Golden Girl

Golden Girl close up ~ Kindness Over Matter

Golden Girl

mixed media painting on canvas 75cm x 40cm

reclaiming

Reclaim your wild notions ~ mixed media on paper

Inspiration Avenue Challenge

Sacred Journey

original painting, mixed media collage on canvas 60 cm x 60cm

inspiration avenue challenge

prints available here

Creativity is your own sacred journey. One that requires you to go within. It’s about getting to know your true self, allowing yourself time to grow, believing in your own creative abilities, having the courage to put something out there that others aren’t doing and most importantly accepting yourself unconditionally.

Loving the unknown

all those doors I painted really triggered something inside. and I'm wanting to paint. I haven't put brush to canvas for the longest time and have felt the inner callings to get back to it. maybe it was working through all that resistance, but I'm sure that something has unblocked and I'm feeling inspired again.

you know how much I love drawing grayscale portraits and I draw most of these on paper. I've been trying to figure out how to create these on canvas. A while ago I tried gluing paper onto the canvas+ drawing into it and that worked to a certain degree, but it didn't quite toot my horn. So I grabbed one of the canvas's I had in my studio and began reworking it. with paint, gesso and pen.

Whilst working on her face that little critical voice piped up telling me 'its not working, give up.' I thanked it for sharing and called on all the positive messages I could to affirm my creative skills. it felt like a turning point. so glad I was consious of it + I worked my way through it. so pleased I did. ahh painting can be such an emotional process....

I love where this is going. I love that I'm repurposing a canvas. I love that it feels like there is a challenge to create around what's already there, some boundary lines I can fall into.maybe for the first time I can say I am loving + trusting the unknown....

Love that nurtures

Hope all the mum's had a lovely mothers day. We had a peaceful day by the water, eating fish and chips and enjoying each others company. Love those sort of lazy days....

Here's some words that really touched my heart when I read them and seemed to make sense of the way I feel about mothering.

'You don't need to have job or even be in business to be doing your life's work. You may be raising a family as your life's work, helping to guide your children's life-force energy into higher order....' Sanaya Roman + Duane Packer.

This is an important job....

thready heart goodness

30cm x 30cm Canvas with a thready heart

I been working on some art for a new workshop and its all about thready goodness and fabric to delight the senses. My creative memory was given a shake after creating these hearts for a swap And they were inspired by some tactile pieces from my past artworks. Here's the only pic I could find....look at my fuzzy hair.

Me + my heart 2006

Here are some delicious close ups...

you just never know when a past creation can help you create for today..

belief in 2011

Belief.

mixed media on canvas

i woke this morning with a new feeling in my heart. one of hope and belief. belief in myself and what 2011 holds for me. i don't recall feeling this kind of self belief for a long time. it feels like confidence + a deep knowing rolled into one....and you? what does 2011 hold for you?

a cleansing goodbye

'Medicine Woman'. Mixed media on Canvas 50cm x40cm

Seems like there has been lots of letting go around here lately. Some has been easy, others its taken real courage to acknowledge its time to move on. BuBu has definitely a challenge for my

heart. ...it could have been so easy to hang on to the comfort. bit like a security blanket that I have out grown, but I know this part of my of my biz no longer has a purpose.This has given me the freedom. to be whatever my heart + soul wants me to be. And then to find out my printer has gone into voluntarily liquidation. well that was confirmation I'd made the 'right' decision.

so what else am I saying goodbye to....

• time with family after Xmas, couldn't get to Toowoomba as roads were cut by the floods.
• a trip to Yeppon, more flood waters are keeping us at home.
• my cupboard I found for $3. loved it when I got it, but I no longer have room for it in my studio.
• loads of 'stuff' has already gone to the Op shop (that was easy to let go of)
• my pink and green heart silk flags in the garden got broken, somehow....(hard!)
• my printer has kicked the bucket.
• arty files on my computer dating from pre 2007, can no longer open them....

A great lesson for me, helping me clean up and acknowledge what I want to keep in my life and what has expired...truly cleansing.

