Artwork and Interior Design

Yesterday we rearranged our living room: we had a big clean up, took down the Christmas tree and decorations, decluttered and took a more minimalist (for me) approach to what we have out on display.

It's probably not a secret that I love bits and pieces. I have so many cute little knick knacks that I love looking at. Sometimes though it's easy when you have so many pieces to 'lose' them in the clutter. So to ring in the New Year we cleaned up and put some away. This was actually a big step for my husband and I (probably more so him than me). But my theory is that every few months we can change things up, put some away and put out some we haven't seen in a while. This way, we'll not only not get bored with what we have out, but it allows the focus to be on the few pieces we do have out!

 Two of my favourite things at the moment are my moose that I bought in Duluth, Minnesota in 2012, and our American flag Mickey Mouse that my sister bought last year.

As you would expect though, we do have a lot of artwork in the house! Most of it is mine, but certainly not all of it. And we have a big stack of prints and art posters that we want to get framed and up on the walls. The only problem is wall space! My new 60's style Batman and Robin tin sign was a Christmas gift and I just love it! 60's Batman is of course the best Batman hands down, and it's retro kitschyness is perfect!

Sometimes it's not easy figure out the kind of artwork, the size or where it should go though. Artfuly Gallery has a blog post about this very subject right now - it has some great suggestions for some original art for your walls (mine and others!). You can read it HERE. Do you have any favourite pieces that you simply have to have on display all the time, or do you prefer to rotate things around?

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Art Takes Miami 2012

Way back in mid 2012 I entered a worldwide art competition called Art Takes Miami. The basic premise of the awards was that 1000 artists worldwide would be selected to exhibit digitally in Miami during the physical art awards. 

I was lucky enough to be selected to exhibit some of my work! With my entry fee I had elected to receive a printed catalogue with work from all 1000 artists, including myself. Back at the start of December when I still hadn't received anything I'd pretty much written it off. Then low and behold a week or so before Christmas a package arrived! 

Upon opening I found this:

 

The book is beautifully bound and is quite thick with lovely glossy black pages overflowing with gorgeous artwork, mine included! There was even a letter of apology for having taken so long with the production of the book and the subsequent mail out. 

 

 It was a lovely pre-Christmas surprise, and is now something I will cherish along with all of my other art books!

 

 

 

 

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Mixed Media Tutorial

I've had quite a few requests to learn about my technique when creating my mixed media pieces, so I thought I'd do a little tutorial for you all with the piece I'm currently working on. It is a wax based piece with collage, ink and oil pastel layered over the top of the wax.

 Your first step is to melt your wax onto the canvas. Now wax comes in many forms including basic crayons. The advantage of crayons is the range of colour you can get. I would suggest though that when using crayons you should use only pure wax crayons; some may have other ingredients in the crayon which may produce unexpected results when melting onto your canvas.

 When melting them it's useful to use hot glue to secure the lump of wax to the canvas, or use a fork or other metal implement to hold the wax in place until it melts sufficiently to not roll away anymore. Hot partially melted wax makes a big mess when it is pushed across the table or floor by the airflow from your heatgun or hairdryer! Which is how you melt it: it's so much fun to watch it melt, and you can kind of control the direction of the flow by the angle you hold your heat gun on. Varying the airflow strength will also allow you to play with different types of splatters and flow within the wax.

 Once I had covered the canvas in wax (which took a good few hours), I then used cut and torn book pages to create the shape of the tree trunk and branches. I collaged these pieces straight over the wax with Liquetex Gloss medium, which you can obviously also use as a collage glue. Once that was dry I used black and white oil pastels and drew in the shape I wanted over the collage. I used them also to shade a little to give the tree some depth.

I then used more Liquetex to seal the oil pastel, and once that was dry I used white and black ink to redraw the shape again and to add in more shading and colour on the trunk. 

 I started to add in smaller branches at this point as well.

The process basically consists at this point of alternating layers of ink, then Liquetex, then oil pastel until I'm happy with the tonal qualities of the tree.

 Once I am happy with that, I then use more oil pastels to create more colour over the wax. I'm not aiming to cover the wax, rather use the pastels to make the colour in the wax pop a bit more.

And here is the end result. Finished bar collaging the edges and a final varnish. It's a reasonably simple however quite time consuming process. But the end result is definitely worth the time put in.


I won't have any more posts up now until after Christmas and New Year. I'd like to wish all my readers and their families a happy and safe festive season, and say thank you very much for your support!

Merry Christmas To You All!

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Forgotten Australians: My Sense Of Injustice Is Burning Brightly

I need to talk about an issue that is bothering me in a big way. I feel....I'm not sure how to describe it. I feel upset, I feel angry and I feel cynical. Not for myself, because I had a better upbringing and childhood than I could ever have asked for. But for my Father, and for the hundreds of thousands of other people who suffered abuse, mental physical and sexual, at the hands of the people who were paid to 'care' for them.

I'm sorry that this post won't be my usual fun and lighthearted one; but as the title says, my sense of injustice in the world is burning me so hard that it hurts right now. And I don't know what to do about that. So I'm doing the only thing I can do which is to share this story and hopefully raise some awareness of this issue.

My Dad has written a book, which I know some of you already know about. It tells his story; of a 'childhood' spent in institutions, a 'childhood' that was absolutely robbed from him. In his words,

" ... It is not only a story about a small dark part of Australia's history, but the search for my identity and the search for a father who had once loved me as a child.

Before he died when I was just three, he left me just a thread of a memory to cling to. 

This story is about me clinging to that thread of a memory for the next 47 years as I searched for answers. I needed to know what had happened to my father and why my sister and I were put into the care, for want of a better word.  

My story covers a span from childhood in orphanages, through boys homes, sent back to foster parents to whom I was a burden to and ultimately to jail."

But my post today isn't just about his book. My post is also about the Royal Commission into Forgotten Australians . In 2009, the Australian Government 'apologised' in Parliament, to the hundreds of thousands of then children who were treated so very badly in both Government and Private (religious) run institutions. They announced a Royal Commission into the abuse and set aside a budget of some 40 plus million dollars to do so. 

Again in the words of my Father:

"I contacted the commission to tell my story. They were very nice during the initial interview. They asked me what homes and institutions I was in.

I told them my small story. The same story of thousands of us. The abuse, physical and mental. The denial of food for up to twenty four hours. Being tied to our beds for hours on end, canings, being locked in broom cupboards. Made to wear the wet bed sheets around us as punishment for wetting the bed, and the list went on.

And then came the final insult to us.

I was told that the abuse that I had suffered in care as a child could not be listened to as it had happened in government run institutions. The royal commission would only take submissions from people who were sexually abused in NON government, religious institutions.

They would NOT be taking evidence of physical abuse on children in care if it happened in a government run institution.

How bloody convenient for them. They knew that if they allowed evidence of any abuse from within a government run institution then that would open a Pandora's box that they could never contain."

I am beyond appalled at the hypocrisy of this. How bloody convenient for them indeed. I cannot escape the thought that keeps circling in my head; that we as a nation were asked to say sorry to the Indigenous Australians for the damage done when Europeans settled here over 200 years ago. The Government felt that injustice was something we needed to atone for as a nation. Yet here we are with half a million or so Forgotten Australians, children who did nothing wrong except be born into families that either didn't want them or couldn't care for them, and the Australian Government doesn't feel the need to investigate the abuse they suffered. Doesn't feel the need to properly apologise. Our Government who is supposed to be for the people is choosing to ignore what these people want. They don't want compensation, that's not what it's about. It's about acknowledgement. It's about someone in 'power' finally saying 'you know what? It was wrong, and it should never have happened.' And more importantly it's about someone saying

"I believe you."

My hope for this is simple: that enough copies of this book are bought and read that it comes to the attention of the powers that be. And that it makes them take notice. I know that's an idealistic, unrealistic and probably highly naive way to think, but I cannot help the way I feel. My parents brought me up to be an optimistic person. Despite his horrendous 'childhood' my Father still managed to instill a sense of right and wrong, hope and optimism in me. And right now, my sense of right and wrong tells me this is very very very wrong. 

Please, if you do nothing else, share this post around. Let's see if we can get this issue the attention it so very greatly deserves.

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Featured Artist Series: Tina Coxall

This weeks' feature artist is such an amazing person so I'm very excited to be able to showcase her work here.  Tina Coxall is a Victorian based artist who is currently studying to add another art degree  to the two she already has!

She is one of eleven resident artists at Geelongs' Etch Gallery and Studios, and participates in regular exhibitions.  Her work is absolutely full of life; I love the colours she uses. They are so indicative of the colour within our Australian landscapes.

Barwon River Geelong, Oil on Canvas, 92 x 62cm $350

Corio Bay, 92 x 62cms Oil on Canvas $350

Of her art, Tina says " Much of my inspiration is drawn from my love of the Australian bush, landscapes and native fauna including well known artists Sydney Nolan ,John Olsen, Fred Williams and local Geelong artist, Patsy Bush. With years of working as a Nurse, the art of creation and experimentation provides time out to reflect and relax, helping me escape the hustle and bustle of our raging fast forward world. Perhaps a solicitous haven to retreat to at times of angst."

Murray River 1, 160 x 68cms oil and mixed media (framed) $950

Murray River/Hattah, 100 x 75cms oil and mixed media $300

 Tina often utilises aerial photographs of her favourite destinations in a contemporary yet playful way creating stunning, often abstracted works of art.

Wentworth River, 60 x 50cms oil and mixed media $150

You Yangs 2, 80 x 60cms oil on canvas $250

You Yangs, 92 x 62cms oil $350

Tina can be contacted via THIS LINK for email inquiries about her work including commissions.  She can be found working in the Etch studios drawing, printmaking, painting and working on commission pieces.  CLICK HERE to be taken to Etch Studios page, with contact details and info about their current exhibition which features Tina's work along with the work of 19 other amazing Geelong artists.

I will be taking a few weeks' break from the Featured Artist Series for Christmas, but I'll be back with more artists to showcase in early January! I will of course have other posts for you to read in the meantime.

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New Work; Playing with Ink and Wax

While it's been pretty hectic here getting ready for Christmas, posting out orders from Etsy, shopping and wrapping presents, I have managed to find a little bit of time to work on some new mixed media pieces.

I've got two pieces on the go and ordinarily I would have them done by now but I guess even when you're WonderWoman you get tired and run out of time sometimes!
Anyway, I figured I'd share what I have done with you, with a little bit of an insight as to where I'm going with these pieces. Maybe I'd get some feedback as well.

 This piece is a wax based piece with collaged vintage book papers over the top. I have just begun using oil pastels to add colour to the papers as you can see in the above pic. My plan is to build up layers of tonal variations in the grey oil pastels, then Liquetex over the top to seal it. After that I will apply India Ink in black and white to create the illustration effect that I have pictured in my head. (Unfortunately I can't show you what that looks like because a camera that takes pictures of what you are thinking has yet to be invented....). If you look at some of my recent work you'll probably get the idea though.

 Melting the wax onto the canvas is so much fun, but so time consuming! And it tends to roll once you put the hairdryer or heat gun on it, so it can be a little frustrating to say the least! I love how it looks though; it reminds me of lava the way it liquefies and moves across the surface of the canvas. I also love the way it instantly stops when you take the heat away!

This next piece is smaller - the canvas squares are only 8" x 8" each. I have since added more vintage papers, kind of like eyelashes which I think works really well. My next step with this piece is to add more ink, some oil pastel and gloss, and to figure out which way up I want it to be!! What do you think?

So hopefully I'll have these pieces finished before Christmas; with the kids on school holidays it's still undecided whether that will help or hamper my efforts to get more art done!

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Art In The Digital Age

Art Studios; My 'If Money Was No Object' Wishlist

I don't think it's a secret that I love Pinterest. I just love looking at photos of stuff. Pretty things and pretty places.....cute puppies and I love looking at pictures of art. Oh...and there might be the odd photo or two of all things tulle. But the downside to Pinterest is that it makes me a bit restless at times.

I see images of far off places and it makes me want to travel. I see beautiful houses and it makes me want to build a house that has every weird little thing that I love that would make it perfect just for me. I see other artwork and it makes me desperately want to create (which actually isn't such a bad thing really!). And then I see images of art studios. Places that are lovingly designed with big windows to let in lots of natural light....with huge expanses of white walls that I can just picture being splattered in paint. Lovely timber floors that just look better with all the artistic runoff that falls onto them, and space....so much space and room to create. With plenty of storage that looks great too, like antique Letterpress and Map drawers. Industrial lights and shelving, and big big timber easels....

So today's post is full of images I have collected of my ideal studio space. The place I would have if money really were no object. It's probably a good thing I don't have spaces like these though, because I'd never leave!

(all images are credited to their original source where possible).

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I love the expanse in this space. It's huge! And the light is sublime. It's a bit clean for me - I'd have stuff everywhere in my fairytale imaginary world that I am residing in for this post!

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The industrialness of this is what I love. The old table, the painted chairs, industrial style lights and fan and open storage. It has a raw beauty about it (in a ready to have paint splashed around kind of way!)

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I just love the idea of having a waiting or reception area for students and clients. I love the idea that such an area would not just be bland and boring, but would serve as a sort of gallery as well. But not one of those hands off don't touch type of galleries. I would want people to think how beautiful, yet organic and earthy the space was, and to feel comfortable while they waited. (so maybe a couple of cushions wouldn't go astray!)

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I would of course have another big ol' table just for creating paper crafts. So I could make as much papery mess as I wanted.

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I love the aesthetics of an artists' tools of the trade. They almost become an artwork in themselves!

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Are these not just the prettiest set of map drawers you have ever seen?! My imaginary studio is filled with ones that look just like this!

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Speaking of storage, how about some industrial style open cubby hole storage? Plenty of it please!

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And of course, there simply must be something else is this magnificent space!

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I would have a few huge easels and a printing press as well. I'd have a big old leather couch for contemplating artworks, as well as a big sink for washing up. There would be a smaller sink for dishes and a fridge, kettle and microwave for those mid-art munchies.

I really would never leave! If money was no object, what would be on your creative space wishlist?

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