Early Christmas Pressies

Hi there ;)  As well as doing Christmas shopping for both big and little people, I got some things for myself.  I bought 'Show Your Work' by Austin Kleon as I find the idea of promoting my art kind of icky and needed some help there.  I've read a few pages and it sounds just what I needed so far.  I bought 'Infinity Net' which I am already about half way through and really enjoying.  I've always been intrigued with Yayoi Kusama and always thought, 'what's with all the dots?'.  Now I know a whole lot more.  I bought Eva Hesse: Datebooks 1964/65 which is a creation of two small datebooks in her own handwriting as well as a printed book of her datebooks.  It wasn't what I expected but beautiful all the same.  After I discovered Eva Hesse I fell in love with Minimalism and went through a whole Eva Hesse phase with my art but it just didn't satisfy me as much as doing more figurative work so I shelved those ideas.  Then I couldn't go past a new Moleskine sketchbook as I really love the paper(and the covers).

Thinking of Summer in Winter

Reminiscing to escape this cold winter about my childhood summers consisting of Ponies, Vineyards, McLaren Flat scrubland, wild flowers and so cute wildish animals to go with it all.

This drawing is Sold.

Dreams



Vineyard Dreams

25cm x 20cm

Prismacolor Pencil on Arches Hotpress

A much smaller drawing this time round.  I don't know why but winter always makes me think of the vineyards I grew up in.  Even though the vines were bare of leaves I have clear memories of playing outside with my friend making little 'creeks' in the dirt and rocks for the rain water to run through.  Also, though the vines were like sticks and twigs everything else was such a bright green which was so nice after a dry summer. 

This drawing is Sold.





Sometimes...



   

'Sometimes She Just Flies Away'

Prismacolor Pencil on Arches Hotpress Paper

So this is the final work.  It's kind of about freedom and breaking away from the societal/cultural things that bind us and hold us down.

This drawing is Sold.





Some Progress



So, I thought this drawing would be all finished by now but unfortunately I was unwell all week and didn't get as much done as I wanted, to my annoyance.  I guess that some progress is better than no progress though.

It's been such a long time since I drew a horse like this and it's bringing back good memories.  I was such a horsey girl growing up.  I grew up in the country on the Fleurieu Peninsula and was obsessed with riding and caring for horses.  When I wasn't around the horses, I would be drawing them while procrastinating about Science or Maths homework.

When I left school I gave up horses unfortunately.  I discovered boys and work and having money for the first time.  So horses were slowly squeezed out of the picture.

I still love horses but don't have the finances or energy to care for one, so I love them from afar.



In The Works

 

 

Thought I would give a sneak peek at what I'm up to now.  I don't usually post about my art mid-process because I am afraid of jinxing myself and worry that the drawing won't turn out if I let people see it before it is finished!  For some reason I'm starting to feel okay about it.  I admit that I love to see other artists' work process as it is so interesting to see how they get from A to B.

 

This drawing is much larger than I would usually do.  I am usually comfortable with about an A4 sized page but this one is about 45cm x 30cm.  I have some larger frames and had matting made to fit them so am aiming to work bigger for those.

 

 

 

Sometimes When Stuff Hurts

'He Left Me So Cold'

Coloured Pencil on Moleskine Sketchbook Paper

A4 Size

Hi there :)  I was listening to the radio while drawing this and was really loving 'Run' by Alison Wonderland, as well as the new Flume/Sam Smith remix.  Really seemed to fit the mood.



Little Apprentice

So my niece turned big number 2 in February and I really wanted to buy her art supplies.  I don't think she had ever painted with paints before.  I bought paints, brushes and found a great muffin tray to use as a palette(much better than the little plastic ones).  Unfortunately, I haven't been able to go visit as it has either been too hot to travel or I have been unwell(my brother and sister in law, Steph, live way over the other side of the city).  So I was really thrilled when Steph sent me these pics:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm really looking forward to visiting in the near future armed with  kid sized art techniques for her to learn and have fun with.  It's so inspiring and humbling to see her really get into it without any fear or worry about making mistakes or getting it right.

 

 

We Don't Like The Thunder

Hi there!  Sorry it has been so long(I know, everyone says that, but we mean it!).  I've had so much going on that it feels like Christmas was just last week but hopefully all the chaos in my life will subside for a while and I can concentrate on art.

I came up with this idea a long time ago because if there is a thunderstorm to be had, it happens right here.  And it isn't the rumbling in the distance kind, it's the lightning cracking through the sky kind and then great loud booms.  It really is very scary because the strength of the sound makes everything shudder and I really start to think the sky will fall through the roof, even though I know rationally that it won't.  Usually, I hide under the quilt and my cat hides under the bed.  I never experienced thunderstorms like this til I moved here.  I have to say yes they are scary but kind of fun too because they make me feel like a kid again.

