A plan is formed…

Sometimes inspiration hits you like a huge wallop, things that seemed vague and loose suddenly crystallise into something so obvious that you wonder why it took so long to think of it. This morning I woke up and made two decisions.

Firstly, I AM going to enter the Taranaki Art Awards (our most prestigious local art competition) again this year, even though up until now I thought I would pass on it this year.

Secondly, I am going to plan an exhibition of my work, to date. A real exhibition! It’s going to basically tell the story of my journey so far and be split into 3 media – paintings, mixed media pieces and photography. I have not exhibited any mixed media and very little of my photography.

I also want to include my blog and the blogging community (preferably interactive rather than as a static display) so that’s a bit of a challenge to think about how best to do that. Any ideas welcome!

I hope to achieve the following:
1. To build my profile as an artist (in painting, mixed media, photography and writing)
2. To see a collection of my work in one place instead of spread across various places and stored, so I can see it as a group of items and understand if there is any common threads/themes.
3. To let others comment and critique my work and learn from that
4. To hopefully even sell some pieces (not all pieces in the exhibition will be for sale)
5. To strengthen my relationships with other artists both in NZ and through the blogging community around me.

A blurry cloud of uncertainty and doubt has been replaced with clear vision and finally I know what I need to do.

Just walk on by…

Noticing things…I know I do go on about that. But it’s true. You can just walk past a grimy building with faded signage, sewer pipes, broken windows, rubbish and weeds all around and choose to not notice, look the other way. And most people do. Or you can choose to stop, look, and consider the possibilities, as I did. I saw opportunity, composition, texture, colour, and most importantly, a story.

It is imperfection that makes art interesting and that’s what I love about this photo.

Observing and responding in some way to what is around us….isn’t that an artists role? What do you think?

Standing outside looking at the bank

This building, which used to be the Bank of New Zealand (back in the days when banks were not shy of displaying their wealth and prestige in small farming towns) is now a charming antique/brocante shop in Eltham, appropriately called The Bank. I love to browse and shop there, but even more..I just love to look at it from across the street and admire its proportions and scale. So many of these grand old buildings no longer exist and it is such a shame.

creative photography…really?

I took this photo on the weekend, I especially like the poignancy of the signage…the promise of something special happening here, but sadly now abandoned like a broken dream.

This photo was taken in Eltham, a small town full of historic buildings and junk/antique shops, near my home. Needless to say, the combination of old buildings and antique/junk shops make it irresistible to me on a crisp but clear, wintery sunday morning.

The best of NZ portraiture for inspiration

Yesterday I had the opportunity to see a part of the NZ Portrait Exhibition at the Percy Thompson Gallery (see link on side bar). It was 45 of the best of 300 portraits painted for the prestigious national portrait competition. The entries were from around NZ. The styles were varied but the quality and talent on display was incredible and inspiring. Check it out if it passes through your city/town. Or through my blog you can find it on a link on the side bar…Be inspired!!!

A little moment in the museum…

In the spirit of finding inspiration in the everyday, I have submitted these two photo collages. I couldn’t decide which I liked better so have posted them both for comment, consideration or inspiration even? It was (for me) a really good example of just hanging out with the kids having fun during the school holidays at our local museum, and then just noticing the way the light was falling onto the glass floor, how the kids were silhouetted in contrast, how the historic building architraves were highlighted…basically, it was just a perfect photo moment, in a poky corner of the museum. Yet it proved to be an inspired spot for some photos. I have played around with them of course, further highlighting the contrast between dark and light and cropped slightly for a tighter composition, but in essence it was just a perfect coming together of light, location, and observation of my children interacting, oblivious to me and my sudden inspiration.

I hope you too, are finding creative inspiration in your own everyday routine, activities, observations around you. One option is to capture unique moments, experiences and observations when they happen, either in words, photos, drawings, sketches, journalling or through whatever creative outlet inspires you. Alternatively you can also just have the experience by simply just observing, noticing and enjoying the experience, the moment. Either way, you are living a more artistically inspired life, because you noticed when others didn’t. You cared.

July, Journalling and Just doing it….

To all my lovely supporters, a big thank you. Last month I had my record number of viewers and subscribers, so thank you! It’s really such a buzz to see that people take time from their busy lives to read my blog and take time to offer comments, suggestions, and offer support for my continuing writing, art and photography. The more support I got, the more I wanted to write and share.

How lucky we are to live in a global community, where we can support and appreciate other people’s art, thoughts, meanderings, creations… that we might never know about if it were not for the internet.I am constantly amazed by the breadth, sincerity and quality of other blogs I come across.

Anyway here is a recent jumble of my journal meanderings…for inspiration or interest. Some of you may recognise snippets from other entries or photos…but when put together like this, they form a new kind of creative idea, the sum being greater than the parts. I have only just ventured back into my art studio after a number of months with it closed, locked, curtains drawn…and have tentatively started on a small collection of four mixed media pieces. It is strange after such an absence, I feel almost back at the beginning of my creative endeavours again, nervous, cautious. I have made a tentative start and we will see where it goes. I will keep you posted.