Latest caricature December 2012

Another fun caricature just completed is a Sydney primary school teacher. Apparently he's very colourful and so too is this latest caricature.

Art comes Home

Well the Gosford Art Prize is over for 2012 and I managed to grab a shot of my painting looking 'kewl' hanging in the gallery with a few of the other finalists. It was amazing to have it included in the exhibition over the last 2 months and like most others find their way back home. Thanks to Gosford Art Gallery for holding this great exhibition each year. I have only entered 3 times and the last 2 times have made it to finalist level. 'Just lucky I guess!'

Gosford Art Prize 2012

This my entry in the Gosford Art Prize 2012 and lucky for me I was selected as a finalist again this year. It is titled 'My Tribute to David Clarke' who was a watercolour teacher of mine at the Gosford Art Gallery a few years ago and he passed away in April this year suddenly at 52yrs of age. I was in shock as I consider him, and always will, a mentor who helped me rekindle my love of watercolour painting. It's a little unusual I know but I meant well ha! You see David had been teaching me how to paint cows, a regular feature in his rural paintings, and he had taught me the skills needed to paint an onion using watercolour techniques. My thoughts were... onions make you cry the cow is sad, the onion is dripping with juice , it might make you cry...and I am so sad he has left this earth so I figured the small amount I had learnt from him I enclosed in a painted frame. I had this image floating in a scene that David had painted called 'Rising Fog'. I'm just humbled to think I have this painting, and it's framed beautifully by the way you'll have to go see, hanging in the Gosford Art Gallery. About 530 entries were received but only about 165 artworks were selected to be exhibited in the gallery. The Gosford Art Prize is on now until November 25, 2012.

Blue Gum Art Show 2012

 The Blue Gum Art Show was fabulous this year with many new artists choosing to exhibit their artworks here. As I was coordinating it again this year I certainly found it a little easier third time round and did much more advertising to get people to attend. Advertising was done on 101.3SeaFM, Coast Arts community radio, Central Coast Express newspaper and various businesses helped to display entry forms and posters. I set up a facebook page last year for the Blue Gum Art Show and relayed info there. 

I exhibited my acrylic painting "Snow Gum Brumbies" (top) and this time had it professionally framed before the art show and that decision paid off! It was 'SOLD' before 11am. It's always sad to see my paintings leave but I hope the new owner will enjoy it as much as I did painting it. Bye Brumbies... I also painted a fun mixed media painting titled 'Gerbera'. I used crackle medium in the centre and carefully glued sheer silk material to the base and top which had a blue background painted underneath. I madly painted the gerbera with acrylic paint using the tube as my brush so it has lots of texture. I have this one hanging in my home now.

'Snow Gum Brumbies" Painting

Finally have been able to get back into painting and this is my latest canvas titled 'Snow Gum Brumbies". It's painted with acrylics on a 24"x36" canvas. I haven't been to the snow for years but this Winter being exceptionally colder and longer than usual, has made me feel trapped inside at home, so inspiring me to paint brumbies who roam wild and free in the harsh conditions THEY call home. There's a life lesson there I guess to always make the most of where you are...every day.

Finally finished an experimental painting to get me back in the painting mood. The cherry blossoms are multiple layers of white paint either sraight from the end of the tube or just paint brush strokes and swirled so that each petal seems to have it own life depending what colours were dry underneath. The branches are formed from squeezing the tube of paint straight onto the board. The board is actually a sheet of cardboard that I gesso'd over tissue paper that I moved while wet to create folds everywhere. It set hard so giving me a 'board' to work with. I left the rough edges of the tissue paper to create a handmade paper look. I've used gold leaf to emphasise the japanese writing ' Cherry Blossom"

It's mounted up off black paper and framed in a black frame. 

Not a masterpiece but fun A4 size painting to do when you need to play with paint.

Latest caricatures

My latest caricatures both birthday gifts again rendered in pastel pencils. Themes of most of my caricatures revolve around a life story about the person. The top caricature in particular has a 'board' effect behind the person with poscards of places travelled and family photos. The bottom one os obviously a girl's 21st and included is her boyfriend and new kitten. They're heaps of fun to do. Keeps me out of doing housework!!!!

RIP David Clarke 1960-2012

 RIP David Clarke, central coast NSW much loved watercolour artist, teacher and member of the Central Coast Watercolour Society. I am at a loss to have read in the Central Coast Art Society newsletter that David Clarke had suddenly passed away on April 15 from a brain aneurysm.

Here is an excerpt from the newsletter.....

'David was born in Cootamundra in 1960. He enjoyed a 20 year career as a graphic designer/illustrator before the desire to paint full time was realised with a move to the Central Coast with Fiona in 2001. Watercolour was David's first choice of medium, as it is one that presents a real challenge to the artist. As a method of painting that is perhaps never fully mastered, it gives the artist the inspiration and frustration in equal measure and provides endless possibilities for expression.

