Artists Diary, week ending 31 August

My Week in Pictures



Painting Amy at monthly Portrait Day
Hawkesbury Community Arts Workshop

Never ending paperwork
Also lots of computer time eating up the hours



Visited Judy Brownlie and admired her ''folly''
Please see her invite at end of this blog



Painting being worked on

Fish windchimes strung and ready to hang
Hawkesbury Community Arts Workshop



The lovely hardworking team at Breathing Colours Gallery Balmain
Robin, Petrea & Karen
(I have sold 11 paintings as of Sunday 31 at "springsong"
Show has been extended and ends this coming Sunday)



Another painting being worked on (commission)
 

Time for a Rest Day

Giving fellow artists a plug
Judy Brownlie & Ruth Aldrich's exhibition the next two weekends.

 

Artist Diary Week Ending 24 August

Singing & cups of tea

Despite the deluge I met up with Jeanette Starr of Little River Art Studios early in the week, delivering paintings for the coming weekend. We drank tea by the fire and considered the happy state of our water tanks. I will be teaching a workshop there in November. What a fabulous venue! Check out the list of tutors and consider a class in beautiful  Grose Wold. 

On Tuesday after picking up a VIP in my life from the airport, we stopped by Breathing Colours and checked out the now hung exhibition. What a great job was done, and to top it off I met a lovely family who had just purchased some of my paintings.

Had the most marvellous time in my clay class on Thursday. Just think raucous singing of  ABBA and Australian bush songs whilst painting clay cupcakes, and that will give you a glimpse.

More cups of tea were had, this time with Julie Simmons while we moved paintings and discussed the constant highs and lows of the artist's life.

Friday night delivered and set up at Taryn Malzard's studio The Old Grose Wold School House. I love this venue, and Taryn is a very talented artist and great company.

View from Janet Duff's Studio
 of The Old Schoohouse

Me painting in Taryn Malzard's studio

Not just any old iron, work by blacksmith Wayne Wagstaff

The Hawkesbury Artists & Artisans Trail was held on the weekend. An annual event where most member's studios are open to the public; a great opportunity to see the region and check out the local artists and their work. Although my studio was not open ( it was a bit out of the designated area), I was represented at Little River Art Studio, Purple Noon Gallery, and of course in situ at Taryns. It was a great weekend.

The official opening of "Springsong" was held on the Saturday. I decided to dress as close to the theme as possible, and was delighted that others felt inspired to do the same - and it wasnt even planned. Good times and quite successful too.

With fellow artist Julie Simmons in front of "Floriade"

Sunday I was rather tired. 

But I soldiered on, and met many more lovely people. I even checked out a couple of venues - bought some jewelry by A Farmers Daughter, and  knives hammered out of ancient railway bolts(!) by blacksmith Wayne Wagstaff of Art By Degrees.  And wound down the day with artists and families before I had to pack up the car and find my own neglected family.

Next week there is still time to see my show at Breathing Colours - I pack that up on the Sunday

Artists Diary week ending 17 August

Art Times & Art Crimes

Writing this on the Monday after the week just gone, I cant remember a thing. It was a blur of getting the last few paintings ready for my show in Balmain and generally just getting through the week.

I finished 3 paintings:

"Humoresque" Acrylic 12"square

"Spring is Coming"
Acrylic, 20" square

"Blossom"
Acrylic 24"x20"

My class's mosaic table nearly done!

Printmaking with Plasticine

Saturday I had a great afternoon attending the first of Purple Noon Gallery's Lecture series. Art Crime with Vicki Oliveri. Very interesting and entertaining. I hope I can make the other lectures - next one with Patrick Shirvington who is a fascinating speaker as well as a great artist.

No room for passengers

Sunday was delivery day to Breathing Colours Gallery. It was a miracle I managed to fit all 25 paintings into my hatchback. Come and see the exhibition and be amazed with me! The paintings will be available for public viewing and sale from Tuesday 19th August, with the official opening on Saturday 4pm.

