Art all day...

Last week, a few of us from my last art course joined together and hired the studio all day. We had a great day, and being in Newtown gave us the opportunity for cafe brunch and lunch etc. Much painting and philisophical discussion ensued, accompanied by jazz on the stereo. We plan to do this more often. I spent hours sketching then painting my first ever self-portrait - I (she?) is looking very serious because I am sketching in charcoal whilst looking in a mirror. During the afternoon she became known as "Catherine". I've aded a webcam pic. so we can see if there is a resemblance.........

Beavis & Butthead

My son, Paull in NYC occasionally babysits a dog, which makes him miss his old mates Beavis & Butthead. They are nearly ten, or maybe nearly 11, but very fit and active. We were out for a walk/jog this morning when I thought about all the things that dogs can teach us:

• exercise , explore, run free
• eat a balanced diet - but always be ready for a little snack
• nap often, sleep soundly, snore softly
• your new best friend is the person you are just about to meet
• always act glad to see people
• always BE glad to see people
• smile!
  

A ferry nice day...

Who cares if it's raining, our planned "excursion" went ahead. We headed north towards Manly, then another 30klm north to the end of the peninsula. This is Palm Beach (playground of the rich and famous) (and us) on Broken Bay. We'd planned a swim at the Basin, a beautiful camping and picnic spot accessible only by ferry, but it was definitely not the day for that! Undeterred, we took the round trip on the ferry then found a cosy pub serving sausages and mash. My kids will have fond memories of picnic days at the Basin, lugging all the gear down that long jetty; those beautiful houses are from another part of Broken Bay - they have to get the ferry or use their own boat to get in and out. I'm undecided as to whether that would be great or a huge nuisance!!

Say No to Racism

With the recent cricket test in Sydney (the players) and some of the Australian Open tennis (the spectators) marred by racism, it reminded me of this artwork. Done by an 11 year old recent arrival from South Africa, she chose it for our social issues artwork last year. It was a great journey for her - she did a sketch first, then said "that's it, I'm happy with that, I don't need to paint it". I encouraged her to bring in a canvas and have a go by promising to lend her my fine brushes and flesh coloured paint tubes. She was sure it wouldn't work out, but she perservered, took her time, thought about it over weekends and came in Mondays ready to add to it - and took home this finished piece. A good lesson for all aspiring artists - have a go, take your time, you can do it!

JUMP!

- and the net will be there. Or, thought for the day, maybe you don't need a net !

These pictures were taken on our Stanwell Park "excursion" last week using the sports function button on my Canon Power Shot. (Click to enlarge - it's worth it). I think I have a smudge on the lense - something to do with the choctop icecream I was attempting to eat while we all waited for the right wind gust. No, I didn't have a go!

Things we gather around us

Reading Bohemian Mom's blog made me think about how we decorate the space around us. Not the big items, the little collections that spring up, seemingly without a plan. An artist friend has a book "Women and their Altars" - in many cultures, women make altars in their homes. My friend says we all do this - just look around your house! So I did. The Buddha is there because I love one that my sister-in-law has, so I found my own; there are two lovely pics of my kids together plus a sillouhette of them at the age of 4 and 2; there are books read, waiting to be read, waiting to be returned to their owners. My best books are NOT there - they get given away. Also there is my Lovelife book, all the way from Canada. With 365 illustrations, I turn the page every day or so to get inspired. Thanks, Kal Barteski!

Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer..

Take one beautiful day and two holidaying teachers, put in car and drive 40minutes South to Stanwell Park. Have a swim, find pub, have a beer. Add prawns, oysters and fish. Enjoy!!

Summer in the City

Enjoying summer in Sydney - we have been spared the flooding rains happening up North and the searing 40 degree celsius heat they are getting down South. Even when the days get over 30 it cools down after 6pm; the rain has been like the tropics, quick showers, usually at night, just enough to water the garden. I hope it stays like this! I am (enjoying) valuing every day of my long, summer hols. We have been swimming a lot - in surf at Cronulla and Coogee, in the harbour at Balmoral (see pic.above) and in the river at Como. We've lunched in pubs, cafes and had picnics. We've watched Australia vs India in the cricket test from the comfort of my air-conditioned loungeroom, and had some memorable meals in the cool of the night. The best part - 23 more days to go!!!

One Word Resolution

Several bloggers are taking up the challenge to use just one word as a "New Year's Resolution". It is quite a challenge to come up with one word to encompass all that you would like to achieve in 2008. I immediately thought of a conversation that I'd had with a member of my art group at our final class. She is the Director of a pre-school and someone asked light-heartedly "do you have to wipe their bums?" She answered: "If you value the child as an individual who deserves respect, it becomes teaching them about independence and self-care." I went home thinking about values and how with older students, discipline is about valuing them enough to teach them to respect themselves and others. Interpersonal relationships run more smoothly if you value the other person's opinion, or at least their right to have one! If you value yourself you will eat well and keep fit. If we value the planet, we will do our best to reduce our carbon footprint.
So that's my word for 2008:
Value