Refreshed

A simple iris in the early morning light after a refreshing spring shower - a promise of approaching summer, one of my favorite times of year. Pastel on pastelmat.

I travelled to Vanuatu and spent several weeks living in a village on one of the islands. The people were amazing and the children especially captured my heart. I just had to paint them. Would you like to see more? Then put a comment below.

Into The Light

 

"Into The Light" -watercolour

I meant to post this some time ago but somehow it ended up in my draft folder. This painting was the recipient of the Kath von Tunzelmann Watercolour Award at the Ashburton Art Society annual exhibition a few years ago and was inspired by the some of the beautiful rhododendron blooms that grace my garden every spring. These flowers must be one of my favorites. They lend such a blaze of colour to the landscape at the end of winter. We have just survived our first snow fall of the winter and I'm looking forward to spring.  

The Hunter - soft pastel on Canson paper.
I've not posted much for some time mainly because life has been so busy that I found it difficult to get much art work done. That's life  I suppose and some things are just more important than art, namely those in our families and others we love. I'm sorry if I offend anyone by saying that, but that is the way I feel.
Anyway things are looking more positive on the art front at the moment. I have an exhibition scheduled for the end of September through October in a local gallery and am working steadily towards that. Keeping things under wraps at the moment, but look forward to more posts. Can you guess the subject for the exhibition? (Hint- not related to the picture in this post.)

"Heart to Heart"-charcoal drawing.
Trust does not come at once but is built up gradually. Once established it is deep and enduring. 

The Pink Hat

She captivated my attention at the A&P show - the pink hat and the grey coat. Oil on canvas.

Portrait of a girl - charcoal on paper. Nice to get some work completed in between efforts to tame the garden this summer. So good to enjoy the coolness of my studio as the temperature soars outside.

Mid - Conversation

My plan at the beginning of the year was to be more consistent with my blog posts but it seems that has fallen by the way. I really cannot believe how fast the year has disappeared and how few posts I have actually made! For the last two years I have struggled with a shoulder injury which seriously hindered my creative output but I am happy to report that although not completely pain-free, I am experiencing increased mobility of my painting arm and hope to produce more beautiful works of art.
I love working in charcoal and am particularly drawn to the human face, especially the character-filled faces of those in advanced years. Thanks to David Kassan who has introduced me to pan pastels - a far less time consuming process than the charcoal powder which I have used until now. 

"I Wish..."

Children are such delightful subjects especially when they are engrossed in their own world. As a child I remember blowing the dandilion seed-head and making a wish. This little boy could well be doing the same. I wonder what he is wishing for.

Watercolour on Arches paper. Thanks for looking.

Summer Love

"Summer Love" - oil on canvas - off to its new home today. I painted this from the old rose "Albertine" which used to ramble over an old shed in my garden in a profusion of exquisite and delicately scented blossoms. Sadly it had to make way for renovations, and although struggling in its new location, I am quietly hopeful that it may one day return to its former glory. Thanks for looking and commenting.

Coming At Ya

Latest from the drawing board is this charcoal drawing of a beautiful Friesian horse -what magnificent creatures! I am captivated by their beauty, and very much enjoyed the process of making this girl leap out of the paper. And how fitting to portray her in this medium as these horses are always jet black. Thanks for looking.

midsummer

Actually even though it felt like mid-summer today the summer is  winding to a close. Where is the year going? So much to do and not enough time to do it all. This watercolour painting is another view in my garden. I enjoyed toying with a slightly different palette.

New work

I have just sent a collection of these delightful little creatures to Arts in Oxford for their annual exhibition of local artists, along with some other smaller watercolour paintings inspired by my garden. Anyone in the Canterbury area over December-January period are invited to drop in to view this exhibition.
These colourful  visitors frequent the bird feeder in my garden during the winter when food is scarce and provide much enjoyment with their antics.

The end of a busy but very satisfying day! Today was the opening of my first exhibition for my art students work. The studio/classroom has been transformed into a gallery, my students' paintings have been matted, framed and hung. Friends, neighbours and family have lingered and enjoyed food, conversation and paintings, crowding the tiny gallery and spilling out into the garden. All seemed to enjoy themselves and students totally affirmed by the positive response. I have to say I am totally proud of their accomplishments.

and here he is...

....the beautiful Carbon - pastel. I do hope my friend likes him as I've made some adjustments to his colouring to make the picture more interesting. (How far can you take artistic license? What do you think?) Thoroughly enjoyed drawing this one but always some trepidation over whether it will be acceptable to the new owner. Thanks for looking.

New work on the drawing board

Life sometimes crowds out art. That's how its been this year. Family and teaching seem to be gobbling up all my time and I haven't had anything worth posting. Until now. Really enjoying getting back into some detailed work after playing around with loosening up with watercolour. This one is destined as a thankyou gift for a friend who has been amazingly and sacrificially helpful during our time of need.

Its been snowing since 2am and my back yard has been transformed into a picturesque landscape. And still it has not abated. I do believe winter has arrived. 

Ancient Words, Ever True

This year is turning out to be a very busy one, what with one thing or another, but just so you know I am still here and still painting I will share this pastel portrait of a young friend.Thanks looking.

Exhibition

I was delighted to learn that this large watercolour (Field of Hope) has sold at the recent exhibition at Arts in Oxford Gallery. This exhibition of the works of local artists was a tremendous success. Arts in Oxford is a purpose built gallery and a truely lovely exhibition space, well worth a look for anyone travelling in New Zealand's South Island. Enjoy a relaxing coffee at Seagar's Cafe next door and check out the local art trail.

New Year

Living as I do in NZ and being in the first country to see the new day, I am taking the opportunity to be one of the first in the world to wish you all a very happy New Year for 2012! Among the things on my list of new years resolutions are the following (not in any order of preference):

Be more disciplined about painting every day

Strive to improve my work

Take time to look after myself by exercising regularly

Spend more time with those who mean the most to me

This painting (Show Day, oil on canvas) was painted from a reference photo kindly given me by Darryl Price. Lots of fun to paint and sold at exhibition.