Today I'm sharing 5 tips on how I stay inspired with my creativity.

1. I practice yoga, the yoga studio is full to the brim of inspiration. The teachers are always expressing fabulous learnings, intentions or even music that can move you and inspire you. Many of my paintings are inspired by Hindu/Sanskrit scriptures.
2. Play, I often have great intentions to continue on with a piece but just "not feeling it". Instead I will grab some art paper and supplies and just literally throw paint at it. Once dry I use a pen or paint pen to doodle and draw motifs and symbols. This is done without thought or care and quite often ends up with a design I can use in my bigger piece.
3. A vision board, I love a vision board, however it is not constructed or designed. I literally rip and cut things out of magazines listening to my inner wisdom. The pictures are mix of lots things and once stuck down onto a nice big A3 size paper I step back to view it and find it very telling and inspiring! Check out my free Dream Board Workshop!
4. A really obvious trick to get inspired is the internet. I can get stuck in a Pinterest vortex that would leave me in a coma!!!! I try not to do this too often as I would rather be painting than "surfing" but beautiful photographs and naffy quotes can really get the creative juices working. (Warning: steer clear of other artists work or webpages and copying their work, it's great to be inspired but you can lose who you are).
5. This last tip isn't always possible, however when I get the chance I love it! I have some creative friends whose company I just adore and if the stars are aligned I love it when they are in my studio creating and catching up. I am not only left inspired by their creativity but full of joy for spending that time with other creatives and that is one of the first things I will do when are through this pandemic!

Happy creating!!!

Seasons greetings, 2017 has presented some big challenges for my family and I. We have just finished renovating our house which for your information, we are not renovators! It has been stressful, fun and frustrating. I wanted to say a big "thank you" to those that supported me by buying my art in 2017 and the shops Bella Boheme, Late September and North Steyne Emporio who have been so patient with a lack of supply due to my new role as "renovator extraordinaire". I am looking forward to getting back into my back yard studio in the new year and can't wait to see you for workshops and painting classes, it feels like it has been such a long time (12months to be precise). Merry Christmas and I hope for you lots of creativity in your life. x

Hello, I wanted to update you on the new studio. Progress has been slow but as one of my tribe members commented, "Rome wasn't built in a day". Now, this little backyard studio is not even close to being a Rome, however, it is taking it's slow old pace. Our DIY endeavors proved tricky (ok, useless and impossible) so we had to call in for some help. By the end of this week, I am hoping the gyprock and floor will be finished and ready for painting. My desire to have the studio up and running for workshops during the holidays is not going to be a reality, thank you for your understanding. I you would like to be updated when workshops and classes resume, please fill out the form below. You can also see lots of art and studio updates over on Instagram!

Welcome to 2017. I am excited to let you know that we have been creating an art studio in our backyard. It has been a labour of love, we had the pre-fab cabin put in by builders and we are now slowly pulling it together with insulation, plasterboarding and painting.  My dream is not only to have this as a working/painting studio but a safe and creative space I can share with you all. I'm am looking forward to hosting art workshops and creative nights and hope you can join me. I hope you all enjoyed your festive season, I had a wonderful workshop with Mums and Sons before Christmas where we created fabulous Christmas baubles. The conversation and creativeness of the boys were infectious and vibrant. It was a pleasure to have those that came. Thank you for supporting my endeavour in spreading the belief in creativity for all! 
If you would like to see more progress shots of the studio please join me over on Instagram and if you want to join my creative tribe and receive updates on workshops and classes sign up here! For those of you who are interested the studio is painted in Dulux Weathersheild Semi-Gloss - (straight) Black and 1/2 Lexicon (white).

Have a great start to the school year and I look forward to sharing more updates soon.
Big Love
Bec 

I haven't written here for a while. I love writing, it is another creative process which I enjoy immensely. However it takes a back seat to artist, mothering, wifing (I don't think that is a word) and casual Education Support Assistant. Therefore, I have been contemplating balance. I think all the parts of me are working well together but not necessarily "balanced". I have been painting a lot of late as I have been teaching a fabulous group of people, we have been on a journey of listening to our inner voice. I have had the oppurtunity to teach, inspire and encourage. However it meant, not a lot of writing was done and I may have forgotten to feed the kids a couple of times. I believe when we try to aspire to  a "balanced" life, it puts a lot of pressure on us, the frustration when we can't find the balance and the irritation, like an itch under the skin when we know it just isn't going to happen or we can't make it work. But what if we took all our "parts" and practised "balance-ing"? To weigh and consider, to be steady in our endeavours and to evaluate? All these wonderful attributes can be used not only in everyday life but also when we are being creative. I think I will keep this in mind when I start my next painting, because I'm sure if I listened to my inner wisdom these attributes would bubble to the surface and make the process so much more enjoyable.

The joy I get from being creative is not the end result or what the painting becomes. It is truly the journey. From the very beginning when I buy the canvas to the moment where I add the finishing brush stroke. The path is filled with a roller coaster of experiences. Self doubt, play, joy, love, hate and self enquiry. Then it comes to signing the art work, varnishing it and getting it sorted for hanging, these acts are not the fun part part of the precedent mystic journey. They feel like house keeping duties, important but a bit of a chore.

The next step is what to do with the art work? This is interesting as I never originally set out to sell my paintings. I was approached by a friend who wanted to buy one of my first big art works , thus the beginning of the next stage of my creative journey. I paint from a very emotionally driven inner voice, therefore it is sometimes hard to part with these creations. I hang them for as long as possible in my home until my inner wisdom informs me it is time for someone else to find joy in them (this is why I do not have a physical portfolio of work).

I have a wonderful organic, mutually lovely relationship with a beautiful shop in Glenbrook called Late September. This is part of the creative journey that does NOT feel like a chore, one of my favourite things to do is drive up the mountain with my paintings in the back to deliver to Sam, this week I took up "Open Wings" (which you can read about here) and Kamala (which you can read about here). Late September is such a big supporter of my work and I am so grateful that I have the opportunity (made possible by Sam) to share my work with more people. A painting can sit for a long time waiting for the right person to find it and she is very patient with this process. So thank you, Sam. I love our coffee and painting catch ups! 

As many of you know, one of my favourite things to create are wings. They represent so many different things to me. I was inspired to make these after visiting  Bella Boheme, I left with 3 sheets of the most amazing paper (it was a gift from the beautiful Emma, who owns the store). I knew they would make the perfect set of feathers. They are called "Open Wings". 

No bird can fly
without opening its wings,
and no one can love
without exposing their heart.

Mark Nepo

I spend a lot of time working through programs for my creative workshops. It is important for me that students

1. Learn a new technique
2. Feel success
3. Produce an individual art piece (that doesn't look like everyone else's
4. Relax and find enjoyment in the process.

This holidays I introduced a new class "Garden Painting With Impasto". It was a multi layered painintg that was involved, however very creative and fun. All the students produced gorgeous works, while maintaining their individual personality. Take a look.