Sit a while

This climber has been busy propping up our fence and I've hardly ever noticed it the whole of the 18 months we have been here. But today I was sat with my cuppa, enjoying the sun (in the shade) whilst pondering, and took a brief glance at a single flower that happened to be nestled against my elbow. The flowers are small and predominately green and white that merges into nothingness amongst the mass of leaves, but on their own they have such beautiful and complex shapes, and a creamy pink tinge that give them a delicate almost porcelain feel.

There have been a number of occasions lately that have made me take a step back and look at myself and my place in the world and pay attention to the little things. To treasure what we have however small and fleeting. To remember that often events do not happen in isolation but are stepping stones to greater things. To realise that acceptance is the only way to truly let go.

I am being cryptic but this is pretty much how my life is. Nothing I can quite put my finger on but every now and again things shift. My view changes much like shedding a skin. I see things that I hadn't noticed before, realise I already have the answer to questions I had forgotten I had been asking. I've never quite understood my purpose as an artist, I don't need to paint my inner feelings or draw what I see or have any particular message to get across. It's intangible, subtle and evasive. But never completely disappears. Like an itch I can't scratch. But I've come to realise over the years that it doesn't matter so much. Having children and watching them grow into happy healthy vibrant people is far more valuable and satisfying than my own needs, artistic or otherwise. That I can be more than one person, that it isn't all about me, that I am one fragile flower amongst many. Complex but delicate, strong but dependant. Loving life and in need of another cup of tea.

Fortress

It's been a while since I worked on a canvas. I tend to have a rush of inspiration that dies quite quickly then I'm onto something new but I am finding as I go on (down to age/experience/maturity/laziness perhaps) that now I am able to stay on the same path and keep developing. I don't panic when I come to a dead stop because I know it's time to go out and look for new inspiration that will allow me to continue and stay fresh without feeling like a failure. Or a fraud. Or going out and working for a supermarket instead.

This particlular piece I have been working on for a year now and finally it is finished. I have 5 brand new ones on the go too, they may be completed soon, they may not.

It's good to let go, you should try it sometime.

A Musical Interlude

I don't really blog about music, which come to think of it is a bit odd as I am obsessed with music. It is on all the time and heavily influences my mood and my art (when I get time to get the brushes out) but as is such a part of my life it doesn't occur to me to talk about it. It just is. Anyway I thought I would share this little video I uncovered after seeing her on the TV the other day, it's absolutely adorable!

CeeGee Jewellery

Carolyn from CeeGee Jewellery wrote a lovely post about Chalk Hill a few weeks ago so it's time I said thank you and returned the favour.

Carolyn works with the finest quality beads and gemstones and has recently started learning how to use PMC clay - I think she has found her calling because her first attempts are fabulous!

You can buy her work direct from her website http://www.ceegeejewellery.com/index.htm and read her blog here http://www.ceegeejewellery.blogspot.com/

Treasure

Look what dropped through my letter box this morning, a little belated birthday pressie from a close friend, I love it - thank you Larissa! BTW you must check out her photography and crafts, we met a college some 15 years ago now and she is a very talented artist and designer. www.giggleicious-photography.com

In the picture

I've spent years wrestling with my style and trying to focus and as a result created a few identities for myself and a gazillion websites along the way. But now its time to stop. No more umming and aahing and tooing and froing as it is exhausting and I end up chasing my own tail. So here we are. We are Kala online, Karen in the real world, my shop is Chalk Hill and I am artist, designer, illustrator, jack-of-all-trades. Me. One person. And it's time to get rid of the surplus websites and blogs and shops and move forward.

So here we are. As I barely post on my Chalk Hill blog because I can never decide where my work should go (who'd have thought that would ever happen!)I am shutting it down and moving everything to here. I will carry on redecorating the place as I go so expect a few alterations along the way, just don't lean on the wet paint :D

I feel like my journey is just beginning. I have packed a flask of tea, my sketchbook and a few biscuits and off we go. Happy and free and truly excited for the first time in years. Funny what a little mid life crises does to a person. I have always been the pick-myself-by-the-bootstraps type and this is no exception. So before I get carried away with the corny one liners I am off to draw more flowers, see you soon!

Don't Panic!!

Just rearranging a few things, bear with me, all will become clear!

Picture Postcard

Here are some of the missing photos from our trip to the beach the other weekend, we are back in business!

May Day

May day is my day. And what better way to spend it than sitting under apple trees eating homemade apple pie and drinking tea, with twittering robins and sparrows bombing around waiting for crumbs to feast on. After my pre birthday jitters the world suddenly felt right again. I felt right again.