Here is another blog written by freelance contributing writer , Helen Farnes hope you find it interesting.

For many centuries now, we have cultivated a very persistent artistic stereotype. The idea of the tormented creative, driven by inner turmoil and the horrors within to create works of transcendent beauty and significance is one with which we are all familiar [1]. Indeed, many believe that the world’s greatest creative works have been born out of pain or pathology [2] – without such motivating factors, this view holds, the ‘art’ is nothing more than a blank reproduction, devoid of deeper emotional meaning. While this is perhaps a rather too exclusive view of creativity, it is true that many of the world’s greatest artists have found ‘inspiration’ in the darker recesses of their souls. The apparent ‘link’ (or otherwise) between ‘madness’ and creativity is one which continues to fascinate[3]. What is less explored, however, is the idea that the relationship between pain and creativity is less causal and more progressive. There is considerable evidence to suggest that engaging creatively can help to heal the psyche in the aftermath of traumatic events.

Cause Or Cure?

In the traditional view of things, the tormented artist is driven by the trauma they have experienced to relive their experience over and over again through the medium of art. As their artistic talents grow, so the artist themselves diminish, until they seem devoured by their work, and (more to the point), by the pathological problems upon which their creativity must feed. It’s a romantic scenario, and one which fires the popular imagination – not least because we can seemingly apply it to real people. Vincent Van Gogh, Toulouse Lautrec, even Amy Winehouse – we enjoy the myths of these individuals as ‘troubled artists’, driven ultimately to their deaths by the fires which consumed them from within [4], as much as we enjoy the wonderful art they created. However, when studied closely, the art for which these people were known does not, actually, have a direct causal relationship with either their troubles or their tragic problems. Indeed, if looked at from another angle, it could be argued that their art kept these individuals back from the brink of disaster for many years, until finally trauma overwhelmed creativity. How much sooner would they have succumbed to their demons had not art expressed their problems and kept the demons at bay?

Creative Resilience

There is, in fact, a lot of evidence to suggest that creativity can play a vital role in resilience to and healing from traumatic events. The ability to express emotions through art is one which gives trauma survivors an effective ‘vent’. Those who lack this ability to safely express their feelings are at risk of developing more troubling ‘coping’ strategies, which could present a danger to themselves or others. Substance abuse, for example, is common among trauma survivors [5] who lack safer outlets with which to deal with their emotions. Female victims of trauma in particular may find themselves on the wrong side of the law [6]. However, those who are blessed with creative tools have another way to explore and deal with the problems with which their trauma has left them.  Exploring one’s emotions through art allows one to process and express psychological baggage in a non-confrontational way. Art allows one to express and explore at one’s own pace, and in one’s own way. It helps us to engage with emotions which we may otherwise shy away from, and lets us bring those dark, gnawing things out into the light, where they cannot hurt us. It can bring us greater self-awareness, and may even speed the process of healing.

Step By Step

Creative intervention and therapy will not, of course, work for all trauma survivors. The creative process is an intensely personal one, and not everyone will be able to express themselves creatively in a manner conducive to their own healing. Nor should creative arts ever be considered an isolated ‘cure-all’. However, when used in conjunction with other kinds of therapy, giving trauma survivors the opportunity to express themselves creatively can be of enormous help [7]. Had the likes of Van Gogh, Winehouse, and other troubled artists not had their art to help them, they arguably would have succumbed to their demons far earlier than they did. Had they had help in addition to their art then – who knows? – they may have led happier, calmer, and healthier lives.

[1] James White, “Suffering For Their Art: The Most Tortured Artists In Film History”, Empire, Nov 2014

[2] Kimbriel Dean, “Is Pain The Key To Good Art?”, Ignite, Mar 2013

[3] Ian Sample, “New study claims to find genetic link between creativity and mental illness”, The Guardian, Jun 2015

[4] Van Gogh Gallery, “Van Gogh’s Death”

[5] National Child Traumatic Stress Network, “Making The Connection: Trauma And Substance Abuse”, Jun 2008

[6] Jennifer Talley, “Context Matters: The Impact of Trauma, Culture and Policy on Women’s Health”, Rehabs.com, Apr 2015

[7] Family and Youth Services Bureau, “Calm Through Creativity: How Arts Can Aid Trauma Recovery

Some days you are just so glad to be alive and overwhelmed by the random kindness act of strangers that you are totally lost for words.  I had one of those days yesterday and it revolves around a Danish man Knud Grothe who owns and runs one of the finest galleries in Denmark.

