☆ Starlight on Wave Tips

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I love making Mandalas.

There is something so meditative about filling in that circle.

I went through a stage early on when every day the very first thing I would do in the morning, was create a mandala.

My favourite mandalas to create are ones that are not symmetrical - ok, ok, I know this is so not surprising to you guys!

I also love to throw a little quirky in too.

So for a couple of weeks now I have had this phrase 'Starlight on Wave Tips' stuck in my head + as I was creating this mandala, it kept popping  up.

So I went for it, + decided to illustrate it this week with my mandala.

But I still love the phrase, (I mean totally love it) and although I really love how this turned out, I think it may pop up again in another painting, some when in the future.

Do you have a particular style that you find meditative? That can focus your mind and release negative emotions? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Linking to:

 

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☆ Trust you Hear with Freedom [inspiration avenue prompt]

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Gah. This was a painting that gave me the absolute shits this week!

It began life as a life book lesson, but because I absolutely hated where it was going, I had abandoned the painting.

Being the frugal type, I couldn't bare to throw out the water colour paper, so I decided to throw some paint on it an reuse it.

But even then it wouldn't co-operate. The orange was too bright, the colours wouldn't blend nicely, the collage of papers were the wrong type... nothing was working.

Starting on the girl, which should have been easy, was another exercise in frustration. 

The eyes were lop sided, her mouth was too pouty, what was going on with her nose? 

Who was this girl anyway? I usually have some clue, but she held out to the very end.

Gah.

Mr Mac texted me one afternoon to see how we were getting on, and I never really mention the painting I am doing, it is usually the girls, how good (or not so good) they have been, but on this day I had a long rant about this bloody painting.

But since finishing it (in the wee hours of last night) I have realised three things.

1). Never through out the whole process of this painting did I consider throwing in the towel and throwing it in the bin. (Which would have been my solution a year ago, along with a glass of wine and potato chips to deal with my disappointment!)

2). I could always cover the paper up with another layer of paint, and

3). I absolutely loved (LOVED) the challenge that this girl presented, and in the end I love the result. 

Who would have thought that such a simple prompt like Orange could have challenged me in this way?

So I would love to know have you been challenged in some way lately? Has a particular painting/ drawing/ art piece or even something in life challenged you to try something new?

I have created a album on face book which has all the progress shots if you're interested - click here

Have a great weekend!

P.S. Have you had a chance to check out my 'halloweeny' give away? Click here for free entry into this months draw.

[Linking to Inspiration Avenue]
[Linking to Paint Party Friday]

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☆ Slow Down Love.... [inspiration avenue]

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When I was studying my high school certificate my mum would leave a red rose in a vase on my desk.

She said it was something beautiful to look at, during the hours of study I had to endure.

I spent hours looking at those roses. (And maybe this was why,  I didn't get such great results in the end... nah couldn't have been!)

So I was sitting on the balcony this morning with my one coffee of the day, and was thinking about this weeks prompt, when this popped into my head.

Slow down love... the roses are blooming.

So maybe this weekend, I will take my own advise and slow down and admire the the little things.

Have you taken some time lately to smell the roses? I would love to know what little details you've noticed. that perhaps you may not have before.

[linking to Inspiration Avenue]

[linking to Paint Party Friday]

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☆ Dragonfly Tattoo [inspiration avenue]

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Dragonflies.

Where do I start with these amazingly beautiful and delicate creatures.

Well maybe I should say that they are hugely significant and comforting to me and my life.

My grandfather died when I was living in Scotland. He was an amazing person and before I left Australia, we came to an understanding. 

I agreed to explore the world fearlessly, like he had taught me. And if the worst was to happen I was not, absolutely NOT, to come home. He was adamant.

So when the worst did happen, I honoured our agreement and didn't go home. 

It was one of the hardest decisions of my life. 

So on the day of his funeral, I was sitting staring at this incredible view of the highlands, (and not seeing it you know?), when this pair of dragonflies buzzed around me.

And they kept me company for close to four hours. Unheard of. Unbelievable. Utterly Symbolic.

Later, I found out that dragonflies symbolise rebirth and since that day, dragonflies constantly pop up in my life when I am contemplating, or facing a rebirth of sorts. 

I take them to mean I am on the right track, and when I see them I feel such a sense of peace and comfort.

