Home ⋆ By Claire Monique

Claire Monique Header

RINASL - Expand 2

byclairemonique

👩🏻‍🎨Hi, I’m Claire!💓
🧠Mental health & brain tumour warrior💪
🎨RECOVERY IS NOT A STRAIGHT LINE💖
‼️NEW COLLECTION AVAILABLE NOW🥳

EXPAND #1 This work was created in tandem with it

EXPAND #1 This work was created in tandem with it’s partner work, “Expand #2”, and is made up of many layers of paint with gold glitter accents. This pair of works is named “Expand” as they were created with curved lines travelling upwards and outwards to evoke the energy of growth and opportunity. #expand #expansion #expandingmindset #expandedconsciousness #originalart #originalartwork #abstractart #abstractpainting #rainbowpainting #neonpainting

2 WHOLE YEARS AGO On this day, 2 years ago, my li

2 WHOLE YEARS AGO On this day, 2 years ago, my life changed forever. I went to get an MRI on my neck due to some bouts of dizziness and vertigo I’d been suffering as well as a devastating headache I’d experienced two days before. Within mere hours of having the MRI I received a voicemail from the bulk bill doctors clinic I attended asking me to make an urgent appointment. When I called them back and asked ‘how urgent’, they said ‘how soon can you get here?’. I told them I’d be there in 20 minutes. I tried not to freak out but I knew that it would be bad news. I’ve never driven so carefully in my whole life, and I will never forget walking into that little consultation room with a doctor I’d never met, who told me ever so casually that I had a brain tumour, but they weren’t sure how big it was and they needed to do more tests. If you look at this scan you can see what they had found… the white in the top left is the bottom sliver of tumour they found in my brain. Today Is not just release day. Today I look back at how much my life has changed, and how grateful I am that this whole journey has lead me back to art. Thanks for all your love. Thanks for being here. Thanks for making my life so much better than it was before 💖💖💖 #acousticneuroma #acousticneuromawarrior #acousticneuromasurvivor #acousticneuromaawareness #braintumor #braintumorawareness #braintumorsurvivor #braintumour #braintumourawareness #braintumoursurvivor

GOOD VIBRATIONS! I tell you what, I’m feeling a

GOOD VIBRATIONS! I tell you what, I’m feeling an abundance of good vibes today! Thankyou so much to the people who have showed up today in support of my new collection - whether that’s by liking, sharing, commenting, messaging or making a purchase! This art community is the first place I’ve ever felt at home, and I’m so happy to be here with all of you. Plentyyyyyy of pretty little pieces are still available on the website if you’d like to check it out, and if you’ve missed out on the piece you wanted please send me a message - I’d love to creat one just for you in time for Christmas! Much much much much love,
Claire 💖💖

THE COLLECTION STORY, PART 1 A few months after m

THE COLLECTION STORY, PART 1 A few months after my brain surgery and my move to the coast, I visited my new GP. I was frustrated because I felt like I should be “getting better”, but I kept coming up against blocks and speed bumps that I felt were stopping me from moving forward, as many of my capabilities had drastically altered. My GP drew me a line graph, with the horizontal axis depicting time and the vertical axis depicting recovery. He started drawing a line on an upward trajectory and said that often when we are recovering from something we expect our progress to just keep going up in a straight line, but that’s not the case. There are often dips and setbacks along the journey, and all we can do is try to make it a less bumpy ride and find a toolkit to help us navigate the unsteady terrain. The statement “Recovery is Not A Straight Line” has repeated over and over in my head ever since that appointment, and this collection is an abstract representation of this concept, with the titles of each work representing different moments of joy and hope I have found along the way on my journey to recovery so far. #recovery #trauma #arttherapy #artismedicine #collectionstory #storytime #meaningbehindart #artconcept #recoverysayings #recoveryquotes #acousticneuroma #acousticneuromawarrior #braintumorsurvivor

