'Red' Works.

My works on paper take time to realize themselves, like an old wooden table with years of dints and scratches. 

The background was painted when I lived in a very cool mud brick house out the back of Clunes, Northern NSW in 2005.  I remember I stored all of my art supplies in the owners large red and gold Chinese cabinet. Perhaps it was subliminal to use red and gold in these works as I fell totally in love with this cabinet and it was sad to leave it behind when we eventually had to move out. 



I loved how modern the Chinese cabinet looked yet I think it was an old piece. Not dissimilar to an ancient relic hidden in the depths of a dark cave still waiting for human life to discover it. 

This series was finally completed this year 2011 before I had my baby. The colour resonated with the luminance of all those pregnancy hormones. I discovered the large piece of painted Hanhnemuhle paper that was folded and folded and folded again somewhere in the many folders of lost art that I've carried from house to house over the years. This is what that piece of painted paper metamorphosed into.


'Flying Kingfisher', intaglio and mixed Media, 2011


'Space flower # 1', intaglio and mixed media, 2011


 'Space flower # 2',  intaglio and mixed media, 2011


 'Space flower # 3',  intaglio and mixed media, 2011

*'It's difficult at times to let go. I am after all a sentimental creature. My pieces have time and life layered. They speak of an echo from the past that is a timeless landscape. Simple, peaceful, elegant and free.'


From the studio to shop.


The 'Little Paper Tree' series coincided with the birth of the 'Little Paper Tree' blog.  I have previously created a vast array of works on paper that incorporated a flower motif. This inspiration most likely stemmed from the past when I worked as a florist, (probably more like an l-plater florist!) in a little funky shop called Scooter Flowers.

I realised when I moved on, that I was missing flowers. Flowers are so good to work with. So I guess I decided to make my own out of whatever I had, paper and Kimono off-cuts, fragments of old etchings, coloured paper that I had collected and a roll of coarsely weaved hemp that I bought from the Bangalow markets.

It was inevitable perhaps, that the flowers turned into trees and that I was  searching for a way to combine my love of painting and printmaking and began experimenting with hand colouring prints, paper cut and texture and of course lets not forget that I recently discovered a Japanese artists named Yuken Teruya.  

I fell in love. I do this often. I fell head over heals in love with the delicately hand cut paper trees made by Teruya's hand and eye. They are so incredibly delicate. Incredibly exquisite. Their fragility is reminiscent of the current status of trees in real life. What are we doing to our planet? What are we doing cutting down our precious trees. Why do some people value money and profit over environemtnal preservation.

A tree is a symbol of absolute beauty, wisdom and life.

Tree's. Why Trees? I think it may have something to do with the new life that was created within my body. The life that grew from a tiny seed somewhere. Somehow this miracle happened. 

Trees are our planets life force. Trees are gracious, and beautiful. Trees are like clouds - a natural wonder. Like I marvel at how clouds change shape in the sky on a sunny day,  I marvel at a tree's form, it's perfumed blooming buds, its leaves with their transparent veins and the dappled light that falls at my feet.  

Trees. They are timeless and magical.


It is one thing to make the artwork and its another to feel enthusiastic and courageous enough to place the work within a context where they will be viewed by the public.......and it's another thing to make a living selling your artwork!
  


 Photo By Dez Hughes, Twig & Grace

The trees traveled all the way up to Twig & Grace and are waiting for someone to take them to their new home. 


  

A few of my favourite things


........The bread guy named 'Sri' who bakes bread on the day of the Lismore CBD Farmers Market. He wheels it down Magellan street, fresh out of the oven, to his market stall. I'm loving his style and I love his bread!


........Pianos in unusual places. This piano caught my attention this morning when I was feeding the little one at the Lismore Country Women's Association tea rooms. The lady said that it was put up there because of the floods. She said the fridge is up high too!


............Girls who wanna have fun!  I found this glorious 1930's photograph on the Mama Bake face book page.



.................putting my feet in the ocean.

