Having a play

Hi all,

I have not had much time lately to get into my studio.

But Starzia and I went in there yesterday and had a little painting session together.

I normally have an idea of what I want to do and how I want to do it. (With lots of texture!!!)

But yesterday I just squeezed out some paints, got out a canvas and started to paint.

I wanted to have a play as see what happened.

This is where I started..........

And then.......
I was finding it hard not to add material and paper and make my work textural. I was trying to come up with a flat, colourful and funky image that looked cool.

Then I started to think that my girl started looking too old. Starzia kept on saying that it didnt look anything like her and did I want her to pose so that I could look at her face and get it right!!! :)

Here I thought that it was all looking too red and wasn't "working"! So I added white, a headband and some flowers.

I didn't like the flowers so I painted in some darker colours.

I was working on the cheeks, nose and mouth.........

I love the white on the nose and I used my fingerprint for the mouth....I like how that worked too!!

And yes....I couldn't help myself I added some texture with material for her top.

It made me realise that I am truly a textural artist and that is my style and I love it!!!

Still not finished yet but getting there.

I am not sure if she is 100% finished yet or not...I might have to sleep on it.

But either way I think that I might call her Wild Heart, or Brave Heart or Flying Heart.

What do you think??

It was so much fun just having a play and seeing where my paintbrush took me........I love it when by doing something that is not completely you, reaffirms your belief in yourself and the way that you do things.

I am completely unique and so is my style and application and ultimately my art work.

It is such a lovely feeling.

Enjoy being who you are.............

Skye:) and Starz*

What does it mean to be earthy??

Hi all,

I have been thinking lately that I love being earthy! and I am looking forward to being more earthy!!!

Earthy???........

What on earth am I talking about when I say earthy??? Excuse the pun.

What is earthy to me.....?

I am living in a place surrounded by trees and Starzia and I are starting our own vegie patch. So far we have planted oregano (Starzia's favourite), parsley and thyme.

I want to plant some rasberries because they are my absolute favourite. Fresh rasberries....mmmmmmmmmmm!

Maybe some tomatoes and who knows what else??

It's very strange actually because I have no green fingers what-so-ever. But feeling the earth in your hands is pretty cool.

Starzia just loves planting and that is pretty cool to see too. The joy on her face and her enthusiasm:) Love love.

Also some friends of mine have gone away and I am looking after the chickens and collecting the eggs. I must clarify that although I have spent some time on a farm (with an old boyfriend from college) I am not your typical farming, earthy gal.

It does not come naturally.

But I am loving the experience and I am jumping at the chances and opportunities that I am getting to be more earthy.

The chickens (25 of them- yes we are not just talking about a mere 1 or 2...) love their chicken scraps and bombard me as soon as I get close. I have only been pecked a few times but love the fact that I decided to wear a glove after my first effort. Good thinking on my part!!!

It's all about getting back to nature and back to what is true for me.

Back to basics.

What makes me rock.

What makes me happy and free and alive and earthy?

Who am I and what makes me tick?

What dreams and wishes do I have?

How can I simplify life and make more room for whats important......Starzia, our business and our dreams?

Her is a painting I did of a fairy a while ago. I love the texture and the earthiness about it. (if that makes sense!)

And here is another one....... the foreground here is my favourite!!! You just want to reach out and touch the earth, the texture!!

What does earthy mean to you?

Skye:) and Starz*

Where to begin?

Hi all,

If I have not already said it.....I am loving Margaret River!!!!!! The people here are so gorgeous, open and welcoming. I don't think I have ever experienced a place like it:)

Someone told me today that they thought that it was a hidden treasure and I believe them. I agree.

Starzia and I have been here 2 weeks now and it feels like longer.(In a good way) We have met so many lovely people.........life is good.

This week, our 3rd week..............

I have started an on-line course with Kelly Rae Roberts. Wow!!! She is such an amazing writer with so much information and so much self affirmation in her words. She is amazing. She makes you remember that we only have one life and we need to live it wholeheartedly, with both eyes open and hands outstretched to grab every amazing opportunity that comes our way. There is no time or room for doubts or fears. You just have to do. Love, live life and embrace both. Believe in yourself for who you are and follow, chase....make your dreams come true.

I am also trying (with difficulty) to get my blog working to where I am happy with how it works and looks and functions and and and....................

I am having some wonderful help from a gorgeous lady who has done all of the designing for Starzia's and my business - Jessica Swift!!! Amazing lady!!!!!!!!

Previously I would have said little business.....but I don't want it to be little so I am going to omit that little word!!!!!

But I must say that my galleries for Starzia and myself are looking kind of messy!!!! I have checked out a few other blogs and their galleries and they are so ordered and neat. Then I came back to mine and actually quiet liked that it wasn't so structured. It fits with who I am and how I work.

So I am going to keep it just the way it is:)

I am also trying to set up some after school art classes for kids and adults. Or parent and child classes. Or or or?????? So I am running around madly trying to find "a space" to work magic in.

And I will keep trying because I just know that something wonderful will come up. This little venture merges my art teaching background with my own art and will hopefully be another element in our business.

