On My Mind

I am a "you must eat your vegetables before you have your dessert" sort of person so I haven't felt guilt free enough to spend much time painting the past month. If it wasn't for going to Otane I wouldn't have done anything creative at all. However I managed to finish my piece for the New Zealand Art Guild 2008 Collaborative Work "On Your Mind". I was sent a wooden rectangle with the background colour of cadmium red and buff already painted in. This was to be left alone as it forms part of the whole work which won't be seen until the NZAG Exhibition opens in July after which the whole work will be auctioned on Trademe.

Of course the theme "On Your Mind" made me consider leaving the wood blank but I sat with a scrap of paper and drew without consciously thinking for about ten minutes. What emerged was interesting. I went back to the topiary tree which was something I drew a great deal of several years ago. I guess that represents new growth or a new start in life. The two toned heart represents two people very close to me who are extremely ill at the moment. The golden sun above this weeps healing tears onto the heart representing all the healing and positive thoughts being sent to them at the moment. I find I definitely enjoy painting on a wooden surface for a change plus getting something completed a month before the deadline was a really nice feeling as well.

Helen's husband Jack completed making the second easel for me which is now in the dining room waiting to be used. It's just wonderful and will mean I can paint large paintings in comfort instead of being hunched on the floor for hours. My other easel is at Otane for use there with a sticker "Jen's Easel" marking my territory. ;o)

Hippy Cat No 3

Despite being so close to moving last week I worked at finishing Hippy Cat No 3 to send down to The Learning Connexion end of term student exhibition. It turned out differently than I envisaged in a deep yellow, purple and antique gold finish. Measuring 4"x4" I painted in acrylics on box canvas. I managed to get this into the mail Friday the 14th along with Celtic Mandala and Old Friends.

After the big shift I was really happy to go along to Otane for art on Wednesday. I have no idea where my canvases are at the moment so worked on a cat brooch I found in my paint box. The big excitement was that Helen's husband Jack had completed an easel for me to use. He had adapted Marie's design so that it wasn't as tall. It will be kept at Otane with a sign "Jen's Easel" on it while Jack makes another for my use at home. At last I will finally be able to work on large canvases.

Only got an hour's painting done before we all went to Abbotslee for a final lunch before it closes at the end of March. We sat outside in the garden under umbrellas which was very pleasant. I took along my camera and got a couple of shots of the house as well as a lovely one of Gine sitting in the dappled sunlight working on some embroidery. Would make a great picture I thought .....

Nekkid Male

I was so pleased to be able to get to Friday's life drawing class after missing the last one. This was the first time our model was a male so to celebrate I broke out the new papers that we'd bought from the pile Helen arranged on behalf of the group. This was also my first time working at a full size easel since my table one was proving tough on my shoulders. Marie (hi Marie) had brought along one she had designed herself which dropped low enough for me to work from. This made such a huge difference to my drawing as I was able to use the whole of my arm making for larger work that Helen has suggested her husband make a copy to be kept at Otane for me. She also gave me a lightweight drawing board to work from which has made a massive difference compared to the heavy one I use at home.

We drew for nearly the whole two hours taking only ten minutes for morning tea. The model was extremely experienced and got into some challenging positions (and I don't mean that to sound the way it does!). The last two poses he kept for 25 minutes each so I was able to complete two pastel drawings of which this is my favourite.

When I arrived home I found a business card tucked into the back door. A minister representing the local Anglican Church had called while I was away. I wonder what he would have thought if he'd known what I was actually away doing that morning?

Leaf

Last week Helen took a digital photo of a leaf drawing (A3 size)that I had completed as part of my Learning Connexion course. Yesterday at art she gave me a print which I am happy to have as the picture was too large to fit on my scanner. Makes me want to return to doing more drawing as I used to in my teens.

Some good news was that I received a cheque for two patchwork cat brooches I had sent to Quiltworks in Waipukurau. Donna suggested I make more for the shop so I will get onto these after I've moved. Also a drawing called "Rat Watching" that I did for my other blog sold on Trademe last night for the grand total of......one dollar! I would have only thrown it away otherwise so at least it's something plus the purchaser wants me to sign it.

Pat

For the first time ever I wasn't tired after portraiture on Friday. Glenys and I usually chat furiously all the way to Otane and then yawn all the way home but for some reason this didn't happen this week. Our subject was Pat who had a lovely strong face to draw and was so incredibly patient, sitting stock still for each pose.


I had received another folder of work back from the TLC on Wednesday so was able to put some of my tutor's advice into practice. Mainly trying to draw more freely, noticing where the light fell etc. Carrie is much harder on me than Irene but I have learned a great deal already. Often I will look at a painting and think that something is not working and I can't tell what it is whereas Carrie can pinpoint the weakness and tell me how to improve. Perhaps I need to use a greater variety of brush sizes, the colour is wrong etc.

