Multipurpose!

I have soved a difficult space problem, and in so doing I possibly have one of the most extravagent and expensive work tables.

I am afraid and ashamed to admit it has more use in the last few months in this capacity than that for which it was made.

I did play some Bach the other day and was amazed that I still could! (Glen Gould need have no fear! )

My dear friend Jo (Mystory) came yesterday and we saw the film 'Seraphine' a beautiful film for people interested in painting, however it left us a little sombre for the rest of the day.

However she had made me a lovely book

.

Jo works so very meticulously, and cerebrally, but the result still has a spontanaeity.

All around the inner city are some wonderful paintings on the wall. Fitzroy has some beauties, here are some closeups of the textures.

These artists work on such a large scale, and yet often with very fine detail .

Revamp

I love the idea of revamping jumpers or indeed reworking an old into something different This is one I finished last night.

And my favourite done at the beginning of winter.

that and making quilts is what I am doing with the TV on at night, but I am really enjoying the painting and drawing.

This is another just in early stages.

I am loving Stuart Davis's work and this is based on our trip to the port, and the preliminary drawings.

This is the underpainting so do not know where it will end up (certainly minus the masking tape!)

Books

How I love making books, but I do ask myself "Why"? so I decided to make one for each of the members of my art group. I wanted them to be useful sketch books so used pastel paper for one and canvas sheets for some and so on.

Some of the covers are made from the batikpapers seen drying on the pomegranate tree. (It sounds so very romantic and 17th century, I think...."under the pomegranate tree" there is something quite exotic about them. The imagined picture is far superior to the reality...the poor little pet will be supplanted by the more pragmatic lemon or lime tree! Batik reminds me of my ceramic days with Raku, you never really know what it will look like when the wax is removed and the layers revealed.I am really excited about Viera da Silvas work at the moment, I realise it is her wonderful exploration of perspective. I am working on the alleyways of Fitzroy, this is the one opposite my house (where the graffiti artists were of the side picture), still in early stages I am happy I am making some stuff, after a fairly difficult time being overwhelmed by 'other pressures' hopefully I can show more next time I post.

another vision of the kitchen!

Remember this

Well this is it now

What fun!

a day at the port

Just back from a wonderful day with the art class down on the port, we painted on the wharf and then went on a small boat close to the huge ships and cranes to take photos to use the kid's phraes...it was "awesome"!

This is the class 'hard at it'!A montage from the day and then some very little drawings....not going to set the world on fire but it was such fun.

I felt so terribly fortunate to be out with such great people and having the best time 'playing'

I never stop reminding myself of how very lucky I am to have a passion....I know I have said this before.

Time now for a whisky!

Batik workshop

I have just mopped up half a tin of white house paint from the studio floor! I bet I'm an not alone in that "fun filler-in of time"!

Had a wonderful weekend at "Beautiful Silks" ....and I walked there and back...how good is that.

Anyway I did a class with Els van Baarle a beautifully gentle and talented artist and teacher from the Netherlands.I especially was excited about using the Tjanting , and hope to really discover what it can do for me as soon as I can.

You know how sometimes you go to a class and you just wish, maybe, someone might have stayed home....well it was not like that, everyone was so super and the work really exciting.

These are my works and sadly the colours are not as vibrant as real life.

The bottom 2 are pieces of drawing paper, Els will use paper towel and even toilet paper but the secret is the layer of wax on the top, which gives it real stability.

Our group met at Carolyns last week and made more books this is mineThis a quick blog as time is very short but I do not want to lose contact with the friends in blogland, and please forgive me for not commenting, I love reading them but it is in snatches and I really appreciate the comments you give to me.

Secret Belgians' and their Books

My friend Jo of Mystory, did a wonderful blog on our class, she sent me a picture of myself at the class with Rae Cummings our teacher.

So the process was not exactly as romantic as her post showed, on the other hand this is how I finished

I used watercolours in the stash, left by my husband. It makes a lovely, interesting cover I think and before I put the backboard and just had the stitching down the spine it was lovely with the edges of the first of the signatures being the watercolours and showing through the stitches.

I bought a painting at an exhibition of Ron Reynolds my teach, it is of North Fitroy and as I have just moved into the area, I felt I must have it.

He gave me this other little one as a present.

Had the Very Stuff group here today....my first entertaining in the new house, it was so great. My intention was to put a photo of them at this point, however I think I would be in trouble, they looked preety serious at the time.

We wandered around the corner in the middle of lunch to find some particular paper at Officeworks...the joys of propinquity.