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
- 420 comments
- Tags: art, art award, artist, baby, daycare, juggling, landscape, mother, motherhood, mumguilt, painting, parenthood, seascape, Sustainable Arts Foundation
I ordered a job spell on a Friday night and on Monday the place I applied for a job called for me to come by their office. They gave me the job I applied for and made me an offer of more per hour than I have ever made in my life! I am so happy! Government jobs sometimes are a slow process. You somehow managed to speed up that process, and I start in just a few days! DR EMU I will be forever grateful thanks once again. You can call on him for help on his email address emutemple@gmail.com or add him up on his WhatsApp +2347012841542. DR EMU also lent a helping hand to the following } 1. GETTING YOUR EX LOVER BACK. 2. WINNING LOTTERIES. 3. CHILD BEARING. 4. BREAKING OF GENERATION COURSE. 5. GETTING OF JOB. 6. JOB PROMOTION. 7. HERBAL CARE. 8. SPIRITUAL PROTECTION. 9. HERBAL CARE. 10. SPIRITUAL PRAYER. E.T.C.
Dr Oniha, Here is my testimony from a Heart Warming indebted Client (Sonya Carlson from United states) Sir i had to write back to you though I am at work now to let you know that your spell has successfully worked, and he has returned back to me just as you said it sir. A beautiful red rose was just brought to my place of work from the man I contacted you about. Sir, I am so happy to tell this to the whole world now that he returned back to me through your powerful spells yesterday at about 6:00pm. Everything worked out just the way you said it. No more doubt. Because he now realizes we were meant to be, and that we were compatible. This is actually hard for me to believe now. It’s really surprising!! Thank you so much Dr Oniha for weaving your magical powers on me, and for reuniting me and my ex together with your utmost powers’’ If anyone out there is in any such situation you can also contact Dr Oniha on his
Website: http://onihaspellls.com
Email: onihaspelltemple@gmail.com
Whatsapp +16692213962
Dr Oniha, Here is my testimony from a Heart Warming indebted Client (Sonya Carlson from United states) Sir i had to write back to you though I am at work now to let you know that your spell has successfully worked, and he has returned back to me just as you said it sir. A beautiful red rose was just brought to my place of work from the man I contacted you about. Sir, I am so happy to tell this to the whole world now that he returned back to me through your powerful spells yesterday at about 6:00pm. Everything worked out just the way you said it. No more doubt. Because he now realizes we were meant to be, and that we were compatible. This is actually hard for me to believe now. It’s really surprising!! Thank you so much Dr Oniha for weaving your magical powers on me, and for reuniting me and my ex together with your utmost powers’’ If anyone out there is in any such situation you can also contact Dr Oniha on his
Website: http://onihaspellls.com
Email: onihaspelltemple@gmail.com
Whatsapp +16692213962
Dr Oniha, Here is my testimony from a Heart Warming indebted Client (Sonya Carlson from United states) Sir i had to write back to you though I am at work now to let you know that your spell has successfully worked, and he has returned back to me just as you said it sir. A beautiful red rose was just brought to my place of work from the man I contacted you about on December 18th. Sir, I am so happy to tell this to the whole world now that he returned back to me through your powerful spells yesterday at about 6:00pm. Everything worked out just the way you said it. No more doubt. Because he now realizes we were meant to be, and that we were compatible. This is actually hard for me to believe now. It’s really surprising!! Thank you so much Dr Oniha for weaving your magical powers on me, and for reuniting me and my ex together with your utmost powers’’ If anyone out there is in any such situation you can also contact Dr Oniha on his
Website: http://onihaspellls.com
Email: onihaspelltemple@gmail.com
Whatsapp +16692213962
Dr Oniha, Here is my testimony from a Heart Warming indebted Client (Sonya Carlson from United states) Sir i had to write back to you though I am at work now to let you know that your spell has successfully worked, and he has returned back to me just as you said it sir. A beautiful red rose was just brought to my place of work from the man I contacted you about on December 18th. Sir, I am so happy to tell this to the whole world now that he returned back to me through your powerful spells yesterday at about 6:00pm. Everything worked out just the way you said it. No more doubt. Because he now realizes we were meant to be, and that we were compatible. This is actually hard for me to believe now. It’s really surprising!! Thank you so much Dr Oniha for weaving your magical powers on me, and for reuniting me and my ex together with your utmost powers’’ If anyone out there is in any such situation you can also contact Dr Oniha on his
Website: http://onihaspellls.com
Email: onihaspelltemple@gmail.com
Whatsapp +16692213962