(Half) Speed Ahead

So we’re out of the in-between week, and into the new year.
I feel like I should have already taken off running.
It’s been a bit strange, factoring in the weekend. I’ll start…stuff…on Monday 😆

I’ve started the new diary. And the other new diary.
Here are the old ones (and the book I was reading).

I like to colour co-ordinate.

That top diary was started in 2022.
My handwriting tends to be tiny – I generally fit three lines into one ordinary-sized ruled line. It can take a while to fill a book!

Here are my new diaries. And the book I’m reading.

The book underneath is one I’ve had for years. It’s beautiful ❤ Which means I haven’t wanted to mar its beauty with my writing.
The cat diary has spaces for a drawing a day, and a written musing. The book is about writing.

Yes, every word matters, in the sense that it’s good to think about what we say, or write.
So, this year I will write. And draw.
I’m hoping to expand a bit from these books!
I don’t “correct” whatever I do each day – once the day is finished, I don’t touch it again. I also draw from memory, which means I end up with some strange images 😀

And so, I will cope with imperfection, and push past to good. Maybe even great!
I don’t know what’s up ahead.
All I can do is mosey on in to the spaces I’m supposed to be in, and see what I can do there.

So can you. It’ll be fun!

Published in: on January 3, 2026 at 10:47 pm  Leave a Comment  
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I’ve Been Framed!

Well, my self-portraits have…
I can’t say I’ve done an amazing job of framing, but they’re done. I’m working through the written assessment tonight and tomorrow, and then I’m pretty much done!
As often happens, the things I think will be easy…aren’t.
But the things I think will be hard sometimes aren’t, either! 🙂
I had frames and bits and pieces strewn around the lounge room yesterday.
Biggest Boy was a bit nonplussed to walk in the door, only to be confronted by me(s) frowning at him from the big lounge chair.

😀

On a foray into town today to look for some framing bits (unsuccessfully), I came across a new footstool.

A comfy unicorn, but it needs a bit of spot cleaning.
I seem to have gathered myself a bit of a menagerie 🙂

I’m nearly there.
Starting to feel the satisfaction of accomplishment…
I’ve got some work framed and up on the shelves.
I’ll have time for reading (yay!) over the break.
…and, of course –
Don’t forget my unicorn!

🙂

Published in: on April 16, 2025 at 10:24 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Showing My Face

Seems like I forgot to post this week.
I’ve finally reached the last bits of my course, and have been working to get the last assessment finished.
I have just over a week to go.
Cool. Nearly time to move on to the next stage of my life. Exciting.
But also –
I HAVE JUST OVER A WEEK TO GO!!!

I’m sure it will be fine.

My last task is to put on an “exhibition”.
This won’t be an actual exhibition – I just have to show that I can decide a theme, curate works to fit the theme, frame those works in a professional way, and label them as they would be were they to, actually, be exhibited.

I am allowed to use pieces other people have done, but as I was having a look through my old catalogue, I realised I had a good number of self-portraits.

So – my theme is…
“Retro-Perspective”!

Yes, I know that’s not really a word.
It’s to do with looking back on how I portrayed myself then, and how I see myself now.
I appear to be more wrinkly, and probably crankier, now.
Anyway, here are the choices…

Untitled, and not sure of the date – maybe 1986/87?
Me, looking into the big TV we had then.

I’ve always liked this one.
1987, charcoal and white conté on mulberry paper.

“Removed”, pen and ink on paper, 1988
And I think I still have that marble somewhere…

Untitled, drypoint and (fairly unsuccessful) mezzotint on rag paper, 1988
This one was just me drawing my reflection in the etching plate with an etching needle.

“Ya Reckon?”, linoprint on rice paper, 2025

“I like this spoon”, graphite and watercolour on paper, 2025

And yes, I do like that spoon.

I have frames. Still have to get all the other bits and pieces for framing.

Well, at least I’ve still got (just over) a week…

Published in: on April 10, 2025 at 11:05 pm  Leave a Comment  

All The Colours Of The Palette

I think I’ve finished the paintings for the assessment that’s due tomorrow.
Not sure enough to submit them yet.
But fairly confident…
I’ll check them again in the morning.

I have been enjoying the colours of the palette when I finish for the day.
I don’t think I’m too wasteful of the pigments, but I’m still juggling amounts when I mix colours. I’m also (finally) using brighter colours.
Yay! 🙂

Yesterday’s.

…and today’s.

There are still questions to answer.
But, one way or another, by tomorrow night I’ll have finished another module.

I’ve had a bit of a break tonight, and a bit of a laugh.

Just another reminder that people can be so delightfully weird!
❤

Published in: on March 20, 2025 at 11:14 pm  Leave a Comment  

Waiting For My Brain To Spark

Don’t mind me.
I’m just procrastinating.

Again.

I realise, of course, that everything would be easier if I just jumped in and did it…
My assessment is due tomorrow, and my brain doesn’t want to formulate the sentences needed to complete it. Despite this, I still need to think up those sentences, put them in the document, and send them off.
Time is ticking away…

The prac work is done, although I can still look and see problems. The reality never really matches what I see in my head, and I have to stop myself overdoing it and making it all into a muddy mess.
The images are already uploaded to the assessment.
Therefore – they are done. 😆

Behold – a (final) pear.

I still like the pear.
And still couldn’t mix a bright enough purple for the background.

