Ang and Mags

One thing definitely leads to another

2012-02-14T17:12:00.000-08:00

Maple leaf, flax stems and seedpods, dark violet leaf

I had a visitor for 2 days, and then agreed to help someone else discover how to make felt and discuss how to start a project, so spent a few hours with them.

As a result of the first visitor, I am happily playing with pots of tightly wrapped silk, and leaves from trees nearby and in my garden, tied to a piece of an old iron pot, to make eco prints. (Thankyou India Flint and Eco dyeing!)

Maroon euphorbia, blue geranium leaf (top)

After boiling they sit overnight, to be opened the next morning when the results can be discovered. The resulting pieces are subtly coloured, and happily unpredictable patterns and prints, which have sometimes blurred but also surprisingly detailed outlines, even the veins on the leaf.

The pot with iron pieces and extra leaves

I can’t wear just these subtle goldy and pinky fawns and greys, but put them with some colour and yes – they bring each other alive for me. Some parts will be great to stitch into small pieces too. Just what I used is in the captions of the pictures.

imprint of flax pods and slices of stems

flax pods and maple leaf imprints

Geranium leaf imprints, close to the iron centre wrap

close up of dry silk, ironed

The flax pod and stem sections before ironing

Add these colours and I will wear it!

patterns of the wrapping threads on the outside of the parcel

From the felt making afternoon I found out about a day class printmaking for the next 8 weeks, and after the first day, I am drawing – even pictures of my dyepot above - ready to try drypoint and other printing processes guided by excellent tutors in a real print workshop with presses and all the equipment, plus contact with lots of other people interested and doing the same sort of thing. This is a real treat for me. The two of us who talked and who both go to the class, are going to make big felt curtains too! I have been intending to do more drawing for weeks now, but the stimulus of having a reason for doing it for the print class has got me into action within 24 hours. I’m not sure if I can wait till next Tuesday to make a print – surely I can improvise at home! Luckily all the things in the calendar before April fit in with the classes, only my lotto ticket didn’t win – everything else was great.
Ang

2012-01-24T13:42:00.000-08:00

The Lawrence Summer Arts Festival in 2012 included a number of workshops for artists. Run for the Thursday and Friday before the festival, and continuing with public access and some opportunities for have a go yourself on the Festival Saturday and Sunday, Ang and Mags combined their favourite activities into a new 2 tutor course for the first time.

Parallel AND Overlapping took the 10 art and fibre students on a development journey from warm up expressive drawing, through elements of composition and layout, and aspects of colour. Ways to progress from the initial drawings to plan layout and design, right through to making their own nearly finished multi-layered colour and texture translations were explored.

Everyone had a go at some technique new to them, either while making felt, seeing fabric versions with machine stitch and inktense pencil or dye washes (if we had more time stitching could be added to most of the fibre work), or on canvas applying collage, texture, paint and ink and other media, building up successive layers to change and reveal the textures and design focus, into complex interesting images.

Demonstrations of alternative possibilities using class work from the early drawing stages helped everyone see the multiple possibilities possible, and series and themed work was discussed.

The enjoyment and concentration is evident in the photographs, and was clear in the final presentation of their work to the rest of the group. The Tutors enjoyed themselves too!

While we are both in the same area of the country (which depends on the time of year), this will be a course that we are happy to repeat, as a 3 or 4 day course. Enquire by contacting us if you have up to 10 people interested.

Thanks to the festival organisers for their work, and the opportunity to join in with and see or hear a wide variety of actual art; with artists and art making the core of the Festival. There was more on and more artists and their work than we could actually get to see. For a fuller picture check the official report on their blog www.lawrenceartfest.blogspot.com Watch for the next programme by keeping an eye on the Lawrence web site www.lawrence.co.nz

There are pictures here too http://www.odt.co.nz/news/galleries/gallery/general/90494/people-lawrence-summer-arts-festival

Ang

Fibre Art in Tokanui

2011-11-10T17:07:00.000-08:00

prefelts drying on improvised clothesline - outside it snowed...

With just one day’s transition and rest after the much enjoyed Liz Clay class, I was down at Tokanui, lower end of the fantastic Catlins Coast area, to run a two day workshop with the local art group. They were keen to explore some ways of using fibre and stitch in art, and there seemed to be a common desire to find out how to reduce their own stashes of ‘resources’. Although we did only small pieces over the weekend, they had extensions which could include fibre art works, panels on clothing or furnishings like cushions or accessories like bags. Potentially stash reducing end results!

Some in the group had not done any feltmaking, the others only a little, so day one was feltmaking, first prefelts which went into the ‘common use’ pool, with all the bits and pieces I had brought with me, and access to my considerable collection of fabrics and fibres including dyed silks, yarns and silk handkerchiefs.

Rather than making kits for each person, I provided a basic kit of 400g of mixed coordinated colours of sliver, then I just allowed everyone to help themselves to whatever else they wanted and needed on the 2 days as part of the materials fee.

my fabrics to share

painted veisofix, and tyvek plus extra felting supplies - common stash

we had only limited shared table space

From my perspective this worked very well. It gave them unlimited choice, and an opportunity to try all sorts of materials and techniques (see the picture captions) which they could then follow up if they liked them enough to repeat the process later.

After the prefelts they made a small piece with surface decoration of all kinds, referring to the colours and pictures of an inspiration picture they had brought with them if they wished – or just looking at shapes, proportions and colour as they mixed different materials and colour. Lines could be felted in, or stitched later. Dreadlocks were another possible add on, or design line element.

trying the inktense pencils

Day 2 saw the felting area reduced to a small corner, as pellon with iron on adhesive side was covered with fabrics and fibres, ready for stitching.

Themes included pieces of inspiration brought along to be included, or translated into textile mediums. As the days progressed there was stitching and chatting, while the weather continued to be chilly (snowing even!) and wet and windy outside.

The results were so interesting that I couldn’t decide which pictures to omit so this blog is long and very illustrated. Well done Tokanui artists, and thanks for a fantastic weekend.

dreadlock manipulation

cutting

stitching

thinking and conferring

felt ready to stitch

fabric collage with inspiration picture

Felt with inspiration picture

Hints of semi obscured words and shapes

These are mostly work in progress rather than finished pieces.

from watercolour translated to fibres

most people had 2 or three pieces to continue to develop at home

I cruised home on Monday in the sunshine, looking at the Waikawa Museum, eating a whitebait lunch at Niagara, walking the beach at Papatowai ( with an eye on the tracks in the sand to make sure there were no seals etc or penguin tracks going up the beach where I might surprise them (or have them surprise me).

drying paint, and ironing corner

If you are touring in the South of New Zealand, don’t leave out the Catlins Coast.

There is plenty to see and explore, unique scenery in a range from windswept hills and farms near Slope Point up to sheltered bay and cliff and rock beaches with wildlife and fossils, especially if you have time to sidetrack and do some walking on beaches and reserves off the main sealed-all-the-way road. Several artists have studios on the route too, and the once sparsely scattered eating places are much developed now and very good where I have been. There is an excellent local guide leaflet to the route.

Ang

Workshop with Liz Clay

2011-11-09T00:37:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I feel luckier than other times. Ten days ago I was offered a cancellation place in Liz Clay’s felting workshop in Southland. Earlier in the year I was busy with my own classes and had pencilled in commitments some of which were later cancelled, so I was delighted for myself, and sorry for Rhonda, when I had just a few days notice of a three day workshop I could attend after all, in spite of not booking at the proper time.

We don’t get all that many overseas tutor opportunities each year, especially affordably close to home ones. Liz is the International Feltmakers Association President, and an English feltmaker whose work is internationally recognised, and commissioned for top fashion-house designs. She guided us through several experimental samples which could be developed into unique cloth for garments and accessories.

Trying laying out felt with the pattern face down on the bottom of the layout, and using fabric manipulated into folds and wraps are not my usual way of working.

It is good and challenging to try something new in a class – pushing one’s own boundaries is sometimes easier in a class environment than when you are actually producing work, usually for a purpose, at home. There it is easy to edit and eliminate the possibilities in your head and not actually try them!

The resulting class samples explore and show more possible solutions than I could do in several weeks at home alone. Even more interesting was the discussion of end use design variations, some with stitching and pattern sculpting, and the use of a dressmaker’s model to play with construction ideas. Close attention to detail and a focus on hand work is a feature of Liz’s own work.

Add to that the reunion with feltmakers and friends from all around the Southern region, Wanaka to Dunedin, south to Bluff and Manapouri, and the chance to talk with them while working and staying at the venue, plus sharing delicious varied food we had brought along, and the occasion becomes even more special. While I run classes and see their collective work, I don’t often get to work alongside other people doing my own project for three days. I know we all enjoyed that opportunity.

Heavily textured fabrics bonded onto merino wool

inspired by lichen coloured bark textures

cotton lace adds a crisp patterned texture

Layers of colour glow through

hand manipulated fabric flowers to bond on in textured black with colour tints

colour on colour in the same method

stitched patterned sculptural forms

stitching to gather shibori style

fabrics have their own unique crinkle pattern

Shapes layered over threads on my own piece inspired by coastal bush patterns

The pictures here show some of the exciting and heavily textured surfaces the class produced, as well as some of the possibilities for stitching and shaping felt – the amazing fabric from Merino wool and other fabrics and fibres. The developments from this class should be interesting to see in future exhibitions and production.

Laying the pieces against the dressmakers shape gave such a different view of a sample that I have spent today making a 'body' for my own studio.

The discussion in a group at the end of the class shared the possible variations in use with all

After the class I caught up with family in Winton on a day break, then shopped in Invercargill before driving on to run a weekend class in Tokanui, on the Southern end of the Catlins Coast – that will be the next blog.

