In the studio flow...

Bushland strolls around Sydney... when its NOT raining! March 2012

So its been head down... art materials out... and work work work this week.

There's nothing like a tiny time reality check, to kick you into second gear and get you started on making those painting ideas a reality. If you ask any artist they will tell you that they have a brain and sketch book FULL of thoughts and visions for 1000 art works. 

It's just MAKING THEM A REALITY. 

Many don't make the transition. 

They stay ideas. And you will hear a million reasons why... including...  'im time poor', 'im not in the right head space', or, 'im not able to unlock the key in my technique!'. 

And that is why so many artists' are frustrated. They are continually striving for that one work will be  EXACTLY like the vision they have in their minds eye.

Well - im just about to move a few sketches into larger paintings... And Im consumed. 

So to clear my mind, body, and spirit for the studio session ahead I usually go on a morning walk. It really helps to get me into the right flow for the day.... And one of my favourite strolls at the moment {when its not raining} is through the luminous green bushland around the harbour. 

Green light... green textures...and green hues...

Love.

A furry friend that I met on the the trail ... I think he was out for his daily stroll too!

The soft dappled light is so lovely along the winding pathway...

Favourite shot for the day - the light splices the rainforest textures in such a beautiful way...

On the way out... and home to the studio.

But just one more photo of the beautiful colours of the day...
how could you not be inspired!

Drawing my think.

Australian artist John Olsen...

Im always fascinated by the lives of other artists.  

I love to hear how other creative types try to eek out a living, tap into their creative spirit, and balance their passions with the demands of day-to-day existence. 

In years gone past the apprentice artist would be guided by a master artist who would be older, wiser and stable in their living - able to give artistic instruction and sage advice to the would be artist. And I guess that's why I love reading about the lives of older creatives as they have LIVED it. Through all their triumphs and mistakes they are still practising their craft. 

Take, for example, 83 year old Australian artist John Olsen.

Whilst reading this story on him in The Good Weekend Magazine I collected these quotes from him that I love...

"There's no poetry in skimming the Internet. We have this explosion of information, but where is the the parallel explosion of wisdom?"

Olsen with wife Katherine... and below... a self portrait drawing, and a work in progress

Aeons ago, when Olsen taught a children's art class, he asked a six year old boy what he was doing. "I'm drawing my think", the child replied. "What a perfect answer", says Olsen. "And that's what I try to do too - I'm painting my think".

I LOVE looking at artist diaries... always interesting to get to the heart of an artists' creative thoughts...

"One benefit from growing older is that I gained the confidence to learn from my failures, so I never give up. Investigating your failures enlarges your capacity to create. ... My failure rate is still 20 to 1... But Ill start afresh each day, with an inner voice that says, 'Go on, go on', knowing that I will eventually break through". 

A beautiful Life
Writer : Janet Hawley, Photography:Tim Bauer
Good Weekend, Sydney Morning Herald, December 10-11, 2011, pg. 15-18

the sticker collection.

Hall of Paste Ups at Outpost: Street Art Festival, November 2011

It was the late 1980s and I was 11...

Whitey Houston was making it BIG with 'I want to dance with somebody' and Michael Jackson was untouchable as the KING of Pop. 

I was in Primary School and my favourite loves were ballet, netball and the colour blue. 

I was never the cool girl, the one with five boyfriends in the school playground, or the girl with friends over every afternoon for sleep overs and play dates... 

It took many more years for me to even have my own bedroom! 

My world was playing in my tiny space. I was a pretty quiet kid, with many thoughts and feelings that today would be classified as 'sensitive'. I loved my collection of things and a typical weekend would see me pouring two of my biggest collections - that of  erasers and stickers. 

I loved stickers and would pine to go into every novelty store to cast my eye over all the different types. Shiny, glittery, bubbly, and the best of the best... scratch and sniff! Do you remember those? 

So you can imagine my absolute delight when I walked into this Aladdin cave of paste ups and stickers at the Outpost Festival in November. I could not stop taking photos... 

I love that this genre of art has made such a big come back with the Street Art Movement. 

Stickers are such a simple thing, and yet they can be so powerful as a statement. Political, humorous, anti establishment, nostalgic... its all there. 

And when you have a warehouse full of them... boy... it's eye candy for any age, make or model of man, woman or child!!

Every surface was covered... and your eyes would play tricks and things
would jump out at you.

Owen had to run! He was just too excited and wanted to see it all.

the list.

New Woven Bowl with tiny handles in Orange... 

What a week.

I know its Saturday, but I don't know where the week went. 

So, sometimes its good to do a double check of what you know.... for sure.

I know Ive been busy in the studio, and with a solo show on the horizon, I'm conscious of the fact that its already the second week of March... eep!

I know that my little studio was flooded this week with the torrential rain that fell on much of the State throughout the week... 

I know that everything smells beautiful and fresh and green from all the rain... so I know there are silver linings to all this rain! 

I know that Ive received some amazing news from close friends who are expecting, or delivering beautiful new baby photos into my inbox...

And I know that I have finished these two new woven bowl designs. I'm happy with them both and so they will be heading to the tiny trappings store any day now.

So yes. 

A few things did indeed happen this week.

But sometimes it's good to make a list!

This one im calling a dish as its not as deep as a bowl...
perfect for earrings and rings methinks!

there's a cabbage in my bathtub.

Sussex Lane, Sydney... Transformed as part of the Pop Sydney Projects 2012.
Last night the Sustainability and the City event was held with talks on subjects such as
Edible Outdoor Rooms + creating green building initiatives in the city...

And its purple too! 

No - Im not going round the bend or on the wacky tobacky...

Its true. There were purple cabbages in an old bathtub in the middle of the city. So of course I had to go and have a look. Im always curious when I hear that colour and creativity have infiltrated the heart of the cities business district. 

Do you remember when I went for a stroll around the lane ways of Sydney, as part of the Laneway art festival last year? In late October I went on an art treasure hunt, looking for hidden artworks that were exhibited in disused alleys and lane ways to try and bring art to the otherwise boring, and grey city streets.

Sydney's Lord Mayor and the Sydney City Council have been trying to bring, culture, sustainability and LIFE to a somewhat lacklustre and lifeless city precinct as part of their Pop Sydney Art Project.  And over the past two days they have been at it again, as Sussex Lane became a green oasis with talks and art events on all things sustainable, reusable, recycled and GREEN. They even planted turf to walk on. 

Last night I went to have a look and was amazed at the transformation. 

And I could not stop taking photos... as you can see! 

Reused and recycled furniture and objects were given a new life thanks to The Bower
and Reverse Garbage in Marrickville. 

Love all the old suitcases being re-purposed as planters.  After the event is taken down
all the plants and turf will also be recycled and planted around the city  ...

The planting of succulents in the old hard cover books was a beautiful touch... And
they were all lit like artworks in a gallery, using LED green lighting ...

Im not sure if many of the office workers that went to the event understood what all this
was about... I saw alot of head scratching. But at least it was something
different to the steel and concrete walkways that they are usually presented with. 

I loved all the recycled cans used as planters... 

And the tea pots too! This photo is alittle like a 'where's wally' moment
as you can just see my copper reflection ...

And of course I had to wear my vintage green jump suit for the occasion.

It was an interesting idea for the city to try... and I hope they make some of these
spaces completely green in the future.. with this bath tub set up as a permanent
sculptural fixture!

d.) all of the above.

What a week!

Anyone else feeling a little bit shell shocked today? 

I am. 

The last two weeks have been busy, stressful, shocking, fun, exciting and every other emotion in between. Its amazing when a short period of time procures so so much 'stuff' that you find it hard to believe that only a few days have flown by. Every day would throw you a curve ball and ask you to let go of what you thought I was going happen, in order to just go with the flow... 

Which can sometimes be a BIG reality check. And a good thing. 

IF you can rip up the 'to do' list in your head!

Today feels different though. Its like the Sun made everything feel normal again and mr. time  said it was ok to revisit, catch up, and cross things off the 'to do' list. 

So to start things off on the right note... or foot... I decided to go for a big ol' stroll with my camera. Which hasn't happened much this year. Sadly. Maybe its because I bought my very first car at the end of last year? Maybe it's because of all this rain? Maybe its because mr. time has been conspiring against me ? 

Maybe its d.) all of the above.