Tools & Talismans #47 Penelope Dullaghan

My day starts out — rain or shine or snow or sleet (ok, maybe not hail) — with a walk. My dog Lucy and I walk down by the river behind my house and so my waterproof, warm shoes are very important to me. I often wear mala beads around my neck or have them sitting on my desk to remind me to reconnect with my breath. I also have a statue of Ganesha on my desk to remove obstacles. I love all the symbolism around Ganesha: big head for thinking big, small eyes for concentration, large ears for listening, axe to cut off attachments, etc. Every time I see him I feel better. Then I have tools like my brushes and ink which are used daily for my work. I also use a plain notebook and pencil to organize my life. They hold my weekly to-do lists, grocery lists, random notes and thoughts, etc. I’m sane because of that 80-cent notebook. And lastly, a simple candle. Every night I go around the house closing the curtains and lighting a few candles. This ritual helps me know that the work day is done and it’s time to relax and let the day go.

Penelope Dullaghan • Illustrator. Artist. Creative Meanderer.

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Tools & Talismans is a personal painting project where I document {in watercolor} the tools and talismans of 100 different women — creators and healers, thinkers and makers, wordsmiths and visionaries. Join me for a year of Tools & Talismans — I'll be sharing a new painting with you every Wednesday.

I'd love to talk about creating illustrations for you! Do you have a project that needs some illustration? Think my work might be a good fit? Get in touch, I'd love to talk about your project with you!