Tracey Levett Art

Your individuality is your gift to the world - preparing for 2012

2011-12-27T16:56:00.000-08:00

Here are a few thoughts I penned this morning and perhaps, as we are on the threshhold of a new year it's
a good time to ask ourselves a couple of questions.

If you are not being your authentic self, then who are you being?

If you're not living up to your own standadrds then who's standards are they?

Whether it's putting flowers in a vase or driving your car every thing you do is a unique expression of who you are. When you compromise your own values you water down what you create and who you are. If you stay true to your own values and present possibly a less palatable version of yourself to the world, you also give others permission to be their authentic self.

Putting what's important to you first, also allows others to do the same. There comes a point in life where if we don't respond to the urgent calling of our inner voice ( which may have been gently urging us for years even decades) then we may miss the boat. Of course there will be other boats but not this boat. Some chances only present themselves once and it's up to us to decide whether to sail into unknown seas with the possibility of adventure and perhaps danger or whether to sit in our safe harbour in a boat that may be slowly rotting.

Growth is always daunting but it is also what makes us feel alive. When it comes down to it, we are either
growing or withering. Admittedly there is a time for everything ( including standing still).

Perhaps 2012 is the year to allow you, to be completely yourself and to live with abandon ( as opposed to fear). Some people say they don't even know what it is that they want. Start by doing small things that make you happy and watch them grow, before you know it by simply pleasing yourself you will be living an authentic life and in doing so contributing to the Universe.

There is only one YOU. No one else can be YOU!

Follow your Bliss and may 2012 be filled with joy, expansion and unconditional love.

Tracey Levett Art: Body of Light & Passion

2011-10-20T19:41:00.000-07:00

Tracey Levett Art: Body of Light & Passion

www.traceylevettart.com

Body of Light & Passion

2011-10-20T19:27:00.000-07:00

Body of Light

21st October 2011

When I began creating the paintings for this exhibition my original theme was Passion. Using a dramatic palette of creams, reds and black I began. As I allowed the Muse and the paint to have their way, it seemed, much to my disappointment a different idea was emerging. Passion was nowhere to be seen, instead, the idea of body and spirit, physical and non-physical kept presenting itself.

The paintings looked to me, like mists of non-physical punctuated by these little clay bodies with a pulse of red life force. The physical sat in the non-physical with no separation. I changed my theme and decided to honour what was emerging rather than force the theme I was hoping to paint.

Then in September as I was getting close to having a completed body of work my younger sister Mary died suddenly. The experience led me to ask myself many questions and also to test the mettle of my beliefs. After much soul searching I have been left with a deeper appreciation of life. It gave me a jolt and reminded me that to be luke warm about life is lazy. Like relationships or vocations or any pursuit, to thrive we need passion. It appears my theme has come full circle. The temporariness of the body is great incentive to
live with passion. By approaching even the mundane with more energy than is required transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. A physical experience into something more.

It appears that, in a life well lived, we extract as much juice as possiblefrom our days.
Life is our gift from the Universe - and passion, our gift in return.

"The Choosing" 2.1 x 1.2m

We choose what comes to us, by the thoughts we think.

Choose thoughts of Love.

"Meditation" 75 x 100cm

In the flow of Source's Abundance,

Love Joy Beauty Grace & Freedom.

River Dreaming 2.4m x 40cm

Dare to dream, this is where you create your reality.

Eternal 1 x 1m

Slow down, there will always be a new horizon.

Getting Started

2011-02-06T18:25:00.000-08:00

Getting Started 2011.

It's already February and I'm still talking about getting started!!!

