Last Night's Sunset

Last night's sunset - photo taken from my back verandah in the Perth hills, Western Australia, 5:39pm.

Positive Side of the Weekend

Paintings for sale over the weekend: 11

Paintings sold: 0

Paintings created: 2

Positive Feedback from public: Priceless

Positive comments, suggestions and mentoring from other artists: Priceless

Here's my display (painting bottom left is not mine)

Here's me painting - my dad took pics.

Well, where do I start. This weekend was the art sale and it was a disappoinment and a good experience too. I didn't sell any paintings, 0, none, zero, zip, nil, nada, not a sausage or a scrag, nothing.

So what happened? The weather was bad - storms - hard rain esp on Sunday, some sunny patches on Saturday. So people came up for the Truffle Festival and then went home, they didn't wander round the shops or come and see our art. The community centre had heaps of signs out as well as flyers and brochures. The centre (which is an old house) was set up beautifully, just gorgeous, I was 'stuck' out in the art shed but people popped in to see me.

About 100 family and friends came on Saturday and probably about 50 on Sunday. Not sure how many people went to the Truffle Festival - they were hoping 20,000.  My in-laws and my parents came along on Saturday morning, some of my friends popped in on Sunday.  Many locals don't leave home over the weekend as there is very little parking but we had heaps of parking at the centre.

I got some positive comments and mentoring from Andy - he's one of the dad's from school that I've worked in the cafeteria with last week and last term and has done an art course at Uni. He gave positive comments and then said how I could improve the paintings and encouraged me to increase my prices and have an exhibition.

A lady came in who used to own an art gallery and spoke to one of the volunteers and she said I should have an exhibition.  I have no where to put 11 paintings at home so I'm gonna have to get off my butt and approach some cafes and small galleries in the area to see if they could hang my paintings and find a venue for an exhibition.

Even though I was disppointed that I didn't sell any paintings it was a great experience that I'm so glad that I made the effort to finish paintings and spend two days painting in the art shed at the centre.

Here are the 2 paintings I created over the weekend - I chose subjects familiar to me so I wouldn't be so nervous/worried - they still need to be 'decorated'.On a positive note....

I got some good positive responses to my paintings. People enjoyed watching me paint and I enjoyed painting in front of people - it was my first time and I found that it doesn't bother me at all.  Two people said they were interested in my class - wanted to pay right then and there and one turned up Monday morning.

Affordable Art Sale

Over this weekend I will have the following paintings for sale at the Affordable Art Sale at State of the Art in Glen Forrest 10am - 2pm.

I will be at Mundaring Sharing over the weekend doing a live painting demo, I'm just gonna go paint - little nervous about this as it's my first time but I think it will go ok.  Except for the weather, at the moment it's bucketing down here in the Perth hills and the weather bureau predict showers all weekend.  The organisers of the Mudaring Truffle Festival are expecting/hoping for 22,000 people and we are hoping a few of those people pop into the community centre to look and buy some local art and crafts.

Have a great weekend and I'll let you know how I go next week.  :D

Kimberley Holiday and Painting

Arrived back from our holiday late Tuesday night and spent the next couple of days washing, ironing and cleaning.  On Friday I found time to finish the painting I started before I went away and it will be for sale this weekend at the local art store during their Affordable Art Sale.

Flowers (I really need to come up with a better title than that....)

My holiday was great, hiked through many gorges and went to many falls including: Amalia Gorge, El Questro Gorge and Emma Gorge - all had freezing cold but beautiful waterfalls.  Hiked 2 hours to the Mitchell Falls which is a series of 4 waterfalls and was just stunning - an awesome place to sit and reflect on the earth's natural beauty. 

I also fell in love with the Cockburn Ranges and can't wait to paint them:

I hope all's well in your part of the world.

Painting Update

Today, the local newspaper came to the community centre to take a photograph of me with my painting and other artists and their work for an article for the paper, so that will be good publicity for the Art Sale at the end of the month.

Here is a photo taken last Monday of me in the art room with my paintings...

This is my latest painting that I'm working on, still a little more decorating to go.

Before...

I'll be away for a couple of weeks on a research and photography trip in the Kimberleys in north-west of Western Australia aka having a holiday!!!!  Really hoping to take a plane flight to provide some great photos for inspiration for abstract landscape paintings and I may even get to see a boab tree!!!  I'll be taking my sketchbook and my watercolour pencils and a pad of watercolour paper too to keep the creativity going.

Take care my friends and I look forward to reading your blogs and showing you my photos when I return.  :D

Big love and bear hugs, Shells.

Crazy ideas in the middle of the night...

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night with these really crazy ideas floating around in your head???

The other night I woke up thinking about a television presenter clothes - Maeve O'Meara from French/Italian Food Safari.  I love her tops from Funkibeat clothing and was thinking it would be great to have a tv show so I could have the whole range of Funkibeat clothes to wear...but instead of food my show would be about art.

What sort of segments would I have on my show???

Interviews with local famous artists in their studio such as Robert Juniper and Christine Hingston as well as talented amatuer artists.

Visits to artists studios and art galleries as well as art groups and classes.

'Alternative' art such as scrapbooking, ATC's (Artist Trading Cards), mixed media, collages, jewellery and sculpture.

Attending classes to demonstrate new techniques, attending workshops esp ones interstate and overseas.

Art Awards/Sales and Opening Nights of Exhibitions.

Travelling overseas to interview artists, visit famous galleries and attend workshops.

Shame it was all a dream.....

Maeve in a  Funkibeat top..