It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.”― Vincent Van Gogh

So here we are. I may have stumbled these last few months in making it to the end of my goal, but I am finally here at my fifty second creative project. And just before Christmas Day as promised (insert fist pump here!).

The main purpose of this project was to rediscover my artistic self, yet through this process combined with that of being a new Mother I have discovered so much more. I have learnt that whatever stage of life you may be at, it is a great achievement to follow what is in your heart. That it is ok to be afraid but not to let it stop you from taking the first step or even the last. And most importantly to be gentle on yourself. For you are your best and worst critic.

For my final creative project I decided to create something fun. I found this little fellow on pinterest through Pretty My Party and decided to give it a try. It was very easy. I just used some corks, a stanley knife, glue, pipe cleaners and googly eyes to make him. I think it took me under 1/2 an hour. Isn’t he cute!

So it is time for me to say goodbye. I’m planning on taking a break from blogging now that I have finished my project. Baby or should I say Toddler C is keeping us very busy and Mr T and I are in the process of searching for our first home to buy. Hopefully with that ‘just right’ space for an art studio.

So until next time… happy painting and MERRY CHRISTMAS!! xoxo

When you can’t control what’s happening, challenge yourself to control the way you respond to what’s happening. That’s where the power is. (Source)

I have let two months go past since my last blog post and I can’t help but feel a little ashamed of myself. After our exhibition I fell into a creative slump. Life has been overwhelming me on occasion and I just haven’t wanted to add being creative to my list of daily chores. So I’d let myself forget about my blog commitments for a little while, which in fact has turned into a longer while. But you know what, I’m back! My goal now is to finish my last creative project by Christmas.

For this weeks project I have revisited pouring medium. I wanted to create an abstract work representing the ocean. I was inspired by the incredible resin artworks which have become very popular. Have a look at my creative inspiration board on pinterest and you will see what I mean.

I worked on a 10cm square cradle board and used acrylic paints with both liquefying and pouring medium. I was wanting to experiment with the effects I could get. I would have loved to use resin but it’s very messy and smelly which are too combinations that make life a little harder in my home environment right now. Acrylic paint is a great alternate with the right mediums.

I have to admit that I’m not completely thrilled with the results. I added far too much paint to the mediums which made it very thick and opaque. You will also see from my pictures that there is a lot of texture on the finished piece which is a result of the thick paint. I was hoping for a smoother finish however the texture does add some interest.

I still had lots of fun pouring and moving the paint around on the board.

Until next time… happy painting!

Live from the heart of yourself. Seek to be whole, not perfect.” – Oprah (Source)

So all rules have been thrown out for these last few project weeks and that includes deadlines. I’ve also decided to include two project weeks into the one post as they are inclusive of each other and well, it has been a crazy time.

 

As I type this post our art exhibition is in full swing at the Percolator Gallery and will be until Sunday. I feel so excited and extremely lucky to be exhibiting my work along side all the talented and lovely people I work with at Art Shed Brisbane.

Along with work we are exhibiting in the gallery, we also chose to complete small 40x40cm artworks to be displayed in the gallery window. I’ve included this piece as my week forty-nine project. It is a small abstract detail created with posca paint pens and gold acrylic paint.

My week fifty project was the opportunity to help with the gallery display of our exhibition. Something I’ve wanted to learn and be a part of for a long time.

It was also the opportunity to appreciate the time, hard work and heart and soul that goes into creating and exhibiting art work.

If you get the opportunity come along and take a look. It might just inspire you.

Until next time…happy painting!

 

 

 

Beautiful girl you can do amazing things.” (Source)

So I’m late posting again this week…insert sad face here!

With only four weeks to go until the end of my project (and an exhibition looming in a couple of weeks) I couldn’t feel more disconnected and unmotivated from being creative. Interestingly though I don’t feel like I’m failing this journey for this sudden lack of artistic drive. I have resolved in myself that I have well and truly rediscovered my artistic self. I have never felt more passionate that art will play a bigger role in my life. The simply fact is, that first and foremost I am a Mother (a first time one at that) and this role is my most important role.

As rewarding and incredible as being a Mum is, it is tough; sometimes really tough! When thinking about this I asked myself the question,’was starting this project when I did the right or smart thing to do? And in hind sight, ‘would I do it again?’ A very firm answer of NO immediately sprang from my tongue and that didn’t surprise me. Why? Considering I’ve learnt so much about myself and what is important to me these past forty-eight + weeks. What I know now is that I shouldn’t have added the additional pressure to myself. I wish I had just concentrated on looking after myself more and appreciated my new role as Mum. I’m certainly not unhappy to have been on this artistic journey, just that it could have waited a little while longer.

