Artists' Diary Week Ending January 25th

Every day I seem to discover another wonderful artist who inspires me to push my boundaries and try new things. So with this in mind I decided to work in charcoal and use my drawing experience to try and create some stronger works. It is a very free medium to use and I found it quite liberating! It was also a good excuse to retire to the comfort of the air conditioned house, the studio was scorching! 

 'Ridng the Rails' 56x56cms

'Silo Shadows' 76x76cms

Have continued with my plein air challenge but unfortunately have missed a few days. It has been hot, humid and extremely uncomfortable out in the field! So it was back to garden vignettes. All 12"x12" oil on canvas.

Spent a day in the studio completing two oils, still finding my feet with this medium.

'The Wetlands' 100x100cms

'On the Hill' 60x60cms

I was delighted to receive the Artist of the Year Award at the Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour on Friday evening.

The exhibition continues until 6pm Tuesday the 27th January.

Artists' Diary Week Ending January 18th

Already the year is becoming a busy one with exhibition entries, demonstrations and workshops being booked into the diary!

Have set myself another challenge to paint at least one plein air piece a day during January but it does prove to be a bit problematic at times what with visitors, rain and very, very hot days where it is so uncomfortable to be outside one just wants to relocate to the air-conditioning! But I have managed to do quite a few so here is a small taste. All are local scenes, either at home of within a couple of kilometers! 

Oh! Except for the day we went to Oatley Park which was beautiful but so, so hot!

Have even managed to make it to the studio and to block in a couple of pieces worked from plein air studies completed during my challenge.

 100x100cms oil on canvas

60x60cms oil on canvas

Sometimes the wash in is the best bit as in the second one here…feel like leaving it as is!

Have been fortunate enough to have a couple of sales at the Victor Harbor Rotary Art Show in South Australia, it runs until Sunday so if you are anywhere near it is a mighty show.

http://www.victorharborartshow.com.au

This weekend is the Art Of Sydney Awards at Darling Harbour, some amazing works are for sale and I will be there on Monday to help out so why not pop in and say Hi!

Happy painting!

Artists' Diary Week 38

And the New Year has arrived and has been a hot and humid one so far, but then again it is Sydney in January and to be expected!

2014 was rounded out with a sisters' day out in the Sydney, always full of laughter!

Sue, Mary and I

The new year started with a plein air painting challenge, a great way to
motivate oneself! Not always happy with the result but each one teaches me something.

Day1 'Geraniums and Terracotta' 20"x16"

Day 2

'View Across the Road'

20"x16"

Oil on board

Out early for this, so hot and humid!

Day 3

'Studio Shadows'

20"x16"

Oil on board

Had been out all day helping at an exhibition take in so did this in a mad rush of dark shapes, a few mid tones then some lights!

Day 4 'Approaching Storm' 24"x12" Had to race with this one, the storm was heading straight  for me! Rain started to fall just as I was cleaning up.

 Saturday was the delivery day for the Art of Sydney Awards, oh my goodness there were some wonderful works coming in! It is well worth the visit to the Maritime Museum in Sydney over the Australia Day long weekend to have a peruse….

There are still a couple of vacancies in my group for Norfolk Island in June, please contact 

https://www.norfolkislandtravelcentre.com for more information.

What else is coming up….Victor Harbor Rotary Art Show where I will have 4 works exhibited. 

http://www.victorharborartshow.com.au

May 2015 be a happy and painterly year!

Artists' Diary week 37

Hmm, final blog for 2014….sadly NO paintings were completed this week! 

Although I did do some scouting for a plein air trip in autumn so it wasn't completely art free.  Oh my goodness, the views across to the Liverpool Ranges from Merriwa are stunning, can't wait to spend a few days painting out there.

And Christmas has come and gone! 

What an amazing time spent with family in Merriwa in the Upper Hunter. We travelled from Brisbane, Castlereagh and Millthorpe descending on this lovely town to spend a few days together. It has become our tradition to travel to a different family home each year as we all live some distance from each other.

This time of year is not about gift giving, although quite a few were exchanged but about being together! And we did have a Christmas 'miracle'. My sons' very old, blind and pretty deaf dog disappeared for 3 days….we were all convinced she had gone off to die but no, she was found and returned so happy faces all round!

