Phoebe 'Together'

Following your heart isn’t always a journey along a straight, direct path. Sometimes we stray, get distracted and fall back into patterns from the past. I seem to loop backward and forward! However, it’s mostly a forward direction these days, it’s just a case of regaining focus on what truely matters deep down in my soul and of course in my heart. For this I need to find solace. Driving in the country does it for me. There’s something about propelling forward along a country road surrounded by great expanses of space and sky that connects with my soul. Everything becomes clearer and all the stress and worry is literally blown out of the windows. And even though I have my music blaring and I’m singing at the top of my lungs, I feel at peace, I know who I am and what I need to do. Answers and truths come to me while I’m driving… and sometimes a new Phoebe appears.

Phoebe ‘Together’ by Kaz Clarke

TOGETHER

Phoebe was all over the place and just couldn’t seem to get it together. Too many distractions, things to do and places to be had tugged her in so many different directions that she no longer knew if she was coming or going. How much longer could she keep this up? Sometimes you just need to throw caution to the wind, quit the act and start following your heart… x

And remember, always trust your heart… it knows the way.

Kazxo

10 years of Phoebe!

It’s been a while and sooo much has happened… so I thought it was time I did a new Phoebe, especially being Christmas! Then, as I was thinking about snorkels, it hit me… it’s been 10 years since Phoebe first appeared as a rough sketch on paper. In that time she has evolved from a messy headed lost soul finding her way through the dark into a spiritual guru following the path of enlightenment… or is that me?! Thank you Phoebe for all your whimsical wisdom and humorous twists as we found our way back on track. I say ‘we’ because Phoebe is me on the inside - my soul, my inner voice, my true self. Without Phoebe appearing when I needed help, I’m not sure I would have made it this far. She has been my guiding light, the one true thing that sparked my creative spirit and lit it up like a fire cracker.

SO enough of that! Here’s my latest Phoebe… a Christmasy tribute to the very first Phoebe illo I ever did on the 1st of November 2011 which if you’re into number sequences, was 1.11.11. Freaky? Maybe! Or it was meant to be… the beginning of a 10 year journey to find my true self, my heart and happiness. Anyway, here it is… story and all.

Phoebe ‘Good Gracious!’

Phoebe ‘Good Gracious!’

Phoebe was almost unrecognisable in her full PPE which clashed with her pure and simple intentions for Christmas. She had wanted to spread light, love and joy as far wide and as she graciously could, without all the over-indulging in wayward Christmas consumerism, fancy feasting or exhaustive multi-venue socialising. This year was simply about giving from the heart. Unfortunately for Phoebs, this year was also about not giving or spreading (you know what), which complicated everything. If only her goggles would stop fogging up so that she could actually see where she was going… xo

Spreading love and light (not germs) to all this Christmas,
Kazxo

PS. Below is an image of the very first Phoebe illo I did in 2011…

Phoebe ‘Scary’ - The Phoebe that started it all… She’s certainly grown up since then!

Heart & Soul

“In the silence we can hear our souls speak.”

26 Phoebe_Distant_1500px.jpg

I love silence, peace and alone time – it cures everything. It is a blessing. I can hear myself think – it brings a calmness into my world. Early morning is my favourite alone time - it’s my precious “Ah ha!” time when I write and enjoy the best cup of tea ever. It allows me to breathe, clear my head of too many thoughts and prepare for the day ahead. To have a whole day alone is bliss - I’m so thankful for these days.

Right now I feel blessed and happy with who I am and where I am. Can’t imagine being where I was before ever again… I was barely living, just existing. This is my life now – no rushing, just living and being grateful. I’ve finally found the simple life I was dreaming of before, and music that speaks to my heart and soul and keeps me where I need to be.

I love this place – I feel safe and happy here. Finding it was meant to be, even though at the time I didn’t fully know this, but I trusted my gut and took the plunge. Now I know it’s where I’m meant to be right now, for this chapter of my life. Outside my kitchen window there’s a beautiful mountain that whispers to me and tells me the truth of what was before – it connects me to this place, it grounds me. Not far from my door, the countryside calls me to take long drives to loosen any stress that tries to attach itself. It makes me feel free and happy to be alive.

I am so thankful for all the lessons that my old life taught me – they led me here – where a whole new life awaits. This is my time, my life, my true path and my dream come true. I’m thankful for all that I have right now but my life is still a work in progress and there is so much more ahead of me yet… x

Planet Phoebe Friday - 'Hug'

Hmmm... this week has been sooo busy and suddenly its Friday again. Feel like I've forgotten to do something really important... oh that's right! My Planet Phoebe Friday Post! Damn!! Here it is... 

