Monday, November 15, 2010

New Garden Pick

Here's the first bit of painting I have done since our move to South Australia.  I am using an easel space in Jacqueline Coates' Salon Rouge gallery...grateful to be able to do so.  OUr rented house has no good light and no space for me to paint.  Salon Rouge is a very supportive space too, with many paintings and people coming by to look at them...a very creative place.

The subject here is some lovely lilies from our new garden !  These have been pretty for sometime and are on their way out now. But I managed to find three flowers (and no more--late season for these !) in good enough shape to paint.

This painting is in oils.  Started on Sunday afternoon.

First, sketching it in.

And developing the painting.








Done for the day.  But, I don't like that leaf (which really was there, belongs to another flower in the same vase, not featured
in the painting...so its leaf really needs to go to).

Today I did a bit more on this, and have edited out that leaf.  Plus, I added a lot more  to the petals of the flower.  Before finishing up, I made the background less blue grey...and I like it better.  It could become a different color, but for now, this is ok for me to work on the flowers, the vase, etc.

Next painting session will add some thicker oil paint for more texture.

Well, it has now been a month since Ian and I moved to "the country.".  On reflection I realise what a change it is to move from a suburb of a city of more than 4 million to a charming country town so small it has no intersection traffic signals (though there is one pedestrian light at middle of town, but only on when a pedestrian wants to use it).  The renovations are happening, and are at a rather messy stage.  Ian has been removing thick stone walls and it is not fun, neat or easy.

Meantime, things are looking really bloomy around here,  Roses are everywhere and bushes and branches absolutely full of roses in full bloom in every color.  Here are a couple of lovely David Austin roses from the new garden.



And the verandah, with pink, orange and yellow roses blooming out front.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Green Mood


I have been in a "green mood" for some time now, maybe more than a year, going on two.  Enjoying and craving green paints, patterns, and even fabrics.  The green mood can be almost obsessive.  While in China I had a chance again to visit the Forbidden City Imperial Palace.  I have many photos of it from a previous visit, so this time I got some closer ups of pattern and texture.  I have a lot of  fabulous texture and pattern shots for my photo library.  To use for background or other pattern themes in my art.


First (and also lower left) are some patterned tiles from the walls and ceilings of various buildings making up the Imperial Palace complex.  I really love the glazed greens, so vivid and they look lovely with the accents in bright golden yellow or red.  Sometimes also a blue green.


 And I love the stylised clouds on the misty green ceiling shown on right.  I really want to do something with this cloud motif, it is really beautiful.  I also like stylised sea water, in waves and such.  A great pattern.


Last photo is not from ancient buildings in China...but is some fabric for a small quilting project I am doing.  I have one more session and class to finish this little project.  Yes, when do I have time for a short quilting class ?  Well, I made a bit of time, only 2 sessions, once each Wed night, held at Jenny's Sewing in Angaston.  And also a way to meet some people in my new home town !  As you can see I have not bucked the green mood here, picking lovely yellow greens and blue green fabrics.

Monday, November 8, 2010

When in China




I was on business travel to China recently, and when there I can't get easy (or at times any !) access to update my blogs hosted on blogger.  Sorry for the the delays.  Actually I am back home, but before putting up current activity posts, I thought one from China would be a good ice breaker.

The first Saturday in Beijing, I went with two colleagues to an old shopping district area in Beijing, along Qianmen Dajie.  It was an autumnal day, a bit cool and with some drizzle and mist in the air.


On the way there, we walked through an old street with many old commerce buildings.  This green colored metal lacework building was quite striking.

Once onto Qianmen Dajie, I saw this window display of dolls in a fashion shop called Fishing.  These ladies are called "Dolls of Fishing"...