This is the finished painting I'd posted about a few posts down, I realised I had not put the completed image up for you to see. It's now on it's way to Wellington for the Academy of Fine Arts, Winter Exhibition, where hopefully it will be accepted. I will know in 10 days or so.

Excitement builds as Artwork makes primetime TV.

Campbell Live from TV 3 will be there to film the unveiling and auction, of the secret Artwork 'Ngatahi' . Thursday, 7pm TV 3


Sixty one members of the New Zealand Art Guild have joined together to create this large Artwork. With 100% of the funds raised from the sale being donated to the Mental Health Foundation.

See my contribution to this Artwork in the post below.

Secret Artwork Raises Cash for Mental Health Foundation

Artists from the NZ Art Guild have created an artwork that will be kept secret until it's auctioned on July 2nd. They have once again joined forces to raise money for the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) through a charity auction which coincides with the Art Guild's 5th birthday.
The extraordinary collaborative project titled “Ngatahi” will be auctioned, along with other pieces of art kindly donated by top Kiwi artists. Ngatahi is a unique artwork, which consists of 64 individual artworks by 61 artists from all over NZ. The theme of the artwork is Together – our land, our people, our culture.
When all of the individual artworks are combined they will create an overall image and the artwork measures 1.3m x 1.3m. The complete image of the collaborative artwork is kept secret, even from those participating in it, until the unveiling of the artwork just prior to the opening night of the NZ Art Guild annual exhibition "Out of the Blue", which runs for the month of July.

Above is my contribution to the collaborative project titled 'Ngatahi' The boat in the image is called 'Leanda' and was my grandparents boat, they lived in Picton and would often take people out on her.

OSFA

play of light

This is the the very early stages of my next painting. It was the play of light on the window, and the fact it had been boarded up that attracted me to it. I assume not to keep out the light but rather unwanted 'guests'.

So far it's just a very simple acrylic under painting. Layers of oil paint will add the detail later.

Rain

I seem to paint stormy sky's this time of the year. As an artist I definitely respond to whats around me. This unfinished and untitled work is of a view I know like the back of my hand, the view from my old studio, and I miss it! But there will be new views in the future, nothing really stays the same. I see in my local paper that the paddock in the foreground is to be auctioned on the 10th of this month. So what will become of this view then?

My new but makeshift studio is nice and sunny today, it catches the sun from about 12 noon, so I find myself painting later rather than straight after breakfast. I hope its sunny tomorrow then I might get to finish this one.

"A Balanced Diet!'

The idea for this one came to me while waiting to be served at the supermarket. Oil on canvas, 254 x 254 mm.

New Website

I've been putting together a website, it's like a catalogue of paintings. All tho it's not even close to complete it's a start. The thought of cataloging everything is a daunting task but I'll chip away at it.

There were no computers when I went to school and I've never taken a course in computing, so I just dive in and learn as I go.

I've put a link to the site in the right hand column. Have a browse around and please sign my guest book while your there.

I finished this yesterday.
It's very wet here, I awoke to heavy rain this morning. The weather can influence what I paint so I wonder what it will inspire today.
The studio is nice and cozy on days like this, I have lot's of chores to do in there today, it's a bit of a mess so will need a tidy too. I need to get more paint so will hit the art supplies shops sometime soon so will make a list of what I need.

I hate cleaning brushes but it's a task I must do and should not put it off any longer.....

On the Easel

I'm working on an abstract landscape at the moment, the theme is environmental and my depiction of how everything is interconnected.

I'm also creating a new website, this will be more of a catalogue of my work, organised into subject and style. A link will be here soon.

Academy Galleries Summer Exhibition

Today the submission slip for my two paintings into the Academy's Summer Exhibition landed in my letter box, oh joy! they were both accepted. I always await notification eagerly.

The Exhibition runs from Saturday 14 th March through to Sunday the 5 th of April.

Academy Galleries
1 Queens Wharf
Wellington.

China Tea Cups

250mm x 250mm, oil on canvas.

Music

I did a little painting today but was suffering from a sore hand......it's a long story......anyway I decided to take a break and go to Palmerston North for a support glove.

Ricchary (means'wake up') was playing in Broadway, beautiful haunting music, (Indian American pan flute) I brought a CD because I like to play music while painting.

http://www.ricchary.com/

I'll be back behind the easel tomorrow listening to my new CD.......

Todays lot

I've continued with the cups & saucers as far as I can go, now I need to wait till the paint is a little drier to do the next step.

