Framed Pretty Girls, in situ.

Framed Pretty Girls

Hi. Just been to The Little Gallery today where two of my paintings are currently being exhibited. Thought it would be sweet to share some images of them here on my blog. Anna, the lovely owner also has available some limited edition giclee prints of my girls. Things are looking rosy, have also booked a slot for 2011 to have an exhibition there – whoo hooo!! Had better get planning now!

Despite no recent postings on my blog I have actually being busy creating. I have made some random experimental pieces, in and out of my journal (which I may share later if I am feeling brave!). My children have been away with relatives this week which has given my partner and I a nice break and some freedom to work how we like, having guests visiting, pub in the eve, etc. It’s been lovely! Enjoying the last of the peace before we collect them this weekend! We will be treating them to a trip to London next weekend seeing the sights. They have never been and are so excited!!

But for now, I am off to the pub again, he he he, (third time this week!). For a beer and a veggie-burger!!  Bliss!!

Daffodils in Vase. Tissue, acrylic and gutta. 30cm x 40cm on MDF board.

Oh My!  Nearly 2 months since my last post.  So much has happened.  I have purposely been trying to take life a little more slowly so made a conscious decision not to worry about my blog but to adjust gently to the move with a ‘come what may’ attitude.  And so……. we came, and so did life and lots has occured.  We got here in Derbyshire at the end of May, and it is a pretty place.  I do love it here.  The children are settling well into the Steiner school (with a few bumps along the way, but I think that is expected), and we too are adjusting as parents to the changes.  I don’t for a minute have any doubts that we have done the right thing.  Our kids seem to have become ‘fuller’ and so much more of themselves already.  They’re growing well with their new challenges.

Jamie's Space

Sue's Space

I have some studio space set up in the house this time, sharing a work-room with my partner. (Mine’s the messy end!)  It is nice having it back home again and I am getting used to doing ‘a bit here and there’ when I can, fitting in it with my role of motherhood.  I saw a link in Jane DesRosier’s blog to this documentary film concerning motherhood as well as being a creative.  I resonate with it all: www.whodoesshethinksheis.net

I only started to paint again last week as I have been so busy with home-making and putting down new roots for myself and the family.  So, here we have my first piece from my new space.  I must admit that the initial outburst of creativity came out of frustration.  A little bit of anger and resentment which I was feeling was due to the fact that I had worked like a dog since I got here and hadn’t actually taken the time to do anything ‘creative’, sparked this piece.  And then it just seemed to flow.  It just fell out of me.  I like this piece – I translated that enegy in to something joyous.  But the harsh lines!!!  Why do I always end up creating such rigid paintings.  I guess that is just my style – authentically me.  But what does that say about me?  Uptight?  Contained?  Orderly?  Contol Freak??  Who knows?  I keep trying to blur edges and then forget again and get back into the habit of definite out-lines.  Old habits die hard or what!  I took up mixed media painting about a year ago to try to get me out of the habit of being so ‘perfectionist’ about my art.  In my previous incarnation as artist I was mentally torturing myself with finecky details and actually not being that creative at all.  You can see my old work here: www.susan-rhodes.co.uk.  In Steiner schools they have a very interesting method of painting without lines, especially in the earlier years.  They just use paint (natural pigments), wet on wet, and everything blurs and blends.  I think they are trying to teach children to create without boundaries, which is a wonderful means of expression.  These paintings have an ethereal quality and a sense of free spirit.  They are really lovely, – I think I need lessons!  Here’s one my daughter made:

Steiner painting without boundaries

Well, it’s been nice to have touched base with you all.  Will hopefully keep my blog updated now.  Although……….my children do break up today for the summer holidays so I am likely (like all mothers) to have my hands full at this time of year.  Never a dull moment!!

Sea of Boxes!

