Smiling Faces

Delivery day to Ryde Art Society Exhibition on Monday. I had only just finished varnishing and edging one of the paintings the night before - not something I recommend making a habit of! Luckily the stress paid off because it sold before the opening and I also won 1st prize in the Acrylic section.

Another last minute painting - "Magnolia" was finished in time to deliver to St.Thomas Art & Craft Fair, fortunate indeed because I also sold this one!

"Magnolia" Acrylic on Canvas 60cm sq

One evening was spent planning the next dozen paintings - I went through my collection of bush walking & bird photos, making thumbnail sketches of composition, tone and canvas format. Excited to get started!

After Thursday's clay workshop I visited Purple Noon to pick up some framed works for the coming Balmain show. I also revisited the current show and had a better look at the work of one of my favourite artists - Carl Stringfellow.

Friday saw me at The Art Scene picking up yet more framed work. I also picked up some smaller canvasses for some future projects. Then onto Balmain to deliver for the coming Balmain Art & Craft Show. Met up with fellow artist Elaine Foulsham.

Elaine with one of her works

Whilst in Balmain, I couldnt resist popping in and saying hallo to Petrea at Breathing Colours and seeing what was new on the wall. Robin has just told me there is a sale on some lovely indigenous art. Here is the link. Also checked out potential space in Birchgrove for me to hold some painting / printmaking workshops.

Painting by Minnie Pwerle

Opening night at Ryde Art Awards

Friday night time to refresh the lipstick and go to the the Art Awards at Cox's Community Centre for Ryde Art Society. Picked up my award and enjoyed the company of artists and art lovers. Its a great show which I recommend a visit to. (finishes this Friday afternoon).

Another unfinished portrait for the collection

Kristine Ballard & Peter Griffen

Kristine Ballard's "Cangiante"

Saturday was the monthly portrait day at the Hawkesbury Community Arts Workshop. The lovely Donna was our model. A quick lunch with Mum and we then went into Newtown to see Kristine Ballard's exhibition "Cangiante"  Rich luscious colour from an accomplished artist!

Sunday was sedate in comparison: my imagination filled with visions of Heaven after a rousing church morning sermon; reading my daughter's comic books - "Saga" capturing my attention, and eventually having to get back into the car to pick up unsold works from St.Thomas in Willoughby,





Ok, next up?

Shows still on:

Ryde Art Show

Fairfield Art Show

and next week

Balmain Art & Craft Show

and my weekend workshop - I think there are still a couple of places - give them a call/email.

http://haat.com.au/Gallery/Jeanette%20Starr.%20%20Little%20River%20Art%20Studios/19/

Mariachi & Rock n Roll

Looking back, I believe I fitted in quite a lot this week. Its amazing how you lose track of whats been happening - I have to write notes to myself in order to remember what I did at the start of the week!

On Monday I had a lovely visit from a bus full of Ryde Art Society Members, come to enjoy the area and visit my studio. I am very fortunate to be able to work from an old fruit packing shed - LOTS of room, and therefore more mess to clean up when I have visitors. Now I will be able to find things until the clutter builds up again.

I also had a meeting about promotion - a very important aspect of the professional artist's life.

Then a quick drive over the river to visit Purple Noon Gallery for some framing.

I finished a painting this week - I actually started this painting early 2013 when plein air painting in the wetlands down on my property. I'll be delivering this to a show in the coming week.

"The Hide"
Acrylic on Canvas, 40"x30"

Wednesday night saw me at the Paddington Art Prize. (Click on the link to see the winners).It was such a buzz to be a part of it. Saw old friends and new, and there is some great work to see if you are in Sydney for the next few days. Congratulations to all winners and finalists.

Me with "Pillars of the Earth", Paddington Art Prize

On delivery day to Macquarie Towns Arts Society, I don't know what happened to my brain. Couldn't find 2 of the works that I had set aside for the exhibition, so had to deliver what I had. I missed the opening for this one as I had other commitments, but its always a good show of local works.

At the workshop, it was glazing day, and then a drive to Art Scene to fix a damaged frame for a show next week.






