still life

Interesting when your life becomes still.
Doesn't happen very often these days - especially if you live in the city.
Even most conversations are fast paced and fleeting.

On those very odd occasions when you do catch yourself sitting quietly and watching the world go by  - its lovely to stop and notice what beautiful and often ordinary objects catch your eye.

A shadow on the floor, a fleck of light catching the rim of a cup, the breeze moving a towel that has just come back from the beach...

In the last few months ive been slowing down my thoughts in the studio and doing warm up sketches of the object that lie around me. And ive loved the process.

Its amazing the pleasure that you can get from just quietly sketching a few objects as they wait for you to use them....

a family portrait. December 2015

Lekythos. 2016

starting conversations

<^New series... making and taking shape^>

In the last few weeks a couple of you have guessed that I haven't been feeling 100% at the moment. 

Good guess everyone.

After being diagnosed with Crohns Disease at fifteen, and understanding, treating and reasoning with it for twenty two years, the well worn conversation about my health is one Ive initiated many many times with friends, family, and, from time to time... this blog. 

But lately Ive been resting. 

Relaxing.

And going with the flow.

And quietly working in the studio on this new series of artworks.

I've let them to do the doing the talking for me.

So here is a sneaky look a few little works that will hopefully come together to form a solo show next year. 

Do they speak you? 

I hope so.

I love playing in the studio when everything is new, experimental and fun and youre at the very early stages of a new body of work when....

There are no rules or limitations.

There is just you, your imagination and your hands to create the work.

^Weaving and drawings are starting to have a conversation with each other. Slowly.
They are just trying to find the right words!^

its in the stars....

bits n bobs that are inspiring the new series of works at the studio...

Stars.

The Multiverse.

Strings. Quantum Mechanics.

Bits n pieces of matter and molecule 

that make you and me.

Since moving to the Camperdown studio this massive subject matter that has been keeping me very VERY busy. Ive never been so focused and so inspired to make a new body of work in such a short space of time. Im completely fascinated by the stars. The universe. And everything seen and unseen. 

The colours are alot deeper and the drawings and weavings are a lot more complex.

This week I completed another woven form and a couple of drawings. 

And I should be satisfied.

But Im not.

This subject is too huge and too interesting for one little person and two tiny hands.

Let the artworks continue to flow!

a collection of ideas that continues to multiply and grow as the year goes on....

s k e t c h y

Sketch of the studio, March 2013

In the studio of late ive been knee deep in raffia and all sorts of weaving material.
Ive been on a roll and loving my long weaving sessions on the big wooden table.
In the middle of making three massive woven forms for the wall ive also taught a couple of workshops at Koskela {which you would have seen me rabbit on about in earlier posts}. So its safe to say that my art practice has been taken over by weaving! In the last few years it was just a side project for me. A way of relaxing, meditating and playing. But now it has officially worked its way into my new series of artworks, giving it a new- and textural-  dimension.

Last Thursday i finished off my latest big wall weaving form, and then I started to look at my pile of pencils and acknowledge their stares. Amongst all the weaving materials on the big wooden table they've been feeling a little rejected.

And, truth be told,  i've missed them too. They have always felt like an extension of myself.

But I cant seem to weave and draw at the same time. Its either one or the other. Strange I know. But true.
So its been a few weeks since I last asked my hands to remember how to draw.
And, at first, they wouldn't respond.

So I played.
And this little sketch of the studio is what I came up with.

^ g r e e n ^

Diary sketches... March 2013

Can you see the theme running though my work at the moment?
Consciously or unconsciously ive been drawn to the beautiful colour of green.

When I started the year I had a strong focus towards the mysterious and the contemplative colours of the constellations.
And the indigo blue of the universe.
And yet somehow Ive taken a u-turn and headed back down to earth.
And found the colours of Nature.

Maybe its because my studio window looks out onto a big park?
Maybe its because green is a calm and restorative colour?

Who knows...


It's all a creative journey.
And im on a search + discovery ride
Until someone shouts out...
DEADLINE.

Looking through the woven branches... to the white light.

the start of a new woven form... march 2013

A photo I took after the rain... when everything was glowing green.

d i s c o v e r i e s

ideas and thoughts for the new series... March 2013

March.
Autumn.
Rain + and cooler nights.
Thinking time in the studio.
Playtime with weaving workshops.

I think this is going to be a busy month.

Do you get that feeling too?

March seems to be a time when people start to get serious about their year...
And what they would like to achieve, experience and attempt.
New studies.
New travel plans.
New moves.
New series of artworks!