Well, all this talk but it has finally begun happening.  We’re in the joyous throws of moving house!  (Quick snapshot from my Mac Book – Why doesn’t i-photo have a ‘flip image’ option?) I am literally using every hour of my waking day in which to pack while Jamie stays on top of our family business.  My hands are sore, and so is my throat from disturbing so much dust (yes I do have dust in my house you know – don’t be shocked!).  The boxes are mounting up and we will be heading South to Derbyshire over the forthcoming Bank Holiday weekend. 

I never knew we had so much stuff.  I’m generally fairly minimal and Zen-like when it comes to how I like my rooms (kids rooms are obviously the exception!) but I am shocked at how much stuff we have hoarded in the loft and the shed (not to mention the stuff we have been keeping stored at my Dad’s house.)  I’ve thinned it out a bit but it is so hard to get rid of my creative history and staggeringly there is lots of it!  Jamie reckons I need a house all for myself!

Have checked in with the Steiner school and they are expecting us on the first day back after the holiday break, so all is good there.  Will have to reconnect with people there over the break in the coming weeks to ease ourselves in to the community again.  Not that I feel like I have to ‘ease myself in’ really.  I always feel welcome there and so do the kids.  I don’t think it will take long for us to settle in at all.

Will keep y’all posted.  Now where did I put the bubble-wrap?

Tennis Player. 6" x 4" Acrylic on Canvas.

Aye Up! (As we say here in Yorkshire!)  It’s been a busy last two weeks.  The house move continues and we are set to be gone on or before the 29th of May to Derbyshire/Notts, even though we still officially have no-where to live!  We have seen something we like and are working on securing that, which will be lovely if we get it – right next to a park for the kiddy winkles.

In between the melee, I have had some fun and felt inspired by meeting and getting to know a little of Ann Drury. Ann is a lovely young singer-songwriter who is the ‘weekend girl’ at my friend Rita’s bubbling little Fair Trade shop in the pretty Bronte village of Howarth – Sonia’s Smile.  She was manning the shop while we nipped out with Reet to help sort a few of her IT problems. After closing time Ann came back to Rita’s house where I had the honour of getting to listen to some of her music. I was amazed!  Not only is her music typical of what I would go out and buy anyway, but much of what she played to us was recorded a few years ago when she was only 13!!  An incredidbly talented youn lady – Ann I sincerely hope and believe you will go far!!  You can listen to Ann’s music here: http://www.myspace.com/anndrury

On a painterly front I managed to create another girly – this time a very active character for you sporty types!  I designed and hand painted in acrylic the image which spreads around the edges of the canvas to create something interesting to view on all sides.  Fancy ‘courting’ her?

Tennis Player Side View

The Bradford Lot!

The Extended Bradford Lot!

So, it has been Easter.  I’ve done very little on the art front since it has been school holidays and I have had my little gremlins to tend to.  It has been a welcome break to not have to rush all the time and it has been a real pleasure to spend time with friends whom we have not seen for a while.  It will probably be the last time we see some of our Yorkshire friends before our move to Derbyshire/Notts, although we still don’t have a date yet, and still don’t know where we are going!  If all goes smoothly it will come into fruition probably within the next month.  Over the holiday period I have been reading Eckhart Tolle again, ‘A New Earth’.  I am also following the classes he put together with Oprah Winfrey on-line.  There is a quote in his book from the philosophical speaker J. Krishnamurti who announced near the end of his life that he had a secret, which he said was “I don’t mind what happens”.  He was talking about out-comes and our attachments to them, and in being attached to specific outcomes we generate ill-feeling in our bodies and in the world at large.  Eckhart brings it to our attention that when we can accept a situation, ill-feeling subsides (on an inner and outer level), and out of that space miracles can happen.  I am following his advice, and I feel a lot better for it.  More peaceful inside throughout a time most people would be expecting stress.  I am remarkably chilled out now actually!!  Ha hahah!  Even though the kids are running riot downstairs while supposed be cleaning out the pet hamster!  I guess I had better go see where they are up to.  Easter Blessings everyone!