Artists' Diary Week 21

Already Wednesday and finally getting around to writing my weekly blog! Just a tad late.

This is such a busy time of year, art shows everywhere! Spent a whole day just sorting, filling in forms and packing work for the courier to collect.

All crated and labelled.

Started a large 110x66cm watercolour for a marine show but missed the entry date! Will finish it soon. 

Received a nice call from Scone informing me I had won the pastel section in their art show. Always a welcome call to receive.

Golden Morning, Castlereagh

Headed off to beautiful Port Stephens to tutor a weekend watercolour workshop.

Such a beautiful area, managed to get some great reference material. 

They were a very enthusiastic group who worked hard even though they were pushed right outside their comfort zone. They completed a couple of works with many exercises thrown in for good measure.

 'Old Cottage, Dookie' 66x56cms sold off the easel!

 'Thru the Trees' 66x56cms

My final demo 'Dripstone Gum' which I gladly donated for their next raffle.

So, another good week, a prize, a couple of sales and managed to complete some works.

Coming up is Breathing Colours Gallery stockroom sale 'Can't Wait for Summer',

Nepean Art Societies Spring Exhibition, Orange Blossom Festival at Castle Hill and Scone Art Show continues until Sunday the 14th September.

Artists Diary Week 20

Wow, what a week, there were exhibition openings, deliveries,demonstrations, workshop tutoring and prizes to accept with a couple of sales along the way! 

Finished some work which was begun on Sunday and completed another.

'Calm Waters' Heading to Breathing Colours Gallery, Balmain on Sunday.

Entered the Springwood Artfest for the first time and was absolutely gobsmacked to take out the Rose Lindsey Award for Best in Show!

'Big Reds' Sold too!

Did a watercolour demonstration at the Southern Cross Art Society Tuesday night, thought the numbers would be down because the weather was appalling but there were plenty there to watch and listen. A very enthusiastic and welcoming group. 

'Broome Boatyard'

Friday train sketching.

Attended the official opening at Springwood on Friday night, excellent food, wine and wonderful music along with a panel discussion on the Archibald event. An entertaining evening.

Also received a call to say I had won the watercolour prize in Kiama!

'The Boatyard'

There does seem to be a bit of a boat theme happening here.

Saturday afternoon was a another opening at Penrith where two prizes came my way, Best Australian Landscape and Best Drawing.

Sunday I tutored a workshop for the Shire Art Society at Caringbah. Again a great group and I pushed them right out of their comfort zone but they responded beautifully producing some wonderful watercolours.

'Dookie Farmsheds' 

'Rushworth'

Another full week ahead, seems to be that time of year, all the spring shows are now coming up.

Artists' Dairy Week 19

What a week that was!

Monday took it easy, just unpacked work from Balmain. Sunday had been so hectic and I was pretty tired. Tuesday was spent with my sister and father (who is almost 91 as he tells everyone) helping him in his little raised garden.

Wednesday spent the morning sorting paintings and rehanging some in the studio. After a quick trip to collect some work from Richmond it was into the studio and completed this painting.

112x76cms, still needs some assessing.

Thursday was the usual painting with friends and discussing artists we have discovered. We spend some time analyzing their work and studying their processes and brushstrokes etc. There really are some incredible artists out there!

Completed this one 'Brooklyn Fishing Boats' 76x56cms

Friday it was off to the RAS. Did some more sketching on the train and here are a couple. I love sketching and it is addictive.

                                                      

Then there was the weekend!

It began early Saturday morning with a trip to Richmond to spend some time at Magnolia Mall where MTAS had a stand for the HAAT Open Studio weekend.

Sheila Sharp doing her bit to keep everything looking good!

Next it was up the hill to Little River Art Studios, where I was going to be demonstrating guest artist on Sunday, to take some photos. I also visited a couple of other studios in the area and was impressed with the presentation and quality of work. 

Little River Art Studios

Rushed home to change and head to Balmain for Mellissa Read-Devines' opening of her exhibition 'Springsong' at Breathing Colours Gallery. Wonderful, vibrant exhibition!

Mellissa and I at her opening. A colour explosion!!

Sunday was spent demonstrating most of the day and engaging with those who kindly visited the studio and stayed to watch the demos. 

'The Boatshed' 76x56cms

'The Shearing Shed' 60x40cms

I did begin a 3rd painting but it was getting on and someone handed me a glass of wine, needless to say that was the end of that. A wonderful open studio weekend where we met many new and interested patrons.  

Happy painting!

Artists' Diary Week 18

A very full week has been and gone!