Friday night was my time out with my husband. We were also fortunate to attend a cocktail party held by Accor Hotels for the Aztec Exhibition at the Sydney Museum. Accompanied by a mariachi band, we learnt a bit about Mexican/Aztec history and I enjoyed very much seeing the pottery & stone sculptures.








Sculpture of Xiuhtecuhtli (God of Fire and Guardian of Merchants). On loan from Museo del Templo Mayor.    Photographer:Michel Zabe Rights:© The Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia (INAH)]

 

Saturday was a huge day out at the Derivan Open Day. I did not have time to take photos of the day as I very busy teaching a workshop on colour mixing and linocuts etc, but I have some of the party afterwards. Being Derivan's 50th birthday, it was very fitting to have a fifties theme.

Some of the students work from my workshop

Friends, Cake and Dancing. A great night.

Did I rest on Sunday? NO, but after church I visited a photographer friend to look through her files for some future artworks, getting back to Richmond just in time to take down the paintings at the MTAS show.

I think Im ready for the next week now.

Paddington Art Prize still on

Fairfield Art Exhibition opens Friday

Ryde Art Exhibition opens Friday

St Thomas Art & Craft Show opens Friday










 

Friends on the Wall

A short but busy week - due to the long weekend. So hard to get back to real life after a break!

"Garden of Memories", Acrylic on Canvas, 60cm square

finished a painting for a coming show (Balmain Art & Craft), and delivered my painting for the Paddington Art Prize. Met a couple of artists there at the coffee shop - Jane Canfield & Marie Larraine Weir. I look forward to seeing all of our works on the wall in the coming week.









On the way to a North Shore Craft Group Meeting I took a small detour into town and attended the opening of Gabby Malpas' exhibition "Where Are You From" at Platform 72. Fantastic show - Gabby is such a talented artist and I adore her vision and humour.

Gabby Malpas at Platform 72

Saturday I spent time at the Parramatta Town Hall at the Parramatta Art Society Annual Show. How lovely to have won a Commended, a Highly Commended and a sale there.

That night I attended yet another opening, this time at Purple Noon Gallery for "Tryptich" a group show with Ros Goody, Carl Stringfellow and Phillip Nolan. Beautiful covetable work, every piece.

Deidre Morrison, Myself and Patricia Devine
(thanks Julie Simmons for photo!)

Carl Stringfellow, Phillip Nolan, Ros Goody
Clr.Paul Rasmussen, Robin Williams

So a very social week I must say.

Whats coming up this week?  I do believe more socialising.





The Opening of the Paddington Art Prize opens Wednesday

Macquarie Arts Society Spring Affair Exhibition opens Friday

Derivan Open Day Saturday

Artists Diary - my week

Driving, Hiking, Painting

Just come back from a very relaxing long weekend in Southern Queensland. Stayed at Girraween Environmental Lodge - amidst the lovely Girraween National Park. The main reason for the trip was a family (Devine) celebration and I took the opportunity to go painting outdoors - something I have had very little opportunity to do.

I thought acrylics might be the best to pack as that is the medium I am most familiar with, and I want to make sure the paintings dried quickly so as not to inconvenience the rest of the family in transit. I also took my daughter's back pack - bought for school hiking but never used. Backpack on my back I climbed the hills to a couple of beautiful spots and settled in to paint (praying I would not see any snakes). I could only manage a couple of hours at a time, so I wasnt really aiming to finish anything, but I am very happy with the experience. Sipping tea from a thermos, watching the little birds and lizards amongst the wildflowers prevalent at this time of year, I was already promising myself more Plein Air excursions in the near future - hopefully regular ones!

Hopefully I can finish some of these soon!

Other things achieved in the week - took a big painting to the framers, sold a commissioned painting and managed to receive a commended and a highly commended at the Parramatta Art Awards.

Nothing new coming up this week - but I will recommend a visit to Parramatta Town Hall for their exhibition still on (Finishes Sunday 12). Also opening is a new show at Purple Noon Gallery, featuring works by Ros Goody, Carl Stringfellow and Phillip Nolan.