Five years

Today marks five years of being sober. How good is that? It’s pretty great.

I recently finished my studies and exams and have been juggling work and lyfe. There was a death of someone very special. I picked up the paint brushes and though I am none too pleased with what is coming out I am still at it and I will get there.

Yesterday – between everything – I did a successful self portrait, I’m in my pyjamas and I am very tired.

I’ll try and update more, promise.

In the meantime back to the things and painting.

Live your life, you only get one.

 

COVID19 Diary entry #2 – more pictures and words in isolation

I thought I’d try and write weekly, just to keep up some kind of practice during this time. A lot of people have said to me that I would get heaps of art made in this time. I’m sorry people, but I’ve got an almost ten year old to home school, among other things.

Look, I am making things, just not the things I should be making. But I believe all creativity speaks to, informs and folds back into itself. I also believe that sometimes there are bigger things to attend to, and this is one of those sometimes with bigger things. The days that I don’t want to, or rather, cannot reach out to a pencil, pen or brush – I don’t. The days that I do and all that comes out is rubbish, I accept. The days when I have the energy and the drive to make pictures, I just bloody well do it. Unless there’s lesson to assist the kid through, lunch to prepare and dinner to work out.
What’s for dinner? 

I don’t mind, most days. I mean, if I love you I feed you. I feel really happy making food that my family and I enjoy together. I do resent it sometimes and yesterday I cracked, I ordered in. Noodles. It cost me almost 50 bucks though and do you know how many food supplies I could have got with that money? How many books I could buy? I won’t do it again but I had just sold an artwork and it is ok to celebrate, sometimes. 50 bucks, for one meal. I know that businesses are suffering, everyone is. I am cautious, for the most part.

Books are the one thing that I tend to indulge in. Daughter and I have a reading ritual and it is pretty much one of the best things in life. Gosh we have read so much already. I slip between non fiction, fiction, crime fiction, short books and longer ones. I don’t want to read the internet, it is depressing and screens do not great things to my mind. Plus it is too tempting to look at rubbish that just makes me spiral. I don’t need to spiral right now.

Anyway I am between watercolouring and sketching in my visual diary. I planned to write a lot more today but I am going to tuck back into my current read – The Yield by Tara June Winch. I’m half way but I already recommend that you should read it too.

Here are some recents, I’ll write soon.

Be safe and be kind. Read a book.

x

birthday party

Hello there neglected blog and website,

What a time it has been. Things have been challenging and it’s easy to get negative about it and give up, but I don’t want to do that.

So instead of getting lost in all that I just wanted to share a little watercolour I did, I’m going to paint a whole lot of things in colour for my lounge room. Gene built beautiful book shelves in there this year and as I went to hang things in there I stopped myself and though no, no we need colour! 

I really want to work in oils, but not yet. I will get there. I just want to work in the home at the moment. Watching nailed it with kiddo or when waiting for things to cook/ wash/ dry/ etc.

It’s important to hold onto the little and beautiful moments in life, of which there are many if you just look.

 

Painting lesson

pl1_lily_mae_martin

This weekend just passed I had a young woman come to visit who I used to teach art to back in Melbourne. It was really lovely to see her again and we did a self portrait lesson in oil paints as we didn’t really get around to painting in oils before I moved.

My daughter saw all of this and but continued happily playing with this young woman’s sister and when they left she said, “Mumma, can I have a painting lesson?” – which is pretty much the best thing.

So this afternoon I set up my easel for her and we gathered up our small, but growing, succulent collection. Instead of oils though, I cracked out my watercolours for her as I am also in the middle of making dinner and not sure if we should be playing about with solvent right now! She used to use my watercolours about two years ago before I managed to buy her kids paints. This is before I realised that I could probably make them myself, but back then I didn’t have the focus or energy to do it.

plants_lily_mae_martin

pl2_lily_mae_martin

We talked about drawing and swirls and colours and listened to a panel talk about feminism. I showed her to dry off her brushes on a rag to not muddy her colours and she made purple. then we debated about what colour was what.. It was glorious.

pl3_lily_mae_martin

There’s a saying “Those who can’t do, teach” which I think is pretty ugly. I mean, I really don’t think I am much of teacher – but it is such a joy to share and inspire and encourage young minds and hearts. I feel so lucky that kidlet is interested and keen in so many things.

fin_lily_mae_martin

She said the finished piece is for her friend at kinder…. I really want to keep it!!!!

I think it is also important to let kids have a go with the real paints and papers as well. I mean, not all the time as it costs a lot – but I think when you just give people the cheap stuff that really says something. Of course, the cheap stuff is great for play and learning and just making but the real stuff is quite affirming, I think.

Anyway, back to making dinner and bath and bed and then I will get to draw for a few hours before sleep.

xx

New painting – Georgia Fields

I like painting but I struggle with oils. It’s smelly, it’s sticky and I really can’t do it inside the house with a small child. I’ve been playing with water colours and gouache for about a year now and thought that maybe I could buy myself some proper paper and do a large portrait series.

I asked Georgia Fields to pose for me – continuing on with making portraits of people who are inspired/ inspiring. She said yes – obviously!

This is mainly painted in watercolour with gouache highlights. It’s on Sennelier cotton paper, size 64 x 49cm. The paper cost me a small fortune but basically working on it is like a dream/ mad love affair/ all awesome feelings pressed into 300gsm paper.

Sexy, sexy expensive French paper.

The hair took up most of my time – it is layers and layers and layers of colours and paint at different transparencies. I think I nearly went mad – as I do with a lot of my works – but I am proud of the result.

And now, I must start work on another one.