My studio is now his nursery. I now have two loves (...and my husband lol)
Posted by Caroline Valpied on
I've just applied for an award created for parents who are also artists or writers. Or perhaps it's for artists or writers who are also parents...this will be my last blog post (probably) about the juggle of parenthood and creativity/starting a business because I have other way more interesting things to talk about. :-) Below is the final part of my application. It's a bio, a description of how I came to be a working artist and how having a child has inspired and challenged my art and self. If there's one bit you read, make it the last paragraph.
Sustainable Art Fund Award info.
While I was on maternity leave, I decided to make a career out of my love of painting. After moving to Australia from Britain in 2014, I worked for three years as a teacher assistant at the local Special Developmental School. I was free to paint every afternoon, but it took having a baby to give me the motivation and courage to pursue my dream of an artistic career.
My son is now two years old. He is fun and fast and in the time it would take to stand my easel up he would have asked to play, grabbed my jeans to pull me away, knocked over the easel or all of the above. When he was a baby, he was not easy. Due to reflux, he cried and vomited and would scream if he was put down, so painting next to him as he gurgled on a floor mat was not possible, nor was painting during naps as he’d only sleep on me and for 20-40 minutes at a time. We don’t have any family support.
So, despite the decision to commit to art, I barely painted during his first year.
Then there was daycare. He attends three days a week and I get to release my energies onto the canvas. He seems happy with this. For me I just wish I could have two lives: one how it is, but with a bit less ‘daycare guilt’; and one where I can paint more, not being constrained by drop off and pick up.
Currently I also work on my business – painting, online marketing, framing prints, etc. at night to achieve all I want to and still there’s not enough time.
Another small challenge is that my studio is now his bedroom. I work in the garage next to the garden tools and bikes. The car has been relegated to the driveway. During winter days I move my equipment into the kitchen.
One thing I’ve recently picked up again is volunteering at Warrnambool’s community run arts precinct, The F Project. I help behind the desk and I’m on the shop sub-committee. Before my son was born, I was the Vice President. I find volunteering incredibly rewarding and I hope to demonstrate the power of giving and kindness to my son so he will one day give back to his community.
I hope that my son will be proud of me because I have followed my dream and I want that to be an example to him: that anything is possible and you should always give it a go. I’d love for him to see me painting, and to grow up creating, feeding that essential part of himself. Being a parent definitely challenges my artistic career, but it’s a dynamic and exhilarating journey and I wouldn't have it an other way (unless there was a way to clone myself).
Share this post
- 534 comments
- Tags: art, art award, artist, baby, daycare, juggling, landscape, mother, motherhood, mumguilt, painting, parenthood, seascape, Sustainable Arts Foundation
I’m Emmanuel, residing in London, United Kingdom. I’ve been happily married with two children and a wonderful wife. However, a significant crisis struck my family when I lost my job. As a result, my wife left our home because I couldn’t provide for her and our kids at that time. I persevered for four years, but eventually, the situation became unbearable. Desperate for a solution, I turned to the internet for assistance in reuniting with my family and regaining my job.
During my online search, I encountered numerous testimonials, leading me to choose Dr. Murugu Temple. Dr. Murugu provided guidance and instructions that I followed faithfully. Remarkably, within just 72 hours, my workplace reinstated me, and on the same day, my wife returned with our children, expressing her regrets for her actions. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Murugu for his invaluable assistance and support throughout this challenging period.
For those in need, I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Murugu’s services, which you can access via the following contact information: Email: dr.makinidrmurugu@gmail.com
Website: https://www.drmuruguspellhome.com
Blog: https://drmakinidrmurugu.blogspot.com
WhatsApp: +90 534 069 3791
I’m Emmanuel, residing in London, United Kingdom. I’ve been happily married with two children and a wonderful wife. However, a significant crisis struck my family when I lost my job. As a result, my wife left our home because I couldn’t provide for her and our kids at that time. I persevered for four years, but eventually, the situation became unbearable. Desperate for a solution, I turned to the internet for assistance in reuniting with my family and regaining my job.
