Reflections on 2012

Wow, 2012 is over and it's nearly time to think about my goals and plans and word for 2013.

Looking back over some blogposts I wrote in early January 2012 about my plans/dreams/schemes for this year I can see that sometimes we just don't have enough time to do all the things we'd like to do.

The highlight of the year was my American Adventure and my art classes at Squam with Kelly Barton and Sarah Ahearn.  I had an awesome time meeting up with some online arty friends too.

I was part of the 30x30x30 Challenge Exhibition and completed 30 paintings in 30 days and sold 21.

I also joined my friend June Stevens for an exhibition and sold two paintings.

I loved the Life Book 2012 online course and my girls have improved....

I learnt so much from going to a local art class each Wednesday with mixed media artist Neil Elliott.

An article I wrote was published!

My word for 2012 was Courage and these are the goals I achieved from the list I wrote in January:

• To be the real and authentic me
• To take risks with my creations/art/paintings
• To live my dreams, follow my passions and create an artistic life
• To be part of as many exhibitions as possible.
• To reach out to others, include them in my life and artistic community.
• To say 'Yes' to opportunities
• To get my writing and artwork published.
• To leave the secure environment of my home.
• To travel to USA, Canada.
• To travel alone and with friends.
• To attend a workshop in the States and to make it the most awesome life and learning experience possible.
• To meet people whom I've never met but whom I know and hold a special place in my heart.

How did your 2012 go?  Have you chosen your word for 2013?  We are doing a blog hop and I'd love for everyone to join in.

Article Published

A year ago I answered a Call For Articles on Facebook from Gail Stiffe at Women's Art Register - a small art magazine published in Victoria, Australia and wrote an article on Building an Artistic Community and Connections and it was published.

I chose the paintings which had meaning to my community realtions.

The ButterFlyGirl was created for the Summer 2011 Flying Lessons Group - my Fly Tribe - the group of women I met online whilst doing the Kelly Rae Roberts Flying Lessons e-course.

This was also used for the bloghop...

This is a photo of me in front of one of the paintings I created at the Flora Bowley workshop - workshops are a great way of meeting other creative people.

(I hate that pic - I think I look kinda weird - it's my eyes or something...)

And this painting was one that sold at a local community art festival.

Here's the article I wrote a year ago, my husband and son just read it for the first time on Thursday and they are like What?  What's this?  after reading the first sentence.  I based the article on my experiences and was also thinking of Kelly Rae Roberts and Flora Bowley too.


BUILDING AN ARTISTIC COMMUNITY AND CONNECTIONS


Family unsupportive of your artistic journey?  Friends don’t understand your passion for painting and creating?  It is important to find and connect with other artists who ‘get’ you so you can share your excitement with them.  There are two main ways of building your artistic community - by meeting people in real life and online through art communities and blogging.

My artistic journey started in January 2009 when I went to drawing classes at the local art shop.  I went to learn how to draw not realising that it was the beginning of building an artistic community.  It was at this first class that I met Sandra, the more classes we took together, the more art I created - pastels, watercolour, acrylics, mixed media and collage - the more we clicked with shared creative ideas.

When I first started to draw and paint I joined an online art community to upload my art to show family and friends overseas.  That community had different groups you could join so I did to show off my art.  Members in those groups provided praise and encouragement to me and I found inspiration and friendship too.

You can meet other artists at art classes and workshops as well as local community and learning centres.  Sandra asked me to be take over her group co-ordinator role at the local learning centre.  I met some wonderful people who I was able to teach, mentor and even inspire.  Are you able to organise an art class or invite an artist you admire to teach at a workshop?  Is there a community centre near you where you could invite other artists to meet and work on their art together?

There are many online art communities, I even belong to a couple on Facebook.  Joining an online art community is like going to a party.  First of all you get dressed up - most communities give you your own page where you can upload an avatar of yourself or your art to represent you, you can change the background theme and script as well as add photos of your art and write a little bit about yourself.  Then find the forum and introduce yourself - there is usually an introduction thread.  Listen to others by reading their threads and looking at their galleries.  Participate in the conversation by replying to questions, giving sincere praise and encouragement, compliments and offer helpful positive advice when asked.  Start new threads and post questions too.  Before long people will be responding to your comments and friending you.

Blogging is another way to build your artistic community and connect with others who share your interests.  A blog is a website where you can write about your art, your life - not too personal but enough so people can relate to you,  and add photos too.  Your blog can provide inspiration to others, share some of your techniques, guest writers and interviews with other artists too.  To build your community visit other people’s blogs, become one of their followers, leave positive and sincere comments of praise, encouragement and congratulations.  Read their list of blogs they read and then go visit the blogs that sound interesting to you. People will start to visit your blog, become your follower, leave comments, connect with you and may even buy your art.

This may sound like a lot work but the more you put into building your artistic community the more you will get out of it.  I personally know artists whose careers have expanded from painting and blogging to selling books, providing online courses, sold out workshops - in minutes, products - calendars, bags, statues, frames, mirrors and crockery, online shops with over 300 sales in 24 hours on Cyber Monday.

