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. 

A very beautiful friend of mine bought this original art work for her daughter. She wanted it to be a reminder to her that she had the ability & the potential to be creative. The word un-limiting usually refers to the mind and its experience with the Divine, it is a word used in Buddhist teachings to also express the minds freedom and peace.  How do we get free from limitations? 

I am  big believer that everyone can be creative and the only thing holding people back is the limitations that they put on themselves. 
"I'm not creative".
"I take bad photos".
"Art is not my thing".

Everyone has the potential to make beautiful things, we do it everyday with out even realising. We cook delicious meals to nourish our bodies, we use creative methods to parent and many more. If you believe you are a creative being and unlimit the mind, imagine how much happiness it would provide to your life? 

“We think that accomplishing things will complete us, when it is experiencing life that will.” 
Mark Nepo

 Letting go is hard but done kindly can be valuable, work with what is working and not was isn't. be Brave to transform and change what you know isn't right.

The above pictures show two paintings at three different stages. A blossoming of the paintings took over once I could detached myself from trying to control the outcome.

"You know what’s wrong with you, Miss whoever you are? You’re chicken, you’ve got no guts. You’re afraid to stick out your chin and say “Ok life’s a fact, people do fall in love, people do belong to each other because that’s the only chance any body’s got for real happiness. You call yourself a free spirit a wild thing and you’re terrified somebody’s going to stick you in a cage. Well baby you’re already in that cage, you built it yourself and it’s not bounded on the west by Tulip, Texas or on the east by Somaliland it’s where ever you go, because no matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself.” 
- Paul Varjak (Fred)

This is an art work I made for a Black & White exhibition (that I never entered). It now belongs to a beautiful lady in my life. I never quite realised, at the time of falling in love with the above quote out of Breakfast at Tiffany's, that it was about the importance of showing your vulnerabilities to someone you trust to maintain connection.

Just for the record, I am not a drawer or illustrator. I have absolutely no drawing skills whatsoever! Every now and then I do take pencil/pen to paper and have a doodle. I have been using some beautiful pencils called "Inktense" they are expensive but so lovely and soft with quite brilliant colours, which does not show up well in this shot. It is good to step outside of your comfort zone, that is where the growth happens. 

On that note, back to the drawing board.

Every school holidays I like to have a mini art workshop in my home. I enjoy teaching and sharing my knowledge and I love having like minded people around my table loving the creative process.  It is such good therapy for everyone involved. I only feel comfortable having people who I know, and I often wish I had a space outside of my home so I could open up the classes to the wider community.

For now though I am looking forward to my little group arriving and seeing their results of the mixed media project I have for them. I shall share the finished works here soon. 

I have wanted to teach a mixed media workshop for a long time.  For those that have been students of mine know that we have shared the joys of making a Christmas Bauble and turning a blank canvas into an intuitive creative painting together.

However, I have always loved paper and so I think it is time to share my paper love. I have been collaborating with my beautiful son, who is a fabulous student and his art work turned out fabulously! Mine however was a dud, so back to the drawing board and teaching plan until it has been perfected. Stay tuned and hopefully there will be a workshop for the upcoming holidays.

“In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.” 
- Phil Collins

I have a long history with painting, it has been a love hate journey since I was 15 years old. However for the last 3 years it has only been love, as I now know that perfection is impossible. I have learnt to paint for myself and to paint from a place that does not judge, a very vulnerable place.  

This is my beautiful student at work, she has made two amazing paintings under my tutelage in the last 6 months and her ability blows me away as she has NEVER painted before.

This painting however is coming from a different space, from within, no preconceived ideas and I hope without judgement. Isn't it beautiful? 

"If you hear a voice within you say, 'You can't paint', then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced".

Vincent Van Gogh