Dreamswork

Installation by Bull ... spring is here

2011-10-06T01:27:00.000-07:00

Yearling bull decided to rearrange some items he gained access to... a bath used for drinking water for stock dragged and placed perfectly, an old canoe he dragged quite a long way from where it was stored, as well as an old washing machine waiting for collection, rusty metal frame and log, all found and dragged to the location by the artist. How clever is that! I dont think my photography does justice to his artistic expression. The artist...

After taking a photo of it, I walked around the garden and took quick shots of the little splashes of colour appearing with the arrival of spring. It was late afternoon and the sun was still very strong draining some colour. So, lacking any new work to show, here is mother nature's...

Dr Sketchy

2011-09-18T16:27:00.000-07:00

I have been to a few Dr Sketchy events in Auckland and Wellington, I wish I could make every one, they're fun and make a change from regular life drawing. I'm not making a lot of art right now. At the moment I'm working on some hand painted journal pages and I'll post a photograph when done - is part of a collaborative project. Meantime, because I've been lazy and not posting on this blog I decided to post other links to things I'm interested or involved in.

Dr Sketchy for example!!

National Contemporary Art Award 2011

2011-09-15T17:17:00.000-07:00

Went to see this exhibition last Friday. Inspiring and exciting! The winner was Andre Hemer from Sydney, a painting on the wall of an iphone QR code that linked to a google map showing where Pollock's "Blue Poles" painting is located in the Australian National Gallery.

The above picture comes from http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1108/S00084/winner-of-bold-horizon-national-contemporary-art-award.htm

The catalogue can be viewed online, is nothing like seeing them in front of you though.

Surfaces

2011-05-31T04:40:00.001-07:00

Defence D'Afficher

2011-05-04T14:56:00.001-07:00

Take a look... the artists want you to download their posters .. print them... put them somewhere so they can be seen... especially on the street. Free free free

http://defensedafficherproject.blogspot.com/

You can also join the project with your own work.

They also have an archive of photos sent in by people showing where they put them up.

http://defensedafficherarchive.blogspot.com/

Mixed media collage

2011-04-22T04:44:00.000-07:00

Sensory Drawing 5

2011-03-25T02:44:00.000-07:00

Collage imagery, acrylic paint, ink, 17 " x 24" .

Last day of the course, was pretty much a free day to work on something relative to the week. I did two large collages, about 20 x 30". Magazine imagery, acrylic paint, indian ink. One is titled "News" influenced greatly by the turmoil in the Middle East and fuel crisis - isnt it about time we had alternatives??!! The other .. well... in my mind I titled it "Breathe" but not 100% sure about this. Not quite finished yet.

On my way this morning I stopped at a nearby beach, and got out to watch and photograph the surfers. Good swell at the moment. The beach is very close to Wellington airport as you can see.

The course was a demanding one, as artists we need to be able to 'see' but this week was practice in seeing not just visually but using our senses to 'see' and then creating works to describe that. It will take a while for this to work through in my mind and inform my work, I know it will.

Sensory Drawing 4

2011-03-23T21:44:00.001-07:00

All sensory drawing works are 17" x 24" on 130gsm cartridge.

Today we were drawing taste! Vietnamese mint, apple, hot chili fire sauce, Dan's curry he made us for lunch - hot and medium versions, lime. Strangely I drew similar images for Vietnamese Mint and one of the curry pictures, didnt notice til I uploaded the photos.

Sensory Drawing 3

2011-03-22T23:25:00.001-07:00

Today was the sense of hearing - music. We all contributed music for this. Everything from Dvorak to Lady Six to Rob Zombie to Neil Finn to David Bowie to I think it is Deuter-The Temple of Silence

Sensory Drawing 2

2011-03-21T22:42:00.002-07:00

Today we drew smells/scents. From the top - Incense (moody, mysterious, rich) , Basil (sharp, spiky, pungent - was the fresh herb), Lavender (yes lavender!! made me think of triangles dancing and sharp bright colour); the next two are incense, and the last picture is oregano (earthy, sharp but mellow, warm and sunny). The scent ... not the items!

Sensory Drawing 2

2011-03-21T22:42:00.001-07:00

Sensory Drawing

2011-03-20T23:06:00.000-07:00

Spending the week in Wellington and exploring drawing inspired by the senses. Am quickly putting up some of what I created today.Everyone's work was very different, mine abstract, many drew realistically. Ink (sumi and/or indian, acrylic paint, compressed charcoal, chalk pastel, charcoal pencils white and black).

I was trying to describe the sensation of touching the various plants/trees in the bush and gardens surrounding the art school (we walked through them first thing Monday) in the first and last works, the second is the feel of a hard piece of dried seaweed, gritty with sharp edges, the third was drawn in response to running my fingers over the back of a small paua shell.

Last of the mixed media collages

2011-03-13T23:24:00.001-07:00

I don't know why some of the figures have closed eyes. Now to name them all...

Some drawings & more MM collages

2011-03-11T14:22:00.000-08:00

Threw together some more mixed media collage/drawings inbetween painting endless pieces of canvas with gesso, Paynes Gray and sumi ink. And dunking rolled canvas in paint. More to follow on that. These quick drawings are done with a cane stick pulled from a sushi mat, forcing myself to just draw quick and not agonise over correctness. Hopefully I'll get them sent away for ICE. And in the middle of my mess the kitten. Since jumping out a window and spending the night outside she's been clingy. A friend visiting took this picture before I put her out of the studio (the kitten of course, not the friend!). The kitten likes to try and catch my brush as I paint, or knock over the rubbish basket and make a mess.

