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. 

Transition

Transition - oil, oil pastel and cold wax on canvas 760 mm x 760 mm

Sometimes it is difficult to pick up and continue with a painting after leaving it for a while, as I discussed in my previous post. This was certainly the case with this abstract that was started last year and had remained untouched since the end of October. 

Sometimes paintings work and sometimes they don’t. Often the canvas will be destroyed - a few slashes with a craft knife can be very satisfying. If the canvas is in good condition and the paint surface smooth, I will recycle the support. I had a failed landscape which was ideal for recycling, making it ideal for this abstract.

17th October 2018. Some of these first shapes were suggested by photos of rocks. In this orientation the landscape element is obvious. This was not what I wanted so I flipped the canvas.

Later the same day...

23rd October 2018

24th October 2018. This is where the painting was left until the beginning of February.

After practicing the usual avoidance techniques i.e. do anything else other than the task in hand, and in my case this was working on two small still life paintings, I eventually took the canvas into the Studio and began. Using oil pastels and a looser approach, I added a few gestural lines. The curved shapes added a new element and improved the design. Oil pastels are a useful tool to introduce linear elements into a painting. 

I was reasonably satisfied with the painting at this stage but I felt that some areas were just too busy and too dark. So much, if not all, of abstract painting is subjective and intuitive so at times like this one has to work on how you feel. 

I felt that some quieter passages would be beneficial, since I think that “breathing space” in every painting is so necessary. I manipulated the image in Procreate - this is a useful way to try dramatic changes without compromising the actual painting. Then I applied those changes to the painting. 

Now I am happy and can call it “done”. 

Afternoon Light - Drakensberg

Since I returned from my visit back to South Africa over Christmas, I have been enjoying re-creating the feeling of being in the mountains.  This painting called Afternoon Light - Drakensberg is now finished. Over the last few weeks I have shared small WIP details now I am happy to share the completed painting.

Afternoon Light - Drakensberg - oil on canvas 900mm x 900mm

The painting is quite large - 900mm x 900mm and painted in oil on canvas. It’s one of those rare paintings that seemed to go smoothly from the very beginning. It’s not often that an artist gets into that special state of ‘flow’. Being able to retain this state over a few weeks is also rare. 

There are very few parts that were repainted or that posed problems. 

Early on I realised that the very loose mountain ridge in the underpainting needed to be re-positioned and redrawn but otherwise the painting progressed without too much of a struggle. 

(Disclaimer - usually many parts of any painting will have numerous layers and will have problems that need solving)

I thought it would be interesting to share a few progress photos:

Bright underpainting - 7th February 2018

Later the same morning...an outline of the mountains and a few dark areas have been added.

10th February 

14th February - more work on the dark shadows of the foreground and rocks - preparation for the grass to come...

28th February - more detail on the rocks and the addition of the sunlit grass. The mountain range now has a layer of haze moving them more into the distance.

It was so hard to wait; to be patient; to complete the under-painting of the dark areas before painting the grass over the dry layers.

River Reflections

Some days you know that if you don't pick up a brush and smoosh some oils around you're going to go crazy. This was me two weeks ago. The new canvas I had in stock was too big - over the maximum size for a show - and much as I love visiting the Art shop I really wanted to paint and couldn't bear to spend time in the car going to buy another. Pity there isn't an app for immediate canvas delivery like one does with pizza! 

I hunted in my painting storage room and found a canvas that I had painted as part of a colour workshop aeons ago. It was the right format and size and I loved the colours. A little recycling was the plan. After dusting off the surface I gave the canvas a rubbing down with painting medium to make the surface receptive to the new paint. 

No drawing, just paint directly on to the canvas. After painting for a short while I decided to set up my iPhone so I could use Hyperlapse to record the process. In between I photographed the painting. Looking at the work on my screens helps to see if the painting is going in the right direction. Here is the video of the process. When I returned to the work after a break, I completely forgot to set up the camera so the last part hasn't been filmed.



It was good to get back to working in oils and with colour too. I love my job. If you follow me on Instagram you will have seen some snippets of this work in progress. I've also added some crops which show, (sort of) the whole painting if you go over to my page. I rather enjoy seeing small crops of a painting - the abstractness of the detail is appealing. 

River Reflections - oil on canvas 600mm x 760mm

The Story of a Tree

A few years ago I did a drawing of a Moreton Bay Fig in Vulture Street, West End. 

          The Fig - pen and ink on paper

This drawing was the inspiration for an abstract painting called Bark.

Bark I - oil on canvas 

You can imagine my disappointment and sense of loss when a year ago the tree had been hacked to a quarter of its size. Only the trunk remained - so very sad. 

Then last week I was in the neighbourhood once more. This time the tree was different. It was now a sculpture. The outer layers of bark had been used to encase a stainless steel structure. 

Fig Tree Sculpture - Vulture Street West End

So someone else felt the same as I did about this tree. They cared enough to transform the mutilated trunk into something beautiful.

Whoever you are - thank you. 

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?

Peony - exploring the complexity

                  

Work in progress - Damask Peony 

During the last few weeks I've been working on a few paintings and have used the same technique to transfer my original drawing to the canvas. This post Magnolia Diptych- tracking the process is where I discuss the technique.

Northside Flower Market in my area has the most enticing Instagram profile - it's loaded with stunning images of flowers. A few months ago, the exotic Peony was featured. I woke up a little late this year as the season was almost at an end. The first blooms I bought were deep magenta and the very last bunch of the season was this beautiful pink. The flower is extremely complex, with petal folded upon petal. In our hot climate the blooms don't last as long as they might in a cooler part of the world so I took a lot of photographs. Then I did a number of very loose quick sketches as well as some more detailed careful drawings. 
                   

My local Officeworks was the next place to visit where I had a large copy made of my original drawing. The plan print size is largest and for a few dollars you have a large copy of the drawing A0 - 841 mm x 1189 mm. This is so much easier than using a grid to enlarge the image. Once work was started on the flower, centrally and symmetrically placed, I decided to add the damask motif by means of a stencil. This allowed me to add new colours and provide a background to the central flower. 

As I worked slowly to develop the petals quite a lot of the drawing surrounding the painted area remained. The more I looked at the work in progress the more I liked the drawing contrasting with the petals rendered in a realistic manner. Sometimes every  "T" doesn't need to be crossed. I have therefore left many of these sketchy lines in the final painting.

 Damask Peony – oil on canvas 765mm x 765mm

Paintings at Nundah Village Art Exhibition

This weekend it's the annual Nundah Village Art exhibition. I have four paintings that will be exhibited. The artwork can be viewed on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September, from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm both days.

Exhibitors can enter work in various categories: Landscape, Contemporary, Portraiture and Still Life, as well as a section for sculpture. I have paintings in four categories, so each work is quite different. 

Low Tide - Currumbin Beach is of a particular place and time. It recalls a bright winter day - a cold wind - a very low tide and white light reflecting off the sea. The human element, the little girl is there, but dwarfed by the vast stretch of beach - she's the only one to brave the chilly wind.

If you would like to see the process of this painting, I have complied a Flipagram here.

Low Tide - Currumbin Beach - oil on canvas ©2015 Carol Lee Beckx

Strata has a very different feel. I've been working on this painting for quite a while. It's the kind of painting that has to take time; like the way the geology of the earth is built up layer upon layer over time. Certainly this is not a motif that can be rushed. I enjoyed the change of pace with this painting, using gentle muted colours and abstract shapes, hinting at the layers of the earth.

Strata oil on canvas ©2015 Carol Lee Beckx

My entry for the Portraiture section is Reflection. It's a portrait of my Great Niece, reflected in a nearby window - sitting quietly on some boxes - totally absorbed in her own thoughts. 

Reflection - oil on linen ©2015 Carol Lee Beckx

The last painting is Love Dahlia -  watercolour on paper, my favourite pink makes an appearance here.  

