Sunday 24 February 2013

Using my Planner

It’s been a while since I received my Personal Planner in the post. I have been busy using it daily and then realized that I had not posted any photos of it - oops!

I was reminded when I saw the lovely images Maggie Latham used for her planner. 

So - here are some photos. Remember that you can customize the planner and since we are almost done with February you can start with any month and continue for a year.







Sunday 17 February 2013

A lovely Sunday...QAG and Ian Fairweather

Detail: Work in Progress - Riverside - oil on canvas ©2013 Carol Lee Beckx 

A lovely Sunday - a few hours painting on a new work - a detail of the painting is shown here, then into the city to the Queensland Art Gallery. The late paintings of Ian Fairweather are being exhibited at QAG. I arrived in time to join a guided tour of the paintings.

The paintings come across on a first impression as being sombre and severe. Certainly there is an extremely limited colour palette. Fairweather, having travelled extensively discovered Bribie Island , north of Brisbane and lived there from 1953 in a hut on the Island until the end of his life. His lifestyle was simple in the extreme - no electricity and he painted flat on a trestle or with the paintings pinned to the wall.

Art supplies were meagre - he used ordinary house paint mixed with gouache on cardboard or even newspaper. (I am sure these prove to be a nightmare for the conservation department.)

On close examination the paintings reveal numerous layers. Paint is built up gradually, and little jewel-like areas are a delight. I have included details of a couple of paintings. 


Detail: Painting III





Detail from Painting II

The influence of Cubism and Abstract expressionism is strong as can be seen in Kite Flying which also shows the influence of his interest in China, Chinese calligraphy and customs.

Kite Flying - Ian Fairweather 1958 - synthetic polymer paint with gouache on cardboard on composition board. (The painting is made up of a number of pieces of cardboard joined together)

The exhibition is on until March 3 2013 and is certainly worth a visit.

Tuesday 5 February 2013

Paintings at The Collective, Wynnam

Some of my paintings will be in a small exhibition at The Collective in Wynnam, a showcase for Australia's independant artists. It's a treasure trove of artwork, jewellery and craft.
These little paintings are designed to hang together and can form the start of a Memory Wall. Images showing more personal momentoes can be included with these abstract images to give the wall individual relevance.
Another series comprises a couple of beach paintings from a visit to Noosa as well as a nostalgic look at Durban's North Beach.
On the left is a detail of Two Men, Two Dogs - I enjoyed the fact that while the men were engrossed in conversation their dogs were busy ignoring each other! The little paintings on the right are people on the beach at Noosa.
A larger painting, Cups & Bottles as well as Blue Vase with Poppies will complete the mini exhibition.
If you are in Brisbane do drop in for a visit.
The Collective 78 Bay Terrace, Wynnum
07 3129 4606
The Collective Facebook Fan page