A Busy Time

It's been busy over the past few weeks, and I'm glad it's been like this. But, it's also been a weird time too. Over the past few days, I've been losing my voice - so I'm off to the doctors tomorrow; and I know I'm going to be sticking around the house for the rest of the week.

But I've been knitting and doing arty things while I've had my art in those three galleries across Brisbane. So far, one of the exhibitions finished - and nobody who put their work in sold their work. So, my piece came home and his currently on my bedroom wall; awaiting next year to be shown again. 

Then, in the next week or two, there'll be my 'Crazy Beanies' being sold at the Logan Art Gallery's Pop-Up Store. And on 9th, November, I'll be there doing a demonstration day in their workshop - which is always fun. I take along my knitting, yarn, and other gear and set up a table and demonstrate what I do, and how I do it, and make some sales there too.

My other piece is still in at the Judith Wright Centre in the city. I'm not sure if somebody has bought it or not. But people are liking '18 Butterflies'. 

I'm still knitting and painting right now. However, with my throat, it's a very quiet time for me. How's your craft and work going? 

Woah! Been So Busy!

It's 4 months into the new year and I haven't written here yet! I'm sorry about this, but my life has been busy as hell.

Anyway, I've been busily painting away, still working and attending the Social Art Group at the Logan Artists Association at Loganlea and enjoying myself... and I've also taken part in the first members exhibition - 'Express Yourself' - which has raised funds for The Leukaemia Foundation. This was something I really wished for them to do for me as I shaved my head this year and donated my hair... and getting the LAA on board to help me raise money was going to be a big money-spinner for me.

So, as this event came up for me in March (shaving my head that is), I was crazily knitting beanies for myself. I managed to knit 4 beanies for myself and 1 beanie-scarf. I'm part-way through knitting a 2nd beanie-scarf which is going to be way longer than the first one and in my favourite colours too! 

I'm still working on doing a series of paintings of the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales - and am having loads of fun doing it. It still takes me a bit of time to get myself to the part where it gets easier... but seeing I'm up to my 7th painting - and am dabbling on another 2 unfinished paintings sitting around the place. Yeah, I get stuck with my paintings sometimes, so put them off to one side to 'wait for me to get to them'.

Otherwise, that's all I've been really doing...oh! Besides looking at saving up for a trailer tent - but that's a long-term goal. Yep, I want to travel big-time and get myself painting while I'm traveling... sounds like fun, right? Yeah, sure it does! Well, until my next post, keep on creating.

More Paintings, Even Faster Now...

Since changing from Aaron's big classes on Mondays, I've been working so much faster than ever before. 

And this is great!

I've enjoyed the total freedom of jumping between two paintings while at the Social Painting Day on Tuesday mornings - same place and times, but different lot of people - and with a very laid back kind of way of looking at things.

So far, since going to this new group, I've finished 'Torakina' and started another painting, and I'm halfway through 'Shoes on a Fence'... which I'm thrilled with. Once I got the perspective fixed up on the latter one, I was fine. 

And it was all set for me next week. And I'm looking forward to painting while I'm at Brunswick Heads while holidaying down there as well early December. Yep, I'll be taking my tablet down there with me to get more photos of the township and more ideas for my exhibition and I'll be also starting some paintings while I'm down there too. 

Now, I've asked my Dad if he minded if I broke out my painting kit and he said 'No, whatever you want to do... it'll be great to see you in action.' He's never seen me start a painting before, only the bits and pieces of the painting when it's almost done. I think he'll like to see the bones of how it all starts up. 

I'll be doing some en plein air while I'm there too, to get into the feel of it all while I'm at the place. I mean, why not! It's such a pretty town, and very arty, it deserves to be painted in the daylight and not just from a studio with photographs. 

Well, I'm looking forward to starting new paintings while I'm at the coast and enjoying myself completely while I'm there - painting, reading and getting in and doing some knitting too at night - all the things which relax me. And then when I get home, I'll be painting, painting, painting and getting more of my exhibition worked out for the next year or so. So exciting, right?

What have you been up to lately? Anything new? Anything old? Are you making things for loved ones for Christmas? I am, but I'm not saying who I'm making things for because they read my blogs. Well, anyway, until my next post, keep creating!

Painting Faster Than Ever!

Well, it's been a really busy few weeks - and I'm still broke from some strangely big and small expensive things.

How weird is that? 

Well, give it another month, I'll be back on track financially - I know it. How? You see, I've been through this kind of thing before with money... I think we all have. 

But the main thing is:  I'm painting faster than I ever did in Aaron's class. Now, I'm not being mean to his teaching methods - he's good at giving out information; but letting me have my own style was way out of the question.