Ang

Temuka Primary School and Local Artist Group

2011-10-17T19:39:00.001-07:00

I have just come back home after spending a week in Temuka with a couple of my Grandkids and their Mum while their Dad took some time out to go fishing for the opening week of the new season. Calan, the older of the two boys, goes to Temuka Primary School and I was lucky enough to be there the right week for Grandparents Day.

We arrived along with my plate of goodies for the morning tea (I had to ring my sister for an easy to make recipe! Never fail Apple cake actually. She knows the level of my cake cooking skills!) and joined the throng of Grandparents. The students had obviously been practicing well and were well prepared with written work to read out as well as action songs.

There were proud faces everywhere....of all ages!

After a welcome by the Headmaster ( he looked familiar and I later found out he had been a student in Gore) and the delightful performances by the well presented and behaved students (and teachers!) we were hosted with a cuppa and heaps of food! Calan then took me for a tour around the school. Like many other similar schools there is clearly a comprehensive variety of devoted work that goes on there. They should be very proud. After my tour, which included the library, the hall and the sports areas, we spent time in the classroom with the students, looking at the terms work and observing them in a range of activities.

Thankyou Calan and all for welcoming me into your school.

As well, I must say a big congratulations to the Headmaster who is working in with the Temuka Artist's Guild to utilise the historic stand alone old classroom as an art studio. As someone who has been actively involved in Community Art for many years now I applaud this positive move. Here are some people who can see the potential of the use of an available facility by a group of people who will not only benefit from it themselves, but will have the opportunity to spread their skills and knowledge to students, their parents and other community members through classes, demonstrations and possibly residencies by invited artists. They could even consider showing arts related videos, art talks, readings etc.

I have scanned here an article which was in the Timaru Herald on October the 4th so you can read it if you don't usually get the Timaru Herald! I would like to think this is a good example for other communities and other schools.

I wish them all well for the future of this project and do so hope that the students, parents and Grandparents that I sat amidst on Grandies day get the chance to enjoy this Arty opportunity.

Another successful art class

2011-10-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

Fifteen members of The Nelson Art Group got together recently and developed their skills using oil pastel, gouache and black ink. Starting with drawing and interpretation and working through the techniques of using a resist on watercolour paper they went on to develop their own more complex images. I would love to show all of them for you, but will restrain myself and upload a selection.
It was a really enjoyable day with a bunch of friendly people who are all thoroughly enjoying their journey through their artistic experiences.
Cheers, Mags

It did go to our Heads...

2011-08-29T22:42:00.000-07:00

dreadlocks and holes

Individual styling adds character

and the photographers were there!

It all went to our heads on the hat day in Auckland. Some with Merino, making a double skinned layer, and some with Corriedale, a much firmer less draping end fabric. Imaginations were stretched to the limits as for some the visualisation of how it would all end up eluded them until the final stages of making and styling on our heads.

Struggling for the first time to trick wool fibres wrapped around a resist of plastic into becoming a 3 dimensional no seams hat is not simple the first few times you do it either!

There are a few times when a hat block would be more comfortable for the model, but they are not essential. In fact styling to suit the wearer's face and head is easier and better done on the head - just don't pin into the skin!

now where should this bit go?

Trial and error and readjustments

In spite of all the new skills, and the tight one day time frame, here are the triumphant results, with a few less expected design features which only their makers could recognise now! It really is a striking and varied collection worn by their makers.

Ignore the pins if you zoom in, there wasn’t time to sew and embellish…. I wonder how they look now that has been done?

Ang

adding a pleat gives dimension and sizes hat when a bit too big

the folds can follow design lines


and carry the eye around the head in curves, like the brim does too.


teamwork and concentration!

Flaps folds, and dreadlocks, Back view, and

Front view of the hat shown at layout stage too.

Auckland Feltmaking

2011-08-24T21:58:00.000-07:00

Two single days were spent at the Auckland Creative Fibre Guild rooms, working with merino and the amazingly different ways that different fine fabrics will texture and alter the surfaces in conjunction with layered yarns, fibres of silk and mohair yarns and merino wool. There are endless combinations to explore, these pictures showing just a few of the possibilities discovered on our two days. Trying new working methods and arranging fibres and fabrics into, shape, line contrasting colour, texture, reflectivity and value as well as possible dimensional extrusions, with separate and joined layers takes concentration.

Working at tables –

these are actually fitted with blocks to raise their height a bit (see in the picture down at floor level) it can still be imagined that this kind of bending gets hard on the back after a few days of work. I prefer a higher level. My home work space attempts to raise the table level so that I don’t need to bend at the waist when laying out or working on the wet felt. These blocks with holes to fit to table legs were a lower but effective solution, as were some solid plastic bed height raisers (looked a bit like upside down flower pots but much stronger - designed for home nursing). I use the sheets of shower liner from my former shower, with rows of ice cream containers from a dairy lifting them above the ordinary table and drawer units underneath. Much less elegant, but effective. The 8 inch space between the top layer and the table below in between the containers is a good storage option too.

Another useful and cheap solution, for the shrinking and hardening stage of making flat felt, which I do by rolling in heavy non slip rubber matting for shelf and drawer lining ( About $34 from Mitre 10), was a similarly sized ridged rubber matting with holes between the ridges, sold from the $3 shop (for $3!) as a bath mat. Someone said that they are both formed over an open weave fabric base, which makes sense. The thinner lightweight version non slip shelf liner does not roll or work so effectively. In any case the felt made showed variety and ingenuity. The lines of silk curve and squiggle as the merino has felted and shrunk beneath them. On the other day everything went to our head - but that is the next post. Ang

Textures of the silk fabric show both on the surface and under the white layers above it.

Printed fabrics add another dimension

Dry layout

finished felt

before wet felting

More Feltmakers of the North

2011-08-22T15:13:00.000-07:00

In the area near Warkworth I met most of the rest of ‘ the Felters of the North’ and enjoyed their skills and company in a repeat of a similar two day class. I say similar because the details, focus and timing of a class is always influenced by the interests of those in the class. Both groups decided to spend time watching make a double skinned hat, so Julia ‘won’ that, with Suse deciding to make one at the same time. More excellent samples were on show at the end of the two days, just a few of them here. I was pleased to discover that most of them also enjoyed trying my modified way of laying out and working felt, developed as I gradually recovered from arthritis. If it had not been body friendly I would not still be a feltmaker!

This group was really into dreadlocks and laces. Ang

Feltmaking Northland - to escape the southern snows

2011-08-20T20:46:00.000-07:00

What do southern New Zealanders like to do to escape the winter snows? Well this feltmaker has just returned from a great 29 days away tutoring in Northland and Auckland areas. Staying with six different people, three for the felting classes, exploring places new to me, and enjoying showing about 50 people how I work with merino and fabrics and silk fibres to explore the possible layering and texturing of the surface colours and patterns. Even more enjoyable is seeing them add their own inspirations to the mix – so here are some of the results of class work for you to see too.

Most were experienced feltmaker themselves, but we all – me included – found new ideas and modified methods to carry with us into future work. Some classes got interested in hats, some in dreadlocks, others wrapped up in the challenge, and some even progressed with to hand and machine stitching at home before the second day.

My hosts all ended up with a hat from the class demo, and were keen enough to wear them home in the car even though they were still damp ( I don’t think their hair was trapped in the styling pins, though that was possible…)

Thankyou to all the feltmakers, host families, and Creative Fibre organisers who helped arrange and run these courses.

These pictures are from Whangarei.

Feltmaking in South Canterbury

2011-07-11T17:12:00.000-07:00

fabulous enticing stashes of materials

I have just returned from running a two day and one day workshop hosted by the Timaru Creative Fibre group. I really love running workshops. Not only because I get to catchup with old friends, stay in welcoming and interesting family settings, get my food organised by someone else ( a real treat for someone who lives alone) I also meet new people enthusiastic about similar things to my own interests. As much as all this, I love it because because teaching new ways of looking, making and working is itself rewarding. The sudden flicker of awareness of something new, and the growing excitement as its potential develops for someone who had not thought of it before, is a great reward for a teacher. Both of the groups enjoyed playing with their stash of fibre and fine fabrics, and produced a range of very different samples which got a close inspection during the discussion and sharing time at the end of the class. Working as a group allows you to learn from the things that other people have done as well as from your own. Ever wondered how far a silk hankerchief can be stretched? The answer is cobweb thin! Oddly enough I seldom do this to one, as I like the beautiful lines of silk in the heavier edges.

We discussed some of the issues of using other people's design ideas, crediting other people for what you learned and use (with their permission) and sharing or not sharing notes from classes. My class notes are not intended for sharing beyond the class participants - they have taken me many years of refinement and improvement to reach the stage they are now, and I constantly bring them up to date, and improve them. They are my experience, the people who have them have paid to attend my classes (thankyou!) I will be running future classes who deserve to get notes that they pay for too, and I would be very annoyed to find any other tutor using them. They are clearly marked as needing my permission for any extended use. The experience and perceptions of each tutor is unique, and should be reflected in their own notes.

That said, we developed a low maths enlarging method for scaling up (or down!) key measurements to draw patterns for layout which will shrink down in the felting process to the required size and shape. Since I got home I have written up this process in notes. Unlike the class-only felting notes, I have decided that these can be freely shared and copied. If you would like some, feel free to download them from just below here, as soon as I have worked out how to make them available there! There are hand drawn illustrations on some pages so I think jpg format may be needed for those, or can pdf format work? There is so much to learn....

I think this will do it: click here to access a free pdf file of the notes for getting from a sample piece of felt to enlarging a pattern for felt layout with a folding, no- number-calculating method.

Gwen has a copy the South Canterbury members can access without computers, and the notes are clearly identified as free for sharing.