Here are bottles, mixed with light.

I’ll probably answer a few more questions.
Or watch a couple more YouTube videos.

The morning will be brighter!
🙂

Published in: on December 12, 2024 at 11:28 pm  Leave a Comment  

Lighten Up

Another day of rain.
Another day of painting.

In other words – a good day!
🙂

We didn’t have any problems with flooding (yay!) and everything was nice and cool. Makes it easier to cogitate about paint and its application…

I noticed my bedside lamp was having a bit of a holiday outside today.

At least, its reflection was.

And I spent a large chunk of the day in my art room.
My paintings are probably ok to submit.
I’m just not quite happy with them. I’ll look at them again tomorrow.
At this stage, I still think there’s a bit more to do, but I also need to know when to stop. Too heavy a hand can make everything look a bit muddy and drab.
I’ll get back to my colourful habitat tomorrow,
and look with fresh eyes.

😀

Published in: on December 10, 2024 at 10:49 pm  Leave a Comment  

Juggling With Pears

One, anyway…
I jumped in to the next stage of my pear-trait today. It went ok, although the background needs work.

I’ll have to wait for this to dry and then work on it a bit more.

I find I have to talk myself into starting each stage – it’s something I don’t really know how to do, even though I enjoy it when I actually start painting. A lot of my preliminary work is working out in my head how to do each bit.
As I’m not used to oil paint, I’m finding it hard to plan around drying times. I hadn’t realised that moisture in the air slows down the drying, and we’ve had a bit more rain recently than the canvas could cope with!
I think I’m getting the hang of it now 🙂

In the in-between times, I’ve been fitting in other things I need or want to do.
One of those things today was putting the Christmas tree up, and organising my other Christmas bits and pieces.

My gnomes have emerged for another Christmas.

Tree’s up.
Yay!

My beautiful angel 🙂
She has stood on top of my Christmas tree for 31 years now.
And will for many more.
❤

Published in: on December 4, 2024 at 10:33 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Pear-Trait

I need to start my oil painting assignment soon.
There’s still time until it’s due, but I’ve never painted in oils before, so I don’t really know how long each layer takes to dry.
I don’t really know much about it at all…

It would probably be easier to start, and work things out as I go.
I tend to think everything out before physically doing anything…I think that helps me to get it all sorted in my mind, so that I know what I’m doing with my hands.

Well…I can only try.

My first attempt will be a pear.
This one.

A pear-trait, if you will. 😆

I just need to follow the instructions I’ve been given, and I will understand what to do.

Ap-pear-ently.

Published in: on November 26, 2024 at 11:16 pm  Leave a Comment  

It’s A Date!

At least, it was…
Thought I’d take advantage of the break in general raininess to go on an Artist Date.
It’s something I’ve not been too consistent with, but today, everything came together.
I started off at the library, finishing off a book I’d been reading, and looking through a magazine. I enjoyed taking my time, and felt rested.
It seemed like a good time to check out the gallery, which is showing an exhibition of abstract art at the moment. It’s called “Arriving Slowly“, which seemed appropriate for my day.

It looks better in person…still time to check it out!

There was a little side room, which contained some paintings – one of which was a Rothko.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in real life before.
For some reason, I didn’t expect it to be so big.

I had a look at the rest of the gallery, and came across a lovely Margaret Preston.

I believe I have seen her work before, but it was nice to come upon this unexpectedly.
This one is called “Wild Apple”.

Next, I went down to the Community Gallery, where they were showing an exhibition called “Terrain“, an exploration of landscapes through ceramics.

I believe these are all pieces by Rachel North, although I wasn’t sure I was reading the labelling correctly.
Go and have a look, and tell me if I got it right! 🙂

There were a variety of pieces, which didn’t really photograph well for me…
probably best to go and see for yourself.
I’ll end with this one, which I believe was made by Kirsti Falconer.

It was a refreshing day.
And something I should do more often…

Published in: on November 21, 2024 at 11:45 pm  Leave a Comment  
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One And Done

Well, technically four.
But they’re all monoprints grouped into one piece.

It’s a family portrait!
Not sure why the boys appear to be older than us, or why Sweet Bean seems to be moonlighting as some sort of Ancient Greek philosopher. And Biggest Boy doesn’t like his photo taken…I was going to leave him out, but decided to include him in a way more acceptable to him.
And that’s my second (and final) print!
Yay! 😀

I used to enjoy monoprints, and did enjoy doing these, but my hands may not be as dexterous as they used to be.
Or maybe it’s just lack of practise.
These were done on the back of an old etching plate. It’s one of my midsize ones – roughly 4.5×5.5cm.
I did have smaller plates, although I can’t find them now. I think the smallest was about 1x2cm.

I did a lot of miniatures back then.

A monoprint is made by inking a plate, then wiping away the “white” spaces before printing. Because of the process, you only get one print, although I have heard of “ghost” monoprints – making another print from what’s left of the ink after the first printing. I don’t think there would have been much left with these.
It’s a versatile method, and you don’t need too much special equipment, so it’s easier to do at home on the kitchen table…

I’m aiming to get the assessment in tonight, so I can enjoy tomorrow without a deadline looming over me.
And I will dream for a bit, and smile at the season’s first frangipanis.

Published in: on November 12, 2024 at 9:34 pm  Leave a Comment  
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