What matters most during the holiday season is the opportunity to reflect on the year that has passed, to appreciate the happy memories, and to find joy in shared plans for a positive future. In this graphite portrait of my teenage daughter, I have aimed to capture the warmth of her beautiful smile as well as the honesty and empathy she shares willingly with friends and family of all ages. Her bright and innocent hope for what lies ahead leads us all to believe that ‘unicorns are real’.

My image is of my son having a quiet moment on the jetty with a fishing rod at his cousins house in NSW, across the Lake is where his Grandmother used to live. The bay is always a quiet little bay with lots of birdlife which my Mother loved. The heart is a symbol of her watching over her Grandchildren as they play by her bay in my Sisters front yard. Her ashes are sprinkled in this bay so she will always be with us when we are all together here for Christmas or special celebrations.

I love to visit country towns & walk exploring the area & discovering the history of the town. I set off excitedly on my walk around Oberon on a cold Winter's day last June. I took various pictures along the way & found a rusty old shed which I decided to paint. Later on the locals told me that Oberon was first named Bullocks Flat. In 1863 when it was officially proclaimed a Village, a local woman called Rose suggested Oberon, the name of the King of the Fairies in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

As I grow older, each holiday season sees me reflecting on family and things that I love. I have eight siblings and many cousins, and with all our children and grandchildren the extended family is spread all over the globe, so we can’t always be together. But my painting of my little dogs, Mack and Molly, triggers my memories of summertime with kids and dogs and picnics on the local beach, as children ourselves and later with our own children. Family will always matter most.

A Mind Full of Magic - full of wonder and memories, a time to create memories and embrace the magic of love. Each pom pom reflects a thought, a memory, an experience, glitter represents the people's lives we've touched along the way and the cheekiness of our inner child still within us, no matter how old we are, we all have one inside us.

During the holidays I have more time to see Deb. I've known Deb my whole life...that's 6 years! She's my special grown up friend and she's my neighbour. But Deb's really sick now. I like talking to her and telling her about things that are happening. She makes me feel happy. She's funny. I love Deb. And that's all I have to say right now.