#handpaintedrock

#handpaintedrockformygrandchildren #handpaintedrock https://www.instagram.com/p/B_G0XWNAZAv/?igshid=1sb5wncswjpfo

I've been mauiui these past few days but you wouldn't know as I've been carrying on with life, creating, and living with no sense of taste or smel, little sleep while prepping for #sheshedtourgisborne which happens tomorrow! 700 + people coming through, I'll be drinking a lot of water, I know that much! If you see me, blow me a kiss from afar! These past two months have been crazy busy with so much happening that when I had some time to relax, I got sick. I haven't been sick in a long time and my body was telling me I needed to rest. Nothing is worth my health and wellbeing. Nothing. As an artist, I feel like we work harder than if I had a 9-5 job because you put so much passion, love and energy into what you do but at some stage we need to work smarter as it's just not sustainable!Also travelling through the Waioeka gorge 10 times over the past 6 weeks hasn't been great for the physical body either. A worthy journey in the end for my Mum and Dad, but a bit crazy going with lots of other things going on too. Anyway, long story short, I'm looking forward to getting back in my maara and doing some tidying up when I'm well rested! And thankyou to @todd_sheridan_artist for being the awesome doctor, chef, supermarket runner, frame maker, all round support person ever! 😘😘 #100dayscreativeproject2019 #day77 #handpaintedrock https://www.instagram.com/p/B46xeWoJ5YX/?igshid=18pu0uazhkz3g

te kore the nothingness no-thing where all potential lives #100dayscreativeproject2019 #day75 #handpaintedrock https://www.instagram.com/p/B41YOnsJPu1/?igshid=1ruaycw98ixn5

When I was doing my rock a day project in 2011, I had many followers throughout the year and one of those followers was Mere Marshall. Mere was one of those dedicated followers who always gave indepth comments with the rocks. She would wait for them, like many, and post the most amazing, thought provoking, positive, uplifting comments. Always. This happened over the year with many people, and I realised the power of the project to connect people to the rocks and their stories, but also to connect people to people. As time went on, I used to look forward to Mere's comments, just to hear her insight for the rocks. And always her words were profound. If you have time, go and check out the project on my personal FB profile. There are two links in my Instagram profile to two albums. One rock, story and photo for every day of the year. Also look at the comments, they're a wonderful conversation too! You'll find Mere there. When her and her husband MT (also a follower) passed away, her words became even bigger treasures for me. We did eventually meet at their home in Hamurana before they passed, sharing kōrero, kai and gifts. I want to share these words that she wrote to me in a letter, always humble and praising. Kiaora Jo, weaver of words, painter of kohatu, writer of the heart. So much pleasure, richness and vitality you bring me and us all that visit or are visited by your kohatu and kōrero. In relationship, present and visible - impossible not to respond!With deep appreciation, please accept this small gift from MT and me, a spontaneous response - slow to post, just slow these days! Arohanui Mere xx MT Ngā mihi nui ki a koe. As an artist, this is all I ever want my art to do, to have an effect on someone, to move them in some way and always to inspire, uplift and heal. I still have Mere's words that sit in cyberspace with many of the rocks and in the poetry and painting her and MT sent to me. She to me was a weaver of words and a writer of heart stories and I hope she knows how forever grateful I am for our connection. #100dayscreativeproject2019 #day52 #handpaintedrock #hekupu https://www.instagram.com/p/B36cfO0p-Vj/?igshid=15ovh89z9si8s

Day 51! Half of our #100daysproject is complete, 50 days to go! Creating becomes a part of everyday life once you commit to it, and this being my third 100 days project, I've learnt to keep it simple because simple means achievable! It's also a great way to create a solid body of word on a specific theme, or just a great way to commit to creating every day. And I'm on a roll again with painting kohatu! I painted 365 in 2011, all different, never again 😂 it was quite the marathon because I also photographed each stone and wrote a story for the day. Those who followed, will know! You may even have a kohatu from that project. I now have a great body of work and these stones live in all corners of the world. I'll talk more about these stones in the near future because I'm making a book! In the meantime while I'm in the flow of painting, you'll see more stones and some kõrero abour why I paint them, what got me started and my process of collecting and painting.😊 #100dayscreativeproject2019 #handpaintedrock #day51 https://www.instagram.com/p/B338YjLJY6L/?igshid=3yo02fk2w2x5

I painted a stone today. In between boiling harakeke, planning new art works, wondering through the wild garden, skype call, admin and manuhiri. It has been a while, maybe a year?! But the hand remembers, it knows and... still got it 😂 even though I couldn't find my small brushes!! Yes it has been that long I had to find the paint and a brush! And I was reminded of how meditative painting stones is AND, that a perfectionist still lives in me! 🤨🙄😂😍 #100dayscreativeproject2019 #handpaintedrock #day48 https://www.instagram.com/p/B3wGp4mp0kx/?igshid=1fnmu8pful3lg

I haven't painted a rock for a while but I love rediscovering rocks I've painted that now live in other spaces and homes and other countries. Some I've forgotten I painted! This one lives with my niece @reeexxy and was painted seven years ago. And, I did some hunting for it's story and this is what I found: Connection to all things, balance between the seen and unseen...spiraling in and spiraling out... I don't know what it is about white, but it takes me a while to paint a kohatu in this colour. It requires a lot more energy than other colours, I'm not sure why but because it is a colour that contains all the colours of the rainbow, it is special and is the connection between our physical and spiritual world. size: 10.5cm x 7.5cm x 3cm weight: 478 grams colour: white stone from: Taranaki - Õnukutaipari (back beach) #100dayscreativeproject2019 #day28 #handpaintedrock https://www.instagram.com/p/B28lHYzpVGW/?igshid=19ftpfot79odd

We loved talking to Jo Tito @wonderingearth for #theflowartistspodcast - Jo has a beautiful grounded approach to art and life. We learn about her childhood growing up in rural New Zealand, her experiences with #vipassana #meditation and her travels around the world exhibiting and collaborating with other #indigenousartists We have some of #handpaintedrock #photography in our studio and I loved learning about this project - and excited to hear it is becoming a book! You can listen at podcast.flowartists.com or look for The Flow Artists Podcast on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you like to download podcasts. . . . . #jotitoartist #storytellingthroughstone #artist #maoriartist #māoriartist #naturesbeauty #creativity #inspiration #natureart #installationart #taranaki #gardening #mindfulness (at The Flow Artists Podcast) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtcVP7EHEAf/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=115g2c3bfdlp9