Laith McGregor

Laith McGregor

You won't often see pics of men in this space, but here is a beauty. I've been watching Art Nation on the ABC lately and Laith McGregor was recent featured. you can watch the interview here.

What caught my attention was Laiths chosen medium...a biro.

Pens and biros are a great readily available tool to draw with and you can capture so much detail with this medium. I use a fine black biro to draw my greyscale illustrations, like the one in my banner at the moment and I'm always amazed by the detail and shading in the end result. I'm sure you would have done some phone side doodles, why not try it in your journal?

changing times...

some favourite things from my bathroom...

I've notice how tired I've been looking and feeling lately. And yes I could say there are a million reasons why.... but the truth is that I was in need of some time out. Over the last few days I've stayed away from blogging and out of my studio. I really just needed some time to be.... and its been so worth it.

I've had time to work though some things that haven't been sitting right within me for a while. To work though and feel into the whispers of a new direction and the puzzle pieces are clicking down into place around me. It feels exciting and scary but I now know this is a good thing and that I am on the right path. I can feel the changes within and around me already.

I am preparing to go on this crazy ride and see where it takes me and as always I'll give it 110%. I'm inspired to put things into action and let the Universe take care of the rest. Its time for some changes...

Floral Embellishments of Self

My Orange Floral Self...

Whilst reading a post at Olive + Hope a question was posed about a fun fact that I'd like to share about myself...after pondering for a while I wrote...

I don't feel completely dressed unless I have a flower on me...somewhere. On my shoes, in my hair or clipped to something I'm wearing.

Its true. And in sharing I'm aware its also about me embracing the unusual truth of who I am. In future posts you get to see more of me and my floral embellishments...

Erring on the side of Odd.

Growing Gratitude 600mm x 500mm

These two artworks are ready to head off to an exhibition with this painting.It is one of my all time favourite exhibitions, held in my old home town Toowoomba. Its one of the few artshows I know of locally that seeks out and encourages art outside of the square of mainstream art. Over the time that I've been exhibiting I've seen some amazing pieces. The ones that come to mind... a decorated porcelain toilet by Mary Kate Khoo, stenciled letters on a series of squash racquets and a hanging lampshade made from dried strawberry slices stitched together (sorry I don't recall the last 2 artists)

I feel there is a sort of acceptance. That painted floral op shop pillowcases, buttons and doilies fit more into the norm with the many other pieces erring on the side of odd.And I love that.

Respecting Resources 600mm x500mm

Or maybe its me realising that my creativity isn't that odd after all?

Keith Lo Bue in Hervey Bay!

Yes! thats right Keith Lo Bue! in Hervey Bay. What a BLAST Keith's exhibition is. Our regional art gallery director persuaded Keith, over a number of years she told the gathering, to finally exhibit a collection of his work.Keith's art hasn't been in a gallery setting for 12 yrs. I went along to his artist talk last night...Why the Wind Blows and other Popular Delusions. What a curious, interesting cool guy he is.

Some of his diehard fans were there. Red streamers to cheer him on. And I'm so proud to say that Keith and Neil Healey's collaborative show was well supported by our local community.

Keith spoke about his creative life and his passion for 'stuff'. we were all delighted to this piece in motion....just finished the night before the exhibition was put together.



Adele Outteridge opened Keith's exhibition. Keith described her as one of Australia's national treasures. I feel so privileged to have been at this event and oh so thankful to be able to hear Keith speak about his art.

Thank you Keith for accepting Hervey Bays invitation to share your work....it was not only a poetic moment, but a memorable one!

Nic Hohn + Etsy Treasury List

One of my winged hearts has made it to a Treasury list curated by Ronti. Honestly I don't know a lot about how these work, but I have read that the list only lasts for 2 days. I clicked away with my camera to capture the moment.

Celebrate this short but sweet moment I say!

I Listen Within

This message has been vibrating through me for some time now and so I've listened and put it into action....

Here is a statement of encouragement, an affirmation, a reminder to come back to centre and listen within. To truly listen to those inner meassges, however they come.

Its a statement about being on purpose, with everything we do, choose, create, strive for.

Its a way to honor and value ourselves and to stay on track.

There have been so many times that I haven't listened to the whispers of my heart and wondered how I got so far off my Path of Purpose. Here's a list of some of the hows that have steered me wayward...

