Artists Blog

Rainbows

Rainbows

Rainbows.

They seem to be everywhere in my life this week.

This is the interactive CD cover of a project I worked on a while back. I came across the original artwork whilst clearing out the Studio. More about that later. A couple of days ago I was driving home from Drawing Class when I saw this out the side window.

I told Jez to grab a few photos.

After 5 minutes it slowly vaporized.

With not a single drop of rain to tone down this excessive heat.

Back to the Rainbow Catcher. It was a collaboration between a few of us  (writers, artist & musician) to create a “Values” package for Early Childhood. A lot of work but a lot of fun. There is a heap of artwork that was associated with this, when I get the time I’ll scan and post them. The ship is called The Rainbow Catcher and is home to 20 creatures that each represent  a Value (eg Love, Courage etc).

I had a lot of fun with watercolours, metallic inks and holographic glitters.

I’m off for a swim now as I’ve melted all over the computer chair…….”Cooling down” to only the high 30’sC tomorrow!

For an exhibition late last year I decided to go BIG. Having only ever worked small, painting one sq metre canvases was quite a challenge. I scaled up my Red Girl and then painted her mirror image in blue.

I enjoyed the large scale format so much that I have quite a few canvases (much bigger ones even!), stacked against the wall awaiting their appointment with the big brushes. Quite ironic when I consider  I’m working on miniatures for admission to the Australian Miniature Society!

On a different subject altogether, we seem to be “blessed” with scaly visitors. Not the Pythons of the Far North this time, but something more sinister.

This is a Dugite (Pseudonaja affinis), which can grow up to 2m, and can be fatally venomous (they are of the Brown Snake family). I picked this fellow up out of the gutter, but he had already met an unfortunate end.

And no, those aren’t my hairy legs, they belong to Jez! I’ve buried the snake in the garden, and look forward to unearthing a nice clean specimen skeleton before winter.

Ever heard a motorbike changing gears? Lots of kids imitate this sound when they “ride” around on pretend motorbikes. Well, we’ve had a particular motorbike under our kitchen window for weeks. And now he has a friend. Firstly, click this motorbike-frog.mp3 to listen to our nightly song.

One morning I found our songster haveing a quick dip in the pool.

 Chlorine and frog skin is not a good mix (even the human touch is bad for them), so I fished him out and rinsed him off.

He was back in fine voice late that night.

Two night ago there was a different sounding song under the kitchen window. Something similar to this:spotted-thigh-frog.mp3

He (She?) certainly looked different to the Motorbike frog, but maybe just juvenile. Perhaps it is the Spotted Thigh Frog? (Any froggie experts out there?) At least they aren’t in my toilet at night (see  this post and this post for past scares in the “wee” hours)

Frogs in the garden are a good indicator of a healthy environment, so I’m happy that my “rev head” guests are here.

The  deadly Dugites are another matter entirely…..

I’ve been “sketching” with watercolours today. I pulled out my little field kit and BIG brush (my tiny 20/0 brushes were given a rest today) and laid down some wet, wet washes on unstretched paper. No planning or pre-drawing, just paint splashed straight down.

The only restriction was that the dimensions were under 10cmx10cm - Australian rules for miniature art. Painting done with 4 colours, then finished off with ink. A very loose style which I’m quite unfamiliar with, but which I found very enjoyable.

Digging through some old artwork I found another piece that I’d forgotten about.

This was from a Botanical Painting Weekend workshop through Uni Summer School - fabulous company and so, so inspiring. Maybe it’s time to get those teeny tiny brushes out again tomorrow!

On Sunday I joined the North Coast Art Club. These artists get together once a month to paint with each other in really relaxed, supportive atmosphere. You can’t get much more supportive than boxes of good chocolates and cups of tea!

Whilst at the Art Club I started my next painting, a miniature, with a familiar subject.

These Forest Kingfishers lived in my garden and the surrounding bush, and were more than happy to pose for photos.

I hope to finish him at home quite soon.

Do you remember the Mystery of the Fish Skull? (click here for original post) Well, scientists at a local University have deemed it a BATFISH, which I had taken underwater photos of at the Great Barrier Reef off Green Island. I still wouldn’t have guessed it.

Thanks to all who took the time to offer suggestions!

Life sure gets in the way of all those best laid plans and all.

New jobs, old jobs, long term visitors, Christmas, New Year, Starting Senior School, the list is endless! All I can say is that I’m here now and am planning on hanging around for a goodly while.

It was a hearty farewell to 2009, and man was I glad to see the backend of that year. We calculated that our car has done so many more ‘000’s of kms on the back of a transporter than it has actually ever driven under it’s own steam. I’ve lost count of the moves we’ve had, I think people have given up writing in ink in their address books - one good friend confessed that she’s only used pencil for our address changes since 1990!

And wasn’t the start to 2010 spectacular - a Blue Moon AND eclipse all rolled into one.

I must admit that I didn’t know at the time it was a partial eclipse - I thought my eyes were a bit worse for wear with the evening’s celebrations. Luckily I was still awake (just) at about 3.30am to take the photo.

It’s been a big weekend for all of us, especially our son Jez. The Wanneroo City Council recently built and opened a spectacular Cultural and Exhibition Centre, and hosted their Art Awards Friday Evening. Jez had entered the Youth Category with a potrait drawing of His Mate Max. When they anounced the 3 youth winners and Jez wasn’t one of them, we all felt a little disappointed. Then the Open adult awards were announced. Jez was declared winner of the Works on Paper category, blowing us all away. Photographs with the Mayor, shaking of hands and presentations of certificates (and cheque!) all followed in a blur. We are all still stunned.

He’s had his work shown in a shop window recently, and thinks that there maybe a future in art after all. (If he needs something to fall back on after skateboarding you understand)

Can you tell I’m a proud parent?

Thank you to you all who have taken the time to read and comment. I promise to catch up on all the news.

And yes, the mystery of The Fish Skull has finally been resolved with the help of our Marine Research friends at Murdoch University. All will be revealed shortly…

And lastly,

Kung Hei Fat Choi - Happy Chinese New Year of  the Tiger