Long Hot Summer

It has been a long, hot and very enjoyable summer - and still a few weeks to go! I have been very busy taking 'the boys' - my son Phil (above) and his three mates - to the beach most days. They body surf along the crystal clear waves, while I watch from the sand, every now and then taking a dip in the ocean to cool down, walking the length of the beach and back. Truly a magic beach.

It hasn't all been play, and last weekend we cleaned out our garage and did an annual de-clutter around the house, leaving a pile of 'stuff' for the council pick-up and another pile for the Salvo's. We feel so much lighter now.

This stocktake meant that I found myself a trestle style table for my studio - no more tubes of paint falling of the edge! This, with a new table easel my thoughtful daughter Lauren bought me for Christmas and I'm 'cooking with gas'!

Today I sold 'Lucy's Garden' (see previous post) And here is a preview of the next 'Lucy' painting in the works and my new streamlined studio, with a stool my son insisted I use because of its ergonomic value.

I was very encouraged by comments on my last post - thank you one and all, it really helps you to take that next step. I would like to begin selling my paintings, as soon as I can get my act together. (If you are interested in buying any of my paintings before then, please contact me and we can discuss business/postage etc.)

I feel as though last year was the first year of my 'apprenticeship' and this year all that practice has developed into something good. Life is good!

Lucy's Garden

'Lucy's Garden' 22" x 28" acrylic on canvas.

Lately I have been enjoying researching Naive Art . In a nutshell, Naive artists are self-taught, generally use lots Colour and simple child-like designs, often without perspective. My absolute favourite Naive painter is Western Australian Mixed Media Artist Rebecca Cool, who uses the most beautiful fabrics in her work.

Rebecca inspired me to make this painting and there will be more to come from me in this style as I explore its possibilities and develop my own unique themes and characters. I just love it! Later, I may even take the leap into mixed media. Very exciting!

Balance

Inspired by Kate I I have been thinking about a single word to summon up a focus for the New Year. My word for 2008 is 'balance'.

Balance is important to anyone's wellbeing and last year, despite my efforts, it remained elusive for me. This year balance is coming easily to me and it's in part due to improved health and partly due to a new attitude.

Over the holidays I read The Yoga Of Eating by Charles Eisenstein, which gave me a new perspective towards my eating habits. Eating mindfully, listening to your body and being aware of the vibration of the food we eat, was the message here.

Before Christmas, inspired by better health, I did a detox of sorts eating totally vegetarian, no alcohol. This year I have settled into a balanced routine where I eat what my body tells me to eat, when it tells me to eat. Nothing is off-limits, but the aim is moderation or 'elegant sufficiency', as my mother would say. Now I eat a little meat every now and again, maybe a glass of wine, or a piece of chocolate. These things all add sweetness to my everyday life and I believe saying no to everything only leaves you wanting. The aim is health.

I have also aimed at a balance in my painting habits, taking breaks more often, before a sore neck tells me to stop. My painting is actually much better for the rest and I don't know why I thought I could push past my body's signals before this!

Yes, 'balance' is it.

Lazy Days

Happy New Year everyone!

Our first days of the New Year have been lazy and spent with no sense of time. Truly a luxury. Our house resembles a ramshackle library with so many books lying around and with the resident Domestic Goddess on holiday, a tad messy. Our car is full of sand from many trips to the beach, (imagine x four irrepressible long-haired 14 year old boys and a border collie in the back of a station wagon, windows down, plus four boogie boards, four towels, the smell of sunscreen in the air - now you're beginning to get the picture!)

I have bought a couple of canvases which are about to be transformed. One will be a cat painting, a house warming present for a friend. The other is beginning to take shape in my mind, almost complete. Most of my art over the holidays has been in my journal, and hopefully you will get some idea from these pages I have posted here, even though I couldn't fit all of the design on my scanner. I will add a quote to the centre of this design, as soon as I find one I like. Suggestions welcome!

An idea/project I hope to begin this year is to create a separate illustrated journal of my own poetry, which can be added to as I create more. I am really looking forward to this project and have lots of ideas on how to tackle it.

Lots to think about, lots to do.