When I run classes at any of the programs I run, including at my studio "Art in the Garden Room", I always recommend to sign the artwork and date it on the back. 
I wish I had done this when I started back painting. Fortunately, modern technology means I can work out dates based on the photos on my phone.

I love to look back and see the progression in my artwork, how my brushstrokes have changed, my colour palette and style changes. My art has always been inspired by nature, the style and colour palette has changed over time, yet my artwork continues to be inspired by nature.  Over time, I realised, I  prefer to paint impressionistic and abstract work, using mixed media. 
 
When we look back at our artwork it can trigger ideas, identify what we love, what we prefer to leave behind and monitor our development. Looking back can move you forward to exciting new ideas, spark joy in following your own artistic journey and create a sense of accomplishment.  This is why, I highly recommend having a sketchbook for practice as well as a safe private place for experimentation. 

Do you sign and date your work? Do you like looking at an artist's earlier work?
Feel free to leave a comment below.

Featured Artwork: Spring Meadow
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 I love attending art classes, as a participant.  I get to take the time to be in my own creative head space.  I learn different techniques, mediums and experiment with new ideas.   

One idea that really got me excited was painting using a messy background to create figures and florals. So excited was I that on I continued on with the process and felt a newfound excitement in what I was creating. 
The excitement felt like I was a child back playing, creating and making some really fun art. Before I knew it, I had started to create some really cute gals, they needed names and a story as they came to life before my eyes.

GIven my work is inspired by nature, these classy ladies are a departure to my current works. So why have I called them "Mildred Paints"? I felt child like and free when creating these beauties. well, here is the short story behind it. 

When I was a small child, possibly from a baby, my Dad had a nickname for me.  I don't know where it came from, how he came up with it, but I loved it.  As he did the countdown to throwing me into bed at bedtime, he would call me "Mildred Knickynooker".  I love the name; it brings back memories of me as a child with my Mum and Dad.
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So there you have it, why I have called this series "Mildred Paints". I feel like these gals could be your friends, family member or you....... who knows.  I had so much fun creating them, plus loads of feedback that they made people laugh.  

Mildred Paints was born, bringing colour and playfulness to my art practice. I hope you enjoy them as much as I love creating them.  They are going to be around for a long time. 

Featured Artwork:  Carla and the girls  

Feel free to leave a comment below 

My life has changed in so many ways to what it was even ten years ago.   I was working and juggling a business.  I seemed to always be on the go and in a rush.  I would be full speed from one appointment to the next, rushing to make deadlines, rushing to a meeting, rushing home, rushing, rushing, rushing.  There was no time to stop, look around and smell the roses. 
When my business closed due to COVID, I was spending more time creatively; I was less rushed.  I slowed down and adjusted my thinking, my speed, and my entire outlook. 

I started to stop and smell the roses, take in the scents that surrounded me, the colours that engulfed my views, the shapes that danced in front of my eyes.  I started to see the world from the artist's eyes. 

Where I teach art classes, one of the participants said to me recently, "I walk differently now".   She went on and explained, I now really see the sunset or sunrise, I now look at a tree and see the gnarly bark and twigs, I see the different greens in the grass.   I understand what she was sharing, as I experienced the same when I started to slow down and invest in my creative experiences.

I do walk differently, my eyes are open to the wonders that surround us every day. The ever-changing colours in the sky, the earth, grass and vegetation.  The shapes in buildings, fences,  nature, and structures.  

Suddenly, everything took on a new meaning, new excitement and new opportunities. My walk was mindful and I was in the moment, experiencing the delights  I had rushed past for so long.
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Do you enjoy walking, have you slowed down to stop and smell the roses?  How does it make you feel?  Drop a comment below and share your story.

Photo:  Rose from our garden

When was the last time you played with no agenda, no outcome required, and just faffed around? As each year passes into adulthood, we are less likely to experience a time of play as priorities and responsibilities change.

Spending time doing something fun without any particular required outcome, or faffing about, I like to call it, is relaxing and can be very cathartic. 

As an artist, we are encouraged to play, experiment and just let go of the outcome.  This weekend  I spent time in my studio and decided to have a play with my watercolours. Throwing on some colour in my sketchbook and letting it dry, I looked at what I could make of the wash  I had laid down.  I had no intention for what I was doing, I had no desired outcome, I was going to play. 

Allowing time to experiment, play and let go of outcomes can lead to some amazing discoveries. I mostly use a sketchbook for any playtime and can reference anything I have done that I can use in future artwork. Enjoying the moment and letting go of the outcome can be so rewarding on so many levels. 
My hubby likes to get out in the garden and move things around, pot up plants, change locations of items and spend time experimenting with what looks good and what he can do to improve an area.  There isn't any specific outcome in mind, just time lost in his thoughts and in the garden.

