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.

Two more Alice Springs Photos.

I'm adding two more photos I took whilst holidaying in Alice Springs. The red one is Sturt's Desert Pea, which was growing profusely in my Nephew's garden. It is also the State Emblem Flower for South Australia, and is the most beautiful flower imaginable. They need a hot, dry climate to grow well, so absolutely thrive in the outback.
The other photo is of African Daisies growing in my brother's garden. He has quite a few different coloured African Daisies and they were quite a picture.

Calla Lily and Frangipani.

I've had very little time for painting and drawing in the past month, having spent time sightseeing and visiting relatives in Alice Springs and Adelaide, but I did manage to get two small stippled florals done. I love stippling with Pen and Ink, and I really love the Small Format. These are both done on Watercolour Paper with Micron Pens and measure 3.5"x2.5".

Alice Springs.

It's a long time since I've had a chance to update my Blog. September has been very, very busy and exciting. I spent 2 weeks in Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory of Australia, and also known as the Red Centre, and another week in Adelaide, our capital of South Australia.

The fortnight in The Alice was wonderful from three points of view for me -- firstly I stayed with my brother and sister-in-law, and also got to see quite a bit of my two nephews, secondly I had the chance to have a good rest, and thirdly I saw some fantastic scenery. I'd been to Alice Springs once before, but many years ago, so it was wonderful to go back and see how it has grown.

I'm adding two photos of the many I took whilst in Alice, and hope to write more as soon as possible. One of the photos shows Simpson's Gap from a very different angle to the painting I did in the previous Thread, although they are both images of Simpson's Gap. It's such a beautiful place.

The other photo is of a very old Lutheran Church at Hermannsburg, 135 kms west of Alice Springs. This Church is among a group of buildings of the same era, and all are Heritage Listed. This Church is used for Aboriginal Funerals now, and a newer one has been built for Church Services.

Simpson's Gap, Northern Territory, Australia.

I have just finished this painting -- one I thoroughly enjoyed working on from beginning to end. It is 18"x14" on gallery wrapped canvas, and painted with Acrylics. Simpson's Gap is in the Red Centre, Central Australia (Northern Territory), and there are a number of wonderful Rock Formations with the Reddish colouring in the area, such as Ayers Rock, and of course this one "Simpson's Gap".

Red Camellia.

Wow, things have been so hectic for the past few weeks, with so many different things needing attention. One thing that has kept me really busy is organising a holiday to Alice Springs for two weeks in mid-September -- can't wait, as it's such a remarkable place. I haven't been there in quite a few years, so I'm looking so forward to going back to much loved areas I've seen in the past, and also in seeing the places that have changed somewhat since I was there last.

This is another small Pen and Ink I've recently finished -- a Red Camellia.

As always, life has been busy, busy. I think I'll have to employ a housemaid (wishful thinking of course). While my stippled flower drawings are selling on ebay, I'm continuing to put my spare time in to them. This is my latest one -- another Rose penned in Pink and Orange, which gives a Deep Salmon colour -- different but really effective.

A Rose and a Tulip.

On Wednesday I travelled to Kapunda in the Barossa Valley to a China Painting Workshop, which was really enjoyable, and it was great to see a lot of my China Painting friends also attending. The Demonstrator of the day showed us how she paints "quick" Roses -- quick for her, but mostly not so quick for those following her method. I think I'll have to practice her method, as they are somewhat different to the way I have done them in the past.

I haven't managed to get any other painting done since Monday, but I have enjoyed drawing two new little coloured Pen and Inks. I really am addicted to Pointillism/Stipple, so I get a lot of pleasure from these little drawings. I have finished another Rose, this time a Red one, and I've also tonight finished a Tulip in Orange, Red and Yellow. I enjoyed both, but the Tulip was more of a challenge, as it is one of the Images in the Monthly Miniature Challenge on WetCanvas. I chose to pen it with stipple rather than paint it. In real life it is actually more vivid than the scan shows, and the colours of the Tulip are really pretty. They both measure 3.5x2.5" and are penned with Micron and Triplus pens. They are both currently on ebay.

Technical Plate with Bird Design.

