Happy holidays and a happy 2014 to you all across the world.  On this painting you can see my husband and I kicking back and relaxing on our farm seizing the day.  Sitting under a tree having a picnic, sipping champagne, reading a good book all whilst being watched by the kangaroos and sheep and our two dogs; Moses and Saba.  Kai and Hillivi our children are flying kites nearby whilst the birds are all feeding their young in the trees, an idyllic summer afternoon (with a bit of artistic licence of course, lol) It’s from a few years ago now as the kids are all grown up and the dogs sadly passed on but still in our hearts forever more.

THE ART OF HAPPINESS

I hope this new year will bring you all that you wish for and be the happiest yet, and for some reason it doesn’t always work that way keep this in mind “The happiest people don’t have the best of everything they just make the best of everything”.  Wise words I think by an unknown author and something I have seen many, many times during our travels, some of the happiest people I have ever met have been in third world countries.  Happiness is not something measured by the number of cars you possess, the amount of money you earn or living in the fanciest of houses, no it is something within.  The beaming smiles and laughter and giggles often come from the simplest of dwellings, overcrowded and basic but everything is shared and strangers are welcomed as one of the family.

THE ART OF CARPE DIEM

So I would like to share a few quotes about Carpe Diem which means; to enjoy the pleasures of the moment without concern for the future.

“Life is short, God’s way of encouraging a bit of focus.”

(Robert Brault)

“Enjoy yourself.  It’s later than you think.”

(Chinese Proverb)

“Do not take life too seriously.  You will never get out of it alive.”

(Elbert Hubbard)

“Dream as if you’ll live forever.  Live as if you’ll die today.”
(James Dean)

“The important thing is not how many years in your life but how much life in your years”
(Edward J. Stieglitz)

“Be happy while you’re living, for you’re a long time dead.”

(Scottish Proverb)

“To change one’s life:  Start immediately.  Do it flamboyantly.  No exceptions.”
(William James)

“You live longer once you realize that any time spent being unhappy is wasted.”
(Ruth E. Renkl)

“Most of us spend our lives as if we had another one in the bank.”

(Ben Irwin)

“Minutes are worth more than money.  Spend them wisely.”
(Thomas P. Murphy)
“If you wait, all that happens is that you get older.”
(Larry McMurtry)
“Use your health, even to the point of wearing it out.  That is what it is for.  Spend all you have before you die; do not outlive yourself.”

(George Bernard Shaw)

“We’re fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance.”

(Japanese Proverb)

“Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion.  Being alive is the special occasion.”

(Author Unknown)

So on that note I leave you, till next time happy painting and sculpting and just enjoying life, Carpe Diem.

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.

Just got back from our holiday in Thailand, a very memorable trip for lots of reasons, both good and bad!  We did of course see some beautiful flowers and monkeys as you can see in this naive acrylic flower painting as well as many other things.  Pairing this painting with my blog is to calm the waters a little before the storm so to speak.  So many inspirations for me to paint and sculpt in the future, even the not so good things will make funny paintings.

THE ART OF PARTYING

I first heard about Phuket the amazing Thailand party town during my modelling days in Europe.  At that time my favourite getaway places were Ibiza (an Island of the coast of Spain) and Bali which I frequented lots.  My intentions had been to get there earlier but something always got in the way, life generally – but now finally we were on our way.

THE ART OF TIME

On the plane to Sydney to catch our international connection the airhostess told us all over the loud speaker that the Sydney time was quarter to 11 and we all put our watches back.  As we had a couple of hours to kill we got coffee and planned our lunch and then were going to do a brisk airport walk around to get the exercise quota in too.  Just by chance a sloppily handwritten boarding time got us talking about the time and as we now had several different times on our tablets, watches and phones we decided to really check and my goodness lucky we did!  The airhostess had made a mistake; the clocks should have been put forward half an hour and our plane was boarding now and not in an hour’s time and we still had to go through customs!!

NOT SO NAIVE

We had booked great seats on the plane and happily saw that there didn’t seem to be any babies within the vicinity, well that must have been an optical illusion as very soon 3 little ones materialized in close proximity all in fine voice.  All 3 babies took turns to scream their lungs out for the entire 9 hour trip, so loudly that not even the earplugs whilst watching movies would drown them out.

ARTISTIC INSPIRATION

Now I am starting to wonder about this trip – what else is going to go wrong, lol.  Well we arrive at the airport and are met by a friendly driver in a nice car, so far so good.  However he then turns into Mr Roadrage for the next 45 minute drive to Patong Beach and was within a centimeter to having a high-speed accident.

Not such BLISS full ART INSPIRATIONS

We finally arrive at Hotel Bliss overlooking the beach within walking distance to everything!  The reception seemed OK and so it should be, as we had checked the TripAdvisor thoroughly and this hotel was highly recommended.  However what we did not know was that there was an old part and a new part and guess what – we had a room in the old part!  So we got taken through old mouldy walkways, a lift and corridors that had seen better days to our room which was a major disappointment.  The only thing it had got going for it was that it was clean but otherwise very poky and the piece the resistance for me was the cubicle made from partly obscured glass in the bedroom where the shower and the toilet sat!  Now you tell me – what is with this design trend, how many people actually like seeing their partner sitting on the toilet?  Particularly in Asian counties too where the toilet visits may be a little more frequent perhaps, lol.   Call me boring if you like, but seeing hubby on the loo with pants around the ankles while I lay in bed does absolutely nothing for my libido, funny about that!  The room had neither bathroom privacy nor anywhere else either as the windows and balcony also was in view of everyone outside, unless you closed the heavy curtain, which was so depressing.

So we were two rather depressed holiday makers sitting down for a very average dinner in the outdoor hotel restaurant discussing our options of how to turn this bad start to our holiday around.

Luckily we managed too, so if you come and visit me again you will find out how.

Here is a quote I think fits rather well here by Erma Bombeck;

“We hit the sunny beaches where we occupy ourselves keeping the sun off our skin, the saltwater off our bodies, and the sand out of our belongings.”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting.

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.

Oh boy what strange 6 weeks I have just had!!  Life happens to you whilst you are busy doing other things as John Lennon said.  Normally I sit in my art studio with an amazing view, the house perched up high like an eagles nest, high above a train track and overlooking a valley, beach and sea as far as the eye can see going all the way to the horizon.

