Follow my journey

See you later alligator.... 🐊🦋🐦🍭🐧 Here is a project I completed late last year for my son's playschool. Based on the original ‘see you later alligator, in a while crocodile’ rhyme I adapted the text to have content more suitable to our Australian audience and painted a relevant picture for each. I had fun coming up with actions with the kids for each of the different lines. I feel lucky to be involved in my son's great learning communities. The banners are durable, made from vinyl and hang with a wood and cord hanger. If you're interested in hanging a banner at your place, you can order them directly through me or via the Pop App (phone accessible only): https://popapp.au/@KellieMac Link in Bio. In a while crocodile 😊🐊 #nurseryartwork #nurseryart #kidsbookillustration #farewell #greeting #animalart #australiananimals #australianmade

I am so happy / proud / excited to announce: I recently won second prize 🥈 … in the Nationally recognised, annual illustration competition through the #NewEnglandWritersCentre! 🎨 I am so grateful, ecstatic and absolutely over the moon!! 🎉🌙💃 This years' prompt text was: ‘Dreaming is a super power.’ 💭 For more information about the competition and to see the prize winning entries visit: https://www.newc.org.au/2023-illustration-prize-for-childrens-picture-book-publishing.html Thank you very much to the New England Writers’ Centre team and judges. 🙏 Congratulations to all prize winners and illustrators that took part. 👏 I feel lucky to be a part of such a talented group of illustrators. 🎨 I'm so thrilled!! ❤️ #newenglandillustrationprize #dreamingillustrations #scbwiillustrators #canberraillustrator #picturebookmakers #kidsbookstagram #childrensbooksart #illustration #illustrationartists #childrenspicturebooks #australianpicturebooks #kidsbooks #kidsbookillustration #kidsillustrations #kidslit #picturebook #picturebookillustration #picturebookartist

That time of year is just around the corner... 🎄☃️🎁🌟🎅 Christmas and other greeting cards available with free postage Australia wide through the Pop app: https://popapp.au/@KellieMac 🎄☃️🎁🌟🎅 #christmascards #canberralocals #canberrabusiness #australianartist #madeinaustralia #smallbusinessaustralia

Party frogs 🐸 Happy Friday! 🎉🍹🕺🥳💃

Banksia 🌷 I went to dinner with a new and great Mum friend recently to celebrate her birthday. 🎂Her folks have a Banksia farm in WA. As a table of Mums all devoted to our kids and families - it was a rare opportunity to dress up and let our hair down. 💃 Belly laughs, building connections and delicious food are so so good for the soul. 💕 Being the last table occupied at the end of the night felt like an achievement to be celebrated 🥂 Thanks Jo for including me in this fun, rejuvenating celebration 😊💕🌷

The daffodils are out 🌼 Daffodils to me are a sign of good times to come. They mark the end of winter and the start of spring. 🌼🌱🌞 These cards are available through @popcanberra (check out their event this Saturday), @craft_design_canberra and Etsy: KellieMacStudio. I painted this design based on a request for an upcoming Daffodil Day event (end August). Donations for cancer research can be made directly through @cancercouncil : https://www.daffodilday.com.au/ I hope you are enjoying the start of spring 🌼🌱 🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼 #canberrabusiness #smallbusinessaustralia #greetingcards #daffodil #daffodilday

What a privilege. Today I was lucky enough to see Beejay Silcox (Artistic Director of Canberra Writers Festival) in conversation with Joe Brumm (the one and only writer of Bluey). Just like an episode of Bluey, I was mesmerised. It's funny when you go from being in awe of a product someone has made to being in the presence of its creator. The conversation was free flowing and full of relatable, yet fascinating insights to Joe's creation of Bluey - and the extent of Beejay's Bluey research (expert status in a room full of fans). I was sitting next to a lovely 29 year old lawyer with no kids of her own but a self proclaimed lover of Bluey and writing enthusiast. That's the magic of Bluey we agreed - it has a way of connecting in some way, with all of us. For all of his success, Joe seems like an incredibly down to earth person. After joining the throngs of people lining up after the event to get a book signed, I found my self incredibly tongue tied and just managed to slip out my compliments and squeek a request for a photo. Joe kindly obliged, made eye contact with me and thanked me (he'd already been signing books for 45 minutes and likely met tens of thousands of tongue tied fans like me before). Again, just like some Bluey episodes I felt some many emotions I walked away with tears in my eyes. I felt seen - and I think that's what Joe brings to every Bluey episode. We are fans because it is relatable and has elements of behaviours we recognise - and/or aspire to demonstrate ourselves. I hope my son grows up to really see people - and to be kind, skilled, dedicated and down to Earth like Joe. Thank you for the privilege of your time today Joe and continuing to inspire and entertain your fans, which as Beejay aptly termed us...'people'. #bluey #abckids #scbwiact #canberraartist #canberramums @officialblueytv

