Still Collaging.......

It seems that, while I have an extraordinary mess in my studio, I should continue with the collaging.  It must be a way of putting off cleaning up I guess.

I seem to have different styles on different days.... funny that.

TOP BRASS

This collage is similar in style to two in my previous post.  Then there's this one...

THERE'S A ZEBRA IN THE FLOWER PATCH

... a totally different style.  But wait.... there's more!

ROCK STAR

Come back another day, there are even more!

Working On Collages

Now that the 'painting' year is over for the moment, I am working on collages for the 14th International Collage Exchange .  I was delighted to be included in last year's exchange, so signed up again.  Of course, while I'm on a roll, I will do more than the required baker's dozen and keep them for exhibition.  Might even sell them, if I'm lucky.

Here are a few of the first ones...

Empress

Painted paper, handmade paper, wooden fan blade, doily.

Jewel Of The Orient

Found, handmade, and painted papers, bottletop, glass bead.

Brainwaves

Watercolour and handmade papers, cutout, inkjet transparency, acrylics, silver joss paper, calculator circuit.

For other collagists out there... why not consider joining the Exchange this year?

CREATIVELY FEATURED

Annie, at ARTISTS IN BLOGLAND asked to interview me for her monthly feature.  I was delighted to do so, and the interview is now posted on her site., along with some of my oldest paintings...like this

'White Roses' was one of my very first paintings while I was at 'hobby class', before I went to 'real' art school.  It still hangs on the wall of a dear friend, also one of my oldest.... say, 44 years of friendship.  Fortunately Ann lives in Brisbane now so we still see each other occasionally.... and I always get a surprise when I see this work.
Drop on over to check it out and, while you're there, you'll see lots of great creative stuff.

http://artistsinblogland.blogspot.com/

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

At this time of year I want to thank everyone who has visited my blog, not just those who registered to follow it. My followers are special people indeed, but I appreciate all who have shown interest in my work. It has been the most encouraging experience and I'm very glad to be a fully-fledged blogger.  Sooo, without further ado....

I usually make Christmas cards for my arty friends and this year was a 'recycling' year. I cut images from all the cards I received last year and glued them onto blank cards. Sometimes I added a little glitter... you can never have too much bling at Christmas.

In the past I've done small paintings, all similar...

... or photoshopped images...

I just love doing this, it really gets me into the Festive spirit.

Finally I'd like to share an image of one of the creatively decorated homes in our town, and wish everyone a Happy Aussie Christmas....

 

Hope you are all full of festive joy and that Christmas brings with it peace, happiness, and good health... (not to mention inspiration).

With love from...... Me.

I WON

...no prizes sorry, but a giveaway from Trace Willans of Soewn Earth. Trace uses all natural dyes and wax for her pieces. I have long been an admirer of her work and was over the moon to receive my little stash of handmade and dyed papers, and some canvas and fabric bits too.

The rich aroma of wax that greeted me when I opened the envelope was just gorgeous...
and one of the pieces was a complete image.

Happy, happy me.... lucky too.

No doubt some of this will appear in future collages and will certainly add depth to my work.  Thank you Trace.

You can find Trace's fabulous stuff at http://www.etsy.com/shop/soewnearth, although she's been taking a break to move from Tasmania to Western Australia.

Seth's Buried Treasure

While I am a painter, and former potter, I take many photos wherever I go. These are often inspiration for future work. 

I don't profess to be an expert with the camera but, occasionally, an image grabs me enough to want to share.

This appealed to my patriotism on Australia Day.  I did ask permission to take the photo.

City reflections are always fascinating.  Perhaps it will inspire an abstract painting?

Up close and personal at Dubbo Zoo.  Those teeth are really dangerous!

A friend's two granddaughters looking at images on a camera. I just loved the obvious connection between them, and the way they are totally absorbed.

What Americans call a carnival we call a show... and who doesn't love one.... all that colour!

 

 

 

We walk each morning past this pond with its abundance of birdlife.

These are called 'bridal veil' funghi, and grow occasionally below my mango tree.

