embracing my past history

I love watching anything about collecting and vintage finds.The bower bird in my heart gets all fluttery. yes be still my beating heart.... Whilst watching The Best of the Collectors I was glued to the words from the founder of Mambo, an Australia surfwear company that's global. He'd been collecting pieces of Mambo designs since the biz began and talked about preserving and embracing the history of his artsy biz as it was the foundation of where they were today.

Like a lightening bolt, I got it.Let go of any embarrassment I may have had in the past and embrace my history, where I've been + what I've created. It is part of who I am as an artist, today..I was inspired to go through my blog of over 600 posts, 5 yrs worth and added labels to my post. I now feel proud and honored to share my history with you....and along the way I discovered these pics that I never shared.

Mens Shoe Department

This was one of my stint of in the Visual Merchandising team at Myer Depart store, 2006. I was employed to paint murals on the walls of a number of department areas.

Girls Swim wear wall

Mens Fashion Wall

Kidswear Wall

Girls Fitting room

Half a boat in Babywear.

Part of the brief for these jobs was that I would be ok with these murals being painted over if and when the designs changed. Its been a while since I've been into the store as we have moved away from the area. But the fact remains, I did an amazing job, loved creating something on this scale.The store manager got great feedback from the state manager.... they were the best murals he'd seen in any of the Queensland stores...

so why would I want to hide history like that? not any more.

Brave in the world!

my reflection

Ok, so I've painted a lot of 'things' in my time, walls, fridges, doors, decorated toilet rooms, mail boxes, cubby houses and murals in department stores. So painting on my body doesn't seem like a foreign idea to me at all. Actually it was great!

Why am I painting on my neck? of all places? Yesterday Kelly Rae talked about the f word...Fear! and whilst I work on my 'stuff' this fear was wanting to stay buried. That belief is keeping me in the starving artist role.Yes my journey has been fulfilling and I love what I'm creating at the moment, there is also so much more I want to achieve.

My fear is that my creative vision is not going to meet with reality. To begin to turn that around and start living my creative vision I'm affirming and today painted on my body that I'm worthy of success. Creative and financial. Mindy has inspired me to post this pics. It reminds me of that great scene in "What the Bleep?" (you tube start at 5.07)

from the outside looking in

It needed to be on my neck, or more specifically my throat chakra. And I needed to be able to read it when I looked in the mirror. I painted it in my mirrors reflection and knew that being brave at home was easy...I needed to go out into the real world.

I headed off to a couple of places. Too easy just to go and get petrol, I wanted to engage in conversation with people and went on a search for cushion inserts. After visiting a few decore places with customer assistants not being able to look directly at me, or just into my eyes, one lady finally asked me "What have you been up to?" I told her what it said, that I was practicing a new affirmation and that I painted it backwards so I could read it in the mirror, she told me I was clever. And I felt satisfied that I got to voice my words to the outside world.

Phew!

Your Invited~Banquet of Colour Exhibition

Lately I've been revisiting some of my early paintings..maybe its because I'm teaching workshops on painting with some of the techniques, maybe its because I'm starting to acknowledge where I've been creatively in the past....(rather than trying to sweep it under the carpet thinking that I need to move on). And be in it, of it, accepting that's all part of who I am and where I am today.

Well here it is in all its glory, my first solo exhibition, 2004. Not long after I started painting I threw myself into a solo exhibition. Naivety goes a long way and I was motivated, full steam ahead.

Promo photo for local paper

I created paintings, furniture (with the help of my cabinet maker hubby) a 8 seater table, a buffet table, shelving unit and ceramics...this is where my painted fridge made its debut.

So you're warmly invited to have a look through my "Banquet of Colour" exhibition. I've up loaded all the photos from the exhibition here ( previously I only had a few on my website)...grab a glass of wine or cup of tea and come for a wander through.

And I shall happy acknowledge all that I am and all that I have been.

some crazy things I've painted

With some 'things' coming out of storage this bar fridge resurfaced. I painted with much enthusiasm a few years ago...it started out completely pink and my hubby kind of freaked out, so the design evolved.The fridge is fully functional and was part of my first solo exhibition. Love that unexpected element....my exhibition was far from just paintings on the walls. My thoughts began to spiral and recall many other crazy inspired things I've got my brush to.....

A commissioned piece that was very special. A pregnant belly cast...it is now hanging in Mia Graces room.

A chair that now hangs out with many other arty chairs at the Chocolate Cottage Cafe.

A mail box for an ex Texan, now Australian. I'm suer the mailman wouldn't have missed delivering mail to this one!

I had a burning desire to paint doors, so our children's preschool was only too happy to offer their doors for painting.

Ohhhh I've just thought of some more.....Some murals and .....I was commissed to paint and mosiac a toilet room, I'll see if I can find those pics for the next post.

More nesting

This is what I've been putting my creative energy into this week. Cleaning and tidying and creating beautiful spaces in our home. I realised that it doesn't matter where we are, we create the environment we live in with the energy we give it. Between this and getting ready for Christmas and spending time with our children it has been a full, but relaxed week. Thank goodness.

I'm tidying photos on the computer and lots of loose bits and pieces. It feels good to be moving towards the end of the year with this energy. For those of you who followed My Humming Heart Blog, (my other blog) I've transferred all the information to this blog. Consolidating! and any thing that I wrote about there you will now find here.....

I have just put a roast in the oven We are celebrating an early Christmas here, so we can spend Christmas Day with the rest of our family members. Its been great! Kids are happily playing and Darryl is watching Get Smart...and Loving it. I've just escaped for a quite moment on my own!

new projects

I've been feeling really keen to put an art book together. Been so inspired by dj pettitts beautiful tactile work. Art books seem like such a great place for all those tactile sensory pleasures to come together, being able to touch and see.