Viewing the class samples

The pictures show both the fun, and the absorbed concentration during the class.
Thankyou to all involved in organising and attending the classes, and hosting me. I was glad to get home ahead of the rain and low snow windy weather system too.
Posted by Ang

There's nothing better than a chatty creative group of happy friends!

2011-06-17T03:39:00.000-07:00

When Angela was up in Nelson recently, she joined a wonderful group of arty friends for their weekly get together. I have been privilaged to be part of the group for several years and Angela too has previously joined the group while here on holiday and has taken a couple of sessions with them, focusing on fabric felting and design.

Some of the ladies were keen to use some of their accumulated materials (haven't we all got a box or two of those?) and requested a small workshop learning the techniques of putting together a fabric artwork.

The following week we gathered with our respective "bundles and boxes of fabric" and much more as well!!! Little bits of fabric, beads, buttons, thread and all sorts emerged to delighted laughter and stories of their origin. I tell you, we could have just spent the whole time talking about places, times and people....but eventually we knuckled down to work and Angela had us arranging, sticking and stitching. Well actually that's not quite true...most of us spent a great deal of time arranging, moving and rearranging, only to start all over again. It wasn't as easy as it first appeared it should be! We carried on talking and laughing as we worked too and that can delay things. As well Ang could hardly get a word in

It was a fun time. As you will see in the images we had a wide range of colours of fabrics and threads. Some used beads, some used cut out patterns. Every one of the resultant works was completely unique.

Members of the group are all experienced and talented artists in their own prefered mediums and it was interesting for me to see how each of them used the skills and styles of their individual creativity. Some spent longer periods on design aspects and composition. Others (like me) rushed in and did a bit here and a bit there, adding stuff at random and hoping for the best!

Angela had dyed some material using old teabags, keeping the colours throughout her work in colour harmony. Others were drawn to the golds and shiny materials while some tended towards the textural more open weave fabrics.

Aroha had two of hers framed by the end of the two sessions....others of us are still very much in the early stages of our stitching. Some will probably take the work no further and my work will join two other fabric 'things' that I intend doing more to sometime when I 'run out of things to do'!! They will go back into my bag of materials which seems to have grown to twice it's size as several generous souls seemed rather keen to give me contributions from their bundles!

All in all it was a super couple of sessions. Mind you every session with this group is amazing. I always go off after the get togethers with a song in my heart and a smile on my face. I bet you would too!

From Wanaka to Nelson

2011-05-09T16:17:00.000-07:00

I realised when I reviewed the COOTS Exhibition blogs that I had missed showing you the unusual and delicately sculptural stiffened fibre sculptures of boots, hats and bags by Jeanette Gillies. My favourite was the red group I think. Jeanette had also made some wall pieces using silk patterned with rust marks, and machine quilted, as well as the bag you glimpsed before with the indigo dyed fabrics.

Our quilter members ended up with several awards at the Symposium that followed our exhibition week, plus were quite involved with the organisation and hosting of the many visitors to the Queenstown event. They must be happily satified and much less busy now the 2 events have passed!

I am sure the next blog will be about Mags' exhibition at the Suter Gallery in Nelson. (I just had to round off my series before she got to it!). She is busy setting it up right now, and has an opening party tonight. Wish I was there! Ang

Sculpture in Central Otago

2011-04-25T18:39:00.000-07:00

My stroll around Rippon Vineyard was so enjoyable I'm giving you some more picture highlights.

Ben Foster's 'Momentum' has shining twisting aluminium surfaces which catch the light differently from different angles, and to a degree reflect the surroundings.

Having said that, to my mind that is what sculpture is about really, the effect of changing light and viewing angle.

This was certainly one of my favourite pieces, in spite of the fact that if you gave me a choice between natural or manmade materials I would most likely choose natural..

I think the pieces I really would like to have in my surroundings to watch for a long time were Doug Neil's two bluestone carvings. 'Canoe Dreams' I and II. I love the surfaces of this stone, rewarding both in the pitted nature of the smoothly finished bands, and in the way the texture changed and caught the light where rough chips contrasted with these. Angled carefully to the path of the sun, and different from every side, these two pieces would change by the minute as time passed, as well as having a delightful flowing line to the design.

In full light the appearance is like waves or wings and there is a deceptive lightness in the floating lines.

As the sun grazes only the tips, and throws shadows that make the dark and light accentuate the high relief the appearance is very different. I climbed through part of a tree to take this shot catching the light from a different angle and the second side to this piece - and as the grey painted plinth did little to enhance the sculpture in my eyes, I cheated by removing it with photoshop back to grass, to focus on the work alone.

This general view as you returned back uphill to the carpark and tasting room shows Gary Baynes 'Wind Song'. Beautiful shapes and flexible seeming curves. I think I do prefer the dark patina in the landscape to the shiny stainless steel or obviously alien plastic paint.

Another pices by Mark Hill may be seen behind, 'Aspiring' Like the larger 'Ribbon' further round the hill this piece rewards with both interesting line, and delightful rusty patina changes when close to it.

Especially in the golden tones of a real Autumn I was won over by the bold illusions of Russell Beck's 'Autumn Perception'. As one trudged up the grassy lane towards it, the apparent size, and the precise negative shapes and shadows kept its reality flickering from one perception to another, while the eventual surprise on drawing level with what had seemed a spatially large object to find its relative compactness was still a big surprise.

It was very well placed. The sculptures grouped at stages around the walk were so well set off by the surrounding vineyard and scenery - thankyou Rippon, and the Wanaka Arts Charitable Trust for this opportunity to enjoy a spectacle so stunningly set.

Shane Woolridge's 'Missing Link' used the familiar Central Otago Glenorchy slate in a fascinating way too. Human scaled it could be walked through, and raises questions about who or what is the missing link - and is this it found -or created by its loss?
I enjoyed the light catching textures and shadows, and three dimensional changes of angle which appeared as one walked right round.

This is only my pick of 36 works on display - edited down by the fact that I had not too much time for photos before closing time, so missed getting good shots of equally stunning work by Bing Dawe, and Anna Scott's 'Potential' series of cast bronze poppy seedheads.
A most enjoyable hour as the sun dropped behind the mountains.
Ang

More COOTS work

2011-04-23T16:10:00.000-07:00

Along the screens are Wendy Ward's 'Home and Soul' series. She wrote:
'This body of work explores my recent contemplation about a woman's place within her own soul, home and society; the choices and decisions she makes and whether those choices are to her own benefit or that of others. Fabric works are backed with embroidered tablecloths or blankets, celebrating days gone by where the art of embroidery was considered a valid pastime for women.'
Titled 'Dust if you must' (painted canvas) Dust if you Must II' ( painted canvas), 'A Woman's place II' (painted fabric), 'A Woman's place III' ,'Work Life Balance' (painted canvas with cuts) and 'Heart and Home' (large painted canvas) there are clear connections in the series which is enhanced with stitching and subtly visible words relating to the explored theme.

Also in view here are Angela and Jenny Greer's books, my Felted ensemble (on the willow woman), and part of Janice's knitted indigo dyed vest. My felted jacket and hat did not sell, and I fear I cannot compete as a willowy woman when I eventually wear it!

Pat Hewitt's 'Icons' uses rich images transferred onto fabric, surrounded by varied black and gold textured fabrics. The smaller of Amanda Hasselman's two colourful quilts 'Autumn Recycled' is even more magnificent in real life, with silks and silk velvets in the leaves catching the light with the rhythm of changing leaf shapes and angles adding to the lively effect.

Finally from the exhibition, a last closer look at the theme architectural pieces for a Common Thread - Framed pieces included Wendy's 'Arched Buildings' with its subtle doorway shading and simple red cross.

Jenny Tayler's pair of figures reflect her thought that our brief of architecture could be no better illustrated than by the human form, designed by God himself.

Jan's framed 'Chinese Garden echoes the roof patterns of this delightful place to visit in Dunedin.

The rest of us chose views and places of meaning too - Alison the window shutter patterns of the places around the world where her three sons live (the lower unframed trio) Jeannette her own home doorway, while I found a European street and tower as I dreamed of travel....

Well I hope you enjoyed our exhibition online.
One more blog to come as I walk you round Rippon one more time - for exercise after all this blogging, and to see the views and my favourites in the sculptures. Ang

A Common Thread - my work too

2011-04-22T19:36:00.000-07:00

My favourite textile medium is felt - handdyed wool sliver, laid out and decorated with other fibres, especially silk, then wet felted by adding just enough water and soap, and adding pressure and movement. This outfit was for sale - but is cunningly sized to add to my own wardrobe if it does not sell. An open end zip hidden beside the centre front panel allows easy dressing, with the yoke buttoning over it. Made in a number of panels then joined it will be really warm for winter, as felt is windproof, plus it only weighs 520g. The patterning includes fine fabrics and silk fabric, which are felted into the merino wool base, though you can see on the detail below I have stitched the edges, mostly for decoration, but also to make sure they don't detatch themselves at the edges if they catch on anything while being worn. With most of the fabrics this would be very unlikely to happen, but I like to make sure!

This photograph was in my studio - in the exhibition views you can see it on the willow 'body and head' I made from the willow and dogwood I coppice every year and harvest from my garden. An unexpected discovery because I cut these stems in autumn instead of the usual end of winter, was the black colour the bark went. Usually it fades from green to buffy brown.

The matching hat is the first I have designed and made with the brim flowing into a merino scarf. This can be worn many ways, coiled and wound round the hat as in these photos, or unrolled to wrap from the head down one side (sheltering the face from wind) and around the neck ending as a scarf. The wool changes from mainly corriedale in the hat to help give a stiffness and form, to the soft drapeable merino of the scarf.
Of course the feathered pin can be worn where you want it most too.

