More thoughts from my keys to creativity. Boredom is underated. It really is. As much as you (and I) don’t want to hear it, we need to embrace the silence of being alone with ourselves more. Yes, the dreaded ‘no phone time’ for many of us. Pretty scary right? In short, less phone traps and distractions lead to more considered thought. So when you find yourself in a situation that you consider boring, use that time to advantage.. it’s free time to not waste on negativity or dead thinking. Turn to productive thoughts. Turn boredom into considered, creative thought.. start turning that key! Remember, it’s similar to coming home late from a party with friends.. it’s going to be hard to get that key in the door but you need to try. So don’t be afraid to experience boredom and use some of that staring into space time for some serious concentration and reflection. It's not the hours in the day, it's the days in the hours remember...... use your time productively! . . . . . #boredom #silence #productivity #creativethought #creativity #keystocreativity #positivity #timetrap #phoningitin #personaldevelopment #artisttips #arttips
Everything will be fine. Just captain your own ship. . . . . . #balance #sensibility #captain #juggling #confidence #artislife
Part 1 of my ‘Keys to Creativity’: Be overly observant. Looking is key. I mean really, really looking. It’s not easy, but I think with the advent of mobile photography, more and more people are beginning to recognise composition, colour and balance in their everyday life. Whether you are looking at the world via the lens of your camera or with your own eyes, start considering the viewpoint of your life and surroundings as art or opportunities for art. Try to pay attention to the smallest of details right through to something as vast as an expanse of open sky. Be appreciative and welcoming of the shade, the night and the darkness.. just as you are of light. It sounds simple but I want to encourage you to look and observe more. You won’t know it at the time, but much of what you see will unconsciously find its way into what you later create. So that’s the first key. Take the window seat every time and gaze. Watch the world whiz by, but absorb everything and anything.
My original charcoal on paper drawing of ‘The Trojan Horse’ (seen here on the left next to a later oil painting of the same name) is up for sale at an art auction in the US on August 12th. ‘Storyopolis Art’ (1610 Tulane Drive Richardson, TX) are auctioning off works by Kinuko Craft, David Diaz, Gennady Spirin, Peter McCarty and myself. 
I’m a little surprised by the estimated price of $4,500 - $6,300 for the charcoal drawing just quietly, as most of my oil painting work goes for half of that.. but these things are out of my control. That said, here’s the link if you have money to burn - https://bit.ly/2AXgFQn . . . . . #oilpainting #charcoaldrawing #leithomalley #horse #trojan #artforsale #artworks #contempoarydrawing #southaustralianartists #australianartist #ozpainter
Work in Progress shot taken today.
‘One for Sorrow, Two for Joy’. Oil on canvas. 08/08/18 . . . . . #oiloncanvas #sorrow #crow #raven #belief #music #religion
#artwork #oilpaint #cross #australianartist #amplified
Hey happy birthday Mr Warhol. I still think you’re badass. . . . . . #warhol #andywarhol #birthdayboy #drella #debbieharry #blondie #illustration #omalley #debonair
Further work on a small oil this afternoon. Chipping away bit by bit and arguing with myself about colour choices. Still not satisfied, so you get the black and white version lol :) . . . . . #oilpainting #painting #onmyeasel #oiloncanvas #australianartist #crow #narrative #history #religion #musicisreligion #amplifierworship #musicisart
Congrats to Milk Records winning ‘Best Independent Label’ at the recent 2018 AIR Awards and especially Jen Cloher who took out ‘Best Independent Artist’. Wonderful to hear and see the growth of this creative boutique label!
Really itching to paint another small bird lately.. after the now regular visits from one particular little character who helps himself to the dogs biscuits each morning. I’m certain I have a little more Belgian canvas stored away here somewhere so once I stretch a small frame out, Bobs your Uncle. That’s an Australian slang expression for “its all good” or “its happening”. Ok, onward and upward as the crow flies ;) . . . . . #bird #belgian #oilpainting #australian #dogsbiscuits #canvas #flax #linen #belgiancanvas #visualartists #artmaterials
Collage time :) I always find it refreshing to move between various mediums and kind of retrain the eye or reset the brain in some ways, if that makes any sense. Reimagining something you’ve done or are doing in a different medium can often create all sorts of opportunities to investigate the subject further. It’s not always suitable or practical.. and might depend on the subject matter, but you get the picture. So today finds me continuing on with a side project which involves glueing ripped pieces of hand painted watercolour paper along with pages of text from old books. It’s all in pursuit of completing a large and somewhat abstract portrait of the English explorer ‘Edward John Eyre’ who around 1839 became the first man to cross Southern Australia from east to west. Here’s a cropped section of the collage piece I am working on - with my PVA hardened finger tips hehe.. . . . . . . #collage #collaged #glue #EdwardJohnEyre #explorer #Adelaide #Adelaidearts #SALA #southaustralianmuseum #rippedpaper #papercollage #visualart #collaging #collageart
‘Boxer’ July 2018 . . . . . . #boxer #painting #boxergirl #boxing #confidence #fears #procrastination #selfworth #illustration #tradigital #rightofpassage #girlpower #reddress #eyeliner #gloves #boxingbag #gymgirl #innerstrength #challenge
‘La Japonaise’ July 2018 . . . . . . #geisha #painting #japanesegirl #portrait #silk #foundation #omalley #gaze