The very best brushes - Rosemary & Co

Whenever I do an order for brushes from Rosemary & Co I say to myself “I do not need another brush” it doesn’t work very well and the resolve is easily broken. 

A few of my favourites... (friends might notice that I put my Ardmore ceramics to good use - and I might add that when I bought these many years ago they were much more affordable!)

And there’s more...

The last order was no different. I have come to like the Red Sable Blend Brushes very much. The mixture provides just the right amount of paint-holding capacity along with some firmness in the bristles. They aren’t as soft as the all sable ones and have the added advantage of being cost effective. My favourites are the Designer pointed rounds which are tapered to a much longer point allowing the artist to ‘draw’ with the brush. The Sable Blend dagger is a very versatile brush allowing for very expressive brush strokes.

I am trying a brush design that I have previously only had in synthetic fibres - a Sable and Ox hair One stroke. It’s quite firm but holds a lot of paint. 

Then there is a very new brush set, the Snowdrop brushes designed for the artist Vladislav Yeliseyev to his particular requirements. The brushes come either as individual round brushes in a range of sizes or as a set comprising three pointed rounds and the wonderful Snowdrop Swordliner - this one was a very special surprise inclusion in my order so I could test the brush.

This brush has a long taper and takes some time to master - lots of practice is clearly needed to use it the way Vladislav Yeliseyev does in his masterful watercolours.  The balance of the handle makes this brush a joy to use - perfectly designed to allow free flowing lines to be created. 

Watercolour abstract using the Snowdrop swordliner. 

Botanique Bazaar

Botanique Bazaar will open tomorrow 8th October at 10.00 am in the Richard Randall Studio, Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, Brisbane. The exhibition will run for a week, closing Saturday 15th October at 1.00pm. 

I will be there on Monday afternoon from 12.00pm until 3.00pm if you'd like to visit while I am there.

I have a selection of small watercolours, a small oil and some little fridge magnets - Mushrooms and garlic painted in oils.

In addition there will be a selection of cards printed with images of my paintings that have a botanical theme

Garlic - watercolour on paper

Portobello Mushrooms - watercolour on paper

Garlic II - watercolour on paper 

Lavender - watercolour on paper

Artichoke - watercolour on paper

Poppies in a Blue Vase - watercolour on paper

Sweet Peas - watercolour on paper

FRIDGE MAGNETS - oil on canvas board

And of course you will notice that I completely forgot to take any photographs before the paintings were framed....

Art classes - a leap of faith

Strelitzia pod - charcoal on paper

Sometimes in life on has to be proactive make things happen. Part of my plan when coming here to Australia was to teach - to fulfill my training and vocation as an Art teacher.
If you’ve always wanted to learn to draw and paint and you live in Brisbane here’s your opportunity.

It doesn't matter if you are an absolute beginner or are more advanced - you will enjoy this time to discover your creativity. I believe that anyone can learn to draw so be brave and come along and have fun.

   

I can be contacted on carolbeckx@bigpond.com

The artist's tools of the trade

An artist without the essential tools to make art is like a pianist with no piano. The last few months I have worked with the bare minimum of equipment – a few tubes of paint and some watercolour paper. In lieu of extra clothes, I packed most of my brushes and some watercolours into my suitcase but the rest came by sea – slowly.

Today I spent a few hours going through an extensive inventory of my goods that have at last been released. I was trying to exercise a little psychic power to remember from the brief note on the box what was near a particular item so I could retrieve desperately needed materials before the rest went into storage for another couple of months.

The new, improved workspace

I was able retrieve my printer – in time to print up-dated business cards, oil paints, pastels,  and my camera tripod. More importantly, I found a compatible lens in place of the one that decided to make a sound like coffee- grinder – I fear the lens is on its way to camera heaven. (The way I feel about it however, it should go to the warmer place)

View from my window

As a creative person you would think that I shouldn’t be so caught up with wanting my stuff -   I should be above material things. But really, to be honest, just having these few extra things, plus a larger table, speakers for my iPod, and other bits and pieces, I now feel as though I am really here and not just visiting. There are other things too – yesterday I passed my practical driving test (obligatory when you come from the land of the dodgy license) and this morning at 7.45am had my first ever experience at having a breathalyser test - welcome to Australia....