I have shared with you in another artblog that I have recently had an art exhibition in Copenhagen, Denmark and you may be forgiven to think that it was  GALERIE KNUD GROTHE I was exhibiting with, but no it was another gallery and if you fancy you can read about that here;   177 ART EXHIBITIONS IN COPENHAGEN, DENMARK & SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

NAIVE ARTISTS IN DENMARK

Gallery Knud Grothe was established in the 1970’s and is still going strong exhibiting a rich mixture of contemporary art from around the world as well as Denmark of course.  Knud says his favourite genre of art is naive paintings and he has a yearly exhibition at Easter showcasing the naive artists in his gallery.

NAIVE ART BOOK

Anyway I or I should say my art came to the attention of Knud who sent me a lovely email which was very complimentary of my art.  He also then sent me this fantastic book about naive artists in Denmark called “Naivister i Danmark” which was so incredibly generous.  This is a big heavy coffee table book, 164 pages of glossy wonderful Danish artists by Ole Lindboe.  Comprising of some 35 Danish naive artists and also has an introduction of naive art featuring several more from yesteryears.  Obviously I am such a fan of naive art which I also collect myself so therefore I have seen and read most of the books on the subject and I must say this book is one of the best I have ever seen.  Danish naive art has totally blown me away, normally I would pick out 3 -4 artists in a collection as my favourites but this is an impossibility here as they, everyone of these artists have something so inspiring and fresh to offer, it is a delight to the senses.

THREE ORIGINAL PAINTINGS

Now if the story ended here that would be quite something all by itself – but I am afraid there is more…  Yesterday there was a knock on the door and a courier with another parcel from Denmark.   This time this most incredible generous man Knud Grothe had sent me 3 original paintings for my art collection.  I must say I was utterly SPEECHLESS when I unwrapped the parcel, can you imagine, it is not Christmas and not my birthday and this most warmhearted of men sent me a gift, just because!

In next week’s art blog I will share these wonderful paintings with you.  The 3 artists are Jan Thomas, Inge Selmer and Isis de Sequeira and all 3 artworks are a joy to behold.

PAINTINGS IN THE STUDIO

So what does one say when you receive an amazing gift like this, just because – well I had no words for a very long time.  Instead I took the 3 paintings into my studio and have them sitting next to me as I work.  I am not ready to part with them even temporarily by hanging them up on the wall.  No I just want them by my side so I can “drink” in their colours and joy and pleasure they are giving me every second of the day.  Both from the visual aesthetics of the 3 wonderful artworks that the artists have painted but also to think that such a kind, generous and very thoughtful act of kindness is even possible in this day and age.

HAPPY ARTIST

Thank you so very much Knud you must have a very beautiful heart and I am indeed a very very lucky girl to be so blessed and have you as a friend from far away and I do hope to meet you in real life soon.

I am really really Grateful, Happy, Overjoyed, Elated, Delighted, Ecstatic, Jubilant, and Thankful and feel extremely spoiled.

So I think this quote by G.K. Chesterton fits well here and conveys a little of how I feel right now;

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder”

Till next time,

Love Marie xxx

Why not come and have a look at Marie Jonsson-Harrison’sPAINTINGS FOR SALE, GICLEE PRINTS FOR SALE andSCULPTURES for sale orWALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.

In this weeks travel and art blog I thought I would share with you an article written by Andrew Fenton for the SA Weekend Magazine which comes out with The Advertiser every Saturday.  His column is called “Wiseguy” and that suits him to a T, as he always has a wiseguys slant to his answers, with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek I would imagine when he gives the general public his advice.

ANIMATIONS

This animation of my painting of my trip to Japan to attend my first art exhibition there has been animated by my friend Susan Flashman, if you fancy reading about that adventure here is a link; 57. Art & Signing the Contract and 64. Art & Flying to Japan (continuation of Signing the Contract)

ADELAIDE ADVERTISER

I do always enjoy reading this supplement to our Saturday paper as it is most of the time full of Art and Culture in all its different forms.  Anyway this week’s column starts with the question from P.D at Murray Bridge asking;

I have a fair bit of trepidation about taking my first 27-hour flight.   Do you have any advice?

