In two days we’ll be launching the brand new Colour Girl website – www.thecolourgirl.com.

It’s very, very cool – or should I say hot...in no small part thanks to the fabulous logo that my old surfing buddy Lionel Taylor (www.taylormcallum.co.nz) came up with. If you need a very talented, creative, professional graphic designer he's your man. Not only is his work amazing but he's such a honey – when I asked him where my invoice for all the hours he put into creating my awesome logo he said he’d much rather have one of my paintings – so I’m going to send him two!

"Hey Girl, What invoice??" he wrote to me, "Don't think I ever mentioned charging you.... ha! Send me up an art piece - one of yours. It will appreciate more than any funds sitting in any bank these days. Studio colours are Black, Greys, White walls with lots of chrome and splashs of red and burgundy. x"

So instead of the currency of money we're trading passion, purpose and skill. Here are the two paintings I am sending up to Lionel today - both were created with extreme passion and joy with Max Gimblett at the Sumi Ink workshop he ran on the island of Maui last year.



I think they'll go perfectly with Lionel's new colour scheme. Here's hoping he likes them, so far he seems optimistic! ""Right, send me up a piece ... before I can't afford one - Carp Diem... Seize the Day, it will look good in my studio, talent of the year, with creds and a web address of course.... chur!!!"

Keeping it simple- making it real - the art of Sumi
I came across this while researching Max Gimblett who very much is a fan of this technique (as am I ...it is so serene and beautiful...even tho you may say at first "anyone could do that" I don't believe this is so....a good stroke is a beautiful thing and requires much skill)

"The Philosophy of Sumi-e is contrast and harmony, expressing simple beauty and elegance. The Tai Chi diagram demonstrates the perfectly balanced interchange of the two dynamically opposed forces of the Universe, the dot represents integration.

Sumi-e employs these principles of nature's vitality in its design and execution. The balance and integration of these forces and the eternal interaction of Yin Yang are the ultimate goal of Sumi-e. The art of brush painting, aims to depict the spirit, rather than the semblance of the object. In creating a picture the artist must grasp the spirit of the subject. Sumi-e attempts to capture the Chi or "life spirit" of the subject, painting in the language of the spirit.

Patience is essential in brush painting. Balance, rhythm and harmony are the qualities the artist strives for by developing patience, self-discipline and concentration.

The goal of the brush painter is to use the brush with both vitality and restraint. Constantly striving to be a better person because his character and personality come through in his work.

Sumi-e is more than a technique, it is a Spiritual Journey."

Labels: Commissioning a work of art, Spirituality in art

Yay! Finally the drought is broken - inspired partly by Piera McArthur and also enlivened by my new love interest:) While visiting Piera in her studio the other day she asked me if I was painting.

"It's too cold" I moaned, wrapping my arms around me for extra effect.
"Stop making excuses, " she frowned.

Duly, but lovingly censored, I headed off to my studio (my converted, and very draughty, garage.) Armed with a few deadlines - art awards and a friends upcoming birthday I was re-inspired.

The title, inspired by the words scrawled along the bottom, initially was...

"I love the way you make me feel.... When we kiss I shudder."

I've since shortened it to, "When we kiss I shudder."


As you can see from the image, I have a few other paintings lined up - one of which is my grandfather - sketched in pencil and awaiting glazes of oil. This has been requested my my mother to sit alongside the portrait I did of my Grandmother and which finalled in the 2008 Adam Portraiture Award

You can view "When we kiss I shudder" and learn more about the inspiration behind the painting here

Labels: Commissioning a work of art, Spirituality in art

Dimensions: 850mm(W) x 850mm (H) x 40mm(D)
Medium: mixed media – ink and acrylic on canvas

Autumn leaves was created en plein air at our country estate in Horowhenua on a gloriously sunny autumn day. The sun was shining and I was looking for inspiration. I needed to look no further than the glorious golden leaves radiating before me.

Painting at the farm is a special place – a spiritual place where we go to restore and rejuvenate. It is a place of relaxation, a place to retreat and restore our bodies.

Autumn leaves was painted at a time of deep happiness and contentment. The energy of this painting is therefore one that communicates this feeling outward.

Autumn Leaves was my first true work of abstraction. Inspired by the techniques learned in an abstract painting class with renowned abstract artist Megan Schmidt. Here’s what Megan said when she first saw it: “I love it. I really love it.”



Inspired by the a very beautiful golden tree on my rural retreat, I hope this beautifully vibrant abstract painting will give the wonerful man who purchased it our the Joy'ance exhibition a natural boost and years of joy.


What inspires me?

My creations seek to embrace the simplicity of pleasure and personal experiences that incite joy.