The other felted work was titled 'Dance of Life'. You can see it on the screen opposite the door in previous blogs. Made of Merino wool with silk surfaces, handdyed and hand felted 'figures' shaped by shibori stitching, continued felting and dyeing; presented on organza with images. This work explores the inbuilt 'genetic' parallells shared by generations, and changes to characters modified by both genetic nature and environmental influences. Below are two detail shots.

Other work by me (not shown here) was felt covered books, and a series of small fibre pictures ready to frame. Plus of course my architecture piece, pen drawn, with stitching added, on silk and now enjoyed by a new owner!

That's all for now - still another exhibition blog to go. Look again soon! Ang

COOTS A Common Thread

2011-04-20T15:13:00.000-07:00

Work in the exhibition was grouped in colour and compatibility rather than by artist. Alison Naylor made this eight square wall piece. She says 'Afternoon tea parties were very important to my mother and her sister. Silk fabrics with machine quilting of recipes made especially at Christmas time.'

Jenny Greer made the two red felted bags, on the same screen as this piece (below - I have trouble getting the photos lined with the words on these blogs!) with Teacups of Time.

Jan Crawford also focussed on tea. ''Teacups of Time' reminds us of a simpler time when women gathered in each other's homes and relied upon each other for strength and comfort. A time of our grandmothers and great aunts.'

'Bag of Dreams' also by Jan, is designed to inspire.
'Women who possess such a bag can take on the world. Every colour representing joy, happiness and courage are hers to take hold of. I have a bag of dreams which hangs on the door in my room.It is the first thing I see each morning.'

That ball of red is the common thread red from our exhibition theme.

Janice Jones followed up the indigo dyeing workshop earlier in the year with these delicately stitched silk scarf, and choker necklace.
Just in view on the left is Jeanette Gillies' indigo chenille and machine embellished bag, using her indigo fabric.
Janice continued her forte of making elegant one off garments, with the 'Swing Singlet' in indigo silk, with red stitched reverse applique, and an overlaid red thread vest. If you look back to the last post you will see a general view of the garments on display, including the knitted long vest also by Janice.

On the far screen is the larger of two beautiful colour pieces by Amanda Hasselman titled 'Autumn Wastebusters' Below you see it in full. The smaller piece is titled 'Autumn recycled'. Amanda wrote: ' Wastebusters is my favourite place in Wanaka and a great source of treasures, particularly woollen blankets. Blanket and silk are dyed in the same pot but they accept the colour in subtly different ways. It appeals to my sense of sustainability to create an article of beauty in this way. The lustre of silk is a wonderful complement to the texture of old wool.'

To the right of the hanging is another of Janice's shibori silk necklaces.

Finally below you can see what Anne McNeill, our papermaker, did with her indigo dyed paper. Titled 'Thread your way along the Southern Alps' is uses Japanes fibre papers. You can't see so well in the picture but it is 3d relief - rising about 3cm above the backing ground.

At the end a quick burst of colour in Jeny Tayler's very popular dyed silk velvet and silk habotai scarves.

I still have about two more blogs to go on this exhibition, so keep looking for the next update!
Ang

A Common Thread - at Wanaka

2011-04-19T14:35:00.000-07:00

Wanaka is beautiful - especially in Autumn when the bi-annual Festival of Colour is held - a feast of exhibitions, performances, and events in a stunning setting. This year the Autumn leaves were still holding firmly to most of the trees, right to the end of the week when a sudden change from warm sunny days brought snow low on the hills, and even made chains necessary on the Crown Range road through to Queenstown for a few hours on Monday morning. This view is within Rippon Vineyard, where an outdoor sculpture exhibition gave an opportunity to walk round the vineyard for an hour - views over the lake and to the mountains all round. The sculpture with about 30 artists represented, looked good in the setting too!

Our COOTS (Central Otago Outside The Square) group of fibre art loving friends exhibited all week, enjoying the interaction of over 600 people, some of whom stayed as long as 90 minutes studying the work. There was variety in mediums and technique from patchwork, quilting, stitch, book art, wall hangings and wearables; fabrics, hand-dyeing, paper, felt and paint. At the door our garland of handmade flowers and leaves was welcoming - and suggestions flowed for its future uses - ideal for weddings we were told! Once inside there was room to wander between the tables and screens and stand discussing the works. So much variety (we work independently, meeting only 5 times a year) but we had all worked on a black,grey and white piece each, with a red thread we had given out at an early meeting. In spite of the set size, and theme of architecture, we managed to stamp our own mark on the resulting pieces, which were displayed together on a central screen.

The flower close-up is part of the banner, and the other pictures are general views of the exhibition room. Over the next few days I'm planning to give you some more closeup views of individual works, so have another look later this week. Check out http://www.festivalofcolour.co.nz/ to see what else you missed, and maybe come next time! Ang.

Image and theme development.

2011-04-11T02:45:00.000-07:00

My art storage areas are chocker with files of stored drawn images...I just cannot let most of them go into the bin! I rather like "rediscovering" stuff I did ages ago, especially when I am at a bit of a loss as to just where I want to go next with a new process or theme. I even like some of the stuff!

After the Queenstown Art Society workshop we held in february this year, I added another bundle of images to the paper pile. We had taken part of the first morning to do some quick expressive drawings of the area around where the course was being held and then tackled the results to develop three images with a common factor to develop further. These were transfered to canvases on which we applied a variety of materials in order to experiment with the use of textures and resultant paint effects they created.

This approach requires an open mind and courage to allow for the hoped for (on my part at least) acceptance of paradigm shifts. Not everyone finds that easy to experience or appreciate. Constantly, as with any new experimentation or experience, we are reluctant to move from our comfort zones of the "tried and approved" and must conciously push ourselves further in order to allow new growth and discovery.

I love it when there is a breakthrough for someone and they battle past the doubts, preconcepts (is that a word?) depression, rebellion, and all sorts of other responses, to emerge with genuine enjoyment, new vision and enlivened enthusiasm. They are experiencing their own growth and progress....and there is a realisation that there will always be the possibility of "seeing more, feeling more and knowing more"

But enough of my chat...I wanted to show you some of the process and results because I have finally completed my three paintings and am wondering how the rest in the group have progressed! (No pressure!)

Here are a couple of my sketches...none done as a planned work at this stage, but as interesting aspects in the surrounding environment. I have always liked lights and shades of this shape right from my early days of being taught how to see things. I still have a drawing of a dusty broken light that I drew from the inside of a wool shed. We drew old gates, sheep pens, broken tractors and other farm implements that day...and I included an assortment of lights as well!

The car was a VW by the way! You can tell eh!

After developing some of the images into possible layouts we transfered the images to our three canvases. Each of these canvases had a variety of textures applied, including permafille, tissue, sand, string, card, material, and pva glue.

After drying thoroughly overnight, we applied undercolours which we chose as the colours we would like to glow through further paint layers....

This is an interesting stage as often the colours applied at this stage have a powerful influence on the mood of the work which results. With my three images this first layer started formulating the development of a common theme with each image taking charge of it's outcome.

Allowing the work to influence it's development can be both revealing and scarey. I find that my work regularly reflects my core values and concerns of aspects in society. That results in my art being a snapshot of where my head and heart are...and that isn't always comfortable for me or the viewer. Certainly it doesn't always mean my art is commercially viable!!

However, I am pleased with my three resultant images. Here they are as an example of a process and a reflection of a little bit of me!

Protect Them

Guide Them

Appreciate Them

Cheers.....Mags

Seeing things and overcoming the fear of giving it a go!

2011-03-03T19:53:00.000-08:00

Most people who have given drawing and painting a go have done a few hours of landscape and figure sketches. Some will have been delighted in their results as starters in their arty development and then become rather annoyed at themselves as following work repeatedly brought up areas of "arty disfunction"! Hands continue to be left out of the work, feet seem to always be rather small, faces may regularly turn out lopsided and flattened! (even the old European Masters tended to paint too small feet and hands!)

Looking back through your past work should be taken as an enlightening learning tool...not a form of self punishment or depression!

Every time we give something a go, we learn. We give ourselves a base to work on to make changes which are important to us! If you have a tendancy to do fat flat faces and that's the way you want to present faces.....you are well equiped to develop your style further. If you don't like the way you do fat flat faces, then equally you are equiped to develop the skills to make the changes....because you have started on the progressive pathway.
Reading, studying, learning, observing, trying out and making adaptations that suit you and your aims will keep you "getting there" And of course there are the 3P's of practice, practice and practice!!

Something that many folk do, is to not be able to break away from putting on paper or canvas, what their subconscious has imprinted in it as to what and how a face, an eye, a mountain , a winding road, a winding river, etc etc looks like!
Now, as you will probably know already, I am the first to push for emotional and internally sourced information to be included in art. Clever and popular as artists are who can represent the reality before them with amazing beauty and skill, I personally appreciate more the work that offers options and possibilities which arise from the artist's imagination, personality and experiences. However, when we include those aspects without first enabling ourselves to see the realities before us, our lack of "seeing" can rapidly take away an opportunity of our work achieving greater impact. ..and personal satisfaction as well.

Recently a group of us got together and investigated our skills of drawing figures and outdoor scenes as well as drawing on our minds for images and feeling from within. From my perspective, the work produced clearly indicated a more interesting and creative result before the influences of "what things should really look like" took over! Even though a use of nonreality colours was encouraged, the use of some reality colours "crept in" and the creativity "flew out". And although much work was emotively sourced, preconceived concepts of hill shapes, object shapes etc resurfaced and dominated once more. Certainly some of these contributed to an effective result. Others may well have been considered as "repetitive" blocks to the artists works. Mine certainly did!!

As with anything in life...habits are hard to change. We need to work on them, educate ourselves and choose our own pathways from our experimentation and experience. Sometimes we will make breakthoughs through giving a different process a go...and amazingly finding it really suits us! I have found that especially with figure and portrait work. Overcoming a block about figure and appendage drawing and painting came for me with the use of the approach of blocking in shapes, using reference points and angles. As well I enjoy the continuence from getting the general shape and dominant detail "right", through to the simplification of using fewer marks with more importance applied on top of a sound structure.

