Progressive canvases - layers

The progressive canvases have proceeded to move through to the next contributor.




Documenting the
changes.

While it has been interesting to see how we as individuals respond to contributing to someone elses work, it has also been enlightening to see how people react to my work and to have them explain why they have added their creative input to enhance the imagery further . . . . . and why they decided on the medium and process they used to work their own particular form of magic.

I'm finding the physical structure of the works evolving through the 'progressive canvas' project . . . . . innovative, because of the unexpected contributions. . . . . however I have been bamboozled by my hesitation to contribute to someone elses canvases. I didn't realize the responsibility of ownership could be so frightening. What if I stuff it up ?

Having said that, I do feel it will allow us to challenge our own accepted limitations and make us search for far more imaginative ways of working through layers, by not being scared to loose, discard or change pictorial information.


It goes without saying that the collaboration with co-artists has been a happy learning curve.


What will the next layer bring forth . . .or discard?

Moving on to the next project . . . .

I was thrilled to have three of my recent works find new homes. It is rewarding to know people appreciate the work your doing. There is a difference between admiration . . .and owning !

All yours Photo taken while work in progress. acrylic on canvas 76 x 76 cm

Exalting in spring 45 x 45 cm Acrylic on canvas

Borders must be maintained 76 x 76 cm acrylic on canvas

It is always a little daunting to finish projects. Especially when it has been both enjoyable and successful. I have been fortunate to share these last three exhibitions, with people & organizations, who have been supportive, emotionaly strong and extremely organized. I hope the exhibiting experiences I have yet to be involved with, continues along this vein . . . or have I been truely fortunate ? I do know I am appreciative and thankful for my good fortune !

Now I need to work on producing a web site . . . . . something I have been meaning to do for ages. Also, I need to actually read the directions on my camera, so that I can take better photographs, of my finished works. Not to mention, getting myself organized to take photos as my work is completed !!!

Thirdly, I need to Start working seriously on work for exhibition, in February 2011.

So, as I know what I need to achieve . . . . I hope to be motivated and creative . . . . who finds knowing and doing to be, two entirely different animals ?

Silky smooth and brightly colored

Another FUN workshop saw a variety of expressive silk scarves being created. Some ladies declared themselves non-artistic prior to commencing . . . .I think what they have created is extremely beautiful and positively wearable.

Many hands make work . . .easier

Even though we have been extremely busy with the renovations at the Rusty Roo . . . it is soooooooooo beautiful, it feels a bit like one continuous holiday !!!!
The mist over the mountains is peaceful & soothing. Here it is almost lunch time and it is only now starting to lift. . . . . The sunlight is breaking into our cocoon.

Easter break, saw the logs from previously felled trees being put to good use. They were dressed, trimmed and manoeuvred into position, for their new life as supports for an extension to side of studio.

Others were used to support the new garden around the new tanks. The remainder will be utilised when we construct the new studio. Nothing has been wasted.

Once again we have been extremely lucky with all the help, from family and friends. Amazing what good work comes from joined enthusiasm and friendship. Thank you.

Exhibiton opening Logan City Art Gallery

Lesley Nicholson, Sylva Cooper, Jillian Beardsworth, Nicola Hooper, Sharon lee

Thankyou to everyone who came and helped us celebrate the recent exhibition opening night, at the Logan City Art Gallery for, Threads, layers & connections.

Numerous family members, friends and arty contacts ( over 450 people ) made the effort to tackle the horrendous Friday night traffic. So ! Thankyou to one & all for being there.

We had fun. Exhibition closes 17 Th April 2010

I can highly recommend being involved in an Exhibition, at this regional Art gallery. The enthusiasm, support and presentation of work were of a high standard. Everyone involved was approachable, encouraging and delivered what they promised. A great experience. Thankyou !

Threads, Layers, Connections

I'd love to have your company for the evening

Exhibition opening Friday 19 March

Amazing where the time goes.

I have enjoyed this process immensely. The sharing of process, ideas and knowledge has been beneficial and highly enjoyable.

