Latest Caricature

My latest caricature just completed was of NRL Referee and coach at Berkeley Vale Panthers here on the Central Coast, NSW, Shayne Hayne.

I had a brief from the client who gave me a page long story about what he's like at his club and some words just kept jumping out of the page. Words like 'He runs a tight ship, a strict ship' was enough for me to picture him as a captain of a ship with crew in tow and luckily for me this idea paid off. I was told he really liked my caricature and all the elements I included.

I draw my caricatures using pastel pencils and ink and have many elements in the picture to tell a story about the person I'm drawing. I enjoy creating them and finding out the person I've drawn likes them too is always an added bonus.

#lifelike #caricatures #pastel #pencil #colour #ink

The Creative Workshop

Just recently I had the chance to participate in a 2 day Monotype workshop coordinated by The Creative Workshop at the Gosford Regional Art Gallery.

I had never experienced this form of printing before, but have a new found love for the monotype process. Other students participated in lino cuts, etchings, screen printing and fashion design.After the workshops were completed, students were able to exhibit their artworks and designs at the gallery.

 My monotype print called 'Cloud Rack' which was on display in the exhibition.

My first monotype had quite a few runs through the print press which enabled me to understand how these amazing monotype artworks are created.

 This is a photo of me putting final ink onto the plastic plate before placing onto the paper for printing. Photo courtesy of The Creative Workshop.

My fern frond monotype after putting it through the print press.

This is a photo of my workstation at the gallery workshop and as you can see, my 'Cloud Rack' plate is ready to go to the printing press. 

Such a great turn out for the opening of The Creative Workshop "Workshop'd" Exhibition for all involved at the Gosford regional Gallery where students were able to exhibit their artworks and sell them if they chose to do so.

Such a great experience I can't wait until they do it all again.

#TheCreativeWorkshop #GosfordRegionalGallery #centralcoast #NSW #monotype #printing #exhibition #paint #ink #art #artwork

Cat Soper/catdezign Digital Art

First product merchandise batch of my cat digital illustrations is coming together nicely. I printed a few illustrations on canvas paper to frame and had just a few designs printed on mugs to see how they sell. I will be selling this lot plus a few more framed and unframed artworks at Central Coast Grammar School Spring Fair on Saturday 6th September.

All these cat illustrations have been drawn on my iPad using the Procreate App. These little cat ideas came about from seeing how I can use the app to draw whilst on the move and has become quite a fun obsession of late. Well, it will be a great experiment to see if they sell in upcoming art shows like Central Coast Grammar Spring Fair 6th September and the Blue Gum Art Show at Ourimbah Public School on 14th September. Fingers crossed I guess!

#love #drawing #black #cats with #procreateapp #digitalillustration #iPad #print #mugs #framed #artwork

Blue Gum Art Show is Back!!

Yes...it's back after a year off (oh but I wrote a 200pg book during that time) I'm coordinating the 2014 Blue Gum Art Show this year now with 'Markets' and it's sounding incredibly exciting. As well as designing the art show logo a few years ago I've again designed posters which will be displayed in businesses around the Ourimbah area and I can't wait to see what amazing artworks will be hung this year. The Blue Gum Art Show now, in it's 4th year, will be held on September 14th and more details are to be found on the facebook page I manage. Here's the link to that page  https://www.facebook.com/BlueGumArtShow if you're interested or ring the Ourimbah Public School office for other details.

 Stay tuned..I can't wait to do more paintings for this show.

'Cats' - Digital Art

I downloaded an app to my iPad recently called #Procreate to work out ways of drawing on the go when no pens or paper were available. I decided to do some 'cat doodles' that have now turned into a series I think I might keep working on. I have sold 3 already as prints so will make sure these cats gather lots of new family members.

#cats #drawing #digital #art #iPad #procreateapp 

5 Lands Walk, 21st June 2014, Central Coast, NSW, Australia

 View from Captain Cook Lookout, Copacabana, NSW

 Winney Bay, NSW

 Liquid Gold, Terrigal, NSW

 Rockpool Reflections, Terrigal, NSW

Sandstone Sculptures, Terrigal, NSW

I had the opportunity this year to enter a photographic competition organised by the 5 Lands Walk Event and Camera House, Erina NSW. The subject matter of the photos had to be any area that the 5 Lands Walk takes in which is from MacMasters Beach to Terrigal on the beautiful Central Coast NSW. A 10km walk if you were to take part in the whole event. All the entries were included in a photographic exhibition at MacMasters Beach on the day of the fantastic 5 Lands Walk event, 21st June,  2014. I didn't win but was very excited to finally enter my photography and be part of a fabulous exhibition. Can't wait to do it all again next year!

#photography #beach #Terrigal #MacMastersBeach #view #5LandsWalk #centralcoast #NSW #Australia

Sydney Royal Easter Show Art Show Entry 2014

This is my entry in this year's art show at the Sydney Royal Easter Show which has been entered in the watercolour category. I have used a rather heavy application of wet on wet technique where I have, especially in the moss and lichen areas, painted with heavy dark pigment and added lighter drops of pigment so the colour just seems to float and remains until dry. I've let the drying time control just how the colour spreads. 

The fern, plant leaves and leaf matter have been painted with a lighter watercolour technique giving the elements some luminosity. 

 I have added a little graphic design into the painting with panels of 'tree trunks with lichen' to bring some interesting areas for your eyes to wander around.

I love the rainforest where I live and just find an amazing world on the rainforest floor that sometimes is missed on various bushwalks. It's nice to stop and look down from time to time and discover a beautiful world at your feet.

#watercolour #art #painting #sydney #eastershow #australia #fern #rainforest

Cat's Caricatures - Latest

My latest caricature was a 'Thank You Gift' order for a friend via email....lots of little elements in this caricature that needed to be included to create his story.

Hope he liked it. 

My caricatures are done with pastel pencils and ink which make it very easy to work with. This one is A4 size which is a great size to frame. I have sent caricatures, unframed, through the mail but most of these requests are local therefore get framed for hand delivery. Some I've heard go 'Straight to The Poolroom'!
#caricature #pastel #pencil #art #drawing

My Entries in the Shaun Tan Drawing Competition run by ACMI

 'THE LONELY HEART COLLECTOR'

'THE DOODLER'

I came across the Shaun Tan Drawing Competition via Twitter on the ACMI page and just had to enter. Shaun Tan being one of my inspirational idols for illustration was to judge the winners in  multiple age categories and I just happened to make the 18+ category, just haha!!!!. The entries closed on Friday January 17, 2014 and winners have not yet been announced. Fingers crossed. XXX

I had drawn another 'character' but felt it wasn't within the guidelines set for the competition. I may put these together and draw a few more for an illustrated book idea I have. So I guess stay tuned for that idea to come together.

#drawing #ShaunTan #TheLostThing #ACMI #entries #imagination #Utopia