“I am inspired by the East – particularly Buddhism, and the ancient art of Sumi-E ink painting. As an intuitive artist with a passion for following my 'inner joy' I hope my work captures and celebrates the 'life-giving' aspects of art, and leaves viewers with a feeling of pleasure and contentment.”

To view some of my new work or to view archived paintings click here

Labels: Commissioning a work of art

Many of the people who purchase my art often ask me, "what was the inspiration behind your painting?" They love to hear the story and see the painting as it progresses. One of my clients, who purchased Autumn Leaves, has been very, very patient. He emailed me before he headed off overseas, "Hi girl…off to Samoa for a friend 60th !...need some R&R, sun & vit D…look forward to your story on return …Cheers Richard"

I love being called a girl! It makes me feel young again. Anyway he purchased the painting at the Joy'ance exhibition and has been waiting ever since - I just want to get the story just right as this piece is very personally significant to me.


This time I thought I would start the story right from the beginning. What is the inspiration behind this piece? Once again I return to joy. Partially it is inspired by my trip to Italy several years ago- the gallery in San Gimignano called "Cassandra" and the sunflowers growing wild in the fields. Partly by the beauty and symbolism of the organic square (this will make sense as it evolves"; partly it is inspired by the joy that cheerful colours inspire. Largely it is inspired by the playfulness of artists like Henri Matisse and Max Gimblett who both paint with such glee.

As one of my favourite artists Mark Rothko once said, “Painting should be ecstatic or nothing.” So I'm planning a solo exhibition and returning to "jouissance" as my theme. This should dove tail nicely into the french lessons I have just started and my dream of living and creating in the south of France.


To add to the joy while creating I'm playing a completion I created called "happy music" Right now the fabulous Bee Gee's are playing, "you should be dancing." I'm doing a wee dance as I paint....just taking time out to keep you in the loop!

Better get back to it now:)


Back now! Here is San Gi - after a few hours in my studio....this time listening to Pink!

The cool thing about this process is I can see at least four other paintings within this painting - so I guess you could say that this is the mother painting from which all others will be created.....the thing I have worked out, about an exhibition is that similarly of style seems to be the way people go. So, unlike the Joy'ance exhibtion where I showed quite an eccletic range of paintings, the Jouissance show will have a similar, unifying theme. However, I will be

exhibiting figure work (my new passion!) alongside the more abstract pieces.....I'm also going to be working in a variety of mediums, including encastic (bees wax). This is another passion, my father was a bee keeper and apitherapist who passionately believed in the curative, healing powers of bees, and who also made his own beeswax polish.

The finished art work: Licorice and Butterflies

As the painting began to take shape I was contacted by a good friend and professional colleague Lawrence Green about having a joint exhibition next year. The theme is "art should make you laugh."

So I began some brainstorming re themes and came up with so many ideas - a key one being children's birthday parties. Hence the licorice theme here with all the cheerful colours. The butterflies were added to reflect the joy of dance and inner transformation that many people go through on the way to joy.


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Labels: Commissioning a work of art, Cultivating Creativity, Exhibitions and competitions, Spirituality in art

Here is the very first commission I have received since commencing my career as an artist. The client has specifically asked for a calm, peaceful piece of work for her son's bedroom in their lovely, modern house overlooking Kapitii Island,,,,

Journey with me as I show you how I created something inspired that I hoped she and her family would love - and they did!

"I love it! I just love it!" My clients said, "I don't care what my husband says...I'm having it!"

And so did other people:
"Just wanted to say ....I just LOVE those two pieces you did. They are truly awesome!!!
Really really good!!"

As it turned out her husband wanted to have his very own painting - one that would complement a piece of furniture he had designed. So one commission became two!

Here is how they both started out - as a blank canvas!

here is the canvas - the size customised to fit the exact dimensions they both required.

With both pieces I spent a lot of time clarifying carefully what they wanted - no point creating something that doesn't meet their needs! An important part of this was getting a clear idea of how they wanted to feel.

The first piece flowed easily - I rang the client to come and have a look at the first draft. "I love it! I think it's the best work you've ever done." So the first draft was the last draft! The work was done. Here is is in the studio

Her husband's piece took a wee while longer. As you can see it's quite a different piece altogether. There were many design
elements in the room to work with - strong black lines, modern furniture, terracotta tiles and existing art work. But we got there...here we are with the first draft. Lately I went back and strengthened the black gestural flourish and minimised some of the other elements

Both pieces worked well because the purchasers were actively involved in the creative process whilst also giving me free reign to create what I felt would suit them best. To me that is passion@work - we are all happy with the outcome.

That's the joy of commissioning work from an artist - you get what you want!) Contact me if you would like a piece specifically painted with your home or office space in mind.

Labels: Commissioning a work of art, Cultivating Creativity