Printmaking in my home studio

Before I had my baby I printed as much as I could so I had a pile of prints I could work on after I had my baby.  I recently organised an afternoon in my humble printmaking studio to build my print stockpile up. Here are some photos from that session.


I decided to focus printing one plate, a collograph I made last year using an old tea towel. I wanted to see how the textures of the fabric would print. This particular tea towel had an interesting weave pattern not dissimilar to a checkerboard.

                   Ahh ink! Extender and black ink.


 
Inking the plate.


                       The press is a rolling!



Little bird








Night moonshine
The little bird
flapped it's wings
while it watched the
night sky and waited
for the new moon to rise.
As time stood still
insects buzzed
around the trees.
Little wings danced
and frolicked.


Lovely water colour painting - work in progress

I have a thing for ink and watercolor. I love how with each brushstroke the colour seeps into the paper and how by adding water to the pigment you can create subtle variations of tone.

I was keen to experiment on the 600 gram hot pressed water colour paper I recently bought from Neils Art Store in Sydney.  The paper is rather expensive but I decided it was worth it to splurge at the annual paper sale.


Setting up my table with ink, watercolours and brushes.


In between tending to my baby and chores I managed to sit down briefly and draw up a very simple image including a landscape with trees, sun, sky and earth. It waited for me for a few days to start blocking in the colour.


Finally, I sat down and started painting. The 600 gram hot pressed paper was so lovely and smooth to paint on. There seemed to be a greater window of time to work the tone with water, pigment and brushwork then with other water colour papers I have used.


The image started taking shape as the sky was blocked in.



Ocher was then added to the trees and shadows.



Then yellow was added to the sky, a sun blocked in and lead pencil cross hatch to execute to tones on the trees.



Then a touch of red to the sky, sun, land and trees.


Early Sunday morning art session - playing with light and i-phone photo apps

 'Trees, landscape and early morning shadow'

An early morning art session was a good idea today. While I was drawing the light was filtering in through the studio window and cast a shadow over my drawing. I immediately saw the composition change. It was quite spectacular. I could see that the shadow and ray of light had added a greater sense of depth to the drawing.


I worked the background with ink on primed paper and the rubbed into it with a clean cloth. What does this sound like? Yes, it is the same technique used in printmaking to rub back the ink on the plate before printing. I have always painted using this technique somewhere along the way. I feel it 'connects' me to the piece and creates a sense of atmosphere from which to build upon. I love the free brush strokes and energy needed to rub back areas.










You can see the shadow down the middle. An interesting way to play around with composition ideas and the interplay of light and dark within the work.



Another background prepped for a new drawing.


This image utilizes the Helga effect off my i-phone. I love the rich colours and shadowing around each corner.


Helga, light, shadow and drawing.



 This image has been put through two apps. The effect is a greater contrast.



Favourite Places - Byron Bay

Where do you go when you just want to keep driving? When you feel like you've got to get out? What do you do when you can't bear the thought of another day at home with the little one stuck in the same routine?

A spontaneous decision pointed my car to the coast and I just kept driving and driving away from the walls that can keep me from exploring the outside. As I ventured to blue waters, crystal clear skies, fluffy tree lined hills, and observed eccentric passer-byes I felt a sense a renewal and joy.


This was the view upon arrival. Not a cloud in the sky. Picture perfect. Then as I looked out to sea I could see a glistening black whale gliding through the deep blue water. What a magnificent sight.




I focused my gaze ahead of where I last saw the whale surface. The whale was heading South.


Who needs to sleep at home when you can sleep meters away from whales?


As I walked along the path that parallels main beach the ground caught my attention. It was awash with shadows of trees.




As I looked out to sea I contemplated all that had unfolded.


Byron Bay I love your ocean, your sand, your sky, your wind, your animals, your soul and your people.

Experimenting with layering cut-out trees


How strange, the above image is exactly like an oil painting from 2005/6. It's funny how you can pick up on themes and imagery from years ago in the present. It's like visiting a long lost friend. When you see them again they feel so familiar and not lost at all. Like you never even spent all that time apart. This is how I feel about this image.  

