New Art - Honoring your story

 I have been working on some new pieces of art, and while I am still finishing off the online courses, being inspired every day.  When I sit down in my studio I have been feeling a strong desire to create, and have some meaning in my finished piece.  I want you to be able to look at my work and wonder what the character is thinking, feeling, where they have been and ultimately what their story is.

This painting is about telling your story, and not being ashamed or fearful about what others might think about you.  We all have a story to tell of the good times and our successes.  Even the painful ones have hidden gems that help us to grow and makes us stronger.  Don't hide but honor your story and share it with the world, some one somewhere out there will draw strength and be inspired.  

Honoring your story

A Bit more play - Shining light

There is always room for a bit of creative play.  Where you can just put colors down without having an agenda, and then going with what you see. I have been trying to do that every day depending on my location, and I do have a travel kit that serves me well outside the studio.

Making my gelli plate was one of the best things I've made so far, and it provides a quick and easy method of placing color in a random way - you can see how I use it HERE. This is one of a selection of paintings that I have done.

This is how it began, after I had laid down some color on the plate, I continued with some stamps and also added some doilies that had been painted 

I started sketching a vague image using charcoal

Then she started to take on a life of her own,

I love using color

Remembering that it is just about play I continued to add color and she continued to emerge out of the paper.

Working in the studio

Once I had finished my play, she was ready to stand on her own two feet, I might leave it at that, use it for another piece of work, we'll see.

Shine your light - Mixed Media

For now she will continue to shine her light. and inspire and I will continue to play.  

Change

Change

I have been talking about change a bit over the year here on my blog, not trying to be someone else, but who you were really called to be.  More recently if you have glanced over my recent posts you would have seen the health changes that I have been pursuing.

I have been pressing in on my creativity, painting and doing something that makes another step, learning, trying to grow to be the artist that I want to become.  An artist that can through their work be a blessings, and through words inspire.  I still have a way to go, but wanted to share this piece I did recently.

 I love the colors and the vibrancy of this piece, she is full of life and excited about her tomorrow.  She has a strength and a purpose, knowing who she is and not being afraid to be all that she has been called to be.

 I hope to develop more of this style of work, but will continue to press in and explore techniques and materials.

Change - Mixed media on watercolor paper

If you would like to purchase a print I will be adding it to my other work on Society 6.  Stay blessed and be a blessing!

New Art - The Other side

A new piece of art I thought I would tell the story behind it.  You can make up your own filling to the story. It will be available as a print should you wish to purchase a copy

The Other Side - Mixed media art

 She pondered, what would it be like on the other side, I've heard so much about it.... gazing across the water she breathed out, pretending to be in control of the waves

To be free like the bird to be able to soar, she saw herself, letting go of her insecurities she knew that she would be able to take the step..

A step that so many had taken before her and would continue to do so after she had gone.  So she uncurled her wings and let go.

If you want to see more of my work click HERE

New art - Courses Update

I have been busy in the studio working away on a variety of courses.  What I realized early this year was that I signed up for too many courses.  It is so important to keep moving forward and learning new things, but if you don't give yourself enough time to process what you are learning it can become stressful, falling behind and getting yourself in a stressful state. 

What I found happened to me was that I just stopped.  I had lost sight of why I was doing the courses as I just tried to churn out images in an attempt to keep up, and also keep up with the events happening around me in my life.  

I decided to change my mindset, I have slowed down and have been taking my time, having given myself a breather and got on with things like moving my mum into a new home, I have come out the other end excited about the new work that I will produce over the course of the next year.

I am very pleased to share with you some of the pieces that I have done over the last couple of weeks from Soul Food and Life Book courses, I will also be sharing over the coming months some larger paintings that I will be working on for the Bloom True - Flora Bowley Course  It is a 5 week course, with access after the course for 6 months, the next course starts May 12th – June 14th, 2014, so go on the waiting list to get more information. 

Here are a glimpse of 3 pieces that I recently finished....

Going to the party

Palette Love

Sweety Pie

If you would like to see the complete image you can check them out here at my mixed media art site

Experiments in Collage

I have been part of the course run by Randal Plowman called 'Experiments in Collage', which has sadly come to an end.  I have learnt quite a few new collage techniques that I will take forward within my own work.  Here are some of the collages that I did on the course.

Seeing the world through fresh eyes

We spent 6 weeks looking at different approaches to collage,

Essential Play

Trying different techniques and seeing what we liked the best.

It's a Mans world

 I really enjoyed adding painting effects and drawings within my collages,

Admit One

 And using images printed on tracing paper.

The Secret

 Trying to step out of that which feels comfortable to being outside of my comfort zone, and then bringing it all together.  

As the course has finished around 16 of the participants from around the world decided to make and send 5"x7" collages to each other, I am still working on my set to send out and should complete them over the next couple of weeks - I'll post the collages when I have done them and let you have a peek .  I will also be able to show you some of the collages that I receive from the group.

No place like home

I thoroughly recommend this class, why not do something different that will take you out of your comfort zone. Check out Randal's website to see when the next one is running, and do remember to share what you get up to!

Making time for Art

I have been busy in my studio space of 8 months, and doing a happy dance every time I remember how far I have come from the edge of my kitchen table.  With that aside I have neglected sharing some of the larger pieces art work I have done.  I have been working regularly in my Art journal, not really doing much writing in the journal which I leave to my 'morning pages', but using the journal to explore techniques and smaller pieces of work.

I am also working on submitting work for an exhibition entitled: Art and Healing The deadline for sending in your applications is 15th February, so you will need to get a move on!  I have been wanting more and more for my work to tell a story and be encouraging, whether it has the words of encouragement weaved within the paint layers or open to interpretation by the viewer.  The work I'm working on for submission combines some of the writing that I share about my role as a carer last year.

Here are snippets of some of my most recent pieces to see the full image check out my mixed media art site

Getting your wings

In thought

Working through the midst

Home from home

I hope you are able to spend time being creative this weekend!  Blessings