Paint miles

It’s not always on the palette ;)

I feel like I’m coming home.

For a number of years I wrote a blog called Destination Here & Now which was a celebration of all the things that are precious to me: family, friends, art, travel, books, great food and taking the time to be present wherever our here and now happened to be.

Fast forward to 2021, and for a variety of reasons I made the decision to run for Bathurst Regional Council and as I found myself cast into public life, I chose to make the site private. For all the tension and the challenges, being a councillor was actually one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I had run a graphic design business from home for the best part of 17 years and despite having a broad range of great clients, it was isolating.

Council was the complete opposite. It was so good to reconnect with community. But it was also intense and to be a committed councillor doesn’t leave much room for anything or anyone else.

Walking away was difficult. Like a power plug being pulled out of the wall, suddenly the phone stopped ringing, the diary wasn’t booked solid and I honestly think it took a good three months to decompress.

I really struggled to settle into the art studio which was my ‘next chapter’ plan.

Until I didn’t.

In the high Alvord Desert of Oregon, 2023

The challenge moving forward is to strike a healthy balance ;)

For the past four months I’ve been immersed in the studio trying to find my own language as a painter, after many years of quietly working on my art practice amidst other commitments. And just like learning a foreign language or playing an instrument, it takes time. And lots of paint miles. But …

I’m delighted to share that Steve and I are part of a group exhibition in Sydney from March 15-30 with three other fabulous artists Robbie Flowers, Annabel Mason and Penelope McKeown. Harrie Fasher has been mentoring us along the way. You can see my work here and all our work on the Maunsell Wickes Gallery site.

I have some idea of how this new iteration of the original blog will evolve. There will definitely be more content related to art and leading a creative life. As always I hope it’s a place where we can take a breath and continue to celebrate all the beautiful things that makes life worth living.

I hope you’ll be a part of this exciting new chapter.

Marg
25 March 2025