Images here are by artists of varying experiences and medium preference. They are a delightful group of people with great potential and enormous personality! Whatever way they go in their creativity they will bring
happiness and joy to themselves and others. The works shown are all important pieces as part of the individials' development as they discover their preferences and style of expression.
I apologise for the blur of some images (camera setting...not wine comsumption) and acknowledge all of the group for allowing their work to be shown. I may not have included work from everyone and I hope no-one feels "left out"....I did'nt actually look at who's work was included and who's work wasn't!! I have not shown names either but I am sure they all know who is who!
Thanks for a fun time.
Mags

Summer Art

2011-02-18T14:02:00.000-08:00

Summer and Art sounds really good together don't you think? Visions of warm to hot days and pleine air painting. It doesn't actually work out that way we find. Luckily the Lawrence Art Festival weekend matched up with a rare 2 consecutive summer days weather, and I enjoyed visitors to my studio, and chatting with many friends who had travelled down for a day. During the next week we did manage a brief trip to Wellington together with a friend, to see the exhibitions at Te Papa. The European Masters reminded us that seeing the real paintings is worth a trip to Wellington, as they are so much more striking than in any reproductions. It's always worth a trip to Wellington actually, but this time for an opportunity much closer than Germany!

Brian Brake's lifetime of photography exhibition was also an outstanding reminder of how many of his photographs are in our heads, scattered as memories from our past, or as enduring images we associate with our identity as New Zealanders and the outside world of the time which came to us via his images. I went home to renew my aquaintance with books that had been on the shelves for years.

The Dunedin exhibition came down after having been enjoyed by many. Suddenly there were visitors passing by, and summer chores to see to. Fruit and preserving - as in bottles of colourful jam. We love colour. The outside of the house requires a bit of scrape back sand and paint. Not the painting days we had dreamed of... But the long days on end with no rain haven't materialised in this part of the island this summer, so my house maintenance still awaits a run of consecutive dry days, while the garden has required some considerable weed reduction, and trimming, although very little watering. OK Mags, you win, your painting is done, so more sun does shine on your house!

Two major art events loom ahead - Angela's fibre group friends in COOTS have an exhibition scheduled in Wanaka, at the same time as the Festival of Colour. http://www.festivalofcolour.co.nz/ Themed 'A Common Thread' we have been working on our own individual concepts for this, as well as making a colour limited similar sized panel with an architectural reference. (snippet views of exhibition work by Jeanette and Jan are this blogs' pictures) One more meeting before the exhibition, and the posters and art work all ready to print after online discussion and refinement.

Three articles for fibremagazines are beng done by another 2 members of our group, and should appear in March/April issues of Creative Fibre (the membership magazine for Creative Fibre New Zealand Spinning, Weaving and Woolcraft Organisation http://www.creativefibre.org.nz/ ) The New Zealand Quilter ( http://www.nzquilter.com/) and hopefully alsoTextile Fibre Forum ( http://www.tafta.org.au/ ).

This has meant more computer time, and less creative cruising of the summer dream for several of us!

Today is wet again, so plans are reshuffled, and the several days I have set aside to paint costumes and help with final preparations for the first of the actual events - the 150th celebration of the discovery of Gold in New Zealand at Lawrence, alongside finishing Coots exhibition work - all threatens to clash with the ever decreasing opportunities to do that outside painting. http://www.lawrence.co.nz/ and search on facebook for gold pan art to see and bid for the artist decorated goldpans on display now for silent auction. Just as well my house painting is just running repairs not a whole makeover. Next week the winter firewood will arrive to be stacked too... Now what was that imagined summer? relaxed days pleine air painting? Haven't had one yet. But I have done a heap of other things!

Enjoy a few sneak previews and pencil the exhibitions in your diary if you will be near Wanaka, or Lawrence, in March/April. Mags is having an exhibition in Nelson in May too. More of that later from her.

Strong Women

2011-01-22T00:46:00.000-08:00

Strong minded women! (and you should see their muscles!!)

When you get a group of strong minded women together you can expect a range of outcomes. Discussions can become passionate and colourful. Making decisions that suit the whole group can be difficult and at times impossible! Egos can become over inflated and power plays can come to fruition!

When it was known our group of eight were planning a joint art exhibition in Dunedin and we were going to hang it ourselves, lots of people warned us! (Did you ever notice that others always know more than we do?)

I even had comments that “Friendships will be ruined!” “It will look a shambles!” “Make sure everyone has their medication with them!”

WELL, WE DID IT AND WE ARE ALL FINE THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!

In fact we had a great time. Sure there were some times where we all needed another coffee and a bit of space, but I didn’t hear anyone lose their rag! Besides, if they had no-one may have noticed, as we were all so busy doing everything we could to get things set up in a rather short period of time. Throughout, the girls helped and supported each other. Suggestions and requests were treated with gratitude even if they weren’t always taken on board. There’s no doubt about it that a job shared can bring about a load of benefits when those concerned have a genuine common for the group as a whole.

Personally I must voice a special appreciation to Jodie who wrote out all of our labels, coping with long titles, special requests and pens that ran out!! Other organizational tasks were shared during the lead up to the exhibition and everyone must now feel well satisfied with the results. Karen actually sold one of her paintings before the exhibition officially opened, as her work was spotted featured in a promotional article and the purchasers came along especially.

When we first unpacked all our work, we were all quite stunned by the diversity and caliber of the work. It had the WOW factor before it was even hung! The most difficult task was to work out which ones to NOT hang! Typically we had much more there than we could fit on the walls.

Hopefully we will get a steady flow of viewers until we take the work down on the 30th January.

A special thanks to Jan and Angela as supporting artists in their separate rooms as well as a big appreciation to the girls of the Otago Art Society who were a delight to work with.

Of course, we also had a bit of time to socialize and made the most of it with good food and wine. We talked to the early hours of the morning and still managed to get up fresh and well. I believe some of the girls did some serious shopping and I even managed to get my computer back in order by going to see a computer wiz in South Dunedin. If you ever need anything done to get your computer going better or to get yourself doing computer stuff better, go see the chap at Bear Tech Computers.

As well we can fully recommend the Allen Court Motels. Probably the best motel I have ever stayed in.

So, if you get to Dunedin, do go see our work. Regardless, be assured that a group of strong minded and sometimes stroppy women with ages ranging across 30 or so years with a diverse range of artistic styles, can work really well together to get a task done, and then manage to have enough energy and affection for each other to go on the town eating and have a wine or two!

Thanks to all.

Patterns of the Past Greece

2011-01-11T18:10:00.001-08:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Exhibition at the Old Railway Station, Dunedin

2011-01-03T23:40:00.000-08:00

Several times during the year our arty group of friends get together and paint, draw, talk and sometime have a few wines!!
One of our group comes to NZ from Montana primarily to enjoy the amazing country and fish in the Mataura River so we have named our exhibition to recognise that. The work on show will be very varied as we are a diverse group! However, there will no doubt be a common thread in that we all love developing our work for our own and the viewers enjoyment.
In two adjoining smaller galleries alongside the main gallery exhibition we have been joined by Angela and Jan who are close arty friends who would be part of the group if only they lived a little closer! I am excited at the prospect of the work they will show. Jan is a wonderful watercolourist and Angela has a wide range of styles based around texture and fibre. They, like the main group are forever investigating new processes and styles. We may not always achieve amazing successes, but we use our failures to develop further.
We hope you can come and have a look at what we have to show. We are looking forward to see what each other have produced as well!
Happy New Year, by the way!!! May 2011 be full of opportunities and adventure. Be healthy and happy. Laugh whenever you can and love yourself as well as others.

Countdown to Christmas

2010-12-18T23:25:00.000-08:00

The days are long now, still light at 9.30pm, and I have been busy picking redcurrants. I can't make much felt for the week before this, as I use my netting pieces to keep the birds out of the currant bushes. We have also spent 2 days cruising round the Catlins, and the Otago peninsula with a friend visiting from Canada. Mags came over here too, and we reminisced about the days back in the 1960's when we played hockey together, plus the years in between where we seldom met but kept in touch with annual letters.
Mags and I are both finding inspiration from our trip to Greece still, as we sort through our photos and work on a few images. I have done four in particular, but also have to do some themed for exhibitions here, which is a bit distracting. Anyway, here are some bits of them, also an amazing sunset sky from last week.
Enjoy, and have a great Christmas.
Angela

Back home in the South and learning how to paint again!!!

2010-12-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

While we were away on our trip I had great ambitions to do sketches and quick paintings to go along with my daily diary and photos. Well, I did some so I can't say I was completely slack, but I didnt do that much! In fact, it is going to take me ages just to sort out all my photos and work out what the heck my notes are saying in my journal! Firstly the writing looks like I was doing it with my foot and there are so many gaps where I didnt quite catch the name of the place we were going through that it is all rather unhelpful to my making any sense of it.
But what the heck...I had a great time! Who needs notes and details when there were other people on the tour who did a damned good job at it and I can look up anything else on the Internet!

Now we are home, I am back into whacking on the paint....and rubbing lots of it off again! Isn't it strange how every now and then we artists really feel like we have completely lost it!
Fortunately I got together with a small group in Bluff one weekend and we had a fun time painting, eating and walking. Karen hosted us at her place (she has an accommodation business) and we were doing our arty stuff in the midst of her colourful fabric and fibre art.

Here are a few photos from the weekend. Thanks to all who were there. Great company and everyone of you inspiring.

