Use the form on the right to contact us.
You can edit the text in this area, and change where the contact form on the right submits to, by entering edit mode using the modes on the bottom right.
A place that celebrates both the city and our presence within it. A place both opulent, and warm and inviting. Piazza San Marco, the heartbeat of Venice.
If you’d like to see more of my Venice watercolors on Instagram, you can follow along here @sophiakhanstudio
Escape. What does it mean to escape somewhere? At a time when many of us are not able to travel to faraway places, this question comes to mind, and visits my studio.
Over the course of many years of travel, for which I am so grateful, I’ve come to realize that travel is not only about escaping to a place, but about a certain return to something within. For me, it feels like a turning towards that part of myself that responds with a certain visceral lens and an open heart to the world around me.
When we think of our dream destinations and escapes, and search in magazines or online for images of where we might like to go, it’s usually not guided by thoughts or logic, but by what we feel intuitively.....what stirs us the most, and feels most beautiful.
But what about now, when so many of us are not able to travel far away? Where do we go to escape? I think one place we can always escape to is our dreams and memories. Dreams and memories......these ‘places’ are ones I myself visit often, being an artist who works primarily with travel memories and inspiration. Yet despite this, it’s been strange because I don’t necessarily have a place that I’m looking forward to traveling to, at least not immediately. But I do have my memories and I have the joy and serenity that they bring.
Memories of places like Venice, Paris, Rome, Morocco, Spain, and Tuscany that re awaken me to the feelings of joy, enchantment, serenity, adventure, and a romance with history and the past, all of which I experienced while there.
Places don’t leave us. Even if we leave them.
What part of us is it then, that these places remain in? And how do we nurture and honor what remains?
This looks different for each of us. And I thinks it is why some of us paint, some of us write, and some of us share photographs and memories with loved ones, describing our travels with such joy, as if they were only yesterday. It’s also why the curiosity towards a certain place we’ve traveled to remains with us when we return home. We search in books and articles to put into words, and give meaning, history, and context to something we connect with in a way that needs no words or reason.
For me, I am grateful to have an art which explores this something that exists somewhere beyond words, and look forward to continuing to explore this in new ways, in new brushstrokes. It’s a never ending journey that life asked of me and I joyfully said yes to.
Some time ago, a thought came to my mind. Am I planting the seeds, or mourning the drought. I think of how I might apply this positive approach to life in regards to being an artist. Much of my watercolor painting started during a time when I was not actually traveling, but reminiscing past travels....It’s the nature of the ebb and flow of life for there to be periods of droughts, but.....planting the seeds. It all comes back to that for me these days. And gratitude for past abundance as well as all the places it can be cultivated in the now. And this what I bring to my ‘canvas.’ I do believe.....miracles pour in where gratitude expands to receive them. My studio is one place, for this place of gratitude. And small watercolor miracles, if I can call them that...yes, I think they are that, because they bring me such joy.
Gratitude itself is a blessing, I feel. And one thing I can always plant....is possibility.
I’ve gathering some of my favorite watercolor memories that celebrate the serenity and joy of these travels that continue to plant this seed in my life, both in my studio, and in my dreams and memories. These are small and medium sizes watercolors, with pricing beginning at $100. If you may want to peruse this gallery, I hope it brings back memories of your own favorite travels. And if there is one that especially delights you, I am so happy to lovingly send it to your doorstep, and hope it will bring a sprinkle of travel lust, possibility, serenity, and dreams to your home, or the home of a loved one.
How much does one need to say, to say Venice.
If you’d like to see more of my Venice inspired watercolours, you can follow along on my Instagram.
Capturing how light and water illuminate the stones and soul of Venice, in memory and on ‘canvas.’
If you would delight in following my art & travels, I invite you to join my Instagram and sign up to receive “Letters from my Art Studio.”
New Venice Watercolours being painted in my studio
The beauty, the joy, the ache, and the delight of life is that it is ever changing. Oceans, winds, the flight of birds, clouds across a waxing moon....everywhere we look we are reminded of constant change, flux, and the beauty of movement.
