{t is for...}

two pm

today

trepidation

time out

turning points

tinniegirl

{finding my way - part III}

In My Heart

Acrylics, mixed-media and oil sticks on canvas

16 x 16 inch

*made for mumsy's birthday with a big dose of love

I woke up this morning and realised that I was happy.  Not about anything in particular, or in an elated, giddy kind of way.  Just a gentle feeling of happiness coming from deep within.  

I am coming to a new sense of understanding about my place in the world, about my dreams and my hopes.  I'm starting to see my life in a much bigger way, rather than just the immediate future.  I'm am finding my own path on so many fronts.

I have such a sense of completion around me.  Somehow I just know that this time of intense challenges and learning is coming to an end.  There are signs too.  Small things starting to shift.  New opportunities emerging.  And a quieter, more grounded me, able to listen and to see the opportunities before me, and to embrace them.

I think this week is going to be a pivotal week in all of this.  There's a few things happening, the outcomes of which could potentially really shape the next couple of years.  In my heart I just have this sense of the future moving forward to greet me.

{down the garden path - open studio event}

It might go without saying that I have voyeuristic tendencies.  I love to see the way other people live, see what their homes look like and experience other people's lives and cultures.  I am an observer of detail.

Creative spaces are of particular fascination to me of course.  I am intrigued by the way people create, where, how, and their processes.

I'd been thinking for some time about having an open studio event.  I thought others might like to come and see my creative space and learn a little more about my processes.  When our house was put up for sale it all seemed a little complex and I wasn't sure I'd be able to pull it off.

I'm very pleased to say that everything has fallen into place and I'm holding an open studio and end of year celebration.

Down the Garden Path

Wednesday 8th December 2010

4 - 8.30pm

Thornbury

Everyone is welcome to come along.  There'll be drinks and nibbles, lots of time to poke around in my studio and ask me questions about my work.  You'll also be able to see the finished commission piece and the artwork for the Patti Digh book.

I've asked CurlyPops to join me and we're going to have a little market on the back deck as well.  Both of us will have our creations for sale.  I'm even working on some new originals for the event.

Rather than share my address with the world here on the web, if you'd like to come along please email me at tinniegirl(at)optusnet.com.au and I'll send you the invite with full address details.  

For those who can't make it I'll be sure to take lots of photos and share them.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.  I'm cooking and painting today and then off to Daylesford for the Maker's Market tomorrow.

{oh, bring us a figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer}

When I was a little girl my gran used to put on the most amazing Christmas spread.  Roast turkey and ham with all the trimmings.  Mountains of roast potatoes and carrots and parsnip (yuk!),  and peas and gravy.  She must have worked so hard to bring it all together.

It was such a big event in my childhood, going to my grandparents on Christmas day.  I remember my extended family coming together at Christmas and sitting around the great big dining table.  I remember that my cousins never ate anything but vegemite sandwiches.  I remember my grumpy grandfather sitting at the head of the table watching over us all.

But the thing I remember the most was the Christmas pudding.  My gran's Christmas pudding was the highlight of the meal.  It was decadent and delicious and I've never, ever forgotten it.

Sadly, my family is not very good at holding on to our history and the pudding recipe was lost when my gran passed away.  Mumsy has made us many a divine Christmas pudding over the years but has never had a signature recipe that she's stuck with.

This year I've decided to take a turn at making the pudding.  The only problem is I don't have a recipe.  I've done a bit of googling and looked at some recipe books, but I'm really not sure which one to choose.

I'm hoping someone out there might have an amazing recipe that you'd be willing to share with this novice pudding maker.  I want it to be choc full of fruit and I want to cook it in calico.  Other than that I'm completely open.

Can you help?

{tonight in brisbane, and other days in other places}

This evening in Brisbane my painting 'Amongst It' will go on show in the 2010 Belle Arti - Chapman and Bailey Art Award with work from artists all over the country.  I feel so lucky and so honoured to be gifted with the skills and the passion to paint.  It has filled my life to the brim.

I wish I could be in Brisbane tonight to see it hanging on the wall.  I'm sure it will be keeping amazing company.  If you're in Brisbane and feeling like an outing the opening is from 6 - 8pm at Metro Arts Galleries, Level 2, 109 Edward St, Brisbane.  The exhibition runs until December 3rd.

I've got a few group exhibitions coming up in the next couple of months, and a few markets in the next couple of weeks.  I'll be at the Daylesford Maker's Market with lots of lovely familiar faces this coming Saturday,  and the Buninyong Maker's Market the following week.  Sometime this week I'll add a page to my blog with details of the exhibitions and markets coming up in case you want to come along to any of them.

I've also got a very special end of year open studio event planned but I'll tell you about that tomorrow.

{familiar territory}

Stomping Ground*

Acrylics and gel pen on canvas

16 x 16 inch

The sun is shining, the birds are singing and I am full of hope for the future.  It's the best kind of familiar.

*if you'd like to know more about this painting click on the photo.  I've written a description about it's meaning over on the Flickr page.