So what does one do when feeling this way with only four weeks left to go. Not give up. Take a deep breath, accept what is and move on. I took this photograph or our little artist today as my project. I have grown and learnt so much about myself because of her. She is the best project I have ever created!!

Cheer me on to make it though these last few projects. Until next week… happy painting!

I would like to paint the way a bird sings.”― Claude Monet

I’m back after taking an unexpected and unplanned week off from blogging last week. It was simply one of those weeks where so much was going on I didn’t know if I was coming or going. I even forgot I had to go to work until half an hour after my start time and I can tell you that just isn’t normal for me. So I knew I needed to take a step back from focusing on too much and just try again this week. And here I am.

Even though I didn’t blog last week, I was still working on art. As I’ve previously mentioned, I’m getting ready to be a part of a group exhibition in a few weeks time with my work crew. I’m very excited and super nervous.

To lower my stress levels some what I’ve decided to exhibit a few older pieces of work. So that meant I’ve needed to varnish an older oil painting (which has been stored away) and have it framed. I also wanted to add some more depth to a previous piece I posted about in week two. So I used a pouring medium to give a glass like finish. I’m yet to add the additional dimension using gold leaf.

Unfortunately I had trouble photographing them for my post but I hope you get the idea.

I also wanted to share that Baby C has finally taken her first walking steps on her own. She is so proud of herself and of course so are we.

Baby C has also taken to ‘drawing’ as she calls it on a regular basis. We keep her sketch book and crayons in a cupboard, so she points at the cupboard and says ‘drawing’ whenever she wants to do it. I think it may be time we bought her a little easel though as she has also taken to drawing on the floor. Even more fun times ahead.

Until next week… happy painting!

When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.” ― Jalaluddin Rumi

With only six more weeks to go I thought it was time I talked about the other half of my artistic goal; presenting my work in a final exhibition project. As luck and the stars would have it, I will be a part of a group exhibition with my work colleagues at the beginning of October. I am grateful to work with lovely, creative and very talented souls, so it will be worth a look. I promise to post all the details on my blog should anyone be interested in attending.

This week I created a little painting playing with an idea for a decanter tag. 

Until next week… happy painting!

She was simple like quantum physics.”  (Source)

As I have mentioned before motherhood hasn’t been something I’ve found instinctively easy. Yet now I can honestly say I’ve comfortably found my feet in my role as Mum. Baby C is at such an incredible age where she soaks up the world around her like a little sponge. I’m embracing the importance of this time as it is flying by so quickly and I want to hold on to every minute.

This week I decided to create a little bird collage inspired by a beautiful creation I found on pinterest. I drew a sketch and then cut out the pieces like a template. I found some scrape book paper I had stored away and set off to work. In ideal circumstances I would have used a paper knife but as time was brief I had to make do with a pair of scissors. For a first attempt I’m pretty happy.

Until next week…happy painting?

Is there a time in your life when you felt like you’d found your feet?

Creativity takes courage.  (Source)

I didn’t feel like making a mess this week so I decided to do a digital painting instead. I created this weeks project in Adobe Illustrator.  I enjoyed this process as it was very spontaneous and now I feel like emulating this image with ink.  It might be time after all to make that mess.

Until next week… happy painting!

Have you tried digital painting before?

I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it.”― Vincent van Gogh

This week has been about experimenting with ink on watercolour paper. I wanted to try a concept inspired by a lovely scene on my ‘pretty’ pinterest board.  It didn’t quite work out but it was fun giving it a go.

Until next week… happy painting!

What artistic experiments have you tried lately?

The best project you’ll ever work on is YOU.” (Source)

I’m sure you all noticed my absence last week. I decided to take the week off art projects and blogging while we were on holidays. I needed a week off to breath and enjoy family time away.

This week I realised that I have only ten more art projects to go until I’ve reached the end of my goal. It’s a great feeling knowing I’ve come this far and I’m really proud of myself for not throwing in the towel by letting my fears get in the way.

I know now that this project has become as much about personal growth as it is about creativity. I feel more strongly than ever that art will become an even bigger focus in my future.

This week I finished my watering can with a simple painting on the front. Inspired by our visit to the Lavender Farm at Pottique.

Here is to making the next ten weeks bigger, brighter and even more brilliant.

Until next week… happy painting?