New Brushes

Artists love getting new supplies: a new sketchbook, exciting new colours, but my favourite is a brand new brush. There is so much promise in the clean perfect bristles. Should you glance at my studio shelves you would be forgiven for thinking - "she does NOT need another brush." Yet, so often,after using a brush for a while, the honeymoon is over and the brush starts to behave badly.

I am pleased to tell you that I think I have found a make of brush that is near perfect. (Free would be perfect) Rosemary Brush Company in the UK makes the most wonderful brushes. We (my students and I) placed an order which arrived a week ago. They have been sitting in my studio saying " paint with me - paint with me now!!

At last yesterday I had a chance to try them out. I am really impressed with the way they respond. We bought a few Kolinsky Sable brushes for watercolour as well as some of the Ivory series and the Chungking bristle. The Sable are a dream to use, with a wonderful point and generous belly.

I indulged in a treat for myself - the Pocket Reversible travel sable brush solves the problems associated with transporting good brushes without damaging them. A removable shiny cover that protects the brush fits on the back of the ferrule to provide a good handle.

Ink and watercolour drawing - Alpha series sketchbook with Rosemary & Co Pocket sable

The Ivory brushes have a crisp spring to them - quite different to conventional hog hair. A lot of thought has gone into the design of the handles, the balance is good and they are comfortable to hold. The Ivory brushes in particular clean up easily.

Sparkling new brushes !!

Ok back to the Studio to paint - bliss!

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Lethbridge 10,000 Exhibition

At the beginning of May I sent off an entry for the Lethbridge10,000 Exhibition. It was with great delight that I recently received the exciting news that I am one of the finalists selected to show in the Gallery when the exhibition opens on Saturday.

Windarra Reflections - 24” x 20” - oil on canvas © 2013 Carol Lee Beckx

Sometimes inspiration occurs and it can be a while before the painting is created. It’s almost as though the idea and image need time to incubate, waiting for the right moment to be given life.

So it was with the images which inspired the the selected painting, Windarra Reflections.

I took the photograph of the creek on Windarra Estate some time ago. It's been there, waiting to become a painting. Excited by the light on the water and the patterns of the reflected reeds, I wanted the painting to convey the light, colour and a little mystery.

From the Lethbridge Gallery website:

“The Lethbridge Gallery has established a strong reputation for exhibiting works    demonstrating exceptional detail and creativity. With the intention of fostering the next generation of artists, the Gallery initiated the Lethbridge 10 000.

In its fourth year, this exciting art competition is open to national and international artists for small-scale artworks. Entrants may submit paintings, drawings, photographs and all 2D artworks up to 60cm (24 inches) in any direction.”

The Exhibition opens on Saturday 15^th June and runs until 30^th June.

Lethbridge Gallery

136 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington.

07 3369 4790 M 0407 005 800

Open Thurs, Fri, Sat 10am - 5pm Sun 10am - 4pm or by appointment.

Buried Treasure 2013: Making Friends - Online and in Real Life.

Four years ago, Seth Apter from The Altered Page - started Buried Treasure. It’s a way for bloggers to re-post a favourite post to share with the blogging community. A list of  Buried Treasures will be posted on his blog.

The online community of artists is a source of so much support and encouragement to artists in all parts of the world. Artists are incredibly generous with their talents, sharing tips or doing video demonstrations of techniques often with no tangible reward.

My participation in Buried Treasure last year has resulted in the formation of a wonderful, talented group of artists here in Brisbane - and I am privileged to be part of cARTwheel collaborative brisbane.

This is the story….

Last year while reading the blogs on the Buried Treasure list, I came across an artist who lives in Brisbane. I wrote her name down on my notepad next to the laptop and thought no more about it.

The following weekend I visited the Brisbane Art Fair. One booth in particular caught my eye and I spent some time chatting to the artist and admiring her work. We exchanged cards and I came home.

When I sat down at my desk, I saw the name I had written down - and stopped…this was the artist I had just met in person. 

The rest is history - eight of us will be exhibiting together in October.

My re-post this year is about a commission that I loved painting called Memory Wall. 

Another commission that was a great experience was painting a Paris street scene for my local coffee shop Deja` Bru Cafe`. You might also enjoy Magic and Fantasy about a wonderful exhibition at GoMA, Brisbane.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Memory Wall

Memory Wall - 40 canvases 8" x 8" oil on canvas Carol Lee Beckx 

A recent commission to create a wall of paintings proved to be an inspiring experience. 

There is an album of some of the paintings on my Facebook Fan Page. 

Some years ago, I took part in a  project called The Artist's Blocks. Each artist received wooden blocks, all the same size and approximately the same dimensions as the current work. My work consisted of ink drawings on carefully prepared gessoed blocks.

Some of these botanical elements were used in the commission and painted in oils instead of ink.  Replacing the wooden panels, the supports are 8" x 8" canvases.

As the work progressed, the client found various images from their family album that were then incorporated into the installation. There is a small part of the wedding dress and veil; a grandmother's Paragon China teacup; the family crest and some family silver. 

Since the work was to be large - installation size 1.85m x 1.15m some abstract elements and single colour blocks were used to balance the composition. 

The Wedding Dress - oil on canvas 8" x 8"- Carol Lee Beckx

Brown Spotted Eggs - Oils on canvas - 8" x 8" Carol Lee Beckx 

You can commission your own Memory Wall. More details about ordering these can be found on the stand alone Page - Memory Blocks. 

They are the ideal gift for many occasions - birthdays, weddings, a new baby in the home. At my Etsy Store (see the side bar for the link) you will find some of the blocks as stand alone paintings or as the basis for a group of Memory blocks. 

Protea

When I see Proteas, I am reminded of South Africa. A reminder that is bitter-sweet as I am far from those who mean a great deal to me.

The Protea flower is a South African national symbol.  So I was delighted to discover that a painting entered to the Redcliffe Art Society Members Exhibition had received First Prize in the Flora and Fauna section.

Protea - oil on canvas - 700mm x 700mm © 2013 Carol Lee Beckx

This Exhibition is at the Redcliffe Art Gallery, Oxley Avenue Redcliffe. I will be doing a duty there on Monday 17^th June if you are interested in coming along to see the Exhibition.

Monday to Saturday 10am - 4pm