Studio News - April 2025 | Let's Talk Art Blog

mixed media painting in three panels propped against a wall

Where's the 'Off' switch?

There must be one somewhere....

I'm working on a big painting at the moment, which is actually three panels, of the same height but different widths. They need to work together as one piece, but will be hung separately, interspersed with other artists' work.

I knew that doing the work on these three panels would be a challenge, because put together, they're the largest piece I've worked on to date, but I felt ready to tackle the project as I've been gradually doing some upsizing in my latest series.

But what I wasn't ready for, was all the new thoughts that would keep popping up as I'm working away.

I've realised that despite having a major focus in the studio at the moment (and a project into which you'd think every single one of my thoughts and every ounce of energy I can muster would go into), that the ideas machine, that is my brain, just doesn't have an off switch. Or if it does, I have yet to find it.

I'm seeing new paintings, new shapes, new colour combinations and thinking about new ways of working with different materials, alongside this big project.

But right now I feel I have no time to capture or resolve these new ideas in anyway; my brain is feeling a bit 'bounced about', wanting to go in several different directions at once.

And I have a deadline.......

But how to manage the constant inflow of ideas and balance them with the outflow that has to happen as I work on these panels?

If the new ideas were in some way aligned with the painting I'm working on, the answer would be simple - just incorporate these ideas into the current work I'm doing.

But the composition is taking shape, the colour palette is pretty much decided and the initial layers, that guide the direction of the work are in place, so following through with decisions already made seems like the right way to go, as it's such a big piece.

New thoughts and ideas are a spin off from the work I'm doing, they belong in the future, not the present.

I can't hold onto them all right now, I just have to trust that if the ideas are worthy, they'll do a lap around the block and come back when I'm ready for them, and resettle at some stage, once this big piece is complete.

In the meantime I have to consciously step away from them as they emerge, and maintain my current focus, which feels like a very unnatural and nonsensical way for me to proceed......

But I stumbled across this quote from Anais Nin:

“In chaos, there is fertility,”

which seemed to explain a lot, and is a pretty fitting description of where my mind is at right now.

And no, I haven't found the off switch.

Artist working on a large mixed media painting in black and white

It's been a while since my last Vlog, so whilst I was preparing to start these big paintings I had a fun print making session to add to my stash of collage papers to get me going.

I've popped some studio notes along with the video in my Blog:

gelli printing place with painted shapes and tubes of paint

Strangeland Series - New Works

New works are finished and several have made their way down to Wentworth Galleries in Brisbane already - literally as the varnish was drying!

You can catch them there, or at the upcoming Affordable Art Fair in Brisbane

8-11th May.

View them in more detail on the series portfolio page:

Strangeland Series

Current Exhibitions

UPDATE: New dates have been announced for this year's Open Studios!

Treat yourself to a fantastic 10 days of art filled magic here in Noosa and the surrounding hinterland. Visit painters, textile artists, photographers, sculptors, ceramicists and more in their studios and creative spaces. Explore the local gallery scene, attend a workshop or take home art treasures direct from the artists' studios.

You can keep up to date with what's on via the Noosa Open Studios website and newsletter:

Noosa Open Studios Dates on an orange background

So until next month, revel in the chaos if it's happening for you and trust that good things will come from it!

I'd love to hear you from you if you have any questions about what's happening in the studio, feel free to get in touch anytime!

Shop Art next to a painting on a white wall

You're welcome to call into the studio anytime to view work or chat about a commission or custom reproduction print for your home or workplace, Monday to Saturday by appointment - just let me know when you'd like to drop in, either by email or phone.

What's On