Screenshot of my shop on break

Just popped my shop onto vacation mode, as I’m not feeling motivated to put my energy into it at the moment. My now 6 month old is keeping me super busy and I’m preparing to return to my paid job in the next few months. Thanks all for your support thus far!

I’ve been quiet posting on here lately plus taken a step back from creating for a few weeks. The events of the world, in particular the US, have really strained my heart. I feel the pain and hurt that so many are going through, especially my queer and disabled peers. My heart hurts for you all.

A photo of the ribbon in paint

Here’s a snap of part of the process: popping the ribbon in paint before putting it on the paper.

I was motivated today after reading some notes from an art class I did. The notes that stuck with me were,

“Make happy marks”
“Let go of control”
“Use anything you can find”

A photo of my multicoloured artwork

Today’s painting theme was “paint with anything but a paint brush”!

I used my hands, ribbons, cups, an eraser, sides of a crayon, and a dried up roll of washi tape.

Here’s one of the finished paintings!

#abstractpainting #art #painting

An abstract mixed media painting with words of love added

Painting in progress for my Friday night, which has evolved into a love letter to my baby girl.

Sad I won’t see them today but happy I don’t have to clean hahaha

I had people planned to come over this afternoon and late last night realised I had so much to tidy before they came over!

I had planned to use my morning juggling the baby and cleaning the house. They cancelled just before I started, so now I have my morning back!!

Fist bump scene from the breastfast club

How I feel when guests cancel their visit to my house before I’ve started cleaning up:

Thank you!

I woke up this morning and had the urge to make something with clay!

We’re out all day but tonight I’m thinking it’s play time 👩‍🎨👩‍🎨👩‍🎨

Artists who sell their paintings on paper, can you tell me how you store your paintings?

Thank you!!

#art #painting #craftiverse

Green and blue flowers and leaves

This original painting featuring native Australian flowers is now up on my Etsy shop! I’ve also added a new section in my shop for larger paintings like this one, which is A3.

Link here: dawnexpressionstudio.etsy.com

#artyear #artshop #supportsmallbusiness #australianartist

So sweet!!

This feels so comforting to look at.

I hate this too. I managed to find a great shop near me that sells lovely full coverage women’s swimwear. It’s targeted to ‘older ladies’ but the patterns are fab and they actually fit like clothes should.

Love 😍😍😍

I’ve been working with A3 size all week and none of my paintings have felt ‘right’. This one feels ‘right’.

Art in progress

Art in progress

Finished painting

Feeling connected to my art today ☺️💙

#painting #drawing #mixedmedia

As always, NO medical advice please.

I got some great advice from a psychologist when I started this journey to work out what’s going on and was experiencing horrible panic attacks:

I need to trust my medical team.

My anxiety leads me down the doom-googling path. It is so bad for me. I need a team I can trust to have the info I need.

A screenshot of the app

I need to start meal tracking to determine if what I’m experiencing is allergies or not.

I just found this app called Eatrack: Food Diary which I’m going to use to log my meals. I like that you specify what allergens are in the meal so it can do its data thing.

I had to change my appointment from Saturday to today, which was good really cause it meant 2 less days of stressing.

The doctor was really good. I need a doctor who doesn’t make me feel more anxious, and this doctor was very calm and informative.

Blood tests are the next step.

I just went to a doctors appointment booked for 4:45 and the doctor called me in at 4:45….

Very confused. Aren’t I supposed to wait around anxiously for an hour before you call me in?

Solid advice!

I am struggling with focusing on doing what I want and not letting intrusive thoughts come in about what other people want. Something I’m working on!

A silly goose sticker

A whale with a sailor costume

A bin chicken

My stickers have arrived! They are perfect.

The whale is from SwallowWindArt and the other two are from SarahMayArts on Etsy!

Love!!!

Lines drawn and painting started

More colours added including checkers and a bunny

Something I’m struggling with since opening my Etsy shop is creating art for myself vs creating what I “think” other people will like. It’s the main reason I hadn’t opened a shop earlier.

Part of me is considering whether it’s worth the effort. Anyway, here’s a painting I’ve started for my own fun.

We took baby girl to her first concert today! It was a live acoustic music concert held in the hills, among the trees. We did lots of dancing and she was all smiles!

I love these colours you’ve used

I say NO medical advice because I’ve posted about my allergies and anxiety before and someone replied that the anxiety could be a symptom of something serious.

This does NOT help my anxiety and this response caused a massive panic attack for me.

I need a good doctor not strangers opinions.