Blog | Shiny Happy Art

Group Paint Alongs, Paint Alongs, Workshops

'Anzac Poppies' was one of my very first Paint Along compositions, and five years on, it is still a favourite. Seeing as Remembrance Day fell on a Friday this year, I scheduled a Paint Along and some lovely people showed up to paint with me. Take a look at their...

Watercolour Wonder Workshop

Guest Artists, Workshops

Last Sunday we welcomed 20 lovely painters to the new studio to enjoy a Watercolour Wonders Workshop. Covering the basics of both colour theory and watercolour, my mother, Diana Battle, and I, prepared a suite of exercises and examples that were designed to 'learn by...

Mexichica and mixing flesh tone in acrylic

How To, Paint Alongs, Video

Well we've christened the new studio already with four Wednesday Wonder Workshop sessions and a fantastic new Paint Along - Mexichica! We had lots of brand new painters along for Mexichica, and it was terrific to watch so many faces come to life as we built them,...

Term 4 Paint Alongs Announced

SO MUCH to share! The biggest news really is that I've just leased a brand new (to me) studio space and get the keys this Friday! So you'll find your next class or workshop at 1/3 Progress Court, Harlaxton. It's just 3 minutes down the road from my home studio (right...

I’m in the Chronicle for Carnival!

Carnival of Flowers, Paint Alongs, Press

it's my favourite time of year and I'm delighted to be the Cover Artist for this Souvenir Guide for the second year in a row. See you at the Carnival!

I’m having an art show with my mum next week!

Carnival of Flowers, Paintings, Press

Hot on the heels of a very successful Downlands Art Exhibition, Mum and I are having a small, joint exhibition from next Saturday! We'll be trying to capture the fun of the Carnival in our paintings, and you'll see them (and us, and possibly Dad, and maybe my kids...

I’m well and truly back

Paint Alongs, Paintings, Press, Workshops

What can I say? It was a truly fabulous trip! Just over 2 weeks in Germany with friends and then 6 nights in Paris by myself... I can't believe it either. And the 3.5 years in the planning definitely added to the excitement. And I got to draw, and draw and draw!...

Art Supplies for Travel

How To

I'm heading off to Munich, Berlin, Cologne and Paris (I can't believe it) on Wednesday night. It's a trip that's been 3.5 years in the planning (and gentle saving) and, as I'm usually from the school of "if it fits, pack it" (we rarely fly anywhere), I've been reading...

The Postcard Project

Paintings, Prints and shiny happy stuff

I'm heading overseas this week - which sounds just incredible because this trip has been 3.5 years in the making (and saving!). One of my dearest friends is German so we're heading to Germany for a couple of weeks to celebrate her 50th birthday, and then, because I'm...

Here’s June!

It's time to change that calendar over - here's the pdf for June... And for the super organised amongst us, here's July too! Just click through to the printable pdf.

Purple Rain in my studio

Paintings, Video

I just realised that I hadn't yet shared the timelapse of one of my recent paintings, 'Purple Rain'. I was painting on the day Prince died, and while I was planning to do 'all the colours', for this one, purple flowers with gold foil berries seemed appropriate. This...

Custom Medal Painting

Medals, Paintings

I first thought to paint my husband's medals last ANZAC Day. They're part of our lives, but it wasn't until he did a talk at a local highschool about military colours, including the ribbons on medals, I realised that I really wanted to paint them. I then framed them...

Here’s May!

The weather turned a little colder this week, and, to be honest, I quite like it when jeans are totally appropriate for the temperature! Here's your May calendar page: And, for the mega organised, here's June too!

Pineapple Tea Cake – Illustrated Recipe

I needed a little something because we were having visitors, and we had a tin of pineapple pieces in the pantry... so this is what I made - delish with the butter and cinnamon sugar brushed over the top of each cake too! Hope you love it (and they're definitely...

Super Easy Sausage and Tomato Dinner – Illustrated Recipe

This really was very easy to make, and my 17 year old son loved it! So when you're on a winner, it's got to be illustrated. It wasn't much to photograph though. So I didn't. Best not to judge a book by it's cover and all that. Click the image to download your...

Here’s April

The year is slipping away - I hope you're enjoying these printable calendar pages I'm sharing. Here's April (click to download pdf): And for the very organised, here's May too (click to download pdf):

New Wonder Video

Video, Workshops

I'm ready to tell the world about this next series of Wednesday Wonder Workshops. From Wednesday 12 April we'll be learning to see, draw and paint HERBS AND BOTANICALS for four weeks. Then from Wednesday 11 May I'll be showing you how I draw faces, and how you can use...

Banana Yoghurt Crunch – Illustrated Recipe

After the indulgences of Easter, here's an idea for breakfast this week! Personally, I've been eating for Australia lately. So that's stopping NOW. Just (publically) sayin'. Click on the image to download a PDF of my Banana Yoghurt Crunch recipe.

