New oil painting

I have once again embarked on the more tedious of painting projects; a portrait in oils. This is only my second oil painting so Im learning as I go, but quite enjoy the process...how you think its as good as you can get it, and walk away, only to pick up the brush the next day and find many ways to tweak, and many tones to refine. So this is a work in progress, and I will post another picture when I have completed it, but hope you enjoy a squiz at it thus far. Its my daughter Elodie, being gorgeous as usual.

Painting...finally

Hey to all my non-existant readers and 3 followers who may or may not read this. Its highly unexciting to everyone else really, but just thought I would add to my quiet little blog, that I am painting today....finally. Havent in a while, so its worth noting for me!
Next hurdle...will it work...
Got a few things going on...hanging out on Mondays in Spiritus. Putting some stuff in an art sale in Nov. Looking forward to getting some fresh paintings out and about.
Anyhow, thats my big news.

Opening of "Spiritus" Gallery in Yack

Had a great night at the opening of Spiritus - a new art craft gallery in Yackandandah. Heaps of people attended and it seems many are suprised to find that I paint! Or at least they seem pleasantly surprised that I paint well! I have a few things in there so anyone who wants an arvo drive can head up and check it out.
It was a really good night for Yack, so good to have something new and "arty" and I wish Christine and David all the best!

Finished!!

Yay! So its been paint brushes down for one day, and now Im madly packing for Melbourne but cant wait for some chilling time after this insane endeavour! Im totally spent! Four weeks of painting between things like the of last week of term school activities, then school hols, two lots of family visiting and my American friend Rachel visiting presently! Needless to say I feel very much like I have run a marathon...not joking. I am losing it. Just ask Rachel. And Brett. And for those who are interested, whilst I appreciated the advice to go see a movie...I didnt have a car so I went for a walk and had a sleep. Is that still ok? And then I went to a movie on Saturday. So there was a breather in there somewhere. :)
Will let you know what it is like to have a painting at a media launch for a new CD...stay tuned. Oh, and there will be some birds in the final installation, which dont appear here, because that will all be attached on site...but will take some pics and post my "artist statement" so my hundreds of followers can trip out over that.

King Valley Win

A few weeks ago I was delighted to find out I had won a Watercolour award at King Valley Art Show. This is a photo of the winning artwork "Washing Up" with the prize sponsers.

I was re-reading yesterdays blog...I think I have some sort of painter's fatigue!

Leisure painting

So there is such a thing as leisure painting...painting for sheer recreational pleasure, but it occurs to me that very few people realise that a good painting doesnt just flow out of a person in some intense out-of-body, mindless experience. I would equate painting to life...in that just as it seems nothing good in life comes without deep thought, practice, discipline and plain hard work...neither does good painting.
I think we just all like the idea of these things being easy and natural...it seems more poetic and fairytale-like if things all just effortlessly fall into place - we love that stuff! I dont think Ive come across an aspect of life yet that works like that. Of course, that doesnt mean its without its pleasure or joy...but results come at a cost.
To be able to mindlessly vomit on a canvas and expect order out of chaos, is rather unrealistic dont you think?

Disputable Claims

I recently read a post in a blog, notably titled "Boring Blog" that stated there is an artist in my town who believes himself to be the most famous artist in Yackandandah. This is probably a fair claim, particularly if we are talking in the field of painting. However, I have new information that might challenge this position...fresh information. The kind of information that one would almost bust to know. And then I wonder, how do we measure fame anyhow - by how long one has been painting or by how well known a name? There is the kind of fame thats good to have and then sometimes its good not to be famous...it depends on where the fame is generated from and what it is for. On all accounts it seems Yack might need to prepare itself for famous artists; plural.

The first's continue...

So as well as all the other stuff I do...normal stuff like being a Mum etc., things that us Mum's do for the love of kids, like cook Thai food for the entire primary school....yeah as well as those kind of things I have been becoming artistically active since hitting the shores of my home country. I was quite determined to do so, so this doesnt confuse me from a personal committment type level...but whats with all the exterior busyness?? First, the Dappled Cities gig, now Ive been asked to teach some promising high schoolers the fine art of painting. Im thinking this will be cool...its a first, never done it before, but I get to work with kids who are actually interested and showing potential. Did I ever mention Im supposed to be working in Christine's new gallery "Spiritus" as well??? No problem, Im sure there is time to paint in there somewhere. Yeah...the quiet introspective life of an artist. How's the serenity?

First time for everything

Hey people...everyone else has a blog, so I thought I would get one too. Since its all about who can get the most followers, so we will see how we go on the follower tally. Oh and mine is also about art, cause things seem to be ramping up and I actually do have some stuff to report. So it might even be worth reading. A lot of firsts lately, including first painting in oils since well techincally I did one for my sister's 21st, but that was like over a decade ago....but that was just a one off. This time I painted a copy of Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring", and really Tania you should probably throw out that old birthday pressie cause this ones heaps better, but Im not giving it to you. Then I have been selected as one of 12 artists to come up with some sort of fantastic visual art for a band called Dappled Cities, who are launching a new CD in July. This is a new first...never done anything like this before! Plus Im using acrylics, which gosh, takes me back to highschool...year 12 art I think! So first time in a long time with that too. Still watercolouring...just did the biggest watercolour Ive done. Check out my recently updated website too...none of those paintings I have just mentioned are on there, but there are a few other new ones too. Have fun!