I would like to thank Jillian, Lesley, Nicola and Sylva for their support . . . . and for being such great company throughout 2009.

Unblocking

Using the press. Lino, Mylar, and mono printing. . . . . . a good place to start.



First workshop for 2010. Mixing up the mediums to unblock and PLaY.



Stencils, watercolours and pen. Washes, glazes and mark making.


The studio was surrounded by swirling mist and the patter of rain. Beautiful


Mixed media is a process that I love. The experimentation and discovery.
I enjoy the suprises and exclamations of delight, as people unveil yet another unexpected outcome.

Thankyou to all the lovely ladies, who tolerated the 6am arrival of water tanks Saturday morning. . . . . . and the influx of bodies to share the BBQ breakfast.

Just in time

Rain, glorious God's juice.
We have enjoyed watching the luscious new growth and the animals that are benefiting from it.

Our new arrivals installed. Thank you to our Son, Arron and the friendly neighbours.

Below: Tanks arriving. Who would believe such a huge load could make it up our driveway.

Over the past few weeks we have been busy being earth movers, so that our new tanks will sit proud and straight on firm foundations.

At 6am the truck rounded the bend with the load. As per Murphy's law, it was the same weekend as we were enjoying the company of a group of ladies who were at the Roo, to do a mixed media workshop. I bet they weren't expecting tank maneuver's as part of the experimentation process.

No more buying God's juice. It will now be funnelled into our HUGE new tanks.
What a production was their arrival and installation. The neighbours rallied to our cause and enjoyed the fruits of their labours . . . . a BBQ breakfast with the wallabies.

We are now placing tree stumps around them, to stretch a wire, to grow a passion fruit vine, for the pavlova and cream. . . . . of course!

Stimulation . . .it's all out there . . . . bring it on !

What did we do prior to blogs and emails ?

I adore the connection with people from around the globe.
Receiving emails is rewarding, but . . . having them arrive with
pictures is a huge buzz that delights my curiosity.

It is like receiving a new book at Christmas . . . but, every day. WOW !

Jacob Hashimoto Acrylic discs Rhonda Hoffman gallery, Chicago

We are a very lucky generation to be able to access all this amazing creativity so regularly & with such ease.

Progressive canvas

Jennifer Hamilton 2010

Work in process

Here it is 2010 and we are starting, the letting go . . . . .

The Progressive canvas project.

We have now established who is involved.

There were quite a few interested, but not all shared the same 'joy of process' and reasons to be involved, that we do. Those who will contribute will have to be willing to have their works contributed to, painted over, changed and all together altered during the process.

They must have a studio and be willing to share process with other members. They must be willing to photograph each step and maintain good documentation for final presentation.

The group have spent the last week discussing the size, width and other properties of the canvas, on which the works will be done.

We have drawn up an outline of guides for the continuing progression of the work and are now about to start !

Someone asked, ' why do it . . . what are your desired outcomes . . . who gets to keep the works? " . . . . . Well, I guess the reason to do the works . . . . . is to form a group who meet regularly. To share our knowledge of different processes in a practical, functional form, in a creative way. . . . . while learning to let go of what we can be too precious about. Hopefully throughout the project we will break down some of our inhibitions & blocks . . . so we can see what changes will improve our own art practice.

We will meet each month to show what we have been doing and to have a practical demonstration of processes applied to canvas's. We then meet the following month to share thoughts behind our individual applications during that period and swap works.

We are starting with 9 canvases each. We each start our processes as we desire and then they are passed on to the other individuals in the group . . . . .until everyone has contributed to each canvas.

The project will start in the first week of February, with the last meeting being in the first week of October. At the end we each will have 9 canvases . . . . one from each individual involved. . . . . with their contribution being at the beginning, middle or completion.

In October, over a long deliciously indulgent weekend, we will have a final show and tell with works and presentations at the Rusty Roo. We will share some final learnt processes and make any final marks to our canvases . . . . it is then that we will decide if we wish to exhibit the 36 canvases . . . or start the process again.

I'm looking forward to the sharing. . . . the camaraderie is already evident, the processes already suggested . . . . limitless, the ideas and the learning to let go . . . . frightening . . . . . . . but, I'm excited!

