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Tamara Laporte

willowing

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Mixed media artist, teacher and author. I don’t see all IG msgs. For enq pls email hello@willowing.org - Join Creating Cuties:

Wings of the Butterfly. 🦋

When I look at this painting, created back in 2014, I find myself wondering just how many of those tiny butterfly wings I’ve painted in my life. Likely hundreds by now! They’ve become such a recognisable thread in my work, and I still love drawing them.
There’s something tender about embedding little symbols that hold personal meaning for me into my art. It feels like I’m leaving behind intimate, whispered notes (small drops of myself) woven into each piece.

The butterfly wings, for instance, often symbolise freedom, lightness, whimsy, and ease. Sometimes transformation, yes, but for me, more often they speak to the longing for lightness. A wish to be unburdened. I love how butterflies flap about in their unpredictable, carefree way. So lithe. So unencumbered. I rarely feel like that myself. But how I wish I did.

This painting is layered with symbols I still use to this day:

* The whimsical little houses, speaking to my deep need for belonging and community
* The hanging hearts and stars, evoking love and wisdom; I’ve always wished for them falling from the sky in buckets
*The sweet creatures perched on shoulders, hands or other body parts, partly for whimsy, partly as symbols of ever-present little unconditionally loving guardians.
I wrote recently about how I tend to paint *what I need for my pain*, rather than painting the pain itself. This painting is such a perfect example of that.

I needed sunshine, rainbows, unconditional love, friendship, community, belonging, wisdom. And so; here it is, all wrapped up in this tender, hope-filled image.

Colour-wise, I still love that glowing orange aura around the girl, contrasted against the deep teals. The washi tape and collage on the dress felt rough and playful in just the right way. And I remember feeling especially delighted by the butterfly wing drawn onto the collarbone; it’s that kind of strange, poetic detail that lights up the right side of my brain, the place where all the good magic lives. ✨

I’m curious; how does this painting speak to you?

This is day 9 of a ‘gentle return to social media’ read more about this practice here: http://bit.ly/3IHFxir 🌱

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Wings of the Butterfly. 🦋 When I look at this painting, created back in 2014, I find myself wondering just how many of those tiny butterfly wings I’ve painted in my life. Likely hundreds by now! They’ve become such a recognisable thread in my work, and I still love drawing them. There’s something tender about embedding little symbols that hold personal meaning for me into my art. It feels like I’m leaving behind intimate, whispered notes (small drops of myself) woven into each piece. The butterfly wings, for instance, often symbolise freedom, lightness, whimsy, and ease. Sometimes transformation, yes, but for me, more often they speak to the longing for lightness. A wish to be unburdened. I love how butterflies flap about in their unpredictable, carefree way. So lithe. So unencumbered. I rarely feel like that myself. But how I wish I did. This painting is layered with symbols I still use to this day: * The whimsical little houses, speaking to my deep need for belonging and community * The hanging hearts and stars, evoking love and wisdom; I’ve always wished for them falling from the sky in buckets *The sweet creatures perched on shoulders, hands or other body parts, partly for whimsy, partly as symbols of ever-present little unconditionally loving guardians. I wrote recently about how I tend to paint *what I need for my pain*, rather than painting the pain itself. This painting is such a perfect example of that. I needed sunshine, rainbows, unconditional love, friendship, community, belonging, wisdom. And so; here it is, all wrapped up in this tender, hope-filled image. Colour-wise, I still love that glowing orange aura around the girl, contrasted against the deep teals. The washi tape and collage on the dress felt rough and playful in just the right way. And I remember feeling especially delighted by the butterfly wing drawn onto the collarbone; it’s that kind of strange, poetic detail that lights up the right side of my brain, the place where all the good magic lives. ✨ I’m curious; how does this painting speak to you? This is day 9 of a ‘gentle return to social media’ read more about this practice here: http://bit.ly/3IHFxir 🌱

I bristled recently when I heard a prominent psychologist claim that empathy can be a bad quality in people. I half-chuckled, half felt bile rise in my throat, wanting to throw up at the notion.

Now, I get that I must first define the term in order defend that response. Empathy is not lenience. It’s not passivity, or tolerance for harm. True empathy doesn’t excuse; it understands. It gets close. And from that place of understanding, love, connection, repair, restoration, and justice can flow. 💕

As a child, I was often told that kindness was a weak, even foolish quality. The world, I was taught, required ruthlessness, cunning, efficiency; cut-throat ambition. But my little soul disagreed. I longed for softness, gentleness, warmth. I felt safe around true kindness. Even then, I bristled at the suggestion that love and compassion were naive or useless.