It's not that I'm not motivated but it seems I'm putting the cart before the horse by trying to create new work from an "empty tank" so to speak. Although December and January were quite full it hasn't got me to a point where I feel very inspired to paint. So falling back on old habits of "should" and being disciplined I had decided to just get myself into the studio and spend a certain amount of time there and "work". In the old days whilst studying classical guitar you just had to buckle down and play your scales and your core pieces and then the new work. If this all sounds quite regimented and not very creative you're right. That's one of the reasons I stopped playing classical guitar, but old habits die hard and deep down I'm still the responsible
worker who feels guilty when I'm not being productive. This is a good time to remind myself about all those artists of the past who seemed to spend so much time in the coffee shops, bars and brothels. I've no doubt that's where they got their inspiration. They sought out the company of other artists and intellectuals and the rich cross pollination of ideas and the colourful environments led to a fertile creative output. In my own experience I know that my best work like many artists and songwriters, once I'm inspired flows quickly and easily.

I know being disciplined works well for some people and for certain artistic pursuits such as ballet and classical piano but for a free spirited creative I find it is counterproductive. Paintings created from this perspective tend to be uninspired and dry! So....what to do? I know I'm good at goal setting and acomplishing those goals but sometimes I fail to give myself the inspirational experiences needed to create new work. So I've made a list of suggestions to myself (which may benefit my fellow artists) in order to "fill up my tank" and to commence work from a place of inspiration and joy and here are a few I'd like to share.

Buy a new CD of a singer/ songwriter that I've never bought before and consider creating a painting to go with each song on the album.

Take a class unrelated to painting that uses colour & design eg. jewelly making or something textile based

Read a novel set in an exotic location and create a painting from it.

Go somewhere new even if it's not very far and chat to other creative people eg Paddington Markets,

Write a song

Plant some flowers

Take some photographs and create from them

Look at old work and develop an idea that you never fully explored

Hang out in a beautiful bookshop, fabric shop or any shop, library or park.
Sit at a pavement cafe and watch the passers by

Be still and trust that your inner artist will come to the fore when the time is right.

I know I've never been lazy (in fact it's something I'd like to cultivate) so allowing myself the chance to get inspired is an essential part of the process as it is for any artist. So if you see me wandering around Newtown, loitering in bookshops looking happy, it may look like I'm just having a nice time but in actual fact I'm working, I've no doubt that in no time at all I'll be feeling compelled to start expressing in my own way all that's been soaking into my visual memory.

Part Three The Power of Words

2010-11-14T18:23:00.000-08:00

Life is beautiful.

Life is a privilege.

Everyday is an opportunity for more joy, more love, more gratitude.

Your thoughts become your life, your health, your relationships.

You are free to be whoever you are. You are free to be whoever you want to be.

Practice consciously choosing your thoughts.

Each time you choose a negative thought replace it with a softer more positive one.

Each time you remember something sad, try remembering something funny or happy and you will raise your vibration allowing all the good that's flowing towards you to come in to your life.

Practice gratitude.

Be grateful for everything from eyelashes to the significant people in your life.

Before you get up set your intention for the day.

Before sleep give thanks for all that happened.

Plan something, have something to look forward to whilst enjoying the present moment.

Learn to cook, if you're going to eat three meals a day for the rest of your life

they should be delicious and healthy.

Grow something it's amazing to watch new buds appear.

Play, be silly , pretend you're a child. Buy a water pistol or crazy foam and have fun with it.

Get up early if you can, morning is beautiful.

Stay up late sometimes and look at the stars, you are a part of all this;

it's easy to forget when you're always inside.

Be interested in other people, other places, visit somewhere new.

Sing at the top of your lungs, it doesn't matter how you sound it's good for your soul.

Catch the breeze, soak up some sun, walk barefoot, lay down under a beautiful tree and make cloud pictures.

Be on good terms with everyone.

Don't have anyone that you don't speak to, they may not be here tomorrow.

Life is short.

Enjoy

The Power of words part two

2010-11-03T20:48:00.000-07:00

Life is an ongoing process of creation.

In order to master anything one must keep choosing the same thing.

Believe it is so, don't take no for an answer.

We manifest whatever we give our attention to, wanted or unwanted.

Always go with what truly represents who you are, if it doesn't feel right

then it probably isn't

Let your feelings guide you, if it brings you joy then go with it and let the Universe sort out the details.

