Manifestation

The Birth of Venus
Sandro Botticelli, 1486

Over the past 18 months, I have refocused my energies towards making positive changes in my life. I decided it was time to embrace life. To do things that make my heart sing, and when those opportunities didn’t prevail that I would continue with a smile.

But more than that.

I suddenly became aware, conscious. I realised that I have not been living my life to its greatest potential. So I decided it was time to embrace life and love again, to be open to receive all that I deserve.

Through daily yoga and meditation I activated my prana, or chi, to flow freely. With ritual and visualisation, I began to clearly see myself living the life that I desire, doing the things that make me happy and sharing the experiences with my life partner.

Allow yourself to let go, let the child inside you break free. See yourself in your dream job, with your soul mate or simply enjoying life to the fullest.

Manifestation. It’s easy once you let go and let it flow.

Rupert Bunny

Rupert Bunny, Pastoral (1893)

Rupert Bunny, Poseidon & Amphitrite (1913)

Rupert Bunny, Who Comes (1908)

If I were to ask you to name some famous Australian painters, you would probably mention Brett Whitely, Norman Lindsay, Margaret Preston or Sidney Nolan, and perhaps Frederick McCubbin or Arthur Streeton. Of course Australia holds quite a credible list of artists but it is less likely that Rupert Bunny would get a mention. Bunny was the only Australian artist to successfully work alongside European artists in Paris, and receive outstanding reviews during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The current exhibition, Rupert Bunny: artist in Paris at the Art Gallery of NSW, not only shows a huge collection of Bunny’s work but also his diversity. Personally, I really enjoyed the assortment of mythological paintings Bunny portrayed: the subdued blue-grey images of Pan and the water nymphs with splashes of red from the 1880s and early 1990s; the darker and sometimes horrific monotypes of Prometheus, Salome and alike, completed during the late 1890s; and the more vibrantly coloured and emotionally filled legends of Greek Gods, Goddesses, and leaders, with winged horses and serpents from around 1913 through to the early 1920s.

Certainly, there are many wonderful paintings in this exhibition that conform to the more traditional standards that society commonly finds pleasurable and could quite easily be mistaken for a true French Impressionist. Bunny’s use and display of light is quite fascinating although not as significantly obvious in pictures, you really need to see the originals. An exhibition well worth seeing.

Norman Lindsay

Promise, (1919)

Venus in Arcady, (unknown)

Sea Magic, (unknown)

Death in the Garden, (1923)

Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting the Norman Lindsay Gallery located in the Blue Mountains, just outside of Sydney. The gardens are lush and peaceful, scattered with beautiful Goddess-like sculptures. It is easy to imagine the garden pool once filled, brimming with socialites and artists alike as they partied through summer days.

The painting and etching studio’s have been maintained as they were last used by the artist, with some unfinished works on display. The main house, now the gallery, is elegantly furnished with drawings, etchings, watercolours and oil paintings, not to mention the vast number of books he published. An entire room is dedicated to the model ships Lindsay spent hours building.

In particular, I like his mythical etchings which are often politically incorrect or slurring. Intricate drawings of the female form, some with wings, some with fish tails. They are elegant, flowing with narratives from other worlds.

Lindsay created an enormous number of art works in varying genres and with different mediums. Rarely does one person contain such an amazing gift.

Architecture

Everywhere I go, I notice the architecture of the buildings around me. Whether I am travelling abroad, to another city or simply walking down the street, I notice the way cleverly designed buildings make me feel. Imagine the Potala Palace in Lhasa was built around the 7th Century AD.  I particularly like the European Gothic grandeur with its intricate detail found throughout Europe.  And of course New York City with its amazing skyline of geometrically and architecturally stunning buildings commonly designed throughout the Art Deco period.

Friends

I love that so many of my friends are finding their creative energy. This is the invitation a friend designed for his birthday bash, which I thought was pretty impressive. 

The theme is the Rocky Sound of Oz Fever. Yes its fancy dress and there is so much choice with characters from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz or Saturday Night Fever.  Simply something for everyone!

Salvador Dali

Archaeological Reminiscence of Millet's Angelus, 1935

The Persistence of Memory, 1931

Very recently I had the pleasure of viewing an extraordinary exhibition by Salvador Dali. Throughout my years of studying art I have always admired his remarkable talent but have never had the opportunity to see so much of his work.  He truly was a creative force. We all know Dali as the Surrealist and his unusual paintings, particularly The Persistence of Memory, 1931 which reminds me of my teenage years listening to Pink Floyd’s album Dark Side of the Moon and the psychedelic movie The Wall. 

But there really was so much more to this man - artist, painter, designer, sculptor, jeweller and film maker. Not only did he live a long and interesting life, he mastered every medium and creative task he undertook.  I have a new found respect for yet another great master.