I’ve been a slack blogger lately…..

I’ve immersed myself in exhibition preparations and building our dream house.  These are very exciting times for me and as busy as I am, I do still want to share the experience with you all here in my little space.  

So Blogtoberfest couldn’t have come at a better time for me.  Just what I need, a pledge to blog everyday for October, thankyou so much for hosting Tinniegirl!  Hopefully it will get me back into the swing of things.

Here’s what has been keeping me busy in the studio this week.  A little stunner called “Grace”.  This painting flowed so beautifully from idea to completion – a complete contrast to the struggle I had with Arrival last week.

Grace

Kylie Marie Stevens

oil on canvas

509 x 610mm

2010

Time to pop over and see if Kirsty is still low on fuel….Or if the creative’s from all over will be converging at her place again.  

Sneak peek at “Arrival”…

I had decided I shouldn’t share any new painting photos here or on my facebook page before my exhibition opening.  But I couldn’t help sharing a bit of a look at this beauty!  It was such a fight to get this piece to live up to the magnificent vision in my head.  And to put extra pressure on myself I had already given it the “staring spot” in the Adrift series, so it had to be good….

I pushed through the “ugly stage”, I persisted with the never ending need to clean my brushes as I went, and I gave myself a big pep talk (and just quietly I switched from coffee to port!) and I got through it.  I’m so glad I did, I love it now!  Do you have greater affection for your “hard won” creations or the ones that come really easily?  

This piece holds a lot of symbolism for me, but more about that another day… It’s time to go and check out everyone else’s creative spaces….

Ooohh just remembered Kirsty is having a holiday, so there may not be a “My Creative Space” today.  What a strange Thursday today will be if that is the case!  If you pop by here anyway and have a creative space sort of post happening, make sure you leave me a comment, so I can come check it out… So I don’t go into creative space withdrawals!  

Our dream house amongst the gum trees is underway….

Wordless Wednesday

Just when I thought it was all over….

Inspiration struck! 

It all seems so obvious now.  The “Adrift” series could not be complete without this piece.  The story wasn’t finished.  When this piece is done, I’m confident the series will feel complete.  

Wish me luck as I work on this painting, I hope I can do justice to the magnificent vision in my head….

Excitement and lists

I am all about lists at the moment, with all that is going on I have to do lists coming out my ears!  I do love a good list; it’s so satisfying to cross jobs off!  There are some pretty exciting jobs on my “to do” list at the moment, so when Tinniegirl suggested I share I jumped at the chance.   

Little Guy is going to spend a little time in the country with his grandparents this week, so I actually have a fair chance of getting to most of the jobs on this weeks list!

It doesn’t look good for the rain easing up anytime soon in these parts though – trust us to start building right when they predict the wettest summer in years!

Wishing you a weekend full of sunshine and flowers…

Can you see it?

I’d love to know what, if anything, you see in this little abstract pair.  Shhh if you have been following the conversation over here.  I want to see if anyone else comes up with the same thought! 

I painted the first in the pair as a purely abstract form.  But once the first person mentioned the image they saw, there seems to be no getting away from it!  I must admit I was a little led by this thought as I painted the pair…..

I haven’t named them yet, so if a title jumps out at you, please share.

I’m looking forward to finding a quiet moment this afternoon to sit down with a cuppa and check out all of this week’s creativity.  

I have created the next generation of shadow hunter…

My Little Guy is still pretty intrigued by his newly discovered shadow, especially when it turns up in places like this!  He has been pointing out his shadow when we are out and about and asking me where his shadow’s Mum is – so darn cute!

Pop by Hey Harriet,to see what the other shadow chasers have captured this week. Something tells me you will be hard pressed to find a shadow shot as adorable as my Little Guy’s shadow though!!

Psssttt… Did you catch my fabulous news? I am still grinning like an idiot! Thank you very much if you are one of the many who had you fingers crossed for me.  With my hard work and your positive energy I have achieved my goal. What an exciting ride I am in for over the next few weeks!

This is the big news I have been waiting on…..

I just received the news that my expression of interest has been accepted and my exhibition will open on the 22nd of October!!! I am over the moon happy, I’m sure I am going to get a sore jaw from the size of the smile I am wearing!