Don't let fear stop you, have faith.

Always reach for the best feeling thought about a situation, especially

when it's hard to find.

Be kind to yourself, don't run on an empty tank.

Find refreshment in nature, with lightheartedness and in solitude.

The feeling behind the action is more important than the action,

therefore don't do things if you feel resentful.

Try not to judge others, they are where they are and you haven't walked in their shoes.

When standing in queues make mental lists of appreciation.

Love your parents, they are a product of their upbringing and did the best they could,

no matter how you feel about it.

Try not to live in the past or the future but in the present moment, it's precious.

Make time to connect with Source whether in meditation or by losing yourself in something you love to do.

Don't complain.

Smile.

Appreciate, appreciate, appreciate.

If you're out of alignment do whatever it takes to get back there.

Look after your body and thank it for all that it does for you.

Keep learning, keep growing.

Nurture your relationships, like you they thrive on variety, kindness and patience.

Go somewhere new, do something different.

Try a new way of doing something you do everyday.

Keep your life fresh and exhilarating.

Follow your Bliss

The power of words part One

2010-10-30T00:55:00.000-07:00

Words .... who hasn't experienced the joy of hearing something you want to hear and who hasn't experienced the excruciating pain of words that cut like a knife. There is amazing power in words, we don't always have a say over what comes out of other peoples mouths but just like our thoughts we can choose
what we say to others and to our selves.

In a recent exhibition I had a set of three paintings which I completed at the beginning of the year and put away. These three pieces had a lot of text incorporated into the painting and upon reading them after some time I was really loving what they were saying.

I would like to share them with you one painting at a time here is the first.

Whatever you can imagine has the potential to exist, therefore why not let go of all fears and only imagine that which is uplifting, inspiring, exciting and beautiful.

Start everyday by setting an intention. Intend to laugh more, love more, play more,

and experience more joy.

Learn a joke, brighten someones day, distract them from their cares and make them smile.

Take nothing for granted and count every blessing.

Look for good in everyone, it's easy to be critical but so much more beneficial to praise.

Observe yourself, what habits and patterns of behaviour have you stuck repeating the same experiences over and over.

Be kind to yourself, never say anything to yourself that you wouldn't say to a best friend.

Exercise your body and you'll be amazed how much better you'll feel.

Eat well it's an act of self love.

The people you surround yourself with are a reflection of your own self worth, what do they say about that.

Travel to new places even if it's in your own city. New places, people and experiences give you a fresh perspective.

Perform anonymous acts of kindness nothing makes a person feel more loved.

Turn off your computer, your phone, your TV and enjoy the Peace.

Do something you love even if you're not good at it. You can enjoy dancing "badly"

just as much as dancing well.

When making major or minor decisions do what's best for you it will be what's best for everyone in the long run.

No-one is responsible for your happines just as you are not responsible for anyone elses.

Stay in touch with the people you love.

Make your home beautiful, it is your haven and retreat.

Don't make excuses for living the life you lead, if you don't like it then change it.

Trust or Fear?

2010-10-10T20:59:00.000-07:00

It's been just over two weeks since my exhibition and I'm just getting over it and digesting the events before and since.

The lovely part was that lots of people came and celebrated the fact that the work was on the walls as many know this in itself is no mean feat.

Deciding on a theme ( after a period of experimenting and feeling a little lost) and then creating a body of work, in my case about twenty paintings over the course of the year is what I do. I love moving from that position of no idea where I'm headed, to becoming very clear. Of course when you're in the position of no idea it's not so comfortable. However, previous experience has taught me that if you trust that this is a good thing it will lead to new ideas being birthed. You may even find you create things you would have considered beyond you. If on the other hand you stick safely to what you know you may very well turn out a very accomplished if somewhat familiar show. The problem with this is, there's no growth, no possibility of adventure or discovery of unexplored territory. So like life itself we need to take risks to keep it fresh and
keep it growing. If we're living a nice tidy practical life but are slowly dying of boredom where's the safety in that? It may appear safe but in some ways it's more dangerous than living "dangerously"!