I Am Quirky!

I Am....inspirational, intuitive, imaginative. at etsy

I've been cleaning out cupboards and organisation things throughout the whole house. Truly this cleaning up bug is lasting forever...the most challenging spot I've found, is my studio. My new cupboards are in and I've been patiently trying to paint my navy blue bookshelf white.A bit of a task. Its been so wet and humid here that I am waiting forever for the coats to dry so I can put another on.

I found this painting in my 'stash' and have always loved the background colors and movement. Today this angel got a new face. I've been playing around with some different combination of mediums on canvas...and it feels like its coming together. Shes a bit quirky, but that can be lots of fun too.

I am Pink Enough!

"I am Pink Enough" available on Etsy

it seems like forever that I've actually put brush to canvas. this flowed out with the idea of drawing directly on to the canvas. I'm trilled with how it looks and was able to draw into it with my biro too. her face is actually whiter than what it is pictured here. the graininess you can see on her face is the texture of the canvas. not a premade canvas, but a fame my hubby made and stretched for me (He's a joiner by trade, I'm so lucky!)

and I have been in super organizing mode. I have to confess in the past I could never really see the value of being super organized. I was ok with being a bit organized or kind of knowing where things might be. But I've truly been bitten by the bug. it almost feels like a nesting period and I am so in love with storage containers. ..and I've discovered how wonderful those bags are that you put your clothes and linen in and suck all of the air out off.marvelous!

its happening in my studio too! these doors were given to us and my hubby and I have put plans together for 3 cupboards with 6 doors. I can see I'll be painting these white, along with my bookshelf and studio table. Can't wait to get things organized and labelled in there! can you see the corner of my car in this pic? I have some swirly graphics on the side and back of our station wagon with my website addy.

all is well...

Painting by the Pool

Sound exotic? Blissful Paradise? An Artists Dream? Its kind of more like a circus.....I'm being inventive with my time. A pupil free day today and 16 days 'til the Xmas Art Fair, sees me feeling a little anxious about getting stuff done. So I've been by the pool trying to get this one finished, with my 10 year old asking me to count her backwards somersaults, a dog waiting patiently by the pool fence because he's rolled his ball into the water...and he wants it back! and our 12 yr has the radio on with some sort of music that I really don't relate to (must be showing my age) ...and I'm painting. Doesn't get any more real than that!

The things we do in the name of art.......

some beauty to share

........
photo courtesy of Katrina Marsh

Whilst the first day of Spring has come and gone and the only flower in my garden blossoming is a single Bird of Paradise, I do have some other beautiful things to share.

Many, many moons ago I met the delightful and gentle Katrina Marsh. I'm not even sure when or where, but you know how it is when you just click with someone, well thats how it was when I met Katrina. Our paths have crossed many times since then, in different, unexpected places....and has always been heartwarming for me to connect and be in her presence.


photo courtesy fo Katrina Marsh

Recently I had the pleasure of delivering these paintings to her home. oh what a beautiful space. Katrina definetly has artstic flare, in her home and her photography. She has her own photography business and has won a number of awards.


photo courtesy of Katrina Marsh

I am so happy these paintings from my Soul Growth collection have a good home and they are doing their job of providing joy and beauty to Katrinas family and home.


photo courtesy of Katrina Marsh

Beauty is abound.....

Believer!

I'm a Believer! a believer in dreams, a believer that all is possible, a believer that it can all come true. and there its is...a belief and a painting to go with it. My latest creative adventure and I'm so proud of the fact that I've been this creative in such a busy time the last few weeks.

And she is going to remind me to be a believer every time I see her....

what do you think of the beaded curtain behind the painting over my studio door? I think it looks like my white dots in my painting. A beautiful reflection!

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?

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.

Can you Feel the Love?

The Beauty of Today 30cm x30cm

available for purchase

I have a bundle full of creative goodies to share with you...I have 3 paintings in my Sweet Opportunity range ready to find new homes. All of them true to my recyling, repurposing ways. I've given these unwanted linen's new life, painted into them and embellished with treasures. Now they are delightfully beautiful.....they are available here and you can see more of the collection in my gallery.