My painting magically put into a fancy gallery setting over at Dumpr

New Toy!!!

There is a new toy in My Creative Space today. I can’t use it just yet, I need to do some rummaging at the op shop and order some special materials from the art supply shop, but I am so excited about the plans I have for this little beauty……

Avery

Kylie Marie Stevens

watercolour, pastel and ink on watercolour paper

148 x 210mm

2010

I have been on a roll with my little watercolours this week, Emerson sold almost as soon as he was posted and Avery and Bernard have had a lot of positive feedback. I even listed them in my neglected little Etsy shop, hopefully they find new homes soon.

Bernard

Kylie Marie Stevens

watercolour, pastel and ink on watercolour paper

148 x 210mm

2010

See you all at Kirsty’s!

Happy Days…

So many lovely opportunities are coming my way lately… Just yesterday I received a letter asking me to submit work for a group exhibition and I was also asked to consider teaching a children’s art class in the new year. Fabulous stepping stones on the path to my dreams coming true!

And just because I don’t like to leave you without a picture…. Meet Emerson, he received his finishing touches late last night and he is now ready for his debut.

Emerson

Kylie Marie Stevens

Watercolour and ink on watercolour paper

148 x 210mm

2010

$25
Edited to add SOLD!! Within minutes of his debut, how exciting!

Still waiting on my exciting news…..My fingers are a little cramped from being crossed so long!

Stuck for words today…

So here’s a picture! A little mixed media, completed this morning.

Untitled (for now…)

Kylie Marie Stevens

Watercolour, pencil, pen & ink on watercolour paper

148 x 210 mm

2010

$25

Shadowy Ducks

Shadowy ducks – with two different looks courtesy of Picnik. Have you tried Picnik for photo editing? I love it and it’s a very rare photo that makes it to my blog without going via Picnik. Have a play some time, it’s fabulous and it’s free!

Another fabulous, free, fun, way to spend some time is shadow hunting. Check out what the fellow shadow chasers have caught this week over at Hey Harriet.

George and Jen join us for a picnic….

My Little Guys imagination has just exploded in the last few weeks and we are in the midst of all sorts of new roll playing games.
When I stumbled upon this tutorial I knew I just had to make some of theses. Little Guy loves them and I am sure George and Jen will get up to all sorts of adventures…..

Shiny New Skills in My Creative Space...

I had so much fun at my PMC workshop. These photos are of my fabulous teacher May Bartrum’s demonstration. My hands were a bit greasy while I was working so I didn’t get many shots of my piece.

Our pieces were kiln fired, but May also gave us a demo of torch firing. Most of us also chose to have our pieces put in the tumbler for a few hours after we finished them, for a super duper shine.

These are some of the progress shots of my piece that I did manage to get.

The piece next to mine in the "drying" shot is Selina’s.  I am so glad she joined me for this class it was lots of fun to share the experience with a fellow blogger and nice for us to finally meet. 

The little piece in the “silver” shot is a little dangle to hang from the back of the chain, I whipped it up in a couple of minutes with the left over bits.

And here it is my newest bling. My perfectionist side wishes I had more time for designing and refining this piece.  But I am really happy with the skills I learnt and that’s what the workshop was all about.

I am positive I shall be revisiting this medium and making more shiny things, so there will be more PMC in My Creative Space in the future…

Creativity abounds at Kirsty’s on a Thursday, so pop over and check it out – while your there why not join us, its heaps of fun and a little bit addictive

Spring is in the Air…

Welcome spring, my favourite time of year. I love the blooming, the rebirth, and the buzz in the air.

The fabulously supportive Kellie from 74 Lime Lane has interviewed little old me…. So if you want to see what I had to say pop over and if you are popping over this way from Kellie’s welcome! I hope you like what you see and click that little follow button so you can stick around.

I am waiting (not terribly patiently) on some BIG news this week. I’m like a teenage girl sitting by the phone. I actually jumped when rang the other day – but it was just a girl friend, not the long awaited news. Keep your fingers crossed for me please, it might be the little bit of luck I need to get me over the line…..