My Word of the Year 2016

Happy not so New Year everyone :) how was your Christmas? Mine was quite nice... relatively stress free which is just wonderful really compared to previous years atleast. Things are definitely looking up... hopefully by next Christmas I'll be filled to overflowing with merry and cheer :)

Firstly.. my apologies for the length of this post but it's taken me 6 weeks of serious soul searching and 4 almost complete, scrapped at the last minute drafts to write it so I reckon it deserves some air time. I've been trying desparately to figure out my thing for the year ahead. I love to have a word for the year. The last few years I've chosen BEGIN and BELIEVE... these words have helped me so so much. For me they are like a huuuuge hit of inspiration, an instant reminder of what's most important to keep me on track. I also love that the process of chosing my word makes me dig deep. It unearths exactly where I'm at, where I most want to be and what I need to do NOW to get there. Priceless!

Anyway, it wasn't easy this year. Actually it's been mega difficult. Only that I can't stand letting things beat me I would have given up weeks ago. I got frustrated because I'm really quite happy and content but I'm also well aware there are so many things I need and want to work on... balance, courage, health, my finances, etc, etc. But nothing really rocked me like my words have in previous years. None of them felt big enough or inspired me to move mountains and I really really want my word to move mountains.

To be honest I feel like I've survived the storm and all is calm and bright and lovely and sunny now which is very nice... I've been lapping it up for a while now :) But everything has been tossed about and left in a big mess. There's remnants of the much more organised and in control me scattered everwhere. I need to get stuck in and do a big tidy up before I can happily sail off into the sunset. I need to get all those annoying little (some not so little :) bits and pieces of my life in order again, all those things I let slide, all the balls I had to drop. I need to regroup, tidy up the periferals, regain some focus and control. Regroup! That's exactly how I feel. That's it!!! That's my word.....

Not an earth shattering word I know but it feels so right and I'm so excited! As soon as I began to see all the mess as one big chunk I can get my teeth into I instantly felt a huge surge of motivation.. that's just how I roll.. that's a mountain I can move :)

So I have my REGROUP LIST (my mountain) and I can't wait to tick everything off by the end of the year (ok so it may take a little longer but that's ok :) First on the list is my health and fitness... I've started my morning workouts again :) and I can't wait to be the healthiest me ever. Maybe I'll tackle the whole balance thing next. Or my finances.. budget, set some goals, save for a holiday maybe.. yay!!! And courage.. now that's a whole mountain on it's own but I can't wait to start climbing! Hmmmm... maybe I should look at my time management skills first :) 

Oh and of course there's my art but it's always there.. ticking over. My boys and my art and my genie are my constant, my base. Thats just a given.

Anyway that's enough on that.. far out I'm so glad it's done, what a marathon. Can't believe its half way through Feb already :) 

​Ok.. so here's what's been happening of late...

Prior to Christmas my genie had been hinting like a sledge hammer for me to do a painting for him. He was quite specific... he's had a lifelong love of all things motocross and so the brief was: ktm orange, yamaha blue, suzuki yellow, honda red, the numbers 65, 64 & 47 and some or all of the words attitude, confidence, balance, belief, commit. He also gave me some sprockets and other motorbike bits to use if I wanted, then said go for it gorgeous! 

I'm so loving the outcome and he was blown away when I gifted it to him on Christmas Day which was very special... so nice that I could give back to such a wonderful, kind and giving man.

COMMIT - 1000x750mm Acrylic on stretched canvas (Not for sale)

My very first brush strokes for 2016 were oh so bold. While he was away I (and my genie :) renovated my son Mitch's bedroom. Unwilling to afford the cost of floor covering we decided to rip up the carpet and paint the existing yellow tongue flooring orange... yes bright orange!!! Still can't believe I did that but I am so loving the outcome. We also designed and build the bedhead wall from old fence paling which was a creative challenge and looks amazing. So so thrilled with the outcome.. and my bravery :)

I have painted these...

ANOTHER ECLECTIC SUCCESS

ENTICING

AN AIR OF CONFIDENCE

BLOOMING BRILLIANT

SUMMER LOVE

And sold these...

Got down and dirty with my new Dyllusions Paints...

Read this book by my all time fave author ...

Took some selfie lessons from a pro :)

Won 'Shearer of The Year' which means nothing to most but a lot to me!

And most recently I've had the pleasure of hanging some of my art in one of my most fave spaces. Worn Out Wares is a wonderful little eclectic homewares/gift shop, courtyard cafe and the most amazing floristry here in Singleton... it's a very cool place! It's also my day job so be sure to drop in and say hi if you're nearby or travelling through.

And/or you could pop over to Gemelli Estate for some Wine, Art & Inspiration. Most of my work is there, all available for sale. Browse while you taste... nice!!

So that's about it from me for now. I'm a little excited... I've just thrown the first few layers on the largest canvas I'v ever attempted to work with. Here's a sneak peak of a small section of it so far. Who knows where it will lead :) ....

And who knows where 2016 will lead.. I have a good feeling about this one. Yes.. things are most definitely looking up :)