Wiseguys answer is as follows; “Yes I do, thanks for asking.  To prepare myself for international flights I like to undergo a few dry-run simulated training exercises in the months and years leading up to the journey.

Essentially, I lock myself in a tiny cupboard with my obese friend Nigel and stare at a low resolution portable DVD player from 2001 while watching old episodes of Friends for hours.  Then I neck a bunch of sleeping pills and just as I’m nodding off I get my wife to shout out irrelevant facts about my height above sea level through a megaphone, and randomly open the door every 20 minutes to shine a harsh fluorescent light in my eyes or to thrust a crying baby/ready meal through the door.

This exposure therapy somehow helps alleviate the night terrors I’ve experienced ever since I was assigned a seat in the passive smoking section of a Garuda flight in 1999 which saw me completely wired, awake and sweating for about 36 hours from absorbing the equivalent of 400 cartons of nicotine through second-hand smoke.  But anyway there’s no need to be nervous about your flight.”

THE ART OF FLYING

As I have spent a lot of time over the years on airplanes firstly as an international model flying around on assignments and then later as an international artist exhibiting around the world and not forgetting a love of travel in my spare time too, I can really relate to all of that.

All so true,   however at the same time I really do like flying.  I find it is the one time that I can truly relax.  It is difficult to do too much more than; read, watch movies, TV shows and listen to the radio, eat, drink and sleep.  So I usually totally unwind, well in-between getting poked and prodded by the people behind, squished by the person in fronts reclining chair and climbed over by the owner of a small bladder that is.  Oh the joys of flying!

Here is a quote by Gil Stern that I think fits perfectly here;

“Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society.  The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute.”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting to you all, oh and flying of course.

Love Marie xxx

Why not come and have a look at Marie Jonsson-Harrison’sPAINTINGS FOR SALE, GICLEE PRINTS FOR SALE and SCULPTURES for sale orWALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.

So here we are still in Gothenburg staying with Leif, Lena and Emma and if you wanna recap here are the art blogs leading up to this point in time.  156. ART & FREQUENT FLYER POINTS and 157. Art & Never judge a book by it’s cover

This is the first time I have been back to Sweden for 30 years, seems crazy that it was that long ago.  We had good intentions of returning several times and showing the kids their roots but got waylaid by a travel deal to America and ended up doing LA, Vegas, Mexico and New York instead.  This painting of Swedish Midsummer celebrations was bought by my aunty Lillian at an art exhibition in Sweden organized by my USA Art Gallery.

ART OF EMOTIONS

Oh well,  finally my husband and I are here the kids were too busy with uni to make it this time, and being in Sweden fills me with mixed emotions too.  It is both exciting and scary to revisit your home country, my thoughts go to the people no longer alive particularly my 2 sets of grandparents whom I loved so very much and miss every day still.  Coming home to Sweden feels melancholy without them here.  Then there is the other relatives that I have missed too and the times and get-togethers – birthdays, Christmases and parties. Over the years I often felt regretful and sad to miss out and imagining how they cherished each other’s company and fun.

THE ART OF HOLDING IT TOGETHER

So it is with very mixed emotions that my childlike view of the world is brought back to reality when I find out that in many cases even though they live in relative proximity to each other some of them have not seen each other since I was home last 30 years ago!  And no they are not fighting or dislike each other from what I can see they just simply got on with their lives and time slipped away.

ARTISTIC INSPIRATIONS

Over a series of 9 days travelling from Gothenburg – Sundsvall – Stockholm we gather together with both my mothers and fathers side of the family and have many lunches and dinners and catch ups.  I felt so blessed to be within the bosom of my longed for family, at all times I felt cherished and loved and the misapprehension and melancholy soon lifted.

