Artists Blog

Guess what I’ve been painting?

All the best stores in Fremantle are sporting Zebra Stripes this season.

If you’re near the Piazza in Freo, pop in to see what Vicious Delicious have in store.

Here’s a quick calligraphy piece done on canvas, originally intended for a Botanically themed Christamas exhibition by the Calligraphy Guild.  Needless to say it never made it, as it was only finished it this week! Highly stylised and done on canvas, it certainly is a breakaway from my usual work.

I do love my garden, fo all it’s unfinished corners and triffid-like tropical monsters. Unfortunately the recent Hail-Storm-From-Hell that hit Perth (going to hit a $billion in claims soon), decimated a lot of it, shredding leaves, flowers and a lot of my house!

When you have hail stones this size you get under cover pretty quick!

We have had several tradespeople come and go assessing the damage, and it it going to be a looong time putting things to right. There is going to be a severe shortage of Poly carbonate sheeting….

And these are but a few of the photos - we had rivers of water both inside and out!

But today a bright spot amidst the carnage - one lonely passionfruit flower escaped the onslaught - at a time when the vine should be dripping with fruit and flowers.

When this little blossom ripens into a delicious purple globe, it’s every man for himself!

More digging through old files and I find a drawing done at an illustration workshop some time ago. Done in graphite, coloured pencil and ink.

Funny how many mums say they’d like a print to put up in their kitchen….

Sorry no post last night. As wild thunderstorms raged directly overhead, rattling windows and walls, I thought it prudent to switch the Infernal Machine off. On the telly tonight they showed a metre thick diameter concrete & steel power pole snapped off at the base from a local lightening strike. Youch!

Remember the sad tale of my bent over bananas recently? Well, cause for celebration, another tree is now flying the banana republic flag!

I can taste the Chocolate Banana Sundaes already….

As I paid for my groceries this afternoon, I asked the checkout chick if all the newspapers had sold out.

“Yes” she said rather excitedly “because of the cyclone.”

“WHAT!?!” I squealed.

A rather nasty low in the Gulf could develop into a cyclone by Sunday, and it’s headed our way.

Calmness was replaced by quiet panic when I got home. There was some cyclone preparedness kit that we were sent when we moved into our home a year ago. Where is it?? I wondered as I search through all the filing. It mentioned batteries, radio, fill the bath with water (we don’t have a bath so that’s useless info) and put important papers in plastic. There was also something about huddling in your toilet or bathroom for safety. I’m not liking cyclones already.

Image courtesy of the Bureau of Meteorology (click to see current cyclone path)

They’ve even named this one before it’s been born - it will be “Charlotte”, if it ever eventuates.

In some weird psychic co-incidence, I received a letter from my home insurer advising me of a tsunami excess in the event of a claim. (apparently we have to head for higher ground due to our beach proximity). Just wonderful news.

On a far brighter note, I’m sharing my mango cocktail memories of a week ago. You could make this at home yourself - just muddle some mango pulp with some GOOD vodka, pour over ice in a tall glass and then fill with fresh mango juice. Umbrella optional - just devine.

If you look very closely at the bent over palm in the background, you may just see a little monkey….

Here’s a clearer shot below.

When there’s no-one looking, I’m going to attempt shimmying up that tree also!

From the land of Buddha, my best friend in the whole world is flying home to me tonight. Thousands of miles to be crossed, but he was never really far away.

I asked for him to bring me back a reclining Buddha, it’s one that I don’t have in my collection. I light candles near my Buddhas, casting a serene glow over all.

Today was day of firsts.

First time I’ve used a Mac (Very impressive new Mac lab it was too).

First time I’ve used the Adobe CS3 suite.

First time I spoke frankly and openly with my senior lecturer - where do I really want to go? I’ve only just discovered my full marks and ranking from first semester’s subjects.

First time I bought a passionfruit cheesecake slice and enjoyed it’s creamy deliciousness without a shred of guilt.

I think I like Firsts. I should try more of them.

On Saturday night we were privileged to be asked to have “Dinner on the house” at a brand new Cairns fine dining restaurant. It hasn’t opened to the public yet, so we were the first to sit at the tables, read the menus and soak up the sumptuous atmosphere.

We had a table by the new gardens and waterfall pool, all beautifully lit with inground uplights. But the most beautiful light was rising a huge golden yellow behind the pyramid of Earl Hill in the distance. I did take several  photos, but as I had the antique 2megapixel camera, they are hardly worth even mentioning, let alone showing you. The other diners around us “oohed and ahhed” and all had their camers out. The glowing Full Moon cast a very special ambience that not even the brand new designer furnishings could match.

The menu was rather special as well, such choices!  For starters Plump Oysters of course.

 Two shot glasses, one of lime juice, the other chilli.

For mains did I go with the eye fillet of Wagyu Beef or Wild Barramundi?  I’d never had wild barra before, too tempting!

It was crusted with a fine layer of crunchy toasted sesame seeds - just delicious!

For sweeties (for me the most important part of the meal), I chose the mango cheescake covered in crushed berries. Heaven in a ramekin. So good there wasn’t even time for a photo to be taken. It demanded immediate eating!

Later we walked back to the car under the light of that lovely moon. It was such a balmy summer-like evening. The palm trees overhead cast wavy lines over everything, even way too full bellies! A delicious night.

PS. I’ve just come from another gorgeous dinner on the beachfront (interstate visitors provide a good excuse to eat out). First time I’ve forgotten to take the camera. I tried a whole roast Flounder tonight, another fish to cross off the list. PLUS a sampling of 3 decadent deserts. I’ll have to start exercising again at this rate….