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.

Shui Sin Temple - Stanley

Shui Sin Temple, Stanley
located at the end of Stanley Main Street (market)
photo by Arana Kennedy

 During the day time this place is alive and crawling with visitors from all over the world. However, in the early morning if feels special and sacred. The Shui Sin Temple is a place of worship so it would make sense that in the quiet moments of the day here, you can feel a certain energy... a calming peaceful force, surrounded by the powerful ocean.

Shui Sin Temple over looks Stanley Bay and THE ROCKS

Even in dull weather, this view is stunning... Living in Hong Kong you never fail to remember how special and beautiful the place is when you step out of the crowded city.

Shui Sin Temple
Stanley Main Street
photo by Arana Kennedy

Offerings are placed here each morning.

"Misty Morning, Don't see no sun....
I know you're out there... having fun!"
- Bob Marley

Stanley Bay
Stanley Water Front
photo by Arana Kennedy

Clear Water ROCKS!
Stanley Bay
photo by Arana Kennedy

Contemplating life
The lone fisherman
photo by Arana Kennedy

Taking the Mrs out for a joy ride
Stanley Bay
photo by Arana Kennedy

Early Bird catches... wisdom?

I love the sound of birds croaking in the morning... It's the sound they make before their morning 'coffee' a chirp coming from their bellies! The sound triggers a warm feeling in my body, the one that makes you feel so happy to be alive and enjoying a bit of peace and quiet before the on rush of the noises and sensations of the day.

And when the birds get their groove and the happy choir of chirping begins... more sounds start emerging from the silence of the morning... Dogs barking, brooms sweeping the pavement, trolleys rolling by and the clang of breakfast dishes in the kitchen tell me its time to put down my coffee and go out for a walk...

'The Rocks'
Stanley Waterfront Hong Kong
photo by Arana Kennedy

'Newspapers & Fish'
Early Morning in Stanley
photo by Arana Kennedy

Lush vegetation after the rain
Stanley Plaza
Photo by Arana Kennedy

Fisherwoman
Stanley
photo by Arana Kennedy

Tai Chi
Stanley Plaza
photo by Arana Kennedy

Stanley Market
different perspective
photo by Arana Kennedy

Football pitch
Stanley Waterfront
photo by Arana Kennedy

Crisp and Clean - Natural cleanse after rain
Stanley
photo by Arana Kennedy

It's a busy and magical time in Stanley, early morning... Stanley residents are very proud and embrace their connections to nature. It is exciting to see the catches of the day, it is funny as the fishermen and women know I am originally from Australia and always say the fish are too small here ahahahah! The generosity of spirit in the morning is rich and of all the people I know here, the most important thing is life is happiness and they value their lifestyle over money. A rare and fantastic quality of human nature.

I meet my friend and grandmaster of QiGong and learn some wisdom...

"The people of Hong Kong are fortunate, there are 7 days in a week and on 5 of those days there are opportunities to become rich in order to have enough money to make a clean difference to the natural environment in Hong Kong."

Eagerly I await his wisdom..

"on 3 days there is mark 6 (lottery) and on 2 days we have horse racing"

HAHAHAHAHAHA

Why not?

For only HK$ 10-20 per day you have a chance to win 10 million!

If you have 10 million you can make a difference... for now we enjoy all the gifts everyday that nature brings us.

AranaART website

Quality over quantity...

The world is full of such a variety of individuality do we really want to bulldoze over everything and build shopping malls? 

It hurts my soul that places like Koh Samui are littered with 7-11's and fast-food joints.

I tried my first authentic thai curry and it blew my mind... literally! When the spice hit my mouth my body when into spasms, I was covered in swear and felt like I had just gone through an intense 5 second detox. I asked WOW what is this? As my local thai friends feel about laughing... oh you never had real thai spice before? Confused... I replied OBVIOUSLY NOT!? 

When I was first living in Hong Kong independently, I had a low budget so I ate a lot of local food... but over 20 years the inflation in this town is just out of control... Instead of keeping local food more attractive and at lower prices... the supermarkets just match the local produce with international food.

OH YOU BUY THE MILK BECAUSE IT IS AUSTRALIAN, YOU COME FROM AUSTRALIA...

no! I buy this milk because its the cheapest... and it's beyond me how milk coming from Australia is cheaper than the local milk being sold... I know its wrong and I should buy locally, but at this moment in my life I can't afford that choice.

I love creating art... it just feels really special to be able to do this. The further down this path I walk the more distance I feel between my old reality and my new one. My first art exhibition "new Perspective" was about me and how if I wanted change I needed to change, to change I needed to adjust my thinking. The main feature a painting of a doorway... a doorway to a new perspective. 

photo by Bruce Foreman

I sold this painting last year to a person seeking a new perspective. After they purchased this piece their business took off and life started to shine with more positivity for them.

What if the engergy driving one to paint is somehow obsorbed into the canvas...magic... or simple scientific energy transfer? There are too many things in this world that are unexplained... to discount any theory completely... There was a time that it was believed the world was flat... and thinking it was round was crazy nonsense... MADNESS!!!

The best ingredients for quality are love and passion, positivity and light, happiness and balance. 

