This Bird

23/08/2024

....and the Pomona Goddess Festival by which is held this weekend, with flowers by This Bird. So much delicious colour.. and gin! 🍋🍸

30/07/2024

...and the newest work on the easel at the moment, an exploration and play with rainbow bee eaters, bees, flight and that feeling of freedom 💛💚🧡

17/07/2024

...just has to play sometimes. Play and mess and mark making with no expectation or end goal is such a freeing practice. I've practised switching off the logical and analytical parts of my brain to then just let the creative stuff flow through. Art or creativity without censorship is a game changer and I find it's like reconnecting with that little kid in me again. I highly recommend finding your flow and connecting with that little version of yourself, the one that just wants to play. 😉

08/07/2024

...started painting murals just over 3 years ago with an amazing invitation to paint as part of Lanescape festival in Goondiwindi in 2021. Never underestimate the power of saying yes to an opportunity that simultaneously scares the hell out of you whilst also lighting you up with excitement. Ignore that little voice that says 'you're not ready, you can't do that'... and jump. I'm glad I did, back then, and I've had a blast with each of the mural projects I've created since, with that fear always there with each one, to remind me to jump through it. Go for it, whatever it is, for you x

05/07/2024

...and some brightness to finish off this Friday. Happy weekend everyone 🎉

01/07/2024

...and my artwork for is done! A great couple days spent adding colour to this wall alongside 6 other brilliant artists. A super fun project and my first mural festival which I'm so stoked to be included in 🙌. Head to Miami for the last week of the festival and all their fantastic events!

The title of the work is "Let Your Wild Light Shine" and is a reminder that we all need to embrace our innate nature, let it out, trust it.

The birds featured are local Gold Coast birds, some easily recognisable, some critically endangered and not so obvious, just like those traits we have and also hide:

Swift parrot
Noisy pitta
Eastern whip bird
Musk lorikeet
Silvereye
Satin bowerbird
Little lorikeet

28/06/2024

...and DAY 1 done at at 5 Bardon Avenue in Miami. A tricky surface, lots of bright paint and some cool artist neighbours to paint alongside makes for a good day!

27/06/2024

...will be spending a few days adding some colour to this wall in Miami for on Friday, Saturday and Sunday! Super excited to get started on this wall with 'The Bardon Collective' which includes 6 other phenomenonal artists. This wall is located at 5 Bardon Avenue so pop down plus check out the fenceline exhibitions and the large-scale murals being painted in the area over the next 10 days of the festival.

25/06/2024

...is closed this week, opening back on Friday and Saturday and as normal hours next week. Thanks for your understanding and support while I do the best I can with a few projects on my plate 😊😁

13/06/2024

...in her happy place.

What's your happy place?
Where do you lose track of time?
Where are you most present?

13/06/2024

...has a little exciting news. Turns out, I'm heading back to Miami on the Gold Coast (where I lived before Pomona here) and participating in the brilliant at the end of the month for my first street art festival! *insert excited scream*

It's funny how things come full circle. I lived and worked in Miami, did the markets with my art at when I was just starting out and I developed the idea and workings of This Bird sitting on North Burleigh beach. Now I have the privilege of adding a mural for with a collective of spectacular artists, working with a long wall at 5 Bardon Avenue. I'll be painted from Friday 28th through to Sunday 30th June.

Go check out their work - I can't wait!








Surface Festival runs from 23rd June to July 7th with heapppps of art, live music and family friendly activities as well as watching large scale murals being painted! Go check out their 2024 Program 🙌

29/05/2024

...and the best time of year (in my opinion) for all those cooler month flowers. So much fun.

*fancy black pedestal (plastic bucket) for artistic purposes (obviously).

28/05/2024

...has been a tad MIA on socials this year. I'm still here, still operating this little biz of mine, still flowering, still painting, still dreaming. I've been taking a step back - this whole social media thing is alot and sometimes it's hard to know what is worthwhile sharing, whether it's useful or needed. Even though I know beautiful flowers and art are sometimes all we actually need in certain moments... So, I'd love to hear what you would like to see on my feed, what parts you like or respond to. I want to be a bit more strategic, beneficial and useful, especially in this crazy world we're living in right now.

As for the last few months, I've been working on a few mural projects behind the scenes, finally getting that 2nd kids book finished up, and over the next few months I'll be participating in a fantastic creative incubator program The Refinery R|6.0 through to change/amplify/network/grow This Bird and me as a creative. 🌞🐦

I'm looking forward to growth.
And change.
And being challenged.
And sharing that, if you're keen 😊.
🙌✨️

27/03/2024

...has been out at the wonderful Ginger Factory for the opening of the Aussie first: Zog, A Forest Adventure, based on the best-selling book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler 🐲. I've been on-site, finding sunny spots between the rain showers over the last couple weeks, painting the sets and signs for this awesome project. Once again, unleashing that inner kid in me (yes that's me pictured with a knight and princess at the opening 😁) getting covered in paint and helping to create a fantastic interactive space.

It is a brilliant, interactive activity featuring a forest trail through the beautiful grounds of the with augmented reality features, colourful dragons in trees, kids sight, sound and observation activities, a castle, a school house for young dragons and activity packs with 3D glasses, wings, stickers and so much more!

Check it out (when the rain stops and you don't need to wear gumboots 🤪) cos these kind of projects are such a great way to unleash creativity, get outside in nature and spend time with those you love. And of course unleash your own inner kid 😉.

