the textile art diary

I have disabled comments on my blog because I want it to be about  creating art and my art practice, and not about who likes or visits me. 

I have had a lot of problems with motivation and inspiration over the last few years and, yes, I could write a diary which is private, however I think that the online format is more likely to make myself more accountable in my journey. 

I began university studies in fine art two years ago and this has eaten into my studio times as well as changed and challenged my thinking in many ways. 

I am present online mostly in pictures, in facebook groups, on instagram and Sktchy and find these much easier to post on (probably because I don't have to write much!).

It's funny, when I was a child, I wanted to be a writer, but as an adult, my impetus has always been visual art and I now tend to avoid writing! 

I love to teach, and in the past, my blog has been about tutorials, but I think now, I need to do a bit of that writing I have avoided in order to bring myself back to creating regularly.

Just to show myself that I have been achieving although I am always  on at myself  about not working hard enough, I have inserted a few photos of recent work in my writing. 

I have been doing a lot of drawing and mostly portraits, although I still do some textiles and craft.  Drawing is easy and doesn't require much equipment.  I am now the proud owner of a ipad pro and apple pencil, so many of these were digitally done.

I hope as I said that I will keep posting.  If I do, I think my studio practice will improve and i will get my mojo back!

One of those years

I think 2014 is going on record as one of those years!  As you probably already know, I was extremely ill in the winter, my sister died recently, rubin our dog recently died and this morning I received the news that another of our quilt group members has died.  This is the third this year!  I am beginning to feel as if this year is fated to be the worst in history.  It is so difficult to deal with all this death and destruction.
But of course as we get older, I suppose  these sorts of years are more likely. I am hoping to put together an exhibition of my work next year and to donate a large part of the proceeds to cancer research, as all of my friends and my sister  had cancer.
I was thinking of april, but it will have to be may, as I am going to the Australasian Quilt Convention in April.  Today was the first day for bookings - and guess what!  some of the classes are already booked out!  My husband couldn't believe it and had to come and look for himself.  Luckily, there was no trouble with the classes I booked.  I am certainly not a quilter in the traditional sense!

I forgot the girls over at T for tuesday last week, but this week I have done a digital drawing just for them!

And here are my bits and pieces for today.

A sketch of my nectarine tree, in process

My warm ups

My journal page, which I am also sharing over at AJ Journey
I am hard at work, trying to finally catch up on CQJP2014 which I have gotten very behind at.  Hope to shoow you all some work soon.