This morning I have been making business cards for Martina also from the painting group. She is a very talented artist who paints floral/natural subjects in an unusual way. She will concentrate on a small area, perhaps the centre of a curled up fern frond, a piece of paua or kina shell or else the heart of a succulent. Martina is preparing for a mini exhibition at Electra Gallery in a week's time and I hope this will be the beginning of great success for her as she has worked so incredibly hard for it.

As for me I am currently working on Hippy Cat No3 in garish gold and purple for the Learning Connexion end of term student exhibition at the end of March. I am also sending "Old Friends" and "Celtic Mandala" to Wellington as well.

Sometimes The Magic Works

I've read a few books on writing and some of them have been so boring and obtuse that they almost put you off reading let alone writing. However I picked up Terry Brook's "Sometimes The Magic Works: Lessons From A Writing Life" from the library and have nearly finished it after just three days. Brooks is basically a fantasy writer and he writes of the difficulties of getting published, what it's like to write something you think is wonderful but doesn't sell, as well as the vagaries he encountered when writing the book for the movie "Hook". There is some specific advice in there as well: the importance of having an outline or blueprint for your novel so that the story doesn't run out of steam half way through, having a strong beginning and ending, building your characters, as well as the usual rules of writing what you know even within the context of sci fi or fantasy writing.

I'm not a huge fan of fantasy novels or fiction in particular although I enjoy reading a good historical yarn. However Brook's book was an interesting insight into writing a novel with many personal anecdotes spiced with a dry sense of humour. For anyone aspiring to write it's a good introduction to the technicalities without taking itself too seriously.

Last Of The Sausage Dogs

I had to miss portrait class on Friday as I couldn't get a ride in which heartily annoyed me as it was a life drawing class. Spent the morning instead making necessary phone calls and the afternoon packing books. This afternoon I finally finished the last dachshund pendant and have sent it away with the other parts of the order. One of the best moments of finishing a commission (apart from getting paid) is finally sending someone's photographs back as I'm always worried that something will happen to them while they're in my care. Never have but there is always a first time. I can now feel smug for a few hours before I get back to packing again.

Dog Day Afternoon

I finished off one of the two dachshund pendants at art today and got the other basecoated. Would have had that finished as well if I hadn't chatted to Helen so much. She sees art in such unexpected places from a roll of kitchen towels reflected in a mirror to an untidy line of chairs along a wall. Made me think differently about still life- it's not all bowls of fruit and vases of roses.

After lunch the lady from Workforce Development who is working with Creative Hawkes Bay to run the Professional Development Workshops came to interview Martina, Gine and myself. When it came to my turn she explained that successful working artists usually have a bread and butter line which keeps a steady income coming in as well as a more upmarket range of work such as larger gallery pieces. In my case my bread and butter are my cards and jewellery and I must look on my paintings as the higher priced items. This caused me a bit of an epiphany. It is actually preferable to diversify with creative projects rather than just stick to one medium or type of art.

On the way home Gaye, Gine and I dropped in at Esther's place for a cuppa. She brought out the most stunning alpaca scarves she has been working on with accompanying beaded clasps. It's always great fun when Esther brings out her treasure chest of beads. Gine had with her a lovely small painting of a mauve waterlily she was working on as a present and she tried placing beads on the stamens and it really made the picture pop. Then we sat brainstorming over how else you could incorporate beads into our work. I came away all inspired but of course I don't have the time to do any of these new projects at the moment due to my unsettled home situation.

I stopped in at Gaye's place and she showed me an old wooden sofa and armchair which she said I could have since I don't have a lounge suite of my own, only my present landlady's set which she left here. The sofa just needs a sheet laying over it and it'll be fine. So kind of her to think of me, especially as I've only known her a few months. But then she is a kindred spirit as Anne of Green Gables would say.

One Of "Those" Mornings

Went to portraiture with Betty today. Owen (another member of the group) had agreed to be our model and got into some interesting positions that challenged us. For some reason though I wasn't cooking with gas at all yesterday and when three visitors (including a visiting Canadian artist) came in mid morning I was thrown off and couldn't draw anything worth keeping.

Betty needed to pick up a few things in Waipukurau and so while she was shopping I worked on a poem. I have one that accompanies my cat brooches and needed another for the new dog line. In the 40 minutes I waited I completed five verses so hopefully that'll do. Afterwards we drove up through Ashley Clinton to Tikokino. The countryside round there is so dry and barren with so many fields with no animals in them. Very serious situation for the farmers which impacts on the local towns as they haven't spare money to spend in the shops.


Yesterday someone took a photo of "Celtic Mandala" my entry for the NZAG Art Awards . The colours are slightly distorted- the main cross is more a powdery blue rather than the electric shade pictured. Who'll want it is anybody's guess! Gine likes is so hopefully someone else will too.

Positively Stoned Again

Arrived at Otane early yesterday morning with the intention of trying to complete part of a jewellery order I've had waiting for a few months. I worked on and off most of the morning and finally completed this little Bichon Frise dog brooch at lunchtime. This has given me the idea to add dog brooches to my line so now I have to write a funny poem to go along with them (as I have with my cat ones).

