The potency of generosity. A while back I commented on a post of @joannalogue . I was pretty gushy/fan-girl/drooling in lust for her work and too, so very appreciative of her generosity in sharing her work. For those of us learning, stumbling, clambering and climbing our way to some kind’a personal painterly eloquence, having artists like herself who do share their work and parts of their lives as artist is soooo darn potent. Doubly so if we do (I do!) live in an itty-bitty regional town and can’t so easily get to see art in the (juicy, painty) flesh. I (in my very wordy way) rambled something like this in my comment.
Well imagine my squeal when she messaged asking for my address… Honest-to-goodness our then back and forth conversation gave me such a giddy-happy tingling. I then tried to put it outta my mind (a bit like trying to forget Santa might actually be true) and then life got lumpy and messy and fuller than normal (which is normal) and I did actually forget (mostly).
And then today I went to the post office …
Road trip sketches on route to my mama-in-laws 93rd (yes really)(plus she’s in her own home and fiery independent so look out!). Anyways, stopped for an (always) excellent toasty (hat tip to you @southernroasting ) and bump into some back-home locals on their own road trip. There was enough time for a natter and a share and a really-rather-good coffee. Smiling now. I do love a coincidence and I do love my locals (especially away from home?) and a DO love a paperbag sketch.
So, for my local friends, this one’s a ..
“Guess Who?”
Pen on a brown paper bag
Here chook chook choooook..
Another day on the @butterfactorystudios roster, another work of something from the Gallery. @thurlbybotanicals this time and oh myyy I wish you could smell what I’m smelling.
“Pantry Poultry sitting on our counter”
Pen on paper.
Life can be (and often is if you’re looking right), delicious.
Example.
A few days ago I walked into my place of happiness (@butterfactorystudios don’t you know), to find some new work by that crazy good Woman @robynleesart . I swear I swooned so home She came.
Then today, again, into the Gallery for a hello I go and found two magnificent Butteries there. Hello again @ruthhalbert and @barbthayne . Connection with good people / artists is so, so potent. My (not so) secret plan is to loiter in their company long enough so it rubs off.. Anyways, two blinks later and in walks Robyn herself saying “I have something for you” and presents me with the sister piece.
Life. Is. Sweet..
“Sisters United”
(At least these are my names for them)
Sculptures by Robyn Lees 2026
Stole an hour for myself. A (darn good) coffee, a table with something pretty to respond to and some good tunes in the background. Good ingredients for some smile provoking sketcherly goodness.
Hat tip to the good people at @mrsjonesdenmark ..
“Something pretty (and it’s shadow)”
Pen on paper.
Play (it’s been a rainy inside day) = Work (a new hang coming up at The Butter Factory so I gotta get some shite done..) = Learning (a gloriously endless and convoluted adventure)
(It’s been a good day)
“Woman at The Pantry”
Pen, pencil, watercolour and acrylic in my new (op-shopped) Beethoven Sonatas V1 book.
@robynleesart “Sereni-tea” is my muse today for my time at my happy place @butterfactorystudios She resonates deeply (artist and artwork both).
“Lines to serenity-tea”
Pen on paper.
Shadows and reflections, simplicity and obscurity, drawn together and layered. In the noise of everything, the relief of finding these lines to hold myself sturdy.
“Woman sitting quietly”
Pen on paper
19 x 25cm
Today was a beautiful day.
Spent the morning at the Buttery (the Butter Factory to be proper) and was (once again and again) filled to the brim and over by the vivid goodness of those good women. The opening of “Small Things” exhibition, a collection of works by the collective of Us. I’ve umpteen stories of umpteen conversations that lifted me and filled me, made me chuckle and made me think, that reminded me again (and again!) of the potency of belief. They believe in me and, on that belief, I get to climb, climb, climb baby and oh holy what a joy this is..
.. and WHAT a joy to see one of my paintings get a red dot straight up (woot woot) and be claimed by another good woman (a hat to to you Jen).
And (last thing), whilst there was barely a blink of wordless time to be had, there was just enough time for a single line drawing of (yet another!) good woman Nic .. before another good conversation came on by.
Yup. In amongst the mess of it all, there is such heart warming goodness. Turn your gaze and, taDAA! just look at that JOY!
(@townie_now@_nicole_hodgson_ mwaghhh!)
Wanting to share but getting tangled in the darkness.
“Hiding up along the Hay / Do what we can to not drown / Put your own life jacket on first”.
A mess of everything in a shite note book but my fingers are black with charcoal and there’s a nesting heron opposite.
Brewing ideas for the 2026 Denmark Arts Brave New Works whilst at the Butter Factory today. This year’s theme is ‘Small’ and I’m responding with the sustaining goodness that is found in the small things of a day. Life can be/is seriously lumpy and so anchoring my moment to moment with the sweet, sweet peace of a well brewed cup of tea.. well I call that darn clever.
And who could resist sketching a Rachel Falls-Williams cup.. (clearly not me).
@denmarkarts@bravenewworks@rachel.falls.williams
