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

Lethbridge 10,000 2015

Each year, for the last three years, I have painted for the Lethbridge 10,000 exhibition, and each year on the day the finalists are announced, I wait with a knot in my stomach for the email announcement. 

The selected artworks are posted on the Gallery website which is made available initially to the entrants only. The website shows photographs of all the accepted work. You have to scroll down the page to see if the photo of your work is there.

As you scroll you wonder - will I make it this year? Self-doubt rears its anxious head. 
"Oh dear, you think - everyone's work looks so good - I don't stand a chance!"
Then there's relief and delight when you see your painting! 

This year I submitted a second entry as well so I continued to scroll. It's an ink drawing called Paperbark. As I continued to scroll, there it was, amongst the online entries - wonderful! 

Pond Reflections will be exhibited in the Lethbridge 10,000 and it's the third year that I have had a painting accepted. I'm so grateful for this opportunity.

Pond Reflections Oil on linen 61cm x 61cm © 2015 Carol Lee Beckx

This painting is part of an ongoing exploration of water, ponds, pebbles, plants, light and reflections. Preparation for this painting included doing sketches en plein air and also taking a number of photographs. The reflections of the plants on the water create wonderful sinuous patterns, contrasting with the darker shadows over the river boulders. Previous paintings in this series include Windarra Reflections, Deep Ripple, Reeds Rise from Water and Still, which featured reeds, grasses and water lily pads. 

Click on each title to access the paintings and read about their creation.

Paperbark has its origin in my regular morning walk in the park across the road. As I walk, I look at the trees and marvel at the bark which is ever-changing. The layers and details of this tree hold my attention every day.

Paperbark ink on paper Image size 32cm x 32cm © 2015 Carol Lee Beckx

The exhibition at the Lethbridge Gallery 136 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington opens on Saturday 13th June and continues until 28th June.  

All the artwork in the exhibition can be viewed on the Lethbridge Gallery website. 

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. 

Riverside Trees and Reflections

There’s a special place close to my home that has provided inspiration for a few paintings. A while ago I spent a morning there with a friend. We arrived in time to catch the early morning light on the river. The river takes a turn hiding the passage of the water as it moves away. Trees hug both banks and the branches lean out over the water. 

I started with a charcoal sketch of this part of the river that I have photographed a number of times. This watercolour sketch came next - just washes of paint. The ink lines were added with a Noodler's Konrad Flex pen later after the watercolour had dried.

Riverside Trees ink and watercolour Moleskine watercolour sketchbook 

Back in the studio the painting took a different turn - portrait format canvas rather than landscape. I was also trying a new surface - the buff coloured Pebeo linen that has a clear gesso priming.

I changed the colour palette away from the muted tones of the sketch into clear vibrant colour, wanting to recapture the experience of the early morning brightness and the feeling of the enjoyment of the morning.

Riverside Trees oil on linen 910mm x 610mm 

Another new work is one that started from sketches and photographs taken at Mt Coot-Tha Botanic gardens. Here I wanted to focus on a small section of the water; the reflections and ripples - dark and mysterious with the flash of sunlight and the blue sky’s reflection.

Deep Ripple oil on canvas 610mm x 610mm 

These two paintings and two more will be exhibited this coming weekend at the Nundah Village Festival Art Exhibition.

Exhibition Hours: Saturday 13^th and Sunday 14^th September, 10.00am to 3.00pm

Norris Motor Group Workshop

Wood Street

Nundah Village

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.