Love Dahlia - watercolour on paper - framed ©2015 Carol Lee Beckx

When I look at these four paintings together I realise that my star sign, Gemini, is evident here - a different person seems to have been involved with each one...

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.

Exhibition Season - Immanuel Arts Festival in Buderim

It seems as though May and June are popular exhibition months in Brisbane and the surrounding areas. 

This week I will have three paintings on an exhibition in Buderim, on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland. The Immanuel Arts Festival has a Gala Opening at 7.00pm on Thursday 21st. The show runs until Sunday 24th May closing at 2pm.

Full details of this Festival hosted by Parents and Friends Association of Immanuel Lutheran College can be found here. 

Glimmering Fragments of the Mist 1200mm x 910mm Oil on linen ©2015 Carol Lee Beckx

There's more about this painting in this post: Glimmering Fragments of the Mist

Coolum Rocks 24th December 2014 6.54am ©2015 Carol Lee Beckx

I've written more about this painting in this post: Coolum Beach -Two Paintings

Dahlia Love Watercolour on paper 270mm x 270mm Framed ©2015 Carol Lee Beckx

And here’s a reminder that The Moreton Bay Regional Arts Award show continues until Sunday 24th May. The standard of work this year's is extremely high, with a wide range of techniques and styles. All the work can be viewed online here:

Moreton Bay Art Award Finalists for 2015

Opening hours daily are 10am to 4pm with an Arts and Crafts Market Day on Saturday 23rd May.

There are more Exhibitions to come in the next few weeks: The Rotary Art Spectacular and The Lethbridge 10,000 Exhibition.

Deep Ripple at the Moreton Bay Art Award 2015

Deep Ripple was inspired by a visit to the Mt Coot-Tha Botanic Gardens, Brisbane. I did a number of sketches and took numerous photographs. (I do so love digital photography because I can over-indulge in taking loads of photos)

In this painting, the water is dark and mysterious but interspersed with bright reflections of the sky.There is a moment when something has broken the smooth surface of the pond. Then the surface flattened and the moment was gone.
Who knows what was there? 

Deep Ripple oil on canvas 610mm x 610mm © 2015 Carol Lee Beckx

I am delighted that Deep Ripple has been selected as a Finalist for the Moreton Bay Regional Art Awards Exhibition which will be held in the Strathpine Community Centre, 199 Gympie Road, Strathpine. (Entry and parking via Mecklem Street.)

 This prestigious exhibition showcases excellent work from Queensland and beyond, with a  number of artistic disciplines being presented. There is a section for 2D artwork incorporating paintings and drawing; a section for photography and then another for 3D works. 

No theme is set which makes it so interesting to see the wide range of artworks all with varying sources of inspiration and using a wide range of techniques and media. 

The opening of the exhibition is the Friday evening at 6.00pm and will run until 24th May 2015. 

Overcoming Handicaps as an artist

Making a Mark is one of my favourite art blogs.It's packed full of resources for artists.  A recent post introduced me to Sargy Mann, an artist who lived and worked in the UK. He died recently on the 5th April 2015. 

The remarkable and inspiring thing about Sargy Mann is that he continued to paint wonderful paintings after his poor eyesight had developed into total blindness. 

There are a number of videos about Sargy Mann and his paintings. These are really worth watching. I particularly enjoyed the video produced by his son, Peter filmed shortly before his blindness was total. It gives insight into some of the practical devices he used to execute the paintings. The above link is a preview. A link to the full film is on Peter Mann's website.

If ever you are feeling sorry for yourself or struggling with inspiration his attitude to his blindness is a reminder that others have it harder than you. He found ways to cope with his problems and create wonderful paintings. 

There are many afflictions that will hinder a visual artist - and the loss of one's eyesight is perhaps one of the hardest. When I lived in South Africa, I enjoyed a weekly painting session in Pascale Chandler's studio. One of the artists was my friend Molly Stiebel. As the years went by, her eyesight deteriorated but she persevered and continued to paint. Her paintings were loose and soft focus but so imbued with feeling and colour. I am the proud owner of two of her paintings.   