{dear universe}

Can you please buy this house for me?  I'll love you forever and ever, with all my heart.

tinniegirl
xxx

{awash with colour}

I know, I've been a bit quiet on the blogging front lately.  Just taking a bit of time out.  Listening to the birds and to my heart.  Noticing the small details.  Dreaming big.  The usual stuff.

And painting.  Always painting.  Working on the commission, getting work ready for a couple of group shows that I'm entering and starting on a whole lot of new pieces.

And joining in with My Creative Space for the first time in a long, long time.

{finding my way - part II}

It occurred to me over the last couple of days that perhaps the reason I don't have any answers at the moment is because I'm just not meant to have them. And that perhaps that doesn't stop me from living life, and dreaming big, and achieving good things.  And that perhaps I don't need to struggle with this anymore.  I really can just let go and trust.  Perhaps.

{evolution of a painting}

Gif animation creator

Commissioned work in progress

It's coming along nicely.  There's been moments of delight, lots of stretching (physically and creatively), occasional moments of fear, certainty and uncertainty (sometimes simultaneously), courage, quick trips to get more paint and constant reminders to let go and enjoy the process.

It's amazing what you can learn in just 15 square feet.

It's about 2 good painting sessions away from finished.  I think!

{finding my way}

Amongst It*
Acrylics, collage, spray paint & Pitt pens on linen
14 x 14 inch

I have been:

• Unplugging.
• Getting rid of the noise drowning out my own voice.
• Reading, riding my bike, cooking. Moving my mind and my body.
• Spending time with friends.  In the real world, not online.  
• Asking for help, and receiving it.  Graciously and gratefully.
• Job hunting.  Putting my heart and head into finding some stable income.
• Wearing shorts and thongs.  How I love this time of year.
• Painting.  
• Grounding myself.
• Making decisions.  Big ones and small ones.  
• Restoring order.
• Resting.
• Finding my way. Ever so slowly but ever so surely, finding my way.
  

*This painting is on it's way to Brisbane to be part of the Chapman & Bailey 2010 Belle Arti Award.  If you're Brisbane based and you'd like to check out a piece of my work in the flesh the exhibition runs from 22 November to 3 December at Metro Arts, 109 Edward St, Brisbane.  I'd love to hear from you if you do, seeing as I won't be making it myself.

{making progress...}

...on the big painting, and on the journey.

All is well in my world.

{better already}

 

 *The incredible work of artist Tara Badcock.  Do yourself a favour and take a look.

“When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.”

-Arthur Conan Doyle-

{it was the best of times, it was the worst of times}

Things continue to be topsy-turvy over here.  I find myself wondering at times if it will ever be any different.  The logical part of me knows that of course it will, but the feeling part is another matter...

There are so many great things happening at the moment with my art.  The commission, the Patti Digh book, the sense that things are really moving forward creatively.

In other parts of my life things feel really damn hard.  I am sick for the umpteenth time this year, we are broke, our sense of stability is completely up in the air with the impending house sale, I buggered my knees running, and it goes on.  We are holding ourselves together but some days it is only just.

So that's me.  The plain ugly truth.  I feel like I should be celebrating all the good things that are happening and focusing on the positives, but the truth is at times I just can't see the forest for the trees.

However, I am no quitter.  I am digging deep into my trust in the universe, my faith and hope.  There is a purpose to all that is happening, I'm sure of it, and calm seas are surely just around the bend.

On a brighter note the random generator picked some giveaway winners for me.  Liesl was just remarking on the chances of the number 1 coming up in her giveaway and here it is again picking her as the number 1 commenter on my giveaway.  Cool huh? Liesl is the winner of a set of limited edition 3 Parts Faith, Two Parts Hope prints. 

The second winner was commenter number 17.  Cherie from Waste Not Do Want.  Cherie you win your choice of print from my Etsy shop.  Get in touch so we can arrange it.

I've finally got around to adding some new stock to my Etsy shop.  You can now purchase 'Three Parts Faith' and 'Two Parts Hope' as individual prints or in a set.  I'm doing a limited edition run of 20 of these prints so if you want them you'll need to get in quick.

I've also added some of my new landscape prints.  There are 4 different prints to choose from.  Again these are a limited edition run of 15 of each so snap them up if you're keen.

Now for a couple of last things.  I've created a link on the blogtoberfest page to the 2010 sign up list so you can easily find it if you want to keep visiting new blogs.  I've also created a link to all my 2010 posts in case you need to find something.

Lastly I want to give another great big shout out to Kellie from 74 Lime Lane for her fabulous work on the button for this year.  And to everyone who joined in, came along for the ride, took up the challenge and made this year's blogtoberfest another great success, a big cheers to you too.

Don't worry about my spirits peeps.  I'll be full of sunshine and hope again shortly.  It's all part of the journey.

I'm taking a little computer break for the next few days while Ms L and I make some big decisions about our next steps.  I'll be back real soon.