I’m running out of time to introduce you to ever

I’m running out of time to introduce you to everybody! 😭 This lovely work is named ‘LOOPIN’ - so-called because of its intersecting loops, but also a play on words with Professor Lupin from Harry Potter. Lupin went through a life changing experience and had to learn how to navigate his new way of life, which is something I can very much relate to! He ends up a little worse for wear but maintains his integrity, faith in friendship and is quite partial to a little chocolate to keep the dementors away… again, hard relate! Haha🍫🍫🍫 If you’re on my mailing list please check your folders - I’ve just sent you an email about getting early access to the collection release on Saturday! If you’re not yet on there and would like to get your hands on a specific piece I highly recommend signing up, I promise will NEVER spam you because overwhelming amounts of emails SUCK. Link in bio etc etc, you know what to do! 💖😄😘😘 #collectionrelease #collectionlaunch #recoveryisnotastraightline #byclairemonique #melbourneart #melbourneartist #morningtonpeninsulaart #morningtonpeninsulaartist #abstractart #colourfulart

GOOD TO BE ALIVE Here’s the second triptych fro

GOOD TO BE ALIVE Here’s the second triptych from my new collection, named after a song by Meghan Trainor! This song really embodies my attitude towards life since I was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2019, and I really wanted to capture the energy of the song in this triptych. Like all the other pieces in this collection, it features curved, flowing lines intersecting in vibrant colours, depicting the ups and downs we traverse throughout our lives and during periods of recovery. These three look great all together but they’d also look awesome individually or as part of a cohesive gallery wall collection. If you’re interested in snapping them up set your reminders for this coming Saturday! Also, have you heard the song Good To Be Alive 1, 2 and 3 were named after?? It’s so damn catchy!! 💓💓

EXPAND #2 Expand #2 is another new work from my u

EXPAND #2 Expand #2 is another new work from my upcoming collection, ‘Recovery Is Not a Straight Line’. When we go through something hard we can either let it expand who we are, or allow it to make us contract. I choose to expand. This work makes me feel so optimistic when I look at it , like anything is possible! Can you pick up on those vibes through your screen? Are you sick of seeing my mug yet? Hahaha 8 days to gooooooo 🥳🥳🥳 #expand #expansion #recoveryisnotastraightline #byclairemonique #happypainting #colourfulpainting #rainbowpainting

COASTLINE This artwork is one of my personal favo

COASTLINE This artwork is one of my personal favourites from my Recovery Is Not A Straight Line collection, and it’s inspired by my home on the Mornington Peninsula where I have spent my recovery post-brain surgery and during the pandemic. The beach has always held a very special place in my heart, and I love the quote ‘The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears or the sea’, because I feel like it it absolutely true… particularly the second two! Hahaha. If you had to rank them in order of your favourite cure, what would you pick? I’d definitely go beach, tears, then sweat! 🌊🥲🥵 💖💖💖

BETWEEN THE LINES 1 & 2 There are a number of dip

BETWEEN THE LINES 1 & 2 There are a number of diptych’s in my new collection, and this is one of them! Meet ‘Between The Lines’. The title of this diptych came from the Robyn song of the same name from her 2018 album Honey. It also refers to communication, which is something I have found really difficult to navigate during the last couple of years whilst in recovery. I am a very straightforward person, and because such a large amount of put communication is now digital (no thanks to the added complication of the pandemic), I have found myself being misunderstood when people have ‘read between the lines’ of something I’ve said instead of taking me at my word. What are your thoughts on diptychs and triptychs? Would you like the option to purchase pieces created to go with each other individually, or would you rather keep them in their sets? 💖💖💖

Meet ARCHER! Archer is one of the larger pieces i

Meet ARCHER! Archer is one of the larger pieces in my new collection. The name comes from the composition of curved lines and arches to form the piece, but also from the track The Archer on @taylorswift ’s album Lover. I have listened to this album a lot ever since my diagnosis to help maintain my optimism and positivity, and I always used to skip Archer because I found it a bit disheartening. Over time I started to find beauty in the ending, and I feel like this really speaks to my brain tumour journey and the way I have struggled with my identity and relationships during this time. This piece is heaving textured, with lots of impasto and structure paints. One of my favourite things about this collection is that every piece (with the exception of the title triptych) was a different artwork before becoming the piece it is now. I feel like it really represents the process of recovery, because sometimes we go through things that change who we are, but everything that we were before is still underneath, adding layers and depth and complexity to our character. Archer will be available in the ‘Recovery Is Not A Straight Line’ collection release, available October 16th 2021 💖💖💖

