A day off finally arrived after working for the last six days and I was determined that I was going to head out for the day to explore, relax and drift. I got on the bus to Coolangatta, a nearby seaside town 15 miles away. It was a place that I hadn't yet explored and it was great to be seeing somewhere new on my own. It is a beautiful little town, with some lovely beaches to explore and it was great to be on foot as I investigated! I walked up to Point Danger and watched out to sea at the surfers cruising over the waves. 

While I was up there I stumbled upon a fabulous little gallery showing work by local artists. The building that housed the gallery was a delight in itself! I then wandered back down to the main beach, Greenmount beach and sat for a while drawing.  Arriving home about 8pm, I felt relaxed and content! A good day was had :)

Ah what a week! It's been a busy seven days and it has continued to rain relentlessly!!  I had a good time over Christmas, even though it was non stop and away from home.  Been working on a couple of collages today, one is below.  I've combined images of Manchester with drawings I have done over here.  I really enjoyed the process of removing parts of my drawing from the composition, using a digital eraser instead of a real one! It feels good to have no inhibitions and no worries about destroying a piece.  Photography and drawing are really important aspects in my work but I have never combined them like this before.  I like that this small study has suggestions of the cellulose thinners effect, where images are transferred and scratched at.

I have made a pact to myself that I am going to write on this once a week. I constantly have thoughts running through my mind and I find it very theraputic to scribble it down somwhere and here is an ideal place! Visting Brisbane last week was really great, I felt so refreshed and inspired walking amongst the new unknown bulidings. It was good to be in a city again and it made me realise that I may actually miss Manchester!! Whilst in the city I visited South Bank which is a fantastic area, full of little cafes and bars and I also had a wander round Brisbane Art Gallery. Ahhh...it felt so peaceful walking round on my own where it was so tranquil and quiet. Bliss!

South Bank, Brisbane 

 I saw an exhibition in there that had interesting aspects to it. I loved the phrase 'Abstract Expressionist gone surfing' that was said to describe a series of paintings in the gallery. I love this loose, reckless way of working and the paintings had a lot of enegy to them. Whilst in the gallery I came across some inspiring quotes by other artists. I love this one, I can really relate to this idea and way of working and I feel I carry this thought in my own working style.

Brisbane at night

'I did not paint these works as a visitor to the landscape, but as one who lived in it and experienced it every day.' William Robinson, Australian artist.

Out on the balcony :)

I haven't wrote on here for a few weeks, but in that time I have had some valued thinking time and some quiet moments to get my pencils and paints out. It has taken me a few weeks to gather thoughts, settle here and feel confident to start working and I think I am just about ready to start playing with ideas. Being away from home, out of my studio has been quite daunting but it is also quite refreshing not knowing what form my work will take and what materials will be used. Being in a more relaxed and less hectic frame of mind has given me a chance to think about my work and the work I hope to create. Meeting up with a fellow artist last week was a great chance to talk about arty things, ideas I have got and also my feelings about my new environment. I have found, particularly since being here that my surroundings have a significant impact on my emotions and creative thoughts.  I seem to look at everything around me with intrigue, with an investagive eye – thoughts like 'how could I use that piece of text?', 'could I recreate those colours myself?'

Just as I write this I am organising myself a little arty space, in the corner of my bedroom. I really wanted to have my own table and wall space where I can stick things up and have a desk to do some drawing. Since arriving here and also during my short stay in Singapore I have been gathering bits of things to work on and work from. Being on a budget and determined to make use of found materials I have been keeping pieces of newspapers, leftover cardboard and also used envelopes. I really want to create work that is placed in that particular moment in time, giving my work a memory and a connection to that time in my life.

Every day, when I sit looking out from the balcony I still feel baffled and almost amused that I am sat looking out onto a beautiful waterway and surrounded by palm tress. The phrase 'A New Landscape' keeps going through my mind, a striking contrast to my home where I was 8 weeks ago! I still wake up everyday and wonder where I am! The colours around me are different – more vivid and crisp, the light streams into the room every morning, the sound of birds singing outside wakes you up...it definitely helps you rise in a morning :)