So I'm glad I had the support of those close to me and the courage to venture into unknown territory, I feel that it was well worth it. Now that the exhibition is over I have time to reflect on other areas of my life to see if they too need a shake up. In the end it all comes down to trust, trust that there is a benevolent force supporting us every time we step out of our comfort zone into something that gets our pulse racing.
So... whether it art or life the question is Fear or Trust?

Life Drawing / Drawing from Life

2010-09-13T01:02:00.000-07:00

It always delights me that when a group of people get together to draw the same model we all

come up with very different work. It's been said that all art is autobiographical and if

you know how to read the work you can tell a great deal about the artist. Quiet sensitive people tend to create quiet sensitive drawings, bolder personalities have work that is an accurate reflection of who they are.

Some people work slowly and thoughtfully whilst others work fast and intuitively. Making art is not really very different from life we all have varying approaches, we all have joy and struggle in the process. Some people find more joy even though they may be producing something they are not particularly thrilled with. Others seem to to take it all very seriously. The other thing I love about the drawing group is that there's room for everybody, any style any level and they are welcoming of anybody that wants to draw. No competition just a group of people who are exploring their own potential.

It's lovely to think of each of our lives as a work of art, we are all trying to see what we are capable of and we're all learning off each other. Perhaps the secret to drawing and life is the same, just enjoy the journey and not to worry about too much more than what you are doing in the present moment.

One other thing when it's all over perhaps all that matters is how much fun did you have?

Ivory tower,

2010-08-29T15:48:00.000-07:00

How does one get anywhere? ....One step at a time!

On friday night a friend who had read my blog commented, that she felt I was living in an ivory tower
and it was all a bit of a yawn. I was impressed by her honesty. Because she has known me for 16 years she said it's all very well you being so happy but I should talk about my journey and how I actually got there.

In order to respect the privacy of my family I don't want to talk about specific events but like everyone I've seen darker days. Like everyone I've had my share of heartache and I'm sure that in the future, life will present new challenges. If I wanted to I could focus on all the areas of my life that some would still call challenging, they're there for me just as they are for everyone else, but for me the biggest lesson I've learnt is to focus on what's working.

According to Abraham-Hicks you can have nine out of ten areas of your life working and one area that's not
and if you focus on the area that's not working, vibrationally that becomes your point of attraction. If however you have only one area of your life that's working and nine that aren't but choose to focus on the one point that is, then your point of attraction is a positive one and will lead you to the joy you seek.

People who spend their time talking about their past or present grief get stuck in that vibration, they have little or no chance of attracting anything better. However people who focus on their joy, however small will incrementally be walking towards more joy until eventually, the heartaches that once dragged them down no longer exist. I think of some of the happiest people I know and it's not that the circumstances of their life are perfect but they have disciplined themselves not to dwell on what is beyond their control.

On the other hand I know and have been the person who has had most things going well but enjoys the drama or is locked into a pattern (habit) of focusing on the more negative aspects. These people are unnecessarily miserable. It may sound strange but in many ways being happy is a discipline, it requires discipline not to engage in gossip or complain about anything from the weather to war in Afghanistan. Not complaining doesn't make these things right but it comes back to making peace with where we are. We can't always change circumstances whether it be a sick family member, a bad economy or a week of rain. The only thing we have control over is our attitude. We can choose to be grumpy, complaining or miserable and to expect the worst (don't worry you'll get it! ) or we can choose to find the silver lining and there always is one, even if it's that being sick teaches you to value your health and a week of rain will make sunshine seem glorious. Learning to appreciate the millions of little excuses for happiness will lead us moment by moment to happiness.

To my friend thanks for being honest. We all have our challenges in life but perhaps regardless of the circumstances our true challenge is just deciding on what to focus on today. So... at the risk of sounding like a Pollyanna ( apparently Pollyanna had a very nice life) I'm choosing to focus on all that's good.

