Creative workshop

Had a fabulous weekend abandoning myself to creative play, at a workshop run by Aileen Shaw.  Aileen is a very talented local artist with infectious enthusiasm for life and all things 'art'.

Aileen demonstrating

Aileen is a born teacher and her workshops produce enormous results from everyone, no matter how experienced a painter. As yet I haven't completed all the work I began (seven paintings), nor have I photographed the completed works.  However, here are two stages of one 'work in progress'.

This was the initial phase of establishing a composition using lots of paint in the colours of choice.  I don't know why I particularly chose this palette, other than I wanted a 'bright' base to work on.

The next phase involved 'mark making' and texture. Line work, pattern, splashing, and adding some tonal differences to already established areas, has this work well on the way.

Am now 'tweaking' the painting to bring it to a final result that I'm happy with.  Once complete I'll post it on this blog.

More Adobe

I can't seem to keep away from the computer. I wake up VERY early and my first thought is check email, blogs, other sites etc., and then play with Adobe Photoshop to inspire me for the day's creativity. Any photo can be altered radically to make a whole new image, with an completely different meaning.

Such as:

This photo of two sisters (my friend Cheryl's grandchildren) in a shared moment looking at photos on a camera.

Became:

It could be called  'Conspiracy" or something equally sinister because of the palette. Maybe there's a painting in the offing, or perhaps it will just be filed with hundreds of other images that I have saved over time. 

13th International Collage Exchange

At last! The ICE exhibitions are up and running. View them here. The selling exhibition will be on display at the Percy Thomson Gallery in Stratford NZ. The museum collection is going to The Learning Connexion, an International art institute which is building a new premises, and gallery, north of Wellington NZ.

I am pleased to have work in both exhibitions.



Moon/Earth 1 -  (selling Exhibition)



Moon/Earth 4 -  (museum collection)

This has been a very exciting project for me, and will be even more exciting in May when I receive my package of exchange collages from these very talented people.

A Letter A Week - I, J, K, L

This month has flown and my letters are due again. As always they are colourful, sort of untidy (compared to the VERY well crafted calligraphers work - see them at A Letter A Week), and could probably change slightly towards the end of the project.

I, J, K, L

Still can't decide the best way to display them.... box, concertina book, or one BIG collaged piece. Does anyone care to suggest an option?

Weekly Collage: Crime Scene

This week's 'Scrapiteria' theme is ... 'Scene Of The Crime'.  The collages submitted to this group must be cut and paste only, no mixed media, no digital images.  While this is not strictly my thing, I love a challenge and find the weekly theme exercises my creative brain.  Exercise is always a good thing.

My images are usually cut from glossy magazines that are past their prime.  National Geographic is a wonderful source of obscure images. Perhaps there is copyright attached to some of the photos, but they are so cropped, altered, and rearranged that they could generally not be recognised and so avoid that problem. 

My collage this week is a simple one.

The Maccas Murder or The Crime That Saved The World

I rather liked the message myself. Hope other people find it appealing.

From Photo to Easel

 

These days most of my work is done in the studio. Trekking around the countryside carrying masses of heavy art stuff is physically much too difficult.  Drawing al fresco is something that can be continued, and should be, ad infinitum.

Painting inspiration is sourced from the many 1000's of photos I take.  Not all of them are good, but even bad photos might just contain something catchy.... a composition, a range of colours, a connection between people. Like this shot, a snap taken at a birthday party.

A little alteration here and there, a little more expressive colour, and hey presto!



Of course many 'artists' pooh-pooh working from photos, but you still have to make lots of informed decisions to translate a photo to canvas with any degree of individuality.

I regard this as successful as it sold within a few hours of exhibiting, so someone liked it enough to open their wallet.

Whale Watching



While we were visiting the Gold Coast last year, Richard & I did a whale watching trip.  It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen. We had several whales around the boat, diving and breaching, so close that you could reach out and touch them. Naturally enough I was inspired to paint whales for this year's Rotary Artcoast Exhibition.  The result below is a relatively good photo of the work.


Whale Watching



I have three works entered for the Rotary Award.  The other two are not yet photographed.  Perhaps next post.

Scrapiteria's theme this week is 'Hands' and already there are some wonderful posts.  Mine is 'average' compared to some of the very creative ideas submitted.

"I've Got The Music In Me"

Definitely worth a look at: http://scrapiteria.blogspot.com/

Soon it will be the end of the month and I will need to have my next 'letters' done.  Where has the time gone?