Red & Green

 

Red & Green For Christmas, 2013

Happy PPF!  :-)

Untitled...

Lots happening

Beautiful weather today

grassed mowed

a new water colour to share

Untitled...  

I am late, ever so late, for PPF!

 

monotypes, mixed media & Melbourne!

Do you ever  just sit?

...still & silent

or lay on the floor with your feet crossed ....

to think, and ponder?

clothing optional?? :-D    This over 40 body definately says, hmmm!

On a gorgeous spring afternoon here, the weather couldn't be better: sunny and warm, with a beautiful cool breeze.   After some art time, I think I'm heading for a cuppa and a quiet sit and read, and Be Still... how about you?

This week: Using monotypes in mixed media... I have had fun  in being experimental!   Life drawing sketches have come in handy too!   These are mostly finished, some need a finishing touch (trimming, or gluing etc).

I am away for a weeks Mother & Daughter Holiday - a whole week in Melbourne!!  Depending on technology issues, I may (or may not) have posts this coming week... we plan on walking all around the arty farty,  chic, hidden secrets of Melbourne arcades, and back streets; a week of coffee, chocolate, food, art and  fashion... and hopefully some travel sketching too! 

My first online interview - read it here at Red Parka...   I think I waaaaaay need another bio pic, but otherwise this was cool.  Made me think about what to write, why I do art, how I do art, etc etc. 

Happy PPF!  (Paint Party Friday)

Previous post you might like...

 

Stargazing, dreams and watercolour!

 

Love your comments! 

Stargazing, dreams and watercolour

The stars come out every night

appearing in the dark

as the sun leaves at the end of day

But does anyone notice them?

The silent trees might

as they whisper to each other

 ... in the stillness of the night

 

 is there one?

who will take a moment

this night

to sit and ponder

breathe and dream?

The Stargazer...

The Stargazer. Watercolour on Winsor Newton paper. 8.5 x 12"

Theme this week at  Jenn's Artist Playroom challenge #32 is celestial/ stargazing.  Created whilst balanced on my knee, watercolour palette balanced on my laptop, on my footstool,  with my dog hovering underfoot, wondering why there was No Way, she was getting on my lap (she snobbed me later BTW!)

It has otherwise been an eventful week so far: I have been working on items for Reverse Garbage, and experimenting with monotypes ( Like I really needed to try a new art technique - however that is another story!).  I have gone out in sympathy with Tracey - I think we should join forces and buy stocks in the Tissue Companies!  This spring season is bad for all us allergy sufferers - so dry and windy here is Bris Vegas.  I've discovered instagram - that could end up being rather addictive, and I take no notice of my daughters who just roll their eyes at me.

Also, You may recall the QTAC SAGA... well my Dear Daughter #1, after two successful Auditions and interviews on Flute, yesterday received her first notice of intent to offer her a place from Queensland University!!  Big Happy Dance followed, and a celebration dinner (with candles even!)  This is a HUGE deal for her... after 8 years of flute lessons, and countless hours of practise ( I think I worked it out to be well over 4000 hours!),  she has achieved her dream of going to University to study music, on flute.   Although we still may have a issue with QTAC (too difficult to explain here, but just to say bureaucracy and red tape is always a bug bear), we are fairly confident we can work through those pesky tribulations!!

Have a great week!

Girl with book, illustration Friday

My very first drawing for Illustration Friday.

The topic was 'book'.

Now I LOVE books.  I have countless books ( literally - I tried to count them once, and gave up after 1579...)

We have 9 bookshelves (not counting the kids rooms)

They are all FULL

And I mostly know (mostly) where a given book can be located.

Want a book on ancient history? Try the 2nd from bottom shelf, right hand side in the family room.

Maybe Australian historical fiction? Bottom shelf closest to the dining table.

(The kids did a 'Where is...?" test on me - I won!)

So back to Illustration Friday.  

So, there I am, with one of my all time favourite topics, and I am stuck on what to draw!  

 then...

I imagined  a girl, casually reading... fields of daisies, and blue skies....

Book Lovin.  5 x 7" Watercolour & pen.  Listed in my etsy shop

As a quick sketch ( using a fine artist pitt pen), with a watercolour wash.

I like her relaxed pose, day dreamy far off stare...

I wonder what she is reading?

p.s. love your comments! :-)

Sunday sketching, lazing, and holiday plans

So here I am a lazy Sunday afternoon, and the second day of the school holidays.

It is hot, and humid.  Real summer weather - and its only spring!

Already we have plan, with a touch of military precision, to allow us to achieve all goods things

these holidays, including:

1. Taking eldest daughter to and from work ( really must point her to the bus timetable)

2. taking above daughter to university music auditions

3. Oh, and taking her to music rehearsals with the accompianist.  

( Who, by the way, charge an absolute fortune - $60 for 45 mins for each rehearsal, and each of the two auditions are $70 each!!  Like - all she does is play the piano for 20 mins, albeit all due credit given, she does play very well, and it is a high level and all, but sheesh - I could by a really nice Lorna Jane outfit with that kinda cash, and still have change!)