Well, I'm about to start on a large drawing after doing this little warm up one for the start of the year.  I really look forward to posting about it!

This drawing is for sale at Willunga Gallery.

Merry Christmas

 

 

 

 

Well, it's Christmas - again!  This year has gone so fast for me, too much happening.  I have had a lot more success with my art this year and have got a lot more done, which is good, considering I have illnesses that limit my productive time.  I sold two big drawings at Willunga Gallery and I hope their new owners are happy with them!

 

I'm actually looking forward to Christmas Day, considering I am an introverted type of person.  Looking forward to wonderful food and just sitting around in the sun and enjoying my family and especially my little niece and nephew (they are so much fun).

 

Hope you all have a great Christmas whether alone or with others!

 

 



Cats and Halloween

'Ghost Kitties'

Prismacolor Pencil on Moleskine Sketchbook Paper.

So, it's Halloween.  Halloween hasn't ever really been a thing here in Australia.  It's only starting to catch on the past couple of years I reckon.  I really appreciate the meaning and history of it but the fun part of it is great too. 

I liked the idea of cat ghosts.  For some reason I feel like my cat is a reincarnation of my first pony, Tina.  Their personalities are so similar it's scary sometimes.

Hope everyone has a safe and spooky Halloween! (Or not spooky if you don't like spooky.)

Special

Prismacolor Pencil on A4 Moleskine Journal Paper

Hi there!  Yes, can't keep away from cats, I don't know why, considering horses are my first love.  How this drawing came about is a bit of a long story.  I wasn't feeling well and my cat had turned into Veruca Salt and I seemed to be surrounded by 'special snowflake' behaviour in other people which in turn made me confront my own 'snowflake syndrome' issues. This made me think of that great 'You are not special!...' line from Fight Club(and chuckle to myself).  And anyway... this drawing popped into my head and then all the frustration inside me was resolved and all was well with the world.  Phew... the end.

Play With Me

Hi there!  A new animal drawing.  It's kind of an updated version of a drawing I did last year of a cat and birds.  I was going for more detail.  I found it hard not to make the cat look evil in a 'play with me, I want to eat you' kind of way.  I'm endlessly fascinated with the relationship between cats and birds.  My cat is constantly being harassed by the birds in my yard and I love the little cat language meows she uses to communicate with them.  I think I'll try to find out more info about that.

This drawing is around about A4 size and is coloured pencil on Arches Hot Press paper.

  

Summer Rain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anointing: Summer Rain

61cmW x 76cmH

 

 

Hi there :)  Another mixed media piece to post.  I had fun with this one.  I was trying to capture the heat and light of late summer combined with rain.  I love the smell of rain on a hot day. 

On another level, it's kind of about the cleansing power of water and fire.  The flame cleanses like water, it's not hot, it's cooling, as it cleanses and rejuvenates. 

 Also I have this thing about inner light or an inner flame.  I think I'm preoccupied with this because at times I've felt the fire go out in me.

 

I made this piece with old newspaper, patterned paper, pencil, crayon and acrylic paints.

 

 

Mixed Media

 

 

 

 

Her Heart Is Good As New

41cm W x 51cm H

Mixed media on canvas.

 

Hi there :)  I said a while ago that I was experimenting with mixed media.  This painting is one of the ones I am most happy with.  I had a lot of disasters, including gel medium splitting for some reason and going all goopy (yuck), which completely ruined a work I really liked.  Oh well. 

I was happy with the colours on this one but the mixed media background may have too much going on for my liking.  I'm still learning and really enjoying the random messiness of it all, considering I used to be addicted to being neat and tidy with my art.  I wish I could be that tidy round my house :)

 

 

 

Cat

 

 

 

 

Yes, it's another cat.  This series of small grey animals are not personal work but are being made to produce fridge magnets for Willunga Gallery.  I have a couple more to go.

 

 

 

Lamb

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing on the grey animal theme.  I've never really seen a grey sheep so I decided to make a white sheep with shadowing.  It has a night time theme which was appropriate for some insomnia problems that were really doing my head in :(  Thankfully in the past few days the insomnia righted itself and I got some blissful night time sleep at last - yay :).  I think I still have a hangover from all the festivities and grief that was packed into three months the beginning of this year.  I'm not really big on drama, I like a quiet life and I love solitude.  I'm looking forward to a weekend of listening to the rain come down(hopefully), my plants so need it.