It's been another really busy day. I went to Art Group from 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m., and really enjoyed it, as I started a new painting and so far it's going along fine. My brother lives in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory and he sent me a lot of great photos of well known places in and around the Alice. The one I started today is Simpson's Gap, which I know has been painted a million or more times by various artists, but I really love his photo and the lovely sprawling tree that stands in front of where the Rock Formations almost meet at ground level.
I'll be sure to post it when it's finished. After Art I went shopping, and then to visit my parents for the remainder of the afternoon, so it was a busy, but very fulfilling day. Tonight I've caught up on a bit of correspondence, and also 'phoned my handyman to give him a reminder that he hasn't pruned my Roses yet, and the lawns need mowing. Next week he says -- if he doesn't hurry up, the Roses will be shooting before they're pruned.

Tonight I'm adding a photo of a 10" Porcelain Plate I've painted with a Technical Design, and a bird in the centre of the plate. If you look closely, you will see that the lighter swirly band around the plate is covered in Mother-of-Pearl, which is something a really enjoy working with

Teddies in the Pink.

It's been another busy day, but in a somewhat different way. I just haven't left the computer all day, which can sure be mentally tiring. I had a Newsletter to write for one of our China Painting Magazines, and of course the due date is nearly here, so I had to get myself in to gear today and do something about it. Anyway, fortunately I'm pleased with the way it's coming together.

I'm also trying to decide what to paint next, as I want to get it underway before Art Group on Monday. At this moment I think a photo my brother sent me of the Finke River running through Palm Valley in the Northern Territory may just be taking first place.

The photo tonight is of the second Teddy Bears Commission I painted, but this one had to have a Pink background. I wanted it to be just a little bit different, so I used slightly some alternate colours for the bears. Unfortunately it's not quite true to colour as the background is more of a soft Plum Pink.

Orange/Yellow Rose in Pointillism/Stipple.

Another busy day -- lots of shopping to be done for my parents and myself. The way food is increasing in price at the rate of knots, we won't be able to afford to eat before long. Well, it certainly does make one think when Bananas are $1.25 each and going up more and more each week. I guess we won't starve though.
I finished another small Rose Drawing today, so will post it now. It's a little 3.5"x2.5" one (like the preceding two) and penned with Orange, Yellow and Red Micron Pens. I'm addicted to these little stippled Rose Drawings!!!!!!!!!!!

Red Rose in Pointillism

Had another very busy day today, but a great one. Monday is the day I go to Art Group, where around 14 Artists gather and paint together for about 4 hours. It's great to see everyone's paintings evolve -- all totally different subject matter and a variety of mediums. Today we had Artists painting in Oils, Acrylics, Watercolours, Pastels and Pen and Ink. The subjects were also varied with Cottage and Street Scenes, Seascapes, Portraits, Landscapes and I finished a painting of Teddy Bears on a Pink background for a baby girl's Nursery. I'll try to get a photo of it tomorrow and post in my next blog.
After we finished, one of ladies from the Group and I went to our Art Store and had a buy up of new canvases, as they were out on Special. I am a total sucker for buying canvases, as is the friend I went shopping with today. We then sat and talked over a cappucino and a yummy iced apple square each (they were huge!!), so I didn't feel like a very big tea tonight.
From there I went to visit my parents, and finally arrived home just before dark.
Tonight I watched a DVD I recently bought about Royal Worcester China which was so interesting, especially when it showed the artists working in the big Studio. I'm a big lover of Royal Worcester China, and would dearly love to get loose in their Seconds Shop. I think it's just as well it's 12,000 miles away from me, or I'd always be stoney broke.
I also finished off a small Pen and Ink piece today -- a Red Macro Rose in Pointillism/Stipple. I do so enjoy stippling macro Roses. This one measures 3.5"x2.5", and I have just listed it on ebay. The Pink Rose I posted a couple of nights ago is also on ebay, and has a bid at the required starting price, so I'm very happy about that.

Emu Egg Clock.

Sunday today, and it's been very busy. This afternoon was especially interesting, as I had to go to a wonderful little Historic Town by the name of Mintaro, just 19 kms from where I live, and every time I go there, I see something else I haven't seen before. It is only a very small town, but well spread out, and the entire town is officially a National Trust Historic Township. There are some of the most wonderful old Buidings in this little town that you could ever wish to see. Mintaro also boasts the beautiful Martindale Hall -- a two-storey Mansion that was moved from England to Mintaro in the late 1800s -- every single stone and every single part of the indoors of the building. It was re-built again in Mintaro, just as it had been in England. The Movie "Picnic at Hanging Rock" was partly filmed in this beautiful building -- all of the inside scenes were filmed here, with the girls in the film running up and down the magnificent staircase etc.
Today I took a little drive around the town and took some new photos, which I hope to use in my painting and penwork in coming months -- all buildings except for one exception. Right by the side of the road in a paddock in the centre of the town was a colony of Kangaroos. Three of them were close enough to photograph, and thankfully they were so quiet that they just sat up and looked at me. One was a great Big Red -- a real boomer, and so beautiful. One was a smaller grey, and the other one was a partly grown grey. What a great little drive it was, with so much to take in, and some new ammo for my art.