David's paintings won many awards including the North Sydney Art Prize and the Works on Paper Section of the 2004 Spirit of the Outback exhibition. In addition, there were more than 50 other awards including the 2011 Mortimer art Prize for the Best Seascape, which was on display at the Kincumber School of Arts from 7-15 April 2012. Over the passed two years David illustrated 20 children's books which will be a wonderful memorial to him as an artist, teacher and a warm gentle, kind person. A self portrait of David is hanging in the Somers McDonnell Gallery 102 Mann Street Gosford.'

I was lucky to be taught by David a few years ago when I was looking for something to reignite MY passion for painting with watercolours.  I think it was an 8 week course at the Gosford Gallery and to watch David work at a pace that watercolour makes you, was inspiring......

so much so that I later decided to enter this painting of mine above in the Gosford Art Prize 2011. It's watercolour and gold leaf. I had decided to go along to the opening night and couldn't believe my eyes. 'Fern Fronds' was hanging in the gallery. I spotted David Clarke there and reintroduced myself. He remembered me as the girl with the strange name and the girl who turned up to one of his classes with a broken wrist after a skateboard accident (but let's not go into that ok?). I did the proverbial 'I am not worthy bow' and thanked him SO much for giving me the inspiration to enter this central coast art prize..and to actually be selected as one of the finalists..well, all I could do was to thank David again and again. He laughed and kept saying it was me and not him that got me to be a finalist. He's a humble soul.

I will forever be grateful for having the chance to not only meet David but to be taught by him and I guess the heavens will be a more colourful place from now on.

Thank you David Clarke. RIP

Latest Caricature

Just completed another fun caricature for someone I know for her husband who is turning 50. It seems quite a popular and unique gift for someone turning a 'special' age.

 After providing a few photos of his face and camping snapshots, I was able to create this 'story' surrounding him which depicts his favourite pastime..camping and having a couple of Tooheys New bottles at hand. 

I have been sticking to pastel pencils only now for these caricatures, where in the past I chose pastel & coloured pencils. I just love how you can blend them easy on paper.

Would love to see the expression on his face when he opens the gift.

Ahhh..I love creating these moments of someone's life story on paper!!!

Logo Design

Ok I swear I have too many friends...well it's a good thing! So here is a logo I just designed for a friend who has just started up this little cafe at Ettalong Beach on The Esplanade on the gorgeous central coast NSW. The cafe is in a fantastic position on the waterfront and is situated just across from the Mantra hotel. The brief was she wanted a clean & simple design and after many pencil sketches I felt this would work for the cafe's style. The airbrush effect of the lines portray the sea as it laps the shoreline across from the cafe. It's such a tranquil spot. The cafe is up and running and the food and coffee is delicious. Open 7 days for breakfast & lunch!!!

Logo Design

Recently designed this logo for friends of mine starting up a tours and charters company on the Central Coast of NSW. Their brief was the logo had to be simple, using a 'moving' southern cross graphic with Australian colours and it had to portray fun. This is exactly what they were after.
I then had to come up with designs for their new & recently purchased, fully equipped bus to get on the road and get attention. Some of the photos used on the sides of the bus I took as well as we tried to capture in a photo block just what tours or types of ventures the company organises. They shuttle people on conferences, film sets, tours, winery tours throughout the Hunter region, wedding party guests, golfing tours, horse races or tourist attractions, etc. So look out for them around the coast or go on line at www.letsgotoursandcharters.com.au if you need details for a trip for yourself!!!

This caricature was requested for a Kindergarten teacher from all the kids in her class!
This caricature requested for a Principal who was retiring and was the hardest piece I've done so far. This caricature had to encorporate most of this lady's teaching life and drawing every single element was looking messy. I took a trip to Spotlight and discoverd the many pieces that scrapbookers use to create their albums. I had a field day let me tell you , and, no, i won't be starting scrapbooking after this! I bought little felt frames, wood frames, little bags as she travels alot, little books and pencils and the lamp post was just perfect as a signpost of all the places she's taught at or lived at. The background papers available just helped to pull it all together. The actual caricature was drawn seperately and is attached to the board with double sided thick foam tape that raises it a little from the background paper. The whole piece about a 11"x14" size, was placed in a black frame and is quite a spectacular piece if I say so m'self!



This caricature was fun to draw as the brief explained this guy loves to shop and wanted to look a little more oriental. He also wants to own a 'Red Dog' so I added that element into a luxurious bag with bling!
This was drawn with pastel and coloured pencils.

A Cats Day...cartoon series

This is number 6 in the series and....like most cats, he was feeling a little mischievous today!!

Somersby Falls NSW

Somerby Falls on the central coast NSW is such a beautiful spot to visit. A photographers dream spot for amazing photos that would change on a daily basis and upon whatever weather you encounter. It's a fairly easy walk down to the base of the falls but a steep walk back up lots of stairs. Well worth it I say. I'm currently doing a photo shoot for a tour bus company on the coast and just getting to reconnect with the gorgeous landscapes here is magical. I had to wait 2 hours for the falls shots as it was a hot summer day and everyone goes to the falls to cool off in the clear water.