The mood and air around my studio and life in general these days have been one of embracing this ever changing stream of life's changes, with a sense of wonder. A bit more about this......
The past few months have humbled us to the truth that we are not quite in control of everything. And that there are things that are beyond our full comprehension.
Thoughts can't save us. How we feel can't save us. But what can free us, I suggest, is wonder.
It's a tool, and a way of being, that has never failed me. Even prior to our current global condition, curiosity and wonder have always paved a path ahead whatever may come my way, in the delightful changes of my day to day.
The way it works is simple. Let's imagine there is something coming up in my personal or professional life, that feels a bit challenging to me. Rather than letting that create inertia, I shift the situation to one of curiosity and wonder, by engaging with what might look like one of the following questions:
~ "I can't wait to meet with......I look forward to enjoying our conversation and seeing how the meeting goes."
~ "I wonder what will happen when I......."
~ "Tomorrow, I am planning on.....It will be interesting to see what happens."
Exercising this shift not only frees us from any hesitation or worry we might have when anticipating something ahead, but it holds a beautiful lamp of curiosity from which we can see and experience things with a certain richness and child like wonder, which have little attachment to preconceived outcomes, or even the past.
Wonder is also something that keeps a certain freshness and joy in my studio, while painting watercolours. As is the case with a new series of Venice watercolours I am working on, some of which are shown above.
I've been enjoying a text written over 100 years ago, on Venice, which is infusing the air around my studio with a desire to paint the city in new and exciting brushstrokes.....these watercolours are becoming more about Venice's romance with the sea. I look forward to sharing more of these as the process continues to unfold.
As is often the case with my best work, or the work I feel is most aesthetically pleasing, it is often that moment when I am painting and think to myself, There is nothing to lose, that the real magic begins to happen. When I paint with this approach in mind, it takes my art to new places that I wouldn't be able to go if I keep painting within my 'comfort zone.' And when I paint as if there is nothing to lose, there is immense opportunity inherent in the richness of that moment. And this leads to the most interesting results. Yes, thank goodness I am not a surgeon! Yet, I must say, I do believe in the healing abilities of the Arts, be it a painting, music, a place, or anything made beautifully and with the humble grace of an intention to move others.
I am grateful that the practice of Art, and being a Watercolourist, specifically, has taught me much that I can apply to other areas of my life. What if, just like when I paint, as I am going through the beautiful motions and changes in the ocean of life and my path begins to feel hazy or not that well lit ahead of me, I think to myself as I continue ahead despite the uncertainty, What do I have to lose? And what if I return to the practice of allowing wonder and curiosity to take the reigns. I can't wait to see what lays ahead.
If this might be something that perhaps speaks to you, I invite you to see what it might offer. Perhaps it's a practice you already embrace?
And on another note, on my Instagram I recently shared a delightful interview I had with Create Magazine titled, "Landscape of Feelings and Memories," which, if you didn't happen to read and would like to know more about my creative journey and thoughts, is available here.
Until next time, I wish you and your loved ones much serenity, beauty, joy, grace, and an abundance of wonder.
“Rivers and Petals” watercolors collection, copyright © Sophia Khan
A most beautiful message arrived in my inbox a few weeks ago. I would love to offer it forward to you, here. It is of poem, attributed to Khalil Gibran, in which he describes a river entering the ocean. It was shared within the context of feeling relevant to current times. It is titled, Fear, and it reads as follows:
It is said that before entering the sea a river trembles with fear.
She looks back at the path she has traveled, from the peaks of the mountains, the long winding road crossing forests and villages.
And in front of her, she sees an ocean so vast, that to enter there seems nothing more than to disappear forever.
But there is no other way.
The river cannot go back.
Nobody can go back.
To go back is impossible in existence.
The river needs to take the risk of entering the ocean because only then will fear disappear, because that's where the river will know it's not about disappearing into the ocean, but of becoming the ocean.
A pause....a moment to take in the breadth of this.
For me, this feels so special because it suggests that the decision has already been made. And the element of trust that the river has towards the ocean. The courage indeed, but also the inevitability of the river’s “Yes” to becoming one with the ocean.