Im starting to get into a great rhythm at the White Room studio aka The Camperdown studio,  as Ive just discovered a little routine that seems to work for me, and the parking officers!

Im also starting to get to know my new neighbours and discover their artworks and life stories.

And I love that.
Its starting to feel like home.

Speaking of which - my studio open weekend is THIS weekend!
{24 Australia st. Camperdown 1-4pm}
All the details can be found on this link... 
Hope to see some of you there!

New drawing... 2013

^ first look ^

This was taken earlier this week... after many days of cleaning and sorting.
I had just unpacked my drawing materials to begin some
quick sketches...

Ta - da!
Welcome to the new studio
Its very lovely isnt it? Can you believe that it has never been a studio space before??
No - neither can I! Its roomy + light, with heaps of storage. And it kind of makes me feel like im in an old country school classroom.

So im unpacked, sorted and ready to roll. And ive given the studio a name.
Im calling it the white room studio, as it reminds me of a series of works that I completed way back in 2003.

The series consisted of simple abstract drawings on wood + paper that focused on making the viewer feel light, calm and quiet from the moment they set eyes on them. At the time I was going through some serious health issues with my Crohns Diease and those drawings were a way for me to meditate, relax and be still, while so much was happening around me.

That is what this studio space reminds me of.
That series of works.
As soon as I walked into this room I immediately felt calm and peaceful.
Even in the middle of inner Sydney.

What are the chances that my new drawings, paintings and weavings will reflect that same sense of calm?
High.... I hope!!

All I know so far is that I am one lucky lady.

Ive never had a studio like this before!

White Room Series, Sketch on Paper dated  1.10.03

over a pot of mint tea.

Playtime in the sketchbook... Feb 2013

I love it when things flow and happen - in such a way - that you know they were meant to be...

Does that sound too cosmic and 1970s for this time of the morning? 

Maybe...

But on Saturday afternoon three lovely ladies caught up over a cup of tea and realised that the conversations they were having were important. Important as they were being honest, open and truthful about everything... and nothing. 

We talked about life, the universe, pregnancy, illness, creativity, and about doing what makes us feel happy, healthy, and in control of our own lives.

And about half way through our second cup of tea we decided to get some art materials out on the table and play.

Nothing serious.

Just simple sketches. 

I loved that it all just flowed and no negative words were uttered such as... 'I cant!' 

By the time I was about to leave - after I had been given a house tour by the lovely little Rosie - I felt relaxed, reinvigorated and excited for the week ahead.

Amazing what can happen when we make the time for each other...

And have a chat over a cup of tea.

Thank you Anna and Alenka for a lovely afternoon.

searching for the perfect beat...

Sketch book 2012

On wet, dreary, winter days -

when the sun is trying its hardest to make an appearance

I find that my drawings need more time to develop.

When its wet, cold and grey outside, I have to work harder to get the ideas to flow onto the blank pages, as I normally find inspiration in the colours and light of the day.

So what do I do when im not really feeling creative? 

I do warm up sketches

to find my rhythm and the perfect beat.

And in the last few weeks these little sketches have made it onto the pages of this tiny diary for 2012...

Most only take a few minutes.

And yet from those few moments big artworks can come....

the warm up sessions.

The warm up diary... 2012

People warm their hands up in many different ways.

They rub them together, they hold them up to a fire or heater, they sit in the Sun, or, they slip them into a warm pair of gloves... or someone else's hands!

For me - its got to be a quickfire sketch session in the diary. 

Its amazing how every day is different, and that your hands can feel materials in many different ways. You would think that if you could draw, or paint, your hands would use art materials in the same way. Everyday. 

But no. 

One day can see you delicately work a pencil or paintbrush. The next morning its like you've never seen these foreign implements before in your life. So what's the difference? 

The difference is how you feel on the day. It's that simple.

So - how do you know if its a good day or a bad day?

You draw. You warm up your hands with a sketch or three.

And that is what these drawings are.

Little warm ups and tiny ideas...

Just to get the day flowing...

psst...
if you're wondering what to do when its a bad drawing day
Ill give you a little tip...

You go for a coffee!

building blocks...

the studio... january 2012

Its in January that you start to feel out the coming year...

What would I like to achieve? Where would I like to travel? What big things would I like to tick off my imaginary life list? Some things we cant plan for - and in a year that for many started off with a BIG BANG - it can be tricky to foresee whats going to happen next. 

