When it’s time for exhibition, how do you show up? I’ve learnt over time to make an occasion of it, dress in my best, put on red lipstick, show up for others, but more importantly, show up for myself. My joint exhibition Occupy is all about occupying space and time. As an artist and a woman it’s about staking your claim. I am here. I am worthy!
Art has the capacity to heal and connect people on a heart to heart level. The colour blue from lapis lazuli has led me on a circular journey through art and inspiring artist collaborations into the war torn country of Afghanistan.
How do we inhabit a space, occupying it with traces of our own existence in place and time? It’s an interesting question to ponder as I consider occupancy with my upcoming exhibition Occupy and resuming an artist residency in the Blue mountains. What traces of my own life and occupancy will I leave behind?
There’s so much been written about love in poems, songs, letters and books. Classic romances and cheap romantic paperbacks, they all have a place in fiction. And why not? It’s a day for silly love songs and picking flowers.
We’ve all got the same 24 hours in a day, it’s what we choose to do with those hours that defines our day. Being productive and creative when there are so many other demands on our time is a an ever vigilant process. How to do this? Segmentation is my key to make sure prioritised tasks get done and others don’t suffer as a consequence.
Performing, whether it is to a group of small children, or on stage under the lights - I think it’s always been in my blood. Storytelling in whatever form is about connecting with people on a heart level. Now I run my online courses and workshops and connect with women from all over the world.
I’m a great believer in intuition. That “sixth sense” when you know someone is watching you, or you know that a friend needs you to ring them. Activating your intuition when making art means you are connecting your hands to your heart which guides your inner knowing so you trust in the process of creation.
These days home has become both an origin and destination. All my travelling is now through art. Knots and fishing nets, text in collages and making maps all feature in the mini courses I have been creating this month to share.
I started my daily art works for the year painting vegetables. It wasn’t making me happy. That was when I remembered advice I had read from my mentor and business coach Sigrun who shared a process called start, stop, continue.
My word for 2021 is BALANCE. I remember my dad working every day of the week. So I’ve decided to take Sundays off and am stepping away from my computer. Time for some Sunday adventures - it’s the new balance in my life.
When the world went into lockdown and my travel plans were cancelled, I brought the world to me. The view outside my window became a portal into the chaotic world outside and my daily lives on social media helped inspire others to keep creating through crisis. I learnt that home can be the best source of inspiration.
Tomorrow in Australia we celebrate the longest day and shortest night with a rare solstice event. Jupiter and Saturn, our two biggest planets in our solar system, will be in conjunction, appearing as a single bright star in the night sky, close enough together to “kiss” each other . What a great time to make a wish!
Travel is a “virus of restlessness” writes American author John Steinbeck. This year I have started making artist books again as a way to relive my travels when we can’t travel anymore. Reading Steinbeck reminds me that the urge to be somewhere else can be found by reading a book - or making one.
Backyard beekeeping and bee hives featured as a recurring motif in my early art works. Taking possession of new bee hives is a circuitous route back to exploring what home means in the light of the year 2020.
What brings you happiness? For me it is the beach and my garden. It is also creativity. I’ve teamed up with 3 other women to bring the gift of happiness, wellbeing and inspiration to your inbox starting December 1st. It’s free to join.
Perseverance in art is essential. There is also an art to perseverance. I think about Shakespeare and the history of the Globe theatre today as I collage a postcard, which becomes a portal into a time of plague, chaos and playwriting.
What this week has shown us is - Never take democracy for granted. In this momentous week I remember the 11th of November, the Whitlam dismissal, NAIDOC week and the struggle for independence when the Timorese voted for independence from Indonesia. Democracy hard won.
Navigating through life is a journey of discovery. Where will you go next? A book made from a map is a placemaking activity. It shows you where you are now, where you’ve been or where you want to go next. A pocket map book has even more options, you can add paper ephemera to mark your journey, tickets are a great addition.
Not perfect, but finished. It’s what I tell my course students and what I have to remember to do myself. Make mistakes, there are no mistakes. What we have instead are perfect imperfections, the messy human side of us revealed.
Going big and red or working small and achievable? These are questions many women are faced with when they want to create. Creating in small and achievable ways builds your creativity muscles and keeps you moving forward until your goals to go big are realised.
