Gone is the weekly blog....was good while it lasted but started to become a chore and that was not my intention so will now be blogging when time permits!

Had a great time tutoring a weekend workshop at Little River Art Studios last weekend.

Some had never picked up a brush before but still managed to produce some excellent work. All worked hard and completed 4 pieces each so should be commended for their effort!

Tuesday spent the day in Sydney collecting images and painted a few 12"x9" studies after returning home to help me to remember the day, everywhere between pouring with rain to bright sunshine. A couple of demos thrown in too!

Attended the opening of the Royal Arts Festival at the Sydney Showgrounds, always a good night and a wonderful time to catch up with so many artists and friends! It continues through until next weekend.

And for something different went to the ballet yesterday, have been a subscriber for 25+ years!

Short and sweet......Happy Painting

A Visual Diary

'Waiting' 60x50cms

Sudents' Work

'Fish & Chips'

Artists' Diary week ending March 8th 2015

Whew, what a week and I feel like I am actually starting to build up a new body of work.

Did a watercolour demonstration for the Kuringai Art Society, lovely bunch of artists and the only problem was I chose such a ridiculously difficult subject to do and couldn't finish in the allotted time. Learned a very valuable lesson and one I tell all my students

'Keep it simple stupid!

 'The Evening Market' 1/2 sheet w/c

Painted plein air around Wallace Lake on Wednesday after delivering paintings to the Portland Art Show.

1/4 sheet w/cs

 The Royal Art Society has their autumn exhibition showing, well worth a visit!  

Completed an oil over an old w/c I wasn't particularly happy with.

                   

Did some studio work of Burano, 1/2 and 1/4 sheets 

1/4 sheet demo

An FB friend is having a solo show, too far for me but for anyone closer would be worth a look. 

 So what's next?

Will have a few pieces in this show.

So many shows on and have managed to miss two deadlines completely!

Doing a watercolour demonstration Tuesday night for the Macarthur Art Group at Narellan.

Too much happening methinks!

Happy Painting!

Artists' diary Week Ending March 1st 2015

March already, really and I was going to have so much completed by now but just haven't managed it!

But...

I am delighted to say my painting 'The Wetlands' was selected but the judge Susie Devenport as the winner of this years' Waterbrook Prize! I am even more astounded that it was an oil......have only exhibited oils a handful of times as I am still learning the vagaries of this amazing medium.

Managed to get out early Monday morning to paint the 'Big Top' again 1/2 sheet watercolour, the circus has now gone so worked up a large sheet painting from one of my studies.

 Following are some watercolours from various classes and demos from this last week.

There are still some vacancies in my watercolour workshop at Little River Art Studios, it is a great venue and I promise a relaxed and fun time!

 And, there are only a few days left to book a place for my Norfolk Island Plein Air painting trip in June. There are still a couple of spots available. Follow the link and Maria will be able to assist you.

https://www.norfolkislandtravelcentre.com/events/en-plein-air-julie-simmons

What's coming up...Tuesday night at Kuringai Art Society a watercolour demonstration

Deliveries, teaching and on Friday evening the opening of the Royal Art Societies Autumn Exhibition, always worth a look!

Happy Painting!

Artists' Diary Week Ending February 22nd

Haven't achieved a great deal this week, sometimes life seems to take up too much of my time!

I did manage to get out and paint plein air on Wednesday.

'The Bigtop' 56cms x 38cms

This was followed up on Thursday with a watercolour demonstration for the Society of Mountain Artists. I so enjoyed painting the circus on Wednesday I did it again from my original painting.

Scooted home from Wentworth Falls, dropped off my man and headed to Baulkham Hills to teach. 

Friday taught my normal class the RAS.

Took some time out to go to the pictures on Sunday to see the 'Imitation Game',

it is brilliant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5CjKEFb-sM

Happy Painting

Artists' Diary Week Ending February 15th 

Painting, painting, painting!

Am trying to get together three, yes three separate bodies of work. Consequently I feel like I need three parallel lives!

Sometimes I feel I should just stick to watercolours but when other mediums offer so much they are hard to forgo.

Have completed two 100x100cm oils this week of the Flinders. 

Did paint plein air on Wednesday at Nth Richmond but it was so hot and humid only managed to complete one and start another which was finished in the studio.

20"x8" and 16"x14" oil on board and on stretched canvas

Was very excited to begin watercolour classes at the Sydney Art School and was even more pleased to find a couple of school age students and the majority of the rest under 40!

Fridays' class demo at the RAS. 'Geike Gorge' 1/4 sheet

Thursday I will be doing a watercolour demonstration for the Society of Mountain Artsists, they are a great bunch!

Happy Painting!

Artists' Diary Week ending February 8th

Spent a whole day sorting paintings, cleaning and stacking ready to go out to upcoming shows. Seven stacks all ready for the courier!

Drove down to Thirroul with some painting friends and to meet up with another who lives locally to paint plein air on Wednesday. So different from my local landscape, really need some time in a place to get to know and understand the light on the subjects.

  Snippets from Austinmer and Thirroul

I am loving painting the wet in wet oils, pushing myself to do more, it is a huge learning curve for me. I am not used to spending so much time on a work and to keep my interest and concentration over a longer period is something I really need to work on!

'Moored' 100x100cms

Fridays' class is building with 10 students, really exhausting but love to see their efforts.

A couple of demo vignettes from last Friday

There are still a couple of vacancies in my group to paint watercolours plein air on Norfolk Island in June. Follow the link if you are interested and I promise you a wonderful time.

https://www.norfolkislandtravelcentre.com/events/en-plein-air-julie-simmons

Contact Maria who is just lovely and ready to assist.

I have had a number of queries about workshops, classes etc, all can be found on my website

www.juliesimmonsfineart.com

Happy Painting!

Artists' Diary Week Ending February 1st

February already, oh my goodness. Need to get started on a new body of work for an exhibition later in the year.

Not an awful lot happening on the art front this week, we had a bit of socializing to do on Australia Day. Had a lovely time in the mountains with a great bunch of people.

Managed only one charcoal this week

'Sydneyscape' 56x15cms

We have been running a fun challenge here to paint one of our artists Brett 'Mon' Garling at his easel. My contribution follows and you can check out the rest athttps://www.facebook.com/events/1566698950213988/?ref_dashboard_filter=past

My classes at the Royal Art Society started again this week and numbers have grown substantially. We did two small works.

Delivered my work to the RAS for their annual drawing exhibition, some lovely pieces will be on show.

Happy Painting!

Artists' Diary Week Ending January 25th

Every day I seem to discover another wonderful artist who inspires me to push my boundaries and try new things. So with this in mind I decided to work in charcoal and use my drawing experience to try and create some stronger works. It is a very free medium to use and I found it quite liberating! It was also a good excuse to retire to the comfort of the air conditioned house, the studio was scorching! 

 'Ridng the Rails' 56x56cms

'Silo Shadows' 76x76cms

Have continued with my plein air challenge but unfortunately have missed a few days. It has been hot, humid and extremely uncomfortable out in the field! So it was back to garden vignettes. All 12"x12" oil on canvas.

Spent a day in the studio completing two oils, still finding my feet with this medium.

'The Wetlands' 100x100cms

'On the Hill' 60x60cms

I was delighted to receive the Artist of the Year Award at the Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour on Friday evening.

The exhibition continues until 6pm Tuesday the 27th January.