Artists Blog

Whilst visiting another lovely blog by Doda, I found myself getting that adrenlin rush from 2 loves of mine - collections and their boxes. I am a Hopeless Beachcomber. I can wander for hours with my eyes fixed on the minutae in the sand. Others dash into the sea and surf, watch the skies, sunbathe. I fill my pockets and hands with sandy (often smelly) treasures.

The absolute best time to beachcomb in Perth was after a wild winter storm - what bounty was thrown up on shore! Each beach along the coast had it’s own special secrets to throw up - the beach north of Hillarys Marina speacialised in sea urchin tests of all colours ad sizes. Mullaloo, Ram’s Horn spirals. North Cottesloe has violet shells, which in ancient times was the only source of the colour purple for royalty.

I once completed a Calligraphy piece for the Royal Show which was centered on my beachcombing expeditions. It allowed me to “use” up some of my huge collection.

The finished piece was many, many metres long, but came to an untimely and soggy end whilst I was photographing it late last year. I think there’s a whole other post that needs to be devoted to it’s demise….

Anyway, getting back to my other love/addiction are the boxes that houses these collections. Wooden display/museum boxes. I go weak at the knees when I see them. I have a secret desire to be a Natural History Museum Curator I’m sure. I have quite a few of these wooden boxes. And some Perspex ones as well. They are filled with all sorts of treasures - nests, skeletons, seeds, shells, fossils, feathers, skins, eggshells, nuts, bark. You name it, if it’s been on the ground, fallen off a creature, or just plain smelly, I’ve got it in a box.

Getting back to Doda, she has some exquisite paintings of Collection Boxes. Hailing form Scotland, I told her of my beachcombing finds on a shoally beach at St Andrews that now reside in one of my boxes.

Jez entertained Moss and Jem (Border Collies that couldn’t get enough of the frigid waters) whilst I searched the shoreline. Apart from the beautiful sea glass, tiny crabs and unusual northen hemisphere shells, I found a piece of old china that made my heart skip a beat. Rubbing away the grime from the crest, I read my family name printed there. Amazes me to this day.

This was an entry originally posted 2 weeks ago. I had to delay it’s publication until now due to media committments.

If you’ve been following this blog, you may remember my recent painting, the very first I’ve sold - of the birds eating the snake.

Even the journalist said it was an amazing karmic coincidence.

In this internet age, it is simply astounding how this news has travelled the globe, proving it’s just not Far North Tropical Queensland that holds a fascination for such things. According to London newspapers, I live “in the jungle”. That’s inside the house I reckon!

On a sadder note, the departed cocky has left behind a lonely mate, who sits in the same spot in the bouganvillea all day, looking a little lost. Thankfully the python won’t be hungry for quite some time…

17 November 2008

Unfortunately my last sentence above proved horribly incorrect. Or maybe it was another python. But he was taken also. This one we tried to save. (I had only hours earlier removed a paralysis tick from above it’s eye). I hosed that python with a full strength hose, but he wasn’t giving up his catch.

There are a lot of images, and I think everyone’s seen most of them around the internet sites and newspapers, so I’m not sure if you would want to see them again on this blog?

Let me know what you think.

A new evening job is to make sure there are no guests sleeping over in the The Tree of Death….

I’VE FINISHED!

You don’t know how good it is too be able to say that!

2 paintings delivered to the Tanks Art Centre with almost half an hour to spare. Mind you, I had to skip Uni today, had no weekend, and didn’t even get any photos of the Tree Loppers who took out the 4 huge coconut palms on our fenceline today. I’m not even going to mention the evil tap that spouted water all over the insides of my kitchen cupboards….

Even though one painting had to be substituted with an old one (due to airbrushing disaster last week), I’m kinda glad. I now have one “Representational” piece, and one “Contemporary” piece in the same exhibition. Interesting to see the results. Opening night Friday, will let you know how it goes.

My eyes have given up focusing. Must be because the bags underneath them are so HUGE. I’ll report back on the “Painting with Light” excursion tomorrow - it was wonderful. And I promise to catch up with all your lovely blogs. Thanks again for all your kind comments - just the motivation I need!

“Found My Bliss”    Watercolour on Illustration Board

(not a very good image of the painting I’m sorry, scanner was having an ”off” day.  Even though you may not be able to see them, I can assure you there are thousands of tiny brushstrokes, each one contributing to my current state of blindness….

This is a picture taken in more serene times. Isn’t pink supposed to be calming? I need a lot of calming right now.

