You are the knowing.....

This week I am also linking up to Instant Inspirations with Nicole Levesque at Inner Expresions. (see button on right hand column). What has inspired my creativity this week.....??

Nothing that comes and goes is you.
"I am bored." Who knows this?
"I am angry, sad, afraid." Who knows this?
You are the knowing, not the condition that is known.

Eckhart Tolle

May - Creative Colour Challenge

The colour Pink was selected by Louise Gale for this months Creative Colour Challenge. I love pink, it is one of my favourite colours. The colour of love, romance and for me it is a very calm and relaxing colour.

As I was playing around with ideas for my piece for this challenge the song “Pink” by Aerosmith came along like a little ear worm. Not that I am an Aerosmith fan but the lyrics “pink is the colour of passion” kept going around in my head every time I thought about my pink creation. So I thought, why not run with that? It certainly is very pink ... LOL!

Art:- Reason and Passion

Acrylic and metallic paints. Textured with tissue paper and modelling paste. I also created a stencil effect with silver spray paint over lace. Sketch of a sexy lady looking very passionate. The quote in the picture is a snippet from On Reason and Passion by Kahlil Gibran.

"Among the hills, when you sit in the cool shade of the white poplars, sharing the peace and serenity of distant fields and meadows -- then let your heart say in silence, "God rests in reason." And when the storm comes, and the mighty wind shakes the forest, and thunder and lightning proclaim the majesty of the sky -- then let your heart say in awe, "God moves in passion." And since you are a breath in God's sphere, and a leaf in God's forest, you too should rest in reason and move in passion."

I LOVE Texture!

I really do love working with texture!! Getting my hands dirty and experimenting is so much fun.

Texture and modelling pastes are so forgiving of mistakes and they offers so much freedom. Anything is possible and you can get the most amazing textures from simple household items.

This piece is textures with a combination of tissue paper, lace, a comb, and a potato masher. Painted with acrylics.

Art is an adventure that never seems to end.  ~Jason, Los Cerros Middle School, 1999

Art:- Delicate Movement

In the Picture Project – May

In the Picture Project is a creative community self-portrait journey coordinated by Urban Muser. Photos that contain some part of you, and must be taken by you. The theme for May was "Big World, Tiny You”.

Overlooking the ocean, it is hard not to feel tiny compared to it's vastness, so I thought that ocean as my subject would be appropriate for this months theme. Here are my 4 favourite shots for this month's In The Picture.

Big World, Tiny Me

Love in the Sand

Finding Balance in Nature

Pawprints in the Sand

Week 20 - 52 weeks of Gratitude

Modern Appliances

This week our toaster broke which meant that when making breakfast we had to stand at the toaster and hold the lever down until it was ready. It is amazing all the other things one can do normally while the toast is cooking itself, make the tea, pour the cereal, get the milk out of the fridge. So standing there holding down the toast I realised how lucky we are to have all these modern appliances which make our busy life so much easier! No manual washing of clothes or dishes, instant boiling water, a clothes dryer for rainy day, I even have a little robotic vacuum which scoots around the tiles and vacuums up the dog hair while I am at work!! Seriously .... I have name him Wally!

So this week I decided to express my heartfelt gratitude for all the modern appliances which save me so much time, and on Saturday morning I went and purchased us a very groovy new toaster and kettle to match!!

“But the toaster was quite satisfied with itself, thank you. Though it knew from magazines that there were toasters who could toast four slices at a time, it didn't think that the master, who lived alone and seemed to have few friends, would have wanted a toaster of such institutional proportions. With toast, it's quality that matters, not quantity.”  Thomas M. Disch, The Brave Little Toaster

The Magic of Mosaic

This week I thought I would share my mosaic birdbath via Creative Every Day and Inspire Me Monday. It relates to the "one" theme of CED in a couple of ways - it was my first attempt at a mosaic and it is totally unique, the only one exactly like it on the planet... :-)

I had such a beautiful time with this project. It was extremely time consuming but the process of gluing the tiles into the design was so relaxing, almost meditative!

I bought a plain terracotta birdbath to start with and then a whole lot of colourful tiles from the local hardware shop. I had quite good fun smashing them up! I also found some sets of little square tiles in all kinds of colours, as well as some coloured round stones from home as well. So it didn't really cost much to make, it just needed alot of time and some patience.

I am really pleased with the outcome! It makes me happy every time I look at it, so bright and colourful.

I have had to secure the top onto the base as sadly not long after it's completion my cat Maya (bless her) jumped up onto it, the top fell off, landed on the base and smashed it. My heart sank for a moment but it was nothing a bit of glue and black paint couldn't fix.