I don't know a lot about how to put a book together, with binding or pages...so for my first one I bought a board book at an op shop and sanded and gessoed the pages. It's been so much fun. I've loved the freedom of being able to choose from so many materials. The kitchen bench and dinning table was just covered with paper, fabric, beads, odds and ends I've collected and not know what to do with.

Then i made so cards. Crocheted lace, my sweet darling bird image, raw silk, buttons loose hanging threads.....

Here's another one.I'm starting to think about envelopes now as they are not a standard size...have a few crazy ideas to play with. Another fun day of playing tomorrow and a bit of work also. 2 commissions to do...playing is so much more fun.....

'Sing sweetly in the morning

Of blessings in the Dew'

CARNIVAL COUTURE

Unleashed Spring Couture

This is the piece I finished yesterday for the Carnival of Flowers exhibition at Queens Park. It has to go through a selection committee, so it will be interesting to see if it gets chosen...I have been unsuccessful the last 2 years, so I'll wait and see what happens this time. Regardless I am thrilled with the way this piece came together and it feels like a new direction...very exciting. I approached it from the mind set of a piece of fabric hanging, or a garment. The painting is on canvas and is attached to a timber coat hanger. The hanger is I painted and sanded to give an aged look.

I was really keen to 'dress' the coat hanger...like mechanising an outfit. So my skills from Visual Merchandising came into play, and it is something that I have always loved, putting things together. I created 2 necklaces, which I just adore and would happily wear myself! I felt it needed a little more, but wasn't sure what that something was....






Then I came up with the idea of having a wrap...I had some silk so I sewed a length together and then dyed it in some hot tea water. All the 'extra pieces' can be worn, it's kind of like having a piece of art and accessories all in one! I just loved the whole process! On the canvas I also included beads and canvas cut out flowers, some of my personal design elements and stencils.

And last but lot least I sewed a tag on the side with my signature, like a clothing tag. On the back I wrote 'One size fits all'.

I have some more ideas along this line of art/textile work, may have to wait a little while till I finish painting my 30 x30's for hanging tomorrow. Better get to those unfinshed canvases.....still got labels, stringing and a number of other things to go!

Textured Hearts

I created these 2 works sometime ago, but had never photographed them. They are both very textured and 3 dimensional......free form weavings.I'm not sure if there is such a thing, just one of those creations that happened on its own.Lots of stitching, vintage lace and fabric, buttons and interesting yarn wrapped and sewn on a wire frame. Both are available as cards and prints at my Red Bubble.

Chairs

These are the chairs that I have been painting for sale at the Chocolate Cottage. This cafe is filled with painted chairs to sit on whilst enjoying chocolate and coffee. And the four of us, Jackie Alves, Kym Breeze and Anna Bartlettand myself, have all painted chairs to display tomorrow for our on site painting day.


It was a great opportunity to paint a 3D object, and somewhat challenging also.

It's a good thing to be outside of my comfort zone,

that's where growth comes from.

Belly Cast

This is a belly cast of a 38week pregnant tummy! Taking on this commission artwork was indeed a privilege, to be given such a wondrous 'task' that involved further enhancement of this very special moment in time, proved to be a delightful process.

This is the cast its original form (isn't it beautiful!)...an hours work of layering on plaster strips.

The husband and wife team did a fantastic job in their bathroom, then I got the fun bit of painting it! I built up the edges to make it a little stronger and Darryl (my husband) was able to fit a timber hanging system into the back of it so it could hang flat on the wall. Hot pink and lime green was chosen to co-ordinate with baby Mia's bedroom...and I wanted the colours to fade off and meet each other on the centre of the belly to represent the energy that was held within it.

Once the cast was painted I used lace stencils around the belly and across the breast. Butterflies were chosen my Mia's mum, who loves the symbology that they represent... transformation. A cocooning period, to then emerge as a beautiful creature gracing the winds of the Universe.

I made the butterflies with canvas, beads and wire and they are attached to the heart with ribbon, connecting these individuals who are now a family.

I thoroughly enjoyed being part of this, celebrating a loving moment in time. And will always be a visual reminder of just who wondrous it is to bring a life into this world.

"Parenting is not a payback system"

Happy Birthday to ya!!

Two of my very dear girl friends celebrated their birthdays this week, a day apart. What fun I've had celebrating with them!!! It started with a surprise for Jude outside her home....we were in our PJ's at 7:30pm in the dark, in hand with party hats, loud party horns, movie,Champaign, strawberries and chocolate! What more do you need? A very unexpected surprise for our dear Jude....The night ended around 12:30am, what a fun loving time was had by all. Thank you Jude!

To then wake up and head off,(after school drop off) to a manicure and pedicure with 3 great friends, who I only saw a number of hours ago. Happy Birthday Wendy.I was Blessed and in Bliss!!

I believe it is so important to celebrate your birthday, doing some thing that you love to do as it welcomes in the year ahead! I know Jude and Wendy will be blessed with a fantastic year...can't wait till next year...and what would I love to do for my birthday in October? Um

Kathy and I transfomed Buddah, with paint and new energy.And Jude Loved her present.

New Life

This is a bust that I've had for a number of years.....and felt it was time to give it some new energy. It is perfect for displaying my jewellery. I've just recieved some very cool pendants findings from the States, and would love to share them with you when the are finshed. So it was time to transform this busted woman with some healing green paint.

After I'd painted her green and jade, I wanted an aged, white wash look,so I then gave her a layer of white. And completed her, by giving her a heart.....yes she has come to life.