In the last few weeks Ive had a lot of big events take place... saying goodbye to a beloved family member, going on a spontaneous trip, find out that my work will change in many different ways in the coming year, and excitingly plan for an upcoming solo exhibition in a few months time! 

So yes. Many things to give me a clear picture that this is definitely a year of change.

Two big things that Ive just alluded to are very exciting and ill share more about them when in the coming weeks... 

reworking a drawing from a while ago...

But to get things started Ive been back in the studio.

Always a great place to get me excited, get me grounded and get me in the mood to play!

These are just a few images from today... as I start to warm up my hand and my pencil for the new artworks that will soon take shape...

the building blocks....

see you soon....

I just wanted to say a tiny goodbye. 

Im off on a big train ride tomorrow morning to see old friends, visit new places, and excitingly, ill be teaching three children's weaving workshops in the Blue Mountains! I am very excited... 

Ill try to talk to you while I am away but if I don't get a chance to borrow a computer, Ill be back in a couple of weeks with plenty of images... stories...and artworks to share! 

Until then...

Take care

x

the dog + the dish

Monte, September 2011

So like I was saying to you a couple of days ago, last week was filled with a lot of high highs and low lows, with one of the lows being the sudden illness of my very old pooch named Monte. 

If you have followed this blog for a little while now you will have met this certain dog of mine a couple of times. He is a major part of my life, especially when he keeps me company when I'm having a hard time with my health. These days he sleeps for much of the day as he is getting on in years (16 in human years!) and our walks have become shorter and less frequent. Oh the poor little dear...

Anyway I thought it was time to immortalise him as I realised the other day that I had never committed his little mug to paper. So this was my attempt at trying to capture his big personality, in a tiny body!

Oh and by the way...he is feeling much better this week after a visit to the vet. 

Yay to him... he truly is an EverReady bunny as he just keeps going and going...

Through the dark night...

....images appear.
As if by magic.
Your eyes adjust to the lack of light
and suddenly you just can make out a tree,
a dusty road, an old rickety fence...
a landscape.

After talking about drawing at night, I remembered that I had completed some old dusty sketches on a drawing trip to Riversdale, the property of Australian artist Arthur Boyd. At the time I thought it a crazy idea. I mean, how on earth do you draw in the dark, let alone hold a pencil and see the paper? But it is amazing what you can see once your vision gets used to the lack of light, and you let go of wanting to see every single detail. It then starts to become liberating as you stop looking for what is there and just feel your way through it. Instead of perfect lines, angles and  perspectives, you pick up a big piece of charcoal and start playing with light and shade....

Fun I tells ya! And when the weather warms up I think I may have to revisit this tiny drawing project!

So ... after a week focused on playing in the dark I swear Ill be back on Monday with more bright sunny colours to celebrate the start of a new week !!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

x

the warm up.

Beautiful sun. Quiet afternoon. And me with my book. That was how my Sunday afternoon looked. Well... for a little while at least. I was desperate to keep warm, and I found that I could retain a tiny bit of body heat if I placed my limbs in direct sunlight. Luckily I found a pocket of it, just outside the studio. And as I sat, I started to look around, what caught my eye was my sketch diary.

It had been a while since I had worked in it, and as I flicked through the pages, I started to stroll down memory lane. Many of the sketches were done while I was at The Primrose Studio last year, when I would get out this little diary, and a pen, and start doing minute sketches to get the hand and brain warmed up and ready for a session with the the paintbrush and a large canvas. And believe me... you want to be ready when you make a date with oil paint!

So while I looked at these little pen drawings... I thought that you might like to have a wee look at them too....

There is another tiny ... aka Sophie, and she made a little tin box for all her wedding guests as a gift. So cute. And what was inside this little box I hear you ask? It was a piece of beautiful rich chocolate cake... yum!

Now there is no cake in this box... only storage for pins, thread and needles...

Love this little sketch of two people on a row boat...

oh so quiet....

It's oh so quiet

it's oh so still

You're all alone

and so peaceful until...

{Bjork}

That song sprung to mind this morning
and felt totally apt when looking at these sketches
from a few years ago.
When I was working on them for a series
called The White Room, I was quite unwell
and at the beginning of a cycle of illness that
is reaching its ending right about now!
{I know...long time right? That's chronic illness for you...}



I was in a quiet state of mind and looking
at stillness,
simplicity and beauty.
That feeling is translated, I hope, in these 3 works above...
But like Bjork's song...
its all so quiet...
its all so still
until....
you fall in love
and things change with a whole new cycle
and shift in events.
Let the change
begin.