So it finally here.

My first holiday in 2 years...

I dont often talk personally about my other life... My life with a chronic illness. Lately in my day to day rituals and routines, my illness has occupied a central role - from talking about it with concerned friends and family, from the weekly appointments with doctors and then all visits to hospitals and holistic centres for procedures and treatments. 

 

My life outside all of that can get alittle lost. So on my blogs I try and rectify the balance by immercing myself in what truly inspires and excites me.

 

But it is time now to fess up and give you more of a complete picture of who I am and where my artwork sits within the context of my life.....

 

Crohns disease is a chronic illness that I was diagnosed with 17 years ago... It has played a minor and a staring role in my life - depending on how serious the symptoms have been on any given day. Weaving its way through many stories and events through these years - ive had to learn and grow as a person, as a daughter, and as a friend.... and understand and finally except my life with how things are and could be...

 

And through all of this my studio practice has miraculously remained. Willing and able to help me through whatever the disease has dealt me.

 

Sometimes my work is directly about my health and sometimes it is as far removed from it all as possible. If I was to try and describe the one constant in all my work however, is would be the colour..whether it is in paint, in pencil, in clay, or captured in a photo .... it is all about colour! And that is why i love writing and posting up images on these two blogs... to remind myself of how far ive come but also to show me where I am now and how lucky and blessed I truly am in this moment...

 

Anyway I guess that explains the last two challenging years and how Ive made it through them... by surrounding myself with creativity and colour, whether it be by someone elses hand or my own.

 

But now... its time to take a break! Im off to the beach and I could not be more happy or excited...

Have a great month....

Enjoy the warming and rejuvenating weather..

and all the amazing colours that surround us at the moment!  x