Life of an Artist in Rural Australia — artist

SEA CHANGE - The story behind the exhibition - APRIL 2021!

Posted by Caroline Valpied on

SEA CHANGE - The story behind the exhibition - APRIL 2021!

In January 2020, after a full year of painting and planning, I held my second solo exhibition and that's where I met the talented Tim Freeman. Tim paints landscapes, but while mine could be described as fairly classical, Tim reduces the landscape to flat shapes creating striking, modern artworks. I love his work!  We followed each other on social media for the next 6 months or so and as I flew into full flung panic over COVID-19 and what it would do to my art business, I asked him to consider a joint exhibition with me. Good idea. Scheduled for...

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My studio is now his nursery. I now have two loves (...and my husband lol)

Posted by Caroline Valpied on

My studio is now his nursery. I now have two loves (...and my husband lol)

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...

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Mum Guilt and is painting a job?!

Posted by Caroline Valpied on

Mum Guilt and is painting a job?!

Every mother knows this feeling. Your needs don't always match up to your little one's needs and there is a push/pull. At the beginning you kind of have to get out of bed and feed the baby (how dare they be hungry when you're desperately trying to get just one hour shut-eye?!) and look after them the rest of the time. If you're a completely deranged control freak like me (and there are no local grandparents to detach you from your new family member) you think you should be with them all the time until you go completely mad. I...

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NEW PRINT!!! 10% of the price you pay will go to Peter's Project (cancer charity)

Posted by Caroline Valpied on

NEW PRINT!!! 10% of the price you pay will go to Peter's Project (cancer charity)

In 2016 I painted an 18 x 4 foot painting of The Twelve Apostles for the Southwest Regional Cancer Centre in Warrnambool, which opened in July of that year. It was a project particularly close to my heart as my mother died of cancer in 2011. I will be eternally grateful for the excellent care she received during her illness and last weeks which was largely due to U.K. charities similar to Peter's Project here in Australia.  As a small gesture, 10% ($9.50) of each print sale will be donated to Peter's Project. To buy a print, please click here....

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The first day of my career as an artist…Daycare Day 1.

Posted by Caroline Valpied on

The first day of my career as an artist…Daycare Day 1.
All parents are going to relate to this one…it’s the night before the big day, in our case DAYCARE DAY 1! Who wakes up at midnight and then DOES NOT GO TO SLEEP FOR 3 HOURS??? It was a perfect storm of bin night, husband on school camp and anxious mother.

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