Also attached to this post are some recent drawings, from life drawing group (pastel and charcoal, blue portrait is done with a chinagraph pencil).

Mixed media collages

2011-03-06T22:37:00.000-08:00

So different from my current work but similar to what I've done in the past. Magazine imagery, ink, acrylic paint. The faces are quickly sketched with a thin bamboo stick dipped in sumi ink. Just playing.

Mixed media collage

2011-02-13T15:43:00.001-08:00

As a break from my current work I started making collages for Dale Copeland's ICE. The upper one does not have a reflection on it, is part of the imagery. This is so different from what I've been doing over the last six months which is materials and process based, non derivative, and something I used to do. I quite enjoyed it, is rather random. No particular meaning. Hand painted papers, magazine paper, acrylic paint, sumi ink, pencil.

Continuing the PG / ink

2010-11-27T23:11:00.000-08:00

Love gesso but wasn't working for me, used something else. Created many small works from which I'll be working forward.

Playing with material 17.11.10

2010-11-16T15:36:00.000-08:00

Continuing to play with PG, sumi ink & gesso. Is portable & I took the materials with me to a day @ Alison Gordon’s studio for a regular monthly gathering. I’m also uploading some sections o previous work photographed with a viewer and want to find some good quality paper to create more simplified works, something that won’t stretch & buckle. I am using a good gsm weight of paper for these but need even heavier.

Experimenting

2010-11-09T00:19:00.000-08:00

Top - gesso and sumi ink on cardboard - one thick brushful of ink.

Gesso on canvas.

Sumi ink on wet gesso.

Mixed Media Collage

2010-11-08T02:16:00.000-08:00

A3 size, collage, sumi ink, gesso, paint on 180gsm paper.

Playing

2010-11-01T22:07:00.001-07:00

Mixed media Collage

2010-10-12T22:40:00.000-07:00

Gesso, Paynes Gray acrylic paint, Sumi ink on card.

Write up on Dr Sketchy in NZ

2010-10-07T02:39:00.000-07:00

A writeup on a drawing event I try to go to in Auckland, Wellington & now Hamilton. Much fun.Dr Sketchy!

Collage with limited materials

2010-10-04T22:34:00.001-07:00

Brief was to create collages that undermine the conventions or logic of representation, using only black and white paper & newspaper, flattening any illusionary depth that occurred in the making.

Today's work

2010-10-04T22:25:00.000-07:00

Mixed media collage, on black building paper, approx 1.5 x 1m, paint, white charcoal, found objects, string, magazine & other papers.

Untitled

2010-09-16T23:54:00.000-07:00

More work with Paynes Gray... now I've lost the support and am deconstructing my surface.

This work is almost finished. Thinking about how much further to take the broken edge...

Life drawing

2010-08-24T03:58:00.001-07:00

I've not been to life drawing for the last 3 weeks being so immersed in my current work which is totally unrelated. I swiped these photos from the organiser/tutor (apologies/thanks John!). Reminded me I've not uploaded my last drawings so there is one that John took of one of mine, & a very atmospheric shot from another evening.

Payne's Gray

2010-08-24T03:35:00.001-07:00

Payne's Gray

2010-08-17T20:23:00.001-07:00

Sumi Ink

2010-08-15T16:41:00.000-07:00

Control over the material

2010-08-03T02:46:00.000-07:00

has become my interest currently. Or rather, not having control. Over the last couple of weeks I've been exploring Paynes Gray paint in a variety of ways. It is a colour I did not like but have become more interested in, and my painting "Submission" was in Paynes Gray. This week I started working with sumi ink and really enjoyed the nature of the material compared to paint, and it got me thinking about chance in artmaking. Its not that I have huge control over my materials, I don't. But applying them can feel 'forced' at times, like a battle to win control, and it might be very nice to use a material in a way where I know I cannot control the outcome so much. That's my quest at the moment. I will post a couple of photos but they won't make sense most likely. Top photo sumi ink, the others playing with PG.

Mixed Media drawing

2010-07-31T18:54:00.000-07:00

A3 cream 180gsm, compressed charcoals/pastels, acrylic Payne's Grey wash, drawn from life.

Dr Sketchy's Burlesque Lifedrawing

2010-07-25T23:52:00.001-07:00

Is something that happens all over the world. Google it. Well I've discovered it even happens in New Zealand. I happened to be in Wellington for the last session of Dr Sketchy, at the Mighty Mighty bar in Cuba Street, big crowd, the models dressed in fluro leotards, animal prints, glitter & sequins, hair teased up big. Fabulous music, nice drinks, great atmosphere. Some rough sketches attached. Then I found there was one in Auckland & I went to the Cassette Number Nine bar in Vulcan Lane. Theme was early sixties, dresses, shoes, hair & makeup in theme. Last pose was one man in a suit & overcoat holding a paperbag, with two girls standing behind him, one about to choke him with something. I drew more of a cartoon style, won a "Buddy Christ" from the movie Dogma for that one, & gave the sketch to the main model. The person running it was fantastic, talked up a scene, even gave us a title for each drawing. Now I discover there is a Dr Sketchy in Hamilton, another nearby town.

A winter morning

2010-07-15T06:52:00.000-07:00

I walked outside to the car this morning, before driving off was standing and brushing my hair looking at this. Isn't it gorgeous?

