Latest Abstract

Have been working on several paintings at a time as is my usual practice, but I've signed this so I guess it's deemed to be finished.

I'm loving the layering and the richness of colour that is happening lately.  My muse has me in her grip.

Stairway to Paradise

This painting is destined for the 'Ekka', in the abstract section.  Ekka is our 'pet' name for the Royal Brisbane Show which attracts artists from all over.  Competition is fierce so we are all trying our best.

I have three other works to enter, but you've seen those, except perhaps the following:

City Lights

The Show isn't until August but entries are required early. Wish me luck.

Weekly Collage Theme - War

The Produce of Victory

Sorry folks, I couldn't raise my sense of humour over this theme.  It's far too serious.  But then... perhaps I'll do two this week... then again, maybe not.

For those of you who think that these collages are relatively simple.  They're meant to be my mental 'play' for the week.  For my REAL collages see the right-hand side menu, under 'Portfolio'.

Inspiration Avenue Challenge

Another challenge!  Can't help myself.  This week on Inspiration Avenue the theme is 'Purple and Green'.

As they say in Australia...bewdy!!  I love these colours together and, in fact, have recently done a collage  using the same.

Not entirely happy with 'just' the collage, I was compelled to alter it slightly using Photoshop to give it a little more 'oomph'.

LIFE

I quite like the image... but then I liked the original collage.

Q, R, S, T

Back to ALAW , and we are on the home run now. Still not entirely sure how the final collection will display, but I'm working on it.

Here are this month's letters, next month there will be six.

Patterns

In the course of having dinner with some friends the other night, I became fascinated by the shadows formed by a vase of flowers on the table.

Such a delicate tracery... it caused me to think of other patterns that I occasionally come across, and I'd like to share them.

Some bark on a tree in our garden...

The shadows formed by the wreck of the SS Dicky...

It seems that there's an endless supply of material out there for the creative imagination.

Collage Of The Week - Monster Movies

I am delighted to have been invited to join the permanent group of collagists at Scrapiteria.  This is my first post as a fully-fledged member so I hope my submission for this week's theme measures up.

In the true spirit of monster movies here goes:

PING PONG

..As Pong rampages through the countryside, horsemen are despatched to the Capital to warn the President.

Symbolic Abstract

I've been working on this for a while, but still not entirely happy with it. Too late now tho' as it's off to exhibition next week. 

Although essentially abstract, I have included lots of religious symbolism in the painting. The cruciform composition, and the crown of thorns are the most obvious. Not so the marks of the scourge, the nails, and the symbolic ladder (used to remove Jesus' body from the cross).  There is also a small piece of muslin to represent His loincloth, and the three arrows... the spears of the soldiers and/or the Trinity. If you look VERY closely you will see thirty small silver dots... the thirty pieces of silver, and some leaf patterning for the Garden of Gethsemane.

A King's Crown

It is what it is, and I feel somewhat overworked. Never mind, the next will be better.

Playing Card Collage

We're back to the weekly Scrapiteria theme... and this week it's 'Playing Cards'.  I can't help but be a little frivolous when I'm not allowed to add paint or such.  So here's my offering.

Royal Flush

As they say in technoland... LOL.

Inspiration Avenue

For some reason I keep joining sites that have weekly, or monthly, challenges. While I really have plenty to do without this, I do hate to waste time. Soooo these challenges keep the brain exercised in ways other than my usual work. 

To-ing and fro-ing between these things adds to the mental creative mix that informs my studio work in subtle ways... and I DO love a challenge.

Inspiration Avenue is a blog that challenges you to a monthly theme. This month it is "Tropical". What is more tropical than a gorgeous beach?  This is an acrylic painting of my favorite local beach "Dicky Beach". It is named after the wreck,  the SS Dicky, an iron screw steamship washed ashore during a storm in 1893.

Back to a style that I've now moved away from I'll admit but, hey, it's all grist to the mill.

Exhibition Finalist !!!!!!

Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles. A painting of mine has been accepted as a finalist in the Lethbridge 10000!!!!!  Am beside myself with glee.

The Lethbridge 10000 is run annually by the Lethbridge Gallery,  and receives entries from all over Australia. In fact, one of my all time favourite Australian artists Kevin Oxley is also a finalist. This means that I can't possibly win the $10,000 but hey, I'm glad to be hung in the gallery.

I've posted the painting previously but, under the circumstances, am sure you wont mind a repeat performance.

"Noughts and Crosses"

I so enjoyed the process of doing this work that it has become the first in a series of paintings of 'symbols' .  I will post others as they are completed.  It could be a while.

Art Books

I've been a little slow to blog this month, sorry.  It's the busiest painting season here with many exhibitions coming up. I have so many works in progress that I haven't had time to photograph.

What little spare time I have I'm immersed in my collection of art books, looking for solutions to problems, or just inspiration.  I have a HUGE collection and add to it regularly.

My reading room

A few books

One of my latest acquisitions is a book on Emily Mason, an American artist born in 1932. Her work is sooooo colourful it is a feast for the eyes.

The book : Emily Mason - The Fifth Element

It's hard to categorize her work. 'Color Field', 'Lyrical Abstraction', just don't do her justice. She is a great inspiration.  Here are a couple of my favourite works.

Lexicon

Pulled From The Sea

Her work is easy to find via Google. Hope you are as inspired by her paintings as I am.

My Weekly Collage

The theme this week for the Scrapiteria collage is "Unplugged".  Now, I'm not entirely sure what that means, however I've had a brainwave and hope that this meets the requirements.

It's Only A Piece Of Furniture - Unplugged

Of course the Scapiteria site only accepts 'cut and paste' collages.... no 'arty' stuff, so I have to contain mysel,f and sometimes it's difficult to find the right ingredients. Still, it's fun and I enjoy the challenge.

New COMA Exhibition

You are all invited to the next COMA exhibition "Between The Lines" which will run from 27th May to 11th June 2011 at:

Rosetta Books  - Shop 12, 43 Maple St, MALENY, QLD, 4552
                           Phone  (07) 5435 2134

The brief was to create an artwork 6" x 6" inspired by a book you have recently read, preferably one stocked by Rosetta Books. 

All works will be the same size and a set price of $85 each.

As I usually read art books, I thought I'd have a change. My next favourite thing to do is 'play' with interesting beads and I have LOTS to play with.  Soooo I based my painting on a book  "Big Bead Jewellery" by  Deborah Scneebeli-Morrell.  This book has ideas for lots of interesting pieces to construct from beads.


With this in mind I painted a portrait and added earrings that I'd made. These are wood and stone beads, and the earrings are removable and wearable.

Big Bead Jewellery

A little 'off the wall' for me, but quirky and fun. In fact, I enjoyed this project so much I might make more... but when?