Exploration of the mind....

Stanley Bay
July 4th 2016
photo by Arana Kennedy

I was drawn to the sky today and this photo I took captures what I couldn't describe in words. There was a magical summery feeling with a hint of storm creeping in from the side... A strong wind was blowing and the sun was out in force. Todays weather could go anyway!

Stormy day?
Stanley 4th July 2016
photo by Arana Kennedy

Leaving my sun filled flat, I was surprised to step out and see dark storm clouds looming over part of the sky. I move closer to see if I can capture the intense greys and greens that my naked eye can see. It's the sharp constrasting colours that draw me towards the water.

Rough sea and dark clouds greet me at the waters edge...

Then I turn to my left and bright sunny blue skies with sharp vivid contrast.

Thank you for visiting my blog

AranaART on instagram

and feel free to contact me

info@AranaART.com

The Phoenix is rising

Phoenix Rising
watercolour & ink
A3 size
HK$ 5,800
May 2016
Artist Arana Kennedy

The Phoenix is rising

The fire has just begun...
a slow gentle flame 
Ignited by the possibility of freedom and hope
mythological creatures unite in the imagination
as a transformation begins
propelling upwards to the energy all around us

it gets under your skin
it eats at your core
it turns your world inside out
as you melt into a giant bowl of sparkling stars
you see clearly
your mind is free to think and ponder

Deep within the spirit breaks free
Leaving behind a world of tragedy and pain
Repairing the destruction that was here upon arrival
Looking to the past for the keys to unlock the future
Too fast they progress
they don't think but just act

Fear not for the Phoenix is rising
consumed by passion and wonder
driven by natural forces
beauty intensifying drawing light from the sun
enjoying the shadows in the moon
pulsating to the motion of the sea

Breath deep
the heat of the fire and the smoke of the flames
feel the burn and the calls of those in pain
Fix the broken
Help the needy
Stand up for all people and they will stand up for you

Sometimes when I am at a total loss of what to say, I just shut down and relax and just let the words take over. Painting with words I guess I'd like to call it. This fine creature in this artwork is symbolic as it represents and hurdle I have over come in my mind. These 'blockers' show up in the form of anxiety, fear and a general lack of inner self confidence.

Friends and family often tell me I'm brave and I find that really strange because most of the time I am absolutely terrified! But I guess that's just part of the package you would have to be totally insane not to feel some fear before jumping out of a plane. I guess the braver you are just means you have a higher tolerance to fear, maybe!? I guess watching all those horror movies prepared me to face fear in life LMAO... Nah! I going to cope out here and blame my parents for letting me watch Dr Who when I was 5 HAHAHA! I LOVED it! I was terrified watching it, but I still loved it... slept like a 5 year old should... soundly! That however wasn't the case for my poor cousin, he had nightmares.

Where did I pull the word "brave" from, you may ask? I think I was fairly brave trying to capture a phoenix rising out of fire... I love how the colours BOUNCE and the contrast of the black and white slightly merging with bold blends of yellow and red. I can't feel the grace... I know its there but its only very faint... like a whisper of a new born...

I shall not stop here... I will continue with more, for now the Phoenix watches with a wondering eye.

Thank you so much for reading, I will post a new blog with an art update in a few days.

by Arana Kennedy
www.AranaART.com
instagram
Arana ART
FB page
Arana ART
&
Arana's ART gallery

contact Arana
info@AranaART.com

Preparing for the final stages of Phoenix Rising

The pheonix Emerges... A strong symbolic mystical creature...

Creating, living, dreaming...

Awaking from a deep dream filled sleep... the faint sound of early birds warming their voices as the rising sun brings a low dusky light. The air is buzzing with magical currents, the energy oozing out with the first light burst of dawn. As the outside world slowing begins to wake I give thanks for a new day filled with endless possibilities.

Standing in the course sand at the edge of the water, I slowly massage the souls of my feet as I take in the beautiful sea veiw. Nature is alive and being out early in the morning your senses feel heightened... you can feel the power around you.

I submerge myself in the sea as I clear my mind and think of nothing but this very moment. Floating with the cool water on my back as I feel the sun warm me as I drift with the waves and the current.