Materiality, process, horizontality

2010-07-15T04:18:00.000-07:00

People peer in the doorway, comment on the fragrance of the materials but venture in only on invitation mostly. Stepping carefully around they look closely, one or two stood on the chair. Comments range from 'its like looking at a world without rubbish where you can breathe" (Dan) to "it needs blood" (Robert). Everything was gathered from the bush around TLC, the Wellington art school where I've begun the advanced dip, and will be returned at the end of the week to the bush. It is a site specific installation of short duration, a collaboration of four, and some of the materials are ever changing because of the intense heat in the studio, the sun pours in all day and the concrete floor absorbs it and releases it when the room cools, affecting the appearanceof some things.

Life drawing 30 June

2010-06-30T21:42:00.000-07:00

I'm beginning further study in fine arts, particularly materiality, process and horizontality. This is going to be a real challenge, going back to a kind of beginning place again, and in a way slowing down the whole process of artmaking to look at the materials and what they can do and my process.

One of my favourite models at life drawing tonight, very disciplined and able to move through poses without direction, and hold them perfectly. He likes to devise challenging poses.. both for him to hold and us to draw, but for this session we had several 20 minute simple poses to work with so I used mixed media.

They're all large A2 size drawings, done on heavy grade cream paper. First with an old brush and thin acrylic paint I very roughly painted some lines, some are quite ugly in fact, but I tried not to worry about that! I blocked in some areas with watery acrylic. Then I worked over the paper with soft and medium pastels and compressed charcoal. I ran out of white so used light colours in highlighted areas. One of the pieces has some collage on it. The room we use is a drama room at a local high school and our lighting choices are limited.

The first sketch is the only warm up I did...running late I missed the others.

It would be best to gesso the paper first next time, and have it dry, in preparation. That adds a nice weight to the paper, and helps keep it flat.

Drawing in the dark

2010-06-19T02:39:00.000-07:00

Again set up the model & our easels & turned the lights off. This time there was only 2 small candles lighting the model & it was quite difficult to draw just the lit areas ...These are a large pastel sketch on black sugar paper. After a while I moved & started another from the other side of the model.

Mixed media

2010-06-11T22:19:00.001-07:00

Recently I was involved in a one day exhibition of working artists... most of us were working at the venue so that people could view our process. Many stopped to talk and ask questions, and I sold Red Nude and Dream (mixed media collage drawings).

These are a couple of works in progress I began while there, starting with the heavy printmaking paper, then adding various media, some of my own monoprint material, antique text, drawing.

Drawing with light only on the model

2010-06-11T22:13:00.000-07:00

We put all the lights off, & had one light shining on the model. There was time for two drawings of about 10 minutes each. All these drawings are fairly large, A2 size paper, about 10 minutes each.

Drawings 12.6.10

2010-06-11T22:01:00.001-07:00

Top pose, found it awkward to draw though I was picking the poses this evening. Pays to take a little time & walk around the model to choose a view. I then moved to start again, still wasn't happy, so drew parts of the figure.

The next pose was a quick drawing, a couple of minutes, using a piece of compressed charcoal on its side, closeup of the face & upper body. I often begin my sketches by blocking in the entire figure this way, then adding lines & then highlights & shadows if there is time.

Ruapehu - quick shot from road on way past at dusk

2010-05-27T23:05:00.000-07:00

..some snapshots today

2010-05-21T23:03:00.001-07:00

If you look VERY carefully you can see the South Island across the Cook Strait in the distance. Was a gorgeous day today, a contrast from yesterday though I love the wild weather too.

About 5pm.

a few more random photos taken today

2010-05-21T05:26:00.001-07:00

More random photos

2010-05-19T22:27:00.001-07:00

New sculpture near the airport in Wellington.

From Te Papa. The figure on the left is sculpture.

Breaker Bay

Random photos taken yesterday

2010-05-18T17:45:00.000-07:00

Between Paeroa & Te Aroha.

A few minutes later closer to Te Aroha.

Tirau.

Lake Taupo.

Mt Ruapehu before the weather set in & it began pouring with rain.

Life drawing 12 May

2010-05-15T21:48:00.000-07:00

After a quick warmup sketch I offered a few exercises to the group to try - these are a few of my sketches from the evening. The first is a series of 15 second gesture drawings, all same page. The next was my last sketch of the night, just couldn't catch that pose so quick sketches of some of the people there. The next one down was a 5-7 minute drawiing where you keep your eye on the model & don't look at the page at all AND not lift the charcoal from the page. I tried it twice, so one drawing on top of another. The next was 5-7 minutes not lifting charcoal from page but allowed to look at paper sometimes while drawing, looking at edges. The last sketch was using opposite hand from usual, 5-7 minutes.

My painting featured in magazine article

2010-05-05T13:02:00.000-07:00

I've just been told one of my paintings featured in an article in a new Auckland lifestyle magazine which came out last week. Click <<>> to read the full article.

The information I was given about Urban Living is that it's a "leisure and lifestyle publication focusing on colourful lifestyle events, products and services available to the upbeat communities residing along the flourishing and vibrant waterfront of Auckland. Capturing the essence and elegance of the waterfront with refreshingly positive and powerful content Urban Living is presented in a cheerfully vivacious style and will feature a broad spectrum of spirited articles on fashion, interior design, dining and travel through to the arts, entertainment, shopping and real estate."

Urban Living is created by the same people that produce www.btob.co.nz and www.ruralliving.co.nz

Charcoal 29.4.10

2010-05-04T20:50:00.000-07:00

Drawing on heavy cream paper, compressed charcoals, from life model.

