Showing Up: On Rejection, Persistence, and the Courage to Create

This year I have been, and will continue to, concentrate much of my energy on art prizes in Australia and Europe.

If you’ve ever stepped into the world of creation — whether with paintbrush, pen, or voice — you know that rejection is an inevitable companion.

Creating an artwork for a particular art prize, from collecting the first ideas to painting over many weeks, and then submitting it with a title and a blurb that refines all your thoughts and feelings into something understandable, is deeply time-consuming.

The art world, especially, can feel like a labyrinth woven with hope, doubt, and longing. Each time a gallery says “no,” each time a piece is overlooked, the sting feels personal. It can feel as though your heart, and the very essence of who you are, is under scrutiny. It’s hard not to let the weight of those moments linger.

But here’s the secret: rejection, though sharp and painful, can also become a kind of fuel. It can drive me back to my studio with a mix of fury and defiance, to face the blank canvas and pour everything I have into it once again.

So I keep showing up — time after time — not because I expect applause, but because art is how I think, how I dream, how I breathe. It’s how I make sense of the world. Through this process, I find myself again and again. And in some way, I have also found all of you through art.

There are mornings, and sometimes nights, when my studio hums with quiet and the only sound is my breathing. I spend long stretches simply looking, trying to find a way in again, searching for the next step, circling endlessly around the question: what is the next step?

In those hours, every breath can carry a memory, and a brushstroke can feel almost like a confession. Hours may be spent on a single gesture.

Sometimes all of me ends up on the canvas — my joys, my anxieties, the dreams I nurture and the fears I wrestle with. It is honest, vulnerable, and at times exhilaratingly raw. It can feel like a dream — euphoria and frenzy existing side by side.

If you’ve ever felt unseen or questioned your worth, I invite you to look closer. Perhaps you’ll see yourself in the layered blues, the pinks and soft hues, the gentle washes of yellow, and the sudden arrival of red.

Each work is more than pigment and form — it is a testament to persistence, a reminder that showing up is, in itself, an act of courage.

So the next time you wander into a gallery or pause before a painting, remember the journey behind the art. Ask yourself what pieces of the artist’s soul have been offered, what stories linger beneath the surface. And know that whatever your feelings toward the artwork, the act of creation remains fiercely alive.

Thank you for being part of this story — for listening, for reflecting, and for supporting those who dare to share all of themselves on a canvas.

With love,
Kirana xx

 What's On:

Open Studio + Walk in Art Class
Next Dates - 21st + 25th of February, 4th, 7th, 11th, 14th of March

Kirana’s studio is open on Wednesdays from 10am to 4pm, and most Saturdays from 9am to 12pm (when Kirana is available). You’re warmly invited to drop in, have a look around the studio, enjoy a cup of tea or hot chocolate, and stay for a relaxed chat. There’s no pressure and no expectations — just an open door and a welcoming space.

By popular demand, Saturdays also include a walk-in art class from 10am to 12pm. This relaxed and friendly session is open to everyone — whether you’re an experienced artist or simply curious to explore your creative side. All materials are provided, and the focus is on enjoying the process of making art in a calm, supportive environment.

Art Class Details:
10am – 12pm
$70 per person (GST included)
All materials included

We look forward to welcoming you into the studio.

One on One Art Lessons

Can be booked suitable to your timetable, tailored to your needs and all ages. 

$110 p/h (GST inc) | All art materials included

ArtSHINE x Kirana Haag collection on Threadless

Friends & Family Code: FAMd6e722b

Final Notes

All the above are also great gift ideas for a loved one who would benefit from some breathing space and would love to try something new. 

If you would like more information on any of these workshops or to book, simply reply to this email or contact me on 0448446466.

With lots of love, 

Kirana xx