In times of sudden storms on the sea... swirling winds bring change to the air. A pressure building against the current, standing strong as the water rushes to push me in another direction. I do not fight the current, I drift with the tide and ease myself gentally back to where I am going.

Fear parallises me

Am I strong enough?

Am I worthy enough?

What is this invisible energy pushing me, pushing any of us towards out better selves.

I breath deep until the peace returns. Every part of my is alive and awake and I am ready to face the day with a positive perspective. 

As the phoenix rises out of the fire and enters into a blue space of calm, its sharp constract on the landscape inspires the imagination.

Using watercolour inspired by recent lessons I taught... I was taken back to school art class memories. Refilling my ink pens as I set to work on the final stages of my phoenix.

visit my website

www.aranaART.com

instagram Arana ART

Phoenix Rising

Phoenix Rising

acrylic on canvas 30 by 60cm

And out of the furious fires of hell...

Rose an elegant and graceful create

She is young and naive 

Full of wonder and curiosity

Her wings have not been clipped

Nor will they

She draws strength from nature

Feels connected to the emotions of others

wants to grow and learn

deepen her beauty and understanding

She seeks knowledge and wisdom

Happiness and peace

Balance and harmony

a constant flow of evolving change

New artwork idea

From pain comes passion. An invisible driving force. As the dragons that I so dearly love become a part of my art... I felt they do represent a male persona and with the introduction of the Phoenix that compliments the dragon as a yin and yang, or balance. 

Phoenix mythology according to WiKI

So a new adventure begins with the Phoenix gracefully rising from the asses, determined to fly free....

Thank you for reading :)

visit my website

New art promo video by 
my artist friend Carsten 
1st draft

Dragon identity II

Dragon identity II
May 2016
120x60cm Acrylic on canvas
Arana Kennedy

A mystical creature emerging from fire and fury. Discovering for the first time that the world isn't exactly a simple place to live in. So this is where the inner search as a dedicated artist began for me.

I tried to escape my world... 

Moved to another country, made new friends but soon realised that life's journey is one of inner reflection. The only way I was to reach true inner peace was to return to where it began and adjust my inner self.

9 years later here I am... Painting Dragon identity II

Bigger, bolder, more insightful, grown through a wonderful collection of random life changing events all leading to this very moment. 

I didn't feel very smart or clever at 20 or even 30... So I continued to put my head down, focus on the task at hand and work hard, to gain the most knowledge and understanding I could because they weren't paying me enough to actually try harder.

I feel like I have had very little life experience, I've never climbed a tall mountain, I haven't had kids, I haven't visited Africa but compared with a lot of people, my life is rich and full of adventure.

Put an artist in a room full of bankers... or put a banker in a room full of artists... Both senario's are the same for that individual. HAHA maybe not, I am of the belief a group of artists can convert a single banker but I highly doubt a room full of bankers could convert a single artist. More people need to start choose 'moral' over 'legal' 

love over anger

understanding over judgment

open to others ideas and opinions 

accepting each other for who we are

not the size of out bank accounts

or

our social standing in "society"

Respecting and understanding differences

finding the greatest qualities in the people around us and helping each other to grow into our own unique true selves.

After spending one week painting in the 'solid' red and black, I get to work by adding details.
I'm into hour 12 and have only added about a quarter of the golden magic.

When I really get into my artwork, I need to be in complete calmness... a meditative state of total relaxation. If you ask me today, What is the most important thing you can do to achieve personal happiness... BE IN THE MOMENT...

That is what creating artwork is about for me, breaking life down into joyful moments of adventure. Contemplating process and outcomes... moving forward, evolving. 

Painting bigger and bolder... this is a reflection of the inner confidence and transformation one acquires in their personal legend. We all have one but they aren't always so obvious.

"if its not working out, try a different way"

Never give up, just alter the plan

It's all about reflection and growth

Dragon Identity II
"work in progress"

 After breaking everything down in my life and choosing a seemiling difficult road... The road to freedom. The path of choice. Society leads us into a false sense of choice, if you really sit down and think about it, are you lead by choice or has your path been decided and until you reach stability in life you can't go forward... and do what you really want?