Red dress

2010-04-22T00:24:00.000-07:00

Arrived near the end of the first pose - got a super-quick soft pastel sketch done.

The other red dress drawing is in both soft pastel and compressed charcoal.

The kimono drawing is willow charcoal with some collage thrown on during the pose, at the top is a photo John took of the drawing in progress, before I added the torn paper.

All approx 18 x 24 inches.

'Red Nude'

2010-04-20T03:04:00.000-07:00

10 x 14 inches mixed media background with charcoal & ink drawing, the charcoal drawn and brushed on. The initial drawing was sketched from a life model, and completed today at Alison Gordon's studio. Has been a while since I made it over to the monthly gathering of artists. Everyone brings some artwork to work on, we talk, eat a yummy lunch together, check out each other's work, and talk and talk.

2010-04-14T21:24:00.001-07:00

Went to life drawing group for the first time in ages, last night. Our model came straight from work and was wearing workboots, jeans, safety vest, and she was tired. I arrived near the end of the first warm up pose so did a real quick sketch in soft pastel on buff paper.

The second model arrived soon after and we had two longer poses to draw, the one of the two facing each other was not easy, because both supported their bodies on their hands there was a certain stiffness in the pose. The top drawing is done in compressed synthetic charcoals, and the centre drawing in willow charcoal. Our male model had the most amazing tattoos that I did not have time to capture.

All 18 x 24 inches.

The art of articulation

2010-04-12T14:44:00.000-07:00

New British Op.
Elementalism
Elementalism is the Formal Systematic conception of an Analytic and Geometric composition, based on a Syntactic Specificity of Shape. Elementalism investigates shape as the fundamental component of Form in perception. Elementalism is the derivation of Form as a percept of some possible pure language of shape. The concept of shape is then the Elemental palette. The end of Elementalism is therefore, to present and understand a Geometic Aesthetic. To show that Beauty is a judgement of Elegance and that Elegance is an attribute of Form - being itself derivable as a percept of some pure language of shape. copyright Julian Broadhurst 2001. http://www.drowningcircle.com

Charcoal sketch

2010-03-21T22:12:00.000-07:00

Just playing around on one of the mixed media backgrounds. Charcoal pencil and willow charcoal. 10 x 14 inches on heavy grade rag paper with ink and acrylic paint.

Printmaking

2010-03-21T20:10:00.000-07:00

UPDATE TO THIS POST: I didn't make the following week at printmaking but Wow! Take a look at some of the results of the printmaking class. This is the result of having a tutor who is willing and able to go with the flow and be creative and experimental. Looks fantastic: http://johnmulvay.blogspot.com/2010/04/printmaking-class.html

I've done monoprints, and collographs...have always avoiding the more chemical processes. My friend, John Mulvay, a fulltime artist who lives locally, has recently been running a printmaking course so I joined in.

This is a zinc plate. First we had to file the edges to make a 45degree angle for a clean print result. Then we polished the plate to remove any scratches and pitting. Next step was to choose the best process for our design and put a "ground" on the plate. The plate was heated on an element, then the ground (a waxy substance that resists acid) is poured over it, and the plate put back on the heating element to "puddle"... the ground evens out.

The next step was to scratch through the ground the chosen design. I had no idea what to do, and quickly drew a bird. My signature had to be in reverse of course.

Next step - touching up accidental scratches with shellac. The plate was placed in a bath of nitric acid, eight minutes for mine, and them removed and washed.

The ground then was removed with turps, and the shellac with meths.

The oil based ink was applied, that's quite a process as it has to be worked over the plate well to get it into the tiniest etched scratches. Then the excess ink is removed until the plate is shiny clean, only ink in the etching.

John had brought one of his printing presses to the venue, and some paper to trial the plate. The paper of course is soaked in water and patted dry in a towel then laid between white paper. All the while trying to make sure no ink gets anywhere it shouldn't be.

The plate is laid on the press, the rag paper on top, felt layers folded down the the press turned.

And...... failure! Did not make a decent impression at all.

Could be the plate was not cleaned properly after the use of turps which can leave a greasy surface. The pressure might not have been enough. Perhaps the plate needs further etching...not sure. We'll be talking about it before we print again.

I dont think I'm patient enough for this process but its been interesting.

Mixed media drawing

2010-03-19T19:50:00.000-07:00

Charcoal, acrylic paint, collage, indian ink on grey cartridge paper 24 x 16 inches.

Drawn from life then worked on in studio.

Life drawings

2010-03-12T20:51:00.000-08:00

The sitting pose is exaggerated.. I often get asked that... These are approximately 18 x 24 inches, compressed charcoal on 180gsm cream paper.

It might be called Cosmic Night

2010-03-09T13:09:00.000-08:00

This was difficult to photograph .. it is still not perfectly correct. However, here is another of my abstract expressionism series. Working on a title at present.. its something to do with night time and darkness... Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 36 x 1 1/2 " .

Summer's Sea

2010-03-05T13:02:00.000-08:00

Acrylic on canvas, 20 x 36 x 1 1/2 inches.

Speculation

2010-02-20T11:14:00.000-08:00

This painting is on canvas, 15" x 30" mixed acrylic media.

Abstract impressionism...expressionism...