Heather's coat

2010-11-09T12:42:00.000-08:00

Four and a half days of one on one tutoring with student-now-friend Heather was my good reintroduction to doing something more than cruising round Greece, and sorting the resulting photos. She did extremely well, starting with white wool and silk, and progressing through dyeing to designing and felting then sewing. The coat was unpressed, and not fully finished when these photos were taken in my garden. I look forward to the final photos which are heading this way in the mail. Felt is such an amazing fabric - wool is an amazing fibre -and building everything up from the component materials, with decoration an integral part of the design is a rewarding and satisfying process, with unique results.

We're back

2010-11-06T00:23:00.000-07:00

Acropolis, Athens

Yes we have been away

on an educational

and health restoring trip.

Highlight was Greece.

Country of layered history,

place of legend and religion,

conflict and achievement in the arts, sport,

democracy, and the art of living.

Friendly people, with remembered ties

from WW2 and New Zealanders

who were there fighting

worn marble steps in a fortified stronghold
Kononi, Corfu

Country of origin for many

newcomers to Australia and New Zealand.

We felt at home and welcome there,

while being awed by the

ever present history

and layers of historical settlement,

churches, monastries, and fortified hills.

the oldest known surviving road at Knossos

Villages scattered across the mountains

between the olives and terraced gullies,

clinging to the ridges and steep rocky hills,

on the valley floors and round

every corner and most bays

and inlets on their long coastline.

Kononi, Corfu

New subjects for our work abounded,

and we saw centuries old paintings and sculptures

and architectural details in the excellent museums.

Enjoy these first few photographs - we took hundreds!

Goldfields history

2010-09-15T19:30:00.000-07:00

Those daffodils really are old. I was wondering when I posted the last blog whether the double daffodils I so like in my garden are an old variety. Yesterday I drove to Gabriel's Gully, where the first commercial gold was discovered in New Zealand, and where gold was panned then sluiced and tunnelled for between 1860 until 1900. Now it is a Goldfields reserve, with walking tracks up the hills to the old water races and former dams, through the sycamores that have spread down from the ridge, originally planted for timber. It is a steep climb up to where a small flat platform near the top of the valley still shows the shape of the raceman's small cottage, with a few remnants of iron and ceramic pots, overgrown with trees. In between trees and blackberry and gooseberry, the old bulbs from the small garden flourish and spread down the hill.

Daffodils, just like mine, and exquisitely formed primroses - more beautiful than modern hybrids in my eyes, were just starting to flower, pushing through the brown leafmould, shining in the sun between the bare trees. The water races and dam carved into the top of a nearby hilltop are mostly filled, and colonised by trees now, but are signposted with stories of how they used to be.

Next year is the 150th anniversary of Lawrence, established when gold was found. A week of celebrations will be held in March.

Gifts from the garden

2010-09-12T15:44:00.000-07:00

Blogging has not been high on the agenda, as you can see from the date of the last post. Helping to move house, preparing materials for tutoring and sorting out the garden after winter have taken priority. I was away from home for 5 weeks, with Mags.

The earthquake in Christchurch, at least the main one, was felt by me as I stayed with a friend in Alexandra. Watching the quake map over the subsequent days was sobering, as we did not feel any of the continuing series which continues to shake up Christchurch in particular, but most of the Canterbury coast to some degree. The face of Christchurch will be a changed one for the future, with many of the old buildings severely damaged.
The main effect on me was postponement of classes I was due to run this week, as 6 of the class were from the main earthquake areas. You can see the quake map on http://www.christchurchquakemap.co.nz/

This week at last the garden has suddenly come alive with spring flowers, including hellebores which I grew from seed off one plant in 2003, and double daffodils which were in a clump of bulbs about the size of a bucket in the old garden which I reshaped here. When I dug them there were 60 closely packed bulbs. This morning I counted 170 flowers where they have multiplied in their new places on banks and between shrubs in my new garden. It continues to amaze me and feed my soul when I look at the intricacy of flowers and plants, and consider how much they give in return for a minimal contribution of care from me. I wanted to share their beauty with you too. Angela

Keeping positive and confident in yourself as an artist

2010-07-29T01:09:00.000-07:00

Constantly, in most avenues of our lives, we are bombarded with advertising and "brainwashing" as to how we are as individuals in the greater picture of the community. You will no doubt be familiar with the "smell good" "lose weight" "have a perfect skin" type of advertising, and now, be you a normal man, you will see that however you wake up looking in the morning, there is a special tube of something that you can apply to your face and become absolutely devastatingly attractive to good looking women!
OH THAT WE ARTISTS COULD APPLY SOME FACE CREAM AND BECOME ARTISTS OF WORK THAT ARE RAVED ABOUT BY THE HOARDS OF ART CRITICS THAT ABOUND AROUND US!! (THE GOOD SMELLING ONES AT LEAST!)
(Have you noticed that the "up there" women artists are also rather lovely looking? And our men artists have a certain ruggedness and attractiveness? Or was that a hunting and fishing magazine I was looking at in the Doctors waiting room last week?)
Seriously (well, sort of) as artists we really do have to be wary of those art books that get posted to us once every month or so, or we will get absolutely overstocked with wonderful new products that have "better colours" And are amazingly good at getting the examples of all the results that are shown in full colour and panorama. Now, tell me you HAVEN"T gone out and bought a new product recently and not had time to give it a decent try out! If you HAVE had time to play around with it and come up with some wonderful results....well good on you. Bet your garden needs a tidy up!
And have you had time yet to apply some of the gems you have been hearing about to set up a regular basic website, increase your promotion through Twitters and blogs and Facebook, and postcards and calenders and even possibly started sorting out an interactive website where you can write regular newsletters and mentor students and phew......I need another coffee!!!!!!
Before we moved up to Nelson I started a file of my own sketched and painted images to play around with on the computer to develop some ideas for a themed exhibition later next year. I think I know where I filed them, but I sure havent had the space to play around with them yet! Exciting though...I have it all to look forward to!!

So there, you see....being an artist is full of anticipation, excitement, education, experience and eventually, execution......Doing it I mean, not killing it off. Well...maybe some things will get painted over....again!!!!
Besides, looking at some of the art on the internet, being advertised in magazines and out in the galleries, I may just have to do some copying of what is out there and selling!!!!Seems like a lot of people are doing just that!
Aw Heck no. I think I will just stay as me doing my own stuff! I tell you, if you want to get your ego stroked once in a while, get some of your work on www.paintingsilove.com and enjoy the comments! And the bonus is that there is some great stuff on there from artists around the world that is well worth looking at and being inspired by.

Go slap on some paint! (or you could try some of that face cream!)

Creative time out and sharing

2010-05-17T20:53:00.001-07:00

For the second time members of the Coots group and the equivalent fibre enthusiasts group WOW from the West Coast have spent a few days together sharing ideas and skills at Haast. We stay at the Haast Beach motor camp - using the commonroom as a day workroom. For me that meant travelling by car, first to Wanaka picking up Jenny from Alexandra on the way, then Jeanette at Wanaka after reshuffling the assorted bags and boxes and on to Haast. Two carloads of Coots from through Central Otago, and just 3 WOW members managed to be there for potluck dinner by 6pm -ish. Up to 5 hours travelling for the most distant members. Some regrettably had other commitments like crutching sheep!

In the evening we have to share the common room with other campers - but we went ahead with dinner followed by show and tell of work done recently, and the planning of activity for the next 2 days. The group from Borneo arriving in hire cars in the evening were politely curious, and interested to hear how we had come from across Central Otago and as far as Hokitika and Greymouth on the West Coast to meet in the middle. They talked and watched as we showed and talked through the evening having bagged the best chairs before they arrived.

Very wet weather was forcast, and we drove through the pass with views of cloud shrouded mountains, and spectacular waterfalls pouring down through the bush. However luckily for us the worst storms stayed at the North of the South Island, so we had rainbows, and sunny spells as well as downpours, which cleared to a warm sunny day on Saturday, allowing us to make a very slow circuit round the excellent paths and raised boardwalks of the bush and estuary walkway over the road from the camp. We were very slow because the photo opportunities appeared every few feet!

During the 2 days we tried working with shrink plastic (drawing designs then heating to shrink it into hard decorated shapes for book plates or jewellery). Barbara showed us solar printing, and the sun even stayed long enough for us to see one piece from start to finish. Some stitched away at their own projects, and at making fabric beads and jewellery.

We fossicked along Haast beach late afternoon on Friday, with views of storms sweeping off the sea to the mountains to the North and to the South, and Barbara used her diamond drill bits to make holes in some of our pebbles to use the next day, or take home.

Three people tried five finger braiding, attached to a camelia bush outside. Insect repellant was required.

Dinner (and a game of pool) at the pub, while the rugby was on TV for locals and visitors alike on Friday night was enjoyable - great food. What was best? The leisurely pace, and time to chat, and browse through books and magazines as well as work as hard or as little as we chose. Seeing what other people are doing. Getting to know people better. What was worst? Moving ourselves out of the comfortable common room in deference to the predicted arrival of a large number of jetboaters from Christchurch - who didn't turn up, and didn't let anyone know they were delaying their arrival. The sandflies fit in here too!

Some stayed Saturday night too, but our carload headed home about 4pm on Saturday - and I was home in bed by 10pm, breaking the drive home for a quick snack at Jenny's. The ideas buzzing in my head which result from such a weekend did not keep me awake for too long.

Creative Fibre

2010-04-11T14:36:00.000-07:00

Angela is really pleased with the article and cover pictures in the latest Creative Fibre magazine. Thanks to all those people who have emailed as a result. It is good to hear from people, and sometimes we all wait too long for an excuse to make contact - me included!

Creative Fibre magazine is part of the subscription membership of the organisation that started as the Spinning Weaving and Woolcraft Society of New Zealand. Now Creative Fibre has an even wider range of fibre interests, and contacts. http://www.creativefibre.org.nz/

I have several deadlines to work to at present - none of them especially urgent, so deciding exactly what to do each day in the studio is not necessarily simple. There are at least 5 things I could do today, and here I am doing a blog instead. Conscience strikes, and I will make this a short blog!

