Tuesday, 31 December 2013

New Year 2014

 
 


Coloured pencil and gold mica on black card
 

Hi there!  Happy New Year!  Okay, so it's not officially the New Year yet but I thought I would get in early.  I feel good about the New Year.  I won't tell you what I'll be getting up to tonight 'cos some people might think it's a bit sad, but I'm happy and that's all that matters right?
 
Christmas turned out okay with lots of yummy food and family.  It was fun watching my niece Phoebe rip open presents with her little hands.  Little James was a bit too young to understand Christmas but seemed to have plenty of fun looking round and taking everything in.
 
I was worried about sensory overload triggering my symptoms but my illness only reared it's head a little and I had some control over that, so I was really glad.  It just seems absurd sometimes, in a humorous way :), the amount of preparations that go into one day, and then it's over, just like that. 
 
till the New Year, bye for now :)
 
 

Tuesday, 24 December 2013

Christmas Bunny

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
First of all - Merry Christmas!  This year, for a change, I am actually looking forward to Christmas even though I am partially being dragged under by all the chaos and all the things I need to do.  I seem to soak up everything that floats around in the atmosphere and tend to feel somewhat confused. 
 
I am glad this year is over though.  I turned 40 this year and felt really down about it because for some reason I became faced with the fact of my own mortality and how short life really is.  I feel there is too much to do and not enough time.  In the past month or so I made peace with it all and feel a sense of acceptance about my life.  On top of that I struggled with mental illness troubles and other physical health problems which didn't help very much.  Through all these troubles I think I was able to learn a lot about myself as a person and change my life some in a physical way, like starting to eat healthy foods, getting more exercise and getting some good quality mental rest (eg. turning off loud outside stimulation like the TV and radio for long periods, this has really helped to clear my head, ground me and help me rest mentally and physically).
 
On the plus side I became an Aunty twice this year which was really exciting!  I really adore these two new little munchkins, they're so cute and loveable.  Also got some art done even though illnesses made that quite difficult.
 
Well, this year I am having a Portuguese and somewhat German Christmas.  I think it's going to be 24 hours of Christmas and I'll be sneaking off to take a nap somewhere Christmas day.  I'm looking forward to all the naughty food as I've been eating healthy for nearly two months and it will be a nice break.
 
I know it's not Easter but I had to do a bunny picture.  I've got this thing about bunnies at the moment, they're so cute!(glad my cat can't read this)  I made some cards from this picture to give to family and friends. I put silver mica on the baubles and the edges of the cards.
 
Well, I hope Christmas doesn't treat you all too badly and there is some good stuff in there for you!
 
Bye for now :)
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, 19 November 2013

Wake Up!

 
 
 



This one is for all the people who can't get out of bed in the morning.
 
If she can't wake me up by meowing, my cat will get up on the bed head and make a flying leap onto my stomach, then meow right in my face.  This of course wakes me with a huge shock and makes me grumpy.  It's pretty funny when I think about it later though :)
 
 
 
 

Monday, 30 September 2013

Spring (sort of)

 
 
 

 
 
Spring has arrived and I say sort of because we are still having rain and storms while it is trying very hard to warm up.  I did get out for a walk today, it was so warm and felt good to wear a t shirt again.  Thought I would post this photo of new spring Ranunculus which have really cheered me up.
 
I still have illness hanging around, though things aren't as bad as they were in winter.  Just trying to drag myself out of the mental and physical hole I have been in this year.  I have felt artistically confused all year also which hasn't helped things.  Just trying to work out which road I want to go down next.  Which brings me to a drawing I made a while ago.
 
 





I was talking to someone last week about this drawing.  I thought I had done my research and had drawn a Crow like the ones I see everywhere but apparently they aren't Crows they are Ravens.  I'll have to do more research and find out more about it.  I really love them.  They perch on the power pole outside my yard and I sit and watch them.  I read that they are extremely intelligent and capable of tool making.  I watched some amazing videos about it, it was so fascinating. 
 
Bye for now :)
 
 
 


Monday, 26 August 2013

Lamb and Blue Wren

 
 
 
 
Oh wow.  This month has been so trying!  The weather is absolute crap, raining every day which makes it hard to get out and do any exercise.  My yard is a mess of weeds and I feel embarrassed every time I look at it.  I am definitely on the verge of getting out there and making it look nice again.  Feeling not so good mentally or physically.  Just waiting for some sunlight of the physical and metaphorical kind. 
 
This picture is one of my latest body of work.  I love lambs and it's lambing season right about now.  I also love Blue Wrens.  There was a Blue Wren that used to jump around the garden outside the kitchen window at my Nanna's house.  When I was on holiday there I would sit at the kitchen table and marvel at it's beautiful black and blue plumage.
 
 
This drawing was made with colour pencil on board.
 
 


Sunday, 4 August 2013

Cats

 
 
 
'Besties'
 
 
 
 

 
'Frenemies'
 
 
 
 
I love drawing cats.  I wouldn't say I'm a 'cat mad' person but I have one and she is so mysterious to me that I feel compelled to draw versions of her.  She's so aloof yet loves to follow me around and get involved with whatever I'm doing, especially gardening.
These drawings were made with coloured pencil. 
  



Tuesday, 30 April 2013

Jungle Animals

 
 
 
                   
 
Oh wow, two posts in two days.  I think that's some kind of record for me. 
I just finished this coloured pencil drawing for my new baby niece, Phoebe.  My sister inlaw, Steph said she wanted an artwork featuring jungle animals.  I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.  I wanted it to be bright and interesting, I'm hoping that they will like it.  
 
I'm not sure what I will do next, I'm having lots of new ideas lately which is great.  I'm eager to start working on those and see how that turns out.  At the moment I'm in the middle of giving my house a massive clean, so have been distracted by that.  I can't wait til I can settle into some new work again.
 
 
 

Monday, 29 April 2013

Lizards


 
 
 
 
Hi there!  It's been a while but yes, I'm still here (just)!  Just thought I'd post this quick ACEO I made for a card that I made for my brother for his birthday.  He loves lizards.  I love lizards too but not as much as him.  I love the little Geckos that come and live in the house over summer. 
Before the drought, I had a few Blue Tongue Lizards living in my backyard.  Once, I had left the back door open for the cat to come in and out and one of the lizards came inside and hid behind the washing machine.  I had to feel where he was and gently wrestle him out!  My cat just sits and looks at them with a perplexed look on her face - it's really funny :)