Whether it be in the art studio, the garden, tinkering in the shed or fussing in a craft room, the joy of playing can't be beaten.  

Do you take time to play without a specific outcome? Leave a comment below to share what you do.

Featured Artwork: A pen and wash, from my watercolour sketchbook

As much as we would love everyone to like our art, it's impossible.  We all have different tastes, budgets and opinions. Did you know if you have an artist in your life, for that matter anyone with a small business, you can still support them, it's not just about the sale. 
Your support is just as important as the sale.
Here are 5 ways to support a small business or the artist in your life. 

Follow the business on the socials. Social media plays an important role in helping to grow the visibility and reach of the artist.  If you share their posts and work, this has a huge impact on them being able to build their community.  Liking, loving and commenting on posts also assists with the algorithms on the different platforms and shows you value their contribution. 

Go to the show. Artists participate in open-call exhibitions, solo exhibitions,  and open studio events.  Attending an artist's show or event is one of the best ways to support them. By showing up you are supporting them, showing you care about them and their work.  There would be nothing worse than going to all the effort of putting on an event and there are very few people in attendance or no familiar friendly faces  as moral support.  

Word of mouth is one of the most valuable forms of advertising.  Talking about your family or artist friend to others is a great way to introduce new people to their art.  Ask if they know the artist, if they don't suggest they look them up, or even better, share a link to the socials. 

Attend an art class.  I am a bit biased on this, as you probably know, I run over a hundred art classes a year.  It's a numbers game when it comes to running classes. Classes going ahead generally come down to the numbers being enough for a class or program to go ahead.  If you have always wanted to join a class, why not enrol for a class?  You never know, you might find your passion for art.

Shop local.  Have you ever been stuck with having to buy a gift for a surprise invitation?  Local artists often have framed artwork ready to go.  Check in on your local artist, to see if they have an artwork to your taste and budget.  If you are local, they may even offer to deliver on the day. 

There you have it, five simple ways to support a local artist, family member or friend.  You will be surprised how much they appreciate your support.  

How do you support your local community, small business or artist?  Comment below. 

​Featured Artwork: Cityscape on the river

Just this weekend, I was gifted a weekend to myself.  Hubby headed off to a blokes weekend in the country and I had the house to myself. As our little fluffy mate passed away over three months ago, there was no one relying on me or waiting for me.  I was as free as a bird to do as I pleased. 
The monthly paint-out had been postponed due to inclement weather.  This had been my only commitment over the weekend.

After heading out for some extra art supplies I headed back to my studio with the heater blasting and started on a project I had not had time to do for months.  The panels I had purchased had sat there on my shelving teasing me every time I went into the art shed. They would look at me and I at them, wishing I had the time to take them off the shelf, unwrap them and then cover them with creamy delicious acrylic paint. I started slowly on my idea using paper and working on my idea for the eight panels. Suddenly two hours had slipped by as I worked on a small 20cm x 20cm piece.  I was happy with the outcome.

Finally, the next day I set up in the garden room with panels, paint, water, brushes, palettes and paper towels, I was ready. I could now start on my project giving it my full attention.  Throughout the process, I mixed an array of colours, used a variety of mark-making tools and skimmed books for the right words to jump out at me for the collage.  It was exhilarating, to say the least.  I didn't stop for a coffee or a break, I was so focused and in my zone.  After many hours, I was finished, it was time to sit back and let them dry so they could be varnished. 

The gift of a weekend to enjoy creating was invigorating, peaceful and filled with what I love to do. I think you need one of these weekends once and a while. 

How would you spend the gift of a weekend to yourself?  Leave your comment below. 
 
Featured artwork: Unscaled Peaks and Uncharted Waters

In the past, I have written about how creating art can have a positive impact on your mindset and overall emotional vitality.  Art can evoke emotions in the creative with every mark made on the paper.  We can get lost in the mood, and get carried away in our thoughts and the feelings behind every stroke of the brush, pen, or pencil. 
I remember with the loss of a family member in 2023, I locked myself in my studio and painted, remembering last words, lost memories and feeling bewildered and alone.  The paintbrush and colours played on the panel as the tears streamed down my face.  The emotions were raw, and the painting was just what I needed to do at the time. 

Sight, smell, sound and touch are senses that can trigger memories both good and challenging.  I am sure you have heard a song on the radio, and it has transported you back to a time far, far away.  A smell has taken you back to a family holiday by the beach, or the scent of a fragrance reminds you of your Mum.

Art can evoke emotions as we view the finished piece, it can transport us back to a time once forgotten, a missed opportunity, a true love, or a person. Art can bring about tears of joy, tears of triumph or tears of loss.  A friend of mine is an incredibly talented artist who, amongst other things immortalises on paper animals for those that have lost their pets. I am sure those artworks would spark emotions for the owner.