Posted by Ang

Tutoring for Creative Fibre Otago

2010-03-08T13:03:00.000-08:00

Angela has been asked to tutor in a range of class topics for Otago Creative Fibre groups - this will be possible at the end of April, and through May, into early June. To join the Creative Fibre members contact your local group, and see if they have chosen to host any of the workshops. You may be able to join a nearby group if your area has not chosen the one you want!

Felting 3D - sculptures and soft toys. One day class.

A wet felting method which may have needlefelted detail added.

Felting over shaped resists, and designing, making stuffing with wool or polyester fibre, and assembling the pieces to stitch further.

Kits from the tutor, optional add your own bits and pieces from your collection! Kit $45

Spinning Novelty Yarns One day, could do two days and explore more.

for those who can use their wheel, but haven’t explored further types of yarn making than 2 ply.

Bring wheel in good order, and any attachments and things like combs, carders, and a supply of fleece/carded wool, colours, and any other fibres, eg silk, mohair. Some extra materials if you need them, from tutor, fee $5 to $10 dependng on what you use. Don’t buy anything special, see what you enjoy doing.

We will focus on sample amounts - enough to practice the possible variations

Access to a microwave would allow us to overdye/coordinate colours.

Spinning -Fine spinning, three ply yarns, and navaho ply (3 ply from one bobbin)

Half to full day (could be part of 2 day with above novelty spin class)

Bring requirements as above.

Inkle loom weaving One day course

I can bring 3 small and 1 larger inkle loom. Class can have a loom each (ideally), or work co-operatively in pairs. Extra looms from class where possible.

Threads required, non-fluffy strong threads, like pearl cotton, viscose or linen with a tight strong ply, not too thin, and about the same thickness for each project on the small looms. They make a length of about 35cm with end tassels extra. Good bookmarks.

Well plied strong yarns of a heavier weight for the bigger loom. Even rather than slubby textured yarns, like the rug wools weavers use, colours which go together.

I can bring some threads and yarns but will charge for those used.

Small Basket Making Class One day, or two days

The picture gives you some idea of the size we are talking about, and the materials which may be used. I can bring some, and some stitching threads. Minimal charge for use.

The four on the left are using the stitched coil technique, which each take about four+ hours to complete one basket, longer as the basket grows.

The one on the right using cabbage tree leaves as the structural base, has twined sides, using iris foetidissima leaves ( the small flowered, bright orange seeds, bushy iris).

A class with either of these techniques, adapted to the materials the class and tutor have managed to assemble, would take about one 4 or 5 hour day to make one basket, and to see the possibilities of the techniques.

Materials to collect, dry, and store in preparation for the class include any which are flexible rather than brittle, and have interesting colour or texture, and well attached seeds or interesting seed stems, if you want to use that part. Dry well, and store in paper rather than plastic to avoid mould.

Used above are:

the seed stems of tussock grasses, which in January/Feb will easily pull away from the plant (the top left basket is made from these with seeds of wind flower decorating it)

The stems which holds the flowers and seeds form the flowering part of the Phoenix palm.

Cabbage tree leaves - the latest ones to turn brown, before wind and weather have started to disintegrate them. Flax curls as it dries, and requires more preparation.

Pine needles from Pinus Coulterei (the Big Cone Pine, or other long needled varieties - Pinus pendula or maritime pine). The key thing for these is that the joint area is strong and holding together. Again gather the brown needles in good shape rather than the green ones, which take longer to dry and may damage the tree if you take too many.

Also needed are strong threads, like waxed linen, or heavy plied linen, or strong crochet thread. Stitched on damp fibres, and pulled tight to allow for drying and shrinkage later, these need to be really strong. I prefer black to colours. A strong needle for stitching with, and small pair of pliers for pulling a stuck needle through is useful.

2010-02-17T18:43:00.001-08:00

What do you do when you catch a cold and feel pretty rotten for nearly a week?
I managed to chose the week for watching the Winter Olympics coverage, which was pretty good timing if you have to have a cold anyway....
I also drove to the beach, and sat there for 2 hours doing nothing except breathe in the air of a perfect sunny day, and think idly that I was being very lazy, but not caring a bit.

In the odd moments when I did feel that something was worth rousing myself to do, I trimmed a few things in the garden, and then took another long rest.

The garden has actually been a star lately, featured in The Southland Times, I enjoyed the visit of their reporter, and we were both a bit disappointed that they ran only one picture.

The article can be read online at

http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/life-style/gardening/3313818/Garden-doubles-as-the-artists-muse
and here are some extra pictures to go with it!

Colours and shapes in the garden are frequently an inspiration, even when I have been playing with new techniques as I have lately with shibori felt. Check out some of the pictures on this posting, and you will see what I mean. I’m giving you details of the felt, so you won’t get too much of a preview of my new work. Quite a time consuming process but enjoyable for the design and colour variations which are emerging, and the light shows through some of the pieces in a very interesting way....
Who knows where this may lead to!

Posted by Angela

2010-01-24T20:09:00.000-08:00

Angela has had a good start to the year tutoring feltmaking at the Quarry Arts Summerdo.Whangarei was delightfully warm after the cool southern summer, and the bush clad sides of the Quarry, with the cluster of handbuilt buildings a characterful place to hold art classes. We enjoyed seeing the increasing variety of work developing in art, clay and earthbuilding workshops, whle our own piles of dyed wool, silk and fibres grew, then turned into samples and projects. On Wednesday we made hats, and the week finished with a concert by the ukelele learning group, a Rarotongan feast, and Rarotongan dancing by the ladies who had also served the feast. Pictures will give you a better idea than words.

Having fun getting balance in your life!

2009-11-26T00:28:00.000-08:00

For a great number of years now, I have been fortunate to have been in the business of encouraging and enabling people to develop balanced lifestyles through physical and creative activities. Even if one is already involved in a range of activites outside the workplace or home caring situations, we can drift into living in a way which becomes over stressed through channelled focus on "making money" or feeling we "ought to be doing " something for someone else. And believe me...I know because I do that too!
In the past I thrived on the spin offs from building peoples sporting and fitness skills. The thrill and satisfaction of seeing the excitement of a sportperson of any age achieving greater abilities and fitness levels will forever bring a smile to my face. To look back on photos of, for example, people tramping, kayaking, doing aquarobics or taking part in Top Town events gives me a great sense of achievement. Now, with the art tutoring and mentoring I now find myself doing from time to time, I am regularly being exposed to the joys of others as they experience and develop in their creative endeavours.
One such joy is to spend time with friend Helga, who finally has branched into creativity instead of filling her life almost entirely with work. That's not to say she hasn't had lots of fun before...but she does say that taking regular time to paint is new in her lifestyle.
Helga is not new to the Arts however. Previously an experienced and successful business person, she has also excelled in marketing in New Zealand. Most recently she has been part of the highly successful "Lonely Dog" team working at the Ivan Clarke Gallery in Queenstown, NZ.
Helga would be the first to acknowledge that she has a wee way to go in her painting development....but then, tell me an artist who doesnt! Its an ongoing experience. It has to be because we too are constantly changing, and our art reflects that. (hopefully) And central to it all....there is the fun, the laughter, the friendship, the realisation of changes we see in ourselves and the way we see things! And there is the mess, the empty paint tubes, the mistakes and the disasters. There's the music, the stories, the results and the thrill of peoples comments...There are the exhibitions, the openings, the photos and NOW there are even a few short videos.
I will post a video on my Mags Meechang page of Facebook so have a look.

It's a sample to encourage you to just "GO FOR IT!."
And by the way, check out Helga's work on our website www art2enjoy.co.nz and also www.bestmountaintowns.com and look on the Queenstown site. Enjoy.

A weekend of texture at the Queenstown Art Society

2009-09-17T14:20:00.000-07:00

If anyone is interested in joining a small group for texture and paint application on the weekend of Labour weekend, give Clare Waddick an email on clairewaddick@gmail.com. We have a limit on the number coming so register asap.

See you there. Mags

Amanda of Coots

2009-08-20T19:00:00.000-07:00

Getting back into it is Mags theme for the upcoming spring classes on the last blog - Look back one blog to check it out and get in touch with her!

We are returned from a much enjoyed break together at Hervey Bay in Australia. Fantastic place to soak lazily in the sun, and go on a whale watching trip, which was our top highlight.

I promised to feature Amanda's recent Coots exhibition work in the next blog, so here it is, accompanied by her own words. What she doesn't mention are a number of awards won at past National Creative Fibre Exhibitions, and her interesting perspective as a kiwi born elsewhere in the world, which sharpens her observation and comment in fibre form. Both pieces are wall hangings.
The cups and their backgrounds are formed with positive and negative parts of a domestic textile, assembled on old blanket, with much stitching. The textiles include a tapestry picture (the blue mug and the top one from the right background), embroidered and lace doileys and table linen. Although a subdued overall tonal range, this piece had lots of interest when viewed up close, with most people taking time to search for the matchup pieces. It had a small border which does not show in this picture.

ANYONE FOR TEA? - wRapt in Womens Work.
A tribute to the history of domestic textiles. So many women and so much
creativity through the ages.

The two detail photos of 'Wanaka' show the effective accumulation of detail which appears with a close up view.

WANAKA Amanda Hasselman writes:

I farm in a glorious spot at the head of Lake Wakatipu. We chase merino sheep around for a living and I have long been fascinated by their fibre and what I can do with it.
This has led me via spinning, knitting, felting and stitching to a great love of textiles and the wonderful possibilities of mixing techniques/fibres/ideas.