And that's the thing with teaching, you have to know when to step back and let the student have a go and add their own style to their work. I think he had a problem letting go and didn't know that I was trying to let him know our time was through - and besides I couldn't afford his classes anyway.

Well, I've finished The Picture House - finally! After 4 1/2 months of pushing and pulling with that painting, and much arguing over what was happening with shadows and where the trees were going, how it all looked and other small details, I just took it home one day and never brought it back in. I brought in 'Torakina' and that was it... it was a quarter finished. 

Now, it's 24th, October, and just yesterday I finished it! I love it and it's just how it's supposed to look too! It's got that fresh, lovely morning appearance with a storm brewing in the back hills - as it does at Brunswick Heads some days - and the fine grasses in the foreground not taking over the whole picture... which it's supposed to do.  I signed it and it looks great!

Then, I got in and worked on 'Shoes on a Fence'... a street scape, which has gotten a little out of hand with the vanishing point, but once I used some liquin on it, and scrubbed back some layers of paint to the acrylic underneath, I found where I went wrong. I learned that on YouTube... the different ways you can use liquin! Such a great product with more than one way to use it! 

So, it's October, and the paintings finished so far are:

The Surf Beach
The Harbour Wall
The Picture House
Torakina

The one I'm working on now is:

Shoes on a Fence

Now, that's not bad if you ask me... and I'm hoping to work much faster over the next month or two and get in and make more paintings from my tablet to get together my exhibition much faster. 

So, what have you been up to lately? I'd love to know. Until my next post, keep creating!

Tiny Paintings

I've been working hard on a new painting of my living room and my throw rug. It's great to have the time to get in and do all of this creative stuff - but really, you have to make that time to do all of this. It's the same with my writing... I have to make time to get in and write my books and then edit them and flesh them out. 

But, creating is creating - no matter what it is, right?

Well, I've begun painting up tiny paintings; and they're just the cutest little things! They are book-art and I'm hoping to sell them at the markets at Murarrie in October; along with my other new work too.

I'm also fixing up any of the patching paintwork around the house that I've damaged over the past 15 years. Yep, this place really could do with a new splash of paint - but it's not my fault really. It's been so long between coats of paint, that it's all worn really thin; or maybe the last people who painted this place didn't use the right type of paint. However, I did notice they didn't use primer... yeah, how bad is that?

Well, I thought to pop in and let you know how it's all going before I head off to art class tomorrow. I'm onto my second painting (as I said) and I'm really getting into it a lot faster than 'The Tuscan Garden'. Until my next post, keep creating!

Fill The Gaps Exhibition

This coming week is the start of the 'Fill the Gaps' Exhibition at the LAA - and what a reaction Mark Davey has had towards it! 

Mark asked us if we'd like to put in pieces to put up on the walls of the Able Gallery at the Logan Artists Association; and we all pull together out our own works of art to hang. 

I took along 'Books On My Mind', 'Curved', and 'Eye of the Storm' - all three were from differing times of my life and show a range of what I have been able to do. 'Eye of the Storm' is a memory of an actual storm which passed over my parents' house when I was around 12 years old. What a huge one that was!

This exhibition goes for a month and I hope to sell any - or all three - of these pieces. There's some great work going into this gallery which is also for sale. So, do go along for a look. Until my next post, keep creating!

A Busy Little Artist!

I haven't been around and I must apologise for this... but I've been busily working on art, paintings and tapestry - not exactly in that order - but I have had my mind and hands on art equipment all the same.

This weekend, I'm taking part in an art opening at the Logan Artists Association at Coral Street, Loganlea. It's called 'Black and White' and it's a collection of art by female artists around Logan City and just in time for International Womens' Day. It starts on 4th, March and the exhibition finishes on 15th, March. I have a piece in it and hope to have a great time on Saturday.

I've also joined the Logan Artists Association this year so I can learn new things in the art world. They have lessons going on how to work with clay - something I've always wanted to know - and art lessons which cost only about $20 or so and lectures from artists from around Logan City.

This is going to be so exciting and I can't wait to attend this exhibition, seeing I have piece in it for the next week and half.

I hope it sells, and if it doesn't, at least people will get to know me as an artist. 

The Lake Como tapestry is coming along so well! The only thing that is fouling up the works is the fiddly bits of which colour is yellow, white or pale yellow... other than that, it's coming along really well in leaps and bounds! Until my next post, keep creating! 

Social Engagements

So much has been going on since my last post here; and I haven't had much time to get on here to tell you all about it.

But today, I do.