My creative life often mirrors that of my spiritual life. (If you are also a creative and this idea resonates with you, do you have a look at the writings of Julia Cameron). And so the beautiful suggestion and invitation in this poem inspired a new color palette in my studio. The warmth of magentas, pinks, and reds. Shimmering gold pigment. And the softness, the gentleness of turquoise and undersea green. Yes, that indeed is the name of the lovely color :~)
The subjects being conjured with my watercolors, almost a bit on their own, were light filled rivers, oceans, and fragrant and vibrant petals. All the while leaving something to the imagination, to stir from one's own depths. Around me, the enchanted fragrance of Neroli & Rose, and the scent of freshly cut grass outside my windows.....as these watercolors were joyfully painted.
If it might delight you to peruse this new series, they are being offered here.
It’s beautiful to imagine ourselves as this river Gibran speaks of. But also to envision this life, this place we are blessed to inhabit as the warm ocean of grace that too invites us to its shores.....
Until next time, I wish you and your loved ones much serenity, wellness, beauty, and grace.
With my Warmest Regards to you,
Sophia
Watercolor Art for The On Being Project, copyright © Sophia Khan
Synchronicities are some of the most beautiful and mysterious gifts we enjoy along this wondrous journey of life, don’t you find. I will circle back to something that felt synchronistic to me recently. But first, I want to share a heartfelt thank you to my long time subscribers for being here, and my warmest welcome to those of you who are new here. If you have recently joined, you most likely have found me through On Being. Thank you so much for being here.
The watercolor above, which may have lead you to me, was painted for On Being, with a haiku series by International Peacebuilder, John Paul Lederach, as inspiration. Titled, Memoriale: Haiku and the Crowned Newness, it is an “Unfolding Poem” for the Moment We are In, which he began writing on December 13, 2019; the day the World Health Organization was first informed of an unknown form of pneumonia originating in Wuhan. You can follow this series on The On Being Project Instagram, or website.
It was a true honor and a joy to be a part of the work in this way, and I am so grateful for the opportunity, especially in the time that we are in, when not much seems certain. But despite this uncertainty, and perhaps even because of it, everything seems possible.
My synchronicity....
I typically take a walk outside my home in the early evening, and just the other day I was listening to an audio titled Wisdom from the Celtic World, by John O’Donohue. I happened to learn of his work through On Being, from Krista Tippett’s beautiful interview with him.
During this audio, he makes mention of Venice. Venice is a prominent subject in my studio, and I was delighted to hear him describe its beauty with the moving words and visuals he shared. He recalls being in the famed Piazza San Marco one evening, during an international dance festival. There was a full moon, a storm, and the water levels were ferociously rising all around the city. In the piazza, there was an orchestra playing Stravinksy alongside a ballet performance. He describes this moment as “being enfolded in a simplicity of complete lyrical unity. The moon, the ocean, the dance, the orchestra, and all of us in the dark. Somehow the music sealed us all together in a seamless circle of belonging.”
At first it felt somewhat like a description of seeming opposites; the darkness of the storm with the serenity of the music and the dance. But what especially captures this visual for me, is that both occurred at once, everything in harmony, and alongside the other, and were experienced with a certain unison. In some ways, it feels like what we are experiencing now.
If you follow me on social media, I recently shared that I will be gifting Venice inspired stationary. Why stationary, and why now? I feel that letter writing may be a welcome form of remembering and reaching out at this time. Perhaps even an invitation to recall and write one’s own dreams, and to know that they matter perhaps now most of all. Because now, we are paying close attention to what is most dear to us and the rest seems to fade away of its own accord.
And while we may be physically distant from many of our friends and family, there is an opening to share and be with others in a way that perhaps we have not shared before. For me personally, a friend reaching out to simply ask how I am doing, feels like an invitation to share on a deeper level than I did with them before.
This downloadable Venice stationary, which can be printed from your home for your writing enjoyment, is available here. For a limited time it is complimentary, as a small gesture of artful giving from my studio doors to you, with the option to purchase.