2010-02-17T18:51:00.000-08:00

A friend challenged me to create some colourful abstract works. Now I'm not sure if they're impressionism or expressionism...maybe both...if someone can express an opinion I'd be interested. They incorporate both smaller brushstrokes and layering up of paint as well as bold, freemoving application of the paint. Here are a couple of the series, I have many in progress.

They are as yet unnamed. But both are inspired by the view from my deck of a pointed hill behind which the sun sets. I had the feeling I wanted to capture the bright colour of the sunset as well as the shadows below the hill.

Acrylic on canvas

Abstract 1 20" x 24"
Abstract 2 24" x 36"

I'm back

2010-02-17T07:41:00.000-08:00

I know... its months... people have been asking me what I'm doing with the blog. Well I'm back. Last night I went to our drawing group, its been a while, and did a few quick sketches with equally quick wash. We were privileged to have a guitarist playing, and modelling, with our other model. the ink sketch was a superquick indian ink drawing, was all I could see of her as she lay beside the guitarist. The others are pencil with watercolour wash.

I've started a new series of paintings, very different from what I've done in the past. A close friend has encouraged me to work in abstract, expressionism, and I have many paintings in progress. Shall upload a picture or two soon.

Sunday at John's

2009-08-29T22:36:00.000-07:00

I have to take my camera next week and photograph the amazing etching presses John is building and engineering. Anyway, I actually remembered to go today (forgot last week - "Sunday School" in John's studio for local artists who care to get together and spend a few hours working in company). I worked on more backgrounds, not very exciting to view.. but am enjoying the layering up of the surfaces. Then I started drawing over a couple of them. Just getting started. I noticed some shapes in the colours so began to draw from those, so a lot more to do yet.

Mixed Media drawing

2009-08-23T17:01:00.000-07:00

Acrylic and oil paints, and charcoal pencil on 50% cotton rag paper.
"Dark Legend". The oil paint was accidental. I thought I'd picked up watercolour. But it was a happy accident, though I had to deal with the brush straight away. Was aiming to put a black wash over part of the base, there are several layers of acrylic wash. Ended up brushing over the oil paint and using it to add texture.

Another character from my stories.

Mark making

2009-08-15T20:52:00.000-07:00

Some works in progress. Top pic is embossing of one of my collographs on printmaking paper. Then an indian ink sketch on mixed media base. Followed by the beginning of a life drawing on a mixed media base, and the last picture a drawing in progress and I was drawing flat which is soooo wrong, I'll have to start correcting before i get much further, but it's in charcoal pencil so I can make improvements (trying to draw the main male character of a book I'm writing, he's not a real person... he's in my head).

Spent time today at the studio of my artist friend John. We were talking about process and product and he made a comment, "I'm not making art, I'm making an artist." Found that interesting, because I talked in my last blog entry about the making of the art, the process, as being the art. Probably sounds convoluted. It is.

Anyway, we had got together for our "sunday school". John showed me how to stretch canvas, I've never learned to do it properly. And gave me his secret recipe for making a primer to use instead of gesso. I've never liked gesso on on canvas, though I love using it on paper. Makes a great surface to work on.

I had taken a collograph that I made a while ago, and we experimented, John used his wonderful press to emboss some of my paper that I'd taken to work on my mixed media bases. I'll be thinking of how I might incorporate this process in my work. A clean embossing on white paper looks fantastic but I'm all about layering so will have to come up with an idea that fits.

Still working on adding to the mixed media bases but I'm starting to put marks on some of them.

Backgrounds

2009-08-11T03:11:00.001-07:00

Creating a surface as the background is an integral part of the work. I create surfaces using acrylic media mostly. Scumbling, working over and over, adding and taking away. The actually process of making this surface background is as important to me as the image I place on top of it, and the act of creating it is the art as much as the finished piece is, if that makes sense! The physical action of building up layers and visual texture is essential to me and creates my feeling about the piece, and I’ll work on that until I feel ready to put an image on the surface. I'm working on expensive printmaking rag paper. On canvas I've used modelling compounds, gesso, impasto gel, tissue and more.

Masked

2009-07-30T23:49:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine how this feels?

You cannot see, you have to breathe slowly, you cannot laugh. It's okay while people are talking then they seem to forget you are there. They stop talking. Then the feeling of claustrophobia wells up, almost panic.

It's not me. I could never submit to that kind of experience. I was only the observor.

NZ Art Guild - Collaborative Artwork "Ngatahi"

2009-07-11T04:31:00.000-07:00

This year's collaborative painting was auction recently to raise funds for the NZ Mental Health Foundation.

We each contributed a small painting and the paintings were arranged into one large artwork. Mine is the 2nd from left third row from the top. The theme was "ngatahi"... one people.. my image was based on growth... life...the seed.

Drawing musicians again

2009-06-19T04:37:00.000-07:00

A couple of recent sketches of musicians... I like to draw people when I'm out. I'm not sure they are as keen. Musicians seem pretty tolerant though. I think the local musicians are becoming used to it. Musicians and artists both talk about "the zone". That headspace where you're right into what you're doing, and it flows. When creating feels like that, you wonder why it should ever be hard. But it is sometimes. Then we learn to let go and not control everything. We keep going, get over it and get into the zone and then it flows...

Reappearance

2009-06-19T02:11:00.000-07:00

Still having camera/Vista issues. Shall try and obtain a better photo taking the painting out into the daylight.

This painting is based on drawings done of the model turning and walking around. Its a wonderful exercise to try and detach yourself, use sense and intuition to absorb information from the moving figure and capture it on paper. Working from these drawings I tried the same exercise with paint on canvas, trying to focus more on a sense of form and weight rather than detail. Sense and intuition is a strange thing. It is no easier to apply it in artmaking then it is in any other area of one's life. One just has to trust.