I am really looking forward to doing another mosaic project soon, when I have the spare time. Perhaps a nice big garden pot or something could be fun. I have also seen some amazing mosaic mirrors as well which could be an awesome challenge.

Hope everyone has a magical, joyful and creative week!!

Postcard Challenge Week 20 - West Africa (Mali)

This week Darcy at art-and-sole offered a selection of countries from West Africa for the Post Challenge. I selected Mali and I have used one of my existing art works which was done with an African Theme. 

Amongst the array of shapes and colour is a figure of an African woman holding clay bowl of water. This piece was done on canvass with collage and acrylic paints.

Hi Liam,
I have always dreamt of going to Africa and now here I am living the dream! I will be travelling all over this amazing continent trying to fit as much in as possible, both for work and also with some free time for my own adventures. Currently I am in Mali, which may be one of the poorest countries in the world however it is so rich with warm, generous and friendly people and surprisingly great food. I have fallen in love with a local drink called jinjinbere, a drink made of water, sugar, lemon, and ginger. It is so refreshing and delicious! So Africa – here I come! Stay Safe …. Gemma!

Week 19 - 52 weeks of Gratitude

Sunny Autumn Days

This last week the weather has been absolutely glorious! After such a wet summer I am so grateful for this spectacular weather that we have been given in Autumn. The sky has been the most intense and amazing shade of blue. Perfect weather to be a cat and curl up in the sun!!

"Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns"  ~George Eliot

It's Beautiful Here

After a hectic week at work I was craving a weekend of solitude and peace. Sometimes in my job I have to talk and listen far to much, it becomes like a sensory overload towards the end of the week. I am aware that when I feel like this the cure for me is simply a weekend at home with my cat, my 2 dogs and my husband. No TV, not even music sometimes just silence, creativity and perhaps a good book. 

I had fun playing around with several ideas. This piece represents that space right in the centre of ourselves where there is a perfect nothingness. No thoughts, no expectations, no conversation, just pure Santosha, contentment.

I actually started out with colour everywhere, I went a little crazy with blending a confusion of colours that moved  into a centre of bright yellow. Perhaps this was an indication of how I was feeling. 

As the day went along it kind of transitioned into all white with bits of gold and yellow, which is certainly more true to how I felt by the end of a beautiful day at home with just myself and my pets.
 

It really is so beautiful there.......

Art - It's Beautiful Here

Week 18 - 52 weeks of Gratitude

Blogging

When I decided to start Blogging at the beginning of this year I thought it would be a great alternative to many years of writing in a journal and a nice way to compile my thoughts and creative projects. I had no idea of the amazing communities of Bloggers that exist out there! There are so many talented and inspiring people who I am very grateful to have the opportunity to connect to, learn from and share the joys of creativity with.

“I think the pleasure of completed work is what makes blogging so popular. You have to believe most bloggers have few if any actual readers. The writers are in it for other reasons. Blogging is like work, but without coworkers thwarting you at every turn. All you get is the pleasure of a completed task.” ~ Scott Adams

Beautiful Buttons

The theme for Creative Every Day this month is one. Interesting……this can be interpreted in many ways so I am exciting to see what it conjures up for me over the coming weeks.

I decided to post my Button Artwork this week as each individual canvas in this piece has one button.  I bought a very groovy jacket from an op shop for about $5 just for the buttons. I had no idea what I was going to do with them at the time, I just new that there were so many unique and beautiful buttons on this jacket that I could not leave it behind.

Eventually the buttons became part of this artwork I made for my kitchen. I made each individual canvas with a different texture and the buttons became like the feature jewel on each one.

Week 17 - 52 weeks of Gratitude

The Ocean

There is no doubt that the ocean and humans are intrinsically linked in so many ways. I feel very lucky and grateful to live so close to the ocean, giving me the opportunity to frequently connect to and experience its magic.

The ocean draws me in and fascinates me with its beauty and power, its mystery and its endless ebbing and flowing. It possesses a unique ability to instil calm, just by being near, listening to the sound of the waves and breathing in the salt air.

My connection to the earth is reinforced through the rhythm of the waves. ~Mike Dolan

April - Creative Colour Challenge

The colour Mustard Yellow was selected by Louise Gale for this months Creative Colour Challenge. I can honestly say that I have never set out with the intention to paint something yellow so this was indeed a bit of a challenge. The colour yellow conjured up visions of sunshine, daffodils, sunflowers, the honey mustard in the fridge. It also brought back memories of Autumn, as the winter closes in, the leaves turn a million different shades of golden yellow and have all but completely fallen from the tree.