Next time you are engaging with a piece of art, feel the emotion and enjoy the process. It truly is a blessing. 

Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

Featured Artwork: Down by the River
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When I picked up painting again, I went straight into acrylic paint.  It was fun and forgiving and I enjoyed the medium.
Over the last couple of years, I have taken lessons in watercolour, pastels and gouache.  I love various mediums, given I do mixed media, that is a good thing!

For the last twelve months, I have been enjoying the medium of gouache. So what is gouache, I hear you ask.
Gouache is a water-based paint not dissimilar to watercolour, it is however, matte, opaque and creamy.  Being similar to watercolour, it is more opaque, which means you can layer from dark to light and correct mistakes. I love how the medium quickly dries to a matte finish, making it ideal for photographing, and scanning for prints and doesn't have that shine.  

As I have been venturing out on en plein air excursions, gouache is an ideal medium to take out and about.  It is compact enough for a small palette, dries reasonably quickly and can be activated with water.  I enjoy being able to sketch and then paint while I am out, sometimes in my sketchbook and sometimes on watercolour paper. These en plein air paintings are then reference guides for future work.  The fact I can paint in the colours of the day is ideal to capture the moment, the shadows, the highlights and the essence of the session.
   
Although you can paint larger paintings using gouache, it is often associated with smaller works from an A3 - A5 painting. Smaller work on A3 to A5 is ideal when you have limited time and space, making gouache the perfect medium. 

The artwork you see here is a small artwork on paper using gouache. This was done with an initial light translucent wash and then layered with a more creamy gouache texture to give depth to the piece. 

Have you heard of gouache or do you use it?  Leave your comments below, I would love to see your comments. 

​Featured Artwork:  The outback shed

For most of my working career, I worked remotely.  Mostly the companies were located in different states making remote work the most appropriate way to function. In 2020, many workers were forced into remote working along with school children.  To me, this was my normal way to operate, whereas, for many, it was a new and untested way to operate. 
With the onset of remote working, remote learning also escalated, particularly in areas not exposed to online learning. 
Artists that predominately held in-person classes were forced to embrace the world of online to be able to make ends meet and continue their business. 
Suddenly, artists and art classes from overseas we once earned to attend in person, were now in our bedrooms, home office or kitchen table.  All of a sudden online classes became the norm and in-person classes were a distant memory. Of course, now we have the opportunity to enjoy both.

Whilst online classes offer time flexibility as many are pre-recorded on-demand classes and individually paced, does it deliver on community, collaboration, physical art materials, demonstration and guidance?

In-person, classes tend to require more time and financial investment into your development than a short online course.  However, some fabulous online courses allow you to learn new techniques and genres with little financial investment.  It comes down to how disciplined you are to see it through. 

I feel there is a place for both growing and expanding as an artist.  I don't mind an online course here and there, but I do love attending in-person events and courses more, due to the connections, collaborations and personalised attention.

Which do you prefer online or in-person classes or do you mix it up and use both?
Featured artwork: Morning Walk 

I know the saying well, "life gets in the way".  Back in mid-March, we signed the papers to have some work done in our house. By most people’s reckoning it is small works which includes new flooring and painting throughout the house.
I decided the following weekend to get a head start on culling what wasn’t needed anymore.  I was going along quite well and then we headed to Perth for my dad’s special birthday celebrations. Unfortunately, both hubby and I got sick.
Nevertheless, on our return we started the arduous task of packing up a house that we moved into seventeen years ago.  Oh, boy! Enough of the scene setting……….
Throughout this time, I mostly have only been able to create artwork at classes. Don’t get me wrong, I am so grateful I have this opportunity.  Creating art in classes is very different to creating art on my own in my own space and mostly in silence.  I enjoy the solitude and quiet time creating. Occasionally I may play a podcast or some quiet music but mostly I work in silence.  I also can play and experiment, paint over explore colour options and develop ideas in my space.  One final thing I have noticed is I miss that relaxation time.
Life has certainly taken priority over the last few months and will continue to for at least another 5 weeks.  I am missing my creating for me time, I do know it’s not too far away.  Thank goodness for art classes, I get to enjoy creativity with a great bunch of people at the classes.

As the work picks up in the house this week, I am hoping to pick up the paint brushes in my art shed and get the creativity flowing again.
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Have you had a time where life got in the way of your hobby, desire or plans?  Share any strategies or your tips in the comments below.We would love to see them.   

​Featured artwork:  Waterside
   

For as long as I can remember, I have always had a community around me. Growing up in a small outer suburb in WA, I belonged to the church youth group, at school I was part of the Rotary club for juniors.  Being part of a community has always been important to me. I continued to build a community well into my adult life, including founding Connect Her Women's Business Network. A pesky little virus ended that prematurely. 