80 x 100cm acrylic on canvas

Drawing in the dark

2009-06-07T02:43:00.000-07:00

For these two drawings, the room was in darkness with light on the model. Yellow drawing was done first. When the lights went on I was surprised to see I'd picked up a piece of yellow pastel instead of white.

We focused on drawing the lit areas of the models body. It's not an easy thing to do. What you think you see, and what you actually see are two different things and you have to overcome what your brain is telling you.

That's why I love to draw or paint with music playing, finding it easier to slip into that 'zone', some would say its allowing the right brain to take over from the logical left brain.

Like to learn more about that? Look at Betty Edward's book, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. And here's a link.

Life drawing

2009-06-07T02:39:00.000-07:00

has been continuing again over the last couple of months... a couple of quick drawings... 18 x 24" compressed charcoal on heavy grade buff paper. I usually quickly cover the paper with some coloured pastel first which means even less time for the drawing - these are a couple of minutes long each.

Taking a drawing into paint

2009-06-06T20:14:00.000-07:00

I've applied modelling paste to canvases, it takes ages to get it right, and to dry. Mine and Body (at the bottom of this page) is one of those where I've spent hours and hours on the surface texture of the canvas before painting onto it.

Another method is to use tissue paper and acrylic mediums to apply it to the surface. A little quicker and quite satisfying if I want a more regular appearance to the surface.

Canvas is still my favourite surface on which to paint, using brushes. I love the 'give' of canvas, and I'm quite hard on brushes.

I've been going to a life drawing group for about eighteen months now. John Mulvay organised it, through community education, and when the funding hasn't been there we've managed to keep it going on a private basis. He'll provide tutoring for those who want it, and I very much appreciate having live models available every week. This is a real achievement for John to have kept this group going and it seems to have settled in with a core of regulars, and new people coming and going.

Piled up in my studio, are hundreds of life drawings. I've sold a few. Others I'll offer to the models. One day I'll have to dispose of some, that will be painful. I'm now trying to be more experimental when I go to life drawing. Sometimes I'll draw directly onto the canvas and paint it later. There is a an energy in a drawing done from life that is lost when copying it later. The more prep I put into the surfaces that I take along, the more satisfying is the result.

This photo is a painting of one of the warmup drawings, where the model walks around, or holds a pose for only 30 seconds. My first attempt at this, and I'll continue working on this idea to see where it takes me.

Pear & Offering

2009-06-04T05:26:00.000-07:00

"Pear", 18 x 20", acrylic on canvas.

"Offering" 18 x 20" acrylic on canvas

The top pose is one I've been using for about 3 years now and YES I have exaggerated the model's figure deliberately.

Changing Woman & Jealous Sisters

2009-06-04T02:29:00.000-07:00

Named from a myth.. staying with the theme of woman and body as earth and life ... changing woman is from Navajo mythology, introduced in the creation story. The lifegiving and sustaining qualities of the earth being derived from Changing Woman. Seemed to fit with the image that grew from my original life drawing.

Acrylic on canvas (mixed media). 12 x 24"

Another painting created from two life drawings, placing them together on the canvas suggested the title.
Acrylic on canvas 12 x 15"

Waiting

2009-06-04T02:28:00.000-07:00

Waiting 1 10" x 30" acrylic on canvas

The colours are a little richer than here (using a grumpy PC on XP to edit the photos, then taking to an uncooperative laptop with Visa to upload to site).

Waiting 2 10 x 30" acrylic on canvas.

I have struggled with getting back to painting for a few months, which wasn't a totally bad thing. I finished a book over the the first three months of the year. But I needed to be painting and somehow needed a kick up the proverbial.

Inspiration is an elusive thing. It's easily lost or squashed. A couple of friends provided the kick and someone else close to me seemed to provide the inspiration and I started painting again a couple of months ago. I've hundreds of life drawings and had been thinking of taking some into paint, but felt I had to come up with clever metaphorical ideas, or symbols or backgrounds to create a worthwhile painting. The consequence of that was that I did nothing. Finally I realised I was holding myself back, putting a restriction where there didn't need to be one. And just picked up the paintbrush.

Really there is no replacement for just putting the time in, the hours. And just like with the book, that is what I did. Fulltime, no outside teaching, just every day and half the night in the studio.

Submission

2009-06-04T02:24:00.000-07:00

Acrylic on canvas, 16 x 28" on canvas.

From a life drawing, mainly in Payne's Grey so slightly bluer than this image.

On of the paintings I created in the last two months. Recently I exhibited a lot of work, these and other works of a figurative nature. It was interesting to see what sold. The current economic situation means there is not a lot of disposable income out there so I wasn't expecting to sell anything. The mixed media drawings were the pieces that sold. I LOVE creating those. Painting is difficult. Its painful. Like giving birth I say. I never know when something is finished. And am never satisfied of course. But the mixed media drawings, they are a joy to create. I love the whole process of creating the bases on which to draw, and they're fun to draw onto, direct from life.

Another work in progress

2009-05-02T06:50:00.000-07:00

Acrylic mixed media on canvas, again, some way to go.

Drawing on mixed media bases

2009-05-02T06:48:00.000-07:00

Ink drawings on mixed media bases.

Two more drawings

2009-04-19T00:09:00.000-07:00

Another couple of drawings of our young model, one with her mother.