• everybody else is doing it...it must be good/right
• fear of being 'left behind' if I don't do something
• competition
• others know more than me so I'll do what they say
• 'they' have more experience/authority than me, they must be right
• simply...I would do anything to succeed
• this is what I have to do to get ahead

All of these relate to stronger outside voices, inadequacy and fear.

I want to be reminded that there are other ways to be guided and a visual always works wonders! By posting this on my blog I am reminded everytime I'm there to plug into my own wisdom and listen.

If we make a choice to listen we can be perfectly guided. It's is simple, but not always easy.If this feels right for you, I'd love to take this Affirming Badge.

Grab a 'Listening Within' Badge

<center><a title="NicHohn" href="http://nichohn.blogspot.com/2010/07/i-listen-within.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4788847749_b698259434_m.jpg" width="150" height="109" alt="listening badge " /></a /></center>

I'm all about making changes for the better, and you?you are welcome to leave a link/comment....

its all good!

Winged Heart with new individual messages

Last day of school holidays here....we have had a blast. The kids have enjoyed seeing movies, bowling, hanging out at home, enjoyed friends company and I have loved the ease off from the school routine. This morning we celebrated with spiders, cake and chai. The sun is out today and its all good.

inspiration + boundaries= freedom

Its been unseasonably cold here. Last year I remember winter like it was a cold Autumn. This year I've got my beanies out. My kids call this tassel beanie my Chowder Hat, after a cartoon character and they laugh everytime I put it on. And that makes all the more determined to wear it all day. I made it up from a long crotchet rectangle and hand stitched across the top and side. Maybe I increased the number of stitches at the bottom or maybe the yarn was bulkier and just got wider. Inspiration took me for a ride and this is how it turned out.

The purple and jade beanie was made around the same time. Again I allowed inspiration to guide me and I made it up as I went along, circular this time....thats great when I'm making one offs, but if I ever want to create these again I'm going to have to sit down and work out how its come together.




I'm really getting how much my inner rebel rules me.I have so much resistance to following patterns, schedules and routines...truly I cringe at the thought.Whilst creating 2 paintings this week I've been in this challenge, wanting to create paintings in a similar style to this one, but feeling awkward and resistant in working out composition, colours and why it worked so well the first time. In the past I would have flown by the seat of my paints (pants) and made it up as I went along and at the end wondered why I have so many different styles of art in my portfolio.Its a balancing act between inspiration and (dare I say it) Self discipline.



At the moment its about setting my own boundaries for myself. Crazy thing is when I do I create more freedom for myself....who would have thought it worked like that.

In honor of setting my own schedule I'm creating a regular time line for my newsletter. I'd like to align with the new moon which is the 12 July.New Moons are such a great time for anything new and wonderful 'seed planting' time for positive changes.



Heres to embracing our own boundaries!

inner listening

Journal page

I've spent the last few days taking in all that I've learnt over the last 5 weeks with Kelly Rae. Its been huge, on many levels. So many solutions have come my way for my art and for me personally. I'm just so thankful that someone has the foresight to share their knowledge and discoveries about this creative world. There are no business modules to follow to make a creative business 'work'....plugging into our own dreams and listening within is the guidance I'm working with in this moment.

Thanks to all the wonderful class mates I've meet, looking forward enjoying this journey with you.....

on a note about facebook. You are welcome to be-friend me at my personal page and my Artsy page. Really I can't see at this stage how one can't work with the other. And I post different artsy news on both, so you aren't going to get the same posts twice. Just twice as much creative goodness!

not so slow

My slow painting has taken a rather quick turn. I've continued to paint with so much joy its finished. Love what's happened here. One of my favourite colours is white.. and I SOooo love those all white paintings, especially when they have depth and layers.

I'm no longer angry about my 8yrs of painting. Its turned into gratitude and this painting has helped me realise how much depth and experience I have and I'm able to get that on the canvas. And that makes me feel happy.

This painting is going to make its way to an exhibition next month.

I had the hugest Aha yesterday. Some challenges I've been working on for the longest time feel like they have cleared. I have no doubt that Kelly Raes e-course has helped me see things more clearly. And as I'm able to put it into words I shall share. At the moment I'm feeling deeply grateful and happy.