3 New Paintings on Plywood

The inlaws have a new business (Kookaburra Ply) and I asked for some samples thinking I may be able to paint on the panels.

After sanding one side of the board (Formply has a smooth waterproof surface as it is used in concreting), I then primed, sanded and primed again.

 I thought I would paint as I normally would with a canvas using acrylic paint and bristle brushes. I had painted on board a long time ago, and it did take a while to get used to the way the paint went on. I think oils would have been a better choice, because I could have got a beautiful blend of paint on the smooth surface - it would have changed my painting style considerably!

Here are the finished pieces, already varnished and off to be framed and exhibited at Purple Noon Gallery.

Telopea

Well Into Spring

Eucalyptus

Wood engraving by Eric Gill

Thought I would post the occasional work that inspires me.

Here is Anointing, a wood engraving by British artist Eric Gill - Wikipedia article

Not sure of Mr Gill's personal religious views - especially after seeing some of his other works, but this depiction of the woman anointing Jesus with the expensive oil from her alabaster jar, with the indignant disciples looking on is a great pictorial reminder of the sermon I heard the other day.

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Exhibitions I am involved in this week:

Currently on

"Yesterday, Today"  ASMA Miniature Exhibition at The Mint, Sydney
"From the Stockroom" Group show at Breathing Colours Gallery, Balmain, Sydney
Royal Art Society exhibition at the Lavender Bay Gallery, Sydney

Opening this week

 "The Art of Cirque de Soleil" with 19Karen Gallery & Sofitel Gold Coast opens this Friday 31 May
"Figuratively Speaking" opens at The Ferry Artists Gallery, Wisemans Ferry, Saturday 1 June



Macquarie Towns Arts Society Exhibition this weekend.

When I moved to the Hawkesbury region in 2001 one of the first things I did was find the local Art Society. It has been a great support to me, both in friends, information, and opportunities to show my work.
This weekend MTAS are holding their annual Autumn exhibition in Richmond NSW.
For further details their blog is HERE

Gold Coast Group Show opens 31 May

I have a few shows coming up in May/June. This one is in conjunction with 19 Karen Contemporary Artspace & The Sofitel, Gold Coast.

The invite details for opening night are as follows:

Please join us for the opening of our group show, The Art of Cirque du Soleil  , hosted by The Sofitel Gold Coast, on Friday 31 May, 6-8pm.   This exhibition will showcase the works of 22 artists - Amanda Shelsher, Anne Smerdon, Beck Wheeler, Carmel Debreuil, Carole King, Clare Toms, David Green, Elisa Pettenon, Jacqui Doran, Jason Brynat, Jennifer Murray, Johnny Romeo, Juliet Foxtrot, Mark Warren, Melissa Hartley, Mellissa Read-Devine, Michaela Kloeckner, Midge Johansen, Rhonda Goodall-Kirk, Richard Denny, Sarah Beetson and Sonya G Peters.   MC for the evening; Kylie Mitchell-Smith of Mitchell Media   Featuring performers from CircaNICA, Inspiring Contemporary Circus   To be part of this exciting evening- RSVP (essential for catering purposes by the Sofitel) by 24 May Email; info@19karen.com.au or phone; 07 55545 019   Click here to view the on-line gallery     For other exhibitions & shows please see my website: http://depicture.homestead.com/exhibition.html

A successful exhibition and an amazing week

Brought home the remaining paintings from the show yesterday. Left 5 in the gallery for a future stockroom show.

Very happy with the show. It looked fabulous, the gallery staff were lovely and enthusiastic. LOTS of visitors off the street. I ended up selling a third of the exhibited works, so economically it was a success also.

For those who would like to see the works, they are online HERE

"Through the Branches Swiftly"
 

And as an extra  God given reward to several months of hard work, I also was fortunate to win:
1st prize for miniatures at Hawkesbury Agricultural Show
as well as Highly Commended for printmaking
1st prize for Contemporary work at Port Stephens Art Show
1st prize for Portraits at Drummoyne Art Show.