I have arranged for a lady from Creative Hawkes Bay to come down here and interview Martina, Gine and myself with the view of us attending professional development workshops in Napier in May. The interviews are to gauge what exactly we want to learn apart from the basics such as creating a portfolio, marketing, keeping books and approaching galleries. Jacqueline asked me to talk to the group about the workshops as well but some of the people had already attended similar courses so it looks just like the three of us at this stage. However Martina and I are very excited about them and kept talking about them throughout the day (which is why I didn't get more painting done).

Jacqueline had also asked to see my papier mache mask as she is wanting to make a couple for The Little Theatre. After explaining the technique to her she suggested that we have a mask making day later in March. I'm happy with this idea as I have long wanted to make a more ornate version of mine plus it means I get a partner to help me make a mould that doesn't have a nose which falls off! It sounds like we're going to have a very busy year with workshops nearly every month and many exhibitions coming up. I hope I can keep up with everything- most days I have to take two naps before I do anything.

On the way home Gine wanted to buy a couple of plants for her mother in law and as we were on Rose Street she suggested we visit Jan Gosling at Positively Stone Aged as she had offered to sell me some Oamaru stone for my TLC sculpture project. I paid $40 for quite a large piece which we carried home on the back seat. I would like to return there again sometime to look more closely at Jan's sculptures as we didn't have much time to talk to her.

Flapping In Granny's Good Hat

I haven't really been doing much artwork at all this week due to feeling stressed about having to move again after only ten months here. However I decided to go to art on Wednesday so that I could take my mind off things at home. As we were meant to have a long lunch I made a weetbix slice with coconut and as we were also meant to go dressed Art Deco I wore Granny's old burgundy velvet dress from that era as well as her best black velvet going-to-funerals-hat which I embellished with a burgundy scarf.

While we were driving to Otane I told Gine about a dream I'd had the night before where we walked into the room and realised we were the only ones dressed up. And sure enough.......If only I could dream about winning Lotto! There were excuses of it being too cold to wear dresses but I think we shamed the others into making an effort. One person made a garland from wildflowers outside, another a paper hat decorated with eyes and a nose, someone else had brought along a black afro wig and joke glasses that completely changed her appearance and frightened the hell out of me when I unexpectedly met her coming out of the kitchen the first time. Another constructed a hat from an old corset decorated with a red geranium. We nearly died laughing all day for whenever she spoke the catches for the stockings jiggled in agreement with what she was saying.

A table was decorated with flowers and plates of food in the garden room and we settled in for an hour and a half lunch. There was a fair being held at Otane at the same time and every so often people wandered in to look at the art. One man stood in the doorway, horrified at the motley crew being very merry thank you and said "Which group are you?" No wonder we have a reputation for being uncouth.

It was 1.30pm when Gine and I left to brave the crowds so we could look at some of the stalls. Many people were packing up to leave by the time we got there so didn't stay long. Dressed like 1920s flappers (or in my case flapless) is a definite way to get people to look at you. Granny would be appalled that I took her good hat on such a frivilous expedition.

Friday I went to portraiture with Gaye for the first time. Just had time to unpack before we were into one minute gesture drawings. Megan sat for us again and because it was hot she was in short shorts and a tank top which made for great foreshortening exercises. This picture took me ten minutes. I didn't look at the form as a human body but concentrated instead on just drawing shapes and negative spaces. By the time the two hours were up I was wrung out from concentrating. I wonder if I would be brave enough to tackle members of my family yet. Maybe not- family feuds have started over less.

Bad News Good News

Early yesterday morning I received an email to say that my entry for the NZ Art Guild Awards had been rejected. Not a good start to the day as I thought of all the time and money I wasted on courier fees, materials etc. However when I got to Portraiture I found out that "Old Friends" had been accepted for the Art Hawkes Bay Exhibition at Vidal's Winery. Nine Otane painters had work included which is wonderful news.
Jessie, the seven year old daughter of one of the class, was our model this week. I have never known a child so young sit so still and so patiently. She even managed some lying down poses for us and I had the lovely task of coping with lots of foreshortened limbs.

My tutor from The Learning Connexion phoned me Thursday for a chat before term begins. She wanted to know what resources she could send me to help with my studies and what I wanted to concentrate on this year. Made me keen to get back to work again.

Emerging From The Twilight Zone

I feel like I've been existing in some sort of twilight zone for the past ten days as I have worked on finishing two large paintings within only a week (I was meant to complete three but that was never going to happen). The only break I took (aside from animal care and going to town to load up the old chuck wagon) was portraiture last Friday. Our model was a young mother who held some amazing one minute long poses so we could do quick gestural drawings. I alternated between pencil and ink with the latter medium tending to be more spontaneous.

