Bali Travel Journal

I've finished putting together my travel journal from Bali, well as finished as you can ever be, I'm sure there will be more doodles and writing, but finished for now. I never know what to call them, half journal, half sketch book, half art journal, half memoir, and yes I know, that's a lot of halves. I guess really its a no rules applies way to process and sit with the experience of traveling to another place. Some is done there and some is done on return when photos are processed as are experiences. What I do know is that they are a very tangible memory, especially the marks and brush strokes laid down in a place. I need only rest my hand on the cover of my Canadian journal and I am swept back.

Playing in the Paint Box

 Today, in an effort to follow my word for the year open, and inspired by the beautiful Katie Kendrick (or should I say gently nudged on) I am sharing some recent journal pages (top 3) and also some water colours from my sketch book.

Scenes from Bali

A Teaser from Bali

A few images from Bali, more to come, but right now is the time for grounding myself back into home after both time away and many house guests over Christmas and time for snuggling down with little schnookems who have missed their mama and papa.

Gxx

Word for 2012- OPEN

“I tell you this
to break your heart,
by which I mean only
that it break open and never close again
to the rest of the world.”
Mary Oliver

My word for 2012 was going to be grow, but that soon grew into expand. Expand than expanded into OPEN which is now my word for the year. I love this word, it has such beautiful meanings on so many levels and encompasses both grow and expand along with blossom (my word on a previous year) with just a touch of vulnerability (just to be clear universe, can I please have that vulnerability without pain or hurt, thank you) and visibility and a lot of bravery.

Here's to the wonderful flow of good things both ways.

Where am I

Method Press 3

Here is the latest Method Press with articles I wrote on both the wonderful Flora Bowley and the divine Elle Moss.

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Everything Blooms

I've just finished experiencing my first real spring and I had no idea, absolutely everything blooms. Back home (Sydney) we don't really have seasons other than jacaranda season, followed by mango season (otherwise known as Daiquiri season) and so on, it's one warm weather rolling into another. Here I am astounded by how the place has literally come to life- I finally get daffodils, heralders of all that is to come. They had always seemed rather an obvious flower but now I can only imagine the sweet joy they bring after months of bitter cold, promising warmth and growth.
And those 49 rose bushes I pruned back in the snow without gardening gloves (with my new found admiration for the dedication of Prince Charming- I'm pretty sure he didn't have gardening gloves either), have all sprung to life in a kaleidoscope of colours. They remind me of all the effort my grandmother put into her suburban garden back in Sydney, a garden that won awards and had garden tours, never did all her efforts result in the bounty that my neglected rose bushes adorn my garden with. So many plants that I looked at and thought "I should pull that dead bush out" have now come alive to amaze me (and make me thankful for my lazy gardening skills- zealous ignorant gardener probably not a good mix).
As for the mountain side, it was dripping with blossoming trees heavy under the weight of their abundance and is now covered with patches of yellow everywhere, interspersed with purple. It is absolutely amazing.
My wonder knows that it is a wonder that can not be truly captured on film, and so I didn't even try but here are a few snaps from the iphone as I wonder what summer will bring and I wait for the ripening of the blueberries and strawberries. Wishing warmth to all of you in those cold places snuggling down ready for snow.

Spring- who knew...

Portrait of a self-1

This night is alive, sadness & joy
It surges in its stillness
Light cast out by a shadow throwing moon
Reveals hidden lands beneath a transparent sea

One can no longer hold a
moment than a drop of water
Slip away or evaporate with
No trace but a kiss upon your memory

I wade so far, out to the reef
& still the sea touches only my knees
Month at a close
Full moon she pulls hard
The ocean is taken from me
& I return to a still calm within.

The first painting finished in my new home. It has taken me awhile to find my painting groove in this new space but I eventually worked out that the garage just was not going to be conducive to the creative process and so I've taken over the "formal" sitting room and that seems to be working. Hey, what can I say, as you can see it's much prettier- "have drop sheet, will travel".

Daily walking scenes

Carpaccio Issue #30

             So honoured to see some of my work featured in this fabulous magazine. Thanks.

One Perfect Day

The Picnic

The View

The Treasure (from my son ♥♥)

The Inukshuk (we built & left for the next travelers)

The Walk Home

Into the Setting Sun

Today was a perfect day

Today the children saw magic

& the light delighted across the water.

Today was a perfect day

when all were nourished by

the sweet silence of a pristine land

and we all drank deeply

of the water at our feet,

hands scooping purity to our mouths,

quenching more than our thirst.

♥♥♥

Iphone Magic

Method Press- Issue 02

 Method Press-Issue 02 is now available from magcloud. This issue has an article by me on the wonderful Gabrielle Jones and her art (see images below or visit her website) as well as features on Sophie Blackall & Frankie Norstad. This gorgeous read is 76 pages jam packed with art, intellect & humor. Issue 02 is the perfect way to rock out the end of summer (or winter if you're in my hemisphere), low-fi style.

 One thing leads to another

Scenes from the Art Space

 

I'm very much missing my art space with the beautiful rainforest view out the window. As I look around myself now surrounded by a sea of boxes I wonder if I can create such a space again. I know everything is here in the boxes somewhere (minus the rainforest) but the new space is different, it offers different oppurtunities and lacks other familiarities  I long for when I look at this photos. Stay tuned to see what emerges from the chaos.

You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star. Friedrich Nietzsche

Some scenes from the week:

♥♥♥ Instagram- come and play.