A new space on my website is home to my 'just out of the sudio' paintings. LimeLight shall be featuring one painting, with the story of its 'conception' and evolution. Shall keep you updated!

There are mountains of positive goodness in my esty shop. Thready Fabric Tags, my signature Winged Hearts, Valued Rosettes and Bubu Boutique cards sets.

Enjoy all of this goodness....can you Feel the Love?

take no prisoners, make no apologies!

" The Whole Truth"
600mm x 500mm on canvas

I paint my way through challenges. Sometimes its in my journal, other times its on canvas. Its how I get it out, work it through. But I'm able to do it by turning the challenge around, affirming it in a positive light and how I see things changing. These personal struggles have made my art richer. They are the fuel for my inspiration. There is depth + meaning, shadow + light, strength + weakness. Its what makes my art real.

The painting becomes part of the solution. Affirming a new state of being.

This is part of how I communicate. with myself and the outer world. And this is how I am in the artsy world.I'm stepping into who I truly am. As a person and as an artsit. No apologies.

Take no prisoners, make No apologies for what I create.

After being told a couple of years ago, by an art critic who writes for the local paper to stop painting 'those silly girl faces' its been a been a challenge to flick that off and put them out there again. But its time for me to stand firm in the truth of who I am.

Allowing growth

ornate virtuoso 950mm x750mm

Here's another painting that's in the stages of transformation. I created it for one of my solo exhibitions and it never found the right home to go to.Since then its had a couple of make overs. Its been embellished with mixed media, buttons and a rosette. And exhibited again....

Now it made its way on to my easel, which I haven't used it for some time as I've been working on smaller pieces. I've dedicated this canvas to be a work in progress. A place to go to and just let loose, not having a time frame where it has to be finished. Inspired by the time frame from Jacky's slow quilt and Swirly Girl Christine painting and peeling layers, I'm letting it evolve at its own pace.

after I pulled the rosette off

I let the brush and paint dance on the surface of the canvas,turned the canvas around, pasted on dress makers tissue, pulled off some buttons, poured paint on and wiped it off. All with a sense of purpose and timing. Building up layers, wiping them back....

Allowing it to sit in the luxury of time....

Allowing it to evolve, in a creatively organic way...and it feels good.

****************************

On a note of sharing, I'm sending out a newsletter in the next few days with info about some new paintings, shop updates and creative connective news. Be sure to sign up here to keep in touch and hear the latest news!

And I've created a Nic Hohn Artsy page at Facebook, love for you to connect with me there. If you've be-friended me on my personal page and we don't know each other please jump on here. I'm in the motions of making my personal page, well personal and my Artsy page for the all.

to keep my vulnerable heart open

Vulnerable Heart

60cm x 50cm Canvas painting

My transforming ways have been at play again. I created the painting below a couple of years ago now and its been sitting in my studio.... She was in a group of canvas paintings waiting to either be painted over or repurposed. I recongized the potential in the portrait and gave her a painterly make over. She is now enjoying her new lips, more hair and deeper skin tone, smelling her floral blooms and her background has a completely different tone.

"Thoughts" Mixed media painting

Now she holds a special message for me. Reminding me to keep my heart open. No matter what. I'm not sure if she'll be part of an exhibition or stay on my walls for a while. Guess I'll listen to my heart to hear what it has to say.

Divine Belief

"Divine Belief" Mixed media painting, 60cm x 50cm

Here is what I've been painting the last few days. So Very Happy with how it has come together, you know that process of trust when creating, it is so great to relax, let go of control and just go with it, knowing it shall all come together as its meant to. Thats how this piece was.

Again I used all the elements that makes me so happy when I create, discovered vintage fabric and doily from an Op Shop, paper collage that I paint back into and transform colours, my greyscale hand drawings for embellishments and splaters of paint.

This is how I see/feel that creating is meant to be...a belief and a trust that is just divine!