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.