Electric bag

For some extraordinary reason I could not download on the post before so here is the bag!

Electric

I have been working on the "challenge" I asked the local electrician if he could put his rubbish in a box and he kindly left it for me to pick up. I spent the next few days pulling bits apart it was truly cathartic as awful things were happening in my life. Well the "studio" began to encroach on the House as a whole. I was though amazed at the shapes and intricacies which were inside the pieces so decided to photograph them. Then realised how many "faces" there were: It was then that complications set in...my friend Trish would have found the solution out of the problem very rapidly, her skill is to set herself a difficult task and then see it through to the end. I tend to set the bar considerably lower...well I made a book and covers out of the switch plates I now think that the whole book idea may become a "book in a box"....who knows I have one more day to make my decisions...oh what a dilemma!I did however make a bag out of beads and electic wire .

Firing,Garden Exhibition

It has been.....since my last.........! I have been busy getting ready for an exhibition at D.T.A.S. which is an amateur art society, I have mentioned before mentioning the newsletter...well now I am to be resposible for the web page when it is set up...what a learning curve that may turn out to be. I have been told that the blogging experience helps?! These torsoes are still unfinished and the middle one is just with black lines, but will take photos when they are finished. I am finding it such fun , the shape determining the way I am painting. I am working in acrylic and have a large painting in my head to be part of the installation. I will talk about my new dolls next time....may be tomorrow.

Bewildered

If anyone is reading this and can help me. I had to publish the last three posts separately and when I tried to 'cut and paste' them together, once more it declined to allow me to publish. It is all a bit confusing.

And again

This is the painting I did in the class, or ideed most of the work was done by 'himself'I do find it difficult to achieve in the workshop enviroment. Most of my creative time is spent endeavouring to correct and make things 'right' so the pressure of having to perform worries me. Funny as I was a 'performer' all my life, but it came from the basis of discipline and confident knowledge.

These 2 painings came from others in the class, neither of whom were used to the technique. The first is an accomplished painter of abstracts and the second, Cathie from the'Very Stuff' is a brilliant watercolourist.

Both very successful in terms of the direction of the class

second try

A Man of 'Feeling' The emphasis in the demonstration which began the class, was on 'feeling'. He talked about 'painting from memory'. Look at your image for as long as you need, several days maybe, then let it go. If you are using a camera , look then' hold the concept', record what you feel. Before using the camera always consider the element of 'feeling' over 'copying' the detail. "sometimes" he said "you paint and you know there is a problem, but you cannot resolve it, even possibly taking years.....but maybe that is the attraction" Some points

• begin with black and white then add colour
• use a lot of medium to begin with dark
• lightbrush strokes over the black
• water more transparent in the foreground, less reflection
• scrape paint when it is too wet or dark
• dust on the horizon makes it more green
• many different colours in the sky, warmer in the afternoon
• soften the edges of the clouds
• mix on the canvas rather than the palette- easier to see if you need to warm or cool it
• minimal palette
• contrast soft and sharp edges
• keep flexibility between realism and abstraction

It all seemed so easy when he did it, making all our paintings come alive as he worked owith us on our own work. A Man of 'Feeling' The emphasis in the demonstration which began the class, was on 'feeling'. He talked about 'painting from memory'. Look at your image for as long as you need, several days maybe, then let it go. If you are using a camera , look then' hold the concept', record what you feel. Before using the camera always consider the element of 'feeling' over 'copying' the detail. "sometimes" he said "you paint and you know there is a problem, but you cannot resolve it, even possibly taking years.....but maybe that is the attraction" Some points

trouble

This is by way of a test, I have not been able to publish my last post...keeps telling me I am 'in error' sounds like a certain religious group! This is a painting from a workshop I am endeavouring to tell you about.

Went to a workshop on Saturday with Charlie Tong. He is a fine artist who commands good

prices for his impressionist/realist works. I am not sure how he wold describe himself. I wrote a piece for the newletter and if you find it helpful here it is: