Twelve Weeks till Christmas........

If I'm not organised with anything else, I DO have my christmas picture done. I wondered what I would do this year, for my christmas card, and tried to summon up an incy wincy little spirit of xmas and have come up with this, which is titled.........."The joy is in the giving."
Aussie christmas of course with thongs and short sleeves !!

Of course same goes as last year, email me with your address to be on my xmas card mailing list !!!

THE SLEEPOVER -updated

I've been mesmerised doing this piece, but I think it's time to move on to something else. I seem to let myself just DOT, and therefore I dont have to think. It's a bit trancelike. My escapism if you like. But my mind is screaming out to express itself and only other artists would appreciate this thought. So many, many other thoughts and ideas are whiring around, and I'm trying to jot down ideas, so that something clearly jells. I'm jumping between painting, drawing, sketching, and fiddling with dots. LOL.
This is where I'll leave this piece. I didn't manage to convey the lightheartedness and fun of a sleepover, so maybe I'll try again later.

THE SLEEPOVER

This is a Work in Progress, and something thats been in the back of my mind for some time. Have been reading a book by the name of " drawing from within"-unleashing your creative potential. And one thing that gave me a bit of a kick start was a chapter which concentrated on artist block, and he virtually says........draw, just draw and draw, and something will happen. Stop waiting for the masterpiece, just draw, so, I called for a bit of inspiration to practice on, and remembered Teone, suggested I paint something relevant for her age group. So Teone if you happen to check this out, its not finished, but its coming along, dont you think. As a drawing excercise, its been fun, because, its not really realism and its not really contemporary.....yet.
Stay tuned

THERE'S A COW ON MY PLATE. work in progress

Don't know if youve picked it up or not, but, I have always had a thing for asian art, and was absolutely delighted to find in a second hand bookstore a prize book for my art collection. It's called Japanese graphic art and it follows the work of the original masters who transferred their original designs onto a wooden block from which many impressions can be made. One of my long time favorites is in the book- " Beneath the wave off kanagawa" often just referred to as the wave. by hokasai.
Anyway, I have had the most wonderful time studying the paintings and to think they date back to 1765, it is very humbling. So thats where this piece really started. I was inspired to try to follow the lines of the japanese artists. And by now after reading this you will instantly notice the hair has been influenced by my book. Anyway, I've added thongs and darkened up the cow alittle. The left hand wall is worrying my, but, I dont want to much detail, as it may take away from the picture as a whole. I may just leave this for a while and next time I look the answer may be staring me in the face.

THERE'S A COW ON MY PLATE !!!!!

This is a work in progress, and I have chosen green to write this in, Because, it's a green Piece..........so to speak. Of Late, I've been educated on the life of a Vegan, you know- basically- don't eat anything that has, or comes from something that has a face. Went to a party the other week, and All , as in each and every piece of finger food, consisted of meat, or chicken , and three of the guests seated oposite me, did not get to eat anything. I thought, how aware we have to be nowadays- make sure we include light beer, and lemonade for the non drinkers, and orange juice for the diabetics, etc, etc.....but no one seems to cater for those who choose not to eat animal product. I hear tell, that salad offerings, can get a bit monotonous. Anyway, enjoy this piece done once again in my pointalism technique that is so mesmerising to me, hours go by before I know it.

And she read past midnight !

Its taken a while, but I have finally finished this piece. Now I just have to come up with a suitable title. I think " And alice read until midnight" is a bit long. As is " one chapter led to two" But " Riveting book" is possibly too short. I dont know......give me some ideas if your wouldn't mind.
I love doing pieces like this. But, my family, dont seem to like my " cartoon" pieces as they call them. Its the same old unspoken " and when are you going to do some real art" that drags me down a little. Its hard to explain, that, I am these whimsical people that I draw, I model for them, feel what they are feeling, and bring them to life. . They make me feel the child within, and I'm automatically feeling hopeful inside, that life is a wondrous thing, and there are lots of good things out there waiting for us.

Alice couldn't stop at one chapter !

Funny, how things inspire us out of the blue. Alice came to stay in the xmas holidays, and I said to her one night, " why dont you hop into bed and read a chapter of your book." At midnight I went in to turn the light out, and there she was propped up in bed, book in front of her face with just her eyes peaking over the top. When my eyebrows went up towards the roof, she offered this little statement......."Do you think this would make a great painting. Me looking over the top of my book ??"Good one Alice, my mind was diverted immediatly. Well I dont know about Painting, but, I've used a technique that I used years ago. To me its like doodling, only more enjoyable. It is 0.5 fineliner on cartridge paper. There are no lines in this picture, only dots. So this is my work in progress at the moment. I will keep adding dots, until I build up , shading etc. I still plan the picture as I go, so I dont know whether to add things around the bedroom or to just leave the focus on the little girl in the bed ? I dont really know a title. But I do know this. I may be lacking motivation in my painting at the moment, But this technique is vey rewarding for me, as I see a picture develop before my eyes. I dont really have a plan, just a mental sketch. I know a lot of you dont like my contemporary work, but it is good for my soul. * enjoy*

Group Exhibition

I paint with a group of girls ( women) who paint primarily in pastel and we have named ourselves Innovision. We've decided to put on an exhibition of our works, and this exhbition opens on Sunday the 1st of March at 5 pm. Lady hawke cafe - 1365 Mt Dandenong tourist rd, Mount dandenong. ( mel 66 G1)
The exhibition will continue from sun 1st march to sunday 29th march. 9am-5pm open thursday to Monday. ( closed tuesday and wednesday)
Would love to see you there. If you cant make it for the opening, treat yourself and a friend to a scenic drive up the dandenongs and stop at Lady hawke for either coffee and cake or a meal.
The hospitality is just lovely, and the art works..........well. they speak volumes.

Parting with my paintings

I received word today, that I have sold this painting, which has the title of "Me Time". Its one of my favorites.
And so this afternoon, I have been reflecting on my feelings. I am excited that it has sold, and I wonder who loved it enough to buy it. A sale of course reinforces my belief that my art is acceptable . ( family and friends of course are my most loyal supporters but a real sale does wonders for morale)
But at the same time I feel a tad melancholy. I drew from the depths of my soul an emotion that I could express on paper. This is me in my most relaxed state, and I have expressed to the viewer what joy is to me. I closed my eyes and summoned up this feeling, so what you see is...............me. And now I wont see it again, I say goodbye to it.
And my only comfort is, that I imagine it has gone to a kindred spirit, who probably as I write this has kicked her slippers off, poured herself a wine and is reclining on the couch, smiling up at her wall, on which hangs her latest acquisition.

Happy new Year !!!

Dec 31

“ May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself. —

Neil Gaiman