Artists Blog

Waves in pastel, from a recent painting.

Bunker Bay, south of Perth, had the most amazing turquoise sets of waves.

 Even though they were breaking close to shore and dumping swimmers in a most unceremonious way, everyone was having fun.

Beautifully formed waves is one reason why Yallingup, just round the Cape from BB,  is so popular.

A bodyboarder enjoying “The Green Room”.

Surfers come here for the long, rolling sets.

They’re certainly a brave bunch, considering the size of the waves.

And that’s not the only thing to take into account when you enter the water.

This fellow was swimming around the ankles of children right at the shoreline.

It was a Wobbegong or Carpet Shark, and was about 1.3 mtrs long.

The kids and the shark crossed paths, he went casually on his way up the beach, the kids ran onto the beach squealing!

You never know what you’ll find in a wave…

The bells are ringing non stop with a variety of canvases hopping on and off the easel. I find it a great way to keep the painting momentum going having 3 canvases on the go at once, especially if I’m using similiar colours and brushes.

My paints of choice at the moment are the Chroma colours, their velvety “mattness” when dry is so good to work with. Below is my basic colour chart (colour names were written in reflective silver – a poor choice when photographing!)

(click on image for larger view)

I’ve a lot of images in my head from my brief time down south. Potential paintings are simmering away. The Lighthouse at Bunbury is sure to be on my easel one day. These 2 photos below were taken the day after the mini cyclone!

The night we stayed near the lighthouse was the very night a mini cyclone hit. We were several stories up, with full height glass doors and windows facing the ocean. No rain to speak of for months and the night we ventured out we were swept off our feet by gale force winds and horizontal driving rain. Fences were blown over, parked cars were swaying back and forth, and big plate glass windows were bowing in and out. We vainly tried to brace the glass doors and windows with all the furniture in the hotel room. Needless to say not a wink of sleep was to be had. I should have twigged to what was coming from the photos I took that afternoon:

It was so rough that the ocean was foaming as it hit the sand.

There was a real kick-up of a wave at the very left of the photo below – it seemed to get higher and louder with each set.

There is a ship to the left of the photo below. It doesn’t look so bad out to sea from this angle. 

But pan a bit further round and there’s trouble headed our way. I don’t know what conditions on board that night would’ve been like!

I hope everyone is having a happy creative week!

Happy Mother’s Day to all. Mine has been a lovely art filled weekend, the highlight being the Jeffrey Smart exhibition in the city. I stood with my nose one inch away from a piece that sold for $825,000. What a Mother’s Day present that would make! It was staggering to think that the small room I stood in housed $15 million worth of work, and even more mind blowing was that a lot had red stickers next to them! I contented myself with the purchase of three catalogues dating from 2003 – 2010. Astounding paintings by an amazing artist. Exhibition open for a few days yet and is free.

Ebb & Flow  Acrylic on canvas 102cm x 102cm (40″ x 40″)

And on a more Down-to-Earth art moment, I breathed a big sigh of relief when I finally delivered my pieces for the Mosman Park Art Awards. The exhibition is housed at ”Camelot” -  the beautiful Art Deco complex.

Both my pieces depict the Swan River, as seen from Chidley Point. Just round the corner from here the river hits the Indian Ocean at Fremantle.

River Running    Acrylic on canvas  122cm x 76 cm (48″ x 30″)

River Running detail

I’m just in the door from an impromptu few days down south, revelling in a Tree and Sea change. Before I left I was able to get more work done on my Mosman Park piece. Here’s a closer look at the river ripples.

The brushwork becomes a meditation after a while.

Still lots more to be done. I’ve invested in a new, thicker groundsheet in anticiaption of painting all the reeds. I loathe having to clean paint from windows and floortiles, as well as palette and brushes!

I’ll include my photos from my very inspiring trip away in my next few posts. Special moments include a wonderful visit to a secluded artist’s handbuilt studio, sharks, seals, surf and cheeky birds. Below is a special place just east of Cape Naturalist, Shelley Cove, where the sand is replaced by shells.