Now I just have to start working again for the next shows.... easier said than done.

 

Happy Artist

It doesnt take much to cheer up a depressed artist. Say meaningful nice things about their work. Visit their exhibitions. RED DOTS ON THE WALLS.


Opening night at Breathing Colours Gallery was lovely. I was running late due to traffic, so that did not help the anxiety, but once I got there and was honoured to have so many visitors - both people I knew and others I didnt. I finally began to enjoy myself.

Ended up having dinner with family and friends, and eventually got myself home exhausted, but serene. Actually I'm still exhausted 4 days later.

Didnt have a chance to take photos on the night so here are a couple from the day before and today.

My wonderful daughters in front of "Through the Trees Swiftly"

Myself in front of the gallery window and "5 Choughs"

In case you would like to know - I have currently sold 5 paintings, with interested parties negotiating for more. Exhibition ends on Sunday 21st April. (Closed Monday, open Tuesday - Sunday).

The work is done, now the anxious wait

I delivered my 25 paintings to Breathing Colours today. BC is a little gallery on Darling Street between Rozelle & Balmain. It has the most wonderful jewellry pieces and quirky objects, as a well as a very nice exhibition space that is available to artists whose applications are accepted.

My exhibition will be hung on Monday and open to the public on Tuesday 9th April. Opening is on Wednesday night. Thats the anxious moment, when you wonder if a. will anyone turn up, and b. will anyone actually buy anything. All artists would tell you that the worst thing that can happen besides not selling anything, is that noone will turn up. ah, the angst is setting in already. I'll let you know.

Later into the exhibition I will post a link to an online gallery of the show.

 

January Sale

I have put on heaps of prints on Ebay this month. Trying to make some room for up coming works.

I dont usually put so much on the auction site like this, so it will not be a common occurrence. Some works have a very low starting price. All $5 - $10.

Next week is my birthday sale of paintings so stay tuned!

 Link to Ebay site is HERE

Wood Block on an Etching Press

For some time I have been registering a multiple block using an old picture frame - the block would rest inside the left hand corner and the paper edge lined up with the outside of the frame. I found this worked quite well if I was extremely careful..and I was often hand printing with lighter papers.

I print my lino & woodcuts on the etching press using an old commercial printers rubber blanket instead of the wool and felt blankets (unless I want deep embossing). However, when I went to print the thicker blocks - like those used with wood engraving, I needed to  add some carrier blocks on either side to help absorb some of the pressure from the roller - protecting both press and carved block.

Registration posed a problem until I came across John Steins' Website . Here is what I delightedly made with my newly purchased jigsaw!

So simple. I did find the rubber blanket was a little soft - it pressed into the finer details which had a tendency to fill in with ink. So I used a piece of matboard instead.




Please visit this page on John Steins site for further details.

Proof of "Mrs Wren" 2 block wood engraving

Happy New Year!

Bookplate in time for Christmas

A last minute Christmas commission which I enjoyed carving very much.

 - Always love a print with a bird in it!

Field of Remembrance

One of the last paintings for the year (apart from the commissions I have going).

Acrylic on Canvas, measuring 76cm x 76cm (30"sq).

 

 

 

 

Pick your Favourites

Every year I post most of my work created from November - October onto a page where people can vote for their favourites. I invite you to come and have a look and if you would, pick 3 -10 of the works you like best.

http://www.readdevine.com/cardspoll.html


Just a bit of fun to celebrate the end of a productive year.

"Gertrude & Jekyll" Acrylic on Canvas 76cm x 76cm

Checking out the Block Printing Ink from Derivan

I finally was able to trial the new block printing ink from Derivan. Thought I would try a simple multiblock/reduction print.

First, print an uncut square in yellow.

Clean, then cut away everything that will stay yellow.

Pink will be next - I mixed my own colour using Acrylic Paint and Derivan's Block Printing Medium

 

Here is a picture of pink prints that I left with background texture, and some that I have masked.

Cut away the pink from the lino and print the green (mixed with white)

This is what happen when you print upside down!

