Sunday 27 July 2014

Artists' Diary Week 15


What a week, full of all things arty!
Monday saw me doing a workshop at Toukley, nice bunch of people who looked after me so well and lunch supplied by my new friend Cheryl Bruce was nothing short of spectacular.
We did a streetscape in the morning followed by a landscape.
'Uralla' morning demo 1/2 sheet.

Tuesday was a regular family yum cha day. Was yummy as usual.

It was into the studio on Wednesday and I completed a 110x66cm w/c. A bit of an adrenalin rush with this one. Pretty happy with the result!
'North on Thunderbolt'
This will be in my exhibition.

Thursday was in my friends studio again painting still life.

 Friday was spent at the framers then onto the RAS to teach my Friday afternoon class. Had a break last term but was really happy to be back there again.
Fridays' demo 'Out Near Barry"

The weekend was pretty full, off to Millthorpe then out to Coonamble where we stayed overnight in readiness to meet up with a farmer early Sunday morning. Quickly knocked out this one while my son and my man loaded some sheep. It was pretty cold at 8am.


Headed back to Dripstone where I managed this one while they were unloading sheep and loading firewood.


All in all a great week!
 What is next, well just realized today my exhibition at Breathing Colours, Balmain is next week! Where did July go? I just need to string a few, label and catalogue everything and I will be done and dusted.

See you there!

Monday 21 July 2014

Artists Diary Week 14 

Lots of deliveries again this week, Monday was to a major juried show. Sadly rejected *sigh* still there is next year and will probably try again. The thought of being selected is enough to continue going through the whole process again! And the staff booking in the works are always so lovely, wishing you luck etc. 

Tuesday was spent in that framing room again, almost done now for my next exhibition.

Wednesday was on the move again, up to Singleton delivering my paintings as well as fellow artists Mellissa Read Devine and Pat Latta.

Also this week spent time entering more shows in Melbourne. Nice to try different venues.

Finally managed to get some painting done on Thursday. Lovely day painting with friends and critiquing each other.
'Along Thunderbolt Way' 76x56cms

Saturday I headed to Windsor for some plein air, it was windy and cold but managed to stand in the sun on a north facing solid brick wall so stayed fairly warm. Finally packed it in when the wind started to go a bit crazy. 

56x38cms

Sunday headed to Wamberal for the night where we met a lovely generous couple and their family who looked after us so well! We really were spoilt. Thank you Cheryl and John Bruce, we very much appreciated your hospitality. I was there to do a watercolour workshop on Monday for the Toukley Art Society. Cheryl, who participated in the workshop proved to be a very capable artist herself! 

This community of artists to which we belong is such a welcoming and uplifting one. To me meeting new artists and friends to share and work with is such a big part of the joy of art.


Sunday 13 July 2014

Artists' Diary Week 13

Spent the first days of the week returning home from Queensland. Took the opportunity to visit some family along the way.

Couldn't wait to get out and do some painting on Wednesday at Windsor! We were lucky to get one finished before the wind came up. Would have blown a dog off a chain!
 1/2 sheet watercolour


Found out by accident I had won 2nd in Pastel and HC in watercolour at Taree.

Thursday I headed off to Holroyd Arts and Craft Group to do a watercolour demo. Lovely enthusiastic group and put on a killer afternoon tea.


'Guyra' 1/2 sheet watercolour

Friday we headed to Wollongong to deliver my entry into the James Kiwi Watercolour Prize. 
This year they have changed the parameters so will just have to wait and see if I am selected.
It was back into the framing room on Saturday and Sunday to try and finish all the framing for my upcoming solo show at Balmain. 


Drove to Drummoyne to collect unsold works in the afternoon for myself and good friend and talented artist Mellissa Read Devine. Traffic was appalling on the way home so settled in front of the fire with a much deserved glass of red!

So what is happening this week, deliveries to Singleton and Mosman and notification of selection or not at Wollongong.



Wednesday 9 July 2014

Artists' Blog Week 12

Since my last blog I have been on a bit of a road trip to Brisbane. The plan was for me to paint along the way but the wind would have blown a dog off a chain. We also had rain, sleet and some snow heading towards Armidale! The result was I took photos instead, not ideal but at least it gave me some good material.
North of Gloucester
The landscape was quite amazing and would have loved nothing more than to paint plein air but conditions were just not good enough despite how wonderful it looks in the above photo!

The only two paintings I did were in a motel room with the heater on in Armidale!

12"x9" studies

Dropped into Armidale Art Gallery to check out the Daphne Young Watercolour Prize, some very nice work on show!

Spent quite a long time at the Tweed Regional Gallery checking out the Margaret Olley exhibition where her main rooms from the Hat Factory at Paddington have been reconstructed. What an amazing job they have done! This is well worth the drive to have a look, the setting overlooking the Tweed Valley is extraordinary.

On these road trips my man and I travel on B roads and stay away from the mainstream, it is such a wonderful way to go and there is so much to see just from here to Brisbane!

On Saturday I received a call to say i had won the Shoalhaven Art Show Best in Show Prize.
'The Blue Mug'

Serendipitously I was sitting on that chair in my daughters' kitchen when the call came!
Woot!

On the trip home called into Ballina where I had a coffee and a chat with an artist, Maria Heaton, I only knew online, always nice to connect with another artist.

So what is coming up, Singleton Rotary Art Show, James Kiwi Watercolour Prize, Taree Art Show, Mosman Art prize. 
Glad I had a few days of R&R!