Still Life - Vase of Nastertians

The Veggie garden is abundant with these blooms. JJ arranged a small vase for the table which filled me with such delight that I felt inspired to make these drawings with graphite onto cartridge paper.

Back to bloggerland

I have decided to spend some time blogging again :) To mark this moment here is a selection of recent creations. Tonight I spent a couple of hours drawing Nastertians from the veggie garden arranged elegantly in a glass. Gardening is always such an inspiration! JJ spent the same amount of time working on an abstract mixed media work... Photos to follow.

A beautiful family

This is the beginings of a painting I am working on for a yummy unschooling family. What a menagerie, 3 kids, 2 dogs and 2 cats :) This is the yummy mummy and her babe.... to be continued

Homebirth Midwives Retreat

I have really enjoyed doing this commission for a lovely midwife in SA, I always feel a little sad on completing something I have loved creating. I will enjoy her for a while before I send her to her new home.

Letter

Artwork by JJ

Flower arranging

JJ is very interested flowers. When we gosome place new he likes to collect flowers and make an arrangements with them to enjoy when we get home... He also spends alot of time at home in the garden collecting flowers, berries, beautful leaves and feathers and arranges them in vases with great care. We often have a vase on just about every surface.

Luscious oil paint

My special Dad gifted me with some new oil paints for my birthday and I have been in buttery, oil heavan. Aside from the fact they are toxic the are the most joyous medium to work with. It has been years since I have played with oil paints and have been revelling in this more sculptural medium. Now I have finished illustrating this book I have decided to get down and painting for a few months of wonderfulness :) Secretly hoping that my book will selll itself while I play with paint hmmm.

as sweet as a flower

It was my birthday today and we had a fun day filled with family, cake, singing, dancing and playing. Instead of crashing out in a tired heap JJ decided he couldn't possibly sleep until he finished this letter to me. He worked on it from 8 pm until 9 reading out as he wrote,. It says things like "Mama you are as sweet as a flower. Your breastmilk tastes like love hearts. I love you more than ever. You are a princess...."

Press Release

This appeared in some local papers over the last few days along with this photo...

MEDIA RELEASE:

Northern Rivers artist and author, Chrissy Butler, is set to launch a special new children’s book; ‘The Wonderful Place’ during International Breastfeeding Week (1st – 7th August).

This eco aware picture book is a delight filled look at the joys of full term breastfeeding. Featuring luscious images of breastfeeding moments and the musings of a toddler, this book sends a positive message to families about breastfeeding.

“Author Chrissy Butler has gifted us with what is probably the BEST homebirth book for families." – The Mother Magazine

Following the success of her first book ‘My Brother Jimi Jazz’ which is about her family’s experience of homebirth, Chrissy has created all of the images for The Trust Birth Conference held in California. She says: “All aspects of my motherhood journey have greatly inspired my artwork.” Chrissy continues to gather inspiration from her daily life, recently designing the artwork for International Midwives Day. Her painting featured on the cover of Australian Midwifery News and is connected with midwifery globally.

“The Wonderful Place” is printed onto 100% post consumer re-cycled paper is reinforcing the message of sustainability not only of breastfeeding but printing as well. Chrissy Butler has grown up in the Alsontville area, now living near Murwillumbah and is pleased to support local printers and retail outlets.

“Chrissy’s illustrations are magic in themselves” - Australian Midwifery News

Chrissy is excited to share another book which advocates peaceful parenting: “My hope is that this book will help spread a joyous message about full term breastfeeding.” Look out for Chrissy Butler appearing at local retail outlets for book readings and signing in the coming weeks.

For more information visit WWW.ChrissyButler.com

Bugs pictures

Bug felt inspired to spend some time on the photo project today. She chose pictures that meant something to her instead of taking pictures. Here is what she came up with. We had alot of fun choosing the right card to mount them on, which we will tackle tomorrow.

JJ's Photos

We have a photographic exhibition coming up for our homeschool group this week. JJ has taken alot of photos lately of his artwork and his world. We put them togther to form this mosaic tonight. The world through JJ's eyes.....