With another block I had cut the full outline of the design. I printed it with purple mixed with a little black.

Being so used to oil based inks, I was a little dubious about using these. But the very fact you can wash up with water is so much more convenient than I first thought. Also, as I paint in acrylics, I have many colours, so the medium is very handy to use when I want a 'certain colour'. Will definitely use these inks again,

Events in October

Next week is action packed with arty goodness.

 On Friday night Macquarie Towns Art Society is opening its 50th anniversary Spring Fair Art Exhibition - I have donated the raffle painting, as seen on the poster below.

Saturday is the Open Day at Derivan 10am - 2pm, where the vivid hued acrylics I use come from. I also will be demonstrating there along with lots of other artists, and there'll be lots of activities for artists of all ages to participate in. See this link  http://www.derivan.com.au/resources/open-day-program2012.html

And on Saturday evening will be the "Mutts & Moggies" exhibition at the Ferry Artists Gallery, Wisemans Ferry. Celebrating our furry family members, I'm looking forward to seeing what the members have come up with (including me!).

Shows this Week

My paintings are busy exhibiting themselves this week.

"Trees" Group ShowStop by and come see all the wonderful ART!!Join us for our Saturday Evening Reception:September 22nd, 2012 from 6 to 9 pm

Creative Framing & Gallery,

5015 Woodminster Lane, Oakland, CA 94602 (510) 482-1200

Reception:

September 22, 2012 from 6 - 9 pm

Exhibition all of September

Northbridge Art Prize

Gallery 307, 307 Sailors Bay Road, Northbridge

Opening: Friday 14 September, 6pm-8pm

Tue-Fri 10.30am-5pm, Saturday 11am-4pm

(closes 26 September)

 

 

Orange Blossom Festival

Annual Art Awards

HILLS SHIRE COUNCIL,

CARRINGTON ROAD, CASTLE HILL

Opening night Wednesday 19th September 7pm for 7.30pm presentation

Thursday 20th to Sunday 23rd September, open daily 9am to 4pm

Entry free

 

And most importantly, this month's blood sweat & tears are invested in

Sydney Art Expo

 

Art Expo

 

 

 

 

Opening next week will by Vertical Canvas at Spaceat565 Gallery and Cocktail Bar

– City of Sydney RSL, Level 2, 565 George St, Sydney, NSW, 2000

 

25/09/2012 - 29/10/2012

 

 

 

 

Busy getting ready for the next show - have visited but haven't exhibited at this venue before. The Watch House is the oldest surviving police lockup in Sydney (1854). Looking forward to my very own cell ;-)

International Exhibition

I think I have recovered from the week that was Art Melbourne, still got lots coming up for the year. One exciting venture is the "International Art Show" held in Oakland, California, where I am one of 3 artists invited for this exhibition.

(That picture of me is from the Melbourne show I was just at), here are a couple of the paintings that have arrived in the USA.

"Treescape" 20"x24"

"Forest with Galahs" 20"x24"

Current finances do not permit me to be there at the show, which is a terrible shame, but its nice to know some part of me will be there in the form of 12 paintings.

The link to the gallery is here http://www.creativeframingoakland.com/gallery.html

May the 4th be with you

A busy weekend for my paintings, I have 3 openings tonight.

Tara School for Girls has their "In the Spotlight" Art exhibition, there is a lovely catalogue to download from their site. Cocktail Party tonight and all day tomorrow.

The Parramatta Art Society is opening their new Floral themed exhibition at their Pop Up Gallery , The show will run until 2 June

Camden Art Prize are having their award ceremony tonight, their show will run until 11th May. News article http://www.camdenadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/artists-bring-out-best/2541372.aspx

Since I have been very blessed and won a prize, I will attending the Camden Exhibition.

Cheers!

Joy All Creatures Drink

"Joy all Creatures Drink" is one of the latest works destined for the Affordable Art Fair in Melbourne. Acrylic on canvas, 1.4m high

The view is from my father in law's property overlooking the Hawkesbury River, lots of trees and rocks - just right for me!