The queen of all she surveys. oil on linen, 51cm x 51cm, 2009.
I have to be honest and say that sometimes it feels like I am not quite the one who is in charge with my paintings.
It’s coming from my head. It is coming from my hands, but it often feels like it is coming through me more and more often, which is – I suspect as it should be. Reaching a level of ease with the production where you can just get out of the way and let it happen.
This should be a blissful state, but life being what it is, and busy and scattered being my normal state of being with 2 smallish children, I am unable, often enough for my liking to stand in front of an open canvas and just get on with it.
Painting time is furtive, selfishly guarded, blissful, anxious and necessary, and there is a tiny bit of me that says every so often. Did you do that? And I worry, every so often, that the muse who is inhabiting presently will go on her merry way and stop painting through me, leaving me high and dry.
Which is just the point isn’t it. We are all constantly evolving. So any subsequent self that presents is the next logical step in the process of being who we are meant to be.
A tiny bit of me is excited about having them both at school next year to explore with more freedom, but mostly I am excited about what will emerge once I can properly indulge my passion for the paint without having to go without sleep.
I’m feeling the urge to produce lots of work. Yeehar! 
the light behind make the trees really pop and look almost magical. Great painting – and such a hauntingly beautiful little figure:)
ooohhh .. that one just sings! so strong yet bright and fresh. reminiscent of those heidelberg figure-in-bush paintings, but more vibrantly contemporary.
yes, it is a personal conflict, that of wanting to do the best thing by your children, but to scrounge enough time for you. i’m sure the muse wont desert you.
Stunning work. It rekindles memories of images from my youth- a painting that my uncle did of a place in Canada- and my own adventures in the bush.
Balance of all the competing demands and urges in life is so hard to find and hold- rather as you say, it is constantly evolving and changing.
the colours are literally leaping off the canvas! definitely an air of heide there.
Love this one Michelle, what plans do you have for it?
Thanks all!
Triecia, no plans for it just yet, it’s still in the studio.