I was living in an old run down farm house in the middle of no-where and took to painting and drawing directly from the surrounding nature. I felt quite isolated at this house and there is a sense of this feeling in the picture.







The root system is included in this cut-out. Colour adds an important ingredient to the prints as it creates depth a richness.




Some new work making it's way out from the dark.

The hand cut trees and thistles add a new layer of interest to some pieces that have been laying dormant for months. Sometimes all an image needs is one more element for it to feel complete.  I love keeping my work simple. I love seeing the space around forms. I relate this to allowing each element to 'breathe'.



Detail, cut thistle.



An old in-complete piece named 'Luna' now feels finished with the addition of a hand cut tree. I initially intended the background to read as a galactic space. The black and white spheres on the right push and pull creating depth and perhaps the illusion that the spheres or planets are moving through space.


 Detail, cut thistle.







First day of spring-a few of my favorite things



Freshly baked cob loaf at the Lismore Farmers market, every Thursday starts 3pm. It was warm when I bought it. Literally straight from the oven to market - the fellow who makes the bread is so passionate about bringing good bread to the people - love it!



Tomatoes from Coopers Shoot, near Byron Bay also at the Lismore Farmers market.



Fresh organic greens, also from at the Lismore Farmers market.
 


Yum! Delicious fresh strawberries from  the Lismore Farmers market.
 


Goats Cheese made by Nimbin Valley. If you like that strong goaty taste then this cheese is for you. I was told they rub the cheese in macadamia nuts and coffee....mmmm....



A fellow drives up from Iluka to sell fresh prawns at the Lismore Farmers market.



Spring dinner fit for a King. 

Spring handmade market

Spring has sprung and it's time to clean out cupboards, de-clutter your life but also get out of the house, bask in the sun and check out the handy-work of your local art and craters. Come on down to the Con Artists market this Saturday from 11-3pm, have a coffee, lunch and a look around.

A Few of My Favourite Things......


My new pair of red Birkenstocks! Who needs more black shoes?


Bubba Blue Waffle Wrap.

  
Max & Lilly 100% cotton hat for the little one.


A baby boy light weight knitted jacket arrived in the mail today from my mother.


'Mini Masterminds' also arrived in the mail today from my mother.


Freshly baked 'Filone' Bread from Henry's Bakery in Lismore.

  
High Trees Organic Coffee from the Organic market in Lismore, on every Tuesday at the showground from 8 - 11am


Organic Vegetables and fruit from the Organic market in Lismore, on every Tuesday at the showground from 8 - 11am

Setting up my table for the next session

By the time I put a load of washing on, eat some lunch, hang washing out, check emails, wash up, feed, change and put baby to sleep I only manage to sit down at my art table today for fifteen minutes. It's understandable right? I mean how many great artists had four month old babies to look after while they painted the Sistine Chapel? I am not particularly going for 'great artist' status but the main ingredient you need to make art is time. I guess I have to accept my circumstance and strive to use my time more effectively. 

My table stays unchanged. I never have to pack it up for dinner, even though it would be lovely to have the dinning room table available for sit down dinners, or make excuses for my 'creative mess'. It's my space and I get to do what I want with it. So what did I do with the fifteen minutes? The following snapshots should explain. I went through some prints I printed before I had my baby, ripped some into a new more manageable size,  used a paper tree cut-out from my last session to play with various compositions, framed a tree and looked at my old work, 'Tree of Tenere' for inspiration for my new pieces. 
 


The beginning of a new series, 'little paper tree' an ode to my new blog.



Ripping up a print to make the individual pieces.



Getting the razor and old collographs ready to cut-out trees for the next session.



I used double sided tape to stick this cut-out tree to an old collograph and framed it.


One of the last pieces I have left from the 'Silent Space' series that was based on the 'Tree of Tenere'.



Playing with various compositions.



The pile of artwork. Framed and ready for the Con Artists Handmade Market in Lismore this Saturday.