Not really the promised goods...

Another painting to post. As the title mentions, this is not really the promised fruit of artistic thinking. But to be fair I started this one a long time ago. Im personally quite pleased to have it finished so I can clear my plate and start fresh in a new direction. Not that Im not happy with this work, I am. Finally. Its been a little rotter. But its done and Im happy. Like someone once told me, portraiture is a picutre of someone with something wrong with the mouth...or something like that. Yep, I think that holds here. But Ive worked at this sucker until I pulled out what I think I am able to pull out at this stage. Its a good thing to know when to put down the paint brush. This is Minette, my lovely daughter.

Lets get interesting...

So, Ive been thinking (always dangerous) and well, I think its time to start some sort of cohesive relationship between this art gift I have, and the journey of my heart. So far I have generally painted within fairly safe, straight lines of predictability.  Thats not really thinking too creatively...I see something that appeals to me, I paint it. While its kind of honourable I guess to be attempting to replicate beauty; if thats my only aim I think I am already outdone by a thousand artists before me and indeed by God himself. And whilst replicating beauty demands a fairly whopping dose of skill and patience, it lacks somewhat on the side of meaning, unless I am satisified with beauty being an end in itself. I guess it is; and I will sometime just paint beauty. But there is another level which I have hesitated to go into because its risky...that is that I begin to put my heart on a canvas...what I not on see with my eyes, but what I perceive in my soul. The anguish as well as the beauty; the journey, the search, the heartache. There's a lot more to me, and the observations I make of the world, of life, and God, than just painting a painting for the sake of painting it. I am boring myself with the boundary Ive been contented to paint within. I hereby open myself to the danger of critisicm and condemnation (be it all in my own mind!) and begin to think (and then hopefully produce artwork) in a new direction. Im more interested in my art career already!

  Before I get to that, I do have a couple of paintings in the "previous category" to submit here. May the beauty of scenes etc that I continue to paint,  be a refreshing interlude to the paintings of great meaning I intend to create from here on in!

Here's to thinking like an artist!

Elodie Sleeping

This painting almost fell off my brush...a lovely sensation. Its done from a photo of my daughter Elodie a few years ago.

Two paintings I actually like in two days.

Im pretty happy; painted one of these yesterday...liked it and thought I wouldnt get time today to paint but I did, and I like that one too. If I can keep this up, this exhibition thing will be no problemo.

Yay!

I entered my first oil masterpiece in a local show, and it turns out that the judge was an artist who pains abstract australian landscape...so my traditional portrait just wasnt gonna cut it...should have put in some watercolours! But I wasnt that organised. I attended the show opening, my first that Ive ever been too...with my friend Merissa who is a total dag and we had a great time!
Anyhow, I didnt win a prize as such, BUT I sold my painting and I won the Peoples Choice award...so that makes up for it; almost!
I have a bit of a fire in my belly to paint; got lots to do to prepare for my local exhibition in February if I am going to fill an entire gallery with my work exclusively! Aaagh!
Im back into watercolours, so one of my fans will breathe a sigh of relief...but gonna do some oils too, IF I have the time. They take so long! Watercolour is definately the better choice for a Mum with three kids and a short attention span. :)

Zella of Florentino's

Ok, so I think she's finished! Yay! So happy to be able to sign it and say, ok, finito, ...I think! What do you think??? For my first official "gonna put it out there" oil?? I have lots to learn, but it feels like an achievement! :)

Epic oil

Well epic for me anyhow. Ive been tackling this one on and off for a while now. I do a bit, then it gets on my goat. Its pretty tight, but hey Im still getting used to this oils caper. It will be called "Zella of Florentinos" - the woman Zella (awesome name- so suits her) runs Florentinos, a great cafe filled with interesting things she has collected, artworks and poems and artifacts; and serves great coffee and food. Its always busy! Zella is beautiful and intriguing- strength mixed with frailty, and I suspect many interesting stories from life to tell.