That's how I was feeling, trapped in my own life... Prisoner to routine and expectations. 

after each 10-12 hour stage of 'golden additions'
I need to leave the canvas for 24 hours to leave the gold set and dry.
Trying to rush this process only leads to smudges and imperfections.

I am not ready to lock myself into who I am, life has far too much to offer to settle for anything less than a wonderful adventure. Everyone is different and everyone has their thing... Be passionate... Turn your phone off at the weekends and let yourself be free from the pressures that society places on us.

Life is great!

I am blessed!

Today I paint!

Tonight I drink Sangria :) 

ART on SUNDAY

Flower Power Junk
Ink on Paper design
prints available
by Arana Kennedy

ART on SUNDAY

Living in Hong Kong and deciding to take on full time art has been one 'eye opening' experience. At first it felt like an impossible task, but the impossible soon turned into a challenge. I like to take something that has been discarded and forgotten about, breath new life into it and make it beautiful and valuable again. Which is probably why my love life has been such a disaster! HAHAHA! I tend to like 'fix up' projects ;)

I started all this with enough money to pay all my rent and bills for 12 months. Then a few months in I was asked to move out of my very cheap flat and that move cost me 11 months of my living costs... 

I saw it as a blessing in disguise as I moved back to my HK hometown of Stanley. Back surrounded by nature again. People asked where my inspiration of colour into my art came from... I paint how I feel... The move to Stanley opened my mind, I started to live and dream in vivid colours again.  It is a reflection of my subconscious mind at play.

Getting back to basics and nature really inspired a new way of looking at the world. At one point in my life I tried moving continents but I soon discovered the unrest I felt was a part of me and no matter where I was, I would still have to face this internal struggle I had going on. Nature is truly a magnificent gift of raw power and beauty. These days you are more likely to survive stranded on a deserted island than you would thrown into a city with nothing... But then maybe that's the point of all those scenario's on books and film... you can survive in nature, the real world.

Stepping out and considering my next move I discovered how 'rent for buisness' works in Hong Kong, not sure about the rest of the world. But not only do landlords get to charge over what is reasonable, if you manage to make enough money and start doing well then the landlord will expect to also profit from your business in the form of 'rental increase'. Your work your ass off to establish yourself in business and so I guess the landlord justify it by saying, your business value has increased therefore the value of this property has increased as a result of your hard work... Someone who is making money off property already now gets a cut of your handwork, time and energy. I'm sorry, it all seems a bit shady to me!

Since I am already struggling to pay my rent taking on a 'business rental' is completely out of the question for me now. So I decided to set up 'shop' in my home in the hope that friends, friends of friends and family could help by simply using word of mouth. This is where my idea came in to make cards. I thought its a good way that people can support me by not spending too much money. I feel really blessed when people buy one card from me. Because to me, that small gesture says 'I love your work, I can't afford to buy a painting but I support you' 

I am also asked why I don't show my work in galleries... When you have no budget to work with, hiring a van to transport work to and from events, soon adds up and is an expense I simply cant afford right now. I'm working towards that~! 

ART CARDS for all occasions 

ART CARDS... buy 1 card support an artist

To support my art contact me to 'buy a card' online, for HK$38. You can choose one card out of 30+ current designs, postage included. This will put you onto my 'members list of art patrons' So you will receive and email every time I put out 10 new designs so you can keep up to date.  Times are tough so every small bit counts.

So... the exciting part... the gallery! I decided to do 'open house' every Sunday, so poeple can just come down and take a look. It's fun to sit back and have a glass of vino or a coffee and chat art. People's budgets vary greatly, so with this in mind I do have artwork ranging from HK$250-UP as I try to provide for all. I understand that no everyone can afford large artwork, but as the artist who spent over 2 months working on a large piece I can afford to drop the price too low either, as that is 2 months of my time. I can lower the price, but only so much.

Art on Sunday, its open house, so don't feel you need to buy anything when you visit, I also take great pleasure from people's simple interest in my art. So far I have had a few groups in my gallery and have loved sharing wine and talking art. I often get a lot of useful feed back too so I'm happy to open my home.

With summer coming, I am getting into Henna tatoo designs, so if you pop down for a visit you can get a free henna tattoo! 

Contact info@AranaART.com (me) for more information, gallery veiwing at other times is by appointment only.