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.

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.

Margaret River Mitre 10 paint sale

Pot of fleurs

Good old Mitre 10 had a night for the ladies recently and the paints were 30% off! I stocked up on some wonderful colours and got cracking the very next day. The background is collaged papers with acrylic painting over the top. I love the texture of this Matisse range. This image will be made into cards for the summer.

More Kookaburra's

Kookaburras. Living in Amanda's living room now.

It's 6 o'clock and the Kookaburra's are going off, all calling to each other to finish up for the night. Such a domestic and comforting sound. I think this maybe it for my Kookaburra fettish for now. These two babes are painted in acrylic, quite lightly so the collaged background shows through. It is a sewing pattern scrunched up in the background with my new favourite red on top. Heaps of fun.

Mixed media fun

Kookaburra

We have a lot of Kookaburra's on the farm and I love their early morning chatter. I came across a couple of Kookaburra feathers the other day and was inspired to capture their cheekyness. This is acrylic with pen and ink over collaged music on cartridge paper.

Vasse Primary School Art Award starts Easter Saturday

I've just delivered my painting efforts for the Vasse exhibition that starts this Saturday from 10am. The awards will be announced at 2pm.

I had a sneak peek at some of the entries and there is a wonderful array of styles, sizes and themes. It's on until Sunday 1st May and I urge you to pop in and have a look if you are in the Margaret River area over the school holidays.

I have entered the 'Best Westerns' and also a piece I have been working on for my art theory studies. It incorporates a poem onto torn vintage paper, sand, modelling paste and redgum sap.  

'Silver Princess'

  Vasse Primary School until end of April.

10am-5pm weekends and 10am-3pm weekdays.


EXHIBITION OPENING TIMES Weekend: 10am - 5pm
Weekdays: 10am - 3pm 

New bird species

I've created a new acrylic painting over collaged papers of some wrens in the garden. It has a wine label in the background from Best's Great Western and as the birds are a bit quirky I'm calling them Best Westerns.

I've just added this original canvas to my Etsy shop called Art From The Shed because I'm really happy with it and want to share it. Also because I haven't been very active in my Etsy shop and it's starting to seem a bit stale. I have done some more little canvases 15cm x 15cm and these will be for sale on the Kids Room Art page of Margaret River Stompers. It's a real pleasure doing these collage pieces and I love how the birds end up as individual little characters.

Best Westerns

Best Western close up

Bests label close up

Flowers on Gulliver's Travels

I have discovered this old copy of Gulliver's Travels and am tearing it up for my collages. It goes a wonderful antique colour with the gel medium sealing it to the canvas. I'm building up my layers with washes of colours over more gesso than usual and just generally having a play. School's back and I've only the chooks and the heat to distract me now. One old girl even left an egg on the art table when I went in for a cuppa!

Collage fun

I almost painted over this effort but a few friends and family have had a look and really like it so I've decided to share it and put it up for sale.

Owls

 It's only 32.5cm x 23.5cm so I'm thinking $50. The sides are only 1.5cm deep, and are painted brown.

Owls in detail

 Yes Fleur and I have been having fun but the house is starting to look unloved so....we're off to the beach. Hey, it's school holidays, have to get the priorities right!

Flower painting

Magnolia

I have started to use up some old canvases laying around and when mum presented a photo of a magnificent magnolia her friend had grown it just seemed perfect for this huge canvas. This deep sided canvas is an impressive 80cm x 80cm square. The staples show on the sides so it really needs framing but I've painted them brown for now.

I've used the music score in the background again as I really like this look. Here's an up-close look.

Magnolia in detail