My mother before she was my mother.
In December last year I held my second solo exhibition. For me it was a resounding success in sales and commissions but more importantly (I later realised) in the accomplishment of fulfilling the brief that I set myself. This brief was for the exhibition to feel cohesive, work as a story, and elicit emotion from my patrons. My excitment and joy at moving through my own exhibition never faded and THAT to me is success!
The image shown is an oil on canvas, 20 x 20 cm, from the solo show. It is of my mother back in the 60's and is an ode to the parts of the woman that I never knew and never understood. My mother died when I was 16 years old. We shared and uncomfortable relationship at best and it took me many years to dig past the years of sickness and my own teenage angst to discover that there once existed this beautiful, fun-loving young woman with hopes and dreams of her own. Painting this snapshot moment of my mother before she was my mother as a part of an exhibition dedicated to beautiful moments from my past was an incredibly healing event. This painting will forever grace my walls.
In late 2013 I signed up to become one of 9 foundation artists at a new studio cooperative. It was a leap of faith and I now have a studio space for the next 12 months, teaching space (but that's another story) and we have our own art gallery. I am sharing this experience with 8 artists of varying mediums but the one thing that we all share in common is the drive to create and succeed. It is a very professional venture and I feel very honoured to have been selected to be a part of it!
2013 was a year of hard work, creating and taking opportunities and laying more of the past to rest. I completed my fourth year of Fine Art study; completed a portrait that was later accepted by the NSW Police Commissioner for permanent display at HQ; and moved my studio from my dining room to a professional space. It feels like it was the beginning of some very exciting times and I am so up for the challenge I am practically champing at the bit!