Today I'm adding some photos of a Clock I made using an Emu Egg. I cut two doors at the front with a dentist's diamond drill in a B&D Drill, in which is set the clock front. I cut one large door at the back to fit the clock batteries and for easy access to change them. Incidentally the doors are all hinged so they will open and shut quite easily. It was a lot of intricate work, but I have always loved "fiddly" work.

One photo shows the front of the Clock with the doors closed, one shows the front with the doors open, and one shows the back of the clock with the door shut (where the batteries are housed). The Clock Movement is German, and keeps perfect time.

Pink Rose in Pointillism/Stipple.

Another really cold night, and the electic blanket is calling, but just before I snuggle up with it, I want to post a Pen and Ink drawing I did yesterday. This is another one 3.5"x2.5", penned with a Pink Micron 01 pen, on Premier Watercolour Paper. I really love penning Roses, and find them really relaxing and fun to do. This on is currently on ebay, as is the Barn Drawing.

Teddy Bears.

It's been so cold today, absolutely freezing. Thankfully i didn't have to go out and face the elements, but instead decided to do some pen and ink stippling this afternoon. Am stippling a Macro Pink Rose in a small format size 3.5"x2.5" -- always relaxing and always fun, and I'm about half way through at the moment. I have just finished painting two Teddy Bears on a Blue background for a baby boy's room. It was such fun to do -- it's great to do something light-hearted like this now and again. It is painted in Acrylics on Gallery Wrapped Canvas, and measures 16"x12".

Barn Scene.

Another day gone, with a very busy morning racing around doing many errands, but a quieter afternoon spent catching up on the computer. One of the most enjoyable computer exploits was creating another 9 cards to add to my growing portfolio of handpainted/handmade/handprinted Greeting Cards.
Tonight I'm adding a little Pen and Ink drawing I've just finished. It measures 3.5"x2.5" and was a lot of fun to do.

Dresden Porcelain Plate.

WOW, I've had a great day today. I received a 'phone call last night from my girlfriend in Wallaroo to say she and her daughter were coming over to see me for the day today. Wallaroo is just over 100 kms from Clare, so we only get to see each other every couple of months.
We went out for a great 3 course lunch, and then drove all around the town and outskirts, and were amazed at all of the new homes that have gone up or are going up everywhere. It's just amazing how you can live in a town, but you really only get to see your own area, the shopping area, and any streets that you need to drive through to get to see friends or rellies -- the rest of the town remains an unknown story. And the best part of it all was that I wasn't driving, which is most unusual, so I got a really good chance to take everything in. We made our way to the Main Street to have afternoon tea (after such a huge lunch!!), but we decided to make it a decadent day, which really doesn't happen too often. We sat for the rest of the afternoon over cappucinos and goodies and reminisced way back to the dinosaur days. My girlfriend and her daughter are both former Clare residents too, so our roots go way back in time in this gorgeous town in which I live. Our great fun day came to an end about 5 p.m. when Margaret and Sue headed for home. I hope it's not too long before we do it again.

I thought I'd post a photo of a 10" Porcelain Plate I painted with a Dresden design on it. I thoroughly enjoyed painting this one, and I do love the beautiful Dresden designs, which are European -- Dresden being a German city. Hope you enjoy looking at it.

Two Large Square Wooden Boxes.

Well, it seems an age since I added to my Blog, and in actual fact, it is. Life has been so very busy lately, and the cold Winter weather hasn't helped. I can't wait for Spring. I'm painting a couple of Acrylic paintings at the moment with Teddy Bear subjects on gallery wrapped Canvas -- one in Pink for girls, and one in Blue for boys, and I'm having a Wow of a time with them -- such happy subjects to paint. I'll post them as soon as they are finished.
I've been making a lot of ATCs, and also making a lot of Greeting Cards -- both great little pastimes for this cold, wet weather. I have over 100 different Greeting Card designs, so they keep me busy.

