After two years of research and planning, we’re on the brink of something important. In the coming months, we will be commencing building works to conserve and restore heritage integrity to our historic home, while modernising later extensions.

A key feature of the project is the construction of a brand new, modern art studio - opening new opportunities for art experiences in an amazing environment which fuses heritage and contemporary design.

While self-promotion is essential at some level to safeguard artists against obscurity and clear the path to recognition, it is not without its challenges.

Choosing art as a gift is a unique and personal way to show someone you care. Whether you're selecting a piece for a friend, family member, or partner, the right artwork can bring joy and lasting memories. This guide will help you navigate the process of giving art for Christmas.

When you’re an artist driving the steam train of your own career, it can seem counter-intuitive to invite collaboration with other artists. But the benefits are bigger than my ego, and everybody wins when artists play together.

We’re getting noticed lately. For all the right reasons, I should add.

For bringing people into the heart of the city. For releasing art from its lofty shackles, and bringing it down to earth from the stratosphere. For putting people in touch with local art, local artists, and themselves. And for sparking joy on a daily basis.

We recently partnered with Art Money Global. An Australian company with global reach, aiming to move the art world forward by making it easier for people to buy the art they love.

Sounds simple? It actually is.

Art - every day nourishment for your heart and mind. Local galleries are small havens of aesthetic relief from the madding crowd or a busy office. They can offer explorative lunch time adventures. They can provide uplifting stimulation amid an otherwise dull day. They can be insightful, inspirational, or at the very least offer a spark of creativity.

By supporting local artists, we are promoting community development, diversity and inclusion, personal connection, and ethical values. So the next time you have the opportunity to buy a piece of local art, attend a local performance, or share an artist's work with others, remember that you are not just supporting one person or one piece of art. You are also supporting the growth and well-being of your community and the world around you.

Viewing fine art in person at a gallery offers a more complete and rich experience than viewing it online, and is a great way to connect with art and culture on a deeper level.

Each step that every artist takes in their practice is distinctly personal. My path is my own adventure, and although I may encounter fear or doubt along the way, I am thankful for the opportunity for self-determination and self-expression.

Open Studios programs allow visitors to see artists at work and chat with them about their practice one on one, while the artist can enjoy meeting people who are interested in their art in the comfort of their own studio, without the need to prepare a speech or stand in front of a crowd.

Socialising and mixing with other human beings is good for us, and helps us live interesting, balanced lives, enables us to experience and participate in our communities, allows us to feel connected with others and our environment emotionally. All of which may make us better artists, and better human beings.

Yes, it might seem like a crazy idea to host your own solo exhibition, crazier still to do it amid the ongoing COVID-19 conundrums, and in the heart of a city that’s still coaxing people back to its streets. But we will do all this again, because art is about expression, and enables us to share a universal language and be part of an ongoing, deeply human conversation.

And I love every minute of it.

Ok, so original art costs more than the beach print you saw in Kmart last week. And good original art costs a LOT more. So why should we invest in fine art when something cheaper would fill the space on the wall just the same?

Yes, abstract art can look like your kid did it. Or like someone threw paint at the canvas . It can look horrifying, or beautiful but you’re not sure why. And it just doesn’t look like anything real.

And – that’s the point.

So why do artists feel drawn to create abstract works? How can we make sense of it all? Do we need to?

No matter what our other priorities are, there has to be time for love and laughter.

Art that comments on or reflects its environment or the local context offers a more complex, relevant, and impactful experience for people spending time in the space.

I am thrilled to be joining with BlueSky Co.Lab in a fantastic initiative to foster creative, inter-disciplinary alliances, and support local artists.

It all begins with an idea.