Really wonderfully inspiring for an artist and probably why a lot of my paintings lately have been aquatic scenes.  Well our wonderful world was interrupted a couple of months ago with the Transport Departments electrification of the railway line.  Not something we had anticipated would bother us too much, we had seen the artist’s impressions and they looked just fine.  A couple of poles 50 meters apart and a few wires – not much to whinge about and you cannot stand against progress.

So the drilling started and then surprise, surprise they struck rock (we live on a mountain DOH! Why they didn’t anticipate that is beyond me.)   The drilling went on and on for weeks, day after day, 3 days drilling in every one of the 9 holes outside us, 7am – 5pm seven days a week.

PAINTING HAPPY PAINTINGS

Well to cut a long story short, painting happy paintings is impossible with over 83 decibels of incessant drilling 15 meters from your doorstep.  As is just living life and apart from tearing our hair out to add to the drama now my husband and I were fighting too.  So hubby got that fed up and cross he went out and told the workers off and that is when we found out what was actually happening on our street.

5 MONKEYS WITH A COMPASS COULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB.

Our street one of the most scenic streets in Adelaide had been selected for special treatment, not poles 50 meters apart for us.  No the “so called experienced” (cough, cough) engineers from Halcrow designed this by Google map from Queensland with no visual consideration as to where these structures would be best placed from an environmental and aesthetics stance.  Instead the Tensioner Hubs (overlaps) has been placed more like a game of “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” with an astounding haphazard lack of forethought.

STATE OF THE ART

I would like to point out though that it is not the POLES that we object too, we are well aware that we would have poles all the way along the railway line for the wire to sit on with this old and antiquated system.   The South Australian Government who is clearly misinformed call this a “State of the Art” design (LOL) perhaps they should have done a little bit of Googeling themselves.  It is not too hard to find out that the Noarlunga/Seaford Rail Electrification was actually first designed in Hungary before World War ll and trialed back in the 40’s before it came into widespread use in the 1950.  So the statement ”State of the Art” is terribly misleading as there are multiple much better designs available across the world this Century.

THE ART OF THE OVERLAP

No, what we are strongly objecting to is that the Transport Department in their wisdom has picked our street to erect the Tensioner Hub (overlaps); which will consist of Portals, Junctions, Gantries, Tensioners, Double Poles with cross Members, all set very closely together some 20 meters apart and others with 1 – 2 meters apart.  Made from huge steel beams,  7.5 meters tall and 350mm wide with lots of electrifications gadgets hanging from them.

NOT ROCKET SCIENCE IS IT?

These so called “Tensioner Hubs” (or overlaps) will then be erected all the way down the line to Adelaide at a distance of approximately 1.6 km.  So there are a lot more people all along the coast line who will be unfortunate enough to get one of these monstrosities outside their houses.  Our objective is to get these unsightly structures placed in a less obtrusive position wherever there is an alternative place suitable, as there is here some 100 meters away from the presently planned position.  We have enlisted several independent engineers who verify that the structure can be moved without any safety concerns or other issues.

STATE OF THE ART SUPPORT

We have had strong support from Nick Xenaphon (Independent) Vickie Chapman & David Speirs (Liberal) and Amanda Rishworth (Federal Labor)as well as the Messenger Newspaper, Radio 891’s Matt & David and 2 episodes by Paul Makin from Today Tonight.  The recent Today Tonight showed the Labor Government’s Ministers and Transport Department’s cronies as they really are; inflexible, uncaring, misleading and arrogant.

And so the infrastructure started going up 10 minutes after the TV crew left and officials left, as the workers and trucks must have been sitting waiting in the wings.  So the “Big Cheeses” who after 6 weeks of us begging  finally came to our street, were only here to give us lip service in the most insincere way.

It did amuse me to see they had employed a few security guards to keep watch, one stationed outside our house and the other by the vehicle entrance.  Funny how frightening my threat must have been to the powers that be, to chain myself to the railway track.  We put up a sterling fight and Power to the People I say!

ART AND POLITICS

Here are a few of quotes I think fits perfectly here;

“When leaders act contrary to conscience, we must act contrary to leaders.”

(Veterans Fast for Life)

“It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong.”

(Voltaire)

“As long as the world shall last there will be wrongs, and if no man objected and no man rebelled, those wrongs would last forever.”

(Clarence Darrow)

Till next time, when I should be back on track (pardon the pun) and telling you some happier stories, Happy Painting and Sculpting to you all.

Love Marie xxx

Footnote:  I would really like to thank all of you involved in fighting this cause, you all did a fantastic job and everyone played their part and never wavered.  All spent hours researching railways, electrification systems, best practice, environment, the law and the like.  Countless meetings, protests and media calls and never mind all the hours of writing emails, letters and making phone calls. For a small group who really didn’t know each other before all this we did a fab job.  Thank you Bryan for getting us started and Richard for being the good cop against my bad cop (although I did like your analogy of me being the bull at the gate and you the limp squid too, lol:) Thank you Ursula, David, Susan, Denice, Keith, Jenny, Steven, Dot, Paul, Dawn, Nicky, Sam, Kai, Tonia, Jan, Graham, Nadine,Paul  and everyone else that helped.  You are all stars and at least we did get a slightly less offensive monstosity erected, well done!   Big Hug, 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.

Todays travel and art blog continues on from 166. Rondellhund, Roundabout dogs Sculptures as we finished a great smorgasbord spread in the Rondellhund factory.  So if you should want to catch up on the travel and art blogs leading up to this point in our recent Europe trip here are the links;  156. ART & FREQUENT FLYER POINTS and 157. Art & Never judge a book by it’s cover and 155 The Art of Packing Light and 164. ART, TOILETS AND TRAVEL

REVISITING SOLD PAINTINGS

After dinner we were taken to my Aunty Lillian and Hasses little red cottage for coffee and cake, it was lovely to see it and three of my paintings hanging on their wall which they had purchased when I had a Swedish art exhibition some years ago in the South of Sweden.

After a nights rest we were picked up by Aunty Lillian and Hasse again to go for a sightseeing tour around both Huddinge where I grew up and Spanga, Solna and Sundbyberg where my mum and dad lived and went to school many moons ago.