I will keep you posted !!!

Navigating Christmas

Christmas was a very eventful affair.

We had the usual lead up with extremely enjoyable parties and 'drop in for drinks' with friends . . . from Cameron's work place, my work mates and long time 'in mates' from long ago groups, initially formed through days when I nursed, attended BIA art colledge and when we were the parents meeting with our children.

Our front yard 'Beer garden' saw a lot of use.

A celebration in Brisbane with my family, the Boyces . . including BIG brother Peter and his beautiful wife, Yanyan, Mum and Dad, Brianna, Sam, Arron and us. It was very intimate, sharing and peaceful. We started the day with Dad presenting a fully cooked BBQ breakfast . . . we ended the day with left overs from a luscious lunch created by Mum and a slide show of Arron's pictures, he took while in Vietnam. I discovered information no mother likes to hear. . . . like bike accidents ! But, all up it sounded and looked like a successful trip.

Then we ventured to the country to celebrate with Cameron's family, the Lee's . . . . they are a far larger group. It was noisy, full on and the true in your face family affair. We decided it was the best Lee family Christmas ever. . . . . . not because of the food or home, but because All the members, young and old, appeared content with their lot and happy with the years outcome. A true blessing.

Then it was through to Woodford to drop off Brianna at the folk festival to assist Nancy fancy pants for a week. Brianna looks forward with unbridled anticipation to this event each year.

We traveled through to Maleny to visit friends and stay for awhile. It was a pleasure to chill out amongst the green and mist. We visited galleries, ate too much and had a bit to drink while sharing the relaxed atmosphere and laughter of jokes that have percolated over many years.

Then we made a meandering trip, that took an entire day to travel what is normally an hour and a half trip, to the Rusty Roo. We dropped into shops, friends for lunch and afternoon tea at a quaint place that served delicious scones and clotted cream with home made quince jam. Bliss.
I had only sworn off food after the weeks of gluttony . . . . the previous day . . . . ha!

We enjoyed a visit from my entire family from the 28Th - 31st. It was great to have time to talk, eat and relax while watching the wallabies, possums, green frogs, birds and being blessed by rain. Over the 3 days the place near the side of the house actually met up to it's description, for the first time in 7 years. . . . . . A lawn. The wallabies love it as much as I do.

We then said good bye to Peter, Yanyan and Arron as they made their way to join Brianna at the Woodford folk festival, while Mum, Dad and Sam returned to Brisbane.
That afternoon we had friends arrive from Brisbane to help us celebrate the arrival of the New Year. We ate, laughed and shared a few drinks around a roaring bomb fire. We watched the spectacular fire works herald the New Year, kindly supplied by the local youth camp down in the valley . . . .
After a few days our friends withdrew to Brisbane and beyond.

Then, Cameron & I embraced a few peaceful days to ourselves. Lots of book reading and watching of choice DVD's . . . . . . and more eating. Well, we did have to get rid of all the left over's.

So a very full on Christmas without any dramas and enjoyed by all. A time to catch up with Family and friends and feel very fortunate that we are able to celebrate the passing of one year and the introduction of the new, in such a blissful way.

I hope your silly season celebrations were as enjoyable and happy.

Wishing you a great New Year.
I look forward to another year of creativity and keeping in touch.
Cheers x x x

RAIN . . . . gods juice

Oh what a delight ! to hear the patter . . . .then the tap dancing of rain, on the tin roof.

You could feel the relief from the earth as it fell. Or was that just me, enjoying the cool change. No !, I'm sure the new growth and shoots were sprouting as it fell . . . . . Yes ! I'm sure you could see it getting greener by the minute.

Today was filled with numerous delights. Watching the red back finches darting through the bushes, the wallabies enjoying the soggy food pellets and all the birds ( subtle grey & pink of the galas, dashing red & green of the king parrots, stark white and Yellow of the cockatoos and the mincing browns of the placid doves ) dancing around the feeder trying for the best position.

The air felt charged with re newed energy.

How I have missed the rain.