The first gathering in Gothenburg started at 11 am and did not conclude till 11pm with lunch, dinner with coffees and snacks in-between some fine wine.  The company was wonderful with Lena, Leif, Emma who we are staying with, then joined by my 82 year old aunty Actress and Director Gun Jonsson and she is something else altogether.  Only in the movies have I ever seen a woman that is 80 and looks and acts 50 but here she is.  The thing about Gun is it is all natural – no plastic surgeries or trout pouts, nothing fake, a few lines but they do not detract from her beauty, just a woman comfortable in her own skin with hutzpa and vivaciousness, oh I hope I take after her in the “getting old” department!  If that is what getting old means we have nothing to fear at all.

She was a chorus girl in her day and a former Miss Stockholm Lucia before she got into acting and has been held dear by the Swedish people and even received a medal from the King and Queen of Sweden for her services to the Arts just recently.  If you fancy reading more about her and my fathers upbringing in Sweden in the Circus here is an art blog about that;  20. Antonis Tivoli Art and 21. Life in a Circus Tent .

ART AND SEX AGAIN

Guns most recent engagement was at the theater  in Falkenberg where she presented “A naked man” a story by Johan Werkmaster about friendship in life’s autumn.  Perhaps on reflection it is from my aunty my own fascination with sexuality comes from, lol.

The “teaser” from this production reads:

“Miss Lasker is old and alone.  Mr Jansson is old and fat.  They are neighbours .  They drink coffee and talk.  Afterwards Mr Jansson goes home again.  But one night he comes back.  Miss Lasker wakes up.  Her door bell rings.  She opens the door and screams because there is Mr Jansson totally…..

Shame it was not still playing when we were there as it sounded right up my alley!

Anyway back to the gathering, we were also joined by Gun’s son and my cousin Mikael Lind who being the fruit of two actors, his father is Lars Lind, couldn’t help but also getting involved in the limelight in one way or another.  Mikael has for the last 20 something years played on cruise ships with his band where he plays the drums.   Just like my brother in his band the Clowns of Decadence  25. Shake Rattle and Roll & Art & Music The next generation has also followed in this path with Mikael’s son and daughter enjoying some showbiz accolades through acting and music.

MORE ARTISTIC INSPIRATIONS

The other people present this day was my gorgeous cousin Sonja and Per-Ove who also have lived a very interesting life.  Per-Ove was an agronomist and Sonja taught in schools among other things and they lived together in several of the African countries.  Their main objective was to help the poor pull out of their circumstances and learn alternatives to conventional agriculture, aiming to produce crops in a sustainable way.  Couple this together with their stories about living life in Sweden and alternating that with living in third world countries and you have conversations which was just fascinating.  We then spend the next day on tour with them being shown Gothenburg through Per-Oves eyes who was born there and told stories to transport you back to when he was a little boy, a wonderful and enriching experience.

Here is a quote by Gaston Bachelard which is how I felt during my time in visiting Sweden again;

“So, like a forgotten fire, a childhood can always flare up again within us.”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting to you all!

Love Marie xxx

Why not come and have a look at Marie Jonsson-Harrison’s PAINTINGS FOR SALE, GICLEE PRINTS FOR SALE and SCULPTURES for sale or WALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.

]]> http://mariejonssonharrison.com.au/159-art-rose-colored-glasses/feed/ 0 http://mariejonssonharrison.com.au/125-gallery-m-and-salt/ http://mariejonssonharrison.com.au/125-gallery-m-and-salt/#comments Thu, 08 Mar 2012 23:44:10 +0000 http://www.mariejonssonharrison.com.au/new/?p=3213 ART GALLERY SHOW

This was from an art exhibition opening at Gallery M here is South Australia  called The Demise or Otherwise of South Australia’s Gulfs, curated by Save Our Gulf Coalition.  Over ninety artists had been invited to take part and a number of them are high profile.  The diversity is enormous and with every medium allowed ranging from jewellery, photography, textiles, sculpture and of course paintings.

GICLEE PRINT & ARTISTS

The above Giclee print was my contribution called “Catch me if you can” where everybody are happy and having a wonderful time in a perfect ecosystem with clear blue water with healthy and abundant sea life.  Although I do have to admit, I myself would like my visit to the seashore a little less crowded than I have depicted it here, lol, and funny about that!

The artists in this show had been asked to submit work that reflects their own interpretation of the possible future effects on our fragile coastal and Gulf waters, either the beauty or the loss of beauty of the environment and the wild life.

