Another Plate.

Things have been soooooooo busy lately. Had a trip to Adelaide to the Eye Specialist last Friday, 19th, and had laser treatment on my right eye. No painting since then, although the after effects are not too bad -- can't look in to the light without getting a stabbing pain in that eye. Will find out in three months whether the laser has been a success.
Just before I went to Adelaide I finished off another Plate, which I've posted here. Had visitors arrive tonight for the next 10 days, so will be having a rest from painting while they are here.

Today is the shortest day of the year in Australia, so I'm looking so forward to the days eventually getting longer. I'm a big lover of daylight saving -- I just love the extra light in the evenings, but not everyone shares my feelings, especially farmers, and anyone with young children.

Time slips by so quickly.

The last 8 months have slipped by so quickly. There hasn't been a dull moment, but then again, there never seems to be in my life. Since my Dad passed away in March, 2008, I have visited my mother every afternoon in the local Nursing Home, and after she suffered a stroke last December (2008), I was there all day, each day for quite some time. Fortunately she has improved somewhat, but still needs my continued help. I am very grateful that she is in a very good Nursing Home with 24 hour Medical help.

I have only been painting in fits and starts, when time allows, but when I do paint I love every minute of it. About a month ago I was delighted to be invited to have an Exhibition for SALA -- South Australian Living Artists, which takes place from the 7th to the 23rd August, 2009. I will be exhibiting my Technical Pointillism at the lovely Heritage Reilly's Restaurant and Tearooms at Mintaro in South Australia. The entire town of Mintaro is a Heritage Town, and is also the home of the magnificent Martindale Hall, featured in the movie "Picnic at Hanging Rock". It is an ideal venue for my Porcelain Plates and Vases with their technical enamel designs (one shown above).

I'm looking forward to getting back to blogging on a regular basis, or as time allows.

Technical Pointillism.

These are two Bone China items I painted and entered in the Campbelltown Rotary Exhibition in Adelaide in June, 2008. Both the Plate and the Vase sold on Opening Night and I was thrilled to bits. The designs were first penned with Dark Blue, and kiln fired at 800 degrees Centigrade. I then covered the entire design with tiny Dark Blue Enamel dots (as in Pointillism). After this was completed I fired again at 780 degrees Centrigrade. I just wish I had better photos to show, but a friend kindly sent me these.

Val.

Back at last.

So sorry I have been gone for so long, but it has been a very difficult year, mostly with losing my darling Dad in March, and my Mum not being at all well ever since. I never seem to have too many minutes to spare these days.

This is a painting I managed to get done just recently -- a Sunset in Pastels. I love working in Pastels and also really enjoy painting Sunsets.

Val.

Finally back to my Art again.

I'm sorry for the very long hiatus, but I had to have a heart procedure on the 13th December, after which I lost all motivation for almost everything including art. I'm happy to say that I have been thoroughly enjoying a new Coloured Pen and Ink Drawing over the past couple of weeks, so things are looking up somewhat.

I will show the drawing as a step-by-step from beginning to the finished piece. Size is 10"x8" on Premier Watercolour Paper, and penned with Micron Pens in Pink and Red, sizes 01 and 005, and a little Yellow with a Triplus Fineliner Pen. I really did enjoy penning this one, and all being well, will be entering it in to an Exhibition in a couple of months time.

Santa Plate.

Christmas seems to be coming so fast, so I thought I would post a 10" Porcelain Plate with Santa's Portrait on it. This was painted using China Painting On-Glaze Paints, and was kiln-fired 5 times, the last firing being for the gold rim, which was applied by hand. I really enjoyed painting this happy and jolly Santa, which I took from Wanda Clapham's "Pass Me Another Plate". I've also posted a close-up of Santa's face.

My Christmas Card for 2007.

Well, I've finished penning my Christmas Card for 2007 -- a good feeling to know that I've managed to get it done with plenty of time for printing. I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed penning this design -- thatched cottages being a real favourite subject of mine. Not long ago I was panicking because I didn't think I was going to get a chance to get it done until the last minute, but some enforced rest due to not being well for a while has at least been an advantage for art at least.