Heat Heat and More Heat

Finally after my usual yearly break I am back in the studio. I am in full creating mode!!! And now the weather decides to heat up again and its just too darn hot in the studio. Temperatures of 39C (102F) Friday, Saturday and Sunday. As I now work at the Royal South Australian Society of Arts two days a week, gone are the days of unrestricted studio time. But in saying that, my work practices have changed. Because I have less studio time the time I do spend in there is quality time. There is more purpose in my work. I don't just go into a painting frenzy. There's more thought in the behind the meaning and the processes used. Although my paintings were my way of story telling I always felt they were not much more than pretty pictures to hang on the wall. I craved more depth and envied artists that could achieve it. I feel that my work is at a turning point, in a growth spurt and I am interested to see where it leads. I started the year with no goals or plans for my career path. I was floundering. I didn't know where I was headed or what I should do next. It frightened me. I usually set loose goals for the year. Luckily I had my travel plans to keep my mind occupied. I should really learn to trust the universe because things are changing, doors are opening and slowly I see some opportunities coming to light. For those of you who don't know, I am flying to the US this year to meet my on-line art tribe some of whom I have "known" for over 4 years. They are my kindred spirits. Its like the good ol' days when people met their pen pals. Flights are booked and paid for, a shiny new passport is obtained and this is finally really and truly going to happen. I leave Adelaide on June 12th for Chicago. On July 6th Elena, Robin and I are booked on a train journey to Seattle where I will get to meet our only "boy" tribe member, Glenn and then on to the forest near Portland (is that right Jan???) to meet another. This is my year for ADVENTURE!!!

Hello Studio

The time has arrived! The weather, although still warm, has dropped enough for me to re-enter the studio. I took myself off the "busy" treadmill and taken back some control of my time. A new painting awaits and the excitement never ceases to amaze me. A brand new (scary) crisp white canvas is on my easel, some new brushes and a few new tubes of paint have been bought to inspire me further. In the words of my good friend (and blog police) Laura, I'd better bust a move.

Blog Police

I noticed some new comments on my last post. Has it really been over 8 months since I posted??? The comment was from my dear friend and longest cyber friend Laura who says she isn't the blog police. Hahaha Laura, you so are! I am not making excuses but life takes on twists and turns and its not always possible to fit everything in. Some things just have to sit for a while. My blog was/is one of them. Still reading Julia Cameron's books with my on line tribe and generally goofing off with them on facebook. Still trying to juggle all the things that go on in my day to day life and fit in enough time to create. What I have noticed is that there is a particular pattern that repeats itself every year without it being planned. I seem to take 3 months off from painting. Every year I notice that I down tools in December, January and February. And every year I freak out and think I am blocked and will never create again but then all of a sudden the creative urges flow and I head out to the studio and paint like a woman possessed. I am not sure why this happens. It could be seasonal. December, January and February is summertime. And the summers get pretty hot here. My studio just gets too darn hot. Well this year doesn't seem to be any different. Here it is heading towards the end of February and I went out and bought a new canvas today and then I treated myself to some new brushes. Creativity is starting to flow. I am ready ... let the painting begin!!!