A change of scenery....

I have extracted a couple of paintings from above a shelf in my kitchen to enter into the Easter Art Exhibition at Yurara.  I have replaced them with the beads (on the left) and the cushions (third along).  It's actually quite helpful to have a 'live' hanging area inside the house and outside my studio area.  I either warm to the painting and feel pleased with it or decide it needs more work or even the 'big chop'.

I am about to paint this area in the kitchen and when I do I shall insert hanging devices to allow me to hang paintings in this configuration or a two across/two down configuration.  The area will be a small rotating exhibition!!

A Pile......

I haven't been painting much at all over the past few weeks.  I think that I painted so intensively towards the end of last year that I put other demands on the 'back burner'.  All these delayed chores have caught up with me and I feel compelled to get them done and out of the way.  I have trimmed trees, planted a vegetable garden for winter (Queensland's most productive season!), and half made a set of curtains for the downstairs bathroom.
I have numerous ideas about painting turning around in my head, particularly when I garden.  I hope to put them into practice soon.

And another variation....

From Above

And this is the one I have hanging in the kitchen along with a selection of other 20x20's.  I will post them below but of course they didn't photograph very well from that angle.  Mind you I love painting from the angle.....it is quite challenging.  Will include a couple of paintings that I did for my son and my nephew about two years ago.  These were both of another selection of kitchen ware on another shelf above my kitchen sink.

And below are the paintings.....

Both of these painting were quite a bit larger than the 20x20's.

And a last one.....

Variations on a theme.....

Cousins     SOLD

Here are three different apples......but a similar pose and the same cloth that I have used previously.  I bought this particular piece of fabric specifically to use as a drape.  It actually has a green on green pattern in it.  I just love the way the colour reflects the light and I like this especially when combined with red apples.  I have another variation hanging on my kitchen wall which I will also post.

Gift for Hayley

As I have mentioned before I live on Coochiemudlo Island, in Moreton Bay.  A friend, Hayley Lake, lives here as well.  Hayley owns a number of cottages Quirky Cottages on the island and lets them to holiday makers.
This painting is of Hayley's pet pig, Liquorice. Unfortunately, Liquorice became too big for Hayley to handle and too strong to contain in an ordinary pen.  Consequently Liquorice has gone to live with another pig fan on the mainland where she has the company of other pet pigs.
After Liquorice left I unearthed a photograph of her and did this painting for Hayley.

The forgotten one.

'Waiting'

I had forgotten to upload this painting.  Again it is fairly underdone, although I think I will probably do a bit of tweeking on it before I feel it is finished.  I enjoy painting porcelain and have a couple of large dishes that I hope to paint over the coming months.

Last for a while.....

This is a remake of tomatoes I painted late last year. The exhibition for our Croquet Club went well although there were not as many visitors from the mainland as last year.  The weather has been very hot which might explain it since the show involved an uphill walk from the jetty.  It was a cheerful event however......nice to get together with other artists.

Still coming

This oldstyle lemon squeezer is very popular.  This painting and one similiar (below) have drawn a lot of comments.

On the table

This one speaks for itself. I am not particularly happy with the shade of blue.  Many of my recent paintings seem to be dominated by this aqua shade.  Will take it in hand!

Mushrooms again

I have completed and framed 12 small paintings for an exhibition that will be held on Coochiemudlo Island over the weekend.  The exhibition is held to raise money to cover public liability insurance for our Croquet club.  I will put all the images up on the site over the next few days.  Am pleased to have them completed

Still coming...

This little painting is fairly 'undercooked' by my standards but I was pleased with the transparent aspect of it and decided to just stop.  When to stop is a constant problem for me!

Forwards.......

'Trio'............SOLD

Have been through a really barren period painting, wiping out, repainting etc. etc.  Slowly the muse has relented.........I hope! Have a number of paintings ready for a small local exhibition held by the Coochiemudlo Croquet Club in order to raise money for their public liability insurance.  I promised to submit a number of my small paintings.  Will post them over the next couple of days.

Back again.....

I had great amibitons to go for a painting a day.  It was my New Year's resolution - but no such luck.  Have been working on a larger painting that has taken considerable time.  Have managed a few 20x20's and will put them up over the next couple of days.  I return to classes this month which will be a good discipline.

A second take on Luscious

'Still Luscious'............SOLD

I painted a painting similar to this earlier last year and a friend and fellow artist bought it.  At the time somebody else asked me if I could do a similar painting for them.  I arranged and photographed this collection of apples and while they are pleasing, I don't think the composition is as good as my earlier work.

Cheery Cherries

Back into still-life.....it's so nice.  There is such a variety of very paintable fruit available here at the moment and I hope to get a few paintings in before the season ends. Nectarines, peaches and plums are particularly amenable for still life. I hope to post a little more frequently if the hot weather doesn't deter me.  My studio is in our garage and even though it is well ventilated it gets very hot once the temperature exceeds 30.

For Meg

I've given many paintings to family members but never one to Meg, my sister.  She complained about it finally and said she would like a simple painting of tomatoes on a bush for her kitchen.  I have done this small painting for her.  She lives in Canberra and will be coming up this way in a week or so. I hope she likes it.

Island Residents

'Watchful'...20 x 20cm....Oil on Board.....SOLD

Coochiemudlo Island where I live has a large population of bush curlews.  The birds frequently rest and shelter in residents' gardens.  They are more active during the night and their cries, not unlike a child's scream,  often alarm visitors. Sometimes when approached, the mother in an effort to ward off any threat to her chick, launches into what looks like an elaborate dance.  She spreads her wings, bobs her head up and down and steps lightly around while issuing a gutteral hiss.  Despite knowing how helpless the birds really are, I am always taken aback by this formidable display.