Do you have any reoccurring symbols or animal totems in your life that pop up when you need them the most? I would love it if you shared them below.

Have a great weekend.

[linking to inspiration avenue]
[linking to Paint Party Friday]

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☆ Another Gum Tree Faery [an inspiration avenue prompt]

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Purple Gumtree Leaf Faery
AVAILABLE FOR SALE HERE
mixed media painting 8.3 x 5.8"

This weeks inspiration avenue prompt, was so great. 

Besides faeries being one of my favourite things to paint, it gave me an excuse to paint another 'Gum Tree Leaf Faery', which are currently my favourite faeries to paint!

Gum leaves give me such a buzz of inspiration. Every single one is different, some are perfectly formed, but mostly the ones I pick up are the malformed, the tatty, the ones with holes and tears.

The imperfect ones are the ones that call to me most. They remind me that there is beauty and inspiration in imperfection. 

I have an awesome leaf that I am currently desperate to use, but so far the faeries haven't been co-operating. 

But I believe that one day soon the perfect faery will come along to claim this leaf.

I would love to know how you all use everyday inspirations in your creative life. Feel free to share below.

Have a great week.

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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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☆ 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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☆ Dolls [inspiration avenue]

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Did you have a favourite doll growing up? One that you took every where, slept with, or dressed and undressed 10 times a day?

I wasn't really a doll child. I had the odd dolls of course, but I was more a stuffed toy kinda gal. I had my Tiffee and my very ratty panda!

I was the kind of girl who wanted a pound puppy rather than a cabbage patch doll. (Is it just me or are they slightly freaky?)

My sister, on the other hand, was a doll girl, with her 'Snuggles', a sweet smelling baby with her blonde hair matted and tangled. Her Snuggles was her constant companion.

You may ask why the reminiscing? And why dolls? Well, this week the Inspiration Avenue prompt was doll.

A very cool prompt with huge ideas, but this week I found I struggled with the actual painting.

I struggle with liking this image I came up with, part of me thinks - 'cute!' the other half of me thinks - 'meh'. There is something about this image that confounds me...

Anyway, today I was working on another painting and I noticed that these girls were very doll like in their baldness! So before I added hair I took a photo.

Maybe dolls in progress?

If you have a moment pop on over to the inspiration avenue website to check out the entries.

Have a great week

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☆ Vintage Photography [inspiration avenue]

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This weeks inspiration avenue prompt was such fun! 

I had so many ideas to illustrate the vintage photography prompt.

But in the end, I went with this!

Her hair became a slightly 1970's style instead of the one I had originally sketched, but I liked it.

If you have a moment pop over to the inspiration avenue website to see the other entries!

Also don't forget that my monthly give away is now  open - but only until Tuesday.

It's super easy to enter and you can win a wee canvas with its own easel.

Click here to enter.

I hope you had a great weekend.

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☆ You've Got Mail [inspiration avenue]

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You've got Mail.

I am such a mail junkie! I love receiving mail. I love the feeling of opening the mail box and seeing a letter or parcel addressed to me. I used to write to magazines, fan clubs, subscribe to catalogues, just to receive something in the post. 

And although the times have changed and we no longer receive everything in the post, I still listen out for the postie’s bike, and rush out for the mail. I still send away for the Ikea catalogue, and even though its bills, a sad part of me feels loved.... I am so sad!

So this weeks inspiration avenue prompt was ‘you’ve got mail.’ And this was my response to the prompt. 

Are you a sad mail junkie like me? What is the most extreme thing you’ve done to receive mail? I think mine was writing to psychics in the magazines to ask for information for a school project - I never heard back from them - maybe they were psychic?!? (I repeat... I am so sad!)

(P.S. AGH My internet has been shaped again - slower than slow so I am not able to visit everyones creations just now. I am hoping to sort it out tomorrow, but it may be McD's for coffee and internet!)

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☆ Butterflies [inspiration avenue prompt]

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Butterflies
©2012 Kirstin McCulloch

This weeks prompt for Inspiration Avenue is butterfly. Which is such a timely prompt for me.

A lot of last week was spent in our very over grown garden and we saw heaps, (I mean HEAPS) of butterflies. 

I loved watching Bean and Bug run around pretending to be faeries, they decided to try and capture a butterfly so that they could ride one - 'cause that's what faeries do mama!'