Raspberry Cream - oil on canvas - Mollie Stiebel 

Pears - oil on canvas - Mollie Stiebel

 

Inspiration from Coolum Beach

My holiday at Coolum Beach in December was inspirational on many levels. Time to relax and sketch, time to sit and watch the sea - to hear the waves crashing on the rocks - all these things feed the soul. 

Here are two paintings done in the studio. However the inspiration for them lies not only in the photographs taken early on Christmas Eve, but also in the sketches done on the spot that morning. The beauty of digital photography is that there’s an accurate record of the time and place of each image. 

Watching - Coolum Beach  oil on canvas 910mm x 610mm © 2015 Carol Lee Beckx

Coolum  24th December 2014 6.54am oil on canvas 610mm x 610mm  © 2015 Carol Lee Beckx

Facebook Art Challenge

Recently there’s been a challenge taking place on Facebook. Artists challenge fellow artists to post 3 images of their work each day for 5 days, and challenge another artist to do the same. 

I thought I would share the images I posted along with a little commentary.

A collage of artichokes...

and some minatures form a few years ago...

Nostalgia takes me back to the beach. 

The first is “Hot Bluff” for the KZNSA Members Exhibition celebrating 100 Years for the Society of Artists. It was lovely to read in the comments that the collectors who have this painting are still enjoying it!

Hot Bluff oil on canvas 900mm x 900mm

The second painting “Red Bandanna” has a story attached to it. I took the photo with my phone than had a camera almost shooting blind on a bright day. A few years after selling the painting, I was talking to someone over the phone for work when she said “I have one of your paintings, the one at the beach with the dog. I bought it because it’s my friend and I with her dog in the painting!”

“Red Bandanna” oil on canvas 500mm x 500mm

The third painting is “Two Women, Three dogs” and reminds me how much I miss walking on the beach at Umhlanga Rocks.

Two Women, Three dogs - oil on canvas 500mm x 500mm

Some flowers for you to enjoy. It seems I have a thing for roses - pink - and mirrors. 

Pink Roses & Mirrors - oil on canvas 510mm x 1020mm

Lizzianthus oil on canvas 900mm x 600mm

Pink Roses with Mirrors - oil and silver leaf on canvas 900mm x 900mm

And more landscapes...

This first painting was exhibited in another KZNSA Members exhibition.The theme was “Green” so the process meshed well with the topic.It is an example of ultimate re-cycling.

The canvas started off life as a painting of orange roses (unsuccessful) then I took it along to a portrait workshop and it became a portrait (unsuccessful) until finally it became this landscape! 

I need to add that the under-paintings were thin with no impasto so this allowed me to continue working on the canvas, now adding more texture with thicker paint.

This has remained one of my favourite paintings - you can see I have used a crop for the banner image on this blog.

Square Landscape - oil on canvas 700 mm x 700 mm exhibited at KZNSA Members “Green” Exhibition

 Mountain Stream - oil on canvas 380mm x 780mm Affordable Art Fair Art Space Durban

Sinister Pool - oil on canvas 700mm x 700mm Affordable Art Fair ArtSpace Durban

Years ago the WSSA (Watercolour Society of South Africa) now sadly disbanded, had very strict rules - only painted watercolour paper for collage. So these paintings were created using hand painted papers - tissue paper, rice paper and watercolour paper. It’s a creative way of re-using paintings that did not make the mark.

Langebaan Salt Marshes Watercolour collage 

Mushrooms 760mm x 550mm Watercolour collage & mixed media

Water & Light, The Earth and Sky 760mm x 550mm Watercolour collage & mixed media

Landscapes again

Now that I have been here in Australia for four years I am discovering new exciting places that feed my creativity. The rivers and creeks near my home are the source of these paintings.

Nymphaea oil on canvas oil on canvas 910mm x 610mm

Reeds Rise from Water - oil on canvas 760mm x 760mm

Riverside Trees oil on linen 910mm x 610mm 

Winner of the 2014 Grand Prize Nundah Village Art Exhibition