      Our annual family B&W photo taken after a very late night playing 'Pictionary' and 'Trivial Pursuit'

The cool kids Georgie, Nyah and Emerson at the skate park!

Breathing Colours still has its' group show up and running

I do hope you all enjoyed time with your families and friends.

The new year is set to be a very exciting one and the exhibition entries are already starting to pile up so without further ado I would like to wish everyone a very Happy and Painterly 2015!

Artists' Diary Week 36

Another week, another opening!

Visited BC Gallery for the opening of their Christmas Show. I have some work hanging and there are some lovely things on display including jewelry, paintings, ceramics and glassware!

Christmas Showwww.breathingcolours.com Breathing Colours is a contemporary art gallery in Sydney representing the work of select Australian artists who are at the forefront of modern art.

Hmmm, looks like party time to me with Mellissa Read Devine

Mwah doing my bit to keep the gallery open…bought a beautiful ring! Thank you Mellissa Read Devine for the pic and the ride down.

Only produced one painting this week, am looking forward to post Christmas to get stuck into  a new body of work.

'The Wetlands' 20"x16" plein air

Managed to frame a couple of oils with my lovely new frames, I am delighted with the result. A big thank to my framers, The Art Scene at West Ryde who always source what I want and do a great job.

The framing always makes such a difference.

I am looking forward to a few days with my family over Christmas, just relaxing and enjoying each others' company.

Merry Christmas all!

Artists' Diary Week 35

It can't really be nearly Christmas…..

Oh my, was bewildered when visiting family said on leaving 'See you in Merriwa next week for Christmas'. Well, that was a wake up call.

This last week has been extremely social with not a lot of work being done. 

Attended a wonderful exhibition opening with friend Mellissa Read Devine at the Dank St Gallery Waterloo. Richard Claremont and Jane Canfield have adorned the walls with luscious landscapes from Richard and beautifully evocative works from Jane. I would urge anyone who can get along to it does so. Well worth a visit!

Kristine Ballard, mwah, Richard Claremont and Mellissa Read Devine

Only managed to paint one plein air work this week….

'Along Springwood Rd' 18"x18" oil on board

Taught my last class for the year and have been delighted by the work produced by my students.

'Rushforth II' 56cmx38cm

Friday evening was spent with friends followed up with a family Christmas lunch on Saturday and we were treated to this….

 A ukelele orchestra

and I knew a few of the players including a couple of artist friends, great fun!

We also had family visiting from New Zealand.

Sunday was another social time with long time friends. One I started school with a very long time ago! A wonderful time was had by all.

Purple Noon Gallerys' 'Under $600' sale continues

Breathing Colours has a new show opening this weekend

Artists' Diary Week 34

Driving…..cars and rain!

Yes, it has been wet, very, very wet! We have had rivers running through our garden and our mulch has been deposited in the neighbours' paddock! No real complaints because it was becoming pretty dry and the garden has sparked up considerably! 

Had a lovely evening at the opening of the Blacktown City Art Prize where my painting was acquired by the Ford Land Company.

 With my acquired piece 'Postcards from the Kimberley'

 The two Devine ladies, Patricia and Mellissa

Myself with Mellissa Read Devine and the wonderfully talented Jody Graham who won the works on paper section with this wonderful piece!

Visited my courier for the last time this year and to collect a few unsold works and delivered some work to an art shop/gallery in Magnolia Mall, Richmond. Pleased to say I have had some sales there!

Visited my framers to sort out frames to suit my oils, can be difficult to find just the right thing at times. Samples are being made and decisions will follow.

Taught the second to last class of the year.

'Rushforth' Fridays' class demo.

Managed to complete three plein air oils this week. We have had amazing skies which were demanding to be painted!

Two views south from Castlereagh both 16"x12"

'Yarramundi Lagoon' 20"x16"

Saturday afternoon visited the newly opened Von Dorff Gallery in Ramsgate for the official opening. I have a number of works hanging. A quick trip back home, packed a bag and we were off to beautiful Millthorpe o'night to stay with family and visit the Millthorpe Market where my son and his family had a stall selling garlic they grew on their Dripstone farm. 

Was nice to have other family stay o/night for a visit too!

Busy week this week with overseas visitors staying with us, painting with friends and my final class of the year!