wow - technology!

on my trip to perth i only realised by accident that my camera actually takes video. and in the past i've had little success with getting video to do anything for me - so i am amased that this has actually worked. nothing too amazing - just my gorgeous dad playing with my number two. how good does my dad look for nearly 70! (he just did a half ironman! i'm so proud!!!) anyway - now i can do this - perhaps i can put a few more up in future. thanks for stopping by! x me

home...

it's great fun to get away sometimes, but boy it's nice to be home! i've just returned from perth where i had a very fun week. i caught up with some friends from high school that i haven't seen in 20 years, had my nephew's 21st birthday celebration, caught up with family over dinner and a niece's 6th birthday, not to mention train trips to the city, a painting class with emily falconbridge, and going bananas at go bananas... phew, it makes me tired just thinking about it! (and i am).

i have lots of photos and will choose a few to post later - but here's one to start of emily and myself with my finished piece. the cocoon (yes, that's what it is...) was cut from dress making pattern paper and glued to the surface and then painted over the top. i loved that idea and will definitely use that some more. it reminded me how much i enjoy painting on wood as opposed to canvas - so i went to bunnings and had a heap cut to size. i feel a painting frenzy coming on! have a great weekend everyone!

don't be afraid...

to jump off the branch and fly...

to spread your wings and soar...

to step into the unknown...

to dream, and

to make dreams become your reality

my latest little creation - a mixed media piece measuring 20 x 25 cm (8 x 10 in).

i have so loved creating this baby bird. mixing paper and paint - seeing it all come together into something beautiful - i can hardly believe i did it! but it truly is giving me the permission to keep going (if that makes sense). i'm starting to feel my own wings unfurling - i'm just scared i'll break the spell and this will all fall in a heap - when i so desperately want it to go on and on and upwards. i hope it does - i'm really enjoying the view at the moment!

x me

my journey thus far...

i susbscribe to quite a few blogs and what i love most of all is how eloquently and perfectly so many of you are able to write about how you feel, how you are developing as artists and how you are navigating this journey called life. most of the time i feel as though i have much to say but struggle with how to put my own journey into words... these two paintings though reflect two of the words or concepts that i hope to be a part of my own story. 'journey far' is speaking more in the metaphorical sense - not actual distance. i hope to achieve dreams and do as much with my life as possible. i don't want it all to pass me by and be left with a head full of should-haves, could-haves and would-haves...

this one is fairly obvious i suppose. i want to embrace it all. the struggles and joys, successes and failures and learn to be more positive, stronger and courageous. i have been know to partake of some childish foot-stamping as of late (not literally!) and have found that it actually doesn't help me at all! so - one step after another i go. and thankfully i have found some new inspiration within this walk for some art as well. i love my ladies - but it's refreshing to try something a little different, don't you think?

x me

developing my style...

i've been completely loving my time in the new studio lately(photos next post). and i have found that there are quite a few ideas brimming around in my brain. it seems that as i get junk out of my brain (and life), there is more space to be filled with new ideas and a clearer sense of me. the further i get away from some of the stresses of the past six months, it seems the closer i get to my old self. or is that my new self? and in all of this, i am searching for my own style, a unique expression of me in my artwork. what i like most about this little canvas is that it poured forth so easily - the equivalent in painting to stream-of-consciousness writing. i put my hand on the canvas, and it involuntarily drew! perhaps this is the word for me now? perhaps i should say goodbye to 'begin' and embrace 'grow' well i certainly want to explore more of these little canvases - so much fun, so beautiful and inspiring.
x me

lovely ladies and a yard full of washing...

as i'm typing this post, i'm looking out the studio window and my two peeps are running around the washing line with squeals of laughter hanging off my jeans and tracky pants - oh well, i guess i'll have extra long pants now...

here's a few more paintings i managed to complete recently - and sell - yay! i call this one 'serene' and my dear friend Mel has bought her which i'm completely happy about because she's a personal fave. lucky mel now gets to choose her own words so it will be a really personal piece for her... this next piece - believe in possibility is also a favourite. title inspired by kelly rae - the ultimate 'possibilitarian'!

and this last one - 'wonderful you' for all those beautiful girlfriends who are just that. she has lovely eyes don't you think?
i'm so excited to have sold a few more paintings and have been able to buy some new paints and boards as well. and in anticipation of doing more and more and more painting, have kicked the peeps out of the play room and turned it into my...studio! it feels funny to use that term for some reason - but having the space is just fantastic. i like to paint standing up - and at a table - easels don't tend to work for me doing the mixed media type of work - so hopefully this will be the next nudge i need to focus in a little more on all my dreams and ideas. a few more tweaks and i'll post some photos of it next time...

i'd better go - i can see all my washing scattered over the back yard - oh no!!!

thanks for stopping by
x donna heart

porridge soup...

aren't i a lucky mumma - i'm having 'porridge soup' for dinner!

and on a different note... you must go and check out the work of this awesome ceramisist VIPOO(is that the word or did i just make one up?) he featured tonight on the abc art show here in western australia and is absolutely amazing. click on the gallery link and then each photo will open up even more of that exhibit/installation - absolutely scrumptious - esp the coral and mermaids...

and finally - i have been on such a high this week. why, you may ask? you may remember that i had some studio time a couple of weeks ago and managed to finish off about 12 canvases which i was really happy with. i put them up on my facebook page just to 'see how it goes' (there had been a few enquiries re purchasing my art work) and sold TEN that night! i'm so completely stoked about that and it has really fired me up to keep going and try some new ideas. i was hoping to sella couple and then over a month or so perhaps more - but for them to almost sell out in one night was so much more than i could have hoped for! unfortunately - and i've blogged about this before - it's either a flood or a drought when it comes to having time to create and paint - but i may have a new idea to increase my studio space (it's cramped in here) and spread my wings a bit more. for now there may not be a steady flow of art for you to see here, but there will definitely be more to come!

thanks for stopping by,

x me