Hanging at the Arthouse Hotel

2010-08-22T17:31:00.000-07:00

At the entrance "Make me a channel" 1200mm x 1700mm

In the Verge Bar

Pete & Billie hanging "Gemini"

"Five Avatars"

It all ran beautifully smooth with Pete and Billie at the helm.

The Arthouse Hotel is a beautiful old building with a real history of the art scene in Sydney, it was originally The School of Arts building in 1836. and still has regular life drawing classes and other arty events.

It even had a "Gentlemans Club" at one point, I'm sure if the walls could talk there would be some great stories to tell.

Originally apprehensive about putting my work in a Hotel, I felt differently once I stepped inside.

Comforted by Leonardos Vitruvian man above the door and the vibe of the place I felt happy to have my paintings on the walls .

So if you happen to be in the city pop in and have a look, the exhibition is a combination of new and older pieces. The paintings will be on display until the 18th September.

The Arthouse Hotel is located at 275 Pitt St Next door to the HIlton.

Love, Joy, Beauty, Grace & Freedom or Neanderthal Man?

2010-08-18T23:40:00.000-07:00

This is one of my recent paintings, it's quite large 2.1 x 1.2m. Before an exhibition I like to live with my work
and make sure I am really happy with it before letting it go out into the world.

This painting called Love, Joy, Beauty, Grace & Freedom had been hanging on my lounge room wall
for about 4 weeks when one evening my daughter who was lying on the lounge said she could see a face in the painting. I turned around to look at it and couldn't believe that it jumped straight out at me. I had painted
it about a month or so before I hung it and yet had never noticed it. Now the funny thing is, it's the first thing I see when I look at it.

This strange Neanderthal looking creature appears to be gazing off into the distance from the centre of the canvas, how did he get there, I certainly didn't "put" him there. I thought about painting him out, my daughter said to leave him! Is he a symbol of the evolutionary process, perhaps he's there to remind us that in many ways technology aside we haven't come that far. That in the context of the Universe our time on earth is relatively short.

For me it's a reminder that so much that appears in my work is not put there deliberately but is the result of being connected to Source. Tapping into the wisdom of the Universe and allowing it to work through me. When I look at many of my paintings I barely remember painting them. It's almost as if I turn up and they paint themselves. Sometimes when a painting isn't working I will begin painting over it, if I am "tuned in", at the time what began as destruction turns into something else completely. Before I know it by having the courage to "trash" a piece that I'm not truly happy with leads me to the Truth. Something moving and beautiful to my eye appears before me and I feel waves of sensation flowing from my head to my feet, then I know I'm on track.

I know my experience is not unique and many artists will tell you the same thing.
Painting, especially abstract painting is a mystery, it's definitely not logical and can't be planned.
I think for me it's a case of being in Allignment and then being receptive. I'm just excited to be a co-creator!

Savouring & Appreciating

2010-08-16T22:21:00.000-07:00

We humans are a funny lot, we yearn for things that are seemingly out of our reach and then once achieved we so quickly become blase' and replace the yearning with the next big thing that is out of reach.
How many people long for a relationship or a job or a child or a house, then once achieved get comfortable and start to take what was once the most exciting thing on their horizon for granted. Most of us do this all our lives, I know it's part of what keeps us growing and learning but to balance out the scales a little I think we all need to do a little more savouring and appreciating.

Years ago as a singer there was no explaining the excitement ( and terror) of doing those first gigs, but it didn't take long before it became normal and less exciting. In more recent years the thrill of seeing my work hung in a gallery for the first time was incredible. About 18 months ago I had a series of events that were some of the most exciting that had happened to me in my creative life. I was offered an exhibition at the Arthouse on Pitt St Sydney. ,just before the opening night of the exhibition I met a New York art collector ( I know this sounds like a fairy tale!) and dealer who had seen one of my paintings at a mutual friends house and thought enough of my work, to go on to purchase sixteen paintings, with the sale of a few more pieces the exhibition at the Arthouse was pretty much a sellout.
In all honesty I don't ever remember being so excited about pretty much anything.