After twenty hours of work I finally completed my entry for the New Zealand Art Guild Awards on Sunday. I have taken a photo of the painting but don't want to post this until the competition has been judged on Friday. The challenge was to incorporate the four terms Cool Blue, Equality, Circular and Stamping into my work which really did make me think outside the box.

My entry for the Art Hawkes Bay Exhibition was due today. I worked until midnight last night and from 8am this morning until one of the Otane Painters arrived to courier it to Hastings for me. There I was trying to screw in D rings and wrap the silly thing while she watched me, thankfully very patiently. I had named the work "Old Friends" and chose to paint my dog Mishka with a cat sitting beside him. Hopefully I will learn if I have been selected for these two exhibitions by the end of the week.

First Life Drawing Class of 2008

It was our first life drawing class of the year at Otane yesterday so I was pretty psyched. Glenys arrived early and I was able to give her the two little cat paintings which happily she was pleased with. Twelve people attended the session and our nude model was excellent and needed no direction, in fact getting in some positions that were extremely challenging to draw. We worked extremely quickly for the first forty minutes, in fact I completed about seven drawings.


I had taken along different mediums so used pencil, charcoal, ink and pastel to try out. I still prefer pencil for the control I have although ink calls for a bit more thinking. My favourite poses were when the model sat on the platform and I drew her from the back. These looked classical and I would really like to do a more permanent work from one of these. Having an experienced model who knew what to do was a real treat. By the time the two hours were over we were all exhausted. In fact I hardly had any energy to make lunch after I got home.

Big intentions to do much painting once I got home. I had begun one the night before and did manage to get a half hour of work in before I went to bed where I had some paper with me and drew plans for the other two paintings. I will try and get one of these drawn on the canvas today as I think I would complete them faster if I were working on the three at once.

Poppy and Sparkles

Yesterday was the first day back for the painters at Otane Arts and Crafts but Gine and I had a rough time even getting there with a normally half hour trip turning into an hour long one. On the way into Waipawa we were stopped on a hill by workmen who were felling trees ending up waiting in the hot sun for ten minutes. After doing a chore in town we then ran into road works on the way out of Waipawa and only reached Otane at 10.30am. I didn't like to let on that I was feeling really unwell. Don't know if it was the Fibromyalgia kicking in but my temperature went sky high, I got the shakes and thought I was going to faint. Glenys made me a cup of tea and after half an hour I felt much better and was able to begin painting.

I had taken Gleny's two commissions with me and actually managed to finish Poppy (to the left) before Gine and I left Otane at just after 3pm. I am very happy with this small (4x4") painting and would like to do something similar in the future.

Sparkles took a little longer to finish due to the complicated pattern of the tabby's coat but I like the juxtaposition of patterns and think the brown striped fur looks good against the blue. I just hope Gleny's daughter likes the paintings as they were both her cats.

I now have just over a week to complete three large paintings so will begin tonight.

A Small Start Back Into Painting

A few months ago we had to clean out my mother's house and in the process came across this old watercolour painting I did when I was 16. These were flowers in our garden and although the composition is not great I am still happy with the way the lavender looks. I used to concentrate on botanical paintings back then as this was the main subject about me. Flowers are so beautiful anyway that they make wonderful pictures plus they're patient sitters!

I haven't had much time to paint this week as I have been enjoying spending time with my cousin Gwendolyn who is over here from Melbourne for three weeks. She is staying with her mother in Waipukurau and has been walking up to town, even going into Electra Gallery to see my work in there. She particularly liked my little tiger head painting so for the past couple of days I have been working on a pendant with the same picture on it for her. I desperately needed to get it in the mail this afternoon in order that it reach my aunt's on Saturday as Gwen is leaving Hawkes Bay on Sunday. I had it all wrapped up and rushed out to the mailbox at 2.10pm only to find that the rural contractor had come over an hour early. I sat on the road wondering what on earth to do when I heard a car speeding back towards me and sure enough there was the mailman who was bemused to confront a mad person waving mail at him. Sweetly he stopped the car and laughed "A bit early for you was I?" and took the parcel. What a piece of luck.

I have also realised with horror that I only have 21 days to complete six paintings- three of them large. I feel tired thinking of it. Another resolution to become really disciplined and set proper working hours......

Drawing On The Right Side Of Your Brain

Often technical art books can be extremely tedious to read but like eating brown rice your force yourself as you know it's good for you. When I saw "Drawing On The Right Side Of Your Brain" by Betty Edwards in the library I knew I should read it as much of the Foundation level of my art course was based on her theories. I began reading it thinking that it was going to take me a while but instead I have found it an absolutely fascinating book and probably the must have of drawing books.

The basic premise is that the left side of our brain which controls the right side of our body is logical and analytical whereas the right side is intuitive and spacial. What is fascinating is the way these two halves fight for supremacy all the time. When we draw our left side tries to tell us what to do which is where we fall into many of our difficulties when trying to sketch. The Left Hemisphere will tell us what should be there rather than showing us what is actually there. When drawing with the Right Hemisphere you don't think "I'm drawing a nose" you think "the line starts here, then curves here, there's a bump here, it finishes around here". Not surprisingly the second effort will look more like the nose you were trying to sketch than the first drawing.

