Where the petals pause
Hi Syncing Spacers,
Today, I’m sitting with some bold feelings about art, leadership, and how we choose to show up in both.
I wanted to share one of my recent pieces for this week’s studio reflection. It’s a digital painting of orange lilies, created in broad, messy strokes, rich in texture and contrast, at the Coutts Centre in British Columbia. I didn’t clean it up or make it too tidy—because honestly, boldness isn’t always neat.
That’s when it hit me: if I had to name my leadership style, it would be “Attentiveship.” For me, that means leading through paying close attention to textures, and silences. I lead by noticing both in art-making and in group settings, such as my work at the National Access Arts Council in Calgary. I try to hold room for subtle cues—like a soft wash of colour beneath a bold outline.
This drawing was inspired by watching the way lilies unfold slowly and confidently. There’s no rush. They just are. And I think art-making can be like that too—a slow blooming, grounded in attentiveness.
This painting came from a place of unapologetic mark-making.
For the upcoming online exhibition on August 8th, I’m planning to create a digital series which includes portraits of flowers, sailboats, and landscapes thriving in dark or unexpected spaces. Each one will use vibrant colours and layered textures to tell a story of creative resilience. Looking ahead to the online exhibition on August 22nd, I plan to explore this same idea of “attentiveness”—pieces that evolve from observation and process. My final work will be a series of floral sketches, digital prints, watercolours, and acrylics, focusing on the theme of listening through form and colour.
In colour and motion,
Emily
