Thinking small... the key to happiness

I'm not sure how I got this lucky in life. When I left Australia 4.5 years ago—I didn't think I'd be back. Certainly I didn't want to be presumptuous and assume that I would.  People told me it was a once in a lifetime opportunity—and it sure felt like it. When I find myself in such beautiful locations (I never dreamed I could see on a artist budget), all I want to do is drink it all in: the atmosphere, the culture, the art - and especially the BEACH! (Well you knew that was coming, I wouldn't be honest if I left that important part out :) So it's humbling to be sitting here thinking that I'll have the opportunity to go back in a month.
It's easy for people on the outside to look in on my life and think that I am actually lacking. Sure there are school loans looming, and there isn't much material wealth in my name. But I do feel truly happy — which in this day & age is hard to find; or rather, society seems to do its best to convince us that we're not happy... cause we need the latest gadget, or we need more money, or we need more social network friends or whatever. A wise cousin once said that in order to be happy: think small. Start seeing the world like a child. Be amazed by the small things: how a bumblebee can fly despite its size, how the sun rises every morning... just the little things in life. True wisdom I think, and something I take with me no matter where I go.

Keeping busy

So as you know, I am counting down the days till my flight to Sydney and my subsequent 2 months spent touring the ports of New Zealand! Excited is an understatement. So it might seem like a bit of a challenge to stay focused on freelance work these days — especially with the weather the way it is here in the rainforest we call Vancouver. The trick, I find, is to keep busy.

I've managed to snag a few painting commissions before I leave, as well as some video editing/compilation projects. When I'm not working on those things, I've also become self-motivated to keep all of my sites updated AND I'm also working on T-shirt designs. You might ask: well what's the point of that work Viv? It doesn't exactly pay well does it? Well that might be true in the grand scheme of things, but as a graphic illustrator you always want to stay in touch with your target audience and see what trends are happening. I've recently become an active artist at Threadless.com - be sure to check back for new designs/illustrations.

The travel bug

I've often thought that I really should have made this a travel blog rather than an art blog since I seem to travel for work so much. However, traveling the globe has also exposed me to a lot of different architectural styles, art history, and natural wonders. My recent stop in San Francisco was no different. I love the vibe of the city! There's a lot of "hustle & bustle"; Art & Culture. Not to mention it's a city by the water - what's not to love?!

As you by now know - I'm obsessed with the water/beach lifestyle. I don't know if it's because I'm a true west coast girl or what. It's the reason I spend a good portion of my time working on cruise ships. So I'm excited for my next adventure — which will take me to New Zealand for two months! New Zealand is a country I've had on my bucket list (which I now like to refer to as my "life list") for a while now. So stay tuned for pictures!