Tag Archives: comic

Mandala – sand art space

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Sand Mandala

Once in the Hot Springs Complex, bathers will find various spaces to chill out, relax, and unwind. The Sand Art Mandala is a space where you can create temporary art for fun. For a day at least, your art becomes part of the relaxing ambience. It is part of the larger area at the Springs where bathers can launch their sporting activities on the water of the Warrego River. Swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding and the like.

Circular Structure with Triangular Placement

I was surprised when this painting emerged on the canvas as it was not what I intended to paint!. But the circular structure attracted me. This is the underpainting. The one an artist does when planning out a painting, I will glaze this here in my unit and then go back out next weekend to put the reflections and leaves into the mix.

In the meantime, I will be playing with composition and planning the frame. The painting will become squarer, with the triangle artists love to use, skewing to the left while viewers look at it. The frame will be the red colour of the dirt here, and the red will echo onto the rocks.

As I glaze and prepare the frame for this painting, I will journal about it here. It won’t work as a painting until all of the various contrasted textures are added.

Arid, Creative, Humming, Crazy – Tourist Spot

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Lightening Ridge a space of contradictions

The image of the Artesian Bore Bath above is particularly inviting. It portrays an image of health and clear, fresh well-being. But as a contrast, look at the image below which was taken very close by. I took advantage of a Poster Factory special lately, where, as an artist, I could receive a free introductory print if I paid postage. Surprisingly, I chose to have the print below made up for framing. It will be called – Three Rocks in a Surreal Landscape. This photo symbolises the morning I got lost trying to find my way back from the Cactus Farm. There was nothing to judge by, and the Map on my phone could not get its bearings amongst the rabbit warren, piled mine discards. There is nothing to judge direction by – just more and more mine discards. You can sense why I say ARID.

There is a fun, crazy side to Lightening Ridge, contrasted to a crazy opal mining aura. Both things kinda collide and then gel at the Lightening Ridge Bowls Club, where it seems to me that people do a whole lot of gambling; being a poor struggling artist, I do a whole lot of watching others gamble while I sit at my laptop and toil away. Pokies and Keno and partying. But I like it.

Some places like the one featured below are compact, cosy and classy.

I will spend the morning here at the John Murray Gallery, then the Hot Springs again. It was beautiful this morning at about 6am, and there were heaps of people there. It seems that many come for a swim before work, and the feeling is very relaxed. However, the pool is shut from 10am – 12pm so I have to plan around the closure.

I think I will go back to the Bowls Club and do a bit more writing before making my way home.

Amaranthus as an Artistic Subject

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Golden Beach Reverie

This painting is called Golden Beach Reverie. I was surprised when Tonya asked me if I wanted some Amaranthus here in Cully. I love the colours and the unusual shapes of the Amaranthus, so I was eager to try my hand at growing it. This will provide a constant source of artistic ideas.

As always, I was keen to know all about the plant and its properties. As I returned to the car from picking up some seeds, I noticed hibiscus growing at RESQ. So, I asked about getting a plant. Here it is! You can see the Amaranthus seedlings behind it. You can see a Gumbi Gumbi to the side.

I have spaced the Amaranthus along the fence for support, with Snow peas in between. When these Clitoria ternatea are grown enough, I will place them between these plants to create a tangle like the painting above.

The properties of the Amaranthus are many and varied. Complex enough that they will be the subjects of an upcoming post. It is a hardy plant and can be regarded as a weed. For some, it is a staple diet. You can read about it on Wikipedia.

In the meantime, check out how I have been creating products from the above painting.

Easel – Makes the Difference

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Having the Right Tools is a Plus

I love my new easel. I didn’t even realise this kind of equipment existed! You attach the canvas by screwing it into the frame from behind. Then, once it is very stable, you can tilt up and down. Rotate and lay it out flat. It makes painting so much easier.

They say a bad workman blames his tools. But do they have a saying that having the right tool for the right job makes the day go much more quickly?

I am going through all my tools and methods and asking myself – “What is my bottleneck”” Avi from Fantastic Framers discussed this idea of streamlining the process in his last conference call.

Tannock Weir is Really Running

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Action shots – theme man planned integrated with nature

It is interesting. You don’t see people swimming or kayaking. I am keen to get back behind the paddle but a bit cautious. So, I satisfied myself exploring the theme of integrating man-planned structure with nature. Interesting pattern above.

I’ve called this photo Frothy! I love the patterns, the froth and the swirls. I am still heading towards abstraction. Interestingly, the AI process on this website suggests I explain more of my artistic process. At the moment, I am just on the hunt for exciting photos.

I am taken by the contrast between the rippling water and the sculpture of the deadwood/driftwood along the edge of the Warrego.

Speaking of man-planning, grass and wire netting hold the rocks and sand in place. We haven’t had much rain here, so this is all coming down from other places. There is no need for sandbagging and the like. I will do my research and see if this is Mitchell Grass.

I am resisting realism for the time being. Trying to lighten up and search for essence rather than superficial appearance.

Why Comics Are Important to My Work

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This is Tonya and Trent

At RESQ, a community cooperative in Cunnamulla, we work with children to grow, tend and harvest food. In this comic painting on a large masonite board, Tonya and Trent are showing the kids how to carefully pick the produce that they will use to have a great big cook-up.

Throughout the exhibition running at the Paroo Shire Information Centre Gallery, you will see a whole swag of images pertaining to this learning. The sunflowers with butterflies and bees that you see on various products that we have collected or made, all speak to the idea of cooperative learning. We are learning how to fertilise and care for plants, while we are learning about how nature capitalises on the habits of birds, bees and butterflies to fertilise and maintain mother nature and her harvests.

Acrylic on canvas, stretched and ready to hang.
Signed on the front.

This canvas can hang on the wall or sit on the table. It is intended to capture the warmth and energy that comes with the growth of sunflowers, and the activity of the insects that are attracted to them. I surround myself with beauty so as to nurture my own energy. I draw on the warmth of the sun.

MDF Board was painted with acrylic paint and varnish.

This coffee cup holder has been painted as an example for a project at school. It has eight spaces for coffee cups but would also make an attractive addition to a kitchen cupboard shelf. We are teaching students how to sell products so this painted artefact is available on the Bluethumb Gallery Website Practical in nature, this artwork keeps with the sunflower theme but this time there are bees. It is intended to capture the warmth and energy that comes with the growth of sunflowers and the activity of the insects that are attracted to them.