Hamilton Road Studio - class places available

January 26th is Australia Day. I hope you will enjoy the day with family and friends. The day marks the end of the long summer holidays and the beginning of the school term. It's also a signal to get back to work.

Portrait - gouache on paper - reference from Sktchy App

Classes at my Hamilton Road Studio start this week. There are places available on Wednesday evenings 6.00pm to 9.00pm; and one place in each of the Friday and Saturday classes. The classes are small with a maximum of 6 artists. The class size allows for each person to work in their chosen medium, so the techniques of painting in watercolour, oils and acrylics are all covered. I believe that drawing is important no matter what medium you favour. Some time in each lesson is given to some drawing practice.

Drawing is a way to quiet your mind, to focus your thoughts. It can also be a private record of your experiences. If you've done a drawing of something you will understand it and remember every detail. As children, you will have done many drawings. Then as we get older, our inhibitions and critical judgement creeps in and we stop drawing. Drawing is a tool for investigating ideas, working out composition and solving problems on a small scale. 

Class times: 
Wednesday:    6.00pm – 9.00pm 
Thursday:        9.00am – 12.00pm                
Friday:            9.00am – 12.00pm
Saturday:        8.00am – 11.00am

New students can enroll for four weeks initially.  Students should preferably be prepared to enroll for a term (usually 10 weeks) when joining the Studio. 
Fees: $ 36 per lesson should be paid in advance and can be made in two instalments during the term. 

If you would like to know more about the Studio please contact me and I will send you the full information sheet. 

Red Bubble - my shop is up and running

I’m sure you all know about good intentions – especially those decided upon at the beginning of every year. Well, some time ago I opened a Red Bubble account and there in the way of many good intentions, it sat - neglected.

It's neglected no more… I have added more images and I’ll add more products in the coming weeks. As a start there’s a Calendar for 2016 – and since half of January is history, you can choose to start the Calendar in February, continuing through to until January 2017.

Some of the images are available on a variety of products. It’s fun to see how everyday objects can be transformed.

Some of the products with the Artichoke Image

Bunya Riverside products

Link to my Red Bubble

Link to mt Calender

Asia Pacific Triennial - Take 2

At the weekend I joined a friend for a second visit to QuaGoma  to see APT8 again. As it was also her repeat visit, she was able to ensure that I didn't miss any of her favourites.

These are some of the photographs I took during our visit. Where possible I have listed the artist and title of the works – others will require another visit to check on the details. 

The figurative sculptures by Francis Upritchard - the lighting here was wonderful. 

Detail - Action Francis Upritchard

Uuriintuya Dagvasambuu / Path to wealth 2013 / Synthetic polymer paint on canvas

Another Realm by Min Thein Sung 

These giant horses are made from linen and hang from the ceiling like puppets. The surrounding walls are papered with comic book pages. Now I do like people but I was lucky enough to get a few photos with no people near the horses. They are really huge and dwarfed any children standing nearby.

Detail - Hit Man Gurung

The exhibit by Hit Man Gurung documents the migration of young Nepalese men to work in foreign countries. He often wears his yellow hard hat as seen in the detail. The monochromatic face with only colour in the eyes created a compelling image. 

When subject is taken out of context or when its context is altered, the subject takes on a completely new personality. So too with the galleries housing the permanent Australian Collection. 

A totally different environment has been created in the three Australian Collection Galleries. Brook Andrews’ trademark chevron markings have been applied to the original wall colours. These reference the chevron pattern that Wiradjuri people paint on their skin, or carve into trees.The red/black in the first gallery is very dramatic. I loved the portrait in the excessively ornate frame against the graphic lines of the chevrons. The juxtaposition of the different narratives - colonial, traditional and representational against the abstract, graphic (and also traditional indigenous) markings made one view the works in a new way. 

Sharing Favourites 6 - Making a Mark

Making a Mark is a wonderful resource for artists. Katherine Tyrrell has just notched up 10 years of blogging which is a remarkable achievement. The blog is in the TOP 10 of the world’s top art blogs and #3 in Top 25 art Blogs in UK. Sketching 365 is her excellent book on drawing.

It’s more than one website but rather a collection of websites covering a wide range of topics –information about exhibitions including interviews with artists; reviews on books and art materials; as well as art business and Marketing resources.

Today’s post is about the painter Sargy Mann. If you haven’t heard about him, seen his work or watched the videos about him then this post provides the links to all of these and more.

2016 - not really resolutions

Wishing you all a safe and happy New Year.