So this painting is inspired by the butterflies we spied last week, and tried, unsuccessfully, to capture.  

What has inspired you to create this week?

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☆ Paper Dolls [inspiration avenue]

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Before I tell you about my paper doll, I wanted to give you a wee reminder about this months give away. As part of my year of bravery, I am giving away an original painting every month, and there is only a few days left to enter January's. So quick, pop over to this post and leave a comment to enter + and good luck!

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So, how fun was this weeks Inspiration Avenue prompt Paper  Dolls? I had so much fun creating my very own paper doll.

I drew + coloured her with pro markers, and then cut + glued her onto some card for extra support. Put in some brads and voila my very own paper doll!

Bean has named her Mellia.

So after I constructed and photographed her, I decided to have a bit of fun.

You see I had all these images left over from my Life book dream page  and I thought it would be cool to have Mellia doing some stuff... like holding a teapot, sitting on a lounge that kind of thing, and then I started thinking about all the possibilities - Mellia in the faery garden, Mellia at the Koi pond, Mellia having a glass of wine, Mellia in Paris ....

Endless possibilities + so much fun in store - so keep an eye on the Mellia photo album on facebook to see what she's up to next!

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☆ Damask [Inspiration Avenue]

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©2012 Kirstin McCulloch

Do you know what damask is? I didn't.

I though damask was a type of fabric like muslin or satin. My entire knowledge of damask (sadly!) was from when I was sixteen and read every medieval romance novel on my nan's bookshelf! (Thanks Nan!!)

So when I found out what damask was (thank you inspiration avenue!) my entire month in Turkey suddenly made a lot more sense...

I had such issues with this painting. The first one I started was drawn on pretty crappy quality paper (a cheap water colour pad that I picked up for $2) and it started to wrinkle and peel, so I had to quickly do a redraw and tried again. 

My medieval princess has a damask butterfly broach. (not sure if this is relevant to the era thought!)

I hope you had a great weekend

p.s - don't forget to check back in on tuesday 10th for my very first 'Year of Bravery' give away! x

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☆ Bauble [Inspiration Avenue]

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I have been so busy lately. Hand made Christmas presents (oh what WAS i thinking!!) But the mermaid plushies are done (tick) and the princess fiona's on their way and I will post some pics of soon. My presents for my sis & bro in law are still to be completed - but I have seven more days (.... eeek!)

So I just haven't had a chance lately to do a piece for Illustration Avenue, despite the tempting prompts, so this weeks prompt 'Bauble' was a relief.

Painting or illustrating things in baubles is a favourite of mine. I love imagining what is in the bauble, underneath the paint. The other week, Illustration Friday's prompt round inspired me to do a christmas faerie in a bauble. But this week, I decided a mermaid was in order.

©2011 Kirstin McCulloch

I struggled to get involved with this painting and finish it.  I started it at least three times before I was happy with the beginning sketch ;) (I am sure you understand those moments - I think it was because I hadn't invested myself.) But in the end, I finished it.

We have a full on weekend at the moment, a house full of family, christmas carols in the gardens and we are off to my Bean's first dance recital tomorrow - which I am alternating between being very proud and slightly sad! (my baby - she is growing up!!!) I am sure she will be awesome!

And not to stress you out, but some one mentioned to me that it is only two weeks. fourteen days, until christmas. Holy crap I think I am about to freak out!!!

ummmmm. have a good one?!?

x
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☆ The Harlequin [Inspiration Avenue]

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Harlequins, Jesters, Clowns... they all seem so sad to me. Laughing on the out side, but crying inside.

I suppose their mask is more obvious than others.

©2011 Kirstin McCulloch

Have a great weekend.

☆•*¨*•.¸¸
(ALSO linking to AEDM)

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☆ Inspiration Avenue

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Before I begin on this weeks IA prompt I would love to thank everyone for their wonderfully supportive and lovely comments of late. I have tried to reply to everyone individually, but I encountered a few 'no-reply-blogger' email addys so I am not sure everyone has recieved a reply. But know that I am very thankful for the encouragement and support xx

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This weeks inspiration avenue prompt was paying homage to the seamstress and the crafts woman.