My needlepoint - 'Autumn's Journey' is now on the wall of the Logan Art Gallery and will be there until the end of June in the Allsorts Exhibition. This exhibition showcases the talent of Logan City residents and volunteers of the gallery - and are there some brilliantly talented people out there! 

The opening was on 27th, May and just last Saturday was the Garden Party (yes, the same weekend as the weather event that inundated the East Coast of Australia in rain). Even though a lot of people pulled out of the Garden Party, we still had a nice gathering of artists show up for it in the second gallery. I didn't stay to the end as I wanted to get home before the rain became too heavy.

'Autumn's Journey' is for sale at the Logan Art Galley for $220 if anyone is interested in it.

I've also been working on new things - new work - for another exhibition I'm hoping to get in and apply for in the next year or so. I can't say much for now, but I hope to get in and work on more of it soon. But I will say it's bigger works than I've been working on in the past.

Then, I've been knitting again and doing more needlepoint pin cushions. I have so many pin cushions that finishing the ones I have now aren't really important, but just something to do. I hoping to just get in and paint more than I have been over the last six months; space is something of a problem - but I have worked through that before. 

Anyway, there's not much more to tell you about. I'm hoping to look into doing some sewing soon - over the next few weeks - and then see if I can make something that will work out for the markets next year. Otherwise, I'm still looking at making bookbags something of a permanent thing at the market stall - seeing how people love to cover their Kindles, Nooks and other ereaders in something pretty and not just something durable. Until my next post, keep creating.

New Focus

With Winter just around the corner, I'm starting to work on other things around the place.

There's plants to repot in the garden, paintings to complete and needlepoint pin cushions to finish up and put away until next year's new markets.

Then, there's me looking for a new kitchen table so I can get in an do some serious sewing of my very own... sounds great, right? Yeah, I've been planning on making some book bags for my markets next year - and I can't wait!

However, my new focus is on making sure I sell my old kitchen table first... and get another one as soon as I can to replace - something solid and something useful; something that doesn't look tiny either. I know that sounds weird, but really need something that will live up to its name of being a good dining room table.

I'm having trouble with keeping my craft gear tidy... most of it is still invading my living room; even though I built a great work bench. Now, this isn't good because it makes my house cluttered and - let's face it - nobody likes it when something like this invades our private living areas of our homes. So, I'm hoping to get my place worked out to a point where I can be ready to move to another place when I can. I'd love to move to a 3 bedroom house - not a townhouse; but a proper house. I've lived in a tiny, squishy place like this for far too long - and my next move will be the place I'll be for the next 20 - 30 years. It will be the place I'll live in for the rest of my life - my real home where I can decorate and properly stretch my wings in the art department. In the townhouse, I can't do that because of Body Corporate rules and regulations not allowing me to make noise, smells (that are really not great) and I don't have a lock-up garage. I also have no privacy to do any of my artwork either. 

And I've been waiting for a long time to hopefully move from where I am... it's not a good thing to have to wait for so long; but I hope it's over soon. I've been painting, reading and writing as much as I can. However, it's a matter of being able to have my own room to have it all there in one place instead of it being spread around my living room, kitchen and near my back door that will really make the difference. 
So, do you have your own art room? Or are you stuck like me - and many others who are in my position as well? Until my next post, keep creating.

Moving On In A Cold Snap

Brisbane is going through a cold snap and I've been very active in my creativeness over that time... and before it too.

However I'm also not well; having come down with the cold/flu that's doing the rounds at this time of year.  Yep, I burnt myself out after 6 months of being on the go without a good rest and caught the first cold that I came up against... oh yay, how fun.

Oh well, it happens to the best of us, and it's just our bodies telling us to slow down.

But I've worked on and finished that large piece of work for my bedroom and it's looking great.  My neighbours who leave their light on unintentionally have yet to do just that to see if it does work out... but I do believe I have this little problem kicked and I'll be able to sleep a full night with a lovely painting on my wall. 

Anyway, I've been taking care of myself with this cold and the worst of it is over... except the cough, which is making me sound like a foghorn, but it'll go away soon too.

Over the last few days, I've been sanding down more photo frames to paint up for the next few markets, looking at working on more pegs, coat hangers and wrapping up more stock for the Lucky Dip for the next market so more stock gets moved on... yep, I'm hoping to get in and work on more things sooner.  Anything not sold in the market in September, is going to be in the Lucky Dip for October.

It seems as though I'm going to be busy, but I'm not really, it's just working out what will sell, what won't and how much wrapping paper to buy at the $2.00 store. So, how has your creativeness be going? Better than mine I hope!  Until my next post, keep creating!