JJ's Creation

JJ worked very hard making this abstract artwork - it is just beautiful

Motherhood and creativity

For Parenting by Heart, Pinky Mckay http://www.pinky-mychild.com/

Motherhood and Creativity

Chrissy Butler

Birth and mothering has been the catalyst in finding a place of harmony where my life and art are woven together. Guiding the energy of my life into creativity is wondrously rewarding and certainly challenging.

I like to notice things that I experience: birthing, breastfeeding, playing dolls, washing dishes…. Anything and bring it into my artwork and my writing. I like to notice what is there and take a journey with it, draw it, paint it, read about it or have a conversation around it.

Artistically being a Mama is a creative soup; the challenge is often finding the right moments to create something. Each day has a different beat, some days in our family we like to learn together and other times we prefer to follow our interests alone. Often too these distinctions can’t be made, we just find a harmony where we are learning together and inspiring each other with our projects.

Children are wonderful at reminding us how to learn and how to live. I try to make art and live my life the way children learn, by one thing leading naturally to the next without coercion. My pursuits are neither more nor less important than the pursuits of my children and I am always trying to honour this. By understanding that building their tower out of blocks is just as important as my latest painting. When I remember to honour my children’s endevaours they immediately do so with mine.

Prints

"My Mama's milk tastes like rainbows, sunshine and love"

I am now selling a selection of prints from my book, 'The Wonderful Place'. For A4 size printed onto 300gsm fine art paper they sell for $43 including postage. My printer does a lovely job and you can also have the print with matt board shrink wrapped for a little extra. These make a lovely gift. You can email your order to sales@chrissybutler.com

Book Orders and layout

I have been getting a few pre-release orders which is WONDERFUL :) If you are ordering from overseas please let me know. I will need to charge $26 for orders outside Australia.

I am working with a home schooled teen, Roxy Coppen, on the layout. She has a great energy and it is a delight to have her enthusiasm and creative input on board.

About The Wonderful Place

The Wonderful Place is a picture book which celebrates the joys of toddler breastfeeding, seen through the eyes of 3 year old Jimi Jazz. The artwork is ink, water colour and collage on paper. Prints can be ordered of any of the artwork, please contact me at sales@chrissybutler.com for more information about prints or orginal artwork from the book.

Ready for pre-release orders!!!

I am all ready to birth this baby of a book. I have finished the artwork and the text has been edited by my lovely friend Belinda Moore. A very special friend, Roxy is working on the layout with me which I am very excited about. The printer is ready http://www.blackrainbow.com.au/ with some beautful post consumer recycled paper. The Wondeful Place will be 150mm x 210mm - Finished size portrait. I am ready to take pre-print orders through emailing me at sales@chrissybutler.com.

The Wonderful Place will be released in the first week of August to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week. The pre-print price will be $22 including postage and handling.

To order a signed copy and to recieve thi special pre print price you can email me at sales@chrissybutler.com :)

Please feel free to contact me for more information or to leave a comment.

Cut Outs

Since Bug was really little she has asked me to draw 'cut outs'. These are just small drawings of whatever takes her fancy at the time, which she then creates a game around. We have had mermaids, fairies, super heros, animals and people that she has met. When we read a story Bug asks me to copy a character or two from the book 'with their arms down flat' which then is played with for long after the tale is finished. The characters meet other charaters from other books and real life, fall inlove, have adventures and sort through problems. She has a favourite few until they wear out :)

Over the last few years I must have drawn 1000s, usually I do a few each day. I have encouraged her to draw her own (during those moments when I over parent) but she loves my part in the process, content to watch.

What a beautiful, magical and wonderful thing it is, when I put down whatever it is I am doing and sit and draw a tiny character who then gets more love than any barbie or brat doll in the house. I am so often reluctant but then find joy it creating them. I can never get too carried away a she has a very strict format, often going into a huff if I play around with colour, or format in any way.

Mama time

It has been lovely spending some time working up these drawings. I feel refreshed after spending a little bit of time creating, cleaning and cooking. With Willow home we often spend time doing just this.