SUCCESS !

How different this year is to the last.  2017 was a real fizzer for me, artistically speaking.  But I've just sold another THREE works.

Two were sold at the Annual Immanuel Arts Festival.

PATCH - acrylics, rust-dyed fabric, thread.

 

 

A DISH OF PEAS - acrylics

Then, while doing 'show & tell' at a lunch with some art

friends, I sold a small collage....one of my favourites.



ANGEL: Eco dyed paper (from Trace Willans),
found image and other papers, gold acrylic

It certainly has stimulated my creativity somewhat.  Am keener than ever to spend time in the studio....and the 'brush mileage' is what we all need in order to improve.

SOLD!...I'm on a roll

It seems that my forte is collage, I sold three yesterday.  If that is a measure that I'm doing something right then I'm heading in the right direction. 

A SINGLE LEAF

FARAWAY THUNDER

LEAVES

All are on 300gms watercolour paper.  I use some eco-dyed papers courtesy of Trace Willans at Soewn Earth.  Do visit her blog for more info on that process, and perhaps to acquire some papers for yourself. 

I also use my own painted papers, teabags, and techniques such as embossing, stencilling, or frottage.

It's impossible to stop, and I have SO much 'stuff' to p[lay with.





Back to Collage

Am still pouring acrylics, but the 20th International Collage Exchange is coming up soon so am back to mucking around with bits of paper and found objects.  It's all SUCH fun!



PLAYTIME

GO FIGURE



RENOVATION MAN

 

 

Here are three of my favourites (so far).  Do you have a favourite of these?

 

LATEST EFFORTS

It seems that you are never too old to learn something new.

 

This is just too much fun to stop doing!

It's Been A While....

....and I don't have a good reason. Nonetheless I've not been idle.  Have been experimenting with the latest craze, acrylic pouring,  After a week of frustrating efforts I've eventually arrived where I want to be.

 

These are only 4"x4", but a good starting point to explore the technique.  Eventually I might be able to manipulate the colours enough to make backgrounds for paintings, collages, or whatever takes my fancy.  After all I'm a dilettante, not a REAL artist.

HOPE

This the theme for the 2017 Apron Project.  Run by Sallianne McClelland (events manager extraordinaire) the project invites artists to decorate aprons for a charity auction to benefit the Hornsby Kuring-Gai Women's Shelter in Sydney.

This is my apron for 2017: Hand painted with collaged felt butterflies and the sentiment printed on fabric.

 



2017 - HOPE

All the aprons can be seen, and bid for, online at Galabid. There are some amazing pieces!  Registration is free.

This is my third year of participation, and I hope I can do so each year.

 

2015



2016



 

It's been a while...

.... but I'm back.....tho' not quite in full swing yet.  The International Collage Exchange is up and running on:

http://www.tart.co.nz/exhibit.htm

My piece, 'Wishing For A Better Solution' is SOLD and soon on its way to the USA. (Thanks Julia Payne, a fellow collagist)

Wishing For A Better Solution
old book page, found objects

I love working with discarded objects and papers.  Makes an awful mess in the studio...but is so much fun.

REJECTION

As an 'artist' one must get used to having one's work rejected from various exhibitions. Fortunately it happens less as time goes on....until this year.  I seem to have had rejection upon rejection.  Perhaps I'm losing the plot?

BARRIER
rust-dyed muslin, waxed cord, painted and found papers, acrylic
on 20 x 20 x 3.5 cm wooden panel

DREAMSCAPE
painted and found papers, acrylic
on 20 x 20 x 3.5 cm wooden panel

These two works were submitted for the Lethbridge 10000, but not hung in the Gallery (first time for four years that I've missed out).  Mind you, am in their 'online' selection, but it's not the same as being 'hung'.  

 

It's a little disappointing start to the art show season but hey, I paint and collage because I'm obsessed and can't stop, AND because it's the thing I most love to do.

Onward and upward.......

Remember 'Small Changes' ?

 My blog of March 15th showed how I had altered a small painting for the better (I thought). Well, nothing is ever finished until it is....

NEWS FROM THE EAST (version 3)

....and maybe it is now (but don't be too sure).

