Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival 2013

Past the shallows

The Readers and Writers Festival art exhibition had the theme of "Spinal Tap", asking artists to create an image in response to their favourite book.
I chose "Past the Shallows" by Favel Parrett.
It is an excellent read but not my favourite book. I was extremely moved by the characters in the story and found it really hard to let go of the memory of it in the end. This picture is in response to the sand dune scene near the end where a memorial is created. The quote from the book to mark the scene goes "Old shells, white and ancient, marked the spot".

Well, that did it for me really, this little pencil and acrylic effort helped to sooth the emotions that resulted from this read. I'm very happy to say I met the person who purchased this piece and I know it is loved. I wonder what the Festival will throw at us next year?

'Past the Shallows' is available for loan from the Margaret River Library. You can access their catalogue through their blog.

Vasse Art Award 2013

"Peacock Beauty"

My entry in the Vasse Art Award this year is from my Peacock series. I have used recyled wooden school rulers (thanks Audrey) on a found piece of Jarrah (thanks Alex and Amanda) that has been lightly coated with redgum sap. 

Using old French stamps, photos of the peacock at the Dunsborough animal farm, lace, vintage book pages and found papers, this piece portrays the magnificence of the colours on the male peacock wooing the female. The courting phase is dramatic and majestic but the beauty cannot sustain the relationship.

The Vasse Art Award 2013 started today. I went along last night for a sneak preview and it shows a wonderful array of styles, techniques, size of works and prices. A huge layout again this year with new and established artists participating. Well worth a visit.

Here is a link to the Vasse Art Award website so you can get details to enter your own art next year!

This exhibition runs all this week (20 -27 April), 10am - 3pm, at the Vasse Primary School.

A Peacock Tale

It is a bit of a play on words. "A Peacock Tale".

The story of the beautiful peacock body colours is presented here and surpassed by the majesty of the tail feathers. Using recycled bottle tops to carry the images of the tail feathers, portrays the 'everyday' attitude the peacock seems to have to his own beauty. I have just added this one to the Etsy shop.

The recycled canvas wedges convey my peacock photos taken at the Dunsborough animal farm. They are presented on a piece of Moranti wood that has been lightly coated with redgum sap to give it a gentle gloss. The beads are made from rolled up copies of the photographs of the tail interspersed with vintage faux pearls (thanks Grandma Darnell) and turquoise beads.

Peacock by the sea

Peacock by the sea

This is a piece of Moranti wood decorated with recycled canvas wedges covered in images of the Peacock I saw at the Dunsborough animal farm. It makes a connection between the beauty of the colours seen in the male peacock and my love of living in the beautiful coastal Margaret River Region. The variety of patterns, colours and textures in the images I took will keep me entertained for ages.

The central feather piece is on a squashed bottle top and the hanging pieces are rolled photos of the peacock, found beads, pearls, semi-precious stones and a shell. I've added this one to the Esty shop.

Peacock blues and greens

 A visit to the Dunsborough animal farm last November with Fleur and Arabella led to the discovery of this beautiful bird. I have found endless inspiration in the colours and patterns of the male peacock and also wasted a lot of time considering the nature of beauty and beauty in nature. He wouldn't lift his tail feathers for me so another visit is definitely on the agenda.

Poppy paintings

The last of the poppies in the garden have blown away with the strong summer breeze. I managed to capture some in acrylic on collaged and lace stamped pages.