Duality in Art and Life : city vs forest

I love the city.

I love the architecture.

 Its just BIG functional art.

 When I catch the bus to work, I travel past all the city's eclectic mix of structures...

I love maps.

I love their aesthetic quality. 

They remind me that we are like little ants going down many different pathways.

I love the forest.

I love the multitudes of trees, with branches that overlap and intertwine...

and roots that become part of the earth.

I love to be.

I love to be in these places,

 that are so different, and yet so connected.

So I've been working on a diptych of dichotomy.

 The dual of people vs planet.

What are side are we barracking for I wonder?

The forest or...

the city.




It is International Year of the Forest - lets take care of them
.... invest in them and we invest in us!

Brooches: Upcycling symbols, materials and meanings

Is this a modern day symbol for a spin cycle on a washing machine?

OR an ancient spiral symbol of potential power?

Is it a hash key?

Actually, pharmacists of former times used to draw this symbol (minus the buttons) on prescriptions, where the basic meaning was, May this be good for you. 

Isn't it interesting how symbols can be universal and survive through time and culture .

However, they are a language and we know that language is alive and changing constantly. Ask any English teacher  or parent of a teenager... EOD (end of discussion).

Consequently this invocation cross,  spiral of life, curled cross and cosmic orbit may just be a bunch of curves upcycled to make new brooches out of old felt. 

Regardless, my humble hash key does it for me.. T+ (think positive)! 

Texture in Nature -Year of the Forest

"A nation that destroys it's soils destroys itself.

 Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people"

Franklin D. Roosevelt

This forest's mojo is ever apparent to the humble guest, and so my snaps are merely a clumsy attempt to convey its  verve.

Recently we spent four nights in the Bunya Mountains National Park, which is 200km northwest of Brisbane, Queensland. The Bunya Mountains are an isolated section of the Great Dividing Range that played a significant role in Aboriginal culture.  The Bunya's are simultaneously peaceful and energetic.  But, if you look closely, you see great textures...and colours... and lines..and shapes...........   

It is International Year of the Forest and in the name of balance I couldn't resist another forest quote:

"If a tree falls in a forest and lands on a politician, even if you can't hear the tree or the screams, I'll bet you'd at least hear the applause"

Paul Tindale

Sharing at this great photography blog:

Atlas Journaling: drawing hints from an eco artist

Sometimes a white blank canvas is so stark it almost stifles creativity and mark-making.
So I've binned the whole pristine visual journal concept and have replaced it with....the humble atlas.


Mine is the Road Atlas of Australia 7th Edition. It is circa 1980's -the kind of atlas I had at primary school. It was such an unloved book that it was in the "Free, please take" bin at a Rotary book sale (sniff).

These sketches are just observations with a sharpie and pencils. The lines of the roads in the background provide great distraction, omitting the need for perfection. The maps provide an additional layer of interpretation. 


I would try this style of drawing journal with a written book too, as text works wonderfully with illustration e.g my previous dragonfly work.

Dragonfly Project Link

A great benefit of atlas journaling is that any drawing can simply be torn out and framed. The other benefit is that you are recycling....yeah eco-art materials!


Incidentally, the works are from our recent holiday in the Bunya Mountains, a rainforest smack bang in the middle of country Queensland- who would have thought?

'Dreadlock' Felt Off-cut Brooches

A Winter Equation
Coats+Brooches+Recycling = Elle and Lou Brooches

For local Brisbanites I purchased the dreadlock lengths for 30 cents each at good old Reverse Garbage.


Enjoy the curves!