I took some inspiration this month from an artist by the name of Anne Baldwin whose book "Creative Paint Workshop for Mixed-Media Artists" I recently bought. I really love her work and several of her paintings gave me some ideas for my Golden Autumn piece. In the end, it turned out to be more of a yellow/orange finish.

Art: Golden Autumn

"Yellow mellow, ripened days... Beauteous, golden Autumn days."  

~ Will Carleton

 Acrylic paints, collage, textured papers used for stamping and some oil pastels here and there for extra shading.

In the Picture Project - April

In the Picture Project is a creative community self-portrait journey coordinated by Urban Muser. Photos that contain some part of you, and must be taken by you. The theme for April was "Shake it Out" inspired by the fabulous Florence and The Machine.

This was quite a challenge as usually all my shaking out is done in private. Not something I would usually share. One of the main times that I tend to cut loose is when I'm cleaning the house, so that is what I tried to capture, along with a few other selfie moments. Here are my 4 favourites for this month's In The Picture.

Shake it Clean

Clutter

In Sync

Tranquillity Tree

Postcard Challenge Week 17 - Norway

This week we visited Norway for the art-and-sole Postcard Challenge. I Googled Norway for some inspiration and I found some amazing artwork on plates which seemed to be quite a Norwegian tradition. So I grabbed my black paged sketch book and metallic pencils and doodled my version of some Norwegian folk art.

Hi Gemma,
I ‘ve just had a great three weeks off spent at home in Ireland with my family. It was so great to see everyone and enjoy the comforts of home especially my Mum’s great home cooking. One day I will invite you to my country and you can write an article about the fabulous food at the O’Reilly’s homestead! I am grateful to be on the road again with my first port of call the magnificent Norway! This is a truly beautiful country with landscapes and scenes of dreams. My camera and I are once again in heaven! Live well. Liam.

Week 16 - 52 weeks of Gratitude

ANZACs

Australian’s recognise 25 April as an occasion of national remembrance. It is the day we remember all Australians who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.  I am very grateful for the sacrifices of so many brave men and women who have given their lives for the preservation of our freedom.

Lest We Forget.

“Never has there been a good war or a bad peace”
~ Benjamin Franklin

Week 15 - 52 weeks of Gratitude

Photography

I can't imagine a life without photos. We hold so many wonderful memories within these captured moments in time. From special occasions like weddings, birthdays or holidays to those precious little moments that can happen at anytime time……. click……. a memory forever!! It also offers endless creative opportunities to explore.

I am grateful for the invention of photography and the many memories that have been captured on film, to revisit anytime!

Poem - Angel of Music

As the monthly theme of "Language" continues in the Creativity Every Day Challenge, I have been inspired to go through some of my old writings and poems. These days I tend to paint more often than I write poetry, so I have taken the opportunity to match a piece of art to my poem and share it this week.

Angel of Music

The heavens fall amongst angels voices

& she catches it with her empty soul.

Surrounding the solitude she’s craved for so long.

Amongst gentle rhythms she again feels strong.

Once again she is alive,

for somehow with music  she will survive.

Her way is filled with ruthless thorns,

through fields so bleak & bare,

but she knows beyond lies the soothing sounds,

to cleanse her mind &  heal her despair.

So when life becomes to much to bare,

goodnight....goodbye you’ll find her where

The heavens fall amongst angels voices,

& fills her empty soul.

Such gentle rhythms & soothing songs,

surround the solitude she‘s craved for so long.

Once again she feels alive, in her elusive dreams she will survive.

So when life becomes to much to bare,

goodnight......goodbye you’ll find me there.

By Tamara

*********

Art:- Harmonic Flow

The title picture for my poem is a section from this artwork with an angel superimposed. I gave her a watercolour finish and made her slightly transparent. The original piece is done with mixed media, collage, acrylic as well as metallic paints, and a hot glue gun to create the textured swirls.

Art through the eyes of a child....

I have had a beautiful weekend with my 8 year old niece who is also my little art buddy. I am always amazed and in awe of the freedom with which a child creates. This weekend we completed our scrapbook and we then played around with a mixed media piece.... her theme was Cupcakes..... too cute!!

At first she was a little nervous about ripping up the pieces of coloured paper for her background, it didn't feel right... "shouldn't we cut them neatly"....."is this right?"........... ?

"There is no wrong" I told her, some advice that I often need to listen to myself!!

After a while she was happily taring paper and splashing colour around. I helped her with some painting tips and cutting out of the cupcake pictures but other than this she successfully created a beautiful, colourful and lively piece of art!!  So proud!!