Another New Creation In Progress

Being an artist really does change one's life, and the way you look at things.

Like housework for example. I just don't get the point in my house being totally and completely tidy... because in my mind, the more clutter there is, the more likely I'll be able to create something very cool to work with.

Last week, I started a new painting at a friend's house at Thorneside. I did this because it's a messy process and usually I get paint absolutely everywhere!  So, I used their garage to start it off. Well, I worked from 11am Thursday morning until 11pm that night and I got further in a messy garage than I ever would have in my own place; mainly because of a few good reasons:

1. I live in a unit complex. There's kids everywhere who just wouldn't leave me alone, other kids who would steal things from my carport and then say they didn't do it. And while I've gone and left my piece of work alone in my carport to go to get a drink or to go to the toilet, they'd do something to the painting or poke a hole in the canvas, and well, ... goodbye $40 I spent on a canvas... I may as well throw it out.

2. I simply don't have the space to flick paint all over my house, carpet and I don't think my Dad would like seeing paint all over the wall of the carport (which would also bring down the selling price of my place). 

Anyway, since Thursday, I've really gotten in and worked on this piece. It's gone from nothing to something, and each night, I do work on it more and more to make it better.  

The Beginning

The Framework

So Far, So Good

March Creativeness

Wow!  It's been going on here for the last few weeks; so much so that I've been meaning to come in here and chat, but putting it off.

But I've been working on quite a few things since my workbench has been put into my house.  

Firstly, my chair has been driving me nuts... the gas in it isn't what it is supposed to be.  But then, I'm standing up more, so that's a positive spin on that.

Then, I've been painting up a very cool tiny set of drawers for the bathroom linen closet.  I'm trying to keep things neat and tidy.  so, to do that, I'm hoping to put my hair things into this set of drawers - you know hair ties, clips and bobby pins - to keep them nice and neat. 

I'm also doing an ANZAC Day painting for an online art group.  It's going well, and I'm more than halfway through it, so I'm hoping to take a day or two off from doing work on it.  
While I've been doing that, I've worked on 3 picture frames, almost got a 4th one finished and then I've gotten another 15 or so magna-pegs all bagged up and ready to varnish too.  

Yes, I'm working hard on my gear.  However, the next market isn't far off - on 21st, March - and I'm looking at doing a Lucky Dip to move some stock out and about for the kids and adults.  It'll be $2.00 per dip and each person will get something worthwhile... I may not make a lot of money from it, but then again, it'll move stock I haven't been able to move for a long time; mainly small stuff.  Well, that's about all from me, what have you been up to?  Until my next post, keep creating.

Wet Weekend of Work

This weekend is going to be a wet one... very wet.  Cyclone Marcia is going to affect everyone within coo-ee of it - which includes my city of Brisbane and all the way down past the New South Wales border.

However, this also gives me plenty of time to work on more art and craft than ever.  Now I have enough paint and plenty of magnets all set up, I can have everything worked on at my bench for as long as I wish - even if the power fails on me, as I have a headlamp stored away nearby to attached to me.

So, what do you get up to when the weather turns foul?  After I run out of things to do at my work bench (which will take a while), I'll be reading, writing and cleaning out the house.  Well, keep creating - no matter what the weather!

Extreme Painting

Since I hurt my right arm, I've been taking it easy; but I haven't been lazy.  I've been working on my garden out the front; and built a wall, but it took a week.  And believe me, I'd rather slow down and take a week to build something than stop work all together.
I also potted a lovely Draceana plant in a large pot too.  This has made my front garden look just lovely - so far - as it's just the first quarter of my garden being fixed up.

Then, I've been working on that painting you've read about below.  Now, it's been going really well!  I can't wait to finish it, but I can't rush the writing part of it.  So, I have to make sure I don't hurry it along too much or I'll end up smudging the pencil or the paint.  But it's looking good.  I still have to fix up the face so it looks good; and edges will stay rough so the hair looks like it's moving and isn't fixed in place.  I love where it's going too... I've added even more books and authors to the hair tonight (which I'll take a photo of it tomorrow and update it here to show you all, so you see what I mean).  So, what have you been doing lately which has kept your creativity going?  Love to know about your projects.  Until my next post, keep creating!

Updated Photo1 

Updated Photo2

Updated Photo3 

As promised, I've taken some photos this morning and above are the updates of the painting from a couple of days ago. Enjoy!

Apologies From Me

First of all, I must apologise for not being here.  I've been off to hospital just last week for day surgery; and am currently recovering.  It's slow-going, but I'm a hell-of-a-lot better than I was last week when I couldn't move, let alone take any stairs.

