It’s been a while since I’ve been involved in an exhibition, and I’m excited to have 3 of my paintings in the Art & Design Precinct’sNurture exhibition beginning this Friday. With my first Mother’s Day coming up, it is the perfect theme for me.
Opening night is this Friday 2nd May, and the exhibition continues through until May 14.
The three paintings I chose to include all have themes of motherhood.
Breakfast for Early Birds features a mother bird feeding her babies as they nest in a tree, silhouetted before a clear dawn sky.
Hope Within
Hope Within was painted when I was pregnant, and represents the joy and hope of an expectant mother
Little Family is a brand new painting, very similar to the one I created for Xander’s nursery. The two larger trees represent the mother and father, while the smaller tree represents the child. The blue and yellow of the parents’ trees combine to make the green of the child’s. Each of the parent trees features a green heart, to represent their love for their child.
This is similar to the case of crayons I received one memorable Christmas as a child in the 80s
A lot of people ask me about how I got started with painting, and what my training has been.
As long as I can remember, I have loved to create in a variety of ways. As a child, one of the most memorable Christmas presents I received was a set of Crayola crayons. I was so excited by all those colours! Then, when I was a little older, I received a tin of Derwent coloured pencils, which I adored. As a child I also went to after-school art lessons, with a lovely lady whose name I can no longer remember in her backyard studio. I loved these classes because we were encouraged to try out different mediums and new techniques. It was at one of these classes that I first saw a van Gogh – the teacher showed me his Sunflowers in a book and I was mesmerised. He is still one of my favourite artists today.
I was around 11 when I painted this at an after school art class. It was my first ever painting on canvas.
I’m still really proud of some of the things I was able to produce in that class. My favourite is a watercolour of a flamingo. I used watercolour pencils to make it and it was the first time I had used watercolour paper. I remember being impressed at how much better the colours came out on the watercolour paper than on the ordinary paper I was used to using. It was also in this class that I painted on canvas for the first time – this made me feel very professional and grown up.
Later on, in high school, I did art in grade 8, but did not choose it as an elective subject in year 9. I wanted to, but my parents convinced me to do something more ‘useful’, so I took typing instead. While I am very grateful for my ability to touch type (something that has come in very handy over the years), I am still a little sad that I allowed myself to be talked out of taking art. Looking back though, it’s hard to be too regretful, because I have been able to explore my art in my own way, and to learn through experimentation. I wouldn’t have come up with my ‘signature style’ for backgrounds without this experimentation.
A flamingo created using watercolour pencils when I was about 12 years old
Throughout high school and university (where I studied Primary Teaching), I did little pieces of art here and there, just for fun. I did lots of doodles during lectures because I find it hard to sit still and listen without doing something with my hands. Often I would cover a whole notebook page with doodles, and would have the people on either side of me looking over my shoulder at my work. I didn’t do any large paintings during this time, mostly because I didn’t have the time or space to do so.
When I finished uni, I moved out of mum & dad’s place to my own unit with my then boyfriend (now husband). We had very little money as I had only just started teaching and he was studying and working part time. I was eager to decorate our little townhouse, and since I couldn’t afford to buy art, decided to create some of my own. I experimented with using oil paints, and found that while I loved the results I got, I was getting sick from the smell, impatient for the paint to dry and hated the clean up. I also experimented with using pastels, and liked the soft look they created, but once again the OCD part of me didn’t like the mess. I reverted back to the old familiar acrylics and watercolours. At this stage I was still creating art just for me and my own home – I didn’t dream that anyone else would want to hang my artwork on their wall.
Winter to Spring – the triptych that started it all
A few years later, my husband and I (we were married by then) decided to buy our own house. Once again, I decided to decorate with my own artwork. We had a large blank wall that I was excited to fill. I created a triptych acrylic on canvas, featuring a tree which came more into flower with each panel. It looked great on the wall and I was very proud of it. It still hangs on our lounge room wall today. Once again, I was painting just for me, and didn’t expect to ever sell my art to others. Then, something amazing happened. A friend saw the painting and loved it, and offered to pay me to do something for her own wall. I was thrilled! I started to think that despite my lack of formal training, maybe there would be others out there who would appreciate my artwork. That was when I really started to create more, and to offer my paintings for sale.
Now, I have sold paintings to people from all over the world, and I have been contacted by many people to create custom made commissions for their own walls. It fills me with joy whenever I sell a painting, because it means someone has appreciated the work I’ve put into it. I love the idea of my paintings hanging on other people’s walls, all over the world.
I hung up my latest painting in my son’s room this evening. Here’s how it looks:
I’m really happy with how it turned out, although now that I see it on the wall I’m thinking a bigger painting would go well there – I’m considering doing something similar on canvas!
Remember, if you like this painting, I can make a custom one for you, in the colours you like! I could also do a ‘family portrait’ in trees.
