Embrace the Shake - an inspiring video

I don't usually publish UTube videos on my blog, but this was shared with me and I had to pass it on.

Phil Hansen is the speaker, an amazing artist.  I was really struck by his words that reminded me why I make art.  A very grounding and inspiring lesson.

Please view it, its worth the time.

Inspiration and Reconnection

I realised this past weekend that there are times where you don't need to make art, but to use the time to THINK about it.  Which is quite an unusual thing for me.  I always need to be making art, thinking as I go, composing, make decisions on colour, how I want to present my ideas and thoughts.

Last Friday we travelled to Canberra for Craig to compete in an MTBO event (mountain bike orienteering).  I tagged along for company and to have a few days to relax and make art.

I took along my gelli plate and paints and papers, and whilst Craig was out riding, I set up my art studio in the motorhome and got to work.  But it didn't flow, it didn't work.  I wasn't producing anything I really liked.  And I hated that feeling! 

But after another walk in the fresh air amongst the trees and bird calls, I realised that my inability to print (anything that I considered worthwhile) was not a disaster.  What was more important was allowing myself the space and time to reconnect with nature. 

My few days in the forests near Canberra gave me the time to collect leaves, play with my gelliplate, think, think and think.   To listen to the bird sounds floating on the air, feel the stillness at dusk, blowflies buzzing, surrounded by air not walls.   And not being stuck in my normal 'daily' routine.

I am truly thankful for the opportunity.

 

Relaxing outside our motorhome at Namadgi National Park

 

My temporary art studio in the motorhome

Some of the prints, beautiful gum leaves with
lots of damage from caterpillars

Craig checking his GPS on a walk at
Namadgi National Park.
I love this photo as it really shows off
the gorgeous landscape - tall white gums,
wildflowers, and grasses

 

A Satin Bowerbird checking out our offering of
a piece of blue rope. 
He had already taken of our blue pegs back to his bower.
Unfortunately he rejected the rope -
 not good enough to impress his girl I guess!



 

Swamplands at Namadgi National Park

Blue Tongued Lizard by the side of the track.
Didn't get a good photo of the brown snake unfortunately!

Passage - an exhibition of printmaking, papermaking and porcelain

Artists Pattie Murray and Sandra Pearce

Dates: 9 October to 2 November 2013
Where: Caboolture Regional Art Gallery, Hub Gallery, 4 Hasking Street, Caboolture
Times: M-F 9-4; Sat 9-3

Come along and view my exciting new exhibition with porcelain artist Pattie Murray. Our theme is 'Passage' where we each are describing our different journeys into the tidal zones - past and present.

For this exhibition I have used paper and natural fibres to explore my relationship with the tidal zones of Moreton Bay. By incorporating natural materials into my papermaking and printmaking processes, I have created sculptural works that describe my journey revisiting my childhood perceptions and experiences in Moreton Bay.

I've made some large freeform sheets of paper (over 2 metres long!) using natural fibres such as mulberry bark, lemon grass and silk cocoon strippings. Pattie has made some beautiful, fragile and colourful porcelain pieces.

Pattie and I will be at the gallery on Saturday 12 October from 10am to 3pm, please join us. We will be available to talk about our work and show you around.

Unfortunately the cafe at the Hub will be closed on the 12th, but there are other bakeries and cafes nearby.
If you visit during the week, I can highly recommend the cafe for coffee and cake!

 

Artists Night at Hanasho

Last night we opened my exhibition 'Nature in Print' at Hanasho, Boundary Street, West End.  A great night talking about my art with a few sales in between drinks.

Thanks at all who came along.  My work is at Hanasho until the 31st October, please come along and take a look.  I've also got some cards and bookmarks on sale.

View of my work along Hanasho's wall

View of Hanasho's - an exciting visual display

Craig and I with my work in the background

A trio of butterfly monoprints,
the lime green one is my favourite!

Nature In Print

During October I'm showing selected monoprints at Hanasho, a Japanese Florist at West End.

I've got some of my willy-wag tail series, as well as lots of small prints I discovered in my folios. I have framed them up, and wondered why I hadn't done that sooner!

All the prints have a nature based theme and feature lots of colour, lines and textures.  Prices range from $90 to $300, most are framed ready to hang.

Join me for drinks Thursday 3rd October at 6.30pm.

Silk Paper

As part of my upcoming exhibition 'Passage' at the Caboolture Hub Gallery, I have been exploring silk paper as a medium on which to monoprint.

There are several ways of making silk paper.  I use the iron method with silk cocoon strippings, where the outer sericin (or gum) in the fibre has not been removed during the industrial process.  All silk comes from the cocoon produced by the silk worm (remember them?  I think we all had them as 'pets' when we were children).

To make silk paper, I lay out the silk fibers, mist it with water, and iron it between sheets of baking paper.  The addition of moisture and heat activates the sericin and softens it enough for it to bind the fibres together.  When the paper is cool and has dried, the sericin reverts to its natural state and glues the fibres permanently.