It is absolutely necessary for me to occasionally have a 'city fix' where I can be found ogling clothes I will never wear, and trying on shoes that will never see the inside of my cupboard.

Sunset is a magical time.  This one is from my deck...

... and THIS (my pick of the year) is in the famous Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory.

It would be possible to go on, and on, and on but hey, enough is enough right?

An Award From A Fellow Blogger!

It is always great to find other bloggers enjoy your posts, but to be chosen as a favourite from so many of the bloggers out there is encouraging indeed.  Holly Dean of Often Medieval In Mood  has chosen me for the ....

AWARD

Thank you Holly, for this accolade.  I am honoured to accept it in the spirit in which it was given.

Who knows where The Liebster Blog Award originated? It is meant to showcase those who have fewer than 200 followers. (Liebster means "favourite" or "dearest" in German.) This is done in the spirit of pay-it-forward. In accepting this award, the recipient agrees to:

• Thank the person that gave them the award and link back to their blog
• Copy and paste the award to their blog
• Reveal the 5 blogs they have chosen to award and let them know by commenting on their blog

For those I am about to award, I should also point out there is no obligation to continue this award. If this is not your cup of tea, don’t worry.

The value behind this award is for us to get to know other bloggers who might not be well known, yet have a lot to share. Each of us has our own following, for various different reasons.  Those who read our blogs might benefit from being introduced to other sorts of art practice.  It is all part of the blogging concept of sharing knowledge.

I have chosen to pass on the award to five of my faves, all accomplished in different mediums. I have eclectic tastes in creativity, and my awards go to people who are passionate about their art,  work regularly, and share images and information generously.

1.  RUST'N'STUFF  blogger Barry Smith is a sculptor, using recycled metals, wood, glass, and crystal. The titles of his work are often plays on words, and that amuses me on another level.

Moon Gate - Barry Smith

2.  KIM SCHOENBERGER is multi-talented.   Her early works included beaded earrings, and thrown pottery.  She has now graduated to metal sculptures, and has a huge stash of rusty old metal. Meanwhile she continues to create exquisitely fine porcelain pieces embedded with tiny rusted cogs, or even bling.  Like my previous friend, Barry, she is creative with her titles

Flourish - Porcelain inlaid with rusty cogs - Kim Schoenberger

The Squeeze - Kim Schoenberger

3.  PAPER PONDERINGS  blogger Fiona Dempster is a calligrapher, and bookmaker, whose work is precise, well considered, reflective, and very beautiful. She weaves her pieces around concepts such as journeys, feelings, and the depth of meaning in words.

Handmade book - Fiona Dempster

4. WABISABIART friend Noela Mills runs the best mixed media workshops I've ever been to.  She is accomplished in many forms of art, and makes the most interesting jewellery.

Weathered - Noela Mills

Earrings - Noela Mills

4.  SOEWN EARTH is the blog of Trace Willans who uses completely natural earth and vegetable dyes, and wax, to transform paper and cloth into beautifully subtle and tactile works of art.


Mixed media on handmade paper - Trace Willans





Fabric wrap journal - Trace Willans

5. MALENY ART belongs to Ken Munsie another sculptor  who uses recycled stuff, ceramics,  and handmade paperto make his very evocative and substantial pieces. I have to add him to this list not only because of his beautiful pieces, but because he is a constant, and tireless, supporter and organiser for local art... particularly a group I belong to the Collaboration Of Maleny Artsts (COMA). 


Refused - Ken Munsie


It is no coincidence that most of the above are members of COMA, and that all are Australian, or that their common ground is recycling. I am immensely proud of the artistic community in Australia, and the enormous number of 'recyclers' here. I have intended my awards list to showcase Australian Art to my O/S followers.

It seems that, despite my claims to have eclectic tastes, I lean towards tactile pieces. The palettes are also so different to my own. Perhaps that is why I am drawn to them.

I hope you enjoy visiting these wonderful blogs, and perhaps find inspiration there.

IN THE MAIL

Yesterday was one of those days when a long anticipated package arrives. Oh the joy of receiving my giveaway from Patty S at Magpie's Nest!