Tonight I am posting pics of two 8"x8" wooden boxes that I painted. I thoroughly loved painting them, as there was a bit of intricate work involved, and the more intricate the better with things like this as far as I'm concerned.

Stippled Giraffe.

Had a very busy and cold day today, working at an Art Exhibition in Auburn, South Australia. I'm looking forward to hitting the electic blanket in an hour or so -- the thought of a warm comfortable bed sounds pretty good at the moment.
I finished this Giraffe drawing yesterday, and I must admit I enjoyed every second of it -- somewhere around 25 hours from beginning to end. The entire drawing is done in stipple (pointillism), which is one of my favourite penwork techniques, on Premier Watercolour Paper 216 gsm, and measures 10"x8".

Three New Small Format Oils.

In the last few weeks I've gone back to painting in Oils for the first time in many years. I gave it away because smell from the turps and oils tended to give me asthma. I am now absolutely delighted to have found Genesis Oils, which are non-toxic and there is no smell whatsoever. Have been having a bit of fun on three little 7"x5" paintings on canvas board. I really enjoy painting small, more so than painting large.

Our Art Group has an Exhibition this weekend in the Auburn RSL Hall in Auburn, South Australia. I was down there on Friday when the paintings were being hung, but just stayed long enough to drop mine off. I go back tomorrow to spend the day there, and help dismantle at the end of the day. It's lovely for our Group to have our own Exhibition, and being a Holiday Weekend is a good time to have it.

This week I have been busy penning a Giraffe, and will post it as soon as I have it finished, which should be in a day or so.

These are my three little Oils.

Sunset over Port Hughes, South Australia #1.

One Hibiscus, Two Hibiscus, Three Hibiscus, Four......

Here's my latest painting. I've been having a lot of migraines lately, and about the only thing I've been able to do when I've had them is to paint in a medium with no smell and using some of my favourite techniques and equipment. So this one is Pen and Ink (that always is calming for me), and Watercolour Pencils. This one measures 10" x 8", and was a challenge and a real pleasure all rolled up in one.

Have another Exhibition to get ready for on the long weekend in June -- 9th, 10th, and 11th -- still don't know what I'll be putting in at this stage.

Pansies Galore.

Tonight I think I've finished an All-Over Pansy Design in Pen & Ink and Watercolour. I may tweak it here and there after I've looked at it for a few days. The leaves are a little darker than shown here, but I have deliberately left them understated, as I wanted the flowers to be the focal points in the design.
Here it is at the moment anyway.

Three Painting sold at Rotary Club Exhibition.

Sorry for my hiatus, but I have been so busy -- there just aren't enough hours in the day. I'm feeling very happy at the moment though, as we currently have the Clare Rotary Club Art Exhibition on here in my home town, and the three paintings I exhibited sold within the first 15 minutes on Opening Night. WOW!!!!!! that was exciting!! The standard of the Exhibition is excellent and I've enjoyed quite a few wonderful hours there, just browsing and admiring the work of fellow artists. It seems that the Pastels have been selling more rapidly than any other medium this year.
These are my three paintings that sold.

Busy, Busy, Busy.

Things have just been so chaoticly busy lately, that I've hardly had time to think. There has been something on every day for weeks and I had visitors right over Easter (which was great). The only thing I've had time to do is to dream of what I actually WANT to do, and that's only when I'm in bed. I really love to wake up early, and just lie and think for an hour or so -- it's amazing what can be worked out in one's mind with a clear and uninterrupted brain, at that time of the morning.

When I went to High School, I did a similar thing with my studying. I set my alarm clock for 5 a.m. every weekday morning, and studied until 7 a.m., and was ready to catch the bus at 8 a.m. Of course I had a wonderful Mum who put my breakfast in front of me, and fixed my Lunch and Recess for me each day (and she also made my bed). No, I wasn't spoilt, just had a wonderful Mum who preferred to do everything herself. And the studying really paid off, as I knew my text books word for word.

Anyway, back to Art. This is one of the drawings/paintings I demonstrated at a Workshop I conducted a couple of weeks ago. I love old buildings, and I have quite a love affair with Pen and Ink and Watercolours.

Another Pastel and my latest ArtCards.