Creating is an enormous pleasure but it
is the usual juggling act of family and farm, both of which provide lots of pleasure.

WANAKA - wRapt in Colour.
Inspired by this glorious environment. Machine felted fabric, further
embellished with stitch and thread, cut into 2" squares and restitched.
Madness but I like the result!

Posted by Angela

Getting Back into it Again Art Workshops

2009-08-18T01:37:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone who lives close enough to come.

It must be time to start thinking about art classes again.

Some decisions to be made!

Firstly: I have arranged with Janet de Wagt to take a couple of days Plein Aire in Lawrence, for sister Angela to incorporate in her last terms programme for ACE. (adult ed) The dates are 24th 25th November, and cost wont be high, tho at this stage I am not sure of the amount. The plan is to book in people who are interested, and get them to indicate if they want to do one or both days...so we can then ensure all who want to come can. If the class is too full for everyone to do both days, then those wanting to do a second day, can come with me and we will go do it anyway, and try to remember the tips we got the day before!

So, please let me know asap about that!

Secondly, I would like to hold a "Getting Back into it Day" at Athol for a couple of days between Sept 6 and Sept 20. If any of you are interested in that, ($50 per day plus a bit for the hall hire ) could you let me know and also give me an idea of the best dates that suit you. I envisage that you each individually decide if you want to do undersurfaces, landscape, or whatever..(.but I didnt think we'd get in a model for this class...maybe later in the summer.) What would you choose to help yourself "Get into it" at this time of year. I look forward to hearing from you on that.

Thirdly: When we get that date sorted, I'd like to set dates to do a couple of days of

a: Gouache and Ink

b: Expressive Portraits using oil pastel and acrylic

c: Still life and landscape work development using mixed media. (pastels, inks,paint,collage and so on)

And thats just for a start.

Any suggestions and indications of interest are appreciated!

A closer look at COOTS exhibition work

2009-07-06T15:40:00.000-07:00

I had not intended to keep you waiting so long to look at this, but the Studio is cold to work in, and other essential things have intruded on my time!

Better late than never, so enjoy some close up shots of some of the work.
The main selection criteria is that my photo was good enough to use. The light was not good down there, and I did not succeed in controlling the flash well. We took the photos during lulls in the flow of visitors, so could not move anything, or adjust the lights available - worth noting for those of you who want to photograph work - have a separate photo session.
The fact that we came from all directions of the compass, and had not seen most of the work until it was set up was a lovely surprise, and amazing impact for us - but not helpful for good photos. I was there, during but not at the end of the exhibition, by which time I was over 3 hours drive away.

Alison's wrap for a new granddaughter
was delightfully feminine, and contained messages and hopes for the future hidden in the woven fabric construction. Jeanette's bamboo series combined handdyed fabric with fine stitching and some 3D elements.

A close up of a composition based on an advertisement with cosmetic pottles, (mostly open and tested at my age!) exploring the idea of female 'second skin' wrap, was also a pink challenge for me - pink had not been a colour I chose to work with until my 2 granddaughters impressed on me the importance of pink.

In the bowl below, and in the general exhibition views you can see that 3D was well explored by several Coots members determined to literally wRAP for the theme of wRAPT.

Next post I will feature some close ups of Amanda's work, right now I'm off to sit by a fire and warm up with a cuppa!

Three new works...even if it is winter and jolly chilly!

2009-06-29T19:47:00.000-07:00

The Winter Chill has hit us! Roads are a little icy in the mornings and little funnels of smoke can been seen coming from the chimneys all around Athol. I have closed up my art classes until the warmer weather and have even found the enthusiasm to stay out in the Art room has lessened!
However, it is still time to play with new ideas, and sort through the old half completed canvases and think of what could be done with them! In a brief spurt I have done a few oils on paper. Small ones fortunately as they do dry incredibly slowly in the winter! One turned out okay, but the others are a bit messy....I need lots of practice!
Another task has been sorting out the accounts, and doing the tax returns. Thank goodness for good friend Helen for giving me a hand. I am so pleased I didnt choose accountancy as my career....the way they write things and fiddle things about doesnt seem to gel with my thinking patterns. Mind you, I am also pleased I didnt seek out a career in computing! That is just as confusing.

The winter chill has added to the beauty around Athol. Unlike this acrylic work I finished recently, the country is less colourful, but beautifully topped with snow.
The painting at the top is of the hills behind Jackie's farm in Athol here. I did this during one of the classes I was taking. There's a farm dog down by my name just heading home from hunting up the gullies.

I was in Queenstown yesterday and the visiting skiers and other tourists must be impressed with the sights.

The Remarkables are truely remarkable at this time of the year. There looks to be a good dump of snow at the ski fields too.

Karen Scott has an exhibition at the Steamer Wharf Gallery and has sold several of her inspirational works. Some of our art group are up there today doing the sights and no doubt brightening Queenstown's day!

Time to send some images to a friend and tick some of the other tasks off my ever long list!
Happy painting.

Mags

wRAPT exhibition review

2009-05-21T20:45:00.000-07:00

Do look at the Blog before this one for a taste of the exhibition starting soon by Mags' art students - Mags Maidens as they call themselves!

The COOTS group has completed their exhibition at the Festival of Colour and we thought you would like to look at some of the very varied fibre art works that were enjoyed by those who were able to come to the exhibition. Who are COOTS? Look further down the page for an explanation!

COOTS
What are they?

COOTS are a group of distinct individuals connected by a passion for Fibre and Fibre Art.
Some or many of the following characteristics may identify them:

Habitat: They live and work mainly around Central Otago, and enjoy Outside The Square (COOTS) aspects of a variety of fibre activities.

Distinguishing features: Plumage varies greatly, but is usually characterised by distinctive fibre elements. No description in detail applies to all. Recognised more by activity and attitude to sharing expertise, pushing the boundaries and a pursuit of excellence.
While working and progressing independently, often also seen as leading exhibitors and tutors within other fibre groups, they may only be seen together up to six days in each year, sharing ideas and techniques, and enjoying each other’s company in a COOTS home, or other selected venue.

Distribution: Over a number of years they have been observed to travel independently and widely in New Zealand and overseas seeking fibre related and inspirational information. At this time they are very hard to identify. Most recognisable when they briefly meet or join together occasionally to exhibit work as far afield as Auckland, Arrowtown and Dunedin, and recently Wanaka.

Though not generally unfriendly or discriminatory in any way to other fibre practitioners, or threatening to the public, they seem to limit their loosely defined membership to a small group, probably because of the historical association, habitat available, and their basically independent natures.

There will be more detailed views of work in later blogs - keep looking!
Ang

Classes in Athol, Southland New Zealand

2009-05-18T19:47:00.000-07:00

During the last few months, I have had a few classes in my home town of Athol, utilising the local hall as well as my own studio.
Our basis for these classes has been discovery! With an atmosphere of self expression and colour discovery, we have explored just a few of the ways we can express our impressions of the surrounding landscape with textured undersurfaces and alternative paint applications.

So enjoyable and productive has the process been that the most recent group of artists from around the district (Queenstown to Invercargill ) has decided on an exhibition to be held at the Bank Gallery in Invercargill, opening on June 4th, at 5.30pm. Other artists who have taken part in my classes have also joined the group, so there should be a wide range of work and styles on show.

So far it looks like we will have Life Drawing Class work, along with expressive landscape, textured undersurfacing and even some gouache resist and indian Ink work. (you can see some of that in a previous blog)

We would like to invite viewers to see the work here and at the Gallery, recognising the development of techniques and skills, primarily for the apprecication and enjoyment of the artists themselves as they discover their talents and preferences.
My greatest joy is seeing them happy at their work and hearing how they "see" things these days in a different way....thinking about colours and how they respond to different applications and textures.
Here are a few images as tasters for the exhibition. Take note that most of these are works in progress! Who knows what may eventuate!!

Jenny's Church Group from Garston

2009-04-23T01:30:00.000-07:00

I was absolutely privileged to have these 5 youngsters and Jenny Tayler come to my Art Room for a couple of hours of painting. Quite apart from the enthusiasm and artistic flair, I was greatly impressed with their interpersonal skills. They worked sensibly and diligently, eager to explore colour use and mark making. Throughout the whole session they were polite, yet at ease and co-operated well with each other. We were all delighted with the end results after a fun couple of hours.

The students worked in acrylics, and interpreted the subject matter in their own ways. They were encouraged to use underpainting to their advantage and explored ways of applying paint to achieve different effects.

May they be encouraged to continue to develop their own styles and stay free of others expectations!

The talented Gore Art Group!

2009-03-22T00:12:00.000-07:00

Goodness, I have been rather remiss in getting new posts on this blog! The year is hooting past and I am still only half way down the 2008 (yep, that's right...last year ) February list!!!! Mind you, I have done heaps of things that weren't on that list, including a fabulous session with a fun bunch of artists in Gore. We had a full on day, discovering the ins and outs of working with Gouache and Indian ink, using the resist process. Basically it is all to do with using the opaque chalky gouache paint to keep the ink from colouring the paper where you don't want it to be black, and leaving the areas you do want black, free of paint!
Now, starting out, there usually needs to be a bit of a mind set change as we are all inclined to paint to the edges of things, so we had a practice at leaving edges unpainted by using a simple pattern, and then got into it full on.
Well.....what a productive lot they were. They created a multitude of works, and by the end of the day they were being really adventurous and brave with their endeavours.
I rarely find people with enough courage to attempt portraits as they can be a bit tricky...but did they give that a go? You betcha!!
Here's some of the results. I know that some of them have done more since and Margaret, who did the "Rita Angus" portrait during the class has continued with her experimentation and developed even further with her "after washing off the black ink" part of the process.
Have a look at these!
If you'd like notes on how to do this process, let me know. Of course, I am always happy to run a class for you.
Happy Art.
Mags