Lifebook week 6 - Dreamboard

Here's my week 6 piece for Lifebook. It's supposed to be a self portrait, and is painted over a photocopy of a photo of me, but it has so many layers it's not me anymore.

The collage elements are to represent dreams or wishes. I included gardening/ growing veggies, the bunting is like the flags I make for craft fairs and represents creativity. The girl with the bike is about exercise and spending time outdoors, also freedom and maybe I will get my bike fixed and go for a ride! The pink cushion is about having a comfy home, and is a bit of a long shot as my house is always in chaos, I'm always saying I'll declutter, but it's easier said than done!

The composition is a bit of a muddle with all those collage elements, so I didn't worry about pushing it to a 'finished' state. This one was more about ideas for me.

I love the Mark Twain quote I recently came across and included - Worrying is like paying a debt you don't owe.

I'm trying to keep that in mind through the job hunting process... I've decided that sending off applications and getting knock backs is like chipping away at a sculpture, getting rid of the things that aren't right, to uncover the perfect role (hopefully!)

Here's a sneak peek at a painting for the group show I'm part of in April..... a vagabond!!

April flowers

On Easter weekend we went to a wedding at the Botanical Gardens, where I saw this amazing cannonball tree in flower.

Hidden in a shady spot in my garden I found these flower buds on a vine. They open to reveal a big pollen spike and barely any flower!!

I haven't  done any sketching or painting in the last couple of weeks, but have been enjoying some relaxing hand sewing of flags, and have started a batch of fridge magnets. The first craft fair of the year is coming up fast, early in May.

Bits and Pieces

It's hard to believe the school holidays are over and the kids are back at school today. We don't seem to have done very much... I guess we've been relaxing!!

I've been pottering along doing bits and pieces,

sketchbook pages

new flags in progress

playing with watercolours at my friend Alison's studio.

Now that school's back I won't be interrupted by requests for banana smoothies and cheese on toast...so I'm hoping to get my teeth into some of the projects I've been putting off!

A very kind friend has given me this beautiful book (THANKYOU NAT!)
I can't believe I've never heard of Mark Hearld before, his subject matter (parks, gardens, birds) and his techniques really resonate with me. I especially love his linocuts

and am fascinated by his collage work too. It has been making me feel nostalgic for England, one piece in particular of allotments in autumn, makes me want to go on my childhood walks past allotments to the local park in Leeds.

dipping my toe in...

It's the new year, but I'm making a slow start! School holidays is not conducive to sitting down and focusing on painting, so I'm trying to do some sketchbook stuff

and some sewing. I'm embroidering over an old print on fabric that didn't work very well...trying to salvage it for something, maybe flags...

the last few days we've had record breaking hot temperatures (I'm glad to be back at work in the aircon for a couple of days a week) We did drag the kids out for a short walk in the bush at the weekend - beautiful!

Craft fair tomorrow!!

Just a quick reminder for those in Darwin, that it's the Dragonfly craft fair tomorrow 10 til 3 down at the Museum grounds at Tactile Arts.

Here's a sneak peek at the happiness flags I've been making over the last month or so. I will try to remember my camera tomorrow and take some shots....

I hope you're having a great weekend wherever you are!

flags revisited

At the begining of the year I made some happiness flags. Over the last couple of weeks I've made a new batch, this is how my verandah was looking last Friday!

Today I've just been finishing things off - varnishing fridge magnets and putting cards in bags - ready for the craft fair on Sunday. 10-3 at Tactile arts right next door to the museum, if you're in Darwin do come and say hello. I'll try to remember my camera and take a few shots on the day!

After that I have no more art commitments lined up, and I'm looking forward mucking about in my sketchbook!!