Artists Blog

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….

Another casualty in the backyard this evening. I don’t know what had befallen this sad fellow, but he couldn’t fly, couldn’t walk and was generally just miserable. I tried to coax him with some water and seed, but he was having none of it.Time for a Vet Visit.

Dear husband calmy remined me of the carnage last Cocky Rescue Mission inflicted on my finger.  ( You can relive the blood and guts here)  After all this time I have almost got full feeling back in my fingertip.

No chances this time, thick towel and box at the ready, but this cocky had no blood lust and was quickly and quietly wrapped and whisked away in the car. I’ll ring the vet tomorrow to find out how he fared. And a lovely vet he is, kindly giving me his limited edition bird calender off his surgery walls when he learnt of my interest.

I have so much news and photos to share, of the exhibition opening night (sold a piece too!), Jez’s Awards Night, and much more. I just have to get through the next 2.5 weeks with all the folio’s, assignments, presentations etc. It is also the big Open exhibition (with prize money, although I’m not that hopeful) on Friday. I managed to deliver my 2 pieces with 11 minutes to spare. See, I’m getting better.

Will get back to you all as soon as I can!

POST SCRIPT : Word from the vet was that he could not be saved and was gently put to sleep

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….

6.50am, my phone rings, waking me from a restless few hours of tossing and turning (finally got to bed at 2.30am after thinking, thinking and more thinking…)

“Get here quick if you want to see a huge python with a big belly” Jeff told me.

Now if I’m going to jump outa bed, into the car, with my hair only getting a look from a brush, a big python is going to do it.

Only about a km away, I arrived at Jeff’s work, where one big slithery friend was making it’s way across the road.

See where it’s headed?

Spot the problem yet?

It tried for a while, but breakfast was just too big.

Once it reversed a bit, the gate was swung back to let it go on it’s way.

Can you see the next problem about to happen?

I think a lot of us suffer from the same issue…

We just don’t think we’re that fat….

even though we can’t seem to fit into anything ‘cos it’s such a tight squeeze…

It seemed a bit stumped, so curled up for a think.

All the while flickering that forked tongue.

We left him on his own to work out where he was headed, and not long afterwards, he was gone.

No one has seen Reg, the resident rooster. But I think we have a pretty good idea where he is.

So long Reg.

Reg and Scrub Turkey friend in happier days…

I’m so lucky to be living where I do. In our last home we had “delightful” children living behind us that hurled rocks into our pool. Surburbia at it’s most uninspiring.

Living here, I sometimes take the bush for granted, and forget that a whole other world exists beyond the wooden palings. This morning a tiny movement caught my eye. Can you see it?

Moving through the dappled sunlight two brand new babies moved with their mum and dad.

During the day these Bush Stone Curlews (or Thick Knees) are usually very, very   q-u-i-e-t.   At night it’s totally another matter. They are screaming, wailing banshees, with blood curdling cries of ear drum piercing proportions.

Those great golden eyes don’t miss much. Spot one of the chicks?

Just gorgeous! And they don’t throw rocks.

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?

I was thinking about what Elizabeth said in her last comment on my previous post. Is Mundane perhaps only a state of mind? Change the parameters of my day and maybe Mundane disappears.

I think this semester at Uni has thrown Mundane-ness at me.  I’ve been dreading some of the tasks set for my Effective Speaking subject (a required core subject and not one that I would have chosen freely), and this has flowed over into everday life. A public speaker I am not, and this subject is forcing me to put myself into some very uncomfortable situations, both in front of an audience and on paper. A good thing perhaps if I look at it from a “Stretching the Comfort Zone” point of view. Still loathsome though.

Watching a very shy, hardly seen, visitor tip-toeing with giant orange feet into my backyard made me rethink my “mundane” day. Very privileged is how I felt.

Assessing the doorway between The Wild and Civilisation. Camera lense fogged up straight away, although the humidity has been much more bearable today.

“Why is it called the Orange Footed Scrub Hen” Jeff asked me facetiously.

Up until a couple of months ago I had no idea what was making the manical raucous cackles at night. All night. Imagine a turkey being strangled whilst singing an aria, and all of it’s friends joining in with the chorus. That’s what these wild “chickens” do to while away the dark hours.

This bird is one of a pair that have decided that something good is going on in my backyard.

Old Cocky ain’t happy having to share.

Gotta go, I can see  both of them now coming in for one last look around before the Opera begins..

“Spring” in the tropics is just like Winter. 30 deg C the past few days. AirCon in winter - who would believe it?

I can barely keep up with life at the moment. Luckily I have backyard comedians to help me maintain a happy outlook.

Impaled?

Nah, just trickin!

I’m finding Uni is a lot tougher/stressful/not-as-easy this semester. If I only had a sponge for a brain!

Photoshop studies, and in particular the first assignment (on scanning) due yesterday, had me all afluster. I completed it on time, but the image I had in my mind was not what ended up on the screen.

We had to build a Triptych of three images. My theme was based on time, mortality, the cycle of life. All the scanned objects came from the garden (yes, including the deceased Mannikin), or my immediate environment. I don’t think my scanner appreciated the soil slopped all over it though!

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This is only Week 5 , lots more to get through….

Friday - painting class - continuing our adventures with “oil glazing”. A tiny dab of oil paint  is mixed with fast drying Liquol to produce a thin layer (a glaze) of paint. Many layers of glaze later you have a transparent sheen of paint that looks luminous. Well, that’s the theory anyway.

For many, including myself, it’s our first introduction to oil painting, and a whole new experience. Next week we go hard and thick with the oils with impasto techniques.

This afternoon there was a loud BANG on the kitchen window. The Man of the House had only cleaned the window recently and it had repercussions.

A teenage Chestnut Breasted Mannikin (or Bullfinch?) was not happy with his close encounter. A good excuse to have dirty windows!

(Don’t look at the oil paint under my fingernails).

He didn’t seem to want to fly anywhere, so I popped him in a tree out back. 20 minutes later he was right to join all his mates again.

Peaceful Dove trying to be inconspicuous.

Like all his friends.

Meanwhile, the Bromeliads and gingers are putting on a flamboyant display. Almost like Mardi Gras!