First we visited the house that my father built and that I lived in from age 7 until 13 and we were very kindly invited inside when we were found lurking, lol outside taking pictures of the front of the house by the owner.

Lol, we could have been undesirables casing the joint but the lovely owner trusted us and it was fantastic to see my childhood house again.  My dad was way ahead of his time in building it with lots of fantastic features that still looked modern today, among them a great big slate fireplace in the middle of the room and a marble tiles floor in the entrance hall leading into the big room with a parquet floor.  The kitchen had not stood the test of time unfortunately and a new one had been put in and in the backyard the pergola, potter’s wheel and my cubby house were long gone, as were the gate to the neighbour’s yard as they had moved long ago taking with them their 3 kids, my playmates.

THE ART OF LETTING GO

The next stop was a little tricky emotionally – we were going to visit my Grandparents graves.  I was very very close to my Mormor and Morfar (as Grandparents are referred to in Swedish; Mothersmother and Mothersfather, that way no one is ever confused as to which sets of Nanna and Pa’s you are talking about!)

Last time 30 years ago when I visited their graves I was a total wreck with the grief and hurt so raw that I had been dreading going back.

My cousin Berit had arranged to meet us there and had bought a beautiful flowering rose for me to plant on their grave which we did together.  What I really appreciated this time around was the beauty of this graveyard.  It was beautifully looked after with trees, bushes, flowers everywhere.  The paths continued on through from the graveyard meandering in a picturesque setting to where my Grandparents had maintained a little Summer house (Kolonistuga).   These miniature cottages of one or two small rooms each are set out like a tiny little town on small plots of land with lots of vegetable and fruits growing and a communal park area for parties and Midsommer celebrations.  Swedes who live in apartments buy or rent these types of cottages as place to get away during the summer and potter in the gardens and feel one with nature.

ARTIST INSPIRATION

The inspiration for this  acrylic painting called “The Good Life” no doubt comes from my childhoods memory of seeing all the vegetables, flowers and fruit my grandfather grew in his little garden, whilst my grandmother rustled up delicious food all the while telling funny stories and laughing lots!

So this area was so full of wonderful memories of my childhood and I really felt at peace with the fact that my Mormor and Morfar were no longer alive but that their spirits were still here and so very much part of this place for me.   They were actually buried in the absolute best possible place for them.   If I looked up to my right there were the Rasberrymountains where their apartment had been and on the other side of the graveyard was Lotsjon; a small lake that my Grandfather and I always walked around feeding the ducks and birds.

THE ART OF BEING THANKFUL

All of us were then treated to a lovely lunch by Lillian and Hasse in this gorgeous little Grona Stugan (Green cottage restaurant) that was next to the lake with all the ducks.  So atmospheric and beautiful my heart was filled with happiness and grateful for the wonderful childhood I had experience with the most loving and caring Grandparents ever and also felt so cherish by the lovely relatives sharing this day with me.

So I think this quote by an unknown author fits well here:

“There are things that we don’t want to happen but have to accept, things we don’t want to know but have to learn, and people we can’t live without but have to let go.”

I wish you all a beautiful day, month and year and happy painting or sculpting or whatever else gets your fancy.

Till next time,

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.

So another year is just about to have passed us by and a new one is on it’s way.  How did it all happen so fast, where did the year go?  There never seem to be enough days of the week or hours in a day does it?  So much to do and so little time!

Each day, as a lot of you know, I use a different quote that I find either funny or inspiring and post it on my Facebook page Naive Art by Marie Jonsson-Harrison together with an image of a painting or sculpture and a link to my art blog to my artist website.  This week among others, I used this quote;

“Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts.” by Janice Maeditere  and one of the comments I got back was “ That should happen every day and not just at Christmas…. too much emphasis is put on being good and kind at this time of year but it only is one or two days out of 365… what about the rest of the year?” from one of my FB friends.   Which I thought was a point well made and a good place to start another art blog about New Year’s Resolutions.

WALL BASED SCULPTURE

This wall based sculpture in handmade ceramic and mosaic called Champagne Charlie was bought from one of my exhibitions at Greenhill Gallery and hangs in the restaurant of a hotel in Adelaide.  The subject matter I thought had a good fit for New Years.

THE ART OF BEING GOOD

I am quite sure that I am not always “good” lol, being a touch naughty at times, however trying to be kind to everyone is something I always strive to be, of course even with the best of intentions that does not always hit the mark but hopefully most of the time perhaps.

The experts say that most of our well intended new year resolutions go out the window after about 14 days and if we want to make sure we stick to them to promise small things – make tiny changes which therefore are not too daunting to stick too and then use them as a base to add some more.  Really New Year’s resolutions are just good habits.

Here are some of mine, most of the things on this list I do already but it never hurts to reinforce them I figure.

AN ARTISTS NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

1. Pay it forward – be kind and do onto others and all that.
2. Eat healthily, and for me that means also sticking to my Vegetarian/gluten free diet, and try to read the labels of food a little more carefully to avoid falling off the band wagon.
3. When out partying make sure I drink one glass of water with every alcoholic drink, to help my liver and my head the next day.  Oh I know what some of you are saying – perhaps cut the wine out – but you got to have some vices right!!  As I have already cut out the Bad Men lol, I still got to have some fun!
4. Keep up the exercise an hour a day come rain or shine and don’t forget the arms Marie – you got to get some upper strength too – remember what the physio said – 127 Use it or Loose it in Art
5. Cut out the sugar, apparently sugar is responsible along with the sun for an increase in wrinkly skin, never mind the body’s overall health– so the sugar has got to go.  (have always had a low sugar diet but need to focus on that some more)
6. Stay close to family and friends, spend time together and tell them they are loved.
7. Try new things, keep up with technology, explore new horizons, keep interested, learn, move forward.
8. Travel and see the world – you only live once and are a long time dead, so do it now whilst you can.
9. Write down your paintings and art blog ideas in one book like you used too – makes things so much easier to find!

So this is my list, I would love to hear what your new year’s resolutions are?

GREAT QUOTES

Here is one I love by Edith Lovejoy Pierce;

“We will open the book.  Its pages are blank.  We are going to put words on them ourselves.  The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.”

