Here is just a little sneak of my new painting. I have stalled a bit on it, however I am not frustrated by that, it will pick back up at the right time. 

"Trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit".
Moliere

This week apparently brought World Rhino Day, and I just so happen to have a Rhino design on a tee, my new iPhone Pineapple case arrived, we got our creative on with 6 wonderful students for a workshop. There were some school holiday shenanigans, a 9th birthday and my lovely photographer friend came to visit (Kylie Carson).

Yesterday's Mixed Media Workshop was lots of fun, full of colour and smiles. We had elephants, hearts and anchors all being framed by the end of the day. Creative abandon was had by all! Thank you to the very talented Kylie Carson for the lovely captures. 

I am running another mixed media art workshop tomorrow, and I love how the ideas for this project are limitless. My beautiful boy made this Elephant in the last workshop and I had it printed (in my Redbubble shop) for him onto a cushion. He has such a sense of satisfaction when he looks at it. 

As some of you know, I have been having a love affair with Elephants for a while. There is so much to love about them and I think the main one is their love. They are so full hearted and gentle with their herds and family, yet they are such huge and strong creatures. It is no wonder then that Ganesh is such a well worshiped Hindu deity, also know as the God of beginnings. I love the beginning of something, a new day, the start of a new art work, a new group of people at my art workshops and especially the beginning of a journey. So in fact my new art work could be called "The Beginning" but I am looking forward to seeing "The Elephant God" around. SHOP

My new iPhone case arrived today and I know I am going to love my Pineapple design during our upcoming summer. My Redbubble shop has also just released the new cases for the iPhone 6. To shop phone cases click HERE

So much to do and explore around this neck of the woods. A clean out happened but it hasn't opened up any extra space at all, some writing and playing with elephants. A walk along a new undiscovered (to us) headland, I taught one of my beautiful boys how to make a Mandala and I am in love with the sultry tones of Sam Smith (and my coffee). Have a great weekend.

One thing our new generation does really well (and maybe a little too much) is "put themselves out there". With the selfie, Face Book, Tinder, Snapchat, and other platforms these guys manage to express themselves so easily. This is not about the repercussions of the next generation, but rather why do we, as artists find it so hard? 

We all dabble, I have a Web Page, Face Book ART page and Instagram but I am not as candid as many younger people are. I like to share, but really not too much.  I discovered today why. It's about being brave enough to withstand the recourse. No matter what people say on social media you can't "unread" it, you can go back and delete it but the conversation has already gone "out there".  It's great to put yourself out there but you have to be ok with the "feed back", it takes a strong person not to take things and comments too personally. 

Whether you are an artist sharing your work with the world or a teenager posting a selfie, just remember why it is you are doing it? Then, know that you don't need validation from the masses, validate yourself. 

I have been dabbling with imagery of elephants, I like to entrust my art with everyone because I believe the world can only be a better place when creativity and art are shared. 

Thank you to all the lovely people who send me their found hearts. Please keep them coming as i keep them all and think it is wonderful that you take the time to share them with me. Happy days.