10 x 15cm
A little one I did over the weekend

I’m always taking photos and thinking that they’ll be good for the blog but I am finding less and less time to keep up with the posting – which is probably pretty evident in my lack of writing here but that’s OK – I’ve been drawing lots. And cooking and driving and being sober and doing all the things I should have done long ago but I guess these things will take the time that they need to take.
Also not letting the assembling of flat pack furniture break me is something I am pretty proud of. 😛

It’s probably also time to join a bird watching appreciation club –

A week ago I got back from the residency in Mildura. Just what I needed after a year of spent mostly in a rut, with the last four months being especially challenging. The landscape was so interesting, the space was really well set up and everyone at the Art Vault and the the people that I met in Mildura were lovely.. It was a really positive experience and I’ve come away feeling pretty good.
I’m about to have an exhibition in Melbourne and am working on some big and small drawings – I just feel like I am back to it and that I have meaning.
Important feels.

Mungo

Perry Sandhills

Mumma and Joey in the heat

School is back soon – I have gotten the school shoes and set up my daughter with a desk in her bedroom. She feels very proud of it, fills my heart to see. I really look forward to a bit more of routine but am not wishing time away, this time is pretty fine too.

Got to go and stir the ( vegan ) red beans and put together the favourite spinach pie. I also have two drawings so close to being finished – – – so so close.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM!

Hullo
I am writing to you in a rather tired state- a good tired. I’ve been away from home for over a week now, exploring and working and meeting new people.
I’ve watched birds down at the Murray, white knuckled it down a dirt road in the dark, that was full of kangaroos ( red & grey ) cows as big as the bus we were in, foxes and rabbits.
I saw a wedge tailed eagles nest and read notes in a book written by artists who I have long admired. It’s all been about nature, art, navigating heat and coffee and ink and drawing.
Also – I was on the ABC talking about periods and drawing and that this residency is the first ‘art thing’ I have done since my surgery.. Which was pointed out to me by the lovely journalist.

I have been both deeply relaxed and very productive.

Today is hit a wall day, so I am trying to do the things around actual drawing. I’ve done drawing too, but they are not very good, so no matter.
The things I’ve been doing are preparing for my art adventure tomorrow, eating chocolate and looking at my drawings wondering where I want to take things. These two weeks have been mapped out to just collect material and think with my hands. Which I have been doing but of course I wish I could get a solid idea on a new project and I haven’t so I am a little frustrated and I know, I know I expect too much of myself. But if I don’t, who will?

I wanted to post some sketches but can’t seem to upload them, so you’ll just have to look at the photo of me with melted hair after a very hot day at Mungo. I am bare foot and with a heart filled to the brim – that’s a sunset I’ll never forget.

Yesterday I pushed myself to open up and be true and today I feel so much better for it. How precarious are feelings?

I like to take a lot of photographs so I thought I’d post a few favs from recent months.

Drawing at the kitchen table, banana bread and Kidlet’s toilet roll craft.

Kidlet’s jellyfish – this just makes me so joyful.

Little fingertip love heart things made from part of an egg carton for daddy.

Sammy.
Let me tell you about Sammy. A couple of months ago, morning before school, we heard a yowling from out the front. Thinking it was our Kitty in distress we ran to the front door to find this guy curled up around one of the pot plants. I checked him for a collar, there was none. I tried to encouarge him to leave and find his way home, but he was lost. So I took him to the local vet. He had no micro chip and he was then taken to the animal shelter as a stray. I put out some photos on social media and a few people went to see if it was their cat, but no one claimed him.
He was a friendly guy, just under one years old. So we took him in and our other cat hates us. Perhaps they will bond through winter time? We will see.

I’ve been learning to drive. It has been a long time coming. I look forward to being able to explore so much more once I am granted a license.

These are bricks we bought from a fella who has sourced them from all over Victoria. We are using them to secure garden beds as well as to build a pathway. There’s some very old ones in there. It’s pretty amazing to be making new things from old things.

I went out bush with a pal for her science things. I’m not sure I was much help but it was very interesting and beautiful and exhausting.

I can’t remember why this photo was taken, it was some months back. I do make good work, I just need to keep on at it and just not worry so much about Art World.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for believeing.