Creating artwork is a process, a meditative state of mind. You need all that tranquility and calmness in order to keep you focused on the art. The 'top' pieces I have created... meaning the ones that 95% of people seem genuinly impressed by, are the art pieces I poured 100% of my heart mind and soul into. 

photo by Bruce Foreman

photo by Bruce Foreman

photo by Bruce Foreman

photo by Bruce Foreman

photo by Bruce Foreman

My 2007 dragon... I locked myself away from society for 2 weeks while I put my heart and soul into this piece. It's had to explain how time just stood still. I needed to do this and i didn't stop till I finished it.

He's not for sale and neither am I :)

Artful process #AranaART

With ongoing pressures of everyday life. Once and awhile you are thrown a curve ball that upsets the balance of your inner peace. Pain is when my body takes over and my mind shortly follows... I pick up my pen and start to draw. Clearing my mind and focusing on an image, releasing my feelings in pictures as I am defenceless to stop the process.

Fear, pain and hurt, quickly transform into creativity and ideas... The world seems suddenly full of possibility, my mind takes time to process what I have drawn. I'm giving a poetic version and beauty to a dark feeling. Look towards the light, we are like moths to a flame, the light draws you in and opens your mind to a magical world of possibilities. 

All our answers are hidden deep within
A3 ink on paper
March 2016
contact info@AranaART.com

Transform your pain and fear from within, release it with beauty share love and positivity. Your battles are your own, take pride in the treasure you produce in life. Pain doesn't always need to be feared, learn from it, take out the positive... focus there...

My mind slowly starts to breath as I slip into a meditative like state, repetitive motions are calming and relax my fast moving mind.

After clearing the rage of emotion, the journey begins....

Alternative Imagination
Ink on Paper A3
March 2016
Arana Kennedy

Now I'm centred and focused and calmy drifting out at sea, seeking an adventure and daring to dream. Who cares about the small stuff when there's so much good to do!

Junks on the horizon #AranaART

Alternative Imagination
Ink on Paper A3
March 2016
Arana Kennedy

On the horizon a dark shadow appears,

Mysterious in design and passionate in appearance.

The main sail becomes one with the breeze...

Guiding a vessel across unpredictable seas.

A lucky glimpse of a treasured beauty,

Down below the currents of emotion stir.

Solid by design the body of nature,

Foundations of strong timber holding it in.

Exploring the limitations of an adventure so true,

The undertaking of the leap from within.

The vast open waters provide continuity and motion,

How free it is out roaming the ocean.

17th March 2016 - Arana Kennedy

Things change...

The wind dances across the sails,

Creating rythmic music

An orchestral rainbow of inspiring sound

Notes of adventure travel through time and space.

The stepping stones on the path we walk

Imersing underbelly with cleansing fresh sea

Drifting with the emotional change

New beginnings await right ahead on the horizon.

Deep light floating in the silence

Caressing mind and comforting soul

Divine in the graceful knowledge

Fearing only the wrath of a storm.

19th March 2016 - Arana Kennedy

Is the key to unlocking the universe deep within ourseleves?

Roaming my world,

in troubled seas.

The ocean providing,

succulent scenes,

Breathing so calmly,

deeply begin.

Overpowering surrender

to the sounds all around.

Written and illustrated by Arana Kennedy

All our answers are hidden deep within
A3 ink on paper
contact info@AranaART.com

When life around me gets hectic, I want to run and hide and burry my head in the sand. Over the years I have learnt to channel this pain or release into my artwork. I revert to images that dance in my mind. With negative energy coursing through my body, I need to calm and slow down my brain. Relax and let go of the emotion and just focus on the moment. With a deep breath and a tiny spark of hope, I pick up my pen and begin to express what I feel in my pictures... This process quickly transforms the negative into a positive and before I notice I am once again inspired by the magic of life. We all living in the garden of Eden, Lets start respecting that!

Sometimes we need to go back to go forward...

The key to unlock the universe is deep within our soul.

As a child I watched Walt Disney movies... I believed that if your shared your dreams and wishes, they wouldn't come true. So I kept things of true value close to me while I observed my surroundings.

As a teenager I watched Star Wars... I believed in the force and that if you made a true sacrifice then one person would have the power to change the world. So I become a vegetarian and discovered a whole different perspective in the world.

In my twenties I watched Friends... I lived in a one bedroom apartment with 3 others. I learned that with next to nothing, you can survive and have a very rich life. You learn to share when you have nothing.

In my 30's I felt like I lost everything I had worked for so I moved to lamma island but it was too small so I went to the biggest island and lived in Sydney and sold wine! I thought at the time I was directionless... how wrong was I to think such thoughts... Everything in ones life has purpose and meaning.

I imagine that when I reach my 40's I will start to discover the true meaning of the word 'freedom' I believe I will quit my job, go in search of simplicity and focus on the dreams and wishes from my childhood. 

I am a work in progress, my artwork is a reflection of that process, if you free your mind and focus you can find true meaning in everything around you. My trick is to figure out how to do that with my art. Or has it started already ;)

Art is open for ones own interpretation, the trick of the artist is to tell a story in their art... If you can't see the story, maybe you need to look a bit closer.

THanks for reading!