Proteas with a Jug at Rotary Art Spectacular 2019

Proteas with a Jug - oil and cold wax on panel 40 cm x 40 cm 

I am delighted that this little painting will be part of the Rotary Art Spectacular 2019. The exhibition opens on Monday evening - details below in a screen shot from the website.

I have written about the process of this painting in an earlier post which you can find here. I so enjoyed painting it and am so pleased with the result - I just love the colours. It’s really satisfying when everything just “works”. Although as you will have read in the post there were a few obstacles along the way.

Two more of my paintings are part of the Online Exhibition. There were so many entries this year so I am happy to have a painting selected to hang in the show. Once the online catalogue is on the website I’ll add a link here.

Transition - oil and cold wax on canvas 90 cm x 90 cm 

Digital Painting

Over the last couple of years I have become more and more fascinated wit h digital painting. I still have a lot to learn and try to expand my use of new digital brushes with each new painting. This painting started out as an oil painting on canvas. It had been started some time ago and then left while I went on to paint other images. I hauled it out of storage to re-work it and complete the painting. Photographing work in progress provides a way to assess the quality. I loaded this photograph to Procreate and then I realised that since the entries for the Rotary Exhibition were now open to digital images there was nothing to stop me submitting a digital painting. 

Time and Space - digital painting - suggested size: 60cm x 60 cm. 

Since this is a digital print on archival paper, the size can be altered to suit your requirements. Alternatively the painting can be printed on to a stretched canvas and would then require no framing. 

The Wrap of a Leaf

Over the last few years, I've been using watercolour for sketching, usually combined with ink. A small travel palette is ideal for adding colour on the spot. This painting marks a return to watercolour painting on a larger scale in the Studio.

The reference photograph for this painting was taken many years ago while on a family visit to Belgium. We walked a few kilometres from the home and our wandering led us through a forest. I was fascinated that this wonderful place was so close to suburbia. The image hasn't lost its appeal. While working on the painting, I was right back in the forest; experiencing again the earthy odours of autumn leaves and funghi.

The title, The Wrap of a Leaf is from a poem by Dylan Thomas. When I'm looking for a suitable title I will use a "random title selection method" I am amazed how frequently an apt title pops up. On this occasion, I searched my poetry books for the word 'leaf' and this line jumped out. 

I used graphite and coloured pencils in some areas with most of the painting in pure watercolour. Initially, I planned to include collage, adding different painted papers. However, as the work progressed I was content to keep to watercolour.

The surface is a full sheet of Stillman & Birn Zeta paper. I enjoy the unpredictable nature of the hot press surface which causes the paint to move and blend in ways different from the usual cold press watercolour paper. Painting this way encourages me to relinquish control. 

The Wrap of a Leaf  

Watercolour, graphite and coloured pencils on Zeta paper 

Framed size - 585mm x 730mm

I am delighted that this painting has been selected to be part of The Rotary Art Spectacular 2017 to be held in May. Two more paintings were selected for the Online exhibition. I'll talk about these in another post. 

Flower paintings - Magnolias

I received a cryptic email from the organisers of the Rotary Art Spectacular 2016 saying:

“Congratulations, one or more of your entries has been selected for the exhibition. You will be notified of the details by the end of April.”

So I have at least one accepted painting.
This is the third flower painting completed recently and entered for the Exhibition.

Is this the one? Or is it Peony or Magnolia Diptych?

Which is your favourite?

Connecting with Collectors

In December I spent a few weeks at the beach - watching people; staring at the sea; sketching and taking photographs. Over the last few months, these experiences have resulted in a few paintings.

Sometimes when you paint a subject that touches you; when it is something that strikes a chord within you; something that makes you want to share the experience; you wonder if you will be able to get the message across to the viewer. You know how you felt when you first connected with the scene that inspired you - but how can this be expressed?

This week I had confirmation that one such connection had been made. I received a message from a buyer who had recently purchased "Watching". I asked permission to tell her story so here it is...

She said:
"I have received your "Watching" painting in the mail today. I absolutely love it!!...Thank you!! When I first viewed it in the Rotary Online Gallery I had tears rolling down my face as it reminded me of my darling Granny at the beach - same stance and hat! I turned 40 this year & was going to buy an art piece to mark the occasion. When I saw this, 'Watching' had to be it! Thank you so much."

Watching - oil on canvas 915mm x 610mm ©2015 Carol Lee Beckx

There's more about the holiday in this post Inspiration from Coolum Beach

and this post discusses saying goodbye to favourite paintings: Artist and Viewer and more sketches from Coolum here: Sketching as the year draws to a close.

Still - on show at the Rotary Art Spectacular

I am delighted that my large painting Still will be shown at The Rotary Art Spectacular, Waterfront Place Brisbane, opening tomorrow evening at 6.30pm.

This exhibition is one of the most prestigious Art Exhibitions on Brisbane's art calendar; it showcases work by many talented artists while raising funds for charity. An online gallery has been created so you can view all the works on show.  

Still - oil on linen - 1200mm x 910mm  ©2015 Carol Lee Beckx

The exhibition has moved to a new venue this year, which is slightly smaller than in previous years, so having work selected for this show is particularly gratifying. In line with other similar exhibitions, the Rotary show has work selected in two categories - work to be displayed in the exhibition venue and work selected for the online exhibition.

I have written about the process of Still in this blog post, and here is a Flipagram showing clips at the different stages.

Two more paintings, Watching and Rocks 21st December 5.09pm, have been included in the online show. 

Rocks 21st December 5.09pm - watercolour and ink on paper ©2015 Carol Lee Beckx

Watching was the result of sketches done while on holiday at Coolum Beach during December. Rocks, on the other hand, in watercolour and ink was painted en plain air. More about those days spent sketching at Coolum can be found here and here.

Perhaps one day I will work in oils on site, but for now sketches and studio painting is working for me. The logistics of working in ink and watercolour are reasonably manageable; working outside in oils is perhaps another story altogether!