From Florida with Love
Let's All Share The Love ♥
Today we are bringing you Love from Florida,
where Renee Phillips lives and works. Lots of Love.
From Florida with Love
by Renee Phillips
“I’m very happy with the way my community prepared, banded together and assisted those in need.”
“It strikes me that Renee’s confinement experience was one of giving and helping others rather than recoiling and complaining. Renee produced and donated twenty artworks for first line responders and healthcare workers nominated by friends and family; She took care of Olive, her beyond adorable three years old daughter, and helped her husband Justin through the challenges of remote managing his New York based business. Thank you Renee for your kindness and empathy. It is truly refreshing and so uplifting.”
How are things in Delray Beach, FL, Renee?
Last week we entered Phase 1 of “reopening” our little beach town of Delray Beach, FL. There is a new energy about this phase, some frenetic energy, a splash of conflict, excitement, jubilation, hesitation; it changes by the day if not the hour. It’s been interesting to see the differing of opinions, but overall I’m very happy with the way my community prepared, banded together and assisted those in need. The beaches opened up yesterday to “walking and activity” only, so we hope some ocean therapy will be good for everyone. It’s been inspiring and heart-warming to be part of a smaller town where you feel small changes make big waves of positive change.
“The biggest challenge, has been homeschooling my three year old daughter, Olive…”
How does the situation affect your everyday life?
The biggest change, and challenge, has been “homeschooling” my 3-year old daughter, Olive, and reevaluating how I work from home. I turned my garage into my art studio, and while it’s been a bit messier than I’m used to, opening the garage door for fresh air has been a welcome change – a full sensory experience. This also allows me to really use my spray-painting methods freely.
I also received a surge of inspiration, so taking time to create art every day became important for not only my sanity, but to channel the inspiration being received. I also started creating “Meditation Studies” for health care workers (more on that later), so that gave me purpose on a daily basis. While my working and painting time decreased due limited childcare, it has also made those 1-2 hours in the garage/studio very productive. It’s been a busy time all around, lots of time with Olive, cooking (which I’m not very good at), creating, and trying to help my husband Justin stay sane through the turmoil of operating a company based in NYC.
“Taking time to create art every day became important,…. to channel the inspiration being received.”
“… the Color Lab Collection is raw, reactionary and vibrating with color and energy.”
Can you tell us more about your feelings?
They change from day to day. Right now I’m feeling cautiously optimistic and “in the flow” of creation. It’s an exciting time for an artist when they know they’re on the wave of inspiration, so I’m really trying to internalize it and then redistribute the energy onto canvas. I’m also very happy to have a healthy family, and be spending quality time with Olive, even though there are the daily challenges of “Momhood”. She’s my only child, so I’ll only have a 3-year old for this one moment. My days revolve around Olive and painting, so I feel grateful, energized, exhausted – the ups and downs.
I had a strong desire to create art for the health care workers putting their lives on the line every day. I put out a call onto Instagram to “nominate your health hero”
Finally, how does all that influence your Art practice?
As soon as quarantine settled in, I quickly realized how fortunate I was to be home, and working. Honestly, what a luxury to have a home, a yard, a working art studio/garage, and my family. So my attention turned towards “how can I help” and I had a strong desire to create art for the health care workers putting their lives on the line every day. So I put out a call onto Instagram to “nominate your health hero” and I received the most beautiful nominations from friends and families of health heroes on the front line. I wanted them to have an object that reminded them of their strength and resilience during this pivotal time, but more importantly to remind them that they are heroes. So that was the biggest influence on my art practice; making a new piece of artwork every day for a health hero – it gave me purpose, it settled me, it inspired me.
Overall it’s been an incredibly prolific time for me. I’ve created over 50 works of art during this time…20 for health heroes and 30 more for my new series, Color Lab. I look forward to debuting the Color Lab Collection on June 2nd. It’s raw, reactionary and vibrating with color and energy.
