Inner conflict outer grace

Inner Conflict Outer Grace

acrylic on canvas 2 x 20 by 60cm

(sold)

Chinese New year inspired artwork

To welcome in the Chinese New year of 2016 with the year of the monkey... I decided to get out my red, gold and black acrylic paint and work on some interior textured artwork. Smaller pieces that compliment other art in your home or office. I used 2 shades of gold, one to represent my western side and the more orange shade to show the 999.9 Chinese gold, as it reflects the strong Asian influence I have had throughout my life.

I usually find the best time to paint (currently) is when something is bothering me. I loose myself in the details of the artwork as I ponder the route of an issue I have. One re accruing theme for me is the in equalities between men and woman. And how I was raised to feel equal to a man. Woman go from the safe secure environment of home and school life and get thrown into a 'mans' world. 

Not so long ago, a male friend asked me what I was up to. I told him work work work, as I'm trying to establish myself in the world and work force independently. He kinda brushed this off and asked about my social life... To which I replied, if I was a man would you ask me about my social life after what I just told you? 

Nothing of what he said was intended and once I pointed this out to him he realised oh! You are right, you have a very valid point! 

Am I bitter or angry? I may have been, but that's before my eye's were really open and seeing truths... Now I see clearly that is runs throughout society and even in ones were we think we are equal to our male friends. 

Recently I was offered my first 'co porate' sort of job... I was offered a big beautiful shiny offer, but the first offer of money was... laughable! I couldn't help but wonder if I had been a man, would they have offered me more? Thinking this I started reading up about the unfair pay divide in the cooperate world between men and women, this wasn't the horrifying part for me... The thing that really turned my stomach was hearing a woman working in this world for many years now saying, "that is the way it always is, live with it" 

WOW lady! way to stand up for half the population on this planet!

Inner Conflict Outer Grace

acrylic on canvas 2 x 20 by 60cm

(sold)

Inner conflict

"The abuse of women and girls is the most pervasive unaddressed human rights violation on Earth" - Jimmy Carter

Recently the Dali Lama announced that putting more women in charge will even things out as women are compassionate and have the ability to sympathise in others situations. IE seeing both sides of the coin... 

My reading thus far makes me no expert on women issues at all, I just feel its a rather big issue and its one we all need to consider and think about, because right now, to me, it doesn't feel like its something that is thought about much, or taken very seriously. 

People may be hypocritical about Pope Francis putting on a big show at the end of Easter, saying it is all 'promotional' SO WHAT? It was a huge public statement and a wonderful step in the right direction. Not just for refugees but also for women.

Inner Conflict Outer Grace

acrylic on canvas 2 x 20 by 60cm

Back of the canvas

(sold)

The concept can be bigger than the initial idea

This painting overall represents how we show ourselves to the world, with make up and clothing and how we each carry something inside us everyday. The things we carry can change, we are all different but we are the same, we want love, happiness and a fair and equal life... is that really so outrageous an idea?

Thank you for reading, if you'd like to help support me as an artist, please send money now :) 

Thanks for reading! Have a wonderful day :)

visit AranaART website

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.

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!