Artists Blog

“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

A couple of years back I decided to lend my eyes a helping hand for my finely detailed paintings due to Presbyopia. After all, everyone seems to be in the same boat after age 40 or 50. Even though I don’t use my ”reading” glasses  for reading, I do use them when fine work with a small brush is called for.

However, even my glasses are not enough for a dragonfly’s wings. It was like trying to apply mascara with a broom! Then I remembered that my wonderful investment of a daylight lamp stand came with a magnifyer attachment. What a difference, although I did get that slight queasy “at sea” feel. You can see my tiny brush to the right, the one with 5 bee’s eyelashes…

What I am working on is bounty from my morning beach walk, every find a real treasure.

“Summer Shadows”  Pastel on board

My most recent piece, which will probably change a little after I view it again in the morning. I find a good sleep in between finishing and framing, gives you fresh eyes like nothing else.

The mornings have been beautifully still recently, with the ocean as flat as glass.

Unfortunately the sharks have been about, with the helicopter patrol doing a great job of spotting and scaring away any would be biters.

A quick splash (not too far from shore) and I was back home behind the easel.

Happy New Year to all, and a belated Merry Christmas as well! 

It’s been a rather hectic time of late – my machine blew up (with smoke and everything!), but thankfully a new one has been built. Along with the usual Life Events, time has been scarce.

I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday break - I know so many people have been busy with special projects. The Calligrapher’s Guild organised a Member’s Project – Design a Letter, which when gathered together could be printed as an Alphabetical Poster in our latest magazine.

I contributed a “C”.

I will photograph and show you the entire poster soon.

Christmas Day here in my part of Australia was hot and dry – the beach in the evening the perfect way to end a special day. Lots of people thought likewise.

On dusk tonight we were once again at my local beach – the sun was glowing behind the veil of smoke from bushfires. Much of this wide country is under severe Bushfire alert, with the majority of Queensland under water with the worst floods in living memory. A cyclone is forming up north which is adding spice to the weather mix.

Farewell to this decade and hello to 2011. May all your dreams and wishes for the future come true!

Just when the cat thought she was safe from reptiles, Jeff opened the door and almost trod on a visitor sleeping on the doormat. As a bush block was cleared across the road yesterday, I assume this Bobtail lizard (Shingleback or Sleepy Lizard) used to live there. Also known as a Blue Tongue Lizard for obvious reasons.

After expressing his displeasure at me for humiliatingly picking him up and plonking him in a bucket, it was off to the beach dunes behind us, where colonies of them live.

Jeff wasn’t as happy as me to be close to the lizard. I remember my male neighbour across the road from years back, running over to ask me to ”remove the lizard” from his lawn.

It took some convincing that this was the place for him to be.

Then  v e r y  slowly he crawled into the bush, almost immediatley blending in with his surroundings. Can you spot him?

(here’s the answer). The next photo you’re on your own.

In such a lovely place I’m sure he’ll find friends in no time, although they are monogamous, believe it or not!

Tidal Tapestry, Pastel on board

A lot of the beaches near me are surrounded by tidal reefs. Along the coastal path to Burns Beach are luminous limestone shelves, exposing treasures at low tide.

Surfers (tiny black dots on the right) lie in wait at the southern end of Burns, waiting for the big swell.

And they wait….

…and sometimes they miss them altogether.