In March this year the art collector bought another nine paintings, naturally it was still very exciting allthough in truth probably not as exciting as the previous year. ( see what I mean!)

Today I have been putting final touches on paintings that will be hung in the Arthouse from the 23rd August til the 18th September. I am reminding myself how lovely it is to have the opportunity to have my work out in the world and not to take it for granted. Like most things whether it be our health, our friends or our work often it's not until we lose something that we really value it.

Today I am taking time to think of all the wonderful apects of my life. If five or ten years ago I could have looked in a crystal ball and seen all the blessings in my world today I would have been overjoyed beyond measure. I'm not saying all this to sound boastful what I'm trying to say is we all have so much to be grateful for and we all take so much for granted. Fresh air, sunshine, living in a peaceful country, life is so beautiful if we take time to appreciate. To sit in gratitude also suspends wanting for a bit, I don't think there is anything more delicious. There is great contentment in making peace with where we are, with saying thank you to the Universe and loving & appreciating the present.

If you are in the city please pop in and visit my paintings which are a mixture of old and new work .

They will be hung in the Verge Room at the Arthouse Hotel
275 Pitt St Sydney

The Love Affair

2010-08-03T16:30:00.000-07:00

It started innocently as do most affairs, my parents actually encouraged me in the early days.
Little did they know that those Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and Elvis records were fuel for a passion
that would become all consuming. By the time I reached my mid teens I was deeply involved with an acoustic guitar that would be my partner in crime. It gave me beautiful notes that became songs. Days were lost practicing and by the time I was eighteen I was singing in winebars and restaurants and without any discussion my lover moved in. Perhaps that's when things began to change, I studied, played scales, did exams and became a teacher. I was very contented and loved sharing what I knew, my students
were like my family and we happily lived together for years. That is until my next big love affair.

Like the first affair it too started innocently just a mere flirtation with some charcoal drawings at an exhibition. It didn't take long before I was sneaking around, haunting artshops, buying beautiful hand made paper and ink. Then came my downfall, I discovered paint, this sensual, slippery, expressive stuff brought me undone.
It started small but before long it was a daily habit. Possesed by the beautiful images that I found in sumptuous artbooks I had a full blown addiction. I spent less and less time with my previous love, the one I had been so besotted with, to steal any precious moments with my new fascinating and mysterious lover.

This affair is coming up to it's tenth anniversary, naturally I still have a great affection for my original love and at times I flirt outrageously, dreaming of a reunion. I even delude myself that there could be a future for us. However, I know that time has passed, the flame is but an ember. My new live in love is fulfilling all my needs. This lover has taught me a new way of looking. He stimulates me emotionally, visually and challenges me intellectually. But I have a confession, lately I've been noticing other artforms, it seems he's opened my eyes to design, to fashion and film. I must say I'm not too worried, the chance of a full blown affair with any of these is unlikely. Although there's every chance you might find me rendezvousing with any of them, because the desire they spark in me is so delicious, but instead of beginning a new affair I'll take my excitement home and let it fan the flames of the fire that for now is burning beautifully.

The pursuit of happiness

2010-07-29T21:16:00.000-07:00

Lying in bed last night it occured to me why the pursuit of happiness is such a valid philosophy!
If we made it our priority to be happy it would relieve everyone else of the responsibility of trying to
make us happy, what a great gift in any relationship. Also, in order to be happy we really have to
find some way to be at peace with where we are, we have to be on good terms with people and let go of old resentments. In order to be happy we have to consider how we use our time and ask is it honouring who we really are. So indirectly, pursuing our own happiness is the best way we can live for ourselves and for everyone else.
As someone who has been a "perennial pleaser" it has been so liberating to give up trying to make everyone else happy and focus on what makes me happy. Funnily enough in doing so I haven't found that anything particularly dramatic happened, the people I thought were so dependant on me seem to be getting along just fine and I'm free to follow my bliss. Yaaaaayyyyyy