RECOVERY IS NOT A STRAIGHT LINE This is the title

RECOVERY IS NOT A STRAIGHT LINE This is the title triptych of my new collection being released on October 16, which happens to be the day I was diagnosed with my brain tumour two years ago. This particular set was painted with the intention of having it displayed in a hospital thanks to @art.for.causes.au , and it was inspired by my own time spent in and out of hospitals in the last two years, however due to the never-ending rollercoaster of lockdowns this has not yet come to fruition so you may be lucky enough to get your hands on it instead 💖 (Don’t worry, if the future is brighter than this year has been I will hopefully get to install another triptych in the hospital at some point instead.)
The reasons for the name of the triptych, and for the collection itself, are numerous, so I’ll save you reading about it in a big long caption and instead post the story on my website when I have a moment to write it down. In the meantime, pop the release date in your calendar if you like the look of the collection, and if you have your eye on a specific piece you might like to join my mailing list so you get first pick of the artworks when they’re released. I hope this photo of the series brightens up your dreary Sunday night. Much love 💖💖💖

Hi friends! I just designed and ordered some cut

Hi friends! I just designed and ordered some cute retro stickers to put in with your orders when the collection launches!
Which design do you like best? The first one or the second one? 💖💖💖

AND THE WINNER IS…. K. Addison! 🥳🥳🥳 K.

AND THE WINNER IS….
K. Addison! 🥳🥳🥳 K.Addison, as a thankyou for filling out my art survey in August you have won this piece, worth $245! It’s called ‘Lay It All On Me #3’ , and it’s from my soon-to-be-released collection ‘Recovery Is Not a Straight Line’. Enormous thanks to everyone who filled out my surveys to help me with my studies - a whopping total of 94 individuals and businesses participated, which was enormous and unexpected, so I appreciate every single one of you! Stay tuned in the coming days as I’ll be telling you a bit more about the collection and what was behind its creation 💖💖💖

COLLECTION UPDATE Well here they are, all togethe

COLLECTION UPDATE Well here they are, all together in one place! The new collection is ready for release and the website is almost good to go… But I still haven’t set a release date - and here’s why. As many of you would know I’ve been studying my bum off in the preliminary stages of a Cert IV New Small Business, which is the start of something called the NEIS program which provides government assistance to people who are starting their own businesses. I’ve discovered in the last few days that if I release the collection before my Business Plans have their final approval, it’s possible that I might put the approval process and my place in the program in jeopardy, and I REALLY don’t want to do that because I’ve been busting my chops for months now! I’m getting some slightly conflicting information, but I have a class with my advisor on Tuesday so I will be trying to get the final word then - fingers crossed after that I will be good to go ahead and release these works as soon as possible. I’m sorry it’s been a hot minute since my last update, but rest assured I’ve still been working away behind the scenes getting it all ready to go. In the meantime, for those of you who were kind enough to respond to the surveys I had to complete as a part of my assessments, I will be drawing the random winner of one of my pieces TOMORROW NIGHT, so pop back then to find out if you’re the lucky one! It’s been a heavy week in Melbourne this week, so I’m looking forward to brightening someone’s day with some beautiful art tomorrow. Take care til then. Lotsa love! 💖💖💖

I am OBSESSED with this pair of minis to be includ

I am OBSESSED with this pair of minis to be included in my collection release. They’re so lush and textural and vibrant and glittery - what more could ya want?! ✨💖✨💜✨💙✨🧡✨💚✨

Anyone who doesn’t believe photography is an ‘

Anyone who doesn’t believe photography is an ‘essential service’ has OBVIOUSLY never attempted to photograph and edit a bunch of paintings! Holy Moly and Geez Louise, this is a difficult and time consuming process for an amateur! I’m really feeling for my photographer friends as these lockdowns continue, and I know I’m not the only one who can’t wait to inundate you with work when the lockdown is over!! Much love and many hugs 💓💓 #abstractartist #abstractart #abstractartists #abstractartwork #abstractpainting #paintingphotography #colourfulabstractart #colourfulabstract #melbournepainters #melbourneartists

Follow Me on Instagram!