I hope this letter and my offering provides perhaps a moment of the escape and tranquility that it provided me to write and share here. And as always, I love hearing from readers if there is anything here you would like to respond to. If there is a subject you would like to see more of in these letter, I am very open to how I may best be of service during this time. It may take a few days, but I always write back to every email.
~
Until next time, I wish you and your loved ones much serenity, ease, wellness, and beauty, and perhaps your own unique experience of a certain grace filled “lyrical unity” that John O’Donohue had described. Those moments do come. And right now we cannot help but become ripe for them, because we are so tender, because we are so open.
And that feels like a beautiful thing.
copyright © Sophia Khan
Gardens Among Us.
A watercolor of a place, a poet, that made my heart soften. The mausoleum of Persian poet, Hafiz, located in Shiraz.
I hope this message reaches you in the best of health, wellness, and safety. And I wish this for all of your family and loves ones.
A few thoughts that have been coming to me these days, while we are globally witnessing this challenge, are as follows.
If we can collectively feel the effects of what is now upon us, what if we dare to dream that on the other side of this, we can together experience an abundance of joy. The portal to arriving at that place is deeper devotion to our truths and higher selves.
Because we are collectively open to one another right now.
Our global experience has opened us up to knowing that there is no other. There is only us.
As shared by ever inspiring artist Shirin Neshat, a quote from Saadi, a Persian poet, also buried in Shiraz:
"The sons of Adam are limbs of eachother,
Having been created of one essence.
When the calamity of time affects one limb,
the other limbs cannot remain at rest..."
Let us be and share from the place of tenderness we are now in. Together in this, and together on the other side of this.
We will find our way. We will find our opening.
Much love,
Sophia
Courtyard of the Mexuar, Alhambra Palace, Watercolor © Sophia Khan
In the face of what is happening globally today, and making our hearts soften, the details may fade away, but we remain in essence whole, and in wait towards rediscovering ourselves and one another from a renewed lens.
What is this lens?
One of them is travel. We don't travel to see what makes us different, or to learn from other cultures, as much as we do to learn what makes us all the same. That is perhaps the real longing, that is perhaps the hidden desire; to go so deep within that we discover, place and place again, that we have many, many mirrors around us, even in places that outwardly look different from our everyday surroundings.
And on the other side of this, may we meet one another and the world with even more wonder.
Much love,
Sophia
Sending you a Vertical Horizon as a symbol of hope, and as a wish and prayer for our opening, our way forward, to come....
My Dear Friends,
Today I feel called to share this painting with you. For me, it resembles a horizon, but in the vertical direction. Perhaps it's still a horizon that marries sky and earth, but instead of laying on the Earthly plane, it invokes the depths of a higher calling. And perhaps instead of being distant, like we often think of horizons, it is a horizon that is invoked from within.
Now, perhaps more than ever is a time for us to open and deepen in our truths. Because, I believe, that the deeper we go within, the more we open up towards reaching what makes us all similar; what makes us all one and whole.
My wish, my prayer is that we find the hidden gifts within this global condition, which has humbled us.
I do believe everything happens for a reason. In the times we are in, I ask myself, "What are we being called to do?" The answer cannot be, embrace fear. Yes, we must do all we can and work together to remain safe and healthy, and take all the necessary steps to remain so. I believe this can be done from a place of embracing wellness and healing. I think the true answer to what we are being called to do, is different for everyone. And because of the magnitude of this global condition, it may even change from day to day. But maybe a part of the answer is to open. While I do watch the news to stay informed, I am also embracing the messages from those who are sharing other ways of being right now, from reciting and sharing poetry online, to messages of hope and healing. One of my dearest resources being Danielle LaPorte especially her Instagram live.
Right now, perhaps more than ever before, I wish to deepen in my service. If there is something more I can do for my community, through my art or writings, please let me know. If there is a subject you would find joy and comfort to see in my next newsletter, or if you'd like to share about something I've written here, or simply see more watercolor horizons, do let me know.
Wishing you safety and tranquility, and sending with an open heart all my compassion and well wishes to you and yours.
We will get through this. We will find our opening.
Much love
Sophia
