Process IF NATURE WAS WATCHING WOULD YOU BE KINDER?

 IMAGINE IF NATURE COULD WATCH WHAT YOU WERE DOING.

  

 Sculptural wall art. Ply backing board

Paper clay, acrylic paint, gold leaf, resin. Step by step.   60cm diameter

 

 

Learning a new Technique

Each exhibition I try to learn a new technique. I appreciate the mystery and excitement, the meeting of new people and sharing of knowledge. With my initial paintings in mind, I tried to work out which method would be appropriate. How to show the mysterious and uniqueness of the seen and unseen I appreciated in our garden . . . in a new way. 

initial - oil on canvas

With my knowledge of jewellery making I realized that the method of fret-work I used in silver-smithing would be ideal for what I wanted. To remove rather than to add. To create the what-if of the design. To allow for movement through the creation of depth and shadows.

initial painting - oil on canvas

However, I wanted the work to be in metal and of a size approximating an A4 sheet. I knew I did not want to do the work by hand-saw. Asking around I learnt that I could have the work fabricated from metal, if I produced Vector files. What on earth was a Vector file?????

I started by drawing the designs I required for each basic human need, and then cutting the nine works out of paper, I then scanned the cut works into the computer, so I could use photo-shop to start the long process of manipulating the images.

 

Asking around I learnt that I needed Adobe Illustrator to make Vector files.  Attending a course in Illustrator at The Edge, in the State Library, I then routinely returned to the computer lab to spent months using you-tube and the assistance of helpful staff, to learn how to make Vector files from my drawings. In the process of making the files I learn I could attend an induction course to learn to use the laser cutting machine they had on the premises in their fabricating studio.


The Edge Fabrication lab

I applied, but for months the machine was fully booked. In desperation I rang the edge and was informed I could attend the Wednesday Bump-in session, where you can use the machine for thirty minutes. . . . enough for one design to be cut.

BEING, HAVING, DOING and INTERACTING

LEISURE

Attending weekly, I managed to cut three works from 4mm ply and instantly I knew they were what I wanted..

FREEDOM

But, suddenly I was well into 2018 and I was only just finishing my images to convert to Vector files, while the laser cutting was a weekly trial in patience. The possibility of finishing all nine images seemed impossible. . . however I kept examining our garden, reading about gardens and working on my images.

AFFECTION

I visited a fabricator to discuss having the Vector images laser cut from metal, however when they tried loading the files into their machine, they crashed the machine. My images were far too detailed and I needed them created with auto-cad, not illustrator . . . ahhhhh!!! Panic.

What to do?

Never give up.

While I tried to learn coral-draw and auto-cad, I worked on some of the other images to represent the nine fundamental humane needs. 

 

PARTICIPATION

Meanwhile, each week, on a Wednesday at the bump-in session at The Edge, I managed in thirty minute sessions to cut out another one or two laser cut images in 4mm ply. 

PROTECTION

With each cut I was starting to appreciate the 4mm ply. I liked the fragility, the weightlessness. The ephemeral quality of thin ply.

I started experimenting with painting and mono-printing the cut-outs. . . .  it had possibility.

All I needed to do was make and cut the remaining works.  All nine of them, when it had taken me three months to complete three . . . help!!!

UNDERSTANDING

5WAYS

Hanging an exhibition is an exhausting process which requires hard work, co-operation, assistance and a good eye. Fortunately we had a generous dollop of all qualities supplied by the 5 exhibitors, family members and friends -  resulting in a two day assembly - which eventually culminated in an extremely cohesive display  . .  A huge Thankyou



 

 

 Deciding where to hang each individual piece so that it works as a whole is not an easy task . . . thank goodness we all have an abundance of humour . . .

 Sculpture, ceramics, installations, paintings and wall art from various artists, with entirely individual ways of working, does not automatically work together  - without serious thought and lots of juggling . . .

Painting - Sharon Lee  

Sculpture - Lyn Derrick   

Installation - Lily Karmatz

Ceramics - Linda Back          Ink on paper - Kate Cooke

The past two years being influenced by Ikebana and the 'Do' has been an extremely enjoyable process . . .A mammoth thankyou to Lily, Linda, Lyn and Kate from me - and to my family for their endless support and good humor throughout - you are all wonderful.
Time to go home, recharge our batteries, and get our glamour-rags out for the Exhibition opening of 5WAYS . . .

Delivered and in the News

On Saturday we took my entry along to the Tip shop where the hard working endeavour team placed it in safe keeping ready for the publicity shoot and then transportation to the city Library.

I had the opportunity to see a couple of other artists works - Karl de Waal's mixed media was there - (this is but a small piece . . . . .)

 . . . .and Fatima  with her quirky slant on life . . .mmmmmmmmmmmm

Channel 10 news coverage of the Tip Shop Competition 2012. (June 2012) Sharon Lee and her daughter Brianna where interviewed in the video along with the Brisbane Lord Mayor.

Since then I have been talking to some of the industrious people from the Brisbane City council and they expressed how thrilled they are with the selection of art works that they have received as entries for the second year - 2013 tip shop competition.




I have also received the Cannel Ten news segment that ran last year 13/06/2012  - after the competition was finalized.

We were also inteviewed for a segment on the radio. . . . so a very exciting process. Now I can't wait to see all the new work for this year arranged together -

from first May at the Brisbane Square Library - with the launch on the 10th May at 5pm - should be a great night . . .  .

come along - it is a fantastic Library . . . (just feels great and the service is seamless . . .with this lot of art in it - it should be a real treat)

Another soul working on the wasted

I would love to introduce you to a very talented artist who has a macabre and intriguing slant on life and its machinations - Fatima Schelfisch.  Fatima entered the competition last year and was one of the finalists with a groovy Waverly table that I coveted. This year she has created an even finer example of upcycling - and her painterly additions are incredible.

 

These two pictures are examples of some of the art work now found on the discarded item she chose from the tip shop. . . . . I bet the people who discarded this piece of furniture - would now like it back.

To see the pictures on the incredibly creative item of furniture - come along to the Library . . . the one in the city.
Details and dates in last post.

Tipped to shop - again

Tip Shops People's choice Competition, on again

This year there are twenty individuals chosen to enter the annual competition - which of course means I have a lot more competition to win the monetary prize . . .  (but that just makes it far more interesting.)

Walking into the  Acacia ridge Tip shop, I did not need to introduce myself  - they remembered me by my very heavy piece of furniture, which was my entry last year. (Drinks cabinet won in 2012) After talking to the friendly and helpful volunteers,  I walked around to the ringing cries of  "please - something not so heavy this year . . . . " so, with this in mind, I looked for small things.  

46 COLEBARD Street West, Acacia Ridge, 
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BrisbaneCityCouncil

Endeavour Foundation Tip Shop, Brisbane. http://www.endeavour.com.au/page/shop/tip-shops/

Once again I was confronted by a plethora of items. Would I Mosaic, paint, collage, print or redesign a piece of furniture? SMALL furniture.

Now here i am, with an extraordinary mix of old, new, and items that screamed 'don't go there' and others that I just needed to take home, with no fixed idea of outcome in mind.

I loved the look of them and though I did not know what they would become, I was  sure they had potential... . . .  I think!

I have an old broken light with glass fixtures (one missing, presumed broken) Toys, bowls, plumbing waste fittings, plates, more toys and half an old lamp base . . . . mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I want to use as many of the available things that I can, so that my end project will highlight the issue . .. which is, WASTE. . . . NOT to be wasted. . . . .

Not waste, that is rubbish, but waste that is just thrown away and could be given a new life with some cleaning, remodelling and imagination . . . . sometimes that is, LOTS of imagination!

So if you need a something why not try the TIP SHOP and assist the Endeavor Foundation at the same time, while also helping reduce the amount of WASTE that goes into our dump sites.

So now to making something - keep your fingers crossed and I will keep you posted,
Cheers

Go on . . . you never know what you will find . . .
46 COLEBARD street WEST, Acacia Ridge

No new thing under the sun

On a spectacular sunny Sunday afternoon a gathering of creative individuals found the time between eating and drinking, while taking in a fabulous view, to discuss some interesting topics. Some very interesting topics . . .  . However, there was one in particular that I felt required some serious consideration.  During the conversation we decided that it is with regular monotony that we see works that are regurgitations of something previously created, covered or discusses. Painting mimicking a formula that is acceptable or sells. Not that we think selling is bad. NO! We love $$$$$, but is selling the main thing. 

I came away with a feeling of, I want new, I want original . . . . . 

With this in mind, I have been trying to come up with some new idea, something worth exploring, a creative response and technique that is not already out there. 

However, it is Not an easy ask. . . . .task . . . .thing to do.  . . .  this new. 

It appears that many creative thoughts are not NEW . . . .  so I decided to investigate to see why people felt it was acceptable to borrow their inspiration from elsewhere/other.

Now I am not one to be considered religious, but I do on occasion feel that there is some really good advice and some wonderful gems to be found in that there old book.

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. ( The Holy Bible: King James)

Does that mean  . . . .there is no new thing under the sun . . . . . . .? NOTHING ??

In this excellent talk from The Economist‘s Human Potential Summit, titled Steal Like an Artist, Kleon makes an articulate and compelling case for combinatorial creativity and the role of remix in the idea economy.           http://www.austinkleon.com/steal/#

So, . . . . . if there is nothing new, then I am behove to steal . . . . mmmmmmmmm. Last week I had John Cleese tell me to sleep and Hibernate and now I have Kleon telling me I may go forth and STEAL mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! (I am so confused the  !!'s are propagating beyond control )

So,(I can use SO again, because I stole it!!!!) with my wonderful new studio space almost complete, I am preparing myself to partake of  . . . .a stealing.  I have investigated . . . .I have viewed numerous blogs, you tube video, books, galleries and read many interesting tomes . . . . I feel I am almost ready to venture forth to STEAL something. . . . .YEP! almost ready . . . .. .dah de dah da . . . . .

Anyone have any ideas?

I am more than willing for you to forward me something to STEAL . . . . . . . Please!

Soon to be revealed

We are all waiting for May 14th  . . . This is when the selected works will be on display, leading up to the vote . . . and winner of the Tip Shop competition.

I do not know what a lot of the entrants have done with their pieces, but of the ones we know about I am impressed with the variety of techniques used, along with huge doses of imagination.

I have heard reports about the decapitation of soft, cuddly children's toys and the mounting of their heads. . . . Yes! I did say children's toys . . 
Yep! I too am waiting to see what their function will be ????  
I am truly dying to see them!! 
I feel that is a new in  UP-CYCLING
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Yes! I am intrigued.

Trevor Moore and Jennifer Hamilton

A couple of the pieces I do know about are the entry from Jennifer Hamilton and Trevor Moore who combined their artistic skills to transform a daggy set of draws into a highly original piece. . . 

I love the waves of black oil slick on the top and the black wavy draw handles. . . . which contrast beautifully with the Bright, vibrant draw lining.


I want one too . . . .

Nancy Brown and Co-workers  -   I adore that edge!

Nancy Brown and her Co-workers have also contributed an interesting work that will also develope further past the time of the competition.

They aim to add layers of screen printing to the surface over an extended period.

Cam, Bri and Me - we all LOVE a bit of  RED

I forgot to take pics of ours toward the end of the process . . .  .so this one is the last I have . . . . with Cam half in it, adding the light fittings . . . . 

We added layers of pictures on the outside and kept it innocent, clean . . . .  & Oh! So WHITE

 However, on the inside it is all shelves for drinks, glasses, Gold leaf, red crushed velvet and lighting for the necessary bling effect . . .  . Oh! SOOOOOO LUSCIOUS!

Always fascinates me how a bit of paint and some IMAGINATION can transform a piece of the ordinary into something rather extraordinary  YUM!

PAPER Cut out - recycled - re-newed

OLD Books

Pre- Loved

Unwanted

 . . . .. . . DISCARDED





What a WASTE !




Wall paper Glue
Scissors
Brush
MDF

 

. . . . . . TIME

IMAGINATION . . .. . Altered . . . NEW from OLD

Back in Australia - Landed and running

Well here I am back in Brisbane and slowly adjusting to my NORMAL way of life. . . .busy, busy & busier


I love these workshop as the facilities are brilliant and the workshop co-ordinator is highly professional, which combines to make for a situation that produces great results in an atmosphere that is extremely creative.I was impressed with their Art and Pottery studios, which are located at 27 Coral St, Loganlea.

I have been having some informal workshops with friends at the Roo (which are always highly entertaining, creative and a joy. I will blog about them later) and doing a few workshops through the Logan City Art Gallery. One with Children, ( YES!! It is amazing for me - the queen of, 'I don't do children' . . . . and I did say 25 CHILDREN . . . ) from a Brisbane school (which I will blog about next) doing Monoprints and one assisting Nancy Brown doing printing on Fabric.

Assisting Nancy Brown at Print workshop. September 2011

Logan Art Gallery www.logan.qld.gov.au/artgallery

A first for me recently was to be asked to attend a Saturday morning monthly meeting with the Logan artists, to give a talk on my art practise. www.loganartists.com

I have always avoided these requests as I can never think where to start and what to leave out . . . . however I was assured that there would be no throwing of rotten vegetables or booing, so I thought I would take the plunge and go for it.

I was surprised that I enjoyed the experience and that everyone was enthusiastic and interested . . . or at least well 'BRuNG UP' enough not to tell me otherwise. . . . .



They are proud, and justly so, of the fact that the studios are where Art and Friendship come together to produce a friendly atmosphere while producing some incredible art works.

They welcome beginners to the more experienced to their artistic workshops and classes in various art mediums.

You can ring 0421874225 if you want to make any inquiries regarding what they are currently offering.