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I have always loved to draw. Through childhood,
it was among my most favourite past times, and I thought I wasn’t
too bad at it! The subject of choice was often “people”
- for a while, faceless people, because I thought my ability with
faces let down my skill for capturing bodies (now I think they’re
both difficult!). I have always thought a great deal about life,
and by my way of thinking and in artistic terms, there seems not
much better an expression for life’s complexities than through
the interpretive visual recording of a person. I think I could see
that there was something to capture here, even as a child.
In high school I loved art, and breathed a sigh of relief when that
period rolled around to break the run of purely academic subjects.
I enjoyed art like no other subject, but found the pressured deadlines
of year 12 stripped the joy out of it for me. This put to rest any
idea of an artistic career…not that I was ambitious in any
field really. But I had no desire to kill off the sense of enjoyment
I found in art, and decided it was safest kept as a hobby.
Skip ahead to over ten years and 3 kids later, not a great deal
of time had been spent pursuing drawing or painting apart from the
odd nursery item and 101 princess sketches for my eldest daughter!
In fact to a large degree, I think I had forgotten about it and
had put behind me any lofty ideas I might have secretly harboured.
When my third baby was about 6 months old, I needed some relief
from the constancy of motherhood and so I enrolled in a Watercolour
Painting course with artist Charles Sluga. Not having been moving
in art circles, I had never heard of him, and I really hadn’t
ever considered watercolour painting in particular as something
I would like to try my hand at. I had no aspirations of really learning
to paint, and in no way anticipated the privilege of having a teacher
of Charles’ calibre.
It turned out I loved it! And suddenly, (tempered with a lot of
hard work…which I didn’t believe to begin with, but
I totally get now) it is no longer just a childhood thing…the
sky is the limit. I am excited at the prospects for the future,
as I strive to develop my artwork. And in a way, whilst I am capturing
the lives and stories of other people, it is becoming a record of
my own life with its twists and turns. God began this artistic journey
for me, arranging things that I might begin it, and he will see
it to its completion as he also works in me, shaping and growing
me.
I have recently returned from 12 months in Thailand with my
family. We worked there to help build a bible college for the
hill-tribe people of North Thailand. This was a huge experience
and yet to be digested. But you will notice a distinctly Thai feel
about my work currently, and I hope to explore different aspects
of this experience artistically into the future. I have not gotten
past my love for painting people (the artistic terms of
"portrait" and "figure" painting seem too
impersonal.), and am experimenting with new mediums for me; oils
and acrylics. These require a quite different mental approach than
that of watercolour so its stretching me. And a few
interesting projects
in the pipeline are adding to the stretching. Stay tuned!.
Now to mention some thanks to lots of people for getting me thus
far artistically…all happen to be great supports in other
ways too! But this is about art, so…thanks to my family
and friends for your encouragement and in particular, to Rachael
- a constant friend, who allowed me to enrol her in our first
Watercolour Painting course for mutual support (I had to pay her
back for the quilting course she made me do). She still humours
me with watercolour though and has a go now and then...when are
you going to paint again Rachael?! And to Charles,
without whom I would not have believed I really could paint, and
probably wouldn’t have tried (though he says otherwise)
- an inspired and inspiring painter and great friend.
To Dave W, who comes and says “WOW” and then proceeds
to tell me with all sincerity how great he would be at watercolour
if he tried it (Dave its half way thru 2009 and you haven't
started yet!!!). And to my husband Brett, for putting up with the
not-so-pretty moments of living with an artist! He is extremely
patient and encouraging.
Hope you have enjoyed reading some of what makes up me…til
I update this at an unknown moment in the future. Lara, June
2009.
All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers
of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because
the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God
stands forever…
…See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and his arm rules
for him. See, his reward is with him and his recompense accompanies
him. He tends his flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs
in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads
those that have young.
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with
the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the
dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on scales
and the hills in a balance? Who has understood the mind of the
Lord, or instructed him as his counsellor? Whom did the Lord consult
to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it
that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?..
…Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told
you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth
was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth and
its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens
like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He
brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world
to nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown,
no sooner do they take root in the ground then he blows on them
and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.
To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the
Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens; Who created
all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls
them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.
Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, “my way
is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God.”?
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting
God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired
or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the
weak. Even youths grow tired and young men stumble and fall; but
those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will
soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they
will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:6-8, 10-14, 21-31
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