Patty had embellished the envelope with HEAPs of stamps, and sealed the back with  holly tape.  I can see bits of this package turning up in a collage soon.

She wrapped the enclosed magazine with a strip of marbled paper closed with a parakeet sticker.  More fodder for the collage stash.

...and that wasn't all.  Inside was a handmade card which will remain a treasured part of my collection.

A big THANK YOU Patty!  I have already earmarked the instructions for a 'waterfall' book for a 2012 project.

You can see lots of Patty's wonderful work, and be treated to some great scenery of her part of the world HERE.

STUDIO VISITS

Yesterday was a day I'd promised myself to set aside for visiting some of my best creative friends. I've been called for jury duty for three weeks from Monday, so will be 'art-deprived' for a while.  I gathered two 'besties' into the car and set off to visit Fiona & Barry, Ken, and Kim, with a lunch in between, and about a 100km round trip to look forward to.

First stop was Rosebed St Gallery, to drop off some more paintings, and check out the changing 'Small Works' exhibition.

Next was Fiona & Barry.  Fiona had to go to the airport but Barry was busily working  when we arrived.

He very kindly stopped what he was doing and took us into the studio to explain many of the processes he uses to make his wonderful pieces. The studio is also Fiona's workplace so we could rummage around among all her lovely handmade books, and other exquisite creations.

Fiona's desk

We bought all sorts of yummy goodies and, so laden, headed off to Ken's.

Ken, explaining one of his impressive sculptures

Ken makes such substantial and fascinating pieces from recycled timber and handmade paper.  It was quite an experience to wander around his workshop.

We were exhausted after all this so stopped for lunch at Pomodora's, a lovely restaurant right on the edge of the Obi Obi Creek. Then on to Montville for coffee and a visit to Main Street Gallery.

Kim was next on the list as I had collected some rusty old bits for her to add to her stash.  Her garden is gorgeous, as partner Glen is a landscape gardener. Of course her sculptures add another dimension.

The rose bower

In my enthusiasm to browse around I forgot to photograph Kim, but did capture her 'self-portrait' among the rusty bits.

Laden with more treasures, and fresh zucchinis from the garden, we headed home, and I am artistically refreshed for the duration.

Thanks to all of them for taking time to explain their work, and tempting us with purchasable treasures.

Hope you follow my links to see the wonderful work of my 'mates'. It was hard to juggle camera, and browse for treasures to buy.

Mucking Around With Mixed Media

Am at last back in the studio and, as the post title says, mucking around woth mixed media.



Rain Over Red Hill

Along The Garden Path

Night Falls

Of course you'd never know that I'm very fond of colour would you?

AWOL In Surfers Paradise

This is why the place is so named

Some stalwart followers might have noticed my absence for the past week.  R & I escaped briefly for a little R & R. Artistic pursuits on the backburner, I was still armed with camera and ready for anything.

O/S bloggers have treated me to assorted travelogues of their various countries sooooo...here's the famous Sufers Paradise, Queensland, Australia.

The most famous thing about 'Surfers' (as we call it) is the beach... seemingly endless, sand like talc, and often with few people... or dogs.

Over the years developers have cluttered the beachfront with high-rise buildings that cast shadows on the beach in the afternoon. This has been cause for much concern from locals who hate to lose their sun.

The view from our apartment

Still, the buildings go up and they get more interesting as design has improved over the years.

Mind you, there are still some 'daggy' ('scuse the Oz slang) places around... old beach shacks that have resisted the advancement of design, albeit with pretentious names.

Our apartment tho' was average, older, but perfectly placed for endless views.....


R in front of our block where X marks the apartment. The whole front of that floor is ours, from side to side, but we closed the curtains for a while in the morning to keep the sun out.

Street art abounds on the Gold Coast... some realist...

... some not.

I loved many of the signs.... definitely a subject for another blog sometime, but here's a sample.

We ate...

..swam..

... and generally recovered from a hectic year,

until it was time to come home.

Will be back in the studio very shortly... stay tuned.