I'm addicted to making silk paper....  I love how I can easily turn a silk by-product into a beautiful soft textured surface on which I can print.  I prefer to lay down the fibres in a random manner (which suits my style!) so the resulting paper is uneven and full of 'holes'.  This is a perfect result, making the paper transparent and light in places, but still with plenty of strength.

For my exhibition, I have completed an artists book using silk paper and today I'm working on a large hanging piece, about 3 metres long.  The photos below are of the hanging piece in progress, before printing.

Silk cocoon strippings,
bought online from Silksational $13 for 100g

laying out the fibres, similar to
making felt

Misting with water

Ironing between sheets of baking paper.
This is the only sort of ironing I enjoy!

The completed sheet of silk paper, 3m long.
Ready for printing.

Detail from my artist book 'Ephemeral',
showing monprints on silk paper.

Branching Out - we're open!

Come and join us!

On Thursday Jacki, Pam and myself set up our exhibition 'Branching Out' at the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens.

We had our first day today, lots of visitors and fantastic feedback.  The Richard Randall Art Studio is an airy, welcoming space and we've filled it to the rafters with a variety of artwork including encaustic paintings, monoprints, artist books, dyed silk garments, paintings, pottery, sculpture and eco-dyed clothing.....phew.....PLUS lots of small items also for sale like cards, small paintings, pottery, books, journals, and lots more.  Everyone has been impressed with the colour and creativity of our artwork - its great to see it all up on display after months of hard work.

We're open Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 10am to 3pm.  Our 'official' opening is at 2pm Saturday, join us for a drink and look at our wonderful artwork!

p.s. There's an Australian Plant show on at the auditorium at the gardens, so you can send your husband/father/brother etc to see that whilst you stop into our show....!

Some of my prints and artist books

The 'Branching Out' Discs - we each decorated a dozen
wooden discs in our chosen mediums

My Mum Jan helping out, with the exhibition
around her

Jacki's encaustic and mixed media works

Some of Pam's paintings and sculpture

Me, standing in front of my display, with my
'Reaching Out' fibre sculpture on the left

Branching Out Exhibition

Get out your diary and pencil this one in! 

During the weekend Friday 30 August to Sunday 1 September, I'm having an exhibition with fellow artists Jacki Archibald and Pam Black @ Richard Randall Art Studio at Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, Toowong.

Drinkies with the artists is from 2pm Saturday but you are welcome anytime, we'll be open 10am to 4pm daily.  All 3 artists will be on site during the exhibition.

I'll be exhibiting my new series of Willy-Wag Tail prints as well as artists books and other prints.

Also featuring eco-dyed clothing, silk dyed clothing, paintings and encaustic works amongst other things from 3 very talented ladies.   A real treasure trove of exciting and creative handmade work, with lots of goodies for sale as well.

I hope to see you there!

Eco-Dyeing on Paper Workshop

Yesterday I ran an Eco-Dyeing on Paper workshop for ATASDA, with 8 lovely ladies having heaps of fun with bundles of leaves, mysterious brews and concertina book formats.

A great time was had by all, with plenty of post-workshop enthusiasm to continue dyeing at home.
Thanks to everyone for making the day very creative and most enjoyable.

Unwrapping the bundles after dyeing

An interesting use of grass as a resist in the bundle

Some of the papers laying out to dry after dyeing

A typical example of beautiful eco-dyeing, no nasty chemicals
to produce wonderful imagery

A bundle coming out of the pot,
very imaginative bundling techniques!

3 pots of brew on the go all day

A display of my eco-dyed samples
to inspire my students!

Bimblebox Bird Printmaking Project

I've been working on a series of monoprints as part of the Bimblebox Bird Printmaking Project, a print series comprised of 153 bird species that have been recorded on the BimbleBox Nature Refuge.

The refuge is 50km NW of Alpha in Central West Queensland - 8000 hectares of privately owned, high conservation value land.  It was purchased in 2000 by a group of concerned citizens for the explicit purpose of saving it from land clearing.

Unforunately at present nature refuges are not protected from mining, and there is a proposal for a mega coal mine to be built in the refuge.

The print project is to support the protection of the Bimblebox Nature Refuge and raise awareness of the threats to its survival.

More information - www.bimblebox.org.au

As part of the printmaking project, I was allocated one of the birds recorded in the refuge - the Crested Bellbird (oreoica gutturals).  This bird (according to my research) has a rich, musical call and a most unusual feature - its ventriloquial, meaning the bird can throw its voice.

I have described this characteristic in my print, by repeating and layering imagery of the Bellbird, along with pieces of Kangaroo Grass, one of the plant species in the area.

Its been a rewarding challenge to work with a bird I've never seen, but hope to one day when I get an opportunity to visit the refuge, assuming they save it from claws of the mining industry.

The print that I've donated to the project.
The Bellbird is singing but you can't tell where its coming from...

Another print from the series. I printed approx 12 but I'm
 only happy with above half of them! 
I'm not entirely satisfied with the colours....oh well.
p.s. the blue is actually more aqua than shown.