b'words: Sue Reidy pictures: Matthew Williams Artist and mother Meghann Stewart freely admits she is"Asachild,Iattended13schoolsinfourdifferent meticulous - even obsessive - about most things. Fifteencountries. That\'s why I feel so passionately about giving years ago, in her mid-20s, she experienced a health crisismy kids aof belonging and why I throw myself into sense that turned her attitude to life completely on i15 head. Beingschool activities." diagnosed~\\~than acoustic neuroma tumour that left herUnsurprisingly. she can\'t abide clutter. deaf in one ear and partially blind in one eyegaveMeghann a sense of urgency about using her time well in activities"Ilikeeverythingtohaveaplaceandapurpose. that wouldgivepurpose and meaning to her life.Fortunately, our house ison two levels. The kids\'mess stays downstairs andweuse theupstairsenvironment A self-taught artist, and the busy motherthree children, offor relaxing, eating and talking." Meghann has been painting for six years. She has adopted averydisciplined approach that sees her painting threeMeghann describesthelook of her houseasminimal days a week in her Kingsland studio.and monochromatic. Sheisalsoinvolved in organisinga muralat Auckland\'s"I use art to provide the splashes of colour - my house is full KohimaramaSchool,whichherchildrenattend.It willof my paintings. I particularlylovegreens and reds."H be renderedinResenepaint and reflect imagery from a. : l!!l\'liI!llll !) school camp in which she participated with her daughter. 62habitat'