A Little Get Away

Do you ever have that feeling that you are in the perfect place at the perfect time? Well that is where I was last weekend. Both in need of a break, we kept it very simple, camping with only the bare necesseties in one of our favourite places, Double Island Point.

I was here on the dunes, having a morning coffee while watching the waves roll in.

I was here on the beach, strolling aimlessly alongside the seagulls and searching for ocean treasures.

I was here, amazing over the ever changing landscape of these mountains being eroded by the wind and sea.

I was here trying to take in the gorgeous colours of the ocean and watching the surfers and sea turtles swim by.

I was here meandering along this path up to Lighthouse surrounded by the native flora.

And as I got higher, I was here looking back at the beach we had driven along to reach the Point.

Can you see the love heart in this stone? When I am beachcombing I always have an eye out for heart shaped stones, so this was lovely to happen across.

I agree with whoever said "The journey is the reward".

The next day, we drove along Freshwater Track that takes us through to Rainbow Beach (what a magic name for a place hey?), weaving through the huge scribbly bark trees, stopping often to admire them and try to decipher the messages etched into the bark.

Further along the track we entered the rainforest which signalled the last leg of journey.

Perfect weekend, perfect company, perfect place.

Monday at the Dayboro Art Gallery

Monday was my rostered day on at the gorgeous Dayboro Art Gallery. If I didn't have to do this, I would of been at Candy's place at Montville, checking out her Art Studio and having lunch with a bunch of brilliant artists, many who are also members of BAD Co-op - click HERE to check out Candy's blog.

Here is a sneak peak at a painting I am progressing. It was a very quiet day so it was pure bliss, just painting and listening to the world go by.

There are these amazing and huge Bunya Pine Trees out the back on the bank of the creek which produce bunya nuts which the native wildlife love to munch on.

And finally a photo of a message my son left for me on his bed - aaaaw you make me feel so special Dylan!

DOoDling ArOunD

B A D (Brisbane Artist Development Co-op) News

Last Saturday, on a lovely overcast, drizzly autumn day, I went to the monthly Brisbane Artist Development Co-op Meeting (BAD Co-op for short), so inspiring and the people wonderful. Please click "here" to check out the Blog and also find links for amazingly talented artists who are members. New members are always welcome. This month the meeting was held at Denise Dillon Bolland's beautiful Queenslander cottage at Annerley, a lovely older suburb in Brisbane. Denise took us for a tour through, under and around her house and garden which is full of many of her wonderful artworks (paintings and sculptures) and works by other artist's that she admires, including prints by her own very talented father. Denise is presently working on an exciting project creating sculptures (from parts of her much loved vehicle) which will be exhibited later this year. So stay tuned for more details of this later in the year! Thank you so much Denise for opening your home to the BAD Co-op members this month and sharing with us details of your exciting amazing personal artistic journey.

This is the Way I Wash the Sheets.........

My mind is always busy, if I am not thinking about art and how I am going to progress my project and paintings, I am observing the beauty surrounding me, and working out how I am going to incorporate that into my art.

Finding time to dedicate to my creative self is hard, like many, I have parenting and work obligations, volunteer and social engagements and daily chores, etc, leaving little time to indulge in what I love to do creatively.

However, I find that these days I cannot focus on one thing or the other, all are blurring together and I am incorporating the daily tedious (but necessary) household chores into my creativity. (Notice I've not said my art into my household chores).

I see the potential of everyday household items contributing to my creative processes and start ripping up my bedsheets and making erosion bundles. I'm pulling my pegs apart to get the rusty springs to contribute to the erosion bundles and I'm generally utilising any household item I get my hands on to be creative.
Inspired by various blogs like The Erosion Bundle Project and Natures Whispers, I started exploring this concept and am really enjoying the randomness of the marks developing on the sheets with rusted household items. I plan to incorporate these into collages I am presently developing.

Kathy from While Tangerine Dreams writes about what works for her as a busy mother and business operator and has published an Ebook: "Handmade Time: How to Squeeze in a little more Crafting Everyday". I'm always interested to see how other creative souls manage their time, nurturing their creative passions, while being challenged by trying to fit everything into everyday.

Sure there are going to be days when it doesn't all come together and there won't be a spare second to do anything creative, those are the days I will paint in my mind's eye or scribble down a note somewhere to remember the idea for another time.

Erosion Bundle

I dreamed here, upon these sheets........................
I cried here, upon these sheets................
I loved, I lied here..................

I planned and asked why here...........

Now I dye here, on these sheets.

'Women of Substance' exhibition at Red Hill Gallery

Leigh Camilleri, About Backeringa

Red Hill Gallery upcoming exhibition entitled 'Women of Substance' features works by
Leigh Camilleri (BAD Co-op member), Susan Gilmour, Julie Hutchings, Pam Walpole

Friday, 18 February to Sunday, 6 March 2011

Red Hill Gallery, 61 Musgrave Road, Red Hill, Ph: 07 33681442