April - Creative Colour Challenge

The colour Mustard Yellow was selected by Louise Gale for this months Creative Colour Challenge. I can honestly say that I have never set out with the intention to paint something yellow so this was indeed a bit of a challenge. The colour yellow conjured up visions of sunshine, daffodils, sunflowers, the honey mustard in the fridge. It also brought back memories of Autumn, as the winter closes in, the leaves turn a million different shades of golden yellow and have all but completely fallen from the tree.

I took some inspiration this month from an artist by the name of Anne Baldwin whose book "Creative Paint Workshop for Mixed-Media Artists" I recently bought. I really love her work and several of her paintings gave me some ideas for my Golden Autumn piece. In the end, it turned out to be more of a yellow/orange finish.

Art: Golden Autumn

"Yellow mellow, ripened days... Beauteous, golden Autumn days."  

~ Will Carleton

 Acrylic paints, collage, textured papers used for stamping and some oil pastels here and there for extra shading.

Moments of Gratitude (ANZACs)

ANZACs

Australian’s recognise 25 April as an occasion of national remembrance. It is the day we remember all Australians who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.  I am very grateful for the sacrifices of so many brave men and women who have given their lives for the preservation of our freedom.

Lest We Forget.

“Never has there been a good war or a bad peace”
~ Benjamin Franklin

Moments of Gratitude (Photography)

Photography

I can't imagine a life without photos. We hold so many wonderful memories within these captured moments in time. From special occasions like weddings, birthdays or holidays to those precious little moments that can happen at anytime time……. click……. a memory forever!! It also offers endless creative opportunities to explore.

I am grateful for the invention of photography and the many memories that have been captured on film, to revisit anytime!

Poem - Angel of Music

As the monthly theme of "Language" continues in the Creativity Every Day Challenge, I have been inspired to go through some of my old writings and poems. These days I tend to paint more often than I write poetry, so I have taken the opportunity to match a piece of art to my poem and share it this week.

Angel of Music

The heavens fall amongst angels voices

& she catches it with her empty soul.

Surrounding the solitude she’s craved for so long.

Amongst gentle rhythms she again feels strong.

Once again she is alive,

for somehow with music  she will survive.

Her way is filled with ruthless thorns,

through fields so bleak & bare,

but she knows beyond lies the soothing sounds,

to cleanse her mind &  heal her despair.

So when life becomes to much to bare,

goodnight....goodbye you’ll find her where

The heavens fall amongst angels voices,

& fills her empty soul.

Such gentle rhythms & soothing songs,

surround the solitude she‘s craved for so long.

Once again she feels alive, in her elusive dreams she will survive.

So when life becomes to much to bare,

goodnight......goodbye you’ll find me there.

By Tamara

*********

Art:- Harmonic Flow

The title picture for my poem is a section from this artwork with an angel superimposed. I gave her a watercolour finish and made her slightly transparent. The original piece is done with mixed media, collage, acrylic as well as metallic paints, and a hot glue gun to create the textured swirls.

Art through the eyes of a child....

I have had a beautiful weekend with my 8 year old niece who is also my little art buddy. I am always amazed and in awe of the freedom with which a child creates. This weekend we completed our scrapbook and we then played around with a mixed media piece.... her theme was Cupcakes..... too cute!!

At first she was a little nervous about ripping up the pieces of coloured paper for her background, it didn't feel right... "shouldn't we cut them neatly"....."is this right?"........... ?

"There is no wrong" I told her, some advice that I often need to listen to myself!!

After a while she was happily taring paper and splashing colour around. I helped her with some painting tips and cutting out of the cupcake pictures but other than this she successfully created a beautiful, colourful and lively piece of art!!  So proud!!

"Every child is an artist.  The problem is how to remain an artist once (s)he grows up."  ~Pablo Picasso

Moments of Gratitude (Balance)

Balance

This week I am grateful for moments of balance in my life. Where, no matter what is happening around me, everything feels right and there is a sense of acceptance for all that is. A feeling of strength, inner confidence and calm. With mindfulness, perhaps these moments can become more permanent and lasting, that is the intention.

"The greatest art is to attain a balance, a balance between all opposites, a balance between all polarities. Imbalance is the disease and balance is health. Imbalance is neurosis, and balance is well-being."  ~Osho

Poem - Pale Blue Sky

This months Creative Every Day theme is Language, so I though it might be appropriate to share a poem.........

Pale Blue Sky

 She sits in her serene room,

with pale blue paper & pen,

writing on her own little piece

of pale blue sky.

So gracefully the ink dances

onto paper, as words fall

together effortlessly,

like lovers at one.

Until all thoughts, all feelings

are rolled into one great ocean,

a deep blue ocean,

by it’s tides she is controlled.

From her mind, through her fingers,

to the tip of the pen

& it’s only then that her

mind becomes clear.

Her thoughts become true

because they’re written right here,

on her own little piece

of pale blue sky.

By Tamara
******

A Single Rose

"A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world."

Leo Buscaglia

I really love the quote of a single rose by Leo Buscaglia. The single rose represents simplicity. For me this quote is about contentment and knowing that it is more about quality than quantity when it comes to the people in our lives.

Art:- A Single Rose

Mixed media, metallic paints, collage, coloured markers and pencil.

Moments of Gratitude (My Pandora)

My Pandora

I don't want to appear materialistic but this week I want to express my gratitude for my Pandora Bracelet. Each charm represents a beautiful moment or a special occasion shared with the people (and pets) I love.

“Good memories are like charms...Each is special. You collect them, one by one, until one day you look back and discover they make a long, colorful bracelet.”  James Patterson, Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas