Insight + Onsite

From Tuesday 18th August to Thursday 27th August, I'll be working onsite at the Maroochy Bushland Botanic Gardens with artist Catherine Money.  Please pop in and say hello and see our latest works.  You'll also have the opportunity to contribute to our 'hanging sketchbook' collaborative work, with us guiding you through various art techniques like drypoint and relief printing or whatever you like.  Be inspired by our work, the extensive gardens and the reference books we'll have on hand.  There's plenty of walks through the gardens as well as lots of spots for picnics to enjoy our beautiful August weather.

Further information about the exhibition is on our invitation below.

All welcome, anytime between 10am and 3pm.  Open every day except Monday 24th August.

I'll be posting to my blog during the exhibition, for those of you who are unable to visit us and see what we get up to!

Monoprinting in Blackall

My final few days of my trip to the Central West of Queensland was a 2 day monoprinting workshop at Blackall.

My first trip to Blackall was 2 years ago when I did an artist in residence in association with Flying Arts and Blackall Cultural Association.

Jo and I travelled south from Barcaldine, and set up Maggie the etching press, and I shared my passion for monoprinting with 6 keen ladies.

I had a great time, and due to the small class size, I was able to print as well.

The photos speak for themselves......

Lorelei enjoying her printing.

Some of Lorelei's prints - an outback theme.

Jo printing - a big plate!

Ros positioning leaves on her plate, ready for printing.

One of Ros's prints from the plate she's working on
 in the previous photo.

Sally with her underwater themed prints.

Group shot with Maggie the press.
I'm holding one of Ros's prints as she was absent for
the photo.

Exploring the Central West

As part of my week with Barcaldine artist Jo Taylor, we travelled around her local area, including a day trip a couple of hours north.

My time spent in the Barcaldine community with Jo has been a very enlightening one for a city girl like me.  I've now seen the effects of the drought first hand, from the dry brown landscape to the never-ending line up of dead kangaroos killed on the roadside.

The rich red colour of the dirt and dust is amazing, particularly juxtaposed against the blue of the cloudless sky.  Its been a little warmer than usual and of course, no rain.

Our road trip took us up to an area not often visited by tourists - Gray Rock and Horsetailer's Gorge. The day was one of wildlife viewing, with Jo's knowledge of local plants and animals giving me an insight into the areas we visited.

Bushman's Clothes Pegs (grevillea glauca).  These
amazing seed pots were up to 5cm across and really hard.
The name refers to its historical use.

Black cockatoos feeding on the ground.

The dry landscape on the road to Aramac.

This is Jo after digging around in ochre powder - she's not doing
a mime impression!

Australian Bustard - one of my favourite birds I saw here.

Aramac selfie!

During the week we also worked in Jo's art studio on the verandah of her house in Barcaldine.  I taught her how to process solar etching plates, using her bathroom as a darkroom and the sun for exposures.  I worked on a series of monoprints using wren imagery and local plants, including leaves from a Black Iron Box tree.

Embossing on the reverse side of a monoprint.

Print in progress.  I'm lifting off grass from
a finished print.

Me printing using Jo's press 'Maggie'.
Happy days!

Jo and I in her studio.
p.s. I printed my apron using eco-dyeing and
solar dyes.

Here I'm lifting the print off the plate after printing.