Bob - the 'Dirt on the Shirt' man

A few weeks ago my good friend and teacher asked me and another couple of artists around to her studio to paint Bob, a character on the island who has, for many years, made his living by dying clothes with the red soil of which Coochiemudlo Island is largely comprised.  Bob is about to leave the island and intends to carry on his business in the Byron Bay region of northern New South Wales where weekly markets will provide more convenient outlets for his merchandise.  We will miss Bob. 

Mother and goslings

This is the second of a small series of fowls and their chicks that I have done for a local art show to be held this coming weekend.  I have enjoyed painting them so much although looking at this one now I can see a few areas that need tweeking......the story of my life! Cheers.

Ducklings

I'm in the process of painting three little paintings involving chickens, ducklings and goslings.  It seems most young creatures hold that same melting appeal.
Am not certain that leg is straight enough or strong enough to hold the mother duck up.  May do a little more to it.

And the other....

This the second small painting I am submitting to the In Focus exhibition in Redland Art Gallery. 

Higgledy Piggledy

Higgledy Piggledy............Sold

Oh dear, it has been so long since I posted anything on my blog.  It's not that I haven't been painting, it's just that I haven't finished any.  I do have a few ready to put up over the next few days and will try and keep up the momentum.  This little painting is only 1.45x21cm.  It has been painted for an exhibition, In Focus which will be installed in Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland. Exhibitors include a number of art groups in the local region.  All works are the same dimension and are framed by gallery staff.

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.................Sold

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



Lemon and Lime......Sold

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...

Perhaps Tea..............................Sold

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.....

Stranded.................Sold

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.