☆ LilliBean Designs Spotlight [art for sale]

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BAT GIRL

mixed media original painting 8.3 x 5.8" (210 x 148 mm)

Available here

One hot summer, when I was about 10, we found a baby fruit bat stuck in our pool filter. It was such a cute wee thing. I immediately wanted to make him my pet, and I called it Vamp (or something equally original)

For three days, Vamp lived in our basement laundry, I feed him fruit, I held him, I loved him, but he never recovered from being in the pool filter for who knows how long.

Ever since that summer, I have had a slight obsession with bats. I wonder sometimes if obsessions can be hereditary, because one morning over breakfast Bean told me she would like a pet bat when she was 5,  and that she would be a bat girl.  

So Bean and poor wee Vamp were the inspiration behind this painting. And the original Bat Girl painting is available for sale here

Do you have a slightly odd obsession. I would love to hear your stories.

Bat Girl's fine print:

Bat Girl is a mixed media original painting on quality water colour paper. (a collaged novel paper base, acrylic paint and pencil.) It is 8.3 x 5.8" (210 x 148 mm) and will slide easily into a standard sized frame with out alteration. It is finished with a quality matt acrylic varnish (applied to painting after photo to avoid glare). I have signed and dated it and it comes with its own certificate of authenticity. Color intensity may vary from screen to screen. Art work is copyright Kirstin McCulloch

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☆ Lonely [Illustration Friday]

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She is so interesting for me. She didn't start out as a response to this weeks prompt for illustration friday, but she definitely fits the bill. To me she looks lost and alone, so sad. It makes me wonder where I was when I painted her. (And considering it was only last week, I am slightly alarmed!) But maybe I was processing some emotion that I was unaware of.

I am constantly amazed that when I paint in my journals, if I don't had an initial concept, what comes out of the deepest parts of my heart.

Sometimes, I sit back and realise I have some stuff going on that was bothering me more than I realised.

Sometimes, like after this painting, there is stuff going on that I am not really conscious of, but the act of painting unconsciously, has processed the emotion for me. And that is that - no need for the therapists couch!

So I wonder how many of us paint unaware? How many of us process our life through our art? And if like me after some time in the studio, you are more balanced and freer?

I would love to hear your stories.

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☆ Angel with Swirly wings [inspiration avenue]

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Angel With Swirling Wings
Original Mixed Media Acrylic Painting (8.3 x 5.8 in)
ORIGINAL FOR SALE HERE
Prints available here
 

This weeks inspiration avenue prompt had me stumped for a while. Swirl, a simple concept, but on that refused to form an image for me.

After lots of thinking, sketching and playing, I ended up with my swirly winged angel.

A great challenge this week, I loved that it made me work hard for the painting too.

Have a great week.

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☆ WINNERS ANNOUNCED: July's huge give away

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Thank you everyone who entered into this months super give away. I loved reading all the thoughtful comments.

So lets get down to business of announcing this months winners.

The winner of the painting 'Prepared' (left) is

JOURNEY2WONDER

Congratulations!

And next the winner of 'Anxiously Awaits' (Thanks to Kyles for the inspiration!) is:

LINDA (from my-littlebit.blogspot.com)

Congrats Linda.

Just drop me an note with your postal address and I will send them to you.

Congratulations to this months winners and thank you to everyone who entered this months give aways.

There will be another giveaway in August, so make sure you pop back in.

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☆ Carry [illustration friday]

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SAMURAI BLUE
ORIGINAL PAINTING AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE HERE

I once had a Samurai fighting fish that I had called 'Blue' and he was part of this huge tropical aquarium that we had, that we laboured over, babied and spent a bloody fortune on! 

Once day I came home from work and I couldn't see Blue in the tank. I searched the whole tank, the filter, the gravel but there was no sign of Blue. I didn't want to think about Blue being some ones dinner, so Mr Mac and I decided that Blue must have run away.

When we moved overseas we sold that tank, and every now and then, despite the cost, the hassle, the multitude of guppies that went missing, I miss the tranquillity of watching those fish swim around.

P.S Have you entered this months SUPER GIVEAWAY. Click here or here to enter - There is only one day left before the winners are announced!

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☆ Je t'adore Paris [inspiration avenue]

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JE T'ADORE PARI

For my thirtieth birthday Mr Mac took me to Paris for a week.

It was summer, it was Paris and I loved it.

We walked, we sat in parks, we had croissants and pain au chocolats for breakfast, we ate amazing cheeses and breads, we drank wine, slept in the park under the Eiffel tower, ate more cheese, drank more wine and walked some more.

And at the end of that idyllic week, I left a piece of my heart in Paris.

One day I will go back, I will wander the streets, I will eat the beautiful breads cheeses, I will sleep in the shade of the Eiffel tower and I will breathe in the city once more.

Thank you Hettienne for this weeks inspiration avenue prompt.



P.S Don't forget to enter this months SUPER GIVEAWAY. Click here or here to enter.

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☆ Life Book [Week 20]

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Week 20 had Jodi Ohl teaching us doodling.

I love doodling. My notebooks, school books, receipts, bills are all covered in doodles.

I went through a phase while I was at uni, where I just doodled eyes but just one eye. I often wondered what that meant, but I recognise that these early doodles were the beginnings of my paintings now.