I love to think that the next year is full of possibilities and opportunities – just there for us to go and find.  Another one is a quote on the topic of New Years Resolutions by a favorite of mine Mark Twain;

“Yesterday, everybody smoked his last cigar, took his last drink and swore his last oath.  Today, we are a pious and exemplary community.  Thirty days from now, we shall have cast our reformation to the winds and gone to cutting our ancient shortcomings considerably shorter than ever.”

However I will leave you this time with a quote that has been attributed to Mark Twain as well (although there is some controversy over that) which is one of my favorites quotes;

“Twenty years from now you will be more

disappointed by the things

that you didn’t do than by the ones you did

do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away

from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting and whatever else takes your fancy.

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.

My husband and I have always had a happiness trick that we have used throughout the years and that is to play Saturday night!

The art of happiness, what is that I hear you ask – well it goes something like this;

You know when you have those days or weeks where life gets you down, the car won’t start in the morning and then you get the electricity bill which throws you and then you drop the jar of jam which makes a mess everywhere.  Mmmm… that is when my husband and I looks at each other and decide now we got to play “Saturday Night”.

Playing “Saturday Night” is great and the best thing about it is it can be any day of the week.  All you have to do is to make it cosy.  A yummy dinner is required but it can be as easy as a take away pizza or as fancy as a 3 course meal. Take away containers are not allowed in sight as it should feel special, so no plastic cups either just good glasses.  Setting the table in an artistic fashion adds to the mood, all the colors in the paint pallet makes me feel good.   Candle light is always nice, as is a roaring fire or sitting by a pool in summer or running water (even a small water feature will do.)

Now for us a bottle of red wine is a must but of course, use whatever drink is your favourite.  When we were having money problems early on in our marriage the budget would only stretch to a $4 dollar bottle of wine, but that didn’t spoil our fun one bit, it tasted just fine to me at the time.

If you feel like talking do so over dinner but if you need to just switch off get a good movie and just get lost in it.

When the kids were little we always had chip and dip and lollies on a Saturday and watched a family movie together before they went to bed and then we would continue with the adult version of our Saturday night!

THE ART OF BEING CREATIVE

Of course you could also schedule in a picnic or a day’s outing as you can see in this handmade ceramic and mosaic artwork – where we are going to Granite Island, South Australia.  Of course painting,sculpting and just creating anything has always helped me be happy too.  So I would really recommend that – a hobby of some kind, even cooking is creative.

If you have little kids they may enjoy an extra Saturday night every week too.  We swear by it, of course whatever problems you have are still there in the morning but to take a little vacation from the stress and worry even if it is only for a few hours, certainly has always helped us.

Oh before you think that our poor kids were fed a diet of chip and dip and lollies I have to say that during the week both at school and at home we all ate a very healthy diet, so once or twice a week to be able to have some “naughty” foods made it all the more special.

Just as sometimes if we went to an all you can eat type of place we would let the kids attack the dessert bar before their main course, lol.  This happened rarely mind you but it was so worth it just to see their excited little faces!

So here is a quote I think fits perfectly here by Jacques Torres;

“Life is short. Eat dessert first”. – Jacques Torres

Till next time, happy painting or sculpting!

Love Marie xxx

If you fancy reading another art blog about how to make yourself happy here is a link; 33. Art & Dont worry be happy

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.

These three kittens in their designer bag surely are not Cash Strapped as the title of this acrylic  painting says, however if you are anything like me you probably have been at some stage of your lives.

Even though at the time we certainly do not appreciate being poor, it does however in the long run become an advantage thankfully.

ART AND THE SILVER SPOON

I have seen many acquaintances that were born with a silver spoon in their mouths sadly loose it all, often because unless you have to work for it, you do not realize how hard money really is to come by.  It is said that the third generation of any business often lose all the inherited money.  They do not understand the blood, sweat and tears it takes to become rich in the first place.  Often displaying the negative qualities of a false sense of entitlement, frustration and wanting everything NOW.

Just as well then that we do not suffer from Affluenza, sounds like a terrible dilemma, lol, but it would be nice to win lotto even so, wouldn’t it?

I recently found 30 bucks in an old jacket I haven’t worn for a couple of years and was mighty pleased and that took me back to my younger days when looking through all the jackets in the wardrobe could mean the difference between going out or not.

MONEY, ART AND TRAVEL

Which reminds me of a tale of my husband’s adventures when he was backpacking through Europe in the early 80’s with his mate Rob.   They were decidedly feeling the pinch and booked into the cheapest Pension only to immediately get scabies!  Lol well thats the story they told me anyway – may have had more to do with the bad bad women!

Another time they went out for dinner  and after a couple of drinks and a cheap meal realized that they wouldn’t have enough to cover the bill, so made a runner for it when the maitre d’s back was turned.   There was one problem which they only found out after sprinting at full speed a couple of blocks away from the restaurant, which was that Rob had left his expensive and only warm coat he owned on the back of the chair at the table, it even had his name written in it.  Well thats karma isn’t it, at least the coat would have covered the bill. LOL. (if you fancy reading more of their crazy tales here is another one 26.Looking for Lochy.)

Here is a poem by my friend Annamarie Causer which she wrote inspired by the above painting.  (More links to her work below)

CASH STRAPPED CATS’

My little puss eats Chappie,
Usually a doggies delight…..
….in days oft gone by.
Makes him feel serene and happy.
He’s grown muscles in places he’s no right.
And I’m positive he barked for the first time last night.

Once upon a time
We ran out of spare money,
Which in this hectic, modern life is not funny.
So opted for a cheap way to feed him.
Cats food proved
So expensive being fancy branded & refined.

Moved
By his mews,
We trailed to the market.
Yet never fear, what did we then find
At the back of the bottom shelves.
Lurking, dusty and unused….an eighties brand
We’d actually thought they’d banned.