Each footstep made a delightful crunching sound.

And joy of joys, it FINALLY rained. The grateful garden gave a huge sigh of relief.

I’ve switched brushes.

My last painting was created with that tiny 10/0 on the right. Now I’m reacquainting myself with the 3″ hake. I find it a great way to “clear the decks” in my eyes and mind to go from one painting extreme to the other. I’m working on some very large river paintings, in a loose colourist style, and will update you with my progress.

I’ve created another watery world, but in minaiture. Can you guess what it is?

All the tiny elements were gathered not far from my front door.

Washed up on the white sands of Beaumaris Beach.

It’s a tiny drinking-glass aquarium. It’s given me great joy this week glowing on my kitchen bench.

“Nature’s Jewels”  Watercolour on Illustration Board 28cm x 36cm (11 ” x 14″)

Finally finished! This last piece was one of five that was required for the selection process for entry into the Watercolour Society of WA. I’m happy to say I was accepted and take this opportunity to say “Thank you” to all who were involved.

I’ve used Winsor and Newton paints exclusively on this piece, as I’ve modified my paintbox to take an extra ten halfpans. When working on a colour limited bird piece, I find it easier to use the paintbox than my large many, many coloured flat palette.

Click on image for a larger view and names of paint colours

I’ve listed my Cotman Colous (student quality) in the far right column. There is not much difference in pigment density I’ve found (click this previous post when I first started my testing). The main difference is that some Cotman colours are hues, not the naturally occuring pigment which is used in the artist quality. I always recommend a colour chart on sturdy paper when you first start out with a new assortment of paints.

At sunset yeterday we went down to Hillarys Marina for dinner and drinks. A delicious way to end the day.

I was on Gallery Duty at the Wanneroo Cultural Centre today, talking with people about the North Coast Art Club exhbition. Last Friday it was opened by the Deputy Mayor (pictured above with my “Daydreaming” piece behind her). It is a hugely diverse collection of pieces, all with individual approaches and techniques, and is open until Sunday 4pm.

I’ve been scouting for references for my next major works, which I’m already dreadfully behind on. Here is a glimpse of the Swan river at Mosman Park, soon to be translated onto a really wide canvas. So wide it’s scaring the bejeebies out of me!

And just when you thought we’d seen the last of that stinking, LONG hot summer, it’s back. Sweaty 30 plus temps again.

Thank goodness they serve the coffee right on the beach at Mullaloo…

I’m getting together some watercolour paintings for an Arts Society and was looking back through some pieces from 1993 when I was first learning. One piece caught my eye – I didn’t finish it and always meant to get around to it. Work, having a baby, travelling to far flung places – life got so busy and I forgot about watercolours for many many years. Today I finally got round to it.

Turnberry  11″ x 14″ (27cm x 37cm)

The top image is the completed piece (finally!). This is the view from the 10th hole at Turnberry Golf Course, Scotland.

Tomorrow is opening night for a large exhibition at the Wanneroo Cultural Centre. Myself and some of my students have pieces on display, so come along for a glass of bubbles, a visual feast and a chance to say “Hi” to the artists behind the brush. Doors open 7pm, venue opp. the Council Chambers.

Lots of blue and green colour combinations around me lately (whoever said “Blue and green should never be seen” were sorely mistaken”!)

Here is my latest Work In Progress – the trio of blue Forest Kingfishers that lived in the very green rainforest of my Far North Queensland home.

Down at Mullaloo Beach more blue and green with the waves are crashing! It’s one of my favourite spots for a morning jolt of coffee. So close to the the beach that the soft sand is underfoot whilst waiting for your latte.

I wish you could hear the BOOM of the wave – next time I’ll take some video. Good excuse for another seaside morning coffee….

You may remember my work-in-progress with treasures gathered by the beach. Here is the finished watercolour, finally!

A nice surprise was opening up our local paper to find my name and painting (some of it!) mentioned. The Festival of Joondalup runs all this weekend.

Courtesy Community Newspaper Group