Life of an Artist in Rural Australia

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...

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...

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...

So today I literally juggled my baby and my business. For some inexplicable reason, Salvador chose to LIE IN today for once and not wake up at 5.30am (I would insert the tears-streaming-down-face emoji here if I knew how to). So I lay in bed after my alarm went off trying to figure out which plan of action would create the least noise to not wake him because when he wakes up he wants a breastfeed and that takes 20 MINUTES (he's always been a relaxed drinker) and then I'd have to manage him and packing the car/showering/would I have...

Some days are fairly productive. Example: Early morning coffee with Jimmi Buscombe (of wombat fame, 80K views! click here if you haven't seen it yet...) who is an exceptional artist, friend and mentor. Fixed something on my website in Salvador's first nap. I can't remember anything else from that day, but I'm sure I did lots. I remember it being fulfilling. I probably bought some paint or something. Some days are less productive in terms of art. Perhaps I don't do anything, then drink wine when Sal's gone to bed. Today was half half. The thing is, it's almost impossible...