So we gave it a try.
Candy floss coloured pink meat,
Resembling no animal we’d ever seen.
But we convinced ourselves ‘twould be a treat.
Now we regret the decision.
For the post box is manned
Each day.
As he dost lay
In wait.
His fave pastime
Come nine
Of the morning is nipping stray postie fingers
If they tend to linger
With neat precision which twould surely astound
The surest footed hound.
He does bound
Up high.
To aim and try
To catch
An unwary hand.
Copyright @ AMC 2011

If you enjoyed the idea with a cat painting and a poem  in an art blog here is a link to another one; 87 Art & It could be worse, they could be fleas

I always remember the song from Spectrum,” I’ll be gone” or “Someday I’ll have money” released in 1971 and if you haven’t heard it I can certainly recommend it as an iconic Aussie anthem of its day.  John Williamson did a later cover of it but it was written by guitarist and vocalist of Spectrum, Mike Rudd.  Here is the first verse;

“Someday I’ll have money,

Money isn’t easy, to come by,

By the time it’s come by I’ll be gone,

I’ll sing my song and I’ll be gone.”

More information on Annamarie Causer, poet extraordinarie;

She also writes for a website called CRAIGMILLAR (look under Memories for Diary of a Countryside Lady) or find her on Facebook FB CRAIGMILLAR (for news, opinion, history and events)

Till next time happy painting and sculpting everyone,

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.

Isn’t it a drag that we can’t just eat whatever we want and not put on weight!

This ceramic and mosaic artwork “Snax attack at Hungry Jack’s” was a delight to make.  I do love food, although for the most part I do eat healthy, I too dream about all the naughty foods that I enjoy, hamburgers with the lot (although in my case, without the meat, lol chips, milkshakes and yummy pizza.)  I had so much fun sculpting all the food out of the clay and then painting it all, I was constantly hungry the whole time!!   So when whilst in the kiln the breast exploded and fell off on this artwork I instead of feeling upset, thought it was just karma and decided it fitted very well with this subject matter.  That could happen if you eat too much,lol.

The  Snax attack artwork sold at  The 4th “Festival Mondial d’Art Naif” in Katowice, Poland along with some other artists paintings for the worldwide naive exhibition at the Szub Wilson Gallery during 17th June – 14th August 2011.

ARTISTIC INSPIRATIONS

How nice would it be to wake up to a Buffet every day, you know the one that you get on holidays,  a whole room full of food, there is 6 different types of cereals, yogurts in every flavor, low fat, full fat and birch. Then you see a tropical color delight with all the different fruits of the world. Oh I know it all sounds pretty healthy so far – but wait a minute then we go to the fry ups, sausages of every country, and ham and then as you get in some of the Asian countries there is beef ham-what the?

Fried eggs, sunny side up, poached, scrambled, boiled or an omelet with whatever you wish thrown in. Never mind all the different breads, white, whole meal, mixed, kibbled, rye, sourdough, lavash, damper, bagels, pita & naan.

Then there is all the really Asian food – now I for one absolutely love my stir-fry’s and curries, sushi, laksa and all the rest.  However I must draw the line at eating fried fish and miso soup first thing in the morning and what about the porridge?  Nothing wrong with porridge I hear you say; that is good old fashioned food.

THE ART OF THE DIET

Well perhaps it is just me being a vegetarian that I cannot stomach the combination of breakfast porridge and chicken – that you get in Bali and Malaysia – what’s with that?  My stomach is a bit delicate in the morning, but show me all the delicacies and I am all yours if it is later in the day! I have always loved food and at times been totally obsessed with it.  Most probably it all stems from my modeling days and the fact that you seemed to be on a constant diet.  In a way though later on in life I am glad of that discipline as I have been reliable informed that most people increase their weight by 2 kilograms each year.

The funny thing is that just 2 kg is nothing that you would really notice over a 12 month period, but then the next year rolls around and suddenly there is another 2 and that makes 4, right?  Most people put these kilos on during the Christmas – New Year period or holiday time.  All of us have good intentions to lose the weight but somehow or another suddenly there is the holiday coming up again and here we go again.  So it’s no wonder then that so many people become obese over time- 2 innocent little kilos over say a 20 year period suddenly amounts to 40 kilos of fat!  Oh what a bugger!

THE ART OF FOOD & EXERCISE

Perhaps you need to surround yourself with a few more brazen thieves whilst you have your brekky, so that you can finish the meal of with a hearty run up stairs and all around the hotel lobby to try to catch him. Well that is what we did on a family holiday in Penang recently.

My husband is one of these people that “people watch” and that keeps him amused no end and he can always spot when something is not quite right. So there we were enjoying one of these wonderful Buffet breakfasts when hubby pointed out this fellow to me – he was sort of skulking around, but I put that down to that he was looking for his group or family.  Then there was the fact that in the very hot Malaysian morning he was wearing long pants and a light cream jacket, well again I said to Bryan some people feel the cold more than others.

So it goes without saying that I got a surprise when this fellow made a very swift move and dove like a swan onto the back of the chair of the couple a few tables up and made off with a handbag, quick as a flash and he was gone up the stairs into the lobby.  Of course hubby saw the whole thing and both he and I and the kids ran after him but to no avail – as far as we could understand he must have had an accomplice with a car waiting to scurry him away. The lady tourist in question wasn’t too bothered, the thief had made off with some change, a comb and a lipstick but what did irk her were the scripts for some heart medication, so I think he would have been rather a disappointed thief that day, looking at the loot he ran so fast for,lol.

If you feel like having a look at another art blog on the topic of food here is 83 Are you fond of Fondue and here are some other ceramic and mosaics for sale  Ceramics for sale

So here is a quote I think fits in rather well here, in relation to that thief, lol, said by Ernest Hemingway (writer)

“Never confuse movement with action”

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 SALEand SCULPTURES for sale or WALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.

This artwork “Community Spirit” made from handmade ceramic and mosaic is part of a public sculpture called the Federation Gateway Sculpture at the entrance to Balaklava a town in the Mid North, South Australia, here is a link if you want to take a look 109 Stories behind the Wall.   However this story is about the running lady in white on the left hand side holding the torch.  As an artist you never know where the next idea for an artwork comes from and that makes my profession especially fun.

OVERCOMING DISABILITY & ART

Christina Angus is her name and she never ceases to amaze me because there is nothing that she cannot do, Christina is one of these “can do” people, whatever you ask her to do, she will fix it, do it and sort it.  There is no mountain too high and no river too deep for her, no siree!  Well that’s not that unusual you may say; there are lots of amazing women out there doing lots of stuff.  Yes and I agree so there is; however this amazing woman is legally blind and has only got 6% sight in one eye and nothing, zilch, nada in the other.  If you think that’s going to stop her from getting on with it, you have another thing coming.