I started blogging in March 2011 and it wasn’t until a few months later when I took an online creative business course that I consciously started building my artistic community.  Looking back I’ve found that the  benefits of using the above ways to connect with like-minded people include: making new friends, receiving and giving praise, encouragement, inspiration, support and positive and helpful criticism, teaching and mentoring,  information about books, classes and workshops, confidence in myself and my art and a group of people to hold an exhibition with. 

You may have to research and shop around for the community that suits you best and remember that this will take time.  Building your artistic community will help you build your artistic career.  Looking forward to seeing you there.

Online art communities:

http://www.deviantart.com/  US based
http://community.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/  - UK based great for watercolour artists
http://thecompleteartist.ning.com/  - NZ based - great for oil painters.
http://willowing.ning.com/  -  UK based - great for learning how to draw and paint faces, mixed-media art
http://www.facebook.com/groups/171673892903764/  Magically Mixed Art Community

Different types of blog hosting websites:

http://www.blogger.com/  - this is the one I use - simple and easy http://wordpress.com/
http://www.typepad.com/

http://blogchicks.com.au/  - You will find a list of arts and crafts blogs at the Australian Women Bloggers Directory


How to find me:

http://www.shellsinthebush.com/
http://shellsinthebush.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/ShellsintheBush
http://aussiesheila.deviantart.com/
http://willowing.ning.com/profile/MichelleReynolds

The Tree of Hope and Love.

My new Tracy Verdugo inspired painting based on Wk 44 Life Book lesson....

The Tree of Hope and Love
Acrylic and ink on Canvas
44cm x 92cm

"PLANT A TREE"

He who plants a tree
   Plants a hope.
   Rootlets up through fibres blindly grope;
Leaves unfold into horizons free.
   So man’s life must climb
   From the clods of time
   Unto heavens sublime.
Canst thou prophesy, thou little tree,
What the glory of thy boughs shall be?

He who plants a tree
   Plants a joy;
   Plants a comfort that will never cloy;
Every day a fresh reality,
   Beautiful and strong,
   To whose shelter throng
   Creatures blithe with song.
If thou couldst but know, thou happy tree,
Of the bliss that shall inhabit thee!

He who plants a tree,—
   He plants peace.
   Under its green curtains jargons cease.
Leaf and zephyr murmur soothingly;
   Shadows soft with sleep
   Down tired eyelids creep,
   Balm of slumber deep.
Never hast thou dreamed, thou blessed tree,
Of the benediction thou shalt be.

He who plants a tree,—
   He plants youth;
   Vigor won for centuries in sooth;
Life of time, that hints eternity!
   Boughs their strength uprear;
   New shoots, every year,
   On old growths appear;
Thou shalt teach the ages, sturdy tree,
Youth of soul is immortality.

He who plants a tree,—
   He plants love,
   Tents of coolness spreading out above
Wayfarers he may not live to see.
   Gifts that grow are best;
   Hands that bless are blest;
   Plant! life does the rest!
Heaven and earth help him who plants a tree,
And his work its own reward shall be.

by Lucy LarcomBorn March 5, 1824; Died April 27, 1893

 Evolution pics...

New Paintings

I had such a great time on Saturday creating some portal paintings that on Monday I decided to experiment  with new supplies and  different techniques.  I bought some rough and smooth watercolour paper and some Daler Rowney acrylic inks in black and turquoise and an ink brush. Did you know how easy it is to outline with black acrylic ink as opposed to heavy body paint?

Little Houses - Acrylic and Ink on Watercolour paper.

Little Birdies - Acrylic and Ink on Watercolour Paper

I look forward to making some more...

Life Book 2012 Wk44

I loved this weeks Life Book 2012 lesson with fellow Aussie Tracy Verdugo esp since it involved recreating her portals.

Here are my paintings - I decided to do 4 at once as it's fun and once you get into the swing of things then you get your own groove and style.

The first one is the only one with words and it says:

She found her voice, she sang her song loud and clear, she spoke the truth in her heart always...

This is my favourite portal painting of Tracy's:

Here is one of my portal/window paintings from last year:  Ribbon Town

And I also love Rosetta Santucci:

It was great to get my paint mojo back on, thanks Tracy!

Shells' Sunday Snippets

My week in pics....

Joining in with {tinniegirl}.  {sunday snippets} A collection of photos from your week. No need for words. Let the pictures tell your story. Pop your link below if you're joining in.

Shell's Sunday Snippets

This week in pics...

Saturday, mixed media

Her hair annoys me...need to keep the collage papers away from the hair line...should fix it up with acrylics...

Lunch at the Mundaring Weir Hotel

Mundaring Weir Hotel

Mundaring Weir

Playing along with {tinniegirl} and joining in on {sunday snippets}

More of My Girls...

In Saturday's post I mentioned adding Adele's lyrics to my painting, well, I have and did you know that the song Make You Feel My Love was written by Bob Dylan...

Emerald with Adele lyrics...

Argh, where her nose and forehead meet is too low and she has too much forehead....

Started a new one today, but there was too much graphite on the paper....learn from my mistakes.... :D

Topaz - I'm still thinking about the background.

And another - my plans for today fell through and since I spent yesterday doing 5 loads of washing and 2 lots of ironing whilst cleaning the house - this left me some time to paint today...

She's drying at the moment (glue and texture paste) and I will work on her tomorrow if the day of olive picking is ruined by rain...