Meanwhile I have been making painted papers for collage. 

FAUX MARBLE - I love this effect.

MARBLING - I've tried not to be fussy with these, and to keep them loose.

Of course, each time I enter my workspace the first thing I encounter is a bench covered with papers, and bits and pieces.  It is SO distracting, I just can't help playing. 



WISHING FOR A BETTER SOLUTION

The page is from an old book on fuzzy logic, combined with a circuit board, some old metal washers, and a small wishbone.  Maybe now I can do some painting.




Vive Las Vegas

Vive Las Vegas is a US company that makes fun and funky rubber stamps. I buy from them to make ATCs, cards, and the fun stuff I do when not doing 'real' art. 

Each month they have a challenge and, on a whim, I decided to participate this month. The theme was twilight, dusk, northern lights, or twinkling night skies.

I found an image of the Northern Lights, painted and altered it, then added stamped coloured images from VLVS. I added sunglasses to  'skinny minnie' .

The word bubble was photo shopped on top.  I do like my whimsy.

Back to the studio today.

Fun Collages

I had the privilege of joining a group at the Caloundra Regional Gallery, making quick collages under the guidance of Sam Cranstoun. What fun! Sam is a VERY talented artist, currently showing at Caloundra.  He provided us with old photographs and pictorial magazine pages, and started us off with a fortune cookie.  The brief was to choose a photo to suit the fortune.  Haha !!!!  I LOVE this concept.

This was the beginning of two hours of absolute fun.  No pressure. After all you can't produce a masterpiece in two hours can you?  We were all up to our ears in images, bits of paper, and glue.

 

They're all a bit rough...but I had a ball.

Sam gave us a brief discussion on his work. He generally works on a well-researched theme. Then he makes collages on that subject, and uses those as reference for paintings.  Wonderful.

Many thanks to the Gallery staff and Volunteers who made this evening possible.



Small changes

I recently thought I'd completed a small mixed media piece...but no.  It sat around the studio for a little while and, each time I caught sight of it, I just knew I wasn't happy. Naturally I had to alter it, but not a lot.


NEWS FROM THE EAST (version 2)




NEW FROM THE EAST (version 1)

Now that I see them both together, it is obvious that I did the right thing. Adding the cooler purple gave it more punch, and the asemic writing in the top right fits with the title.

Was I right? 





Hung!

4567 Diversity - 62 x 62 cm, mixed media on stretched canvas

I'm extremely happy to see my work on the wall of the Noosa Regional Gallery, in the Taste Of Art exhibition.  Seeing my work among that of my peers gives me a realistic view of my progress as an artist.

For once I'm quite happy with this piece.

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL !!

 

It's been a while since I posted. Christmas started early. It made me review the various things I'd made over the previous Christmases...cards, digital images, calendars, ceramic angels, jewellery. The above is a Photoshopped image of Richard and me for my 2016 e-card (rapidly replacing snail mail due to postage costs).

The sentiments are extended to all my e-friends for the 2016/17 Festive Season.  May it be happy and bright.

Some years ago, when I was a potter, I made gold ceramic angels that sold like hot cakes. I kept a couple for myself, and am often asked if I have more for sale.  Sorry, am past that stage of my creative path.



Angels are about 4" high (10cm)

I've often used digitally manipulated images for cards:

There have always been some friends for whom I actually make 'real' cards.  These are my arty mates from years ago, and my closest local friends.

This year I did some Gelli prints, and a few collaged cut-out arrangements.

Of course it wouldn't be Xmas without angel earrings would it?  I must've made dozens of pairs, both for sale and to wear myself.

Each year my local art group has a 'Secret Santa' .  We decide early in the year what the project will be.  It began as a small painting or collage but, this year, has progressed to a decorated silk fan.

Here is my effort:

The list could go on ad infinitum....but enough is enough. Just pointing out that having Xmas begin in October real for me. Am already thinking about next year's 'Secret Santa'....a tissue box.  Hmmmmm... collaged, beaded, or painted...or a combination of all?

But first....on the easel is a large painting for my first exhibition next year, at the end of January.  More about that later.

See you in 2017 !!!  Have a wonderful celebration and stay safe, healthy, and happy.