THE ART OF THE TORCH

So let me tell you about her list of achievements which just continue to grow as we speak and a list too long to describe here.    Let’s start with the Olympic Torch Relay depicted in my artwork, here she was chosen as an outstanding Community member for the Sydney 2000 Olympic summer games, to run part of the leg when the torch made its way through the Clare region in SA, cheered on by hundreds of local supporters.

THE ART OF KOKODA

Then it was time to do the Kokoda track as part of a fundraiser for her employer the Guide Dogs SA&NT.  She was joined by Cosi from Triple M and 14 other Australians and the whole thing was made into a documentary for Chanel 9 by Troy Gray.  The Kokoda track is one of the most challenging treks in the world and spans 96km between the northern and southern coast of Papua New Guinea.  Many soldiers lost their lives there during the war fighting the Japanese and the unforgiving Kokoda trail has also claimed 8 Australian lives trekking in peace time.

ARTISTIC INSPIRATIONS

In 2010 Christina set off for Italy and trekking through the Dolomites followed by Cinque Terre where she and her husband took the walking trail between the 5 villages on the on the rugged coast of the Italian Riviera called Sentiero Azzurro.  Not to mention she has also climbed both Uluru on 4 separate occasions as well as the Kings Canyon.

At Christmas time this year Christina could be found 75 meters up a Karri tree in Pemberton in Western Australia, climbing up on metal spikes fastened into the tree trunk with no safety net.  I have to point out she has to feel her way as she cannot even see her feet.

THE ART OF THE BIKE

If that wasn’t enough, Christina as the “stoker” and Andy Griffiths as the “pilot” just finished the Tour Down Under section called The Mutual Community Challenge and rode the 135km from Norwood – Strathalbyn on a tandem bike reaching speeds of 60km an hour.  Move on over Lance Armstrong she is catching up!

THE ART OF HAVING A GOOD TIME

So I shouldn’t have been surprised when she jumped up on the one meter high and 50cm wide marble bar at her 50th birthday party held at The Banque and did a crazy go- go girl routine should I?  The only problem being she threw the gauntlet and I, her best friend had to follow, right?  Much to the horror of the bar staff who saw an accident waiting to happen (well we are talking past midnight and let’s just say I at least, was a little bit happy) but all is well that ends well and you only live once!

I think the following quote fits rather nicely here said by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting to you all.

ps. Here is another art blog about Christina s resent adventures in Italy if you fancy a look 155 The Art of Packing Light

Love Marie xxx                          ©

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.

]]> https://mariejonssonharrison.com.au/67-one-amazing-women/feed/ 1 https://mariejonssonharrison.com.au/33-dont-worry-be-happy/ https://mariejonssonharrison.com.au/33-dont-worry-be-happy/#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:56:52 +0000 http://www.mariejonssonharrison.com.au/new/?p=995 HAPPINESS THROUGH ART

Well that is easier said than done sometimes isn’t it?  For me it is something that I understood with time and to make oneself happy may not always be through art necessarily but I do think it comes from making a decision and getting absorb and involved in something other than our own feelings and what ever it is that is troubling us at the time.

I have just had one heck of a day and don’t you just hate that.  You are minding your own business going about your life with all its ups and downs when someone throws a curve ball at you for no good reason whatsoever.  I think sometimes because they are unhappy with their own life and see others happy around them and want to take them down a peg or two.

ARTFUL AUTHORITY

It seems very strange to me that people get very militant about the smallest of issues when they are part of a committee.  It seems that when some people do not have enough authority over their own life and are unhappy within themselves they feel the need to exert their authority over others no matter how silly their arguments are.  My wish for people like that is that they would find something creative to do that would give them peace.

ART OF THE MIND

It made me think very much about this painting that is one of my early works.( excuse the quality of the image) ‘HAPPY AS A PIG IN SHIT” And no I refuse to call it mud, because shit was how I felt when painting it, well not the whole time obviously lol but I realized that I could take away my own pain and worry by getting totally absorbed in my art, and that you can make yourself happy and that happiness is a state of mind, something you choose to do.

That said let’s not diminish the fact that in some extreme circumstances that may not be possible to do for a long time, as when a loved one dies or other tragedies.  However I do believe that eventually when the pain and hurt settles somewhat we can again choose to be happy, perhaps not happy all the time but at least some of the time, well that is my naive view.

HEALING THROUGH ART

You see at the time I discovered that I could heal my own pain was about 22 years ago.  I had been painting for about a year, and had gone to The Northern Territory for 8 months, we had a large mortgage on our house in South Australia and lived in a caravan in the Northern Territory whilst my husband worked on the Tindal Base, and had a little 1 year old child.

I had left my glamorous life as a model to become a mum (being a mum was something I totally loved) although I had not counted on the isolation or the fact that I had relationship troubles with my own mum, and shortly after that problems within my marriage.   I was feeling homesick and living in a caravan and coping with the heat.   My darling dog died from rat poisoning in SA and to top that all of we suddenly found ourselves in big financial trouble.  Yes you know the drill – one thing after the other happened.  So my rescue from all these troubles was being able to get absorb in my paintings and making myself happy.

So life happens to you whilst you are busy doing other things as John Lennon is famous for quoting.

Another interesting fact I found out is that the saying Don’t worry be happy was originally said by the Indian mystic Meher Baba who lived 1894-1969, and not as I thought by Bobby McFerrin who made those words so famous in his song by the same name.  What a wonderful gift they both gave us – “DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY”

Till I see you again, happy painting and sculpting to you all,

Much love

Marie xxxxxx                                                                                       (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.

]]> https://mariejonssonharrison.com.au/33-dont-worry-be-happy/feed/ 3 https://mariejonssonharrison.com.au/29-religious-paintings/ https://mariejonssonharrison.com.au/29-religious-paintings/#comments Wed, 14 Jul 2010 02:48:48 +0000 http://www.mariejonssonharrison.com.au/new/?p=921 PAINTING SUBJECTS

As you may have figured out by now, I do like to paint just about everything, any subject matter, most of the time colorful and busy.

I am often asked about my religious scenes like the one here, Noahs Ark.  Am I religious – well, I do hope there is an afterlife, I have so many people that I would so dearly like to see again.