I have some boring studio chores to do for the rest of the day......sigh

Painting up a storm

Primary school started back today so I spent an uninterrupted day in the studio:)

I enjoyed painting the last Chinese cup and saucer so much that I've started another.

I also completed a painting for myself......it was such fun I can't wait for tomorrows painting session.

Monkey Bay New Years Day

Here's just one of the images I've captured over the Christmas holls. I don't know the people but it looks like they're having fun!

I've always enjoyed dabbling in photography, it's nice to step out from behind the easel and take photos.

The past year

I've just updated the list of galleries and exhibitions I've been involved with for 2008, despite the fact the year has flown by and I've been so busy with stuff outside the studio looking back I'm happy with the list. I'm still waiting on word about the Spring Exhibition at the Academy, so hope to add that to the list.
Sadly Vito Rosa closed down & The Empire Gallery will be doing the same in the New Year. I guess it's just a sign of the economic times.

2008.
Vito Rosa, Te Horo, Kapiti Coast.
.NZ Academy of Fine Arts, Summer Exhibition.
.NZ Art Guild Exhibition, "Reach Out", Auckland's BMC.
.TOSA, Auckland.
.NZ Affordable Art Show, Wellington.
.NZ Academy of Fine Arts, Autumn Exhibition.
.NZ Academy of Fine Arts Winter Exhibition.
.The Empire Gallery, Cambridge.

The full list is further down the blog on the right.

New Website

Next week I hope to get a new website loaded up. I'll put a link in as soon as it's all up and running.......so don't go far ;)

Painting Stainless Steel

Today I started on the stainless steel. First I block in the colours and shapes......

Then I blend them a little.......

I drag a dry brush over the wet paint to give it that 'out of focus look' that the reflections have. I then re do the highlights and darker shadows and sharpen up anything I think needs it. when it's a little drier it will benefit from making the highlights stronger.

Lemon

I started this today, Theres a lemon tree in my 'new' place so it seemed the perfect thing to paint. This is the first time I've worked with oils in the new studio and after about an hour I was feeling sick. It turns out the ventilation's not good enough so I put the fan on. I should have done this first! Tomorrow is a new day and I shall put the fan on first......before I get the turps & linseed oil out!

I've been tagged

By Artist Sophia Ellis the manager of the NZ Art Guild and a fellow artist.


Sophias blog http://www.sophiaelise-artist.blogspot.com/


Now I've been tagged I must list six random things about me, here goes.....

1) I often start new projects then end up with to many unfinished things on the go at once.

2) I hate the wind but enjoy walking in gentle rain.

3) I became a Grandmother at 39 years of age!

4) Dislike tidying up - so work in a messy studio most of the time.

5) I'm a music junkie and often listen to my ipod in bed.

6) The builder says I own far to many power tools for a woman.

It's now my turn to tag

Donna Steel http://donnasteelartist.blogspot.com/

Deanna Gracie http://deannagracie.wordpress.com/

Denita Tizard http://denitatizard.blogspot.com/

Mark Godwin http://pictureitponderitpaintit.blogspot.com/

Melissa Muirhead http://www.melissamuirhead.blogspot.com/

Moira Marshall http://www.moiramarshall.co.nz/




The rules:
1. Link to the person or persons who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up

DREAM

760 mm x 250 mm Acrylic on canvas.

I think it may be a few more weeks before I post here again due to a family bereavement.

People do not die for us immediately, but remain bathed in a sort of aura of life which bears no relation to true immortality but through which they continue to occupy our thoughts in the same way as when they were alive. It is as though they were traveling abroad. ~Marcel Proust

Getting back into it.....

......yesterday I poured resin over parts of Mikey's painting, I wanted the red to stand out. It's come up really well, I'm pleased with it. I will be varnishing the rest with a matt varnish. Mikey's painting is a conceptual work, not a style I do often, it's making a refreshing change. There is an image of the painting in an earlier post, I will post a fresh one here when I've finished it.

The new studio is starting to feel like 'My' space now I have my things in. I put a blind in the west facing window so I now control the light and how it comes in. This also might stop me from looking out to the garden I'm creating, as it's a major pull I have to fight.

Relocation

I'm in the middle of relocating my studio at the moment, painting has taken a back seat for the next couple of weeks while I paint the walls and settle into the new space.

A different outlook from the studio window will bring new inspiration. I look forward to seeing what flows from my paintbrush next.

Bye for now......remember to pop back in a couple of weeks!