Community is where we come together to serve, through service, we then grow as individuals.  It creates an opportunity to learn, teach, experiment, develop and well-being. 
There is a certain joy in sharing knowledge, learning from others, trying new things and opening up growth opportunities, whilst building new connections. 

Recently, I visited a new community of creatives.  I was blown away by the diversity of artists, the acceptance of new people, the sharing of knowledge and the offering of genuine and authentic feedback. 

The artwork you see here came from a conversation at the beginning of the morning and led me to experiment on the day. It is completely different to what I normally produce, it was fun, it was exciting and most importantly, it was created in a safe environment. 

Communities can come in many forms from art classes, creative circles, and monthly paintouts to pizza and paint days.  Belonging to a community and developing relationships with other creatives is a surefire way to grow and expand your skills.  You never know what life brings!


Do you belong to a community or would you like to be part of one?  Comment below.  

At the time of writing, this morning was the monthly paint out on a cold, windy and drizzly morning.  It would have been oh, so easy to snuggle up in bed and not venture out into the Melbourne Autumn weather. Yet, eight of us rugged up, packed up art supplies and made our way to the park and gathered under the rotunda.  We all came with varying degrees of art kits, chairs, cushions and layers. For some it was the first time to paint en plein air, for others, it was a familiar way to spend a Saturday. 
We were all there for the enjoyment of spending some time to indulge in our love of creating, being outdoors and most importantly connecting with like-minded creatives.  The monthly paint out sessions is not about who makes the prettiest work, the best kit or has the best skills, it is about the enjoyment of connection, and the people, it is about painting and creating too.  I believe the biggest benefit of the monthly paint out is putting ourselves in the priority seat. 
It's great to take two hours once a month on a weekend to say hey everyone “I’m not available on this morning, this is my morning of meeting up and doing what I enjoy.”   The pleasure that is derived from being in the fresh air, chatting with familiar friendly faces and losing yourself on the page of the sketchbook is so fulfilling.  Sharing ideas, tips, and stories and finding out more about each other is building a new group of people to enjoy.
As we pack up and finish our hot drinks, the chatter reaches a crescendo of last-minute info and well wishes until the next time we meet. We all head off back to our various tasks for the day, helping each other to take our bits and bobs to the car, and then off we go.  And that is what meeting monthly and painting outdoors is all about, painting, people and priorities.
 
Do you want to join us?  It’s free and everyone is welcome.  Visit here to register for the next one.

"The stories of our mind, become the stories of our lives."  I'll never forget this saying; from the CEO of a company, I was involved with a few years back.  What we feed ourselves comes out in our skin, hair, nails and our figure. Yes, let me tell you, I have a sweet tooth and know if I give in to the chocolate cravings, the scales find out very quickly.


So too is what we feed our brain.  You know, the little nasty conversations we have with ourselves. Those snippets of useless information such as, I'm not good enough, no one will like this, I have no talent, I'm a fraud, I'm useless at this. Toxic conversations we have with ourselves.  We would never talk to our best friend, family member or neighbour this way, yet we allow ourselves to participate in this one-way hurtful conversation. 


What if we turned the conversation on ourselves and spoke as though we were speaking to our nearest and dearest, replacing admonishment with praise?  Hurt for joy, negative for positive, sadness for happiness?  Imagine how we would feel about what we do in life.


It doesn't matter if we're talking about creating art, gardening, writing or any matter of hobbies or tasks.  Being kind to others starts with being kind to ourselves.  
Next time you are about to have a nasty conversation with yourself, take a breath and replace the negative chitty-chatter with a healthy dose of positivity and praise.  You know you can change your story, it might just change your life.  

Do you have positive conversations with yourself?  How do you stop negative self talk? Let us know in the comments below.

As much as I would love to have hours and hours to sit and paint, the reality is, it just doesn't happen very often.
Like many of us, to be able to paint for several hours in one go is a luxury and one that doesn't happen as often as I would like.

With running art classes and an impending house renovation calling for attention, I manage to carve some time into my week to play in the sketchbook and lately creating mini landscapes. 

These landscapes are half an A4 size paper,or some are 20cm x 20cm.  The paper has a luxurious feel as it is 100% cotton watercolour paper and is a pleasure to work on.  Allowing myself an hour or so to work on a landscape or finish one off means I am still able to create for my art business. Most importantly, I continue to keep that creative muscle working.   

The joy of time carved out of a busy schedule helps to calm my mind, taking time to forget about what is happening around me, my to do list or anything else that pops up.  

Growing up, I had no idea my grandmother my dad's side was an artist.  It wasn't until recent years I found out she worked with charcoals and watercolour.  I now sit and wonder if this was her stress release from her busy life of being a nurse, mother and living on a poultry farm.

Besides the escapism, the joy of honing my skills with watercolour and gouache on small works. 

You can see some of my current mini landscapes created during these times. 

​Please feel free to leave a comment below.