Term 2 Wednesday Wonder Workshops NOW OPEN

In February this year I introduced my first ever 'Wednesday Wonder Workshops'. Quite frankly - they're wonder-full! We draw, we paint, we experiment, we share ideas and learn from each other's technique and experiences... such good fun. I run them in 4 week blocks -...

Spiced Sweet Potato Wedges – Illustrated Recipe

Oh, these are so good. And my ex-vegan, now vegetarian, son can make them for all of us. He can even use fancy sweet potatoes if he likes. Happy days! Click here to download the PDF of my Spiced Sweet Potato Wedges recipe.

Spinach & Ricotta Fillo Pies – Illustrated Recipe

I see these in cafes often (actually, I don't go to cafes often, but in all the times in my life I've been to cafe's, it seems to me that Spinach and Ricotta Fillo Pies are often on the menu... it's not a scientific study or anything). So I thought I'd figure out how...

Choco-Nut Popcorn – Illustrated Recipe

Easter's coming... and my thoughts turned to the MOST DELICIOUS popcorn I made for colleagues the Christmas before last... I know... tenuous association. Anyway, it is high time I illustrated this very simple, and very DELICIOUS recipe. Perfect when you're supposed to...

That’s me, on Kochie’s Business Builders!

Press

So delighted to be featured on Kochie's Business Builder's website a week or so ago! Click through for a read...

Lemon Sunshine Cupcakes – an Illustrated Recipe

Freebies, How To, Illustrated Recipes, Printables

I needed something quick and special for lunchboxes the other day, and wanted to use lemons... but only had brown sugar. So I googled around and found this recipe that ended up being so delicious it'll definitely be made again! To be honest, I may have gotten...

Too many paintings? Here’s an idea

How To, Paintings, Video

If you're a bit of a hobby painter, or if you've been to a lot of my Paint Alongs, or if you have a sewing machine handy and you just really like crafty stuff - check out this little video I made. We'll turn your canvas art into one-of-a-kind notebooks that you'll...

Here’s March

Each month this year I am sharing a printable calendar. It only seems like yesterday that I shared February... but here's March for you! And if you're a mad, keen, planner, here's April as well for good measure. Hope you get good use out of them!

Lamb Kofta and Tabouli Salad – an illustrated recipe

I'm absolutely loving my connection with the lovely Megan Neilson of 'Cooked by me + delivered' and I recently asked her permission to share her recipe for Lamb Kofta. When my family tried Megan's Koftas not long ago the meal was noteworthy because EVERYBODY* IN MY...

And so, I’m an author!

Books, How To, Paint Alongs

About 3 years ago I went to a business presentation and it was recommended that people who seriously wanted to become an influencer in their area of expertise (and I am very keen to get people connected to their creativity through success with art) should write a...

Do-muffins – Illustrated Recipe

I don't want to slow you down by talking about this one. Just go to your kitchen and make them. You'll thank me later. Seriously. Do-muffins are delish. Click the image for a pdf printable.

Rainbow Upcycling

How To

Sometimes things that I KNOW won't take very long to do, just have to wait their turn in my life. But today was the day for this little shelf that I use at the back of my studio. Useful, but not beautiful by any means. And of course we all know... Have nothing in your...

Classic ‘Cooked’ Lasagne – Illustrated Recipe

The lovely Megan Neilson from Cooked, here in Toowoomba, is a super friend of mine. She and her little team of talented foodies cook and deliver the most delicious home-made dinners and goodies all over Toowoomba. So it made sense for me to illustrate some of her...

Here’s February

It's February ALREADY! Good grief! Thank goodness I've managed to do the first two stages of repainting the studio frontage and get 80% of the way through reorganising the insides, and run a fantastic first session for my new Paint Along artwork, "Passion for Life"....

Passionflowers and puppies and peacocks, oh my!

Welcome back to a new, shiny, arty year! Did you make resolutions? If you've decided to get more in touch with your creative side, consider this your sign...! I've designed two totally new Paint Along compositions for this term, as well as two very different...

The Best Banana Bread in the World – Illustrated Recipe

OK, so last week's recipe was a few days later than planned, and this week's is early... but I've never been a fan of routine, especially when it comes to Banana Bread. There's always time for Banana Bread. I've been baking from this recipe for at least five years -...

Chinese Duck Coleslaw – Illustrated Recipe

Freebies, Illustrated Recipes, Printables, Uncategorized

Every year or so, most of the women from my Dad's side of the family, commonly known as 'The Battle Women', (sounds just a bit cool - my maiden name was Battle) spend a weekend away. These are excellent weekends. It's fabulous to catch up and I'm really lucky to be...

Check out this Painting Party Pack!

How To, Paint Alongs

The lovelies at Cloth Paper Scissors have turned one of my book projects into a Painting Party Pack! My book will be published in late April so this really makes things seem real! And check out this video they've put together explaining the pack: (It's so weird -...

Shiny Happy Plans for 2016