Artists' Diary Week 33

Winding down, down ,down….

It appears to me to have been a particularly busy year and am feeling in need of a mighty big rest but there are still some shows to enter before the end of the year, some framing to finish up, paintings to be collected from couriers and some openings to attend!

The plein air challenge I participated in concluded on Sunday. I didn't manage to paint every day but did complete 18. Following are this weeks' effort.

'Across Cornwallis'

                                           'On the Rise'                                   'South to Penrith'                                                                            

'Bills' Sheds'

Managed to complete just one watercolour demonstration this week. My students chose the subject from my pictures and then freaked out…..still they did do some great work!

'Back Canal, Venice'

Coming up this weekend is the re-opening of the Von Dorff Art Gallery at

 380 Rocky Point Rd, Ramsgate. I have a few works hanging. The fun starts at around midday, all welcome!

http://www.theleader.com.au/story/2723772/former-von-dorff-gallery-operator-returns/?cs=12

Also this weekend I have works at Purple Noon for their Christmas Exhibition.

November was a particularly busy month with open studio weekends, teaching commitments and the plein air challenge along with all the normal things an artist needs to do but entwined with this we have been renovating and glamping on our deck (for the last 3 months) but I am pleased to say the work is nearing completion!

'Living on the Deck' it's really been pretty good, I have a barbecue, coffee machine & couch, what more does one need!

So, as life returns to some semblance of normality in our household I am looking forward to getting stuck into some serious painting!

Coming up Blacktown City Art Prize

Happy painting 

Artists' Diary Week 32

Another full week painting continuing on with my plein air challenge. Have not completed one a day as intended, life does seem to get in the way at times.

16"x12"
'Spotted Gum'
and 
'Dappled Light' 

'Up Behind the Sheds' 16"x12"

'North on the Hawkesbury' 24"x12"

The most exciting thing to happen this week was the receipt of a letter informing me I was the 2014 Artist of the Year for the Combined Art Societies of Sydney (CASS) 

Also had both my paintings accepted into the Blacktown City Art Prize

Headed off to the RAS on Friday to teach, fortunately they have air conditioning in the studios with the outside temperature soaring.

'Over the Fence' Friday demonstration

Had family visit which is always wonderful and miss them when they leave.

Opened my studio again on the weekend and had a few more visitors including someone I admire greatly as a person and an artist who took the time to visit! Had a couple of sales which is always a good thing. Sunday it was just horrible weather wise, got to 44.4deg and was pretty uncomfortable for everyone.

Still smiling in 44deg as I wrapped some paintings.

Sunday night took the time to enter a few shows coming up in January.

What's coming up;

Blacktown City Art Awards

Royal Art Society 9"x5" exhibition

Happy Painting!

Artists' Diary Week 31

Seems like in the last week I have lived a lifetime!

Tuesday evening headed to the Opera House for a Tori Amos concert, daughter had spare tickets! She performed with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the wave of music just engulfed us. They played superbly and Tori Amos didn't disappoint. The next night it was into Mosman for dinner, again with the daughter. Living in Brisbane we don't get to see each other a lot so it was a nice little sojourn. After dinner we deposited her at the airport!

My plein air painting a day challenge continues, here are a few from this week. Must admit I have missed a couple of days so need to get out and paint a few extras!

On Friday I delivered my paintings for Blacktown City Art Prize, fingers crossed they are selected for hanging!

In between all this I have been madly preparing for my open studio weekends!

All looked wonderful until it rained, had to whip off the outside paintings until it cleared which it did then after rehanging the wind decided to blow! And blow it did! 

Even had new signs made

Georgie giving assistance!

Still, I was happy with the results from this weekend and look forward to next weekend. Had a number of sales and picked up a couple of commissions which I don't normally do but these are right up my alley! The buyers want me to come to the family farm near Grenfell to paint the wonderful old farm buildings!

One of the paintings I did sell was a favourite of mine and has been very kind to me winning a couple of Best in Show awards, three still life awards and a number of Watercolour awards. A regular buyer bought it for her husband for Christmas.

'All Keyed Up' Sold

Feel free to pop in and say hi this weekend and talk all things arty, would love to see you!

Happy Painting!

Artists' Diary Week 30

Friends, family and fun

This week has been defined by family visiting and spending time with friends and generally just enjoying the beautiful weather!

My brother flew out to Canada on Wednesday after a couple of weeks with us to catch up with our elderly father. He was helpful (his wife had told him to give us a hand), fixed my Julian box for me, cleaned our driveway and did other odd jobs, he also cooked and cleaned! Something I am always happy to share.

This was followed up with my son and his family coming down from beautiful Merriwa for the weekend.

Around all of this socializing I am still preparing for my open studio. Have collected my new signs and changed over paintings!

I have also been continuing with my plein air challenge but missed Saturday. I was too busy in Sydney wandering the Botanic Gardens then heading to the Opera House for a matinee performance from the Australian Ballet 'Labayadere'.

The gardens are truly stunning this year and I recommend a visit!

Huge Jacaranda in full bloom

The roses are just stunning!

Friday was at the RAS teaching and it was nice to do a watercolour.

'Along the Federal Highway'

Was delighted to hear one of my students won the watercolour prize at the student exhibition at the RAS on Friday evening. In fact they all won a prize, was feeling chuffed.

So, what's coming up? My open studio over the next two weekends. All welcome so come and enjoy a glass of wine and some nibbles with me!

Happy Painting!

Artists' diary Week 29

Lunches, afternoon teas and family.

Currently have my brother visiting from Canada for my fathers' 91st birthday so this week centered around family matters.

Birthday lunch on Monday followed by another on Thursday.

Wednesday was spent with friends critiquing plein air works completed the previous week.

Taught all day Friday at the RAS to make up a lesson I missed from last week. My students are achieving some amazing results considering they have been coming for less than a year.

Have started a plein air painting a day challenge for November and to make it a bit more interesting have decided to do all of mine in oil to try to reinforce as much as possible of the lessons learned in the Warwick Fuller workshop last weekend

Day 1

Day 2

On Sunday we headed to Blackheath to collect unsold paintings for myself and another artist and decided to drop into the Hydro Majestic for afternoon tea. Just stunning and the view leaves one breathless!

Untitled Album

Still have to make it to another friend, Kristine Ballards' exhibition 'Cangiante' in Newtown!

http://www.ckgallery.com.au

Coming up is my annual Open Studio weekend and this year I have decided to do it over two weekends. So much to organize with trying to hang all new work, cleaning and sorting paintings, framing and finishing works!

All welcome!

Happy painting!