New projects to work on hands and joy

Have started exploring a few new works. In the experimenting stage at present. Hands for me represent so much. Giving, comforting,  receiving, holding, sharing, communication, connection, creativity. They can help me express my emotions, touching things helps me explore textures and surfaces , they play a part in my identity and my strength. 

I am also working on a new theme of joy.  Our lives are busy and full and we often let the little moments slip by unnoticed. Joy looks different to each one of us. It often lives in the ordinary moments family and friends, a conversation, laugh, walk in nature, morning coffee. Thinking about what gives me joy makes me think about what truly matters. I am always grateful for these precious moments. Gratitude and kindness are really important to me.

Straddie Arts trail

 We had the most beautiful day at the I am Straddie Arts Trail. After a glorious trip on the water by Stradbroke flyer ferry we started the day at the Quampi Art and Culture centre collection. 

"ngaliya ngajagu wagari" (ours to carry) exhibition this exhibition was truly outstanding. A powerful display showing the profound insight into the living stories and artistic legacies of the Quandamooka people.

Not only the artwork but the  building itself has been so thoughtfully and beautifully constructed. A truly peaceful and special place.  If you haven't been I would highly recommend a visit to Quampi.

I really loved this beautiful piece by Sonja Carmichael: biba buni: jingen, jalo,yarabin, ragi (small dilli bags: food and fire, beach and bush part 1.2023-24.

This piece was magnificent done on possum fur. Not sure of the maker.

This is the view outside Quampi. A beautiful and peaceful space. 

While in Dunwich we visited the NSI Museum on Minjerribah and saw the magnificent work of Delvene Cockatoo-Collins. Her pieces share the stories and culture, heritage and techniques passed down by her mother Evelyn and Grandmother Bethel. I truly love and respect her and her work. The integrity and love that is in her work. So many layers and so much hard work goes in to produce such beautiful pieces. Not only an outstanding artist and designer but beautiful person. I was so privileged to have time to chat with her I forgot to take photos but I did purchase this gorgeous carry bag. In the museum the original dilly bag by her grandmother can been seen. It was amazing.

We headed from Dunwich to Point lookout via the public bus. The day was just magic . It was so wonderful to see and converse with so many talented artists. Such a privilege to visit there studios. 

Two of my favourite artists Tamara Armstrong and Paula Boo. Not only incredible visual and fibre artists but great women.

Inspiration all around

I had the good fortune of seeing the Archibald ,Wynne and Sulman Prizes while in Sydney in June. These are some of my favourite works. The above magnificent work is by Illuwanti Ken, Le Shaye Swan, Justine Anderson. Mother eagle makes a nest and home in the Wynne Prize. 

Loved the colour in this beautiful work by Nicole Kelly Bird Hour.

Loved this portrait of Judy Watson by Anna Weston. It was so beautifully painted.

Really loved the winner Illuwanti Ken by Richard Lewer.

At the Contemporary gallery outstanding work by Tony Albert.

In the Queensland Art gallery loved this work by Carlos Amorales Black cloud

Sculptors Queensland Exhibition Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens.

Truly outstanding work by Ben Hellewell.  A worthy Winner of the Shillam prize.
 

Put your hat on

Put your hat on was inspired by the Qld beach which has been a yearly constant since I was a child. No matter what we had experienced throughout the year in good times and in bad,  our time at the beach was a time to reset , recharge and revitalise. The body is created with banana fibre paper, the hair with paper string and the shells with paper pulp. Each thread of hair was handstitched in a felt headband. The hat was made from  paper dress patterns. There is a memory in the heel dipped in wax. This body was modelled on my daughter. I usually do me but as I am getting older i'm needing more and more paper 😂😂😂😂 she also has been to the beach yearly so the tradition is carried on.

 

Goddess of Gratitude

 I am currently working on a small piece Goddess of Gratitude. I have been trying to work small but it is such a different way of working from my full body size work. Very challenging. I have included multiples of flowers as I love multiples in my work. I have finished my 6 week class in ceramics and really enjoyed the  process. I love learning and any new skill is always useful, but I am always drawn back to the paper. 

Experiment with Paperclay

 

This is my first sculpture in paperclay. It was about the way I was feeling like a fassie fern ready to unfold. learning, growing ready to blossum. It has a zen like quality which is peaceful to look at. I see  little flaws but that is what experimenting and learning is all about we all have flaws.

This was a tea light holder for my back table. I found the process of putting on the glazes really difficult to get my head around as the colours don't always go on the same as what they are. It was inspired by Susan Trimble's work which is amazing. 

Out of the kiln in one piece

 This is the small sculpture I have been doing in paperclay. It has come out of the kiln in one piece which is great. I now have to do the glazes. The work is about me feeling like a fassi fern just starting to unfold. 

I have been doing a six week clay course with the amazing Clairy Laurence . I also did a heart workshop. I made this for my son's engagement. I had not touched clay for 20 years before the classes. lovely to feel and experience clay again.  His beautiful fiance loves daisies,  it got one little kiss mark from the kiln but it was made with love, using paperclay.  

