artycelia.com

  After Mr Trump claimed victory over Kamala Harris, Mr Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor, said he understands, " many Londoners will be anxious" and " fearful about what it will mean for democracy and for women's rights." " The lesson of today is that progress is not inevitable." "But asserting our progressive values is more important than ever- re-committing to building a world where racism and hatred is rejected, the fundamental rights of women and girls are upheld, and where we continue to tackle the crisis of climate change head on." Well, I couldn't have put it any better myself, so I painted a picture.  The feeling of the morning after, the disappointment, the bewilderment, the worry, are all reminiscent of the Brexit vote. Yet. there is a difference. It could simply be that I'm older, world weary maybe? I look at the world as if I am not in it, I look at people and wonder who they are, where do they get their beliefs, what do they ...

  I have always loved the Greek myths, this is my interpretation of Persephone and the pomegranate seeds. At the moment I am reading, 'Mythos' by Stephen Fry,  but I also have  'The Greek Myths' by Robert Graves on my desk. Stephen Fry is much easier to read and is quite fun. Anyone interested but not after a degree would be wise to choose Fry. I actually painted this picture a long time ago and I still like looking at it, which is unusual for me as I am prone to 'improve' my art work which is sometimes a good idea and sometimes not, for some reason Persephone has remained original. At the moment Persephone is 'above ground' and thoroughly enjoying herself with her mother, Demeter. The six pomegranate seeds in the painting represent the six months of the year that are spring and summer, or the six months of the year that are autumn and winter. You'll have to read up on Greek mythology for the full story. Maybe it's my love of the myths that keeps...

  The weather this year has been dire, this picture was taken on July 4th and is a rare specimen as it features sunlight glancing on the patio. I find it hard to get motivated when the sky is grey but usually when I get into my studio I can find my mojo. At the moment I am working on a few paintings and doing a course in psychic development. I like doing courses, I have diplomas in all sorts of things: mindfulness, CBT, counselling, intuitive healing, tarot, freelance journalism, spiritual life coaching and others. Years ago I did a course in counselling before it had even become a thing, I still have my certificate which is dated  2002. Life sort of gets in the way though, people need you, children need you, partners need you, schools need you, work needs you, parents need you, animals need you, and you need yourself. So, life is busy. But it's not so busy now, my children are adults, my animals have gone over the rainbow bridge, dad needs me, grandchildren need me and my hea...

This is my painting of a Divi-Divi Tree. It hangs in my bedroom, it makes me smile.  Aruba's distinctive trees have fascinating formations, they are shaped by constant trade winds, yet to me they seem to symbolise women, strong women, complicated women, women with tangled roots, women battered and buffetted yet still standing proud and strong. So, why. I wonder am I so drawn to them? I have a few in my gallery and I have sold one of the best ones so I have no idea where that one hangs now. I suppose I am what you would call, 'a girl's girl,' always interested in the stories of other women, their struggles, their highs and lows. Maybe it's because I have daughters and not sons.I have never been 'one of the boys', in fact I find that a bit weird, but each to their own. I have a lot of paintings in my studio of women, I've never really thought about it before, but now I am thinking 'what's that all about?'                      ...

  The first painting is my interpretation of a Miro. The second painting is my interpretation of the war in Gaza, based on a painting by Fernand Leger c 1927. It's maybe easier to put one's thoughts into a painting, in this one, the flag of Israel bleeds into Palestine, land is stolen, territory is taken, people are annihilated. I find it horribly, well horrible, that Netanayu seems to be following in the footsteps of the very person who set out to destroy his people. I just cannot understand how the world can step aside and allow this genocide. Sometimes I just feel the need to paint a picture.

This is a painting of, erm, the cancerous tumour that I found in my breast in 2021. It's gone now. I felt much better after the painting was completed, sort of serene. Despite the brutal treatment that is chemotherapy, I have depicted the cancer as drifting away, parts of you do drift away while going through treatment, and some parts return while others do not. That's how I feel anyway. I moved house last year. My rented house was too big with just me in it. It was fine when occupied with my daughters, a grand-daughter, a grand-daughter's dad and my lovely dog, but people grow and need to move on. My dog reached the end of his road. The day I lost him was the saddest day of my life. I know I probably shouldn't say that but he was deep in my heart and I loved him unconditionally. I won't ever get another dog, that 'going to sleep' business is a train wreck, one that you are watching and also feel responsible for, even though you are not. I am now living with...

Well, here it is! It's MY STUDIO. It is where I can paint, write, renovate, think, dance, study, work, talk, counsel, and tarot. It has taken a long time to refurbish a grotty double garage into this space, but it's been worth it. I have finally moved out of my old, cold, crumbling rented house and moved in with my old dad, something I never ever thought would happen, but stranger things have happened in my lifetime so I'm not going to dwell. The worst part of the cancer treatment is over, my hair is growing back albeit in a crazy curly wurley frizz ball, but goodness, it's here on my head and it is mine. Onwards and upwards.