2009-04-16T19:56:00.000-07:00

Been having trouble with my photo editing on my new computer...it doesn't want to accept my favourite programme, so I give up....here are some unedited photos from the last couple of life drawing evenings. I like to edit them to make them more as they really are...they're a bit dull.

I'm in the studio painting everday at the moment, a body of work based on the life drawings. I'll post some of the works in progress soon.

Life Drawing 11 March 2009

2009-03-12T01:59:00.000-07:00

Only four drawings last night, not sure why it worked out that way. All 62 x 42 cm 180gsm paper, compressed charcoal and soft pastel.

I tried cropping the figure for some. Have been happier with such drawings but don't find it easy to decide what part to put in and what to leave out!

The model pointed out to me that I'd drawn a map of New Zealand on her pubic hair in the reclining drawing haha. Not intentional. Just my little scribbles that I put on the drawings.

I asked her to stand with her hands up and I was quite pleased with that sketch. Its an idea I've had for a while, to take through to a painting.

Drawings of musicians....a couple more...

2009-03-06T17:21:00.001-08:00

Very soft thick pencil....now that they don't allow smoking in bars in New Zealand, there are no ashtrays into which I can sharpen my pencils! I tried to draw the top person several times, couldn't capture his face. The flute player, well I think I got him ok. And the third is a singer guitarist and artist, Robyn, whom I also think I captured fairly well.

Sketching musicians in a bar

2009-03-06T17:05:00.000-08:00

Last night I took a sketchbook with me to The Burrowing Bully where they have open mic regularly. These people are great...they don't seem to mind me sitting in front drawing them.

Can't say I always get a perfect likeness but it's good fun.

Life Drawing 4 March 2009

2009-03-05T00:26:00.000-08:00

These are done on 180gsm paper in compressed charcoal and conte. We had two models though I concentrated on the male model mainly. The red and blue is a drawing done while the female model turning and moving her arms.

Life drawing 25 February 2009

2009-02-25T21:18:00.000-08:00

These are the drawings from this week's group. All done on 150gsm grey paper, in compressed charcoal and pastel, 62 x 42 cm.

Life drawing 18 February 2009

2009-02-21T02:55:00.000-08:00

New model this week who hadn't modelled before but she was very good. And yes, I did draw her in an exaggerated style in some of the drawings. These are all large drawings, mainly compressed charcoal or conte, some pastel, on 180gsm white or buff paper.

Life drawing 11 February

2009-02-14T16:53:00.001-08:00

It's been a couple of months since I went to life drawing, a bit otu of practice. Here are four of the drawings, the quick warm ups at the bottom. The others were about 20 minute poses though I usually stop before then. Compressed charcoal and conte mainly on 170gsm paper.

Autumn Fall

2009-01-29T16:52:00.001-08:00

is the title of this painting which is one of those I've sold in the last month. At life drawing group, one of our models was lying on the floor, in this pose, and the idea came to me to compose this image of her as if she is part of the hills. At the time I'd travelled down to Wellington a couple of times on the train and it's fascinating seeing the changing landscape through the North Island of NZ. In the lower part of the island there are beautiful rolling hills that fold in upon each other. It fits in with my frequent theme of the body as the land and the earth mother.

Photo isn't fantastic, it isn't quite the finished painting... but you get the idea...

A painting to complete

2009-01-22T23:34:00.000-08:00

I'm busy working on collages for the 2009 International Collage Exhibition and Exchange. Finally I've settled to an idea and so far so good. And sitting on my easel looking at me is this painting waiting to be finished. Its large, 90 x 60cm acrylic on canvas. I've drawn in the basic picture, and blocked in the colours with acrylic paint, ready to work on with. Trouble is I get engrossed in some of the paint effects and hesitate to cover them over. Hopefully by the time I get to it I'll be over that.

2009 - First post of the year

2009-01-16T01:58:00.000-08:00

No post for a while I suddenly realised, so its about time I logged in and wrote. But about what? I have been creative...but in a different form...editing a book that I' m close to finishing. All hours of the day and night. The last few days I've been searching for all the -ly words in the manuscript and I can't believe how many times I use the word "slightly". And I use a lot of words that tone things down, so it's a major exercise finding all those -ly words and rewriting. And this is just the start of the process. The eyes are very very tired.

I have been in the studio a little. A friend has been a few times and been creating works that she may enter into the 2009 ICE. I started working on making collaged paper that I will cut up and collage. Its clean up time. By the end of the year it looked like a bomb had hit it. I'm not a tidy worker. Each burst of creativity brings with it a chaotic mess to clean up afterwards. This holiday period is my traditional time for the big clear out..hasn't happened but the pressure is on now. And that's what I always need. Deadlines. Targets. Due dates. You think I'd have more self discipline by now.

Knowledge which is acquired...

2008-12-29T04:02:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again when I need to get busy and create the thirteen works for the 2009 International Collage Exhibition and Exchange. It'll be the fourth time I've participated and yet again I've left it to the last minute! But this time I have an idea! Previously, I've rummaged through looking for inspiration to come from a piece of text or an image, or a drawing or photo, but this time I know what I want to do for the whole series. I wonder if it will make the process any easier!

The image is from the 2006 exhibition. It was exhibited in the 8th International Collage Exchange exhibition at Turchin Center at the Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. I started with the drawing of the baboon (white pencil on black paper) and added the bars (like teeth). Quotations printed on computer, magazine collage, and some text from my own teaching materials. It's a probably obscure comment on compulsory eduction. The title of this post is the title of the work.

