Time To Paint

Hi Friends,

This Spring turned out to be an incredibly full season for us. Between the Grand Opening of our new studio, the launch of Lyn Hiner Studios JAPAN (...more on that later!) and events on both the East and West coasts we were constantly on the move.

All exciting stuff business-wise, but then the question I'm always asked is:

“When do you paint?!”

It’s an important question for sure and I suppose the simple answer is, “when I’m in town”! LOL. Seriously though, creating has never been a struggle for me. Art has flowed like a river from my heart and mind steadily since I started this adventure. But recently I discovered it can be a bit more complex than I thought.

July marks the unofficial 10-year anniversary of this incredible art journey, and up until recently I had never experienced an artistic block of any kind. For me, the physical act of painting was always the most enjoyable part of my creative process. As my little business grew and the commissions and exhibit opportunities multiplied, I simply put my foot down on the gas pedal and kept pace. To be honest there was a real adrenaline rush to it, but after a few years at that break-neck pace I had made the decision that 2024 was going to be the year of slowing down – (per my January newsletter).

So, I started slowing down and do you know what happened? My artistry froze. For weeks I was unable to recalibrate and apply paint to the canvases set before me. I had real work to do - projects to complete and I just stared at these barely-started-paintings! Initially, I said I was tired and needed some rest. So, I rested but nothing came. Then I started getting anxious – why couldn’t I push through and paint? I won’t lie, I started to wonder what had happened to the ease and joy of creating. Was it gone?? My heart told me NO!

It took a little time before I finally realized that I was struggling to adapt to a drastic change of rhythm: less pressure… more time to create…in a new space…with fewer commitments. All great things but I hadn’t considered just how much it would affect my creative flow. As intense as it was, that fast pace was the rhythm I’d grown accustomed to.

I am so grateful my clients were patient, and my husband/business partner allowed me to take the space needed to breathe and fully immerse myself into this new rhythm. I am happy to say that through much prayer and quiet reflection I am back painting again! I’m loving what’s happening on the easels in front of me, with the bonus of a ton of new ideas bouncing around in my mind. I’m excited to see what develops over these next two months. Hallelujah!!!

I know another change in rhythm is coming this August as we start up the fall travel season, but at least now I’m aware of the mind/body/spirit/create connection and I’ll be more patient with myself while in it.

Regarding the schedule, we may be making a couple of adjustments to our fall plans as things progress in Japan. Speaking of which, I haven’t had a chance to fill you in on the latest news there.

After roughly two years of talking and dreaming of possibilities with our friends in Japan we officially launched Lyn Hiner Studios Japan at the April 2024 Automobile Council exhibition at Makuri Messe in Chiba City Japan. This was actually our second exhibition in Japan but the first we were able to attend. Rob, our sensei/translator Desmond and I flew to Tokyo to meet with the team and participate in the kick-off.

Japan is a beautiful place to visit and we had an amazing 10 day tour that started with catching the cherry blossoms on “mankai” (day of full bloom…it was incredible) and ended with a personal tour of the Toyota Motorsports museum at Fuji Speedway! Our hosts graciously chauffeured us around the entire time and we got to see many of the key sites in Tokyo and surrounding areas.

The exhibition went well and I’m excited to see what happens next as a result of our Japan team’s ongoing efforts. Lead by Hideki Asukata, the team is working hard with the same care, sensitivity and devotion that Rob and I put into our little business here in the states. I couldn’t ask or hope for anything more.

Here at home, I also wanted to thank YOU all so much for all your encouraging words, especially after the announcement of our new studio. So many sent notes or came by for the grand opening and in the days and weeks that followed. What a gift to share my creative space with you!! I really wish I could share all this exciting news with my mom and dad. My mom never knew I fulfilled that crazy dream of being a professional artist, but my dad did. Seeing where the journey has brought us to date…I think they would have been so freaking proud (cue tears).

Speaking of the studio, we are considering hosting another fun little celebration toward the end of July to reveal some of my latest creations. If you’re interested in being included in this intimate gathering, please let me know and I’ll share the details in a few weeks.

Rob reminds me every time I write a post not to be “so wordy on these things”, but I’m never quite sure that I have expressed my thoughts and feelings adequately enough. I do hope though that I can share authentically about my journey and perhaps you, by proxy, can share in the joy and lessons learned from my experiences on this crazy art adventure.

Finally, I just want to say THANK YOU GOD for allowing us to have these opportunities. I never would have imagined all the places this journey would take us. But He did.

Thanks for hanging in there til the end (again!).  

Have a beautiful day,

—Lyn