The other FUN things we have planned include...

4. visiting the Prado exhibition at the Art Gallery

5. The planetarium at the Botanical Gardens

6. a day trip to the  coast and a visit to Maleny (the Mountains), and Noosa (Beach) to see my Dad

7. Another yet to be determined day trip - maybe Stanthorpe? (the wineries) 

We might even stay overnight... don't get me started on accommodation!

8. maybe the movies

9. I have had a request to play a board game - doesn't mean I will 

( I get bored, playing board games)

10. And a shopping trip to Indoroopilly ( a mega huge shopping centre)

11. Footy Final is one Sunday afternoon - gotta keep 

the Man happy!

12.  A BBQ with friends

13. A visit from Grandad

 

whew!

And all I'd really like to do is:

read
go to the gym
paint
water the seedlings


I'm easily pleased - really I am!

These little watercolour sketches were done with a black pen, and wash over the top. 

Things I discovered whilst attempting these:

It is really hard to draw when you have just walked really fast for 20 mins!

I need to find another park - I keep drawing the same trees!

Happy Sunday Sketches!

How was your Sunday? Enjoy :-)

sketching and painting

Ten minute sketching... graphite

coloured pencil and watercolour

pencil - life drawing class

lots of short activities this week - mostly sketching in pencil with some watercolours.  Although I am getting the urge to get the oils out again, maybe this weekend, as I'm NOT going to be shoving 3 cubic meters of garden soil :-)

Getting back in the groove....

End of week 1 back in the studio, and I have these to show...

A pen and wash sketch from a photo I took last year. Quick, easy and a fun way to get back into creative motion... and to get things rolling I am trying out a few of my art supplies, to try and narrow down if I have a favourite, and I thought the easiest way to do that would be to start small!

5" x 7" - pastel on MiTeints Tex card.   Canelands 1.  $55 signed with mat

A scene so familiar to me - the canefields outside Bundaberg, Queensland.  A simple photo while driving past of a lonely farmhouse. (Although there are no windows or doors - I just double checked!  Maybe they are all on the other side?)

5 " x 7". Watercolour. Elliot Heads.  $55 with mat.

Another very familiar scene from last year - the georgeous river mouth at Elliot Heads, just south of Bundaberg.  ( The camera has washed this out a little)

I have really enjoyed working small.  They take a fraction of the time, I can do them with a small easle at my desk ( thus saving my legs as I can sit down), and it was less intimidating than jumping into something bigger.

Next I have to figure out 1. how to price these teeny gems, and 2. how to make them available for purchase :-)    Followed by an oil and then acryllic.  I am trying to see which medium I prefer... although so far I like them all!

Reserved.

Update 24/8/2012 - pricing done!

Pencil and watercolour faces

On my desk tonight - my art journal with a autumn tree and a face that I drew yesterday using watercolour markers. 

I did a second face too.  Tonight I added some pencil over the top, which I rather like...  The first pic is the before photo...

The watercolour markers are fun and easy to use, and you can get lovely watercolour effects ( you just add some water with a wet paintbrush to 'blend' them).   As watercolours go - I think you would be better using real watercolour, but for using in a art journal, or when travelling, or say in front of the TV, these offer a mess free way to add lots of colour, and with an aquabrush you are good to go.  When dry, the addition of colour pencil allows you the freedom to embellish, add more colour, and define.  I like to leave some of the watercolour affects showing through and to work with them to add interest and shadows, highlights etc.    Your art journal pages should handle a small amount of water.   I am thinking off adding some gel transfers over and around this or the other face - so I'll post some updated photos when I get to that!

Pastel loves watercolour

A further step along my road of exploring pastels, watercolours and faces. (Can't really call them portraits as entirely from my imagination at present!

A pencil sketch was painted with clear gesso ( pastel primer).  When dry I used water colour on the face.  Then I added pastel to the background, which I then painted over with a wet paintbrush - the pure pigment turns into the loveliest watercolour!  When dry I went over with layers of pastel ( stick and pencil form) to highlight details.  I really like the effects!  I think in a journal or altered book a little, light spray of fixative would be O.K....

Happy Mothers Day!

For all the mum's dropping by for a visit this weekend - 

hope everyone has a wonderful mothers day!

watercolour art journal pages

Watercolour in my small art journal has been a favourite medium this past week to use.  I have a small travel set that is easy to use, and I doodle with colour while watching TV with the family.  Words, no words, with marker, watercolour pencils - just exploring and having fun!

Watercolor flowers

Watercolor flowers for fun after attending a watercolor workshop with the local art group on the weekend.