Thankyou to all who partipated in my cards poll. VERY interestoing to see other people's choices. To see results click here.

Finished a commission last night. Yay! in time for framing before Christmas too.

"Tina" 12"x 9", Watercolour, Ink & Pencil

An Advent Event

The Ferry Artists invite you to a Mixed Media Exhibition

Opens Saturday 25 November 3.30pm
Join us for drinks & nibbles!
Exhibition continuing through to January 2007

The Ferry Artists Gallery
Old Northern Road
Wiseman’s Ferry
Ph: 02 4566 4385

Hours: 10am – 4pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday

(pictured: "Taking Flight" Silk by Barbara Schey)

Very busy trying to avoid the fact that Christmas is around the corner. But now (which is a blessing) I have a commission to do in time for that unavoidable date. sigh. Better get cracking.
Heres a painting from the weekend. Trying my hand at 'plein air' work. Its rather fun, and a good discipline.

"sandstone native" oil on board, 9"x5"

First monotypes! Thanks to the inspiration of artists like Belinda del Pesco I have finally had a wonderful afternoon of playing with monotypes.

"The Odd Couple"

1st state - wiped with cotton swab & toothpick

2nd state - coloured with pencil

The Twelve Sent Out

Acrylic on Canvas, 30" x 40", an ambitious project for me, so much fruit & veg in a hot shed, so little time! An allegory based on Matthew 10:5-6.

For anyone interested, I am holding my 2006 Cards Poll, click here. I need help to make up my mind which artworks will feature on my yearly set of notecards (6). If you like your opinions noted, I am listening!

Thankyou

"Commended" for "White Faced Heron" Pastel on paper.

It's nice, isnt it; when you get a mention from a judged exhibition.

Made my week.

The Exhibition is in Parramatta until Friday. info click here.

Collagraph - "Tony S"

Collagraph - Intaglio & Relief, printed with Etching Ink and coloured with watercolours.
Available on Auction

Open Studio 2006

After much cleaning up and clearing out, I finally opened the door to all. A fabulous 4 days, brilliant weather (thanking God considering the week before there were local bushfires), lots of people - even those I didnt know! ;-) , I swanned around looking arty, even painted during the quiet times, nibbled on cheese & olives and talked my head off. Sold work too!My two dogs were exhausted and so was I, took a couple of days to recover. I think this is why I only have one a year!

For more pictures go to my website

Botanical Workshop with Patrick Mathew



A great day had by all that attended the wonderful workshop hosted by the Ferry Artist's Gallery & Wiseman's Ferry Retreat. Patrick Mathew, notable local botanist held us in thrall over the diversity of plant life in the area. We went for a walk after lunch, along the river and I saw the parkland trees in a totally new light!
Very inspiring and informative.

Steve Irwin, an amazing life

I am a bit shocked, I have just found out about celebrity Steve Irwin's fatal accident. My heart and prayers go out to his family. Thanks Steve, for brightening our lives.

Passaro e tomate

Getting a bit concerned - my Open Studio is a month away - 'spose I better get Paint'n & Print'n! Here is a painting I am very pleased with - havent done a still life in ages and I got caught up with the juicy colours. Must do more....

"Rebecca's Lamb"

another little hand painted linocut. For a very young lady named, you guessed it, Rebecca.

#20/20 is on Ebay

Callicoma serratifolia

Wood engraving 6.5 cm square. Sometimes known as "Black Wattle" it is a local tree, the leaves & twigs apparently being used in the 'wattle & daub' buildings of the early settlers.

ebay

Thought you'd like to see the painting that started me onto my cubistic head series. Originally was just playing around with an ATC (3.5" x 2.5" trading card) and thought it was good enough to put into a national miniature exhibition. Well it received a "Commended" and was sold! So I was encouraged to carry on!

There is a lot of detail that the picture has not shown, lots of layers and colours. Title: Alisonimo, Medium:Acrylic

Portrait of Queen Alexandra

Well, vaguely. Even more linear than the last 3, I used pastel as part of the inking up procedure. The plate (not pictured) is now a most beautiful shade of blue, I think I should frame it - although the letters are backwards.
Print on ebay

"Minnie"

another collagraph - (well, if I'm going to get glue everywhere I may as well do a series). This one has some handcolouring with watercolour.
On ebay

"Olivia"

Another collagraph to keep company with George.

On ebay

Meet "George".
A creation a la collagraph based on an old military photograph. Oil based ink on Rives BFK. Tiny edition of 3. I loved discovering the texture and had a wonderful time trying out different coloured inks and hand coloured a couple with watercolour. Available on ebay.

"Sophie" has colour.
At night, when the rest of the family were lolling around in front of the telly I sat at my desk, labouriously hand colouring over 20 versions of this little scene. Mad I know, but I knew if I didnt do them all together, they would never get done. Played around with several colour schemes until I decided on this one.

What am I doing this week? Here is young "Sophie", a linocut awaiting hand colouring - I think. I am very hesitant to add colour after being happy with the black and white design.

Also, have to print a woodengraving, working on two reduction linocuts for a couple of exchanges, my dog Jontyto be immortalised in lino, and a new baby in church warrants another print to be developed for "Rebecca". - to see other prints created for babes in my life go here

Meet the new addition to the Devine Family.

Name: Jonty Rhodes

Breed: Rhodesian Ridgeback X Australian Kelpie

Age: 9 weeks

I have a "Year of the Dog" Print in progress, but I think I will change my mind and use this handsome young man as my muse.

Wood Engraver: Engraving... Eventually

Here is "Amelia" a hand coloured linocut I made to celebrate the birth of young Amelia Castle. Looking up the meaning of the name - it means hard working. A worthy virtue but how to portray it attractively?.

I have also joined the 'Etsy' club, I love this site!

Pelican Posing on a Post

Well, he is a first attempt, but he looks pretty good from afar!

Things I have learned:
Use a thinner gauge wire.
Chicken wire is really nice to mold
'Tie Wires' were a stroke of brilliance!
Vacumn the carpet if you insist on working in the loungeroom
Keep practising

I hope he stays on the post, dont fancy fishing him out of the dam! He seems to be keeping the ducks on edge - they're not hanging around anymore!

Here is a cheat. I used metal potato mashers as a base for his feet, which i then wrapped with wire.

Wired
Embarking on a new project for me. Wire Sculpture! Its my Dad's Birthday soon and I want to make him a life size sculpture of a pelican. I will post some pics as soon as my hands heal... ha ha.
Some brilliant artists out there working with wire. Check this one out - and look at the Directory of Wire Artists: http://wirelady.com

My hands? Well I was only half joking. Developed an allergy to Mineral Turpentine. And I thought it wouldn't happen to me!...... Next time I'm using oil based inks, I'm going to try a citrus based product.

The latest blog from Print Australia: bellebyrd

Year of the Rooster over and out!

Yep, they were hiding from the world ALL YEAR, but now they're out and willing to be integrated into society. Had no end of problems, blah blah blah. But I'm happy with them.

"Don't Count Your Chickens" 2 block reduction linocut

edition of 60, created for Baren Year of the Rooster exchange http://www.barenforum.org/new_year/rooster.html

Here's a painting I've finally finished. Called "Riparian" it is a large oil depicting the local Hawkesbury River where I live (in fact my part of the river is on the straight on the top right had side of the pic). With the drought and various stresses on the river, it's not doing too well at the moment, and I wanted a 'dry' background with the local fish in a 'fossilised' form to symbolise the dangers to the life of the river. I plan to explore this theme further.