Trying, Persisting, Accepting.

 Over the past few months I have been doing lots of experimenting and testing different ways of working. I have realised sometimes no matter how hard you try to make it work, sometimes it just wont work the way you want it too and thats ok. I don't always succeed and thats ok, but the trying and thinking is what is important. This piece was an experiment using paper, thread and acrylic, of a friend of mine who is an amazing photographer Michele Bowden Visuall. com.au  who plays guitar in a band, a woman of rock.

I will keep trying and practising as I love the loose line and hopefully will improve. 

Finalist Ravenswood Australian Women's Art Prize

 These Photos were taken by two beautiful friends Alissa and Chantelle in Sydney yesterday when they visited the Ravenswood Australian Womens Art Prize in Gordon Sydney. I was going down to Sydney for the opening but unfortunately it was cancelled due to a covid outbreak extension. Ravenswood did a virtual opening which was wonderful. This is my piece Endure in the exhibition. I feel very fortunate and grateful to be a finalist as there were 1677 entries. 

Congratulations to all the winners this year. 

For the Professional Artist winner ,Caroline Rothwell  'Vault"

Emerging Artist winner , Symone Male 'Contagious'

Indigenous Emerging Artist winner, Imelda Wood Melamurrk ' My sister's birth on a full moon'

and all those artists that received Highly Commended. 

Congratulations to every woman who entered as it takes courage to put yourself and your work out there. There is a virtual tour on the Ravenswood website which is fantastic to check out. 

A huge Thankyou to Ravenswood Australian Womens Art Prize for advancing womens art and providing women with this wonderful opportunity to raise their profiles and encouraging womens art for the future. I have been very grateful to be a part of this wonderful experience.

Learning new techniques Daniel Butterworth Workshop

I spent a wonderful weekend doing Daniel Butterworths's workshop in Brisbane held at Bienarte. Daniel is such an inspirational artist and such an honest and humble man. His workshop was outstanding. He was very generous in sharing his tips and techniques and gave incredible demonstrations. I learnt many things and now need to implement them in my practice.
 

Nature and Nurture

 

                                                                I love Ghost gums 

Top of the sandblow. Wasn't sure i would make it to the top. It was such a hard climb in such soft sand but we did it.

I have been very fortunate to spend the last three days on K'gari (Fraser Island). It was so wonderful to unplug from the busyness of daily life and take sometime to reconnect to nature and nurture myself. I have come back feeling less stressed and rejuvenated. Such an amazing place to visit.

Angus McDonalds painting of Behrouz Boochani a Kurdish Iranian writer, poet, filmmaker and journalist. This painting was the winner of the peoples choice 2020

Julie Fragar has painted artist and friend Richard Bell.

My husband and I had a wonderful day visiting the Tweed heads Art Gallery to see the visiting exhibition of Archibald paintings. The works were truly amazing. These were two of my favourites.

Breathing space

This year I have decided my new work will be about Breathing Space. Time to recover, respite, rest , a break and time to think. I am worthy of rest. 
 

Wonders of wood

I have been making lots of small wood works at the moment. It gives me so much joy to give them to friends. I really enjoy making them, they are certainly not perfect but they are made with love and my time. It has been such a hard year for so many this year. I have been so grateful for my family and friends. I hope 2021 holds good health and happiness for us all.
 

Whittling adventures

Using a very special Japanese axe Carol purchased in Kyoto. Really beautiful to use on the timber. 

 I have really been loving going to a class in whittling with the amazing Carol Russell.  Carol is an outstanding teacher, her knowledge and expertise is incredible. Such a genuine, generous, kind talented person. I feel fortunate to be in her class. It has been so good for me in so many ways. I am totally calm and relaxed when there, it is like a meditation as I am totally focussed on what I am doing and thinking of nothing else. I truly love the stillness of it. The wood is beautiful to work with , I feel it re-connects me to nature. I have been trying different techniques and finishes.