It's been a while... ...but I'm back in the game 😊🎨 For a few reasons it's been a long time since I've picked up a paintbrush. I'm happy to say I'm back in the game and it feels great 😊 I might be a bit rusty, but that saying about 'just like riding a bike' comes to mind. 🚲 Watch this space for art journey updates 🎨 #artist #artistsoninstagram #canberraartist

Gang-gang cockatoo The male has a red head and crest, while the female has a small fluffy grey crest. Walking regularly in Mount Ainslie Nature Reserve I'm lucky to see these lovely birds and hear their 'creaky gate' call often. I like that walkers point them out for each other to see. It is protected as a vulnerable species under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW). That's because land clearing has resulted in a lack of hollow trees for nesting and feeding habitat. The gang-gang cockatoo.can be found in South-East Australia and is the faunal emblem of the #australiancapitalterritory #fauna #ganggang #cockatoo #localbusiness #localartist #smallbusinesscanberra #smallbusinessaustralia #canberra #watercolour

Happy Christmas Eve 😊 It was lovely to pop into @popcanberra today to find out all of my Christmas cards have sold! Thanks very much to Christa and the team - I know you've been flat out and doing an amazing job! 🙌 Merry Christmas! 🎄🌟🥳🎅 #canberrabusiness #christmascards #smallbusiness #greetingcards

Sealioned with a kiss 🦭❤️😘 My lovely friends recently ordered a painting for their friend's wedding. The bride works with sealions (amazing job right?!) so you can see where the inspiration for this pair of loving sealions came from 😘❤️😘 I wish the happy couple a great future together and loads of kisses! Thanks @the.ad.ora and Nathan for supporting my art ❤️ #sealion #australiananimals #australiansealion #australianartist #weddingcard #wedding #canberrasmallbusiness #canberraartist #canberrabusiness

10 days until Christmas! 🎄🎅🌟 Christmas cards available @popcanberra, @craft.act and on Etsy (link on Instagram bio) #kookaburra #smallbusiness #smallbusinessaustralia #canberraartist #canberrabusiness #christmasbirds

It's that time! The count down is on... 15 days until Christmas... 🎄☃️🎅🎁🐈🐭 Christmas cards available @popcanberra, @craft.act and on Etsy (link in bio) #christmascards #itsthesseason #Christmashat #Christmascat #catsofinstagram #canberraartist #canberrabusiness

Hennie, Penny and Poppy are getting into the Christmas spirit 🎄🎅🔔 Christmas cards available on Etsy (link in bio) @popcanberra and @craft.act #smallbusinessaustralia #christmascards #canberralocals #canberraartist #smallbusinesscanberra #canberrabusiness #chickens #christmasspirit

Butterfly circle 🦋 Butterflies symbolise so much: transformation, positivity, change, hope.... Every time I see a butterfly I think of my Dad's Mum, Gem. ❤️ I saw a butterfly this morning and it seemed like today was as good a day as any to get back into posting about my art journey after a bit of a hiatus. I know the last few years have been a crazy whirl wind for everyone. I'm looking forward to positive times ahead and seeing more butterflies. 🦋🦋🦋 Butterfly circle cards available on Etsy and @popcanberra #butterflies #greetingcards #watercolour #canberralocals #transformation #positive

Welcome to the world Leonard 😊 Over a decade ago I studied a semester abroad in Birmingham in the UK where I met my beautiful German friend Franziska. I learnt about a beautiful practice from Franzi during her pregnancy. Rather thann a baby shower like we might have in Australia, Franzi held a ‘blessingway’. This is a prebirth ceremony that honours a woman’s rite of passage into motherhood, with all its challenges and beauty. It is about bringing your tribe around you to empower you to release your fears, cultivate positive energy and prepare emotionally, mentally, and spiritually for birth and the new role as a mother. Being surrounded by love and positive intention this traditional women’s circle ensures the mother to be enters labour and motherhood strong and supported. What an incredible thing. When Franzi was telling me about it, I could pretty much feel the warmth of her glow through zoom. I think we need more of this type of practice in the world – definitely for new mums – and I think for our tribes in general. Especially given the degree of isolation we have all experienced in the last few years thanks to covid. Franzi is one of those amazing people who knows what she wants from life and makes it happen without getting bogged down in things that don’t serve her. Carpe diem for sure. Franzi wanted these elements in the artwork: - lion (because this is where his name originates) - tiger (because Leonard is born in the Chinese year of the water tiger) - butterfly (because Franzi’s mum often calls her a butterfly) - 2 ladybirds (one bigger for Franzi, one smaller for Leonard) - a bright sun - a rainbow (because she loves rainbows) - Franzi’s horse Nesha (who is often called Leonard’s bigger brother) I enjoyed incorporating these elements in a way that represents each for what they mean to Franzi. Creating artwork like this is a very special process for me. Thank you for supporting me and my art Franzi. You are inspirational and Leonard is very lucky. I hope that people reading this are inspired by the blessingway do something to support someone in their tribe today. Lots of love ❤️ #nurseryart #nameart #babynames #horse #lion #blessingway