Monday January 23, 2012

Happy 2012! To all readers far and near, this is my lighthearted newsletter, where I share a smattering of personal news, a pinch of creative tips, and a dollop of upcoming events led by me in Perth, Western Australia :)

Enjoy...

Mal the Demon-eyed 'Celebrity'

It’s been a dramatic start to the year for me – I lost a cataract-riddled lens in my right eye, and gained a u-beaut new silicon model. For awhile there, I looked like some demon from ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. Aunties, friends, strangers and passersby remarked, “My so-and-so had a cataract op, and their eye didn’t look as terrible as that!” Children hid behind their parents, dogs barked in fear ...Well, it’s all good now and the brief stint as a celebrity with dark glasses (day or night) and a demon blood red eye has passed.

Not to be outdone, Greg, however (for new subscribers out there – Greg is my husband of 25 years, who is having his own adventure with a serious dose of cancer) is having a very complex and scary pelvic reconstruction and total hip replacement tomorrow ... *gulp*... Greg, I think you win. Wish us luck!

The ONE most important thing I've learned...

Ok, who am I trying to kid? I haven’t learned it at all, but I think it’s the single most important lesson to learn in the creative process, and in life...what is it?

Patience.  

Making art using my seven step process is laden with metaphors for life's processes. There have been countless times when frustration builds up as I face an uncooperative image on my canvas. I remind myself “it’s just this layer, be patient”. Then something happens that I couldn’t predict and everything changes. It’s the beauty of making art in multiple layers, and it reminds me of life. Whatever's going on - it's just this layer. There’ll be another, and another and another. As my mother used to say,

"Patience. Everything changes".

My Wonderful Students

There's something pretty special about being part of the transformation and empowerment that occurs, as each one of my students discover how easily they can tap into their creativity. These lovely people come away grateful and full of  praise for me, but actually it is to them that owe my gratitude. It seems each week I have beautiful new friends. Their enthusiasm, commitment and energy sustains and empowers ME! In a recent workshop, I was asked, “how do you manage the challenges in your life and continue to do this?” And I’m not sure what I said, but what I thought was, “how do each and every one of YOU do it? If only I could hear ALL your stories...”

Upcoming workshops: Newbies, it starts here!

My first Beginners workshop for the year was on Jan 7th. It was such a beautiful day with lovely, LOVELY people at our new Northern suburbs venue, Art Shed Balcatta. Bronwyn had this to say, “It’s an amazing process! This is such a great system you have given me to be able to move forward and enjoy painting...  I’m really looking forward to where this will lead me creatively - I think it will give another dimension to my life.”

Would you like to try it? I’d love to help you! You can enrol in any one of these dates to attend my ONE DAY INTENSIVE Painting for Beginners (Vic Park or Balcatta) on Jan 29, Feb 12 , Feb 25, Mar 18, Mar 25 , Mar 31. To enrol just click on the date you want to attend. **GOOD NEWS** if you click, I'll extend the early bird discount to those who do!

The Next Step

Ready to take it further? If you thought Painting for Beginners was intense, The Next Step is crazy! It's a MEGA intensive jam-packed day – two workshops in one! You learn more texture techniques and a whole  lot about colour. Take The Next Step on Sun Feb 19 – cos the next one after that won’t be til Sun April 22 ! Click on the date to enrol. 

If you’re wondering if you can handle the cracking pace, sure you can! Here’s what Ravi said about last week’s The Next Step.  “I picked up so many wonderful points and thoroughly enjoyed the day.  How quickly time passed yesterday and no one was in a hurry to leave.  That showed how much the whole class enjoyed the time...What a marvellous and detailed teacher you are!”  Bless your heart, Ravi!

I’d love to have you back to take The Next Step, so click here if you’d like to!

Searching for YOUR authentic voice?

I’m introducing a new workshop about Finding Your Authentic Voice - a weekend workshop, open to those who have done at least one class with me and are ready to explore even further!

Using thought provoking, fun activities, including a guest spot from another artist, we’ll come away with a clearer idea of our creative voice and perhaps, ourselves. What better journey is there?

Cost $395, with most materials provided. Cosy group, lots of enrolments already, so register your interest here for March 4th/ 5th or April 14th/15th if there is a date that suits you best.

(If you've already put your name down, please let me know which date suits so I can send you enrolment details).

Read to Paint!

It may sound weird but a good book often inspires me to paint. Perhaps it’s something to do with stimulating the right side of the brain, but I can highly recommend these literary pleasures for some tangential creative inspiration: Anh Do’s Happiest Refugee and Bill Bryson’s At Home as well as his The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. Just brilliant, warm and funny! Read anything that’s inspired you lately? Tell me!

And that’s it from me for a month or so...

Thank you so much for being a part of my life, and I look forward to hearing from you :)

PS my LATEST blog post is up, a snippet into my life as a singer: Just Because You Can, Doesn't Mean You Must ... "There was an expectant silence as the buzz of the crowd suddenly hushed. This was it. The house lights dimmed, we were in position. Months of rehearsal over. My head was alarmingly blank. My stomach was a mess." Read more ...