Designing and making children's clothes, painting and art lessons. Am I altogether crazy??????????

As for my little Starzia....she has moved towns, left behind people she loves, friends she loves and a life she knew. She has started a new school, dancing lessons, moved into a new house and astounded me with how well she has adjusted to all the changes in her life. She is amazing.

But I know that the one consistent person in her world is me and in my world it is her. We love each other completely and where ever we are, together, is home:)

I feel like my life is sometimes upside down, I am still smiling, as it just gives me a whole new perspective.

Skye:) and Starz*

Affirmations

Hi all,

Yesterday I started the Kelly Rae on-line course....Flying Lessons.

It was our first day and it was amazing!!!

We were asked to consider our affirmations to ourselves.

This is mine and I would like to share it with you all.........

I believe in myself

I believe in my dreams

I believe in me!

I believe in my talent

I believe in my creativity

I believe in my skill

I believe in my heart

I believe in my soul

I believe in my life.

I believe in love

I believe in happiness.

I believe it is possible

I believe I can do it

I believe......I just do!

I am going to say this to my little angel Starzia, every single morning, as the sun rises for a new day!! (She is an early riser!!)

But as the age old saying goes....the early bird catches the worm.

My daughter is always such an inspiration to me.

She is actually watching a movie while I check my emails etc and something was happening on the movie and she spoke out load to the characters saying "Never give up. Keep trying!!!"

Out of the mouth of babes. So true...so amazing....so gorgeous!!!!

I will never give up!

Just an image to leave you with.......I designed this for the Rainbow Steiner playgroup in Geraldton. They are printing it onto t-shirts for kids.

I just love it!!!!

I hope you do too!

Here and now

Hi all,

Well we are here and we are unpacked!!!! YAY.

This is our driveway..........the rest is even more beautiful.

Being surrounded by trees is amazing. They are actually our curtains and there is something definitely magical about that.

I must say that I am so looking forward to becoming all earthy!!!! And what a lovely way for Starzia to grow up!!!

She already has her magical treasure bag that she takes with her on our bush walks to pick up any little treasures that she sees....such as honky nuts!!!!

Then about 5 minutes away we have these amazing falls.

Just beautiful.

As for the business side of things......

I am looking into running some after school art workshops for kids and possibly adults too.

All looking good and have lots of interest already!!!!

Then my new summer range of clothing all designed and ready to be sewn. I will upload my designs as soon as I have made a sample.

Then Starzia, my beautiful model, is going to model this new season range, amongst the gorgeous trees. My little tree sprite:)

So much to do, so inspired, so happy:)

Skye:) and Starz*

Trees, trees and more trees!!

Hi all,

Well this is our very last day in Geraldton!!

Wow!! It seems so unbelievable.

It is so exciting to start a new chapter in our lives though.

But we will miss so many things and the life we have made here for the past few years. The beautiful weather, the foreshore, the beach and all our special friends to name but a few.

I leave also with a few new commissions completed.

I thoroughly enjoy the challenge of commissions.

The problem solving and providing the "client" with something that they will love, in my style. It is so cool and I hope I get to do many many more.

An autumn coloured Greenough tree.............

...... full of my much loved texture!! I just love the tree trunk in this painting!!!!!

Then a very special and BIG project for some gorgeous friends of mine in their beautiful cafe, Salt Dish.

The final art work!

And the final look, with my gorgeous Starzia standing in front, to give some scale to the art work.

I thoroughly enjoyed doing this piece and hope that I do get more requests to draw on walls. I think I must be a big kid at heart!!!!

The first mark was nerve-wracking...but once that mark was made I absolutely loved it.

The scale and the application and everything about this project. It was so much fun!!!

And I love love the end result.

So from Greenough tree to Salt Dish tree to living amongst the trees down south, we are a very happy duo!!!

I also have been talking to an amazingly talented friend of mine who works with leather. She is making me a few things for my up and coming photo shoot of Starzia, displaying my new line of clothing!!!! So exciting!!!!! And we are working towards combining our art work in some way!! I can't wait to show you all.

So many exciting things are happening!!!

Life is good!!

Well safe travels to you all and next time I post I will be posting from amongst the trees down south:)

Till then.......

Skye:) and Starz*

Leaving. Moving. Growing.

Hi all,

What crazy days we have ahead of us!!!

Starzia and I are moving to the beautiful South West in a weeks time!!!!!!

Our little flat is empty, except for a bed!!!! And life moves forward.

I have a strange, mixed feeling about leaving.

Excitement and sadness all rolled into one.

There are so many beautiful and magical people here, that have become very precious to me and it will be sad to say goodbye.

I am getting more and more commissions....which is so exciting and complimentary at the same time. It just seems like I am leaving a lovely town where life is just started to take shape.

But the wheels are already in motion and there are lots of reasons to go too!!

I love it down south and the universe has conspired to help me in so many ways to make this move possible. It's actually incredible.

Who knows what the future holds???

We just have to take our life in both hands, make the choices that seem to make sense, ride the wave and wish for the best!!!!

Skye:)