anita meade - simple.creative.life

Trying to focus on what I CAN do.

Well, it's time for a little honesty. Yesterday I had a bit of a meltdown. By that I mean lots of crying and lots of feeling sorry for myself. By counting the days on the calender, I've realised (to my relief) that it was probably a premenstrual meltdown. However I don't like to just dismiss these outpourings of emotion at purely hormonal. I mean, as over-amplified as emotions are at TTOM (that time of month) I always see that the hormones just bring out what has been brewing for the weeks prior. Lately the fibromyalgia has been pretty much overwhelming. I'm still having my NAET treatments, but I have to admit, I'm not really getting anywhere with them at the moment. Trying to stay motivated and keep up the treatments - hoping a breakthrough will occur soon.

I try to focus on what I can do, not on what I can't do. I try to tell myself that it is not important that I can't work right now. I try to pace myself and not overdo things. I try to get enough sleep and not eat too much junk. I try and try and try to do everything right in the hope that I might be well again someday. But sometimes it all gets on top of me, and when the hormone level start to fluctuate, I just fall to bits.

We've (Dan and I tackle my fibro as a team) been blaming the intensely cold Melbourne winter for my 'flare-up" and in particular the intense increase in pain I've been having. It is pretty much relentless, especially if I dare to leave the house. We have even been thinking about the possibility of moving to somewhere where the winters are not so extreme. Anything to improve my quality of life and, consequently, that of my family. No decisions have been made - we are a long way off that point. Soon spring will roll around and hopefully some warmer days will see an improvement.

After having my little crying episode yesterday, I decided that I needed to get out of the house at any cost. I took my camera, hoping to capture something that would give me hope that brighter days are on the way.

 

The first of the blossoms are starting to peak out their pretty heads. Just what I needed. Thanks for listening. I am OK today. Off to watch my littlest boy at school swimming lessons now. See you again really soon. xxx

My creative space - sneak peaks...

Just a couple of sneak peaks of my graphite portrait commission for Amanda.

Here's a little look at how they are going so far Amanda.

 

I haven't started the third portrait yet, but these two are coming along pretty well so far.

For more creative spaces, pop over the Kirsty's blog Kootoyoo. See you again soon. xxx

Laura's birthday gift

Today is the birthday of a very special person, my sister-in-law Laura. Her son Mitchell has been off travelling the USA for the last couple of months, and I knew she was missing him so I thought I'd draw a special portrait of Laura and Mitch as her birthday gift.

 

        (Laura and Mitchell - graphite on Bristol 300 card. 5" x 7")

We arrived at her birthday dinner tonight and there he was! He surprised us all by arriving home this morning. What a perfect birthday present for his Mum :) Happy Birthday Laura!

(Please visit my Flickr page for a clearer view of this, and all my other graphite drawings).

I am really excited to let you know that I have been asked to do my first ever commissioned artwork. The lovely Amanda from Queensland found my drawings in her blog-hopping travels. She contacted me and asked me to draw her three gorgeous kids. With Amanda's permission, I will post a few pics of these portraits here on my blog when I am done. 

Thanks for popping in today. Hope you've had a wonderful weekend :)

A quick study.

A quick study I drew last night - from an exercise by Debra Kauffman Yaun in "The Art of Drawing People" book (Walter Foster). I just can't get enough of drawing faces at the moment. As they say, practise makes perfect. I'm really enjoying the practise :) It makes me so happy.

This drawing is only little - she measures about 3' x 4".

See a clearer version of this drawing at my Flickr photostream.

Repost of most recent drawing...

Portrait of Cooper and Jack. Graphite on vellum.

A few little tweaks, and NOW I think it's finished.

(PS. the picture is still better viewed over on Flickr. Not sure what Typepad does to images, but mine always look really hazy. Pop over to my Flickr photostream for a better look).

Portrait of Jack & Cooper.

I worked on this portrait of my nephews last night while watching (or listening to) the football. It is graphite pencil on vellum. The vellum was super smooth and was pretty tricky to work on. Very easy to blend on, but equally easy to smudge the image and dull the details. Haven't been able to get hold of any drafting film (as used regularly by Karen Hull) so I thought I'd see if the vellum would work in a similar way. I'm not sure if it is a comparable surface as I've never actually seen drafting film. Anyway, it was an interesting experiment.

 

As usual, my photograph of this drawing is a little hazy - it seems a little clearer over on my Flickr photostream - but I think you get the idea. I'm pretty sure I've finished this drawing, but I like to leave my work out for a few days and look at it. Fresh eyes often see where alterations need to be made. When I'm happy that it's done, I'll spray it with fixative to prevent any further smudging.

Thanks for stopping by today. I appreciate you taking the time to drop in. Hope you're having a lovely, relaxing Sunday. See you again soon. xxx

My creative space

Thought I'd show a few snaps from my sketchbook for "My creative space" today. These sketches are in various stages of completion - I may not return to finish the unfinished ones......I have a pretty short attention span. lol! My sketchbook is really just a place to play, try things out and practice my skills. I'm so glad to be drawing again. As I've mentioned in previous posts, it takes me back to some of my happiest childhood memories. I find it so peaceful to sit, pencil in hand, and focus on creating an image on paper. I haven't joined in with Kirsty's "show and tell" for ages now but I've enjoyed checking out other people's creative spaces. 

 

 

 

 

And just to mix it up a bit, I started on another "Anne" scarf last night in Bendigo Woolen Mills 8 ply - the colour is called "graphite"......rather appropriate given my recent obsession with graphite drawing :)

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to visit lots of other creative spaces via Kirsty's blog Kootoyoo. See you soon.

Finally! The tooth fairy has made a visit to Corey :)

Well, it has finally happened. At the ripe old age of 6 years, 9 months and 11 days Corey has lost his very first tooth! It took so long, in fact, that his "big tooth" is already half grown behind where the "baby tooth" fell out. He went off to bed last night, wobbling and wiggling that baby tooth and ten minutes later he pulled it out. Just in time for the tooth fairy to make her visit last night. Did you know that she apparently brings $5 dollars for a first tooth now? And $2 for every tooth thereafter? Hmmmm.....apparently that's the "going rate" amongst the school friends. Luckily the tooth fairy was cashed up last night! lol! Anyway here is my proud little man, with his tooth in the little yellow eggcup about to be placed on the bedside table.

 

And if you're squeamish, look away now cos' here's a couple of closeups for Granmama and Papa - can you see the big tooth growing already?

 

We have had an icy weekend here in Melbourne, quite literally. Check out the hail in the backyard yesterday.....
 

 

And you know how I feel about the cold weather! Needless to say, we stayed tucked up inside for the whole day! I did a bit of drawing, practising my portrait skills. I have such a long way to go, but here is my latest effort.

 

I also just mucked around practising drawing eyes and mouths.......

 

 

I find it really hard to take good pictures of my graphite drawings, and when I scan them they just come up too bright and grainy......so you'll just have to excuse these technical issues....please.

We have a really, super busy week here in the Meade household, so I probably won't get another post in - or much time to create art either - in the next week. But I will still sneak in a little blog browsing here and there.....I can always fit just a tiny bit of that in :)

Till next time, take care and, if you're in southern Australia, stay warm!