It was a great lesson, Jodi took us through many of here different styles and I really enjoyed the way I could zone out and let my pen take over.



P.S Don't forget to enter this months SUPER GIVEAWAY. Click here or here to enter 

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☆ July's BIG Give Away [part 2]

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Ok guys - here we go! It's the second of this months SUPER give away.

And just as always, it is so easy to enter.

Leave a comment below, and because I am not sure what this painting is called I would love your suggestions.

But if she has you as stumped as me, that's ok too, just say hi.

You can get two extra entries by liking the LilliBean Designs facebook page, and following my blog. (and if you are already let me know in the comments for your extra entries!)

And don't forget last weeks giveaway is still open for entries - Click here to enter 



P.S. Just a reminder that my give aways are open to everyone, from everywhere, so  even if your in the north pole you can still enter!

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☆ Lost [inspiration friday]

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Three Sisters

When you feel lost who do you turn to?

I was thinking today about sisters. My sisters in particular.

A sister who have been with me since birth, sisters who have been with me since our school days, my sisters who have become part of my family through brothers and my recent sisters who have been with me since the birth of Bug.

I what I realised was that these sisters are all the very best of sisters. I know that at every stage of my life they are behind me, supporting me, unconditionally and non -judgementally.

So when I am lost and floundering, my sisters are there.

But sometimes when I am lost I cannot see their support, I cannot feel their hands holding me up.

Sometimes I am just lost.

But eventually I realise they are behind me, beside me and that is the very best of feelings.

So to my sisters - thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am not so lost anymore.

P.S Don't forget to enter this months SUPER GIVEAWAY. Click here to enter 

and tomorrow is the second of July's big give aways, so make sure you pop on back.

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☆ Fly [inspiration avenue]

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'GUM TREE FAERY'
SOLD
AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE HERE

This weeks inspiration avenue prompt inspired me to dig through my collection of gumtree leaves that resemble wings.

I love this collection, and the tattier the leaf the better.

It has been a while since I've managed to make a piece for inspiration avenue.

But this one was just there in my head waiting to, well,  fly.

If you have a minute pop over to the inspiration avenue website, to see what other inspiration pieces the members have added

Have a great weekend.



P.S Don't forget to enter this months SUPER GIVEAWAY. Click here to enter.

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☆ Life book [week 19]

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Life Book - Week 19.

Boy am I behind! But this weeks lesson was an exercise in taking a moment to check in with my self, with my body, with my head.

To see what I was feeling in that. exact. moment.

And it was tough.

Because like many of us, I will often lie to myself about how I am doing.

When some one asks you how you are - do you reply 'fine', or 'good'?

How often would that be true?

Imagine if you said "well actually my husband snored all last night so I am tired and cranky, and then I came down stairs and stubbed my toe on a my little pony, that I had asked to be put away 3 times, before my morning caffeine fix, so I not only am I cranky, I am pissed as well."

Imagine...

Anyway, I spent some time reflecting on myself, and at that moment, I felt unravelled, but instead of feeling anxious or stress, I realised that it was ok. I was ok.

So out of this feeling came this painting. 'I am unravelled and it's ok'

[as a side note, I have a friend who's a psychoanalyst who swears fine actually means fucked up, insecure, neurotic and/or emotional. Yep I think that sums up my use of the word fine]

Anyway, I felt such peace after finishing this painting.

P.S Don't forget to enter this months SUPER GIVEAWAY. Click here to enter 

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☆ July's Extra Big Give Away

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PREPARED

This months give away is a big one!

It's my birthday this month, and because I am so ambivalent about turning 37 this year, I am going to celebrate, by giving away not one but two pieces this month.

So this is the first piece that is up for grabs.

'Prepared' is an A4 painting (acrylics and watercolour).

I panted 'Prepared' after I decided to open up my etsy shop.

I had debated, procrastinated and talked myself out of and back into open LilliBean Designs shop, but once I decided to open the shop, I felt lighter and freer, I was prepared.

Entering is so simple - leave a comment below. I would love to hear if you have been preparing for something yourself, but a simple 'count me in' comment is fine too!

For two extra entries become a follower of my blog, and like the LilliBean Designs Facebook Page. (And as always if you already follow either one - mention it in the comments for extra entries)

So easy!

This months second give away, (lets call this one the 'Ekk I am getting older!') will be open for entries from next tuesday 17th.

Winners will be announced Tuesday 24th July (my actual birthday!)

So good luck!

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Suspend [illustration friday]

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Peek-a-Boo Mermaid
SOLD
ORIGINAL PAINTING AVAILABLE FOR SALE HERE

Suspend you disbelief.

Mermaids are real!

And how do I know this? Because Bean told me so.

The other week, coming home from our play group, she was retelling the story of how the world was made, which they had read for story time.

She says to me as we drove home

"He made the trees first, and then the animals."

"And then what?" I asked

"The humans!"

"And what was next?"

She thought about this a long time.

"Then he made the mermaids mama!"

My children's obsession with mermaids is alive and well, last week we went to visit my Gran in Newcastle, and we had a fabulous week. And every time we drove past, or walked along the beach the hunt for mermies began. Bean saw lots of them, as did her sister Bug, the mama was to slow to see them, cause they went under the waves when ever I looked.

And who am I to say other wise?

Have a great week, tomorrow, I have a super give away surprise so make sure you pop back in!

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