Portraits on Etsy

Drawing portraits using the Sktchy app has been a rewarding experience. Some of these have now been added to my Etsy shop. These are listed in a section for Original Portraits. This is the link

Although strictly speaking this painting is not a proper portrait in the true sense of the definition it's one of my favourites.

 Leaping - watercolour on Canson Montval Rough 270gsm 10" x 11"

The portraits are done on watercolour paper and will be shipped unframed in a secure waterproof padded bag to keep postage costs down. 

An additional option is to commission a portrait using your own photograph. Please contact me directly to discuss this.

Where did 2012 go?

Highlights of my creative year...

Exhibitions

• Vintage Soul - Group Exhibition
• Redcliffe Art Society Members Exhibition: First Prize - Abstract; Commended - Still Life
• Samford Show:2 x First Prize and a Highly Commended
• Arts Alliance Pine Rivers: Highly Commended - Landscape
• Eckersleys' Creative Canvas - "Grey, Silver & Lime" - Winner

Limited edition Sketchbook Project - completed and posted by the January deadline!

Workshops

The Workshop component of my teaching was extremely fulfilling with the following topics covered:

• Discover Drawing;
• Colour - going back to basics;
• Abstract Art;
• Composition,
• Line & Colour with Derwent

2013 will see these workshops continue. I plan to include more topics and offer some one day workshops in my studio each term.

Commissions

2012 has been a very good year for commissioned paintings:

April - Memory Wall

Memory Wall - oil on canvas - 40 x 8" x 8"

May - Paintings for city apartment in Brisbane

September - Deja Bru Cafe

Paris - Deja Bru Cafe - acrylic on linen - 3 x 144" x 144"

October - Wearable Art Hairdressing

Pink Roses with Mirrors - oil on canvas - 1000mm x 1000mm

Plans for 2013

Now that my teaching studio has become more established, I can turn to my personal creative development. Drawing has become part of my artistic practice. I intend using my journals to experiment with mixed media and develop new ways to express ideas and themes that are important to me.

Moving out of the studio is something I would like to do. I need to plan how and where to paint so that is first on my list. Initially, with the heat of Brisbane summer at its highest, I might need to search out a couple of cooler places! (But at least I don't have to contend with snow!)

To my readers in all parts of the world - thank you for visiting Art Matters, it's so encouraging to see the number of visitors growing.

My wish for you this coming year is that you will have happy times with family and friends, good health, and may the creative muse remain by your side all year long...

Posted with Blogsy

Blog love

As the year gallops to a close, time has run away with me taking all my good intentions with it, mainly the plan to post at least once a week. (Don't even talk to me about a daily post - it's never going to happen!)

Well, I haven't done that lately. A commission that has been in the works for a while came to life and although I’d love to finish the painting before the Christmas holidays it’s unlikely that will happen.

I've been doing quite a bit of drawing having fallen in love with the Fabriano Venezia Sketchbook. (More about that later)

Seed Pods - graphite on Fabriano

So, I want to share a few links to blogs I have been following for a while. When you kick back and relax you will have something to browse through…

Wonderful photographs and gentle Irish words from FoxgloveLane…

Mattias Adolfsson does intricately detailed pen drawings with a hint of watercolour - he has more than a fair share of imagination…

Paper Ponderings has talk about books, paper, calligraphy and wonderful photographs (and Fiona's a seriously nice person - I met her on a recent studio visit) 

I first read Euan Craig’s blog just after the Japanese Tsunami - he writes so eloquently. He is an Australian potter living in Japan. Do yourself a favour and scroll back and start reading the posts from March 2011 - this is the link

Finally, if you have a severe case of wanderlust but no travel fairy to buy your tickets then you will enjoy reading Hecktic Travels - exquisite photographs and good writing - it will make you want to pack your bags and go somewhere...

Do let me know how you get on - there'll be more another time.