Any form of success is not complete unless it is followed with gratitude. Gratefulness, to the support of friends and family and gratitude for those who are part of your definition of success, which in my case are the people who love my paintings so much that they part with their hard earned money to own one.  Thank you to the beautiful Sam from Late September for her ongoing and unwavering support of my art work. I am back at the easel enjoying being busy after she has sold all my pieces. Love and light to all.

I am not going to tell tales, yes it is really hard to start a new painting. It is even harder to keep going once I have started, I am a bit of a procrastinator. But once I do find my groove the only thing that stops me are all the other "life" things that I am committed too, my beautiful children, study, husband, work, domestics.........

I never know how long my paintings will take but it is nice to know that at least there is one on the easel to touch base with. Painting helps me to find my equilibrium, my centre. I can guarantee you that this will not look the same at the end of the processes, it always astounds me how quickly a painting transforms especially when you just let it happen. It is a mystery to me where they come from. I hope you all find a chance to do something creative today.

Good morning, I did a yoga class yesterday that touched on the concept that the grass isn't greener on the other side if we just water our own grass. Watering our own grass means nurturing and growing our souls. It's important to not just show gratitude for what we have but to also give back to ourselves, wether that be a yoga class, time reading a book or maybe being creative..........what gift will you give yourself today?

My husband doesn't believe in Valentines Day......nah, nope, not at all. He does have an issue around the commercialism of it, but he also believes that everyday should be a day of love - "Everyday is Valentine's Day" he says, and then I will get flowers on random days throughout the year. In spite of this I will leave him a card on his pillow every 14th February. 

I am not adverse the commercialism of St Valentines Day, or to the joy of people buying something for their loved ones, any day of the year! I love designing and creating hearts and decorative art. I also love making it affordable so it is easier for all to own and give. I just ordered a batch of cards from my Redbubble shop and the quality is lovely, they start at $2.86 and there are lots of hearts to choose from. There are also original hearts to be found in my shop here, mixed media hearts on canvas.  So enjoy your Valentines Day, no matter how you celebrate it and to quote The UK Prime Minister (Hugh Grant) "If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling that you will find that love actually is all around" - The Prime Minister, Love Actually

When the New Year approaches, I often feel like I just roll with it and into it. But the start of 2015 has found me kind of giddy with the prospect of 12 new months ahead! I will continue on my path of encouraging creativeness, making affordable art, hopefully inspiring those that think they lack creativity, teaching and most importantly learning. I wish everyone a wonderful 12 months ahead and look forward to hearing from you all, on the blog, or FB and Instagram! 

I found a "Wishing Wall" in my beautiful Manly today, it is the best place for little discoveries. I took some time to read what others had wished for, some funny, some moving, a lot were generous and some shared their own personal wishes. Funny enough I spotted a wish that resonated with me "To be an ARTIST". My first response was that I wanted to tell that person that they were already an artist and probably didn't know it. All my life I wanted to be an artist and I just didn't believe I was good enough. Through a very long process of self discovery/study I came to realise that my perception of what an artist meant didn't serve me or my need and desire to live a creative life. This quote (Thank you Redbubble) came across my desk today (all such auspicious timing). It kinda sums it up nicely, wraps a bow around it and lands in your lap as gift. This is what I would love to be able to let that person know who wished their wish at the Manly Wishing Wall.

"If there’s one piece of advice I wish someone had told me years ago, it would be to create with the assumption that you’re allowed to be an artist. I wish someone had said, “it’s okay, you can do this, you can be an artist and nobody’s going to try and take it away from you.”

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.