Artists Blog

You may remember my post from last week where I was re-dressing The Lady in Red. With her new gown on she was delivered to an exhibition venue in the Swan Valley this afternoon.

To match her new dress, the background was also given swirls. First black swirls were painted in. To steady my hand during “freehand drawing” in paint, I have just my little finger resting on the canvas.

Next the swirls were washed over with a warm red, then lightly wiped off with a damp cotton cloth.

Next a light brush of metallic gold in areas, followed by the wiping off. Same again with black.

Depending on where you stand, you can either see the original black swirls very clearly, or almost not at all. It’s a suggestion of something beneath, a layering which adds to the richness.

Whilst outside taking the photos, guess who appreciated the painted daisy?

The sun is just setting on Queen’s Birthday long weekend, and it was full of wonderful things.

The Calligrapher’s Guild of Western Australia held a workshop dedicated to learning a beautiful hybrid writing “hand” – a blend of Celtic and Italic.

The Guild President Gaye was our esteeemed tutor, and patiently explained time and time again “to look at the internal white spaces, not the black lines”.

Symmetry in our “arches” was what we were striving for, but it’s a whole lot harder than you may think! The abundance of information was absorbed all the easier with the imbibing of delicious baked goods and soothing teas.

There were beautiful calligraphic implements being used, like this glass calligraphy pen,

and this Italian “weighted” pen with a heavy decorated brass ferrule – how could your writing be anything but wonderful using this! Here Guild member Trish is getting used to the feel of luxury writing.

And to prove a point, the owner of the beautiful Italian pen (Gaye our President), brought in some stunning commissions she has been working on to inspire us on to great calligraphic heights. Here is a tiny snippet of her work:

The Guild has decided to embark on a print project for the end of the year. Members have each chosen an alphabet letter (some of us in a moment of madness chose 2!) which we will excute in a calligraphic/drawn/painted/mixed media/anything goes way for the end of November. These then will be put together to form a complete alphabet which will be printed as a poster for our last magazine for the year.

If anyone wishes to joing the Guild (and you can be an overseas member), fell free to contact me and join in the calligraphic fun. Still some good letters left, but get in quick!

I’m honoured to have my work featured in the current issue of Fine Art and Decorative Painting magazine (Vol 18 No 1)

The Editorial team there do a fantastic job of putting together step-by-step projects for artists everywhere to learn from. 

A little bit of synchronicity as well, as I happen to be “re-dressing” The Lady in Red.

When her change of wardrobe is complete I’ll share her new look with you.

It’s been a whirlwind in the studio -painting, drawing and calligraphing furiously, stopping only for coffee top ups. Scheduling time and jobs has been the real challenge – I’ve promised myself that 2011 organisation takes priority. My 2 foot wide Planner has been a blessing, and I’ve already pencilled in slabs of time for projects until the end of the year and even into January.

Acrylic on canvas 101 cm x 101 cm (40″ x 40″)

Above is my entry for the the City of Bayswater Art Awards & Exhibition which opens today at Noranda Village, Benara Rd. Exhibition runs until 25 September.

Acyrlic on canvas 101 cm x 101 cm (40″ x 40″)

The second painting is for the City of Bassendean’s Art Awards and Exhibition which runs from the 23rd – 29 September, at Cyril Jackson Recreation Centre, Fisher Rd.

Unfortunately these painting photos are a bit washed out – I took them outside after the sun had set, such was my hurry.

detail

 It is always helpful for me to hang a recently finished piece where I will walk past it several times a day. Undoubetedly there will be something that jumps out at me that needs to be changed. Some of the water hues were altered after the cat kindly pointed them out.

Can you feel that “rush” in the air? It’s as if a switch has been flicked and everyone has shifted up a gear. Busy-ness everywhere – in the people, the places, even the animals and birds. The garden is an explosion of activity – flowers busting to get out, bees & birds busting to get in. Spring, and the Christmas countdown has begun.

Now for me it’s literally back to the Drawing Board!

Studying waves for my latest pastel painting was made easier as you know by all the coffee in my last post. Still, just how many colours can you see in the wave below?

Lots. And then there are the shadows and highlights. Squinting helps a lot.

And then there’s the sky, which is never just one tone of blue.

My home-made pastel dust catcher was emptied many times during this painting. Certainly saves the floor and my lungs!

This will be my last painting for a while as I have some really involved commissions on the go. However, there are also all the imminent exhibtions I have committed to, so there will be paintings, I just just don’t know when!

Expeditions all over Perth was how the weekend was spent. All art/calligraphy related as well, with good coffee thrown in at the pit stops.

North Cottesloe Beach was one such coffee stop. Leisurely read of the Sunday paper, and then a good beachcombing/ photo session for future pastel paintings.

The seaweeds were fabulously coloured, red, alizarin, carmine – you name it, the colour was there.

The zig zag decoration of the shells was amazing – each one slightly different.

Such a beautiful stretch of coastline, it’s hard to believe that a man was killed here by a 4m Great White Shark in just waist deep water.

Another coffee stop was a lovely cafe on the swan River at Claremont. I had to check this space out for the planned Calligraphy Guild Exhibition – it passes with flying colours.

The light comes from a beautiful south facing wall of glass. With ample hanging areas for all our members to exhibit.

It’s going to be hard competing with that view though..

On to the Royal Showgrounds to drop off a painting for the Show, picked up some beautiful calligraphy accoutrements and books for the Guild from a generous benefactor, measured up another cafe for their new menu boards, and then onto the Wanneroo Art Society’s annual exhibition at Sorrento Beach. If sales are an inidcator, then the economy is doing great!

Phew, I need a weekend after the weekend!