Is there a heaven and will my loved ones that died before me be waiting for me ?     Oh I truly hope so.  Well if that is what I hope, what about God and Christianity and all the other religions?

MAKING THE WORLD BETTER THROUGH ART

My belief is that all religions play a part and all have more similarities than differences.

To me it doesn’t matter whether your beliefs are of the Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhism, Catholic or any of the other Christian flavours.

We are all people of the world and ideally we should care for each other and help each other.  I do think the 10 commandments make sense and try to live my life in ‘doing unto others’ and all that.  Sometimes I fail but I do try to Pay It Forward, small kind gestures that make this world a better place.

So to sometimes paint a scene from the bible gives me a sense of peace.  I will have to familiarize myself a bit more with the other religious books as I am sure they also have very rich and interesting material for new paintings, sculpture and artworks in general.

Here is a thought from one of Douglas Pagels books, which I like.

You have the ability to..

Follow your heart.

Trust your instincts.

Listen to the song that sings in you.

And let your spirit Dance to that tune

I hope you will visit me again.

Till then happy painting and sculpting to you all.

Love Marie xxxx                                                                     (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 first started this painting “Save the Moon bears” about a year ago because a dear friend, Joanna Polities was actively involved in the charity Animals Asia.

She has been the South Australian voice for these bears and raised a lot of money for them through various functions and fundraisers that she has organized over several years.  In any case I put the painting aside when I was half way through as I had some urgent artworks that needed delivery.

So there I was sitting in my studio working away on various projects whilst I listen to the radio as I always do (usually an ABC channel with current affairs and news of the day, magazine style you could say) when Simon Bryant a well know chef, who up until recently had his own cooking program on TV starts talking about his passion for the moon bears and I am yet again reminded of the half finished painting.

So again I am back painting some more on it until another deadline looms.  Sometimes this is how the paintings evolve with other more urgent artworks coming in between, and as my work is so detailed it does take quite a long time to do each piece.

ARTWORKS AUCTION

To cut a long story short, the painting was auctioned at a major fundraiser at Adelaide Zoo July 2010, together with many other donated items.    The crowd fell silent when Jo and her husband Richard took to the stage to announce that the total amount raised from the event was $125,000 and every penny of that would go to the Moon Bear Rescue. An amazing result and the highest ever raised for Animals Asia in Australia from one single event.

The invite is below and if there are some people that would like to donate just call 1800 666 004 or go to the Animals Asia website.

I cannot bare to even write about how these gorgeous bears suffer other than to say it is barbaric and atrocious to say the least and it makes me so totally depressed, so instead if you are not across the details of their plight please look up Animals Asia (the link will take you there) and see their  website and get ofay with their terrible situation so we can all band together and stop this cruelty.

Here are some wise words from Henri Frederic Amiel (writer) about grace under pressure.

“It is dangerous to abandon one’s self to the luxury of grief; it deprives one of courage and even of the wish for recovery”

Till next time, happy painting and sculpting everyone!

Love Marie xx                                                                                    (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.

How fantastic the internet is!!!

Oh it’s probably all ho-hum to you lot, but you see I am a real newcomer to this.  My Husband/Manager Bryan has been looking after my old art website and anything electronic since forever and I swore black and blue that I was just not INTERESTED and did not even know how to turn the stupid thing on!  I used to say when asked that I still marveled at the invention of lighting a match.

Well how things change….I got a laptop for Christmas and here we are and now I think it is the best thing since sliced bread and my children and husband say, welcome to the 21^st century.

SOCIAL MEDIA & ART

One of the fabulous advantages for me has been the re-connection with my Swedish relatives through Face book which is another thing I so love.  The time just runs away when you are on that, so parents don’t be so hard on your kids, they can’t help it, time speeds up I swear. Lol Really nice to meet so many new face book friends too.  You see there is a whole artistic community on Facebook & Linkedin and so many art groups and artists which is fantastic.

Anyway had a message from my cousin, whose mother had bought 3 of my paintings at my Swedish exhibition a few years back.  He had heard that I often paint the family in my work and asked where we were.  His question was “Where is Waldo?” (The Swedes have a funny way with translations; it should be Wally, right lol)

MY FAMILY IN PAINTINGS & PRINTS

So I sent him this picture of “Pottering at the Port” so he could compare and find us in the other paintings (we are on top of the lighthouse on the right hand side Bryan in an orange shirt, little Kai and Hillivi and me next to them waving. No clue who is next to us, never spoke to them, so never found out! Lol)

You see I nearly always paint us as we were when the kids were little.  Hillivi will be forever 4 and Kai 8 years old. I don’t know why I do that; perhaps it is because they were just mine and Bryan’s then.

We did not have to share them with boyfriends and girlfriends and work and just life.

They will forever be my baby girl and baby boy and I still call them that today, as you can imagine that was not a cool thing to be called during the awkward teenage years but they coped well with their mothers little idiosyncrasies.  Although understandably teenage son at 18 was less than pleased when I called him my little “Possum Poo” in front of his new girlfriend, I think as I remember I got a bit of silent treatment then, well deserved too, but I swear it just slipped out.  The lights were on but there was no one home. Lol

Here is another saying I like from Price Cobb a racing car driver.

“Some days you’re a bug.  Some days you’re a windshield.”

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 SALEand SCULPTURES for sale or WALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.

Don’t we as adults always know best?  Sad to say, lol that I discovered probably when my daughter was around 4 years old that this was not the case.  My son who is 4 years older than her, always accepted that we, the parents knew better, however our daughter challenged us on every occasion and boy I am glad she did.

ART BUSINESS CARD

We learned a lot of valuable lessons from both of them, and the one that stands out the most for me is listen to them,  pay attention, we can learn and awful lot, not just about them but about ourselves and the world around us.  Certainly also about technology, how many of us enlist the kids help when it comes to dvd recording, computers and the like.

So just the other night I had conveniently forgotten this fact, (Listen to your children), as I was showing my darling daughter the new art business card I had designed for myself.

You see I have been making my living rather successfully as an artist for the last 20 or so years painting, making sculptures and thought I was pretty good at graphic design too, when I was quickly taken down a peg or two.