I’m so cross. I’ve been battling my airbrush for the past 2 hours, and I lost.

Firstly, no ink would come out. Plenty of pressurised air, but nothing else. After fiddling with every knob with no success, I finally consulted the Manual. Yes, this was dire.

Half an hour later, with the whole thing in pieces, I saw the problem - a build up of dried ink along the needle length. Cleaning it was easy, getting the thing back together was TOUGH!

So, airbrush, compressor and inks at the ready, I let fire at 2 pieces I had prepared earlier. “Prepared” meaning sketched out, gessoed and masked - a 3 hour feat in itself.

What a disaster. Blobs, splotches, spatters everywhere. Plan B - switch to cheap and nasty airbrush from car parts store. Hose burst. Found the spare hose which held.Throw in 2 phone calls and the dog chasing cockies around me and I could feel my blood pressure just about to blow.

So my total output for the day is one semi-passable airbrushed background. One for the bin.

Thankfully to get my mind off airbrushing disasters, I am going out tonight to do some night photography with a forensic specialist. “Painting with Light” is how they record crime scenes. Sounds intriguing….

Last week (seems like an age ago), I mentioned that I was going to visit a working Artist’s Studio with a view to joining them in their space. A vacancy had arisen within their building, and the invitation to work amongst them seemed serendipitious. Four well known established and emerging artists that share a great industrial building in the heart of town. They are there each day, some starting at 5.30 am, some not finishing their work till the sun rises. They all treat it not only as a “job”, but as a passion.

Some are screen printers, on paper, fabric and plastics.

Some work with sculptural forms and installations.

Some are painters, and a studio floor is meant to have paint all over it.

The Studio was large, airy and well set up, with drying racks, an air conditioned storage room, even a lounge area where they stop for lunch each day and discuss their works progress. I spoke at length with each of them and couldn’t help but be inspired and motivated. They all agree that they urge and “feed” off each other’s enthusiasm, which has other benefits as well. When gallery curators come to see a particular artist, the others are seen as well. As a result, some are hung in galleries all over the country, including the National.

Unfortunately I could not justify joining them at this time. I explained that I would LOVE to work amongst them, but being at Uni full time doesn’t allow much devotion to a studio. However, I did mention the vacancy to an emerging artist I know, and he seems really keen to take it on.

**Sigh**,  maybe next year…

We’ve been invaded by birds. Lots and lots and LOTS of birds! Spring has sprung big time.

My first birds for Show and Tell are the ones that just made it (with 18 minutes to spare) into the preliminary judging for the upcoming Regional Exhibition. They may not make the final cut, but here’s hoping for a spot in my second exhibiton.

I’ll always have the Clowns in my backyard regardless.

The Butcher bird (also known as The Singing Assassin), has been singing his heart out to me, inviting me to swing. Take that however you wish!

This guy is a teenager, but there’s been an adult (fully black) hanging around as well.

Parent or potential partner?

The Pied Imperial Pigeons  (or Torres Strait Pigeon) have flown all the way back from New Guinea. They have been “Coo-Cooing” their heads off above our deck.

But the most delightful feathered tenants have been the Wee Willy Wagtails, chittering their crossness at me for daring to watch them build their nest.

Who needs a big house anyway?

It’s been a while since my post - so much happening it’s like someone has cranked up the speed on the merry go round!

The final night of the “BIG exhibition” was last Friday, with the top 10 artworks (in terms of bids), going to a final  live floor auction. I held little hope of making it out of the 120 established artists exhibiting. It was expected of course that the famous names, Archibald winners etc would make up the 10. This was the last few minutes before the deadline that people could still silently bid.

I was nervous, sweaty palmed and rather anxious. I told Jeff that I didn’t want to be in the live auction - how embarrassing if no one bid on my work? I looked over to my piece and saw someone on their mobile, staring right at my work. They took a pen out and wrote in a new bid. Phone bids? I was shocked. Then someone else came over and upped the bid. Shock was replaced with open mouthed disbelief.

Jeff and I were volunteers on the night to hold The Ribbon. Once the bell is rung, a ribbon goes up across the works on the wall so no more bids can be placed. In past years, this was the time when people would try and sneak in bids in an effort to get their chosen piece. Sometimes fisticuffs were involved I was told. All quite civilised tonight.

Then I was told that I had made the top 10. I was horrified. I could hardly think straight whilst other peices were auctioned. When it was my turn I wanted to leave. What if it was passed in at the final silent bid price? The embarrassment would swallow me whole.