A fellow resident and friend recently bought the small painting of the two chicks below.  He asked if I would paint a picture of a curlew chick to accompany it.  I found painting the chick harder than I expected. I hope he likes it.

Jemima

My daughter, Gilly, asked me some time ago to paint her old cat Jemima.  She photographed her sitting on a couch (black with red stud-buttons).  Jemima played the part and posed perfectly.  I hope I have done her justice ....she is a very beautiful though a very fat cat....with a bit of the prima donna lurking in her attitude.

This is my first post for 2012.  I have been painting some exercises to try and warm up.  I'm always fearful of a blank board after I have had a break from painting.  Feel certain that the muse has abandoned me! Jemima has helped me feel more comfortable getting back into it.  Hope my future posts reflect a positive outcome!

Happy new year.

A Portrait

David.......40x60cam...........Oil on Canvas

This is a painting of my husband, David.  It took me an age and is overworked.  The exercise was very good however and I learnt a lot.  I have to stop myself going and tweeking it all the time.  My daughter suggests that I begin another rather than going back to this one.  I think that is a good idea. I would like to capture a more relaxed, less self conscious pose.

I have not been painting much since the exhibition although I have been thinking about it a lot.  I have many plans.  A friend has lent me a couple of magnficent large bowls so I think I will start on a few larger paintings once the Christmas rush has settled.  I will continue with the small ones as well of course, but I think it would be good to broaden the scope for a while.  

The last from Take Four

Preparations........20x20cm.....Oil on board

This is the final post for paintings from Take Four.  The image below shows works from three of the artists.  The cluster of small paintings on the right hand side is mine.  The cluster on the left are altered books by Robyn and the painting in the middle is by Anna Bray. 

'Gossips' from Take Four

'Gossips'....20 20cm...Oil on Board....SOLD

Take Four again....

Avacardo....20x20cm......Oil on Board.....SOLD

We removed our paintings from the gallery yesterday so our exhibition is finalised.  It was such a good experience.  We all did well and also worked well together.....we are tentatively planning another.

Three Yellow Squash.....20x20cm......Oil on Board

Some others from 'Take Four'......

Troops........20x20cm.......Oil on Board.......SOLD

Ready to Pickle....20x20cm.....Oil on Board.....SOLD

Chickens and Chooks

Cock of the Walk...............SOLD

This little group of paintings also went into our exhibition. I photographed these birds while I was staying in Samoa recently.  I enjoyed painting them enormously although I think the rooster painting requires a bit of lightening up.  The size of paintings is a bit misleading here.  The painting of the rooster is quite a bit bigger (30x40cm) than the two below (20x20cm). 

All's Well...............SOLD

Chicks...........................SOLD

Take Four.....

Carolyn's Beads.....20x20cm......Oil on board...SOLD

These beads are one of the paintings included in the Take Four exhibition that I shared over the weekend with Robyn Foster, Gloria Dietz-Kiebron and Anna Bray, all members of Yurara Art Society.  The exhibition opened on Friday 11th and was very successful.  A large and cheerful crowd attended the the actual opening and a constant stream of visitors called into the gallery over the weekend.  The number of sales was also very pleasing.

At the Opening

This is a picture of guests at the opening.  Through the heads one can see my cluster of 20x20's alongside Anna Brays lovely larger works.  In the corner on the left is a selection of Robyn Foster's altered books.....really dramatic.  Robyn organised the hanging of our works and received innumerable commendations....the layout and arrangement of works looked just great.

More Beads............20x20cm.......Oil on board

This is another of beads.  This string belongs to me.  I bought it in Bahrain about 30 years ago and have always loved it.  The beads in the top photograph belong to a friend.  They are made from that pure clear resin.....very, very paintable.

Soursweet...............SOLD

Although I haven't posted any new paintings for a month, I have been quite busy.  I am preparing for a small exhibition on 11th, 12th and 13th November with three other Yurara members. The exhibition is in the Yurara gallery.  It is a very pleasing space, well lit and fresh.  However, the location is not good and road access to the gallery is difficult.  Consequently,  it is hard to attract visitors unless they know exactly where they are going.

I used this small painting for the promotional brochure.  I have painted about 12 paintings, most of them 20x20cm but there are a few larger ones.  I will post images of all of them once the exhibition opens.      

The last for a while.

'Tea for Two'........SOLD

I was pleased with this small painting.  I shall save it for an exhibition I shall be sharing with 3 other artists in November. Will provide more details about it in a later post.

I won't be posting any new images for a while.  We are going to Samoa for a fortnight for a rest and relax.  Hope to snorkel and laze around reading.  We are going with another couple, friends that we met while we were living in PNG.  We both had boats and used to visit an island in Fairfax Harbour to snorkel almost every weekend.  I became enchanted with the world underwater.

Yurara Spring Exhibition......

I donated this small painting as a prize at Yurara Art Society's Spring Exhibition.  The exhibition opened last night and my friend, Robyn of altered books fame, won it.  I am not certain that these colours please Robyn's eye and told her she is welcome to swap it for another if she would like to.  It's actually a bit tricky 'giving' a painting.  



A favourite.

'Jewells'..............SOLD

I painted this a couple of days ago and was pleased with it.  It was one of those that emerged seemlessly.  I particularly enjoyed the low key colours - a contrast to some of the brighter paintings I have done recently.
I was shocked to read that Carol Marine and her family lost their house in ferocious fires in Texas on Monday. Apparently more than 300 houses were burnt.  Carol managed to save a number of her small paintings but lost her larger works and everything else in the studio attached to their home.
 I admire Carol's work and have set about trying to put into practice some of her exercises - such as trying to produce a (small)  painting a day and painting quick 10 minute exercises.  I have learnt a lot just trying both. I wish her and her family well in this awful crisis.

Geese again...

And another...