Creating | 1000 Fields of Roses

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.

😀

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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.
❤

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Creating

on December 4, 2024 at 10:33 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Christmas Tree

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.

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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
Tags: Art, Kirsti Falconer, Margaret Preston, Mark Rothko, Rachel North

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.

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on November 12, 2024 at 9:34 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: monoprint, printmaking

Through The Cracks

I don’t like this summery version of spring…
felt a bit woozy in the heat today. Lots of water/cordial was had.

Well, at least I finished my lino print!

Not perfect, but I quite like it.
I plan to call it “Ya Reckon?”
…which is sort of how I’ve felt today. Lots of thoughts rolling around in my brain! It’s been a bit difficult to process the news lately.
I found comfort in my Bible reading this morning. Someone made an interesting choice!
Also enjoyed listening to songs I’ve loved in the past, and reflecting on the variety of music in this world.

But this morning I also realised that, no matter what happens in the world, I can still create beauty. I think that’s sort of my job 🙂
And I can continue to notice the little bits of good in each day, whatever the circumstances.

Life grows, even through the cracks in the concrete, the dirt, or the bitumen.
Time to create – to burn bright in the dark skies.

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on November 7, 2024 at 8:01 pm Leave a Comment

Thankful

Still haven’t finished my print.
I have done quite a lot of it.

It’s me! 🙂
Only in one colour, though.

I finished the carving for this colour yesterday, and printed up proofs and the prints for the edition.
There are always things you don’t quite expect – this time around, the pin holding the roller in the holder fell out, and there were a few ink-where-it-shouldn’t-be mishaps.
Overall, it went well.

I was achy this morning, but had hoped to get the last bit done.
My back argued with me, after hours of bending over the lino block. And my (cutting) hand wasn’t best pleased either. I decided that the best results would come from leaving the final printing until next week…

The (mostly) final block – it’s only while I’m looking at it now that I see that one area needs a bit of fine tuning. I’ll need to cut some paper to mask the bigger areas, as well.

Why am I thankful?
Well, for one, right now I’m comfortable in bed with the fan on, and a cup of tea by my side. 😀
But also – even though I ache from using muscles harder than I’ve had to lately, I was still able to do it.
And that’s just wonderful!

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on November 2, 2024 at 8:33 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Home Free

Colouring My Day

I don’t know why I still take longer to do things than I think I will.
It’s not so much the time taken, but that I still underestimate the time I’ll need…

I’ve finally stopped procrastinating and done some more work towards my assessments.
I quite like the results, although the results don’t often turn out exactly the same as what’s in my mind. I tend to just start and see where it goes 😀

I’ve got some more writing to do tonight, and then I can stop for tomorrow.
Here are my latest creations!

I had to design two repeating patterns (this is the first one), and then present it on an item.
No, I don’t actually have this book – the site has mock-ups that you can design and download, and one of the options is to have your design “in context”.
I like this one – might even buy the book…
The roses are from my photos (of roses from my garden, and a couple from elsewhere).

The second one turned out ok.
Once again, from my photos – this one a series of photos of a glass flower dangly thing I’ve had for a while.

Again – not my wall, not my house.

This one was finished today.
The instruction was to “use colour”.

…which I did.
(but – is it the right colour??)
😆

Time to carry on with the rest of what I’ve got to finish today.
And remind myself tomorrow to see the colour in my world!
❤

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Creating

on October 5, 2024 at 8:40 pm Leave a Comment

Walking Further Down The Road

It’s been a busy day…
Centrelink this morning, but at least I got things sorted!
Walked down to the town, browsed the charity shops.

Saw some neon flowers along the way (no, I don’t know why they glow in photos…)

Sat in the library for a bit, read some magazines – I haven’t done that for a while 🙂
Then, a bit of shopping, and home on the bus.
I didn’t do the drawing I had planned to do, but I have finished most of the ones for my first two subjects.
Finalised the self portrait, and did a line portrait of my Babe.

It’s our 30th Anniversary in a couple of months.
Maybe these could be official portraits? 😆

Well, another day over, and the sun goes down again behind glowing pink curtains.

It’s been a good day for a walk 🙂

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on July 16, 2024 at 10:55 pm Leave a Comment

On Clouds, And Keeping Perspective

Someone round here is growing some beautifully perfumed flowers.
I don’t know who or where.
I just know that I sat in my comfy chair yesterday, with the dark storm clouds keeping the world outside close, and the sweet aroma of invisible flowers billowing in to my sanctuary.
The earth gives beauty in unexpected ways…

Today, I spent a good amount of time working on an assessment.
I felt it was turning out well, and even inked some lines in.

Then I stood back to check it again.

I was supposed to be doing 3-point perspective.