It comes from within and it can be shared.

I recently realised that I have given more paintings away this year than I have sold or even painted. I put this down to a few good reasons:

1. I had more paintings lying around than I had time to actually paint.
2. I get far more gratification from seeing my work enjoyed than I do from making money off of them.
3. I realise I have a gift and I believe it should be shared.

 My work deals with issues of Identity, Desire and Beauty but ultimately it is an expression of what makes me happy and what I enjoy. Painting or any other form of expression is a highly self-indulgent act and few do it for money. While it is a dream of mine to work as a full time artist (not that it would seem like work) I feel guilty about actually spending my time on something so selfish. It has taken sharing my work on a public forum such as Facebook to fully realise that my Art actually makes others happy. This certainly softens the feelings of guilt and pure indulgence but more than anything it instills a greater desire to give.

On reflection of my life and recent practice I have realised more about myself as a person than I ever had before. I have found a confidence to express myself without fear of judgment and I have found an outlet for my inner voice. In doing so I have gained new found friends and supporters, I have continued to feel supported by those who always have been there for me but unfortunately I have seen the dark side of personal success as well. There will always be someone out there wanting to take advantage of your generosity, make money off your efforts without putting in their own and those who envy your drive and believe you to be 'greedy' or 'lucky'. This infuriates me but I know that I am a person who draws strength from within, while these negative individuals steal from others to get theirs. There's no true way to please everyone...but for those who are worth it the return is inevitable and worthwhile.

 So while my time for painting has been limited this year, my ideas and self-realisation have doubled. I know that my happiness comes from within and I intend to keep sharing it through my art in the hope to make others happy. I also know the act of giving is rewarded a thousand times over and I choose not to lose sight of that. I hope to one day be remembered as 'driven by creativity, love and pure happiness' and never thought of as 'self-indulgent' or 'lucky'! I also realise this is my next insecurity to overcome, because I know it doesn't matter what others think anyway.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.

A little bit of exposure

It is always encouraging to get great feedback on your work and compliments certainly help feed my motivation. Seeing images of your work published in the media is even more exciting. These works featured in various publications this year alone.

Recent drawings

All of the animals

Showing a lot of love for the furry and feathered variety...

From my home to yours

I do so love visiting friends and family and seeing my work on display in their homes. Over the years I have painted and given away so many works that I often have forgotten about. So it was really nice to be invited to a home of some new friends and collectors of my work, to see my work on display in their amazing renovated home. Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

The need to draw!

Having returned to school after the holidays I have found it really hard to devote time to my painting. Which doe make me sad, but I do think it was a sign that I needed to slow down a bit too! So in between marking numerous art essays I have found a new for of procrastination, that was easy enough to squeeze in a few half hour sessions through the week. DRAWING! When I was a kid I used to draw on everything, from the TV guide and my maths books to the back of my parents phone bills. I would just sit and draw for hours on end. This was a past time that also got me through a lot of my high school years until of course I discovered my passion for painting in Year 12.
Here is a sketch in progress that I have been working on this week. So far it is receiving a lot of great feedback on FB.

Alongside an Art God!

I was recently commissioned to paint a portrait of Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones by a Canvas Lover (Nobby Beach) who had been admiring a work of mine featuring an Astro Beauty. So after passing on a Rolling Stones book with a few pictures tagged I had everything I needed. A simple enough brief! The pressure set in however, after finding out that this guy actually owns an original Andy Warhol featuring Mick Jagger which hangs in his home.

So after getting through a long line of commissions I finally faced the 'Keith' images and I have to admit I got really nervous! After all this man is a serious Rolling Stone's fanatic and he would know Keith Richard's face far better than I do. So to cut a long story short, I forced myself to do it, I dropped it off at Canvas yesterday and as fate would have it the Rolling Stone's no. 1 fan just so happened to be there drinking coffee with some mates. Time to face the jury! He came in and we introduced ourselves and I showed him the work. He paused while looking at it, turned and held it up to his two mates asking "Hey guys who is this?". The two sun-glassed coastal looking men stopped and looked. One of them "Ummed" and "Ahhed" (meanwhile I'm freaking out!) the other then confidently replied "Keith!". No. 1 fan turned back to me, smiled then looked back at the work and said "Sold!" Yay!

He then tells Matt and I that he actually owns original drawings by the Drummer from the Stones, Charlie Watts as well as the Warhol. This guy was even wearing a Rolling Stone's T-shirt yesterday, he really is a HUGE fan. So now my humble little painting joins a collection of Rolling Stone memorabilia to make any fan jealous. Oh and did I mention it will be hanging alongside an Andy Warhol????

Could it be this one?

Or one of these? I dunno, because I stupidly forgot to ask!!

Here is my tribute to Keith Richards.

Not sure which Mick Jagger portrait he has, but here are a few I found and liked!