ARTISTIC BACK-PEDDLING

Oh! Hillivi did it ever so gently but she did not like my card one bit, and guess what she was so totally right.  I had niggling doubts too myself in the same areas that she pointed out.  Although my first reaction was to defend my position, well that’s like a reflex isn’t it?  None of us like to be told – however I soon came to my senses and realized she was completely right.  So here is the front side of my card designed by my talented daughter Hillivi.

She is currently doing a nursing degree and also a model in her own right with a front cover of this bridal magazine.

She obviously does know more,  as she was booked to do her first cover 2 weeks after joining her Agency, whereas her mother had to wait a year for that privilege many moons ago.

Here is another quote that I like this time by Walt Disney, whose drawings and cartoons are also favourites of mine.

“You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”

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 drive my kids nuts, but hey that’s a mothers job, keeping them safe and out of danger.

Happy Mother’s day to all you wonderful mothers and being one is the most fantastic gift but at the same time a guilt ridden curse.  It was hard enough when they were little but at least then I was the boss and could tuck them safely into their beds at night and keep the monsters from the door.  Now I need a Lear jet and an Uzi to be of any use.

This Painting is one of several artworks I have painted over the years on the trial and tribulations of motherhood. Having a family is very inspirational for an artist and this acrylic on canvas painting is called ” A Mothers work is never done”.

ARTISTS AND IMAGINATION

Just had a call from my baby boy Kai, well baby boy is a bit much he would say, after all he is 23.  Funny though I know that, but he will always be my baby boy and I will probably be annoying him and his sister till I die, with various warnings of imminent danger just as I have done now.  I wonder if my imagination and worry is worse because I am an artist?

You see he has just called from Sweden in transit to London, and as you know they have had a terrorist attacks there, never mind that said baby boy has been living and surviving perfectly fine in London for the last 10 months or the fact that his’ imminent doom preaching mother’ takes us all off to Bali nearly every year for a holiday.

But oh no, that does not count, I am there to protect them.  Like Darth Vader against a terrorist bomb, that’s me! Then there is the volcano to worry about, he already had his flight to Sweden cancelled for a week.  Let’s not forget there is also swine flu, Pick pockets, the Bangkok riots, sitting no further that 7 seats from an exit on the plane, drink spiking and gangs with knifes!

( our family is the 4 people on the right on the detail of the painting below)

Oh grow up girl and get a grip, I know I should, but my children are so precious, bad enough with baby girl here in Adelaide, I know I drive her crazy too.  Poor baby girl 19 years old now and still having to text her mum after every car trip to say she is safe, never mind the fact that one could get ones eye poked out with a sharp stick (lol that was always my ARTIST dad’s warning too, as soon as me or my brother did anything remotely dangerous).

The Swedes have a very good word for my behavior and that is “Mesar” which is a bird in Sweden that is known as a little coward, wimpy, so that’s what an overprotective mother preaching excessive caution is called!

So Mums take a deep breath and enjoy your day, relax, permit yourself to get pampered and forget about the worries for one day.

Oh Bugger I wish I could….my baby boy is still in transit, London-Bangkok-Adelaide, I guess I will have to wait till next year……

Here from Douglas Pagels book “30 Beautiful things” -a thought, I wish for all of you.

May trouble, worries and problems never linger; may they only make you that much stronger and able and wise.  May you rise each day with sunlight in your heart, success in your path, answers to your prayers, and that smile – that I love to see – always there in your eyes.

Love Marie xxx

( Thanks Sonja and Jimmie )

Happy painting and sculpting to every one and a Big Happy Mothers Day to Nanna and Mormor and all of you too 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.

(c)

]]> https://mariejonssonharrison.com.au/13-happy-mothers-day/feed/ 0 https://mariejonssonharrison.com.au/4-big-birthday-blues-painting/ https://mariejonssonharrison.com.au/4-big-birthday-blues-painting/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:39:20 +0000 http://www.mariejonssonharrison.com.au/new/?p=492 ACRYLIC PAINTING

This acrylic on canvas board painting is called La De Da Shangrila , it was inspired by my birthday celebrations in Bali. If you look closely at the artwork you will find me in the middle on the balcony in a blue dress drinking a cocktail,my cousin Dan and his partner Johnny are on the left.  Hubby is doing a spot of fishing in the yellow boat and our kids Kai and Hillivi are in the middle on the foreshore waving to you and friends are all around us.

THE ART OF AGING

So another birthday was waiting in the wings, my thought has always been that bring them on-they certainly beat the alternative!! But do they have to come so thick and fast, lurching from one to another without getting a chance to catch my breath?  Just did the big one a year and a bit ago, was feeling quite depressed at the thought – you know would I suddenly lose my sex appeal, age overnight, fall apart, loose my figure, become disinterested in the opposite sex.  My motto has always been as far as the opposite sex goes ‘Just because I am on a diet, doesn’t mean i can’t read the menu, right?lol  Nothing wrong with just looking!  So I thought long and hard about my “Problem” and realized ageing was only just in my mind.  Nothing that drastic had happened to the exterior yet.  I decided there and then, I was not going to do the big 5 0, I was going to turn 25 plus 25.  I went to bed very happy that night and have not felt depressed since, it’s all just a state of mind.  Hope you enjoy this painting La De Da Shangrila of my fantastic birthday party in Candi Dasa in Bali.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS AND VINCENT VAN GOGH

My darling husband Bryan organized the whole thing, 2 separate 25^th birthday parties two nights in a row, the first party in our favourite restaurant, Vincent (yes the artist) and the other on the roof of our time- share.  We had invited some of our closest friends to come and celebrate with us and our kids of course.  We were 13 all in all, and had the most fantastic time with a big banquet, great band the 3 amigos (which turned into 4)  the wine flowed all night and even a few of the staff joined in the festivities with lots of really mad crazy dancing.  Our guests stayed with us for a week and we so enjoyed showing “our” Bali and its wonderful sights and smells and treasures to our friends.  The night of my actual birthday was spent climbing a volcano, so that we could have breakfast with an amazing view, followed by snorkeling and daily massages and lots of fun and partying.  Lots of inspirations for more painting!

So hey if you are about to turn 50 or any other number- I highly recommend it.  As I said before, it certainly beats the Alternative.

Till next time happy painting and sculpting to you all!

Love Marie xxxx

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.