WELCOME TO MY GALLERY ©
These pictures are some of my artwork and books that have been on my site in the past. Click on picture for a closer look...enjoy.
Been playing around with acrylic paint. I love this medium. It dries quickly, covers beautifully yet can be transparent when necessary. Hope you enjoy them.
Painted on 300gsm Arches Watercolour paper. I have collaged Japanese and Indian papers to areas of the painting to give texture and interest.
My love of the forest comes through yet again. I applied a yellow/green background then pasted the papers onto that surface and began building up colour until the painting showed me areas in which to begin the emergence of the forest's inhabitants. Unfortunately the mushroom painting shows some glare here when I photographed it, it actually has quite a lot of delicious deep areas in it....never mind...that is art isn't it.
This little series came about when I revisited six little paintings I had done some time ago. I decided to incorporate them in larger works, so far I have done these three.
The first one 'Bellflower' is after a lovely set of chimes I bought many years ago in Hong Kong, the casing is made of a type of raffia. A host plant made itself at home and began to sprout so I had double the enjoyment.
The little painting in the second series reminded me of my lemon tree leaves so I decided on a citrus flavour.
The third painting is an 'interior' A dark corner of my studio where I have vases, dried leaves and little paintings propped up again the wall.
The 'seed pods' in all three painting represent growth in nature.
Life takes over and there hasn't been a lot of time for my art but I decided to buy the nicest sketch book I could find and just let out whatever comes into my head....no rhyme or reason....just for the journey of making art marks. With great excitement I opened up the very first page and as we all know.......BLANK WHITE PAPER DOES NOTHING FOR CREATIVITY....so I just began to write how I was feeling....blank... but sooner or later things began to happen. I am also trying to utilize the odd drawings and bits and pieces I have stored in the many many boxes I have (I am sure we can all identify with that!)
here are the first few pages so far....
end
of 2006
Beginning of 2007
2007. I didn't get a lot of time on my lovely sketch book in 2006 so I thought an early start this year will be a inspiration to get more done. The first two pages were a great journey. A dear artist friend and I inspire each other with a 'word' to get us started if we suffer the dreaded 'block'. She gave me the word 'map'. I got a 'map', tore it and collaged it as the sky but then of course had no idea what I was going to do. My method of working is to just relax and let things flow on and sure enough things soon began to happen. I don't try to figure out what things are until I have finished or unless it begins to tell me. I discovered it was taking the shape of all the holidays I have been on. We have recently been to Russia, Scandinavia, Poland, Germany, Lithuania, Prague, Belarus etc. and it seemed they featured prominently. Of course I allow them to take on their own personalities, that is the thrill of the journey.
The second page was pure play from the 'child within' I spilt my jar of colour paper clips on the desk and the colours looked so delightful I continued on with the play. Totally different but just as thrilling. Who knows what the next page will be. I have just purchased a nice black visual diary for coloured pencil work. I am excited to think what might appear in it. Now I have two books to work in.
Well, looks like 2007 is going to be a good 'art' year. I have been working well. This journal has been such a good idea. I painted the next two pages at random and again something came along. The candle came first and the rest followed. I had fun with the origami cranes. Began to practice and couldn't stop, ended up with 100 or more. Friends and family have been delighted with the small gift of a crane.
One of the first books published on Origami was "How to Fold 1,000 Cranes", released in the late 1700s. It is no coincidence that the crane was chosen as the subject for the book. For thousands of years the Japanese culture has treasured the crane as a symbol of honour and loyalty. The crane symbol is used on many Japanese heraldic devices and is a theme in many famous works of art.The crane is a majestic bird which mates for life and is extremely loyal to its partner. The bird is strong, graceful and beautiful. Because of the great importance of the crane, the Japanese people feel that a person who folds 1,000 cranes will be granted his or her greatest wish. I have another 900 to go before I fold 1,000!
The next page came along in the form of bush fire. I didn't plan it but given that we here in Australia had, yet again, terrible summer bush fires, so it was not surprising it appeared. My next page came as I sat in my studio trying to relax with a blank page in front of me when I saw my notice board was looking rather full with delicious pieces of this and that; and that is what the page became. Not a copy of my notice board but a beautiful journey of meditative drawings. Pieces of my life and thoughts of course came along of their own accord.
For anyone who wants to let their creativity just simply flow I recommend strongly. Get yourself the best journal you can and just GO FOR IT!
Little Angels. I was looking for something to make my little Granddaughters, Madelaine and Bianca when I saw how to make these angels in a kids book. Like the origami cranes, once I started I couldn't stop. 40 so far. I can see them in tin, fabric anything really. These have been made with paste papers and found papers backed with fabric.
These are just some of my paintings and tapestries I have done over the
years.
this tapestry my late Mother did. She did beautiful knitting, crochet and
tapestries.
MANDALAS
ARTIST TRADING CARDS AND JAMS
I have just discovered the wonderful world of atc's and jams. They are cards 89mm x 64mm - a treasure of creativity. atc's are traded and jams are passed through four artists, each having fun adding their talent then it is sent back to the owner who makes copies for the other three artists. I have joined a few Yahoo Groups, so far the most prolific and friendly are the people at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/atcJamsandSwaps
but there are many many others (see my links page). These are my first attempts and they are all originals.
Their titles are: (from top)
'From my House to Yours' - 'Summer at last'
'Outback Dreaming' - 'Ocean Dreaming'
'Bird Song' - 'Forest Dreaming'
Now this is addictive...here are a few more:
Their titles are:
'Bird Fantasy'
'Uluru' - 'Golden Summer Sun'
'By the magic of the moon, lion and pearl...' (maybe the beginning of a story?)
and last but not least - 'Nature upon Nature'
Just finished these:
'Vessels at the well of hope' - Spring awaiting - Summer dreaming - Abstract Rhapsody
Ancient Secrets - Ocean Deep 3 of 6 Series - At the bottom of my garden - snail trail - Night at the Opera - Vogue
These teeny tiny thumbnails are from some of my Black 'n' White Series. Click on them and zoom in for a better view.