Settling

Two days and many packing boxes after moving in we are finally settling. Although I still haven't found the lead to connect my camera. 

I have set up a provisional studio in the front living room and hope to start painting tomorrow.

I also have a large interior painting job on the go as I attempt to paint over the emerald green paint in our main living room.

I still feel in transit as I find more packing boxes in every room...... and you have no idea how much butchers paper packers use. 

One Day to Go.

Tomorrow we finally move into our new house. We had a final inspection this morning when it was cold and rainy. (It is now clear and sunny).

Afterwards we went to Robertson where Ben Quilty lives and had  excellent coffee in a cafe decorated with one of his lush paintings. We then dashed to Bunnings for white paint to cover the brilliant emerald green paint in our new kitchen and some eco friendly fuel for our fireplace. 

Excitement mounts as I am still not sure what the bathrooms look like. I do however know exactly where my new studio will go.

The other notable event was a very large dead wombat on the road.

At Last

After a frantic week I have finally arrived in the Southern Highlands where we will move into our new house in a few days. We are living with assorted possessions as the movers were the fastest packers in the universe. As a result I am separated from the lead to transfer images from my camera. We have had a beautiful day buying local produce and getting quotes for my new studio. I can't wait to unpack and make some new work. I have had no time to even think about art for the last week.

Its 16:50 and the sun is setting sending a beautiful pink light into the house and I have soup and quinces cooking on the Aga. Life is sweet.

Parting Gifts

Yesterday was a day for the exchange of gifts.
My friend and fellow artist Nicola Moss gave me a beautiful farewell card and one of the works from her residency at the Brisbane Botanical Gardens which I had admired on her blog.
We had one of a series of farewells with our friends Jen and Helen. Jen went home with two of my works to remind her of us.
These exchanges are very pleasant.

Snails Pace

Packing and culling continues at snails pace but after waking in the middle of the night I did the sensible and obvious thing this morning and wrote a list and heaps of things have been ticked off! I know this is what I could have done a week ago and enjoyed a few hours more sleep.......stupido!

Sunday Morning

I woke far too early this morning. It's not even two weeks until we leave and the calendar is full of to dos (most of them very pleasant) for every day until we go.
I am half way through the massive cull and tidy in my studio and still have to attack my wardrobe.
The dog is nagging for his morning walk and all I really want to do is paint.....groan.

Moving

I have been silent for a while as I am about to move house to the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. This is a big move for several reasons.
I have been living in the same house for the past 10 years so there is an enormous amount or 'stuff' to be sorted and culled (not my forte!).
I have only ever lived in Brisbane or London so it's a bit of an adventure.
I am moving from the city to the country.
I will have to build new contacts, ties and find a new arts community.

I hope to post some new work here soon.