I’m still on the orange earthy theme – just can’t help myself when I start working with a colour! Sometimes it just goes on into the next rock! So I’ve called this one “splat” because I’m in a splat mood whatever that means! I felt like being loose with the paint brush today, slapped on [...]

One of the many colours in this rock is called manuka honey. It is a creamy colour that is not visible but it is there! And as I write this I am listening to a Kuia from Ngāti Kuri talk about manuka honey and its healing properties. Saana Waitai Murray is her name and her [...]

I started painting this rock a while back. I can’t remember exactly when – maybe a year or two? It was one of those rocks that I started painting, then part way through I looked at it and didn’t like what I saw so it got put in the “not satisfied with this” pile. So [...]

I watched a video today on Facebook – Te Whānau ā Apanui and others had come to tautoko (support) a flotilla of yachts in Auckland on their way to the East Cape in protest of the Government’s decision to allow oil giant Petrobras to drill for oil offshore. I had goose bumps watching them do [...]

The earth is shedding some skin, letting go of those things that no longer serve her or humanity and replacing them with love… I know when I go through change, there is a shedding of skin, a detoxing of my physical body, an emotional cleansing and a spiritual release. I think about what can happen [...]

I got a call from a research company tonight and was really annoyed that my evening had been interrupted!! I reacted and ended up sitting on the phone for a good 15 mins answering questions that I wasn’t really hearing because I was too busy reacting to the situation and mumbling under my breath! At [...]

Today is Day 84! Wow! 84 days ago I decided that I would paint a rock a day…I remember that day…yes I’m going to do it, nah I’m not! Yes I will, no I won’t, yes I will, yes I did! The fact that I was going to be painting a rock a day was [...]

I flew home to Gisborne from Taranaki today and captured some wonderful photos from the sky. I was hoping to capture Taranaki maunga as we left but I was on the wrong side of the plane!! So settled for some of the rugged Taranaki coastline instead…which of course is beautiful! But as we left Wellington [...]

Sometimes we get so busy that we forget to stop, relax and listen to whats going on around us and more importantly what is going on within us. I’ve been so busy this year, well actually last year’s busyness has flowed into this year. It’s been a good busy though, doing things that I’m passionate [...]

“Until something is raised to consciousness you really can’t respect it or treasure it” I’m in the middle of putting the last touches to my video for tomorrows presentation and I came across these words from a dear friend… They will begin my video presentation tomorrow. Kua hoki mai au ki Taranaki! I’ve come home [...]

I’m not really into painting flowers on rocks but when miss Teia came home from school today, I listened to her story about the sun and the earth as I painted this rock…so today’s korero is all hers! Jo: So what have you been up to at school today? Teia: Oh learning about the sun…The [...]

I’ve been listening to stories today that I recorded in the Taranaki community at the end of last year. When I first had an overall view of the stories I saw there were similar thoughts and themes that ran through all of them. But when I listened more closely, I realised that the people and [...]

I’m watching the night sky tonight, not because everyone is saying that there is going to be an extra big moon in the sky but because I always like to see the moon when its full. I feel the moon when it’s full…does anyone else feel that? You just know when it is in the [...]

There was a memorial today for the recent Otautahi (Chch) earthquake and I’m so grateful that there was live coverage where we could all tune in. It was a HUGE turnout to remember those who had lost their lives and to support those who mourn their loss. The rescue workers were honoured for their work [...]

Todd comes home today and tells me that he bumped into a woman downtown that says she has started painting a rock a day after seeing my rock of the day project! I thought how cool is that, that what I am doing with my rocks is actually inspiring others to do the same! I [...]

All I want to say today is PEACE…

Have you ever sat and observed a praying mantis? I’ve been doing exactly that over the past few days – there’s been so many around. They seem to like the comfort of our home because whenever I try to put them outside, they just find their way back in! They are such amazing creatures! I [...]

I feel for those in Japan right now. The media presents sometimes a conservative view of the effects on human life, perhaps to not instill fear in the people but the reality is right in front of our eyes. There is major loss of life, no doubt about that. And it is in times like [...]

Silence… I enjoyed the silence as I painted this rock, relaxing after a morning of sharing with art students…I am amazed at what can be achieved in silence. A still mind, reflection, contemplation, relaxation… Not too many words today although this rock speaks volumes! Kia pai nga rangi whakata – have a good weekend. Arohanui, [...]

I had my first class today teaching art students about the business of being an artist. It was a great day! It’s not something that many artists or aspiring artists would want to be learning or would even think about learning and so being as practical and as creative as possible in the delivery was [...]

When I picked up this rock from outside it was full of water. It had been raining and the rock had absorbed a lot of the rain so my first thought was to dry the rock to paint on…but instead I left it wet and painted it!  It reminded me of how precious water is [...]

Teia came home from school yesterday with a crown that she had made and quite happy with herself that she had done a brilliant job of it! And it was a beautiful crown, one of the better ones shes made so far. She’s probably created about 10 in all her 6 years of life… Which [...]

My art is not defined by another person. It is personal, intuitive and has many layers. I believe we all have the ability to create art. Art is not just a painting on the wall or a sculpture or a design; art can be a song, a dance, a few words, any kind of expression [...]

I love Autumn. It’s in between summer and winter, not too hot, not too cold and the colours of autumn are so vibrant and exciting! Its still warm at the moment but you can feel a hint of coolness in the air… I walked out to the garden today and was happy to see the [...]