Sell out at Pine Apples Exhibition

I had a GREAT time on friday night at the opening of the Brisbane Pine Apples Exhibition at the new Myrtle Street Studio.  Both of my prints sold, absolutely wonderful and exciting!  I hope that their new owner will spend many happy hours gazing into them and seeing all the wonderful marks and the serendipity which is emboded in each unique print.  I really enjoyed creating them, they've got great vibes and of course a bit of my quirky sense of humour! 

I can't wait to get back into the studio and get creating again after being on the road camping in NSW for the past 2 weeks.  Along the way, I collected some very interesting grasses and leaves to work with in my printmaking.  We camped mostly in National Parks, so there was plenty of inspiration and atmosphere to breathe in, I feel like a new woman (except for the dirt and sand, sunscreen and aeroguard which I accumulated along the way!).

Pine Apples comes to Brisbane !

Knotless Netting

This week at Basketcases we learnt a knotless netting technique. Its quite straightforward and can be used to make bags etc.

In the photo you can see I used part of a 'pool noodle' to support the weaving whilst I worked on it.

I also learnt how to make string from banana fibre.  There is something very satifsying about being able to produce your own thread.  And it will be great activity to pass the time whilst Craig and I are driving around New South Wales on our camping trip later this month!

Coochie Art Retreat - its on!

THE major art event of 2010 is on - the inaugural Coochie Art Retreat!  Cathy Money (fellow printmaker, wonderful artist and friend) and I are off to Coochimudlo Island in April to retreat from the busy world and make art, art and more art!

Our focus will be on the mangroves around the island, so at high tide we intend to set off in Cathy's double kayak to do sketching etc.  Then the remainder of the day will be spent at the shack (ie resort) with 'Thumper' my printing press, cooking up a creative storm.

Goodie!  I can't wait!  Lets hope the weather is kind to us, though it doesn't really matter because we will be in the shack printing anyway (what a shame, NOT).

Only 51 more sleeps to go........... ;-)

Pine Apples Exhibition - Tasmania

This is the Tasmanian leg of the Pine Apples Exhibition, which will feature 2 of my pineapple monotypes I referred to in a previous blog.  Bon Voyage!

The Art of Creating

I've been reading a book "Fearless Creating" by Eric Maisel and in it was this quote ....

"Between each fruitful phase are long periods of exploration, faltering, learning, and working things out." (Kenneth Noland)

People often misjudge a finished artwork... "thats easy, my kid could do that".  But they don't see the journey that lead the artist to that point, they don't see where the artist's mind was when they made the artwork, what the message or idea behind it is.

Being an artist isn't easy.  Both creating and not creating creates a state of anxiety in me, but I will always choose the anxiety of creating!

Stab Binding Books

I've found yet another way to use my monotypes - japanese style stab binding booklets.

They were great fun to make and involved using the Dremel to drill holes for the binding - using a power tool adds another dimension to the making of an object, even though a Dremel is only a 'baby' tool!

I also had to scrounge through my bead collection to find just the right beads to decorate the covers.

Ceramic Creations

Today I finished 4 mornings of ceramics at Brisbane Institute of Art.  I worked on handbuilding various objects out of Raku clay.

I had some very definite ideas about what I wanted to create - objects that I could incorporate in both my fibre weaving and in my book making.

I was very prolific and produced many objects, both large and small.   It was great to let my design ideas flow then transform them with clay - this is a medium I have not worked with before (well, maybe at school!).  It was also interesting to work solely in 3D, and having to take into consideration the limitations and possibilities of the clay.  I also discovered that fingernails are not good in ceramics!

The objects now will go for firing, then I will get to glaze them in a couple of weeks.  I can't wait!!!  I'm the sort of person that likes instant gratification so having to wait to take home my finished works is TORTURE!

Stay tuned for some photos of the finished works.  Fingers crossed they survive the kiln.....

Monotype Workshop @ Spinners & Weavers

Yesterday I facilitated my first monotype workshop and it was a success!  It was held as part of the 4-day annual get-together of the paper 'obsessed' members of Qld Spinners & Weavers.  There was a lengthy queue for use of my travelling printing press 'Thumper' who did a fine job under pressure (pun intended!).

I think that most were happy with what they produced with limited time and instruction, and I witnessed some amazing creativity which always comes out of a monoprinting session.

It is now my intention to look into running another Monotype workshop later in 2010, I'm sure I'll get some repeat customers!

Unfortunately I didn't get any photos, I was too busy enjoying the buzz of creativity.....  :-)

Cyanotypes

Today I played with cyanotypes - a photographic printing process that uses the sun to create an image from objects placed on a surface treated with chemicals.  For my artworks (pictured) I used a string of beads and a piece of lace.  Very interesting and lots of fun!  (thanks heaps Wendy for sharing this process with us at Qld Spinners & Weavers).