05/03/2024

...brightened up this corner of the Pomona Kindergarten & Early Years Learning carpark on Hill Street over the weekend. Lorikeets, a w***y wagtail family and bottlebrush flowers to match with the centre's favourite birds and their garden.

30/01/2024

...and birthday blooms featuring 90% locally (Pomona region) grown flowers 💐. So grateful for all my local growers ✨️

18/01/2024

...and hump day brightness....except its Thursday and we're past the first half of January already 🙃.

22/12/2023

...is doing an appreciation post... for myself.

Because I reckon we all need to champion ourselves, be our own cheer squad and forget about being humble and modest every now and then.

This week marks 7 years of This Bird. I'm so bloody proud of myself for reaching this milestone, but mostly, proud of all the little moments that have led here.

When life is tough, when things aren't great, when moments don't turn out the way we want... it's those times especially we need to champion ourselves and remember how far we've come.

I remember those early days of business - of wanting to quit every day for that first 18 months, feeling isolated, treading water... and since, the continual struggles of running a small business, combined with doing it in a creative industry and making art. It's not all painting pretty pictures and playing with flowers, it's a continual challenge, it's consistency, day after day, it's just doing the work, even on days when I don't feel like it. I've never worked harder...and I love it and it fills my cup - to overflowing most days.

So every day this year I have got present, found extra gratitude and championed something I am proud of, for myself - as small as getting out of bed and making it through the day (cos some days, that is all that I can muster and that's okay) or as grand as completing a huge mural or making someone smile.

So, my question to you, what are you proud of for yourself? Little, big, ginormous - it doesn't matter, it's all relative. Tell me, spruke it, champion yourself, share it with everyone... or just to yourself. Kindness goes along way, when shared and when given to yourself.

Cheers to another year, thank you, and wishing love, health and daily presence to all of you that support me, from near or afar, and anyone in between who may need reminding how amazing they are x
..now, tell me about your amazingness...

21/12/2023

...and a couple beauties to brighten your day ✨️

18/12/2023

16/12/2023

...transformed this plain concrete pipe into am Eastern ground parrot's nest to complement the ground mural I created in Peregian. I've loved watching the kids (young and old) engaging with this now it's open to use.... so much fun 😄✨️

15/12/2023

...and a couple bright faves from this week

12/12/2023

...and the next step in the Rufous Street Public Art Project in Peregian I've been working on over the last few weeks. Painting is finished and now the fencing is coming down. This ground mural will be walkable by the public imminently!

There will be an official opening on Friday 15th at 10.30am with Councillors, community and anyone who wants to pop by. Otherwise, go check it out and let me know what you think!

07/12/2023

...has been busy, but just not so great at the capturing of progress for socials... so here's a quick pic from this morning and the delicious coffee that was fueling it, and most days since starting!

On track for finishing this weekend, with fencing coming down mid next week (to allow extra curing time on the paint) and the official launch on Friday 15th at 10.30am with Councillors, community and anyone who wants to "walk" by!

01/12/2023

...is just sitting here this morning watching the clouds and listening to the yellow tail black cockatoos squawking and munching on banksias in the background. I don't think I've ever watched a rain radar so much as this week... my farming family would be proud 🤪. It's been a week of plan making, plan re-evaluating, plan cancelling but the whole path is now covered in at least one layer of paint. It will take up to 3 layers to get full coverage with this type of paint. I've also had an extra set of hands helping to achieve this project and get paint down when we can - thanks Susan Schiotz!

So while I wait to see if this rain cloud skirts around me, I'll let you know about a couple extra elements I've been working on with this project.

The whole process of this project is bring documented by local film-maker Jacob Schiotz and will form an educational, interest piece about how this mural has been made. I've also been working on building a website where this video and clips will be accessible. I love the interactive elements of murals and public art, so I'm also creating kids activities, games and puzzles, that link with the mural and will be available as free downloads. Plus some on-site activities and info to access while you're visiting the mural, educational content about the birds and flowers featured, and links to local community groups.

May aim to create some joy, add some education and have it tied together in play, for kids and big kids alike.

27/11/2023

...and the end of day 2 on-site at Rufous Street in Peregian installing a ground mural. It's been a challenging project, with lots of strategic planning due to the time constraints of the paint, changes in temperature throughout the day affecting the paint, and trying to work around the wet weather. Looks like no progress tomorrow due to rain coming in but it'll all work out! Loving that locals are popping by and enjoying watching the process and the colours that are coming alive! 😁✨️

25/11/2023

...is ready for the next step in this exciting mural project at Rufous Street in Peregian! The concrete footpath is now ground, prepped and ready for the application of specialist paint, and the very Peregian specific design that I've got planned! I'll be starting early tomorrow morning so stay tuned for progress updates - head to my stories to watch more 'as it happens' progress. I've also saved a folder to my highlights if you miss any updates 😁✨️👐🎨. Here's a little tour of the space...

18/11/2023

...has started the first of the steps at the mural site. This is for the starting of a public art project in the form of a ground mural at Rufous Street greenspace at Peregian. Yesterday the temporary exclusion fencing was erected as well as a solar surveillance camera (directed on the site only) for the duration of the project. This will keep the public and myself and the project safe while painting the approximate 175 square metres!

I really appreciate the Peregian community's patience and understanding while this project is in the works. I'll be getting it finished as quickly as I can, weather depending obviously, so it's back to be usable. In the meantime, instead of using the footpath, people are able to walk around the fencing, on the grass or use Rufous St Lane, down the side of the Kindy, which is an alternate pathway.