Hug - Sometimes you just need a hug...

Hug - Sometimes you just need a hug...

HUG

Phoebe needed a hug. There was something comforting abut hugs that made everything feel better. A hug could stop her feeling  lonely, comfort her when she was sad, make her feel loved and even make her feel safe. It didn’t need anything else to back it up - a simple hug said it all. And if no one was around and she needed a hug? She could always just hug herself.

Hugs fix everything... xo

Planet Phoebe Friday - 'Butterfly'

This week I'm sharing one of my most precious Phoebe illustrations with you, one I have been holding very close to my heart. In fact, it hasn't seen the light of day until now. It was created last year after a 6 month spell from doing no Phoebe illustrations at all. Sort of a creative coma - an artistic block - I was unable to actually do a finished colour illo. Sounds weird, I know, but just like a writers block, it takes a lot to break through it. This was the magic Phoebe that broke the drought...

BUTTERFLY - Sometimes you just need a little magic...

BUTTERFLY - Sometimes you just need a little magic...

Phoebe felt blah. She was over it, in fact, she was over everything. Nothing seemed to make sense anymore. Even making lists didn’t seem to help. What was her problem? Why was everything such a mess? How did it get this bad? She didn’t even know herself in the mirror anymore. It just made her want to crawl back inside her cocoon and hide, Maybe if she disappeared for a while, someone else would sort it all out. Then she could re emerge like a beautiful butterfly, refreshed and renewed, back into a perfectly sorted life and start again.

Sometimes you just need a little magic to get you through... x

Planet Phoebe Friday - 'Bubble'

Wow! Its Planet Phoebe Friday again? I think I might have missed a couple - its been a crazy busy month. Phoebe on the other hand has been floating around in her own little world...

BUBBLE – "...completely out of touch."

BUBBLE – "...completely out of touch."

Phoebe was having trouble grasping reality. It felt like she was floating in a bubble slightly above the world. She could see the pain and trauma, she could read the words, but she couldn’t hear anything – she was just out of reach. Everything looked surreal. Inside the bubble she couldn’t feel anything. She was numb to reality. But because nothing could get through to her, she couldn’t understand what was going on. It appeared she was completely out of touch.

Stay in touch,
Kazxo

 

 

Planet Phoebe Friday – 'Bounce'

Yay! Its Planet Phoebe Friday! Hope you have some amazing plans for the weekend? If not, get your hair done anyway, at least then you will feel amazing?!

Bounce – Sometimes you just need a haircut...

Bounce – Sometimes you just need a haircut...

Finally, Phoebe had made an appointment with the hairdresser to get her hair done. A bit of a snip, some swooshy styling and lots of hairspray later and wholah! It was done. It looked fab, in fact, she couldn't stop looking at yourself in the mirror... Phoebe? Her hair had so much extra bouffe and bounce! It was so bouncy, she could now actually sit on it without even nearing the ground... cool!

Sometimes you just need a haircut... xo

Enjoy your week... see you next Friday!
Kaz xo

Planet Phoebe Friday – 'Balance'

Happy Planet Phoebe Friday! Here is a NEW Phoebe to remind us what the weekend is for...

Balance – "Sometimes you just need to stop and take a moment.."

Balance"Sometimes you just need to stop and take a moment.."

Phoebe felt completely spun out. She had been going in circles for what seemed like forever. It was time to stop before she spiralled out of control. But because she had been spinning for so long, when she tried to unwind, she couldn’t get her balance. Closing her eyes, she tried to focus on the straight line of the imaginary horizon until finally her equilibrium returned. Feeling centred, steady and calm, she was now ready to take another step. 

"Sometimes you just need to stop and take a moment..."

Have an amazing weekend... see you next Friday! x

Planet Phoebe Friday – 'Paint it Out'

Sometimes I like to just paint - nothing in particular - just how I am feeling. Using what ever colour and brush I feel like and listening to my favourite music, I let out how I am feeling onto a large canvas. Its such a good release – getting lost in the paint strokes and the music – the end result is always a surprise too! I then photograph the painting and use it as a background for one of my Phoebe illustrations.

Here's a favourite Phoebe illo of mine with one such background...

Phoebe 'Paint it Out' – for this background I seriously needed to paint it red... not sure why?

Phoebe wanted to paint. She had vermilion on the brain. All she could think about was painting scarlet, vermilion, crimson... in fact, she just wanted to paint everything red. What did this mean? Was she angry? Mad? Going mad? She didn’t care. She just wanted to get the red out of her head...

Paint it out... xo