I’m very excited to announce that my very first original art collection is now finished!

The Crete art collection is inspired by late summer on the Greek island of Crete.

After many months of experimenting, painting, and revisiting my travel sketches and photos, the final collection is now available for you to bring a special piece into your home.

Inspired by a Greek summer

Inspired by late summer on the Greek island of Crete, each artwork carries a depth of layers, texture, and a special intention and energy. The paintings capture the feeling of being on holiday – the heat, the relaxation, the stunning ocean, and the little details that make you realise you are somewhere completely different.

I want them to bring calmness and curiosity to your home, and to add some lightness and joy to your day. 

I shared more about the inspiration and creative process behind the collection in my previous journal post.

Meet the Crete artworks

Words behind the art (literally!)

So before I painted any of the canvases, I wrote a word on each one – basically setting my intention for the piece.

As the writing got covered up by layers and layers of paint, I stuck a piece of paper with the word to the back of the canvas with some tape and pretty much forgot about them.

Until it came time to name the artworks…

I finally finished the last artwork – the largest canvas (Chania harbour) – and spent half a day photographing all seven of the artworks. Finally I knew it was time to name each canvas, and sign the back of them.

Then I remembered the words stuck on the back! I took the tape off the back and revealed the words I had written so many weeks ago.. and was totally amazed by the serendipity of each word and the final artwork.

You see, before I started this collection, I had a rough idea of what I wanted to paint but didn’t really have a set plan for each canvas. As the backgrounds slowly came to life, I got more of a feeling of what would suit each canvas, which is how I chose the ‘Crete icons’ – white lilies, cat, blue chair, Minoan vase, beach umbrellas, and schools of fish and palm trees.

And the reason for writing words on the blank canvases? I have a strong belief that objects can carry energy – and I want these artworks to carry amazing positivity and lightness into someone’s home and life – so I wrote the words that came to me while I was surrounded by my travel photos, sketchbooks, and Crete moodboards.

Bring home some Greek summer vibes

I want to give the art collector a feeling of relaxation and curiosity – I hope they can imagine breathing in the salt air, feeling the sand beneath their feet, looking at the sun dancing on the water, and knowing that they are feeling completely at peace.

My dream for these paintings is to share this energy with you, and add some lightness and joy to your day.