Keep Dreaming, Even When Life Is Hard

Some good stuff is happening, and well, some not-so-great stuff too - that is life, it seems.

I wanted to chat with you about the cool things that have been going on in my art life these past few weeks. I started writing a blog post to share my excitement, but then life got in the way, and I thought I'd come back to it later. While I was away from that blog post, I started having doubts. Would sharing my good news upset someone? Is it wrong to be sharing about these things when some of my friends are going through heartbreakingly tough times right now? And will people get tired of me posting about 'positive' stuff, since positivity seems to have gotten a bad rap lately?

I know my friends are genuinely happy for me in my artistic pursuits, and I hope that most of you who follow my journey can also share in my joy when good things happen. However, I don't want to appear like an insensitive cheerleader.

When I open up and share these positive moments with you, I want you to understand that behind the scenes, there are plenty of challenging days. These aren't just the typical creative struggles that all of us artists encounter, but also the ongoing life difficulties that seem to be ever-present these days, especially health issues and tragedy affecting friends and family.

On that note…here is my news!

I'm a bit of a believer in the power of manifesting the things you want in your life. Don't get me wrong, I fully recognise that achieving your dreams requires a lot of hard work and inspired action. However, taking the time to envision your next steps, no matter how seemingly out of reach they may be, can set the universe in motion in some incredibly surprising ways.

This time last year, I was casually thinking about how it might be pretty cool to have more gallery representation. And then, out of the blue, SOHOGalleries in Sydney reached out to me. They had come across my paintings while visiting one of my other galleries and decided to get in touch. This past year with SOHO has been absolutely incredible. Seeing my artwork displayed in a Sydney gallery window and featured on their stunning stands at The Affordable Art Fairs in Sydney and Melbourne have been surreal moments, to say the least.

SOHOGalleries specialises in selling larger-scale artworks that look absolutely stunning on those clean, white walls and commercial spaces in Sydney. Collaborating with SOHO has given me the confidence to fully embrace creating on the larger canvases that I adore. It's been so fulfilling to see my paintings find new homes in many beautiful spaces.

Building on the success of showcasing my artwork at SOHOGalleries during the Affordable Art Fair in Melbourne last month, I'm thrilled to announce that I've been invited to join Art Images Gallery in Adelaide. I'm currently working on paintings for their upcoming Christmas exhibition. I'll be sure to provide you with more details as we get closer to the event. I'm genuinely excited about this new opportunity to be part of such a fantastic gallery and am looking forward to sharing my work with their clientele in Adelaide.

DREAMING FOR 2024

As we enter the last quarter of the year, my mind is starting to wander again. It's not about making concrete plans or anything too serious, just some random thoughts about what could be exciting for 2024. Reflecting on this year, where I've sent my artworks to various corners of the globe - the US, UK, Canada, Germany, and Switzerland - and received enquiries from wonderful people asking where they can see my work outside of Australia (understandably, it's quite a trek over here), I've been entertaining the idea that it might be really cool to have exhibitions in other countries next year….

It's almost as if the universe has been eavesdropping on my thoughts, because my dream is coming true faster than I could have imagined. I'm absolutely thrilled to share that I'm now part of the Lucinda Dalton Gallery artist family, based in the heart of Chelsea, London in the UK. Currently, I'm busy creating new artworks for their upcoming Christmas Mayfair show just a few months from now, and I'm beyond excited to exhibit with them at the London Affordable Art Fairs in Battersea and Hampstead in 2024. This opportunity is particularly special because it allows me to exhibit in my hometown, which is incredibly meaningful. Plus, it provides me with even more reason to visit with family and friends at home.

I can't even begin to express how overjoyed I am about all these incredible artistic opportunities that have come my way. When I look back to my childhood, I never could have imagined that these things would happen to me. I honestly used to think that such opportunities were reserved for other, exceptionally talented, wildly creative, and courageous individuals. I never really saw myself that way.

One of the unexpected benefits of facing life's challenges is that you build strength and courage along the way. So, when opportunities present themselves now, they can often feel both exciting and intimidating. But I've learned to trust my gut. If something feels exciting, I say yes and then figure out how to make it happen. After all, we all know that life is far too short to let go of our dreams.

BETTER GET PAINTING!

my favourite dreaming space