It's been a while......

....around FOUR months to be exact. Don't know why, I guess life got in the way. Some illness, some home refurbishment, lots of socialising, and many workshops. For instance I did four workshops with my friend Noela Mills.

1- Bookmaking

My first efforts

2- Monoprinting and Chine Colle

3- Repurposed Jewellery

4 - Brush making and mark-making

Noela demonstrating making brushes
 

My brushes

  

Marks made with my brushes

 After that I did another online workshop with Carla Sonheim...such fun ! 

Imaginary Creatures 2:

 So, I haven't exactly been loafing....at least not all of the time.   It's nice to be back.

Cold Wax with Kym B

Kym Barrett is a talented, and prolific, local artist that I am happy to say has become a friend over the years. I recently bought this wonderful painting at her exhibition, 'Flow & Ebb', at the Regional Arts House in Brisbane.



POND - Kym Barrett

The exhibition is on until 3rd September, so check it out if you are in the area.

Kym has another exhibition, 'Wax & Wabi-Sabi' running concurrently (didn't I say she was prolific) at the Noosa Regional Gallery until 23rd August so you'll have to move fast to catch it.  Both shows are VERY worthwhile.

I was fortunate to join Kym at a cold wax demo and workshop at Noosa recently. It was a beautiful day and we set up outside the Gallery.

Kym's bag o' tricks

                                     Mine

A happy group awaiting instruction

Firstly Kym gave us a demo of her colour and cold wax methods, involving much layering.... adding, removing, and making marks.

We then had some practice with mark-making, using charcoal and paper, doing 12 very fast impressions of our surroundings, with as many varieties of marks as we could make with our limited resources. 

Sorry, no photos of these......this post would go on forever.

On to the black and white cold wax method....our beginnings were demonstrated.  We had to tape up 10 small sheets of watercolour paper.  Then, with brush and ink (I used sepia) QUICKLY made some large expressive marks over the lot. On top of that some other quick charcoal marks, over which we spread a smooth layer of beeswax.

This was left to dry while we lunched in the sun.

Then, on to the final stages.

With powdered charcoal mixed with wax we made more marks. 

Variety was the key...large, small...smooth, textured...soft  & hard edges. We used tools of all kinds...brayers, brushes, sticks, even a pot scourer, to add and remove the wax.

A great learning exercise for me.  I tend to overthink, and deaden, my work.  This really made me loosen up....a little.

My efforts by end of day were thus.... probably not in correct order, or particularly good images.  My scanner washes darks out and I try to correct, but don't do a very good job.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

I lost most of my sepia marks (on purpose) because I didn't like them, instead of working with them. There's much to learn with this process...so I'll probably do it again.

Perhaps bits of these exercises will end up in collages, or on Xmas cards.  You never know.

Thanks Kym...it was such fun... and quite a stretch.

BURIED TREASURE

 

Seth Apter, a favourite artist/blogger from the USA, has an annual challenge and link-up that he calls 'Buried Treasure'. We are to resurrect a favourite blog post from the past.

 

I've chosen this from Tuesday, July 26, 2011. It was my first year of blogging, and sometimes I forget that I was once a potter.

Tea... Inspired

Inspiration Avenue time again.... this week it's 'Tea'.  For a potter, not too hard as I am known for my 'funky' teapots and love making them.  Some are functional, but most are just 'fun'. 

Naturally I must promote my country to all those who live elesewhere...

Australia Teapot

... and my most ridiculous non-functional teapot...

Hullo Sailor

... and one I love ....

The Ritual Of Tea



My first love tho' is painting...

Coffee (or perhaps tea?) In The Square

... and mixed media/collage...

Black Tea

Cold drink anyone?

Rust-dying

I'm still here, tho' have been AWOL for a while.  Other than a little time on the sick list  I've been in full art-making mode.  Sometimes it's hard to drag myself away from the studio.

This might look like some grungy little bundle of rubbish....

....but, in fact, it is assorted rusty bits, wrapped in a cloth soaked in vinegar and water and put into a plastic bag for a few days.

When opened, I could hardly wait to unroll it.

How exciting...if a little out of focus.

The results were just what I wanted.

LOVE those imprints of keys, spanners etc.

Perfect for this project, an 'art apron' 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry the image is a little blurred.  It's the best I could get from Facebook. 

 

Here is some more info:

 

"Fundraiser for the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women's Shelter  Saturday 15 August 2015      Hornsby Lions Club is a major supporter of the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women's Shelter for women who are the victims of domestic violence and homelessness. Our next major fundraiser for this purpose is a Gala Event at Hornsby RSL Club on the date shown above. Entry fee will be $65 per person providing an excellent meal, great entertainment by the Street Party band, dancing and singing along to the tunes of the 50s,60s,70s and 80s and the opportunity to participate in raffles, auctions and games the proceeds all going to the Shelter.
Tickets are available by phoning Ted Henebery on 99403889 or online through www.hkws.com.au Tell your friends, family, workmates about it and organise a table. It will be a great night's entertainment.
If you have some items which you can donate as prizes or auction items or simply would like to help with the Gala Event in any way please give John Lockyer a call on 0407044422"

 

Your support for such a worthy cause would be most gratefully received.

 

I hope it is a ripper of an event, and am honoured to have been asked to do an apron.



WHERE AM I ?.....

.... on R & R of course.

In a place with miles of beach for walking.....

...the real estate looks like this....

....the flowers like this....

.... and the gardens like this.

I have been accompanied by my beloved.....

 

... and we have dined ...

 

 

....and wined ....

 

 

 

....on nights like this.

 

 

 

It's a place where they have Cane Toad races....

 

 

...in pubs like this...

 

 

 or, if I MUST have an art fix... galleries like this...

 

 

... and street art like this.

 

 

All wonderful but we'll be home soon.

 

Meanwhile...greetings from Port Douglas.