So coming up is "Springsong", running from 19 August to 31 August, Breathing Colours Balmain

Also the Hawkesbury Artists & Artisans Trail is running its Open Studio weekend. I will be at Taryn Malzard's studio with a painting or 10 and some linos and wood engravings available. I may even find the time for a demonstration or 2 over the weekend.

Artist's Week ending 10 August 2014

Tulips & Canapes

A busy week (as usual!). My 2nd last week before I have to deliver works for my coming exhibition, so lots of painting happening. I finished 3 works, one of which in oils which I do not normally do - but I wanted to butter on some luscious oil paints on canvas and with impasto gel medium I was able to indulge my whim. Here is the finished painting "Floriade" which will be in the coming show.

"Floriade"
Oils on canvas, 40"x54"

Acrylic on Canvas, 24"x20"

Acrylic on Canvas, 24"x24"

Works as yet unfinished!

Later in the week, played around with a new haircolour (dark red & platinum) - hairdressers can be artists too right? And then clay totem heads and windchimes for the disabled classes at the Hawkesbury Community Arts Workshop.

Saturday I was at not one but two exhibition openings. The Ferry Artists Gallery at Wisemans Ferry, opened "Wall to Wall", a great mix of works by the members, all under $360.

Speeches at The Ferry Artists Gallery

Julie Simmons and fellow artist Kristine Ballard

Julie's Neville perusing the works in comfort

Then off to Breathing Colours Gallery, Balmain for "'scapes". A solo exhibition by Julie Simmons. A great show, which I hope will be well attended over the next week.

My show will be the next one at Breathing Colours. So I will be busy varnishing and readying the works for delivery this Sunday. The work will be on display from Tuesday 19 August.

Artist's Diary week ending 3rd August

Big Brushes & New Brushstrokes

Check out these lovely brushes at
Glamourpuss Vintage, Wisemans Ferry

I spent the first day at the week manning The Ferry Artists Gallery. Always a pleasure, I get to see the new works, try on jewelry and catch up with visitors to Wisemans Ferry.

Here is a picture I just had to take one evening, I was walking the dogs over at my father in law's property and stood stunned and delighted at the sight- this is Creation. What we do as artists is only a muddy impression, and if you want to believe that this beauty (or our ability to perceive and appreciate it), is a random coincidence, thats fine too. 

Clay faces and glazing were the order of the day on Thursday. I went on to visit The Art Scene for some framing and then on to Gallery Lane Cove to deliver works for their upcoming exhibition for the Lane Cove Art Society.

I had a brilliant weekend. Needing a break from my gruelling exhibition schedule, I booked myself into a workshop with Peter Griffen via the Art Gallery NSW. Friday was spent at the Art Gallery checking out the Archibald/Sulman/Wynne prizes. This is what most artists aspire to be in at least once in their career. I think I have entered the Wynne for landscape about 3 times, so I'm only really a newbie according to a dear friend of mine who has been entering for many years and is yet to be accepted.

Click on the links to see online this years finalists. Archibald. Sulman. Wynne.

A little piece of textile art by Denise Lithgow

The 'other' model

At Peter and Denise's wonderful studio home in Leichardt I was treated to gourmet lunches and lots of paint! I wanted to step outside of what I naturally do, and experiment. Saturday we had a lovely model  and on Sunday we were tutored by Paul Macklin as Peter was unable to be there.

Here is a hint of the madness that took hold of my brushes. No finished work, but that was the whole idea - just to paint with no agenda and no pressure to be 'good'.

I popped into Breathing Colours on my drive home Saturday and attended the opening Pearl Moon's lovely wearable art exhibition. And although I was in a derelict state (old clothes, and little makeup), I tried on some clothes and and may possibly have bought a dress.

Coming up this week:

Lane Cove Art Awards - Friday 8 August

Wall to Wall - Ferry Artists Gallery, Saturday 9 August

Julie Simmon's exhibition 'scapes, Breathing Colours Balmain, Saturday 9 August

Just in case you are worried that my painting style has totally changed I did finish a couple more little gardens for my coming show at the end of the month

Garden Study 30cm sq

Garden Study 30cm sq