This doesn't mean I haven't been crafty or arty.  I packed up all my painting gear for a bit and pulled out my knitting and sat back did some serious knitting of a new brown, fluffy scarf I'm hoping to get finished over the next few days for myself.  It's just lovely and I'll take progress photos of it, and a finished product photo too.  However, I'll update what I've been up to next week sometime when I get home as - you see - I'm at my brother's house at Brighton, and I don't have access to my Photobucket account here, whereas I do at home.

This means, I'll be updating my photos of what the paintings look like in my now-finished bedroom.  And instead of putting them all in the bedroom, I've spread them into the hall and the bathroom... to make the feel of them change the feel of the house.  My Mum loves how they just change the entire feeling of the room completely and softens the whole look totally.

Have you ever done this to accomplish a feel or a look to a room, a hallway or any part of your own place or another place?  Have you place a piece of art somewhere and the entire feel of the place has changed completely and made it just feel good, or different, or just so totally wonderful you wondered why you never thought of it before?  I knew I could get anything happening in my house with a change over of paintings... but when I looked around, the paintings I wanted weren't in any of the shops.  So, I created my own (as you can see) and they turned out lovely.

Well, that's about all from me for now.  I have to take a rest.  I've been going for some time now and it's time to kick back rest.  Until my next post, keep creating!

All Finished!

Over the last few weeks, I've been working hard on getting some new artworks done for my bedroom and its new furnishings.  And just last night, I finished up the last two paintings!  

I'm so stoked that these two are done as there were six paintings and I painted them from photographs - which is something very new to me.  So, here's a photo of them all finished up.

Six Flower Paintings  

I'm Home!

Yay!  I'm home... and now, you can all see the paintings and photos I've been working from too.  But first, I must apologise for how long it's taken me to do this.  Normally, I would have jumped on here and done it immediately, however, I had to deal with a pet fish dying, clean out the tank and make it clean enough for the other fish to live in - but I don't think he's going to survive either; poor thing.

Anyway... on with the photos!

Stripey Daisy 

Yellow Daisies
Yellow Daisies2 
Yellow Daisies3 

Red Flower 
Red Flower2 

A Pair 

Orange Daisies 

So, there you have it.  All the photos, one of the paintings is finished, another is almost done and then there's a few to be done... it looks like a lot of work, but it's not really.  What have you been working on lately?  Until my next post, keep creating!

Blooming Beautiful Paintings

Over the last few weeks, I've been working on some new paintings.  However, they're not of my usual stuff.  I've been taking photos of flowers around my old stomping grounds of where I used to live here at Springwood and then printed out 6 of the photos and bought 6 differently-sized canvas' at Sam's Warehouse and drew the flowers onto them.

Now, I've almost finished the first 3 of them and have the other three drawn up ready to paint.  I'm going to get in and work on the them this afternoon and tonight.  I can't wait to finish them, hook them up and then hang them in my bedroom to make it look wonderful!
However, not all of the paintings will be for the walls.  I've decided two of them will be used for the beside tables; to move the art from the walls to the new bedroom suite I'm hoping to buy before I have an operation done next month.  I can't wait to get these smaller ones framed up and looking lovely.  When I get home, I'll update this post with photo links to photobucket and you can all see what I've been up to lately.  Until my next post, keep creating!

A Work In Progress

I've been working a black'n'white painting here at Brighton; and it's been a great success.  I thought to share the progression with you all.  I'll begin with the oldest first and then work down until the most recent; and you can see how well it's gone.

First attempt

Second Sitting - 2 hours

Third Sitting - 2 hours

Forth Sitting - 1 1/2 hours

I used an easel outside with natural light.  This was a first for me to be outside and on my own for long periods of time; and I loved it.  What a great opportunity for me to get right into my art and painting and not be disturbed!  I'll be doing it again today too.  Until my next post, keep creating.

It's Finished!

After 7 months of working on it, my self-portrait is finally finished and signed.  I sat down yesterday and did up the finishing touches on it within about an hour and a half and I'm pleased with it all!  

However, it hasn't all been plain sailing with this complex works.  I have never done a nude before and I've never painted a self-portrait of myself where I'm a full-sized figure.  So, these were the main things that threw me; and why it took so long for me to complete it.  I also enjoyed the learning experience so much I almost didn't want to finish it.  But I had other things that were on my mind, so I had to complete it.

There were other faults with it, but if I didn't sign it, I would've been picking at it until Christmas.  So, I thought to keep it the way it is now and sign it - faults and all.  Besides, it's the faults that make a painting, if nothing else.  Well, I'm happy it's finished and signed now; and I can work on something else.  Until my next post, keep creating.