The book has many exercises which I completed in my first year including drawing from an upside down photo. Sounds crazy but it works and Betty Edwards shows you the difference between her students' first efforts at trying to complete a portrait and what they achieve just a few months later. What she reiterates it that anyone can learn to draw the same as anyone can learn to read or write. In fact this book is now used by people in other walks of life, not necessarily budding artists. It teaches you how to think outside the box and gives a fascinating insight into how our brain works.

Farewell To A Friend and A Discovery

I didn't get everything finished before Christmas Day as I felt so ill with this silly maybe-Fibromyalgia. Did complete an alpaca pendant on time and got alot of work done on one of the little cat paintings that were commissioned by Glenys. However she gave me a stern talking to about not pushing myself so I took her advice and slowed down.

Christmas Day was quiet but I spent a very enjoyable evening with my friends down the road. However the next morning Gine rang to tell me that Kate, my neighbour who had given me a lift to portraiture class a few times, had passed away Christmas Eve from the cancer she had been battling for three years. I felt incredibly saddened as she was such a lovely vital person with so much talent.

Her funeral was held on Thursday afternoon at Tikokino Village. Gaye, Rachel, the boys and I went together and although we went half an hour early the place was so packed we ended up sitting outside. At first we were right in the hot sun but some kind ladies lifted a small marquee over us so at least we were in the shade. There must have been over 100 people there, some even standing out on the footpath including one poor old man who collapsed in the heat.

I was ok until I saw the hearse pull up with her coffin inside. I couldn't believe such a sparkly lady was gone so had a few tears. Her son Gordon began playing the bagpipes before the family and close friends walked into the church. There was a speaker system set up so we could hear most of the service. The celebrant talked about all the activities Kate was involved with including the Otane painters and her book clubs. She also volunteered for several charities and clubs and was constantly helping and supporting her friends. Seven people spoke of the effect she had on their lives which was incredibly touching. All in all the service lasted an hour and was a beautiful celebration of Kate's life.

Afterwards we met up with some of the Otane painters who had turned up including Jacqueline, Glenys, and Betty and even our first nude model who had gone to see Kate in the hospice. She gave me a hug and I had to admit to her that I didn't recognise her with her clothes on! I finally got to meet Kate's lovely daughter and then her husband Spencer who gave me a big hug. Gaye and I signed the tribute book before we took Rachel and the boys home. Originally we were going to go to Kate's house afterwards but by 4pm I was beginning to feel the effects of the day (I had already been to Hastings early morning) and was just wanting to rest. For the remainder of the day I thought how important it was to live every day with no regrets and as if each could be your last. Kate had only just turned 54 which was too young to leave but she had packed in as much as she could into her life and left a legacy of friendship. That's how I would like to live my life as well.


To end on a positive note I am in love........with Rita Angus. After years of staring at one of her prints in my dentist's office I have finally realised what an amazingly talented artist she is. The reason for my conversion was watching "Lovely Rita" a documentary by Gaylene Preston which repeated this morning. Featuring interviews with family and friends as well as admirers it gave a great overview of her life and displayed a wonderful range of her work. I had no idea what a skillful watercolourist she was or how powerful her self portraits were (up there with Frida Kahlo in my humble opinion). And she's a Hawkes Bay girl too, born in Hastings in 1908 before she and her family moved to Palmerston North in 1921. I also learned that she had an affair with Douglas Lilburn (our most famous NZ composer) and miscarried a child he'd fathered.

To show how we still underrate her all of the 600 unsold works she still had at her Thorndon cottage when she died of cancer aged 62 are now in Te Papa Museum where they are rarely on display. Considering how everyone fawns over Colin Machon's work I think this is a travesty.

All Shook Up

Last night just as I was about to go to bed there was a very large earthquake. Five minutes later my friend Tanya rang to see if I was OK and told me it measured 6.8 on the Richter scale and was situated off Mahia to the north of here. Nothing was broken but I do remember gazing in horror at the TV swaying on top of the wooden bookcase it sits on. Mishka ran round the place barking which didn't help matters.


I am trying to finish three orders before Christmas (they're all wanted for presents so am feeling the pressure). Finished one yesterday and got it in the mail to Auckland. A young lady wanted five stones painted, a small dragon and tiger and three views of her cat. Not usual pictures I would consider for paintings but they worked out OK. Now I have given myself three days to complete two cat paintings I have been working on for a few weeks. I am so much a last minute Annie.