The group themselves; Save Our Gulf Coalition joined forces in 2008 to protest against the then proposed desalination plant in Port Stanvac.  Their aim was to stop desalination plants from going ahead in the inappropriate locations in South Australia and they are not affiliated with any political party nor receive funding from  the government or businesses.  This intern they hope would help to reduce gulf pollution and promote storm water harvesting and waste water recycling.

THE ART OF GOVERNMENT SPIN

I must say it is a real clog mire to try to decipher, what is government spin and which scientists we should believe in this debate as there are opposing camps here just like we find when talking about the question of global warming.  It seems to me that if you pay a scientist enough money he will attest to just about anything.  Just look at the tobacco industry and their so call scientists who have over many many years testified that there was no ill effect from nicotine, whilst people all along have been dying in droves.  It seems to me that the same thing is probably going on with the mobile phone – but how can we live without them now!  I wonder what the rate of brain tumors will be in the future?  (For a more light-hearted read on smoking see this art blog Still Smoking Hot.)

My husband is very concerned about the desalination plant and is sure the extra salt that will be pumped out to sea will kill off any fish and sea creatures in the immediate vicinity.  The Save Our Gulf group view is that the gulf is a delicate environment and is being used as a giant garbage dump for industrial waste, chemicals, storm water and treated sewage and that the dumping of enormous volumes of hyper-saline brine will push the fragile marine ecosystem beyond its limits.

It actually is quite amazing to watch where the water from the river enters the sea after a big rain, for hundreds of meters out to shore the sea becomes the color of mud instead of blue.  It does make more sense to try to harvest the rain water I would have thought.

FREE ART E CARD

So it is hoped that this exhibition will not only highlight some of the negative factors but also show some of the unique beauty of the South Australian aquatic life and coastal landscapes.   “Catch me if you can” is also available as a free e-card, I would love you to used it for an environmental message of protest and also as a “I wish you were here” card whilst on holiday of course.

Here is a quote by Havelock Ellis made in 1923 in The Dance of Life that I think fits very well here;

“The sun, the moon and the stars would have disappeared long ago…had they happened to be within the reach of predatory human hands.”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting to you all.

Love Marie xxx  (c)

Why not come and have a look at Marie Jonsson-Harrison’s PAINTINGS FOR SALE, GICLEE PRINTS FOR SALE and SCULPTURES for sale or WALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.

Is the title of this acrylic on board painting of Jesus doing just that! As I have said before I really enjoy painting religious motives but am not a follower of any particular religion.  I guess you can say that I am hedging my bets as I wear a Cross and a Budda around my neck and am keen to add to that with a Ganesh (love that elephant symbol) and also some others too.  I am a child of the world and believe in peace and happiness for everyone no matter what colour of the skin, cultural background or sexual orientation.  If you fancy having a look at another of my religious painting Noahs Ark, use this link (as well as some more thoughts about religion.) 29. Religious Paintings.

HEAVEN AND ART

I do really hope there is a heaven as there are lots of people & animals that I so want to see and hug again – top of that list are my darling grandparents.  Not that I am in any hurry – well if it was possible to make a daytrip and just visit and then come back to earth and life as normal – yes then I would be lining up for a ticket.

I have the sketch for exactly that painting and at least I will paint it one day – Daytrip to Heaven.  I think just so there wouldn’t be a mix up for the return journey,  a T-shirt from Monty Pythons show Spamalot would be the attire for the day with the inscription across the chest of “I am not dead yet”.    Just in case – right?

ART AND FOOD

A great place to visit and have some delicious food and see some good art on the walls is at my lovely pals

Francis and Putu at White Cedars Cafe in Burra and here is a link to another art blog about them which you may enjoy;  24. Noodles Anyone ?

For a recent SALA  exhibition Putu came up with the idea when they went and saw a Dorrit Black retrospective at the Royal Institute (and saw that most of the work there were on loan), that it would be lovely to ask the connoisseurs among their friends to hang their most prized possessions whether it was their own artwork or by someone else.  Perhaps a memory of a time and place or person and to go with the artwork a brief explanation of why this particular piece is precious.

So I think this is a fabulous idea for a show and it is going to be very interesting to see the various artworks on display and read all about them.  Of course this will be an exhibition to remember and not only for the art but also for the fantastic food – Putu is the chef and an expert at Balinese food – to die for (can you see there really is a theme to this, LOL)

It is fitting then that I leave you with the title of a song from Monty Python’s “Life of Brian” – a song that I have requested to be played at my own funeral (which hopefully will be many, many moons from now).

“Always look at the bright side of life”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting,

Love Marie xxx    (c)

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I had been painting for about 5 years when my gallery in Melbourne called me to let me know that a scout for a Japanese gallery had been in to see them and were very interested in showing my artwork in Nagoya.

This painting depicts my Qantas flight over to Nagoya in Japan for my first exhibition, however there was a lot of I’s to be dotted and t’s to be crossed before that first trip.  You see the Japanese do not do things by half and it took more than six months before that first contract was signed.

So in the meantime I lived on hope, as during both my days as a model and then in the art business I have come to know that you win some and you lose some, and I didn’t know which category this was going to fall into.

Firstly I had to send pictures of my artwork to Japan, price lists, mediums and sizes etc, and then they wanted to see some of the actual paintings in real life so a couple of paintings had to be sent over to Nagoya.  Then there was lots of to-ing and fro-ing about the price I was to receive for each art work and the commission for the art gallery in Melbourne.

Eventually a representative from the gallery in Japan flew to Melbourne and they flew me from Adelaide for the final meeting and signing of the contract, which was held at the Melbourne gallery who were my agent in this new art venture.

ART & KIDS

I took one of my dearest friends Christina with me as well as my two kids, Kai and Hillivi.  So off we go; Miss Hillivi my daughter  was 2 years  old at the time and had just sat down in her seat on the plane and fastened the seatbelt before she threw up all over herself, (there are quite a few stories like that with little Miss Hillivi) luckily I had Christina there to help me out.

I do know that first impressions are really important and thought my chances with the Japanese would not be enhanced by being covered in baby spew, so by now I was getting a bit worried.

ART MEETING

The problem was we had to go virtually straight from the plane to the Japanese meeting, as typically the plane was delayed.  However as one door closes another one opened and I ran into an acquaintance on the plane that said we should come to his hotel and get changed.  Saved by the man on a white horse so to speak as both I and Hillivi did not smell so good by this stage(brave man), so that offer came in very handy.

Then there was another small problem with taxis.   Here in Australia you have to have children in seatbelts and in booster chairs when travelling if the child is under 7 and of course, I had not thought of that.( I am normally very safety conscious but tell me how you get around in a new city with kids and no car.)

We eventually found a taxi driver to take us (although we had to duck in the backseat all the way) and surprisingly enough still made it to the meeting on time.  Christina, bless her cotton socks amused the kids in a café down the road whilst I against all odds and with nothing left but hope finally had that contract signed and sealed.

If you would like to know what happened on my first trip to Nagoya to attend my art exhibition there here is a link;  64. Flying to Japan (continuation of Signing the Contract)

So here is a saying from Lu Xun (writer) that I think fits rather well here.

“Hope can neither be affirmed nor denied.  Hope is like a path in the countryside:  Originally there was no path-yet, as people are walking all the time in the same spot, a way appears.”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting!

Love Marie  xxx                                               (c)

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We first started going to the sky show when our son was about 10 months old in 1988 and that is the inspiration for this naive art painting.

The Sky show was held as an annual event and started in the middle 80’s to celebrate Australia Day with an amazing fireworks display synchronized to pop music and sponsored by a local radio station called SAFM and later on joined by the hardware store Bunnings. It was held in Bonython Park along the river and attended by an estimated 150.000 people at a time, but watched by many more from several vantage points in Adelaide, it was of course with my artistic eye a painting just waiting to happen!

We actually tried to watch it one year when we were unable to go from the farm 100km away, but that proved to be a tad optimistic!!

THE ART OF THE PICNIC

Every year we would pack a picnic and drive the one and a half hours into Adelaide park the car and then walk along the river for another 20 or so minutes to reach the spot with bags and picnic blankets, esky and with the kids in tow, together with what seemed to be the entire Adelaide population.

