fairytales are to girls what superheros are to boys

"love is like a butterfly" ...............is part of my little girl series . I oddly avoided doing this series for decades i always new exactly what i would do however . Just took the right little girl walking into my life to inspire it and give me understanding and conviction this series deserved . Made me get in touch with my inner child and think back to all my dreams and wishes i made in my childhood . My niece coby is my model and shes so cute , constantly running around doing random things as children do . Not having children myself it took her and her girly zest for life to get this series off the ground . Also working out a way to doing it with integrity so it would be unmistakably mine . This series has been a run away success from the moment it hit galleries a few years back and has developed beautifully and naturally . "love is like a butterfly" features a butterfly , something so special about them i have always been a huge fan of insects . Witnessing coby over the years run around with a bug catcher sealed the deal for this work . Love , fairytales , childhood icons we all remember are featured in this ever expanding series . I think fairytales are to girls what superheros are to boys .X

A portrait of an artist .

I do think taking a photo of an artist / creative must be a difficult thing to do . Jason from SILKSHOTS dose an amazing job . I oddly dont mind having my photograph taken which i imagine makes things much easier as many moons ago i was a hair/photographic/model .Every new major solo show i have to get new photos done for media and press etc. check out jasons facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/SilkShots-Photography/123642204349529 hes terrific with dealing with a temperamental artist like me so just imagine how great he can make you look.!!!!!!!!! I just love this photo , shows all the important features , ME , my matching lippy and stilettos and of course the ART.

leaning tower of Pisa

I always knew that eventually i would paint the leaning tower of Pisa !!!!!!! . I have painted the Eiffel tower many many times so in a sense it was Italy's turn . Such a marvelous structure to behold and its certainly is Italy's most defining  Icon architecturally . So yes i have painted it finally , and i can tell you its by far the most complicated tower i have ever painted . So much detail . I am very sure its new owner who is Italian will love it . !!!!!!! I am truly fascinated by this remarkable culture and cant wait one day to do an entire exhibition on this country . I think sadly that will be a few years down the track . One day Tuscany will call  its always been a given that i will paint in that location for a few months .  So till then there will be only the occasional painting inspired by the breathtakingly beautiful country that is Italy . x

The right royal affair ball .

Ohhhhhhhhhh what a night !!!!!! Well i had a wonderful time at the right royal affair ball to raise money for the royal Brisbane hospital . My latest painting of the story bridge called "under the bridge" was auctioned on the night. While i had an amazing evening my images of 'BALLS' are quiet different to some . I think someone is a little to into fairy-tales and Jane Austin books to handle the modern version . I imagine balls with prince charming and epic ball gowns with hopeful Cinderella's dancing the waltz. Clearly a very Disney version  i imagined from my childhood . However in saying that prince charming was actually there some guy wore a Disney prince charming outfit hence my surprise only to find out he already had his own Cinderella . Isn't that just always the way girls .!!!!!!!! 

I am very convinced i am not from this time , i just cant grasp the concept of dancing to 'Toto ' rains in Africa ................in saying that it was an AFRICAN theme. While any chance a girl gets to wear her pearls is good thing , I still hold out hope for a more traditional ball in my future ...................and yes my dress had a train , love romantic dresses with a slight Gothic /Edwardian feel . Its nice to dress up and be out of my docs every once in a while .X

Not all there ..........self portrait

"Not all there" is a self portrait . While i am well known for my nudes and city scapes it was the portrait that was always my first love . In fact i have been doing them for over 20 years professionally . With a unique style all my own . My big blown up versions were selling all over Australia decades ago . I leave this subject from time to time and come back to them with vengeance.  This is the one thing i do you will never see heaps of, as they are special and my subjects are carefully selected . If i paint a rockstar/celeb its cause i have met them on my travels or there music is so inspiring to me day in day out while i am painting . I love to paint beautiful girls that i meet organically via my  travels and my regular models i am always painting . Those lucky few girls who are my MUSES have their portraits done lots .lol . Then there are my highest selling series which are my self portraits . Each one very different and showing another side of the very complicated and sometimes misunderstood artist that i am . NOT ALL THERE is about the split in personalty . You can talk to me all you like but i am only half there as my minds always elsewhere ....................makes relationships difficult to say the least . The most important relationship i try to understand has always been the one i have with myself .Sometimes it out and out WAR. :)

Very soon my new blog will be up and it will be about portraits only  and all the stories behind each one  .stay tuned  x

CRISTAL.........one of those weekend !!!!!!

What a weekend !!!!!!!! It started off on the boat "pure adrenaline" drinking CRISTAL . Yes and that is my favourite champagne of them all . Its got to be the Rockstar of champagne for sure . This photo of a  rare outdoor /daylight sighting of the reclusive artist know as STARR .!!!!!!! lol. I was on the way to sunshine coast in style mixing with some of the most wonderful people in the world . We then headed back in a limo to brisvegas , to the beats of Jay.Z's 'new york' .

Then on the saturday i was judging an art show with the Margaret and Jan from the redhill gallery at St Lucia campus . The talent was amazing . I really enjoy judging but i find its always hard to judge others art but i am always very honored to be asked . One multimedia piece that was based on a students interest in dementia put a tear to my eyes . I guess thats the power of art and this girls sensitivity towards her subject showed amazing understanding and compassion . well done !!!!!!!!!!

I then spent the rest of the weekend getting to know a lovely refugee family from Iran . What wonderful people they are and so hospitable . I am now a fan of Iranian food , so healthy . I learned how excited they are to be here in a beautiful and safe country like australia where they can live their dreams . They are quiet modern and dont wear veils and are keen to fit with our culture . I feel i am learning so much about another culture that till this weekend i had no idea about . !!!!!

I was simply inspired by a wonderful weekend . Being an artist is all about the painting but also the very important journey one takes till the next blank canvas is completed .x

A little bit modern .

I had a lovely night catching up some friends and seeing their amazing architectural designed house. Just stunning it was !!!!!!!!! I for the record think architectural designed homes are pure art that u can live in . While i am the kinda girl who likes all things old its very clear my paintings love being in a modern environment . This painting called "I CAN BE COLORFUL"is clearly perfect in the modern house . This is one of my all time favorite paintings . I painted this over 12 years ago but i think its timeless and classic . I do paint abstracts and to me they are very personal and emotive  . They were very popular as well i think i am now inspired to revisit this genera.!!!!!!!!! will be interesting to see what i would do now 12 years later .stay tuned x