Here I am on a confusing Friday evening. Confusing because the sun was so hot today but it’s also been cold. Confusing because I have been indoors studying and working away at assignments with many frustrating technology issues and the like. Confusing because I am so tired but somehow I have to keep going. Confusing because I have eaten very badly over the last few months.

You get the idea.

My two exhbitions close this weekend, I am very happy with how they went and the feedback and support. Thank you everyone.

Exam time is on. Then I have a couple of months off to focus on unpacking (I know, I moved in March 😛 ) and making more paintings.

I am still sketching when I need a break from study so I thought I’d say hello here and share one from my new sketchbook:

Thank you to everyone for the feedback on some recent happenings. Radio National, two exhibitions,  making the top 100 artists list :O

These are dreams come true and I am grateful.

This year has been a big one in many ways for me – the best year in a long time even though it started off hard. I feel like I am truly me.

Thank you to my dear friends for your support and soups and encouragement, my neighbours for checking in and taking my bins in for me! Thank you Scott Livesey Galleries for showing my recent paintings. Thank you to the incredible women who model for my work. I am wildly lucky.

Scott Livesey and I 🙂

K now, better get back to my two essays and three exams and more paintings and I should definitely finish that Otways drawing 😛

Dear good beings

I have a exhibition of new works opening this week at Scott Livesey galleries – 5th of October until the 22nd of October. It is a series of small paintings on aluminium, the title is Veneration.
This body of work took a long time to take its shape, in medium and in other ways. It’s grown from personal experience and others people’s expreinces who have been generous to share their time and story.

Here is a link to the work LINK. The works are for sale, contact info@scottliveseygalleries.com

Here is my artist statement:

VENERATION

I originally intended for these pieces to all be of me, but over time the subjects became performers, sex workers, life models and friends – those who modelled for me became examples of women who found freedom and empowerment through their sexuality and physicality. In the past while my work has explored the physical form it’s been as a non-sexual expression, and with this work I wanted to illuminate the two spaces that women often live in – that of desire and of repression.

Often the sexuality of women is seen as inherently degrading, something to be subjugated or disparaged, but this body of work is a release of that censorship, both internal and external. The time I spent with the models I work with was sometimes a secret endeavour, and the work is representative of women’s sexuality existing in secret spaces, and the hidden power of embracing it.

Familial exhibition with artists Janelle Low, Snehargho Ghosh, Jo Lane & Lily Mae Martin

At Divisions Gallery, Pentridge. 22nd of September to the 23rd of October.

Who are the people around us and what is our relationship to them? 

In this intimate exhibition of sculpture, drawing and photography, ‘Familial’ looks at relationships between friends, family, the self and others.

Greetings good beings,

Second epidose is out, here is a link: LINK

When Daniel Browning and I talk we draw at the same time. It’s a beautiful thing and I am in dream land – this is an amazing experience.

The next episode will be live this Wednesday – we talk hands.

Have a good week

LMM

Hello !

Hope all are well – spring. I am longing for it for the flowers and a bit more sunshine and warmth.

I am so happy to tell you that I have been invited onto Radio National to talk drawing with Daniel Browning on The Arts Show. It will run for a month and the first part was aired yesterday, you can still listen to it here:

THE ARTS SHOW

In May Bernhard Sachs passed.

He was one of my lecturers at the Victorian College of the Arts who encouraged and pushed my drawing practice.

Ashley Crawford wrote a piece about Bernhard Sachs over at artist profile which I recommend reading – LINK 

Sunday – there was sun and I planted more things. I made banana bread at Kidlet’s request, I’ve not baked with this oven before so I hope it turned out ok. The house smells delicious at least.

I have a few busy months ahead of me, it’s a little overwhelming to look at from here but I just have to break it up into smaller tasks day by day. Always easier said than done but I’ll give it a crack.

The above image is a corner of a drawing I have nearly finished, it is of the Otways – a very special place. I have another drawing sitting next to it, half complete, Mt Cole. I abandoned it in 2018, I found it when I finally moved out all my stuff from my old studio. Silly me, I think it’s worth finishing.

Anyway, time to go read up on some pathophysiology and get into the next week. Well, after I make popcorn.

Blessings good beings x

Hello – August – so windy last night, no one could sleep. The magpie nest is still up in the tree, I watch them building it from my porch some mornings. I’m glad it is there.

Back ay uni, semester two, we kind of went back weeks earlier. A lot of study to do, I am enjoying it a lot. I’m better set up now in my own place. I have no boyfriend which is absolutely excellent, my last couple of experiences have been awful.

The drawing has just been coming out, I do it almost all the time again. They’re not all good but who cares. I am filling up books and have a number of works on the go. It’s like it has all been building up and stuck inside of me and now it’s opening up and coming out.

Whoosh!

A couple of people who have floating into my life seem to have taken up drawing, which warms my heart.

“Most people when they become adults stop drawing – but you didn’t”

There are many more but these are the better skecthes and I have to go now and study later. Three papers to write, I promised myself I’d do better this term.

Above is my study buddy – who sits on top of my work and watches the laptop..

Seeya

What a time it has been.

It is semester break and I have been at my drawing board working away at a large drawing which I have not done in years now. It feels good.

Though we have been sent uni work to do in our break, haha.

I have taken a break from employment for now, a big risk but I need to focus on study, I did have some pretty bad times with it this semester and not sure where I stand. Just a lot of disruption, a lot of hurt – but a lot of support and kindness from neighbours and friends and mumma.

Oh I have been gardening too, I have baby turnips, silverbeet, all the herbs, beans, cornflowers, marigolds, poppies, heaps of different daffs growing. My porch gets the northern sun and it’s glorious.

Anyway enough for now. Time to take my awesome kid to see a silly movie 🙂