 

Also working on my body paper sculpture casting a hat worn for the beach. I am always drawn back to the paper for its beautiful fragility and strength.

Coming along

I am really enjoying my clay class each week. I am learning so much. Like everything it is much harder than it looks. I love the Quote from Paula Modersohn Becker

" Everything good is difficult "

 

Experimenting and learning new skills

Hi everyone, hope the year has started well for you all. This year I am trying to experiment more and just enjoy the process without expecting myself to create a masterpiece every time. Just enjoying the experience and seeing what happens. Trying to bring a bit more curiosity into my work. I am just taking a class once a week with a new material for me to experience , clay. I am staying to my female figurative work and so far loving the collaboration with the material. I love learning new skills and the interaction with other artists is always rewarding. 

 

Happy New Year

 Dear friends, wishing you all a safe, healthy and creative 2026.  lets share love, kindness,
respect and strengthen our connections with one another. 

I have started the year casting some jean shorts to try and use on a sculpture. Not sure if it will work doing lots of trial and error at the moment. Also working on some paper hair. will keep you posted .

Merry Christmas

 Dear Friends,

Wishing you all a safe and joyous Christmas. May 2026 hold good health and much happiness, peace love kindness and respect for all. I am truly grateful for the year that is and look forward to a creative 2026. 

New experimenting with hands

I have been undertaking a course called" Making exceptional work "by The Daring Artist Amy Kennedy. 

The course goes for 6 months and it has given me lots to think about with my arts practice. I am really loving the learning and I am trying to experiment more. It has a pod group component where you meet up with other artists on zoom which is fantastic as most of the time I work solely on my own at home. I have been working on hands and decided to have my own hands cast. I of course couldn't

do my own so a fabulous artist Russ from foreverhandcastings .com did them for me. I brought them home and  poured the moulds with Plaster of Paris. They came out well , I got a few bubbles and can certainly learn from my mistakes with the plaster. I have been doing a daily exercise with contour drawing and the practice is certainly helping me. My new project has been decided on I am looking at GRATITUDE.  It is a huge one but one that resonates with me at the moment. Not sure where it will lead me yet but the exploration will be fun.

Experiment with wool

My wool frida is nearly finished. A couple more flowers and leaves to add. I am much happier with the colour skin. I have been experimenting with a few different materials lately but always seem to come back to paper. I have been struggling with the cost of transport for my life size sculptures and looking to make bust size to make them easier to move and much less cost. Not sure what direction I will go in but its exciting to play around and experiment more.

A fun experiment with wood

 A fun experiment with wood. I have been working on my version of Venus of Willendorf. I have always been fascinated with these first female sculptures. The original Venus was found in Willendorf Austria in 1908, and is one of many found. The wood is an old piece from the Port Office in Qld. Not sure what timber it is. It had nail holes all the way through.  The piece of timber was given to me. It was just lovely to take the time to sit and carve. When I do this slow meditative process I cant think of anything else which is wonderful. I have finished it off with some wax. 

I am currently doing a course called Make Exceptional Art by Amy Kennedy. I have just started and really loving it. I have the opportunity to connect with other women artists which is so uplifting, as I usually work on my own at home. I am hoping to learn, grow and take my work to the next level. 

Slowly coming together

I have been working on a Frida in wool. I have really enjoyed the process. It has taken quite a while to come together. I can't really achieve what I wanted to with my skill level so will just have to keep practicing. Like everything nothing comes easily without practice. I am trying a few different mediums at present exploring my options and experimenting. I am finding doing the large body work which I love is getting too costly to transport so need to look at different options of size. I really love multiple too. Not sure where things will lead me but open to whatever the way forward will be. Very grateful always to be able to explore creativity, learn and grow.

 

My Frida

 My experiment with wool is coming along slowly. lots more to do but happy with the way it is shaping up. I feel very grateful when I can have a time in my 3rd bedroom / studio to be able to work, relax and take time to create.

Working with wool

 Making slow progress on my new sculpture in wool. It is my first attempt at a head, a totally different process than what I am used to with paper. Adding rather than layering and taking away. The wool has a beautiful feel to work with, it is very much out of my comfort zone but always wonderful to be learning new skills and different ways of working.

Adventures in Far North Qld

                                                                     Port Douglas

Beautiful Ulysses blue butterfly 

                                                                Incredible sunsets

This was a map of our adventures we also went to Thursday Island, Horn Island and Friday Island .

                 

Split Rock Laura, so fortunate to see this significant cultural site. The Rock art is amazing.

Red beach Weipa

We have just returned from an incredible trip to the northernmost point of the Australian Mainland . Amazingly beautiful Torres strait and everywhere in between. I learnt so much on this trip, how incredible nature is and how fortunate we are that the traditional owners of this land are so willing to share their incredible knowledge with us. I feel very blessed and grateful.