I feel like this has been a long time coming… I have had a passion for art since I was little, my grandmother was a regular in the Hibiscus Bay art competitions and painting groups so I grew up watching her. She often told me that “striving for perfection limited creativity. To let each piece of art work be it’s own, imperfections and all – this gave it character. If I was to strive for something perfect, I would not know when to stop and the painting would never be complete.’
I have always struggled to concentrate on something for long, busy brain always zipping from one thing to the next so I did not often spend enough time to really focus improving technique and images would be small or I would get bored. I drew when I was sad, when I needed an outlet and that was about it.
Then… at 21 I had my daughter (Miss B), my inspiration for why I am now doing what I do… I started art again when she was little, it was to help pull me out of a dark space and through it I found a spark again. 
“Time does not wait for your dreams” 
Miss B has grown up watching me put more effort into improving my art and about 12 months ago she asked me why I only drew in grey because it was boring and I love colour in my day to day life (my favourite colour is yellow and I tend to gravitate to bright things), so I started using her little water colour art set ($5.00 from the warehouse) and started experimenting with colour – EEEK SCARY!
About 6 months ago, while talking to Miss B,聽 now a 7 year old, I made a vague comment about not being an artist, and she looked at me aghast and said “mum you are an artist if you want to be one”… her simple faith in me and the sadness that I was not fighting for my own dream made me set up a Facebook page and well, I realised that there were people who could relate to my artwork so here I am.. learning how to build a website *brain explodes*, writing my first blog post and during the chaos of all of this also trying to fit it all in with a full time “boring job”, being a mum of two and also being a present partner as well.
The purpose of me doing this blog, rather than if just being about my passion for New Zealand Flora and Fauna and wanting to really put a spot light on the amazing species we have here, is to encourage others to just get creative! Dust off the old paint box, get a little paint set from the $2 shop, it doesn’t have to be fancy but just START.聽 What you do does not have to be perfect, you do not have to spend hours on a piece and/or complete it in the same day… just do something, a little every evening for 20 minutes once the kids are in bed, create inspiration collages and start working on composition of ideas if you only have a few minutes. Very quickly you will find that it becomes easier. I have found my own happiness and peace has improved by letting the creative side of me flourish and not only that I wish to show Miss B that with hard work and dedication a passion can become a job and the sky is the limit when you change a dream to a goal and take action to make it a reality.聽
It is amazing how children can give you a different kind of courage and inspiration to really try something new. Growth can be uncomfortable, goals can seem out of reach but if you start taking baby steps you will start moving in some direction… whichever way you are facing.
I Look forward to sharing my journey with you as I go.
Colleen 馃檪
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Thank you I appreciate it.
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May I simply just say what a comfort to uncover an individual who actually knows what they are talking about on the web. You definitely know how to bring a problem to light and make it important. More people need to look at this and understand this side of the story. I was surprised that you arent more popular because you most certainly have the gift.
Thank you I appreciate this 馃檹
An intriguing discussion is definitely worth comment. I think that you need to publish more about this topic, it may not be a taboo subject but typically folks dont discuss these issues. To the next! Best wishes!!
Thank you, making time for yourself, especially being a creative is definitely something I am really passionate about. Also being a role model for my children.
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Thank you I am happy to hear you enjoyed reading it!
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