Astrologer Susan Miller believes that June is a lucky month. After the call I got at 8:30 am on Saturday June the first I'll have to agree. I was woken from a deep slumber to be informed that my entry into the 2008 Wai Art Awards had won first prize. I wasn't joking when I said, "Are you sure? That can't be right? What about that other fabulous (and I mean fabulous!) paintings, especially the one of the woman and two swans?" But no, Anna-Marie (herself an amazing artist, assured me I had indeed won the first prize of $3,000 but also that a photographer had purchased the entry.


My art tutor thinks this is "flow" - I had just purchased a work of art by one of my favorite artists Max Gimblett - something I had never ever dreamed about doing (well I would have perhaps if I'd had spare cash)....no sooner had I purchased it then I suddenly wondered how on earth was I going to pay for it! Now thanks to winning and selling I am 1/3rd of the way there. That's flow...Max may say karma.

'as you will see in the piccie of Max and I together ....I wore a gold dress so I could blend into one of his paintings!.

He talked about how he had been painting for many many years before now feeling that finally in his 70's he had reached the top of his game - this didn't sound vain at all in case you are wondering, but more the satisfaction that comes from doing what you love, doing it well and working hard to achieve success.

He also spoke in a zen like way about how everyone has a essence and how in art and life it is important to be true to your essence always.... (but what, if like one of my fellow artists queried, you don't know what your essence is? My answer would be to notice what gives you life, what inspires you and fills you with feelings of contentment....that should help!)

My winning entry is also inspired by the east, buddhism and caligraphy and I love the natural "flow" created by ink. Actually I adore working with ink...it's so yummy.

I was already a big fan of Max's ( especially the pieces with gold - you know I love gold) and have always loved zen buddhism and caligraphy) and the man is so incredibly nice. When we first met him I was so overwwhelmed and totally surprised to see him I went, "oh my god - you're the mastro" he smiled softly and didn't laugh at me las though I was acting like an idiot...that was when I knew it was love!!

He signed my painting "to cassandra with my love" and put his arm around my friend and I and told us all about the inspiration behind it! I'm still fizzing...oh and in case you're wondering - he was being genuinally nice and not sleazy at all. I also got a very specially signed book with a collection of his art - he drew what I think is me....it first I wondered why i have three faces, then Ron my friend said, "look up the three faces of Eve" Turns out Eve was made up out of the quiet, self-effacing wife and mother; the relatively stable Jane, and the wild, fun-loving Eve Black - her second personality to accomplish things she herself did not want to do. This sounds about right...great to be able to pick and mix personalities....in management speak we would call this situational leadership!

Unfortunately I have had to wash the cheek where he kissed me - turns out now that perhaps he has the Midas touch and I have benefitted from his greatness by winning a prize! I mean - wow...once again this is the first time I have worked in that medium and I won first prize. When I did my first portrait in oil I finalled! that is flow for sure - my romance writing never took off quote like this. As Joseph Campbell said, when you follow your bliss doors open for you that wouldn't open for anyone else." or something like that!

Max Gimblett gave his floor-talk at Page Blackie Gallery in Wellington on May 27 (also my daughter's 17th birthday) as part of an exhibition of new paintings in NZ (his country of birth and a country he still calls "home" before showing at the Guggenheim Museum in New York.

“It's the first time a New Zealander has been asked to exhibit in the Guggenheim so it's another step in opening the international art world's eyes to New Zealand art. When you look around international art fairs, you realise New Zealand art stands up but is yet to be really recognised. Max is taking a huge step and we are exceptionally proud,” says gallery owner James Blackie. (James himself is a fabulous career success story - following his passion for art he is now co-owner of a fabulous gallery - achieved at the age of 27 after starting out licking envelopes!)

Of this amazing opportunity to exhibit at the Guggenheim Max was quoted in Mindfood magazine saying, "what this exhibition to me is what I would call karma. It means my life has followed its true path and my dreams as a child become my actions as a man."

I love that! Max is my guru for sure!

I've just got back from a fabulous trip to accept my prize at The Wai Art Awards and to be photographed for the planned press releases. My friend Graham picked me up about 9 and we raced literally - (geeze boys love speed don"t they!) over the hill to the Wairapa..stopped in at the lovely deli cafe In Greytown and then on to meet Vanessa from the Village Art Shop who generously sponsored the prize money. Graham says I should not cash my check but have it framed...yeah right! Vanessa and the Wai art gals were such honies...here's a few picks..as you can see I am still fizzing....



....more flow...

Graham owns a commerical building in town and out of the blue has offered me free use of the ground floor, shop front which has come out of it's lease to hold an exhibition in! Now there's a challenge. It's incredibly generous of him and very inspiring for me and such a great, great location...right in the central city on Featherston Street. I am so excited...but shockingly scared also. Will have to get a body of work together...plus the RiverEast Gallery in Greytown has expressed an interest in my work...so wow! Things look really exciting...another sure sign of flow! As I said before, I couldn't have achieved all that I have in such a quick period of time had it not been for other inspiring artists who have shared their talents with me - people like Megan Schmidt and jane Kellahan whose workshops I went to, and Amie McCarron and the rest of the Arttalkers who encouraged me to enter competitions and gave me great feedback on my works in progress. And of course my fabulously dynamic friend Carla who is learning to paint and whose infectious enthusiasm fuels my own passion for art.

These last few months so far has all been about flow - from getting the perfect contracting role (imagine getting paid to make people happy!), to spending time with fantastic people who support me, to meeting up in person with my guru Max Gimblett, to winning The Wai Art Awards with my flow inspired painting, "Love Stain." The following quote from powerfully sums up the magical power of flow:

“Natural abundance comes from “gettng into the flow” by doing work that that brings a sense of inner excitement. The phrase “follow your inner joy” is actually the key to abundance. Once your follow your inner most joy and adapt your situation to doing work that you love, then synchronisity begins to flow. synchronisity is the Universe’s way of telling you that you are on the right track.”

Owen Walters, Author

Labels: Exhibitions and competitions