Moaning Minnie and The Naked Lady

My moans and groan about feeling unwell have become so boring that I'll keep them short for this post. However I returned to my doctor this week and after reviewing my test results and comparing them with my symptoms she is tentatively diagnosing me with Fibromyalgia. At this stage she is reluctant to label me but I think it's likely I have the disorder after reading all the available literature and talking to people I know with it. I have two medications to try to see if they help with the muscle inflammation and spend time lying with a wheat pack on my back falling asleep! Moan over.

Our last portrait class on Friday was so enjoyable as our original life model returned. I took along some different mediums to try including an ink pen and pastels (my least favourite). However the resulting drawings turned out much better than I hoped. It helped that the model is a fan of art deco and came along with 1920s hat, shoes, jewellery and fox furs! Most of us got totally caught up with drawing the hat, even the men in the class. I am particularly happy with this drawing as it is much freer than my usual work and the pastels caught the skin colour really well.


This one also turned out better than I hop ed although I made our model very tanned. However the hat looks great. Glenys and I yawned all the way home and by the time I got inside I discovered I was shaking tired. However after a light lunch I felt well enough to wash down the back wall of the house which was incredibly dirty and footrot the goat. That night I reverted to the human pretzel but it was worth it.

Christmas Parties

The Silly Season is upon us again. Because I have been unwell I am hopelessly behind but have been making an effort to go to my last art classes since there won't be any more until mid January. Last Friday we had a local guy called Tony sit for us- I really enjoyed trying to capture his face with the close clipped beard. After portraiture the eight of us made our way to the Paper Mulberry Cafe for our Christmas meal. I had Greek Filo again with a slice of carrot cake and hot chocolate. I think we were there nearly two hours chatting. Helen managed to get a free wooden high stool from the owner for our life models and while I was waiting for my desert I bought two bags of carded wool for just $7 each. There is a great range of items for sale at the cafe and I'm sure they sell well as it's such a popular venue.

This past Wednesday the Otane Painters' Christmas party was held at a member's new home in Waipukurau. We were all meant to meet at the local park to sketch but when we got there at 10am no one was about so Gaye, Gine and I ended up having a hot drink in town waiting for midday. Turned out everyone turned up at the park at different times and found no one there, we must have missed each other by just a few seconds.

The day was so incredibly hot that we were glad to get to Jean's at lunchtime. Around twenty five people turned up, many members I had never met before. We all took a plate so there was plenty of wonderful food and Helen donated the Christmas Cake she won as a raffle prize and the Otane Open Weekend. The wife of one of the painters made the most beautiful slice that everyone loved out of filo pastry, honey and nuts. A Greek recipe apparently. We each took a present and received one in return. When I dipped into the basket I received a sachet for putting in my wardrobe and a recipe for Christmas slice. Everyone had a wonderful time- there was certainly alot of chatting going on. By the time we left at 2.30 I was exhausted although sorry to go. Jean was a lovely hostess and she made us so welcome.

Gaye dropped me home at 3.30pm and I found the mailman had left my TLC folder at the back door. There was a letter from my new mentor/tutor Carrie who comes from England and specialises in illustration. My feedback is now to be via DVD and the half hour session she gave was very helpful as she was able to visually show me my strengths as well as things I can improve on. Carrie will be working throughout January so I will be able to use that time to catch up on work since I had to start so late in term (thanks WINZ).

Jerry

I have been busy artfully this past week but haven't felt like blogging much. Collected a few unsold items of jewellery from The Craftsman in Napier to put into Creative Hastings plus finished off another pendant to send in. Apparently so far I have sold three cards, a cat stone, a cat brooch and a tiger pendant. Not bad but not wonderful either.

Wednesday at art group I'm afraid I spent too much time gas bagging with Helen and Glenys. Did manage to do a wee bit of painting before going home. Only a couple more weeks before the art classes shut down for nearly a month which is going to cause some withdrawal symptoms.

An ex policeman called Jerry was our model at portraiture on Friday. He was a wonderful subject as he kept so beautifully still. Apparently from Wales but he'd been here in NZ so long he had lost his accent.


Helen did a most wonderful couple of studies of him in oil paints. I have no idea how she works so quickly- makes my tentative pencil studies look positively anaemic. There were only six artists at the class which was a shame but people are becoming more and more busy as we get nearer Christmas so can't afford the time out to sketch.

Blah Days

There are blah days when whatever you draw or paint just doesn't seem to work and you can't fathom why. Yesterday it was like that at Portraiture despite the fact that we had a very good model called Anne who works for the antique dealer down the road. I spent nearly two hours becoming increasingly frustrated with my sketches of her as I seemed to regress to my poor standard of two months ago. However for the last drawing I decided just to concentrate on her face and this turned out a fair likeness which even Anne liked.

Today has been the same. I have been working on two still life paintings for my course working light to dark for the first and visa versa for the second. Each was not meant to take more than an hour but they did and I still think they're horrible. I will give myself 30 minutes more to finish them this evening and then put them away. If I can complete twelve exercises in nude drawing tomorrow and Monday I will be able to send away my first Stage One folder on Tuesday and finally be assigned my new mentor.

