My New Painter BFF's

a few nights ago i had dinner with an old bff and watched Mama Mia (with Meryl Streep) and remembered just how much i have always loved ABBA.  so i've just downloaded the 'best of' and am humming away as i type this post to "Chiquitita"  hmmmm 'how i hate to see you like this, there is no way you can deny it..."  not sure if i've ever listened too intently to these lyrics, but just love the melody!  i digress...

Speaking of BFF's... i serendipitously stumbled across some absolutely beautiful paitings/artists last night.  have you heard of Reed Danziger?  or Stephanie Toppin, or Jennifer Scott Mclaughlin?  I wont be surprised if I'm the last to know (really, i'm usually a bit late on the uptake lol!)  but if you haven't - just check out their work below - and then click on the links and feast on the rest of their amazing creations - aahhhhh such wonderful free flowing beauty - just love it!  oh!  and how could i forget?  Flora S Bowley?!  (slap hand) what i wouldn't give for a pinky finger of her talent - breathtaking!

here's a taste...

Stephanie Toppin

Jennifer Scott McLaughlin

Reed Danziger

and last but not least Ms Flora.

aren't they just amazing...

thanks for stopping by - let's know where you're from - i'd love to hear from you :)

x donna

a little bit o' randomness

i just love this colour green for a wall.  one day, when i get my own place, i'm going to paint a wall this colour.  maybe it's the contrast of the bright yellow boots, or the beautiful hand woven coloured baskets.  the spray of flowers, or the way the light dances across the wall.  either way, i just like it alot...

btw, i'm making laksa for dinner tonight.   haven't had it for years.  told you this was random, x me

trusting my journey and a business plan

it seems that starting something is far easier than keeping it going...  well this is my road hump at the moment - and the somewhat simple task of writing a business plan (how hard can it be with a business as small as mine?)  is appearing looming ahead of me like a gloomy dark mountain.  history has it that once i "pull my finger out" and just get it done, i find myself wondering what all the fuss was about, so i'm trying to learn from lessons past.  on the flip side i'm very excited to have finally made a decision about who to design my new website.  so watch this space folks, hopefully in a months time there will be a funky new face of donna heart on the web - i'm really, very excited about this! 

and tonight i celebrate the 18000'th visitor to my site (actually i think it was me - oops!)  ok - so 18000 visitors then - still pretty happy 'bout that one!

well, i have a comission next to set my mind to so looking forward to that one.  and tomorrow folks - yes tomorrow I WILL do my business plan.  Friday is TV day in our house and the peeps get to choose 45 mins each so i will buckle down then and get the good part of it done. 

hold me to it will you?

x donna

live your dream...

hi folks!  just thought i'd post the latest from my studio this week.  as mentioned before, i want to explore more of my experiences from living in the kimberley, and one of the things that stands out in my memories are the magestic, yet very quirky boab trees.  these guys are so hardy and grow in the most amazing places.  i've seen them sticking out of rock faces - seriously. this painting, as with many of mine, started out as an image inmy minds eye, and turned out completely different!  it was supposed to be all tones of white and greys on the left hand side merging into colour - but something else happened along the way, and well, this is it!  obviously not a realistic painting, but it depicts the excitement and energy of a dream just breaking through into the realms of possibility - just like that baby boab tree emerging from the nut.  and with the warmth and light and all good things, it will become that awesome magical, mystical and solid tree... 

       

i haven't yet put this up on my etsy shop for sale, but will do that tonight. 

take care, bye for now!

x me

my (dream) studio...

ok - so if i ever get the opportunity - this is the type of studio i'd like love to have... except instead of the pool, i'd have an overgrown bush trail of australian beauties like wattles, gums, boronia, calistemons and grevilleas a dry river bed weaving through the bush to this little place of peace, light and seclusion.... i bet my muse would love it there...ahhhhhh

photos: Mike Newman

little canvases

just a quick update to show you two more little canvases (or boards actually) that i finished off last night.  i have some really large boards which i'm working on now of some more beautiful australian kimberley inspired pieces.  i'm exploring images in my minds eye and ones taken by myself for a series of boab and landscape paintings  - and it all started with this one here...  so be sure to pop back in soon to have a look at those!  in the mean time - if you'd like a print of any of my paintings, feel free to contact me through email or etsy - as i haven't yet loaded up all the prints that are available to you at the shop just yet...

i choose brave

8 x10 mixed media on claybord

i choose (to be) brave is a mantra i have had whirring around in my brain this year, and here it has surfaced  and spilled out onto this little canvas as an outward reminder to me, that i need to actually choose to be and live brave - rather than thinking it is a quality that one either does or doesn't possess...

awesome love

8x10 mixed media on claybord

i just love all the colours in this one, (yes, i am still revelling in my Claudine Helmuth paints - scraping out the meagre offerings left inside...) it is so full of energy and life!  this is the type of love that knows no bounds, and for me that is the love between my children and i. really. really. awesome

Do or do not

i have a new favourite saying.  in fact, this could be my all-time favourite.  ever...

 "Try? Do or do not. There is no try."

Yoda