keeping records of time passing in the studio....

Studio archive is such a useful name to describe that which ends up lurking around one's studio. Notebooks, journals, art materials and surfaces, works completed or not, large and small, one's better  works and the others... the old nd new..it all informs us ... oneself and others who may pass through the space.

Then theres the tell-tale signs of exhibitions, posters, promo material... all of it belongs here... I like the freedom of have a place to note the goings on when there's time... here at this blog and also at the visual tumbr blog... as shown below!

Its all too easy to get to the end of the year and think 'oh i mean to get this done or pull that together' ... sometimes you just have to be glad for what did get done and what things did materialise... and looking back through 'archival material' its all too evident... time  has to be put into small details at times to ensure things come together... so its a good idea to be realistic about what it takes to move forward and cherish the experience as its unfolding!

The other thing I did recently which is great for recognising what's been unfolding was put together the third edition of the Studio and Project 'Homage the seed' E-newsletter.

Click on that and go see whats been happening since June... I surprised myself  when remembering it all... it really was an amazing few months. The OS trip starting this week I am so ready for... the time will go fast but I relish the thought of being able to gaze from train windows and have those moments of pure reverie... at present that's what I am focused on!

Time to observe and muse on things!
In new surroundings...

what's hiding in the archives?

I am putting these up here for a friend to look at who is interested in seeing these works on their own.. she hard picked then out of  studio photo. Makes me wonder why i never put work up here like that ....  and price tag. The works are for sale...only a few I can't bear to part ewith... I'm getting better... maybe I will do that before my trip as I have a few people coming by ... viewing and purchasing work at the moment after the huge Art Weekend recently held here.

parallel universe I   45 x 45 cm  acrylic and ink on canvas

Qld rainforest seed capsules- cross sections

exhibition last June of these works ... all rainforest fruits seed capsules

Mmm..seriously needs to be rephotographed...this has the most wonderful iron oxide pigment
from Western Australia and is very rich and sensual smaller work .... the close top below is
also not accurate... and that colour in the background is not blue! Must do something
about this.... its painted on a good wooden surface too...rather appealing!  

confounding times with tech stuff!

Getting used to the new laptop is confounding at times. Luckily I'm making the most of the year-long offer of classes at the Apple store! Even so it's not always the case that I get in there with the questions i need to ask at the right time!

I have a three year old desk top which I have come to know my way around OK and now I find that some functions on the new up-to-date-you-beaut-machine are far too clever for me to know whats going on!

I guess if I just persist things will reveal themselves to me... but I do get that sinking feeling when putting images up on i-photo and suddenly old processes no longer translate into action. Given that I am even more at sixes and sevens with my new supposedly simple camera and its downloading functions I find it a little unnerving that just as I'm about to go off on a research trip I'm still fiddling with the basics of these tools i like to rely on.

small work on an uneven block of cedar wood - acrylic and ink 

I did this little work a couple of years ago when I found some interesting blocks of cedar to paint on. I always meant to keep my eye out for more of this fabulous material to work on as it was easy to gesso and  work with, had the most wonderful scent and I loved the texture of the wood that was coming through... and in this one the fact of two odd sizes of cedar being glued together in a way that added something pleasing to the composition.

Friday I had a wonderful search for art material through online art suppliers in the UK! I posted here on that... and found these inks which i would love to puddle around with.

Abraxas Inks

Made in Switzerland. Enviromentally friendly inks, made to the highest standard from natural ingredients. Handcrafted using traditional methods, each bottle is filled individually, corked and labelled with a hand coloured label. Information on the different ingredients used available on request.

This got me really thinking about all the possible mediums I could work with ....and surfaces... Go see that post to read where these inks are found!

Well ...its been a very busy week tying up loose ends after last week's huge event. The trip is coming closer and much still to organise.

More on this soon!

I get by with a little help...

... from my friends and family that is!

Really need to make a comment here at my studio blog about the sensational layers of support I've received of late to make the past weekend's big event at my home studio such a memorable and successful occasion. I just wrote up about the weekend over at my main blog ... but there is so much more that could be said.

Ever supportive family members... Russell and Olivia early sunday morning before visitors!

When I gave a talk on Sunday afternoon I was pleased to focus on this element of the artist's life. All the solo hours have to give way to moments of community and very often there is pressure ... various preparations ... that require calling on others for a hand, ideas, aid with promotion ... ultimately this means one cannot be a solo traveller and dismiss all important community connections.

I've been completely overwhelmed with fine support of late... and I wish to make some more fitting gesture of thanks than this mere mention here. So... to be updated soon!