Perhaps it's the heat or perhaps it's the blahs that hit us all from time to time but I even lost patience with a film I'd taped last night. Managed to watch 30 minutes of "Hotel Paradiso" starring Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson but it was so execrable I turned it off. Certainly not up to the standard of The Young Ones with two many violent gags even for my stomach. Sometimes it's better just to read a good book.

Sketching Out Of Doors

A small group of the Wednesday painting group had decided to visit an old homestead at Ashcott near Waipukurau for a sketching session this week. Glenys and I arrived earlier than the others and were allowed to sit in the big circular driveway in front of the old house. The homestead looked as if it had been built around the time of the First World War as it had the hybrid look between a villa and a bungelow. Now owned by an extremely rich Wellington family who only come up for the occasional weekend it has a full time housekeeper and a gardener who works there four days a week. The day we were there several other men were working there, trimming trees, planting a huge tree fern and mowing the lawns.

When Helen arrived with another painter we unloaded our gear and wandered between the high hedges and flower gardens until we stood on a large back lawn edged with trees overlooking an old dam up to the mountains. For the first hour we were incapable of working as we wandered in awe around the property looking at all the sculpture dotted amongst the trees. I was particularly fascinated by a stone gateway fashioned into the shape of a circle which led to a ponga edged pathway leading down to a rustic bridge fashioned from huge pieces of driftwood. It looked like something out of Hobbiton and it turned out that one of the men working there that day had built it and he was the tree man on the Lord of the Rings movies. Very talented guy but so down to earth- MiddleEarth!


In the end we broke for morning tea to work out where we'd sketch. While Jacqueline fed us pieces of dark chocolate Glenys and I decided to draw the old stables which lay to the side of the garden amongst mature trees. We were both so nervous about attempting a building but ended up very pleased with out efforts. After being so reluctant to come Glenys is now keen to go on any other sketching trips that are arranged over the summer. I took quite a few photos for references before we broke for a picnic lunch sitting under a tree by the dam looking up to the ranges in the west. By this time we were so mellow we didn't have the energy to do any more work so five of us left at 1pm.

This property is not open to the public so we were very fortunate to be allowed in to share the beauty of this lovely place. What's more Helen is certain we'll be allowed back. Now the search is on for our next garden to sketch in.

First Life Drawing Class

Been a frantic rush this week to complete work for the Creative Hastings Christmas Sale. Spent Wednesday morning at art group working on a tiger pendant and have since completed three other pendants and a brooch which is not alot of work when you think about it. The paua to the left had such beautiful colours in the shell it really called out for a watery subject. I enjoy painting goldfish although I have yet to put one on canvas.


Strangely enough I have never painted a German Shepherd despite, or rather because, my brother has always kept them. He is so fussy with how they're portrayed that I've been too intimidated to try but I have finally decided to have a go.



When painting pendants I have to think what will sell as I've had a few subjects that take a while to go. Mini lops are very popular at the moment so hopefully this little guy will find a home pretty quickly.


Had another go at a unusual cat brooch in Christmas colours as we're only a few weeks away from the silly season. I thought I was doing so well with this one as I had base coated the main colours by Wednesday evening. However I then found I had done it upside down so that the brooch clip was at the bottom and not the top so had to paint the whole thing with several layers of white and begin again.

We had our first life drawing session at Otane on Friday which was very exciting. I am unsure as to whether to post any drawings here in case someone takes offense. Our model was in her sixties, totally uninhibited about being in the buff proudly showing her tattoos. I gave her the best of my drawings (with her sitting on a bar stool) but managed to keep some better ones where I sketched from down at her feet while she lay on her side. Good exercise in trying to cope with foreshortening. Even my feet looked like feet instead of bananas! Very exciting and can't wait until the next class in a month's time.

The Week That Was

After not managing to get to art group last week I was determined to make the portraiture class last Friday. This time the model was the antique dealer that Gina and I met after the open weekend. He brought along a book to read while he posed which he did mainly on a chair.
At one point he went into a meditation pose for twenty minutes and this turned out to be my best sketch of the day as it really captured what he is all about. Mid morning my back began to play up and I was unable to finish the last pose and had to leave ten minutes early. I think stretching up to draw on my easel didn't help matters.

Yesterday I called into Creative Hastings as Bev had a book on donkeys she wanted to show me. Really comical story originally published in Austria. We had a chat about my work and she has offered to take some items into a shop in Napier she thinks might be interested in selling them. I tried not to think that the Christmas Sale there begins in a week and I hardly have anything finished for it.........

New Brooches

I have begun working on a new line of brooches which I hope will sell at Quilt Works. At the moment they're taking a while to finish as I work out patterns and colours but I'm hoping I'll speed up once I get my ideas sorted.


This little man looks pretty startled but I think he'd look good on a black coat lapel. Demelza my black and white cat loves these brooches and steals them so she can hide them down behind the cushions on the armchairs. She also once sprayed a large painting I did so she really is my severest art critic!