Time was spent in the garden which is my way of relaxing. Tuesday I went to 

Breathing Colours with a good friend and ambled around Balmain. Had a wonderful lunch at The Cat and Fiddle Pub.

Wednesday headed into the studio but the weather was so lovely I just had to indulge the gardening again.

Thursday it was in a friends' studio painting up a storm. Managed two 1/2 sheet watercolours .

 'Brooklyn Vista'

 'Boat Sheds, Dangar island'

Friday headed into the RAS to teach.

 Fridays' subject, 'Early Morning, Ridges Farm'

Have decided to start sketching whilst travelling on the train. One has to be a bit surreptitious. Some people really don't like it whereas others are so interested and like to have a chat which is always nice.

Saturday morning was meant to be painting plein air but it was drizzling. So dry here was happy to forgo the painting for a bit of moisture in the air! The afternoon was spent with family.

Sunday was huge, manned an arts stall at Richmond in the morning.

Jo and Colleen doing their bit.

Whilst waiting for customers I sketched some figures, here are a couple of examples.

After leaving here it was off to Penrith to deliver paintings, then to Balmain to bump out my exhibition where I met up with the delightful Mellissa Read Devine whose solo show is being hung today with the official opening next Saturday at 4pm. This was followed by a quick trip to Lane Cove to collect unsold works from their recent art show.

There are still a couple of vacancies in 

my watercolour workshop coming up soon. I will also be here demonstrating for the Hawkesbury Artists and Artisans Open Studio weekend on the 24th August.

Happy Painting!

Artists' Diary Week 17

Monday was a pretty lazy day until when I was loading some extra paintings for my exhibition and discovered three needed reframing! Then the rush was on.

Tuesday I headed to Breathing Colours Gallery in Balmain to drop off the extras and check out my show. The gallery looks lovely. 

On Wednesday the plan was to paint with friends but we got hooked on checking out some new artists and studying their work. There are so many wonderful artists out there producing work that is simply breathtaking.

Thursday it was off to The Art Scene at Ryde to do a watercolour demonstration using Schminke watercolours. We had a wonderful group who asked many insightful and intelligent questions. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

 'Ridges Farm, Windsor'

After a trip to the library Friday morning I headed into the RAS to teach my afternoon watercolour class. This term we are concentrating on sheds and buildings in the landscape.

'Old Irish Town' 1/2 sheet watercolour

That evening was spent with friends, just enjoying each others company.

Saturday dawned and after spending some time pottering in the garden we headed to Balmain for the opening of my solo exhibition.

With another wonderful artist, the gorgeous Kristine Ballard

The stunning mother and daughter Patricia and Mellissa, both very talented ladies and Mellissa will have a solo show at BC following mine!

Neville guarding my painting 'Perched' which he wants to keep!

The opening was wonderful and it was lovely to have so many friends come along for support.

Needless to say Sunday I was pretty tired so spent some time in the veggie garden, read some of my current novel and generally took it easy.

My show continues for another week and I will be there on Tuesday.

Feeling keen to get back into the studio! 

Artists' Diary Week 16

On Monday we returned home from our rather busy weekend.

Not a very productive afternoon.

Tuesday had some family business to attend to, helping out the in-laws with my man removing a very heavy slow combustion fireplace for them. Smiles all round because it is being handed onto our son and his family. The afternoon I headed out to Mellissas' to collect some of her work and collect some unsold paintings from Singleton.

Wednesday packed the car in readiness to head off to the courier the next day.

Thursday was busy, busy, busy. Headed out with my first stop in Castle Hill for my father then headed up to Hornsby to drop off work for three shows and collect unsold work for myself and two other artists. Afterwards headed to The Art Scene to collect the final painting for my exhibition.

Friday taught my afternoon class at the RAS and delight in the progress of my students. They are a lovely bunch.

 'Near Armidale' 1/2 sheet demo

Saturday went to Katoomba to the opening of Herman Pekels' exhibition at The Lost Bear Gallery. It is a wonderful show with some masterful pieces.

http://www.lostbeargallery.com.au/exhibitions/current-exhibition

Went for a walk out to Echo Point, took a few photos then jumped into the car to thaw out. There was still snow on the shadow side of hills and gullies! 

Yesterday polished all the glass and cleaned the frames (just making sure all is ready) before packing the car and delivering my work to Breathing Colours Gallery at Balmain.

26 paintings carefully stacked. Always a little scary loading a lot of paintings!

After unloading and organizing the hanging we had a much deserved dinner at the Cat & Fiddle pub on the next corner. Can recommend it, the food was outstanding! 

A big week coming up with the opening of my exhibition on Saturday afternoon, all welcome!

https://www.facebook.com/events/609331122513206/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

Happy Painting!