During my online search, I encountered numerous testimonials, leading me to choose Dr. Murugu Temple. Dr. Murugu provided guidance and instructions that I followed faithfully. Remarkably, within just 72 hours, my workplace reinstated me, and on the same day, my wife returned with our children, expressing her regrets for her actions. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Murugu for his invaluable assistance and support throughout this challenging period.
For those in need, I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Murugu’s services, which you can access via the following contact information: Email: dr.makinidrmurugu@gmail.com
Website: https://www.drmuruguspellhome.com
Blog: https://drmakinidrmurugu.blogspot.com
WhatsApp: +90 534 069 3791
I’m Emmanuel, residing in London, United Kingdom. I’ve been happily married with two children and a wonderful wife. However, a significant crisis struck my family when I lost my job. As a result, my wife left our home because I couldn’t provide for her and our kids at that time. I persevered for four years, but eventually, the situation became unbearable. Desperate for a solution, I turned to the internet for assistance in reuniting with my family and regaining my job.
During my online search, I encountered numerous testimonials, leading me to choose Dr. Murugu Temple. Dr. Murugu provided guidance and instructions that I followed faithfully. Remarkably, within just 72 hours, my workplace reinstated me, and on the same day, my wife returned with our children, expressing her regrets for her actions. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Murugu for his invaluable assistance and support throughout this challenging period.
For those in need, I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Murugu’s services, which you can access via the following contact information: Email: dr.makinidrmurugu@gmail.com
Website: https://www.drmuruguspellhome.com
Blog: https://drmakinidrmurugu.blogspot.com
WhatsApp: +90 534 069 3791
THIS IS REAL. I REPEAT, THIS IS REAL. The black mirror is real, the black mirror is really powerful, effective and 100% reliable. My name is Walter Brian, I want to thank Dada Magical for giving his black mirror to me. Since he gave me his black mirror, I became rich, successful, protected, informed and powerful. I was browsing through the internet one day when I saw multiple testimonies on how Dada Magical has helped so many people with his black mirror. I thought it was a joke at first but I gave it a try and contacted him. He sold the black mirror to me and told me how to use it and all that I need to do. I followed the instructions just as he told me and to my greatest surprise, it worked just as he told me. The black mirror is still working for me. The mirror also brings good luck, blessings and information. Contact Dada Magical now on his email; Dadablackmirrors@gmail.com and he will help you also with the black mirror just the same way he helped me. Thank you Great Dada Magical.
i want to share to the whole world how Dr Kachi the Great of all the Spell Caster, that helped me reunite my marriage back, my Ex Husband broke up with me 3months ago, I have been trying to get him back ever since then, i was worried and so confused because i love him so much. I was really going too much depressed, he left me with my kids and just ignored me constantly. I have begged him for forgiveness through text messages for him to come back home and the kids crying and miss their dad but he wont reply, I wanted him back desperately. we were in a very good couple and yet he just ignores me and get on with his life just like that, so i was looking for help after reading a post of Dr Kachi on the internet when i saw a lady name SHARRON testified that Dr Kachi cast a Pure love spell to stop divorce. and i also met with other, it was about how he brought back her Ex lover in less than 24 hours at the end of her testimony she dropped his email, I contacted Dr Kachi via email and explained my problem to Dr Kachi and he told me what went wrong with my husband and how it happen, that he will restored my marriage back, and to my greatest surprise my Ex husband came back to me, and he apologized for his mistake, and for the pain he caused me and my children. Then from that day our marriage is now stronger than how it was before, Dr Kachi you’re a real spell caster, you can also get your Ex back and live with him happily: Contact Email drkachispellcast@gmail.com his Text Number and Call: +1 (209) 893-8075 his Website: https://drkachispellcaster.wixsite.com/my-site