The Colour of Joy: a journey through art, gratitude, and making choices

April 8, 2025

What if joy wasn’t just something we stumbled upon in fleeting moments?

What if, instead, we could cultivate it—intentionally, daily, even in the face of life’s challenges?

That question has been at the heart of my journey while creating The Colour of Joy.

A Collaboration Built on Intuition

The Colour of Joy itself was born from a moment of intuition. Two years ago, I set myself a goal—to do a solo exhibition in 2025. But along the way, something even more joyful unfolded. In August 2022, ceramic artist Rhianon, of @happyheartceramics, sent me a message:

“I don’t know you at all, so this may seem somewhat random, but I just had a thought about how incredible it would be to do a joint exhibition with you.”

My response to someone I had never met? “That would be awesome.”

We have since discovered that we both acted on intuition, following what brings us joy. Our work complements each other beautifully—Rhianon’s mindful approach to ceramics meets my exploration of finding calm through painting.

The Process: A Practice in Presence

Creating this collection became an opportunity to practice joy, not just paint about it. I found myself reflecting on the moments that bring me the most meaning - moments of playfulness, freedom, connection, and gratitude.

Some days, joy came effortlessly. Other days, I had to be intentional about finding it: reminding myself to be with the process, to let go of the outcome, and to embrace the unknown. One piece in this series, Unbound, is about exactly that—liberating joy. It’s a reminder that when we release whatever is holding us back—fear, doubt, overthinking—we create space for joy to expand.

A Daily Practice in Choosing Joy and Gratitude

Eckhart Tolle says, “In today’s rush, we all think too much, seek too much, want too much—and forget the joy of just being.”

These words resonated deeply as I worked on this series. Slowing down, appreciating the little things, and practicing gratitude became essential to my creative process. Joy is woven into the small things — fleeting beauty, quiet connections, simple pleasures.

The Challenge of Holding onto Joy

Towards the end of the series, I found myself feeling flat, stuck in the practical tasks—framing, labeling, finishing edges. I was ruminating, overthinking, feeling disconnected from the joy I had been exploring.

Then I remembered something I had shared with my CALM class: Mindfulness isn’t meant to ‘fix’ everything.

Instead of resisting, I sat with the feelings, accepted them, and in doing so, realised I needed to create space for play even in the final stages of a series.

This was a powerful reminder: joy isn’t just about celebrating the highs. It’s about being present with all of it—the excitement, the frustration, the uncertainty—and choosing joy anyway.

What did I learn?

If I could share just one thing from this series, it would be that joy isn’t something we wait for.

It’s something we cultivate.

Joy is found in slowing down, in being in the present moment.

It grows in gratitude - for the smallest moment, the simplest gesture, the everyday blessings.

As we share The Colour of Joy with you, I hope it serves as a reminder that joy is always available to us—not as something to chase, but as something to notice, nurture, and embrace in every moment.

What Brings You Joy?

I’d love to hear from you. How do you cultivate joy in your daily life? What small moments bring you the most gratitude? Let’s celebrate them together. 💛