Pauline O'Shannessy-Dowling Artist

💖 A little update about my creative practice 💖 Yes, I am still making art - in amongst my PhD commitments - & I have quite a few works currently in progress - & I love them all 💖 I think I will be able to release one finished work every 1-2 months or so - I'll be sure to let you know when this happens 💖 I have been working with a couple of schools in recent times, sharing my creative practice with students - how I work, what inspires me, how to work through the fear of the blank canvas, how I design a composition, & colour & pattern inspiration 💖 We have also had some great chats about the many health benefits of creating art, & being in creative spaces 💖 This work fills up my heart & feeds my soul, the power of art is magnificent, I'm so impressed with the young people I am lucky enough to work with, & their teachers are pretty amazing too 💖

💖 I love the fact that in amongst the business of my PhD study & my teaching commitments, I'm still getting lovely invitations from schools to talk about my arts practice & my illustration work in particular 💖 So wonderful to be considered as an inspiration to young creatives - full heart moment right there - & I know one school is doing a project based on my quirky & whimsical streetscapes 💖 The work in this picture is visually inspired by Hokusai's, "The Great Wave off Kanagawa", & metaphysically inspired by Rumi's notion that we are part of something bigger, not mere drops in the big ocean of life 💖 Such gratitude 💖

🌳 This sweet, "Little Tree", is off to the the 'Beckworth Art & Design Charity Auction' at Ballarat Grammar Art & Design 🌳 I'm honoured to support BGS & their commitment to raise funds for Beyond Blue 🌳 100% of the money raised at this auction goes directly to this worthy cause - supporting mental health & wellbeing 🌳 The auction takes place on Friday 24 July, 5-7pm - see you there 🌳 Big ups to so many of my creative colleagues for supporting this initiative 🌳

💙 Really thrilled to have been asked by Ballarat Grammar Art & Design, to donate a work to their forthcoming charity auction 💙 The auction will take place on Friday 24 July, 5.00-7.00pm, at the Beckworth Centre, featuring the work of local artists & students 💙 I have a few, lovely small works on the go at the moment, & I look forward to choosing one for this auction, with all proceeds going to Beyond Blue 💙 See you at the auction 💙

🌟 I had the absolute pleasure & joy of working on the "Next Gen Pathways" program at the Art Gallery of Ballarat, with LCI Melbourne & VCE students from local schools 🌟 A beautiful online exhibition, "Still Becoming" has been Curated by Stella Condie from LCI, with support from the Art Gallery of Ballarat 🌟 Such beautiful pairings of artworks from this dedicated group of young artists 🌟

💖 I have many people asking me if I am still making my art, whilst I am on my PhD journey - so I will share the news here also 💖 Yes, I am - mark making is very much an essential part of my daily practice & ritual - just like my walking & running; my morning coffee; my journaling, for example 💖 I'm focusing on this 30 x 30cm format right now - I love this size, & the shape 💖 I will have one of these works framed soon, & ready to do its joyful work in a new home 💖 Thankyou, as always, for your interest in my mark making 💖

💖 The wonderful Art Gallery of Ballarat winter school holiday program is coming up 💖 I will be running some of the program, along with Emily, Kirrily & Abbie 💖 It's going to be great fun 💖

🌟 So thrilled that in amongst the wonderful busyness of my PhD studies, marathon training & teaching, that my lovely drawings are still finding new homes 🌟 So happy that this sweet, "rain & clouds" triptych is off to a new home 🌟 I will be releasing more small works for you to enjoy in the coming months 🌟

🌟 A wonderful opportunity for VCE creatives to deepen their creative practice & gain curatorial insights in a public gallery 🌟 Applications close Friday 24 April - click on link below for more information 🌟

Next Gen Pathways | Art Gallery of Ballarat | Art Gallery of Ballarat Next Gen Pathways is an immersive program for senior secondary students who want to deepen their artistic practice and gain practical experience of curatorial processes in a public gallery.