What are my own thoughts about happiness and how to create it? I think different people find their happiness in different ways, so here are some of the things that make me happy:
Creating
Even when I’m not painting (and I did have a very long break without painting), I’m always creating something. I love to draw and doodle, and to create scrapbook pages. I like making crafts and I l0ve to cook.
Appreciating the little things
A beautiful sunset. A hot cup of tea. SLEEP. (Oh, Sleep, how did I ever take you for granted!?) My baby’s smile. Something I’m guilty of is spending too much time looking forward to big events, and not focusing on the little sweet moments of the everyday. When I do focus on these things, I have a happier day.
Family, Love and Friendship
This is something I’m appreciating more and more since the birth of my baby. I get so much happiness from my friends and family, and the support they have given me since Xander was born. I love being a part of our own little family.
What things make you happy? How do you create happiness in your own life?
Something happened this morning that hasn’t happened in what feels like an age. I picked up a paintbrush, and started a painting. I can’t remember the last time I did this.
Xander’s Painting – a work in progress
There are a lot of reasons why I haven’t painted in a long time, and why I haven’t updated this website. A wonderful reason is that in November my husband and I welcomed a new addition into our family, our son Xander. I can’t believe how much my life has changed and how much I love my little boy.
Today, I decided to do a painting to hang on his bedroom wall. As I sat down to paint, I thought about how long it had been, and how much I enjoy painting. I thought about this website and my Facebook page and Etsy store, and how I have neglected them. I guess I felt like I had nothing to post about if I hadn’t completed a new painting, but I know that’s not true. I’m going to try to be a little more regular with my posts.
I can’t wait to get back to working on Xander’s painting (if he would only have his nap!) and sharing it with you all.
Wow. I can’t believe how quickly time has flown by this year. I guess I didn’t exactly keep that New Year’s resolution, huh? There has been a lot of personal stuff going on with me this year, so I haven’t had the chance to paint as often as I would have liked to. But, as they say, it’s better late than never!
Today was a holiday for Brisbane due to the Ekka, and I finally got a chance to paint! I’ve got a few things in progress, but here’s one I completed:
Under the Milky Way
I’ve really missed watercolours!
I’ve also been busily uploading wearable art pendants to my etsy page today – I’ve uploaded quite a few but I still have a lot more to go!
Thanks to those who’ve stuck with me even though I’ve been quiet – I’ll try to make sure I’m not away so long again!
I’m sure you’ve all heard by now about the devastating floods which have hit my home state of Queensland. I’m feeling very grateful right now to be one of the lucky ones – my house is fine, and my friends and family are safe. Not everyone is so lucky.
I do feel quite helpless right now as it’s very hard to us to go anywhere because many of the roads near us are still cut off by floodwaters.
One thing I can do to help, however, is be a part of the fundraising effort for the flood appeal.
It’s hard to believe a new year has already begun – 2010 flew by, but I’m really looking forward to a great year in 2011. I thought I’d share with you some of my goals and plans for this year:
– In 2011 I plan to start the year by painting for me again – I finished out 2010 with a few commissions, and while I really enjoyed the challenge of completing them and was really proud of the results, I had a bunch of other ideas in the back of my mind that I didn’t get a chance to try out. So this year I’m going to try to get a few of those ideas down on paper or canvas.
– Speaking of too many ideas running around in my head (no wonder I’m having trouble remembering what day it is) – I also plan to keep an art journal close by, so I can put down ideas as they come to me, so when I don’t have time to paint they don’t end up getting forgotten.
– This year I’m also looking forward to starting a commission for some friends of mine. Last year I sold one of my favourite paintings, Colours of Nature, and while I was thrilled to have made a sale I was just a little sad to see it go. So I’m really happy to be painting a big version on canvas for friends – that way even though I’ll be saying goodbye to it I’ll be able to visit! I’m looking forward to getting started on it.
Colours of Nature (SOLD)
– I plan to participate in prompts like Illustration Friday as often as possible. It’s a great way to push me out of my comfort zone to try something new.
– I’m going to try to paint at least once per week, and update this website at least once per week. OK I know this is the type of resolution doomed to failure. Sometimes other things (like working full time in a demanding job) get in the way. Nonetheless, it’s a goal I’m going to do my best to achieve. Now just stay tuned to watch the excuses come rolling in.
– Finally, one of my biggest (and scariest) goals for this year is to actively seek out places to exhibit my work, and to consider doing a solo exhibition.
Participating in the Handmade Expo markets and the Soulful Spring Sounds market. One of the best decisions I made all year was to participate in these markets – they’re a much more personal way to sell my work than online.
I wanted to participate in one last Illustration Friday topic before the year ended, and well, I’ve left it a little late. Luckily their topic this week is “Winter”, and I have the perfect painting for that topic. I know I’m supposed to create something new, but I’m a little too late for that.
Here’s my painting:
This painting is available to purchase via My Etsy Store.
Happy New Year everyone!
I 2011 is all you could wish it to be.