"Every child is an artist.  The problem is how to remain an artist once (s)he grows up."  ~Pablo Picasso

Week 14 - 52 weeks of Gratitude

Balance

This week I am grateful for moments of balance in my life. Where, no matter what is happening around me, everything feels right and there is a sense of acceptance for all that is. A feeling of strength, inner confidence and calm. With mindfulness, perhaps these moments can become more permanent and lasting, that is the intention.

"The greatest art is to attain a balance, a balance between all opposites, a balance between all polarities. Imbalance is the disease and balance is health. Imbalance is neurosis, and balance is well-being."  ~Osho

Poem - Pale Blue Sky

This months Creative Every Day theme is Language, so I though it might be appropriate to share a poem.........

Pale Blue Sky

 She sits in her serene room,

with pale blue paper & pen,

writing on her own little piece

of pale blue sky.

So gracefully the ink dances

onto paper, as words fall

together effortlessly,

like lovers at one.

Until all thoughts, all feelings

are rolled into one great ocean,

a deep blue ocean,

by it’s tides she is controlled.

From her mind, through her fingers,

to the tip of the pen

& it’s only then that her

mind becomes clear.

Her thoughts become true

because they’re written right here,

on her own little piece

of pale blue sky.

By Tamara
******

Postcard Challenge Week 14 - Singapore

Week 14 in the Postcard Challenge with Darcy at art-and-sole blogspot.
For those who are not familiar with this challenge, there are two characters travelling the world (for me it is Gemma Walters, an Aussie food critic/journalist on a vegetarian food safari and Liam O’Reilly, an Irish photographer who is working for a travel magazine).

Each week a different country is selected by Darcy and our characters correspond alternately via a postcard. This week, not unlike Gemma, I have been quite busy so I have opted for a graphic design postcard for this weeks challenge.
 

Hi Liam,

I have just spent the last week amongst the hustle and bustle of Singapore, the food capital of Asia and I have to admit I am exhausted!! This place never stops, the energy is amazing. I was lucky enough to catch up with my cousin here who is backpacking around with a few of her friends. We explored the markets, visited the Chijmes, and spent a whole day at the Esplanade admiring some very talented entertainers. We also had a couple of very big nights on the town, so I am now in recovery mode. It was so nice to see a familiar face. Hope all is well with you. Be Safe. Gemma

A Single Rose

"A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world."

Leo Buscaglia

I really love the quote of a single rose by Leo Buscaglia. The single rose represents simplicity. For me this quote is about contentment and knowing that it is more about quality than quantity when it comes to the people in our lives.

Art:- A Single Rose

Mixed media, metallic paints, collage, coloured markers and pencil.

Week 13 - 52 weeks of Gratitude

My Pandora

I don't want to appear materialistic but this week I want to express my gratitude for my Pandora Bracelet. Each charm represents a beautiful moment or a special occasion shared with the people (and pets) I love.

“Good memories are like charms...Each is special. You collect them, one by one, until one day you look back and discover they make a long, colorful bracelet.”  James Patterson, Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas

In The Picture Project – March

In the Picture Project is a creative community self-portrait journey coordinated by Urban Muser. Photos that contain some part of you, and must be taken by you. The theme for March was "Black and White!"

I have found myself fully embracing the world of "Selfies".  I never imagined that taking photos of myself could be so fun, creative and thought provoking.  I am finding myself capturing many moments that would have otherwise just come and gone.  It has so much power to create a sense of mindfulness, in the moment with myself. Awareness of the surroundings and the feelings that are there.  It is almost as if I am able to look at myself differently in a self portrait photo than I do in a mirror reflection….. perhaps with a stronger sense of acceptance….?

So these are four of my favourite Selfies from this month…..

Out of my Head and into my Body

Shoulder Injury - Holding me Back

Information Overload

Coming to Life in Nature

March - Creative Colour Challenge

March 2012 Creative Colour Challenge from Louise Gale's monthly blog challenge. The theme this month was Blue.

I had been working on this piece throughout the month but it is not really quite finished. My original intention was more of still water and light however it is has turned out more like a thunderstorm, which is interesting. So this piece will continue on it's journey to completion.

So as my original piece is still "in progress" I had decided to also share something I completed earlier this month that is still  in line with our Blue theme.

The girl in the painting looks quite worried and maybe a little bit sad. The light bulbs and the butterfly represent the realisation that if we can control our thoughts we can create a better life.

Art: Change Your Thinking

Looking forward to seeing some of the beautiful blue creations this month!!