With the atmosphere of anticipation in the air we would make our way along whilst the kids ran up ahead and one year even brought their scooters (you know the kind without a motor that you kick along with your leg on the ground) that they got as Christmas presents and whizzed up ahead.

Our son Kai (red top & blue jeans on painting detail) as I said was only a baby when we first attended and we were a bit worried that he would be frightened by the noise of the rockets going off and the loud music, but no worries, he was good as gold and just laid there with me on a big picnic blanket looking up at the sky with the biggest of eyes, our daughter Hillivi (pink dress with hearts on painting detail) was much the same 4 years later when she came into the world.

We would set ourselves up in a particular spot each year far away from the stage but right by the river, where the kids could run around and chase ducks and play after which we would have an amazing feast of dips, crackers, olives and the like, followed by a “main course” of sorts and cake and coffee.

Then as it got dark we laid down ready for the main event which never failed to disappoint us.  Over the years we were sometimes joined by various friends and also my mum and dad (which is the time depicted in this painting, we are all sitting on the lilac picnic rug the 6 of us with the esky, my father; sculptor Ted Jonsson is the one with the beard. )

ART EXHIBITION IN NAGOYA, JAPAN

As you can see from this Japanese  art invitation I was in rather good company in this exhibition-just the 3 of us!  Being part of an art exhibition featuring art by Andy Warhol and Steve Kaufman is something you as an artist just dream about!

SPIRITUALITY IN ART

Lying there next to the river watching the wonderment of the black sky with the stars followed by pulsating music and then the crack and light explosion of a million rockets going off and tumbling down all over the sky was amazing – You know how sometimes you feel the godliness (whether you are religious or not) when something stirs deep inside you and you have your loved ones close and you just want to capture that feeling forever, well that was the sky show for us.

So as we sat by the river taking it all in I remembered this quote from A.A Milne (writer)

“Rivers know this; There is no hurry. We shall get there.”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting to you all!

Love Marie  xxx                                                                           (c)

Why not come and have a look at Marie Jonsson-Harrison’s PAINTINGS FOR SALE, GICLEE PRINTS FOR SALE and SCULPTURES for sale or WALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.

I was thrilled when I found out that my painting Don’t let Your Arthritis get in the way was going to be on the cover of  the Adelaide Review it was printed in conjunction of an art exhibition at the time.

Quite amazing to me that one can have two completely separate occupations and both ended up gracing covers on magazines.

THE ART OF GROWING OLD

Funny though you would never get a cover in modelling showing old folks like this.

Shame isn’t it that growing old is not celebrated more; you often hear that youth is wasted on the young and in many ways that is true.

Although I must say in my own case that each passing year just gets better than the last.  Yes sure, there are always hick ups along the way, life happens to you whilst you are busy doing other things…. as Lennon said.

But for the most part, it’s such a joy to be alive, I’m just not totally happy with the allotment of time…..are we talking round the 100 or so years at the most, give or take a few years.

How is that going to be enough, there is so much to do and see and experience and equally important are the quiet times, sitting cosy by the fire with the rain falling on the iron roof, kicking back with a good red and the latest movie.

On this painting you will find me (30 years or so into the future) the one, in the middle kicking my legs up, yes I do that still and intend to till the end, if I can still muster up the energy.

Bryan is by the bar, hair grey now (it really is grey now although I always paint him still with his blond curly hair and blond moustache)

PAINTING & FRIENDS

The others in the painting are our friends, and you may not have noticed but we have been a little to boisterous in our attempts at some good old fashioned boogying that we have all lost our false teeth, they are all around us on the floor.

Well let’s hope that not all my paintings come true, I would really like to keep my teeth were they belong, and not in a glass by the bed.

Here is a thought by Albert Schweitzer (humanitarian and philosopher) that I like.

“An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere, while a pessimist sees only the red stoplight.  The truly wise person is colour-blind.”

Till next time, happy painting and sculpting!

Love Marie xxx                             (c)

Here is another art blog with my artwork on 112 Artlink Magazine and also as a model on the cover of Playboy.

Why not come and have a look at Marie Jonsson-Harrison’s PAINTINGS FOR SALE, GICLEE PRINTS FOR SALEand SCULPTURES for sale or WALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.