To see previous exchanges look:

here for 2006
here for 2007
here for 2008

there's a link on the sidebar for how to participate but you can click here

The exchange and exhibition is organised and run by Dale Copeland...and she does an amazing job. There's an online exhibition of pieces for sale, one from every artist. One work from every artist is exhibited overseas somewhere. And the rest...well, Dale sorts through them and every artist receives a package of 11 (or 12 if the sale pieces doesn't sell) collages back.

Artist, Friend and Wild Horses

2008-12-15T23:32:00.000-08:00

I'm kind of cheating this week ... haven't got anything new to post so I'm posting some links to the blogs of a friend, artist John Mulvay, who writes rather interesting posts. He's got three blogs so take a look around all of them. He's very active in the local arts community...mural artist and life drawing tutor, has exhibited, won an art award (probably more that I don't know about) and been a guest exhibitor. I added the Sundays' version of Wild Horses to my music playlist here in reference to a print he has just put on one of his blogs. So, in the absence of artwork from me, have a look at John's recently mounted mural, his own life drawings and his very pregnant looking goldfish.

Oh, and that's a very quick and rough sketch I did of John listening to music at Chambers one Friday night.

Mixed Media Life Drawing 10 December 2008

2008-12-10T21:59:00.000-08:00

Our group met for the last time this year and again I made some took some collaged printmaking paper along, A2 size. I spend so long picking out particular pieces of paper that I want to put on these, forgetting that much of it will be obscured with paint and then dry media.

I used compressed charcoal and conte mainly.

Mixed Media Life Drawing

2008-12-04T00:06:00.000-08:00

Again I prepared some collaged printmaking paper. I used a French Grey Conte pencil for much of these. The sheet with two figures on it is smaller, A4 size, and I used a black Artline pen which, amazingly, did not seem to mind being used upside down. I was using an easel.

Life Drawing 26 November 2008

2008-11-26T15:55:00.000-08:00

w
I've been meaning to create some collaged paper to take to drawing and finally I managed to throw some things together yesterday. I used a good quality printmaking paper to have sturdy background, and used binder medium to apply old text (from my collection of 100+years old books acquired specifically to use in artworks), and papers from magazines and scrapbooking materials. On top of that I quickly brushed some acrylic paint with medium to thin it down. Because it was done in such a hurry there are wrinkles and lumps.

I did three drawings using some of these as a base, and it was an interesting exercise. I can see I have to take care about where dark pieces are placed. I had one interesting dark piece of paper that I don't want to obliterate, but to enhance the drawing I'll have to lift that area out with light media of some kind. I might work on with these pieces at home, using modelling paste and paints, pastels etc. The bases are sturdy enough for that. I used a stick of graphite which was good to work with but doesn't photograph well and tends to reflect light. It might be a better idea to begin with willow charcoal and then moved to a more solid media once the basic drawing is blocked in, willow would wipe of the surface quite easily if I wanted to make changes. I'm thinking 'aloud' here.

The other two drawings are on A2 cartridge paper, the warmup drawings and then one quick drawing blocked in roughly with soft pastel.

Life drawing 19 November 2008

2008-11-19T16:37:00.000-08:00

All done on brown or buff paper in mostly compressed charcoal and pastel. I scribble over the paper first in colours then draw on top of that. Mostly I block in the form lightly with a short piece of compressed charcoal, using it on its side. I then begin to draw, aiming to get one line...to look, commit and draw.

The painted sketch is done in a new product I picked up yesterday...can't recall name (my materials are still out in the car)...its watercolour in a tube with a brush, you take the lid off, turn the collar to 'on' and paint/draw. The brush isn't the best (they're for children...) and if you squeeze the tube ink can run down the page - though that could be used to effect. It was interesting to try them out, but difficult to control, and a limited colour range of red, yellow, blue and green.

The scribbly sketch is five 1 minute poses drawn in Crayola Twistables on white cartridge paper. All drawings are on A2 size paper.

Life Drawing group

2008-11-14T14:57:00.000-08:00

John Mulvay runs the life drawing class at Waihi College (in Waihi, New Zealand). He provides the easels for those who wish to use them, organises the models, makes sure the room is heated for the model to feel comfortable. He provides tutoring for those who require it, and leaves us alone if that's what we want. Also provided are diagrams of skeleton and sometimes interesting drawing books. There is a quote on my blog from a favourite book of his. Every week I look forward to this short uninterrupted period of concentrated drawing.

This is a link to a couple of photographs of the life drawing class in progress.

Life Drawing 12 November 2008

2008-11-12T22:37:00.001-08:00

All done on buff paper. The centre picture is done in a red chalk pencil with some addition of pastel. The others are in compressed charcoal, conte and/or pastel. I used a very thick compressed charcoal stick which didn't allow for fine detail.

New Zealand election 2008

2008-11-12T03:30:00.000-08:00

I voted on Saturday. Although record numbers registered, overall voter numbers were down...a lot. Why is that? I don't understand why people don't exercise this democratic right. Sophia Elise has written an interesting article about this...do take look.

Life Drawing 5 November 2008

2008-11-10T16:46:00.000-08:00

Some of the drawings from this evening - on lightweight buff/brown paper with pastel and compressed charcoals. I roughly ran pastel over the paper before drawing to add some colour. The orange and black drawings were quick warmups.

The group gathered in a music room at a local college as our usual room wasn't available ... hence the guitars.