Years later, I met Andy (my beautiful soulmate) and he introduced me to the work of Marshall Rosenberg and Nonviolent Communication. It was a profound homecoming. Rosenberg`s work validated what I had felt all along: that empathy and compassion are not just lovely ideas; they are powerful tools for healing trauma, transforming conflict, and creating a more just and loving world.

This is why love, compassion, and empathy are such central themes in my art. Today I’m sharing one of the first paintings I created with this focus, back in 2014. It’s whimsical and folk-arty, simple but strong in message. I still love it.

Let this be a reminder: kindness is not weakness. Empathy is not indulgence. These qualities are fierce and world-changing when we let them guide us.

This is day 8 of a ‘gentle return to social media’ read more about this practice here: http://bit.ly/3IHFxir 🌱

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I bristled recently when I heard a prominent psychologist claim that empathy can be a bad quality in people. I half-chuckled, half felt bile rise in my throat, wanting to throw up at the notion. Now, I get that I must first define the term in order defend that response. Empathy is not lenience. It’s not passivity, or tolerance for harm. True empathy doesn’t excuse; it understands. It gets close. And from that place of understanding, love, connection, repair, restoration, and justice can flow. 💕 As a child, I was often told that kindness was a weak, even foolish quality. The world, I was taught, required ruthlessness, cunning, efficiency; cut-throat ambition. But my little soul disagreed. I longed for softness, gentleness, warmth. I felt safe around true kindness. Even then, I bristled at the suggestion that love and compassion were naive or useless. Years later, I met Andy (my beautiful soulmate) and he introduced me to the work of Marshall Rosenberg and Nonviolent Communication. It was a profound homecoming. Rosenberg's work validated what I had felt all along: that empathy and compassion are not just lovely ideas; they are powerful tools for healing trauma, transforming conflict, and creating a more just and loving world. This is why love, compassion, and empathy are such central themes in my art. Today I’m sharing one of the first paintings I created with this focus, back in 2014. It’s whimsical and folk-arty, simple but strong in message. I still love it. Let this be a reminder: kindness is not weakness. Empathy is not indulgence. These qualities are fierce and world-changing when we let them guide us. This is day 8 of a ‘gentle return to social media’ read more about this practice here: http://bit.ly/3IHFxir 🌱

25% Off Early Bird Ending Soon!
Hey friends, I wanted to remind you that the 25% off early bird price for my new course Creating Cuties ends soon! Be sure to join soon if you want to grab it at the lower price!
Sometimes… the world feels too loud, too fast, too much.
That’s when I turn to cute art — to soften the edges and reconnect with calm. 🎨🕊️
Creating Cuties is an online art course for your soul.

Together we’ll paint sweet, soft-hearted animals — like little kitten in a woolly jumper (sweater) or a gentle dog with a butterfly on her nose.
💖 Let this be your moment to:

🌸 Slow down and reconnect
🎨 Create soothing, happy art
🐾 Paint 7 beautiful characters with my step-by-step support
🎁 Save 25% (or £22 / $30) with early bird
📥 Lifetime access + PDFs + traceables
Feel better through brushstrokes. 💗

Join us here: https://bit.ly/CreatingCuties (or link in my bio/ link tree/ stories) xoox

Open
25% Off Early Bird Ending Soon! Hey friends, I wanted to remind you that the 25% off early bird price for my new course Creating Cuties ends soon! Be sure to join soon if you want to grab it at the lower price! Sometimes… the world feels too loud, too fast, too much. That’s when I turn to cute art — to soften the edges and reconnect with calm. 🎨🕊️ Creating Cuties is an online art course for your soul. Together we’ll paint sweet, soft-hearted animals — like little kitten in a woolly jumper (sweater) or a gentle dog with a butterfly on her nose. 💖 Let this be your moment to: 🌸 Slow down and reconnect 🎨 Create soothing, happy art 🐾 Paint 7 beautiful characters with my step-by-step support 🎁 Save 25% (or £22 / $30) with early bird 📥 Lifetime access + PDFs + traceables Feel better through brushstrokes. 💗 Join us here: https://bit.ly/CreatingCuties (or link in my bio/ link tree/ stories) xoox

Facts. ♥️♥️♥️

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Facts. ♥️♥️♥️

Just leaving this little guy here on my timeline here for your moment of serotonin release. It`s the boy version of the other kitten I did the other day. He has such a sweet quality to him! 😍😍😍 - Make this painting with me? --> https://bit.ly/CreatingCuties (or link in bio/ link tree). ♥️♥️♥️

Open
Just leaving this little guy here on my timeline here for your moment of serotonin release. It's the boy version of the other kitten I did the other day. He has such a sweet quality to him! 😍😍😍 - Make this painting with me? --> https://bit.ly/CreatingCuties (or link in bio/ link tree). ♥️♥️♥️
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