To everyone a Very Merry Christmas!

To all of those talented people out there, who may be simmering under the covers....I wish you the courage to burst forth and produce the most extraordinary pieces of work and all unbelievable success to you all.

A blessed Christmas and New Year to you!!!!!!

Blue Horse

I have put three of my paintings into the Mattara Art competition which is showing this week here in Newcastle. Some excellent works from many very talented artists. Each year everyone gets better and better.
I always try to work out what people people might want to buy, so, last year I put in scenes of Newcastle and for some reason everyone seemed interested in animals and flowers...this year I put in horses and a portrait and everyone seems interested in scenes of Newcastle!!! I cant seem to get it right. This year's judge must have had a thing for watercolour as most of the winning entries were watercolours -
I am very pressed for time right now but am trying to sneak away for some painting time and horses are very therapeutic for me. I enjoy just mucking about with the colours...and I really feel the need to paint.

Its been so long!

A friend of mine handed me a challenge recently to paint her kids - now I have not painted for what seems ages because I have been working on a special project ( my new business ) but I took this on because I have so missed my painting!
These are both just 8 x 10 inch painted in acrylic.
I am pleased with how they have come out - but more importantly so is my friend.

Gypsy Dancer

A few weeks ago I went to a festival in town - there was a group of ladies from an American Tribal Dance company - their costumes were so colourful! I thought I would have a go at trying to capture some of the colour!

Little fish are sweet!

My foal painting sold last Friday at Jesmond art exhibition - wonderful!
I have also four paintings in the Weston Art show starting this week and a small selection at a Coffee shop outside Charlestown Square called "Little Bear Rock".
Also an ongoing show at "Sniddy's - Schnitzel and Seafood Restaurant "on Beautmont street Newcastle.
Currently still working on "Gypsy Dancer" which should be finished shortly.
Spent a few hours at the National Gallery of Victoria last weekend admiring really cool artwrk by the masters.
Upon my arrival home, I was motivate to re do much of what I had done with my last art work.....
Good to give the "eye" some exercise and get a new perspective on your own work once in a while....

Exhibition - Cafe13 LORN, MAITLAND

I will be having an exhibiton of my art at CAFE 13 at Lorn ( just over the Belmore Bridge at Maitland )
for the month of May.
I will also be in Japan for two weeks - so there just could be an oriental theme upon my return?
Wish me luck!

Hot off the Easel - Nude Back

This is another painting that I had started some time back but never had the chance to finish so I really felt compelled to get in and do it this weekend.
I actually like to raw- ness of the colour and texture of this one - I can hear my art teacher yelling at me that I have not "blended" properly...but I guess, for this one, I didnt want to.
I wanted to keep it slightly rough and just play with the shadow and textures...after all art is also about experimentation isnt it?

Hot off the Easel - Good Friday "TULIPS"

Finally, I have had time to finish a painting!
Its Good Friday and I have spent many hours happily painting in my "studio" - I had almost forgotten how much joy it is for me to sit quietly in there and just concentrate on painting.
I love the play of light in this painting and the angle of the tulips coming from the side - something a bit different.
Have a Happy Easter everyone!

Excellent sales this weekend!

Happy to say that both of these paintings sold this weekend!
Yippee.....
I AM working on two new ones at the moment..but its slow going.

I am working on creating a working "creative cluster" based on the workbook by Julia Cameron called, "The Artist's Way" - this is a 12 week intensive spiritual and creative recovery course that takes you through the steps back into living a more creative and focused life.
It is a program that has been used successfully for over 15 years all over the world and I came upon it many months ago with a hope and wish that I could possibly facilitate it some time in the future.
Now, because of the establishment of "Sacred Elements" I can do just that!
SO, I will be presenting this course in June - it is suitable for just about anyone - but of course, if you are an artist and are procrastinating with your artwork or suffer from blocks in creativity, then this course is perfect for you!
I am very excited about it, but, as with everything that must be well presented,  it is taking up some of my painting time right now in formulating the right way to do it all to achieve optimum results.
If you know anyone who might benefit from this course, please contact me for more details!

Its been a while!

I dont think it has ever been so long between art works in the last two years of my art life but to tell you the truth I have not picked up a paintbrush since last Sunday!
I HAVE been creating though and have "given birth" to a new business called "Sacred Elements" - a Spiritual Healing Centre, together with a friend. We are starting small and avoiding too much debt, but the work has been full on getting eveything ready - also,  in between that, I am trying to do some extra casual work to balance the finances, so you see art has taken third place......I have though, entered into a few exhibitions, namely Wallsend Plaza Art Show with the Art Society ( just finished ), Dobell Art Show ( currently at Rathmines ) and Newcastle Show Art Exhibition ( openeing next week ).....some of my horses are being exhibited...I nearly missed the Newcastle Show one, having missed the entry time for deliverying my art work completely...it was only that my angels were looking after me and I happened to mention something to someone totally randomly that I was prompted to check times and dates and realised my mistake and then rushed out to beg the committee to include my entry...wish me luck!

Hot off the Easel - "TIGER LILLIES"

 

This is my new painting! It is of tiger lillies ( my most favourite flower ).They were a gift from Archie's mum as a "thank you" for the painting I did ( see last post ). I am currently busy working on some paintings that I would like to have ready for upcoming exhibitions. This my first flora painting...I have kind of bypassed this genre as it seems to be very popular with most of the members of the art societies I belong to.....but I really loved these!

I hope you feel the same way.

A New Year of Artistic Achievement begins!

I would like to report a new WIP, but at the moment I have nothing!
Just waiting to get into the groove - inspiration, a muse, a good image .....
But I sat down yesterday to plan out my next two months and went into shock pencilling in the many exhibitions and comps comming up - I better get a wriggle on.
I DID sell a painting yesterday ( YIPPEE ).
I had a lovely email from a fellow who wished to see 'Indian Root Pills"

 

so I packed a few extra paintings in the car and headed off for a "private viewing".
I was happy to have him purchase this one ( it held personal memories for him ) - it was the only sale but one is good!
Its so hard to push your own stuff - to stand there and bang on about talent etc and pricing, what a nightmare...I guess having an agent would be a blessing..but then I am not in that league.
So here we go.....next week I take a selection to a small shop on Hunter street called, "Ciao Meow" I sold one last year so I am hoping for another sale this time around!

Hot off the Easel - ARCHIE

This is Archie.

30cm x 40 cm acrylic on canvas

unframed - finished with matt varnish

Archie is the son of a friend of mine. He is a gorgeous boy with huge expressive eyes and has a natural pout that is really such a part of his character. He is a very old soul. I asked my friend if I could paint Archie as an exercise - It is my first portrait of a male child and I was wondering whether I could capture the boyishness of the subject. I am pretty pleased with the result - I hope mum is too.

HOT OFF THE EASEL - EQUUS continued. First for 2010!

Acrylic On Canvas

Finished with a matt varnish

50cm x 40 cm unframed

This is my very first completed art work for 2010!

Many more to come I am sure - not quite finished with my Equus series - I enjoy them so much. Each one has been unique and different. I have concentrated on the mane here with fine detail in all the sweeping hair.

Still into dark backgrounds - little detail there just letting the eye focus in on the subject.

Welcome to the New Year !