I couldn’t believe it when there was one bid, then another, and another…. was this really for my work? (can you tell I was having a hard time believing any of this?) I would’ve taken photos of the lively auctioneer, with hammer banging down so decisively, except I was rooted to the spot with fear.

Anyway, my first piece sold ever, 20+ years after I was supposed to go to Art College to train to be an artist. Better late than never ever ever.

The biggest thrill for me was to have my work cheek-by-jowl with the big names of the art world from the past 50 years. All of us on the same auction table.

Pressure’s on now. A commission for someone and other exhibitions soon. This is where I would have traditionally run away screaming. I’ve a different mindset now.

A big exhibtion at the Regional Gallery is on next month. Closing date for entries was yesterday. I made it with 18 minutes to spare, thanks to 3 am finishes on the weekend.

Sooo, what else has been happening apart from my art dramas?

“Spring” (30 degrees C), has meant that all manner of critters are out and about. Finally caught the backyard bandicoot bandit on camera. Big bugger too. Our backyard is filled with bandicoot potholes. They dig cone shaped holes through the lawn to catch cane beetles. This one likes to dig up pebbles. Beside each massive crater is a smooth round pebble or pile of pebbles. He’s OCD for sure.

They are riddled with ticks (especially the deadly Paralysis Tick),  so don’t let them in the house.

(I’m looking out the window at the moment and the scrub hens have wandered in, helping themselves to my garden, scratching up anything in their way. Typing quietly here…..)

I took a shortcut through Uni the other day, through the bush and dry creek bed that was a raging torrent just 6 short months ago.

Someone had created a lovely sculpture made from the riverbed pebbles.

The stones had such beautiful patterns carved by years of rushing water. Soon enough they will be covered again for another Wet Season.

There was a huge vine snaking it’s way across the creek. I immediately thought of the snake warning in the news. They are out and about and on the move.I followed the vine up the bank where it twisted itself into pretzel shaped knots.

So much more to do, I’m really looking forward to Uni finishing so that I can catch my breath.

Tomorrow is my 6 minute speech /reading - simply terrifying!

Nothing like a Lace Monitor on the BBQ to get your heart rate up first thing in the morning.

Nothing like a sunny BBQ to get your heart rate up in the morning if you’re a Lace Monitor.

He got a bit huffy  when I ventured close, puffing his neck up and “Haruumffing” me. Two metres of grumpy lizard is not pleasant.

Had my Great Debate at Uni today, not as bad as I thought. Thanks for all your hints and tips everybody. Next week is the 6 minute speech. Can’t wait.

I’ve dug up another moonset photo from May. Back then the moon set in the early evening, behind the same mountain in my previous post.

This afternoon I had quite an inspiring (and looong) phone conversation with gorgeous Rosa Fedele, a friend since school days. She’s a full time artist and has a really no nonsense approach which I need to take heed of. I don’t think proscrasination is even in her vocabulary. Damn she’s good! - Her website link is on the right hand side of my blog as well as here.

Day off tomorrow so I’ll try my hardest to really make some headway with all these paintings I have in my head.

Not much time to post - off to town in a minute. Always in a rush aren’t I?

I’ve made a start on my canvas for my second ever acrylic work. The colour chose itself.

Don’t know if I’ll finish by the deadline, but at least I can tell myself I did put down some paint.

I still have the Impasto Oil painting to finish by next friday. Think of chunky thick brushstokes (impasto), put down alla prima (all in one layer). Much harder than it looks Mr Van Gogh!

Off to an exhibition opening at the Regional Gallery tonight. It’s by a woman who is very well known in art circles, although I’m not familiar with her style. My lecturer has suggested I speak with this woman regarding my direction. It was all very out of the blue, but recenly I’ve been getting together with emerging artists, and there are some common dilemmas between us, regardless of our artistic style or medium.

Lots to think about.

Last night was the opening of the “BIG” exhibition.

Over 150 established & emerging artists (one an Archibald winner no less!) were given the theme of BIG, and a canvas area of 8″ x 10″. The results were amazing.

Some chose to submit sculptural or 3D work, and all are part of a silent auction.

The new Mayor of Cairns opened the show, and Jeff (above right), felt “privileged” when she pushed him out of the way during the evening!

I was told by the gallery staff that my submission was the very first to have a bid placed on it. I feel quite stunned, as this is THE very first piece of work I will have sold, not to mention being my first proper exhibition. Just to be exhibiting in the same space as an Archibald Prize winner is amazing.

Now it’s back to the  Uni Assignment Grindstone….