Well I am no seamstress, but I do love the occasional sewing session. Sometimes though, my projects  end up half done - like the owl mobile I made for Bug's birthday that took two months to hang up or the beautiful curtains I made that are still hanging unhemmed. (and thats a good 15" hem fyi- not just a few cm's!)

I have grand plans for a hand made and crafty christmas - there is the princess fiona plushie dolls, the art suitcases, the reciprocal home made gifts for my sister and brother in-law, the cake pops, the rum balls and home made pudding.

But these are all works in progress that haven't yet progressed from scribbled notes or even left my head!

So this is the piece that was inspired by this prompt.

'Princess Illona would rather eat cake.'
©2011 Kirstin McCulloch

Bean helped me with the final touches - shoes were a must, a crown obviously, and she told me that she was missing a baby - a green shrek baby. When I asked her what I should write - she said 'The princess wants a green shrek baby.'

Of course I said what about 'I'd rather eat cake?' and she said 'no mama - she'd rather a green shrek baby!'

Hmmmm...

(Linking with AEDM)
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☆ AEDM Check in

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I started off so well with AEDM - I was so organised and have heaps of inspiration, but my brothers wedding on saturday threw a bit of a spanner into the works.

So not much creating this weekend, I couldn't even find five minutes to post my painting I finished for the Inspiration Avenue challenge this week, but it was worth it - the gorgeous couple had the most glorious day with the harbour bridge as the back drop, lunch on the waterfront, and an after party over flowing with mojito's.

So as I am feeling slightly fragile, I will share a few photos of the art I have created this week, and start planning for next weeks.

©2011 Kirstin McCulloch

Have a great week.
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☆ Masquerade [IA Challenge]

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It's funny how closely the challenges from Inspiration Avenue are mirroring my life at the moment. Synchronisty in practice perhaps?

This weeks masquerade, had me thinking about masks and the face we show family is different to friends, is different to strangers, and is different still to our online family and friends.

I've written before about how light I feel when the mask isn't on, how hard it is to take it off, so I have been thinking a lot about this again.

But I also thought about how sometimes that mask actually becomes part of us. You know the old adage - fake it till you make it? Put that confidence mask on, or the brave mask, or the creativity mask, and perhaps it will be so normal that the masquerade becomes true.

Dreaming of the Ball
©2011 Kirstin McCulloch

Do you find your masks helps you? or have you relinquished your masks? Does any one really truely hang up their masks?

Have a great weekend.
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☆ Whats your Inspiration?

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Over at Inspiration Avenue the question 'what's your inspiration?' was posed.

At the time I was part way through a new painting, thinking about inspiration, who or what inspires me, and I realised the painting I was working on was actually inspired by a song.

Inspiration is such a personal journey. Everyone's muse is different, and so I started to think about what am I inspired by? And my answer - pretty much anything!

Ok, ok so I know that is so vague, but it is kinda true.

My inspiration comes from songs, from books, from the light hitting a building or a field, from my daily walks, from my children, from movies, from my husband, from my garden, from a drive in the car, from the summer storms, from the internet (OMG pintrest!), from travelling....

This piece was inspired by the song 'Jar of Hearts' by Christina Perri

'Jar of Hearts'
©2011 Kirstin McCulloch

Mainly though my inspiration comes to me when I don't think about it. I don't read a book or listen to music, or go for walks, or travel to find inspiration, it just comes.

But I think I have to do all these things, I have to read, listen, speak and observe, to be exposed so that I can be open to receive it. And I believe that is the key to inspiration - you have to be open to the muse squeaking in your head.

How do you encourage your inspiration? Do you actively seek it or do you let it evolve more organically? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Have a great weekend.
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☆ Fear

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This weeks Inspiration Avenue topic was fear and this was such a hard topic to illustrate.

My fears are not really of physical things. Well I'm afraid of spiders, but I really didn't want to illustrate a big hairy huntsman.

I fear big things like losing my family, my girls being hurt, as I am sure most people do. I am afraid of living my life blind, of not fulfilling my dreams, of regret. And I fear an itty bitty black spider that lives in my bathroom.

When I was little I had a stuffed tiger named Tiffee. Tiffee went everywhere with me. To the dentist, to my first sleep over, he was my comfort, my shield for anything I feared.

I still have Tiffee. Although he is much worse for wear now. No more cuddles for me - he just might not survive it!

Have a great weekend
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