WOW, things have been SOOOOO busy lately, and they're about to get even busier. I finally made it to Art Group last Monday after missing the previous two weeks. It was great to be back to see what everyone was painting, and to get something done for myself. I've been really busy getting lots of extra paintings ready for the Gallery, and all being well will set them up this coming Saturday.

A few weeks ago I was asked to paint two dogs as a Commission -- the client lives too far away for me to take the photos myself, so had to rely on what I had sent to me. They arrived today, and I think I'm going to have a real job to be able to do the black labrador, the body especially is a black blob, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. The Alsatian is slightly easier to see. They also would like a painting of their house, and two of the photos are quite nice, but show different angles, so will have to think about which one I'll go with. Will post them as I eventually get each one done. There's no hurry, as they are going overseas in a few weeks until the end of May.

In the meantime, here is another Pastel -- I love Sunsets and Sunrises, and often tend to go for the Reds/Oranges/Yellows, but this one is a Sunrise in Pinks/Purples/Blues.

Also have a few of my new ATCs, which are all done in Pen and Ink, and Watercolours.

Two more Pastels.

Wow, I have been so busy lately, that I haven't known whether I've been on my head or my heels. Quite a bit of last week was taken up with getting paintings ready to take to a new Gallery which I've been asked to exhibit in. Have most of it set up now, but will need to go back again within the next few days to add a little more. I also attended our South Australian China Painters Association Country Branch Meeting last Wednesday in the Barossa Valley. I'm the Vice President, and we have a Meeting and Workshop on the first Wednesday in every month and always have lots of fun, plus a chance to learn new techniques etc. from the Demonstrators. My turn to be the Demonstrator next month, so I'm going to have to get my running shoes on soon to get everything ready for that. Never a dull moment.

I'm posting two Pastel Paintings. I love painting with Pastels, and hope to start another one at Art Group next week -- haven't chosen my subject yet though. Will have to get the think tank working.

One of the Pastels I'm posting tonight is an Australian Red Merle Shepherd Dog, and the other one is a River Scene. I really enjoyed painting both of these.

Two of my recent Pastel Paintings.

A couple of my recent Pastels. Both are 8"x6" on Canson Mi-Teintes paper, using Derwent, CarbOthello and Bruyzneel Pastel Pencils.

Art Group and more.

This morning I went to Art Group for the first time for four weeks, because of Dad being so ill. It's a great Group -- very friendly and everyone doing their own thing. It's a Group where Artists meet and paint together for four hours every Monday -- no 'phones ringing, no doorbell ringing, no suddenly remembering the laundry should be in the washing machine, just bliss perfect bliss. At the moment we are an all-female Group, but surely one day the male Artists in the district will discover us, or maybe we will discover them. Ten of us had a great painting day today anyway. Then it was a 20 minute drive home to my place to unload the car, have a cold drink and read my mail, and it was off to the Hairdresser's for a hairdo. Haven't had a hairdo for ages, so felt it was time. Then I had to go shopping, after which I called on my Mum and Dad for a while, then back to the Shopping Centre for something I'd forgotten, and I finally landed home at 5.4o p.m. Phew!! It's been a busy day. I started penning a Still Life of fruit today, but haven't gotten far enough to show anything as yet, so instead will show two other pen and ink drawings I have just recently finished. One is a Pink Rose done completely in Pointillism/Stipple with a Pink Micron Pen, size 01, measuring 6"x4". The second is also a Pointillism/Stipple of a Fruit Still Life using various coloured Micron Pens and measuring 3.5"x2.5". It's way after midnight, and I have to go out again tomorrow, so I must be off to get my beauty sleep.

A Busy Day, but no Art.

Today is Sunday, and I'd decided to spend the afternoon preparing for a new Pen and Ink Project I want to get on to asap. However, before I was out of bed I received a 'phone call to say my two Aunties (my Mum's sisters) were coming to visit. They live quite a long distance away, so I was delighted that they would be spending the afternoon with my parents and me. Therefore, I have not started on the Project as yet, but I will try to get the preparations done before I go to bed, and take it along with me to the Art Group I go to each Monday. I haven't been to the Group for three weeks as my Dad has been very sick, so here's hoping tomorrow will be more promising.

In lieu of showing the begininng of my new P&I WIP, I'll show you a design I have previously done in a round format -- all pen and ink, done with Micron Pens.