠
.⁠
Alternatively, I see images in my head as I lie in bed at night and then go later to try to make them! Generally, along the way, they might change direction, but it gets me started.⁠
.⁠
Back when I went to live classes (and I really miss that now), I would plan a complicated painting and the teacher would help me inch toward the skills I needed.⁠
.⁠
#artistlife #inspiration #ideas #artideas #abstractartist #landscapeartist #acrylicartist #flow #creativity #happyartistmovement #creativitymatters

cassandra_art_and_stories

Day 7 of #21daysinmyartworld, all about our ...

View
Open
Day 7 of #21daysinmyartworld, all about our preferred colour pallettes. I distinctly remember looking around my house a few months into art class and realizing why I gravitated to orange and blue! If you've seen my Sunday poetry videos, I dress like that too!
.
@taraleaver #colors #colorpalette #colourpalettes #colours #artistcolours #myfavouritecolour #interiordesign #artistlife #artreflections
Follow on Instagram
Cassandra Arnold

Copyright © 2021 - Cassandra Arnold - Privacy and Cookie Policies

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.