Last Friday was the opening of my friend, Mia Laing‘s, art exhibition. She’s exhibiting her paintings along with two other artists, Jan Brown and Alicia Gorey.
Mia and I did a parenting course together when our eldest children were in early primary school. We rarely saw each other for a few years after that, as our kids went in separate directions, but we met up again after we both made mid-life career changes to pursue our art. Although I write and don’t paint, I find spending time with Mia refreshing—creative people ‘get’ each other, regardless of the type of art they pursue.
I hope Mia doesn’t mind that I’ve chosen one of her co-exhibitor’s paintings for this week’s MM: It was difficult to take a good shot as the gallery was packed with people for the opening, and I didn’t want to ask other guests to step out of the way while I took a photo! I just had to snap and hope no one walked into the picture!
The painting in this photo is by Jan Brown and is titled, Girl in Studio. Some of Mia’s paintings are in the background, and I’ll post more photos of her art later.
Monique snapped this photo just after sunrise when she popped out to capture a beautiful jewel-like spider in its web. Unfortunately, spiders move and the photos didn’t work out as well as she’d hoped, but this photo of a head of wild grass that’s popped up in her native garden did.
The combination of light and water created a shimmering effect and softness, and enhance its natural beauty. The colours are also striking, and once again, she’s shown us how it’s all about the detail.
By the way, Mia, Alicia, and Jan’s art exhibition, Three Palettes, is on at Moore’s Gallery, Henry Street, Fremantle, until 17th April.
About Midweek Moment
Each week, Monique Mulligan and I share our favourite photos on our websites in a ‘Midweek Moment’. We hope you enjoy, and if you’d like to see more, click here.
Lovely to meet you today in the gallery Louise 🙂
It was so nice to put a face to your name and to meet the creator of such wonderful paintings. I may be back yet—that grey one just inside the front door is a favourite …
I agree. It doesn’t matter what area of the arts you belong to there is always a meeting of the minds. Mine is drama (not writing).
If you’re artistic, you do what you do for the joy and fulfilment you get from it, and only other artistic people understand that drive. It’s great that drama is your art form! I hope you pursue it …
It’s true – creative people do ‘get’ each other. It’s something about how our minds work, isn’t it? I have a fairly creative family so our get togethers are always good fun 🙂
Only other artistic people understand the need to create, and how wonderful it is when you are creating and how horrible it is when you’re not. It must be nice to get together as a family and talk ‘creative’ stuff! 🙂
Yes, I think it can be seen as ‘self-indulgent’, otherwise, which is a shame. It is exactly that, a need to create, and if you fail to honour it, it can be almost physically painful. It is nice as a family to have so much support, that’s for sure – though I think our parents all wonder where it came from 😀
You are so right about the ‘self-indulgence’ thing. I used to think I was lazy and selfish because I didn’t want to do housework or cook or do many of the things that other mothers seemed to derive a lot of pleasure from. Then I thought I was lazy and selfish when I wanted to stop work, because I didn’t want to earn money and contribute to the family income. But the more ‘creating’ I do and the better I feel, the more I see how important it is to satisfy that side of me/oneself. I should have done it all my life, but I didn’t know it wasn’t selfish to do it. Now, I encourage my kids to honour that side of themselves, too, and give them time to just daydream. It’s not being lazy or self-indulgent; it’s necessary to happiness.
Wow, Louise – that is so true, and so how I have felt for years. I absolutely hate housework, and yet I feel I am letting my family down if I don’t do it (why?). Your words have almost brought me to tears, as you have articulated exactly how I have felt about being a ‘creative’ person within my own home. My husband is supportive for the most part, but there are times I think when he’d like me to manage things better – still, he doesn’t do too badly. And I know he is proud of what I’ve achieved. It is so true, to deny my creative side would make me so unhappy (and has, in the past). I also encourage it in my daughter, and let her lead with activity, rather than me force ideas on her. Thank you for your words, they have really helped me today 🙂