Otane Open Weekend

Portraiture last week was slightly disappointing as our model didn't turn up. Everyone was looking forward to drawing her as she had many and various piercings! However we were lucky that Helen's granddaughter Megan was off school due to a dental appointment and she kindly modelled for two hours. Unfortunately I was not happy with any of my drawings as they were mostly of her back.

Saturday morning was the first day of the open weekend at Otane Arts and Crafts. Gina collected me early and we arrived just after opening. The exhibition looked fantastic with a great range of styles and subjects displayed. In the end I had six paintings on show as Donna had brought the patchwork series ones back from Quilt Works.

The first morning we gave a display of our drawing abilities. There were only four of us from the usual Friday portraiture group and I was encouraged to be the first model. For forty five minutes I sat in a very comfy armchair on top of the posing platform. Then Owen had a try and finally Gina took the stage until lunchtime. This is my favourite drawing of her where she was leaning back against the cushions.
Quite a crowd came through the rooms that day as there was a bull riding event nearby. Listening to some of the comments was interesting to say the least.

Gina and I left shortly after 2.30pm but on the way stopped in at a beautiful old homestead which doubles as an antiques shop. The owner was very friendly and took us through the rooms he has set up with all the furniture and collectables. How I wish I were rich- especially as he was having a 50% off sale. Had an interesting conversation concerning ACC as he is also having a battle to get compensation (for a back injury). He is also a Tibetan Buddhist which was of greater interest to me, he had even attended a class taken by the Dalai Lama in Auckland this year. Strangely enough Gina and I had been talking about Tibet on our journey to Otane that morning.

By the time we reached my road it was beginning to cloud over. We dropped in on Gaye and had a cup of tea out on the lawn in front of her jasmine vine. Rachel and Korbus dropped in on their way back from town and kindly gave me a lift when they went home.

Next morning I could barely move so spent an hour with a hot water bottle stuck to my back feeding up on painkillers. Glenys arrived just before midday and we got to Otane at lunchtime. Not such a big crowd on that day and as I was not in the mood to do much painting I spent time talking to people. Even my cousin Elaine came for an hour to view the exhibition.

I had been told that not many paintings sell at the open weekend but three people did sell (all landscapes). I won the People's Choice Award! I have no idea who voted for my work but I was very chuffed. Apparently I will get a prize but as I was too unwell to make it to art group today I have no idea what it was.

I got home at 5pm and fed the animals and barely had time to get changed before Rachel and family picked me up and we went to Gaye's for an alfresco meal. Gina's husband Gareth tricked us by saying that he could hear the oncoming thunder storm in the electrical wires out the back. We all rushed out to listen to the very loud humming but of course it wasn't the wires at all but the grass grubs flying around!

We went inside for dessert and a cuppa. Very relaxed conversation which went on till late. Getting into the car we could hear the morepork calling in the trees just beside Gaye's house. I think I arrived home at 10.30pm and rolled into bed nearer midnight. My social gallavanting has taken its toll of me I'm afraid as I have barely been able to do anything this week.

Some good news- I received a cheque for a brooch from Electra Gallery today. Also Waddle Inn sold one last weekend and although they're sending back a couple of pendants and some cards they've ordered more which they will pay for outright instead of taking them on consignment. Also I have cat brooches in Katz Gallery in Masterton and these will be for sale from Friday. I also have three tentative orders for paintings but won't count my chickens till they're hatched!

Jim

I have been so incredibly busy this past week I haven't even had time to post last Friday's drawings from portraiture. Our model was called Jim/James/Sam and he rents a cottage just down the road from me. Apparently he has modelled for the group twice before which was obvious as he didn't need telling of how to pose. He was incredibly patient and even held one position for 30 minutes. He was also intrigued that I included the bandaid on his arm in my picture.


I have found that I actually enjoy drawing men much more than I thought I would. Especially older ones whose faces have that lived in look. Perhaps it's because it's more of a challenge for me. Up until this class my males looked very girly.



In the last pose of the day Jim lay on some cushions and as he needed somewhere to focus his gaze he decided to look at me. Very hard to concentrate for whenever I looked up he was staring at me, and then he decided to flirt. Obviously I'm still big with the over fifties!

Wednesday Art at Otane was spent hanging works for the open weekend on the 3rd and 4th. I took my two little ones down there but had forgotten to take some sellotape to fasten the title cards to the paintings. Fortunately there were people there willing to help out if you didn't have something. A massive range of work on display with some wonderful flower and animal pictures plus Tom had entered a painting of a Catalina plane like the one my Dad flew in during the war. There are still not enough works on display so Donna is retrieving my four patchwork paintings from Quilt Works and I'll hang those tomorrow.

I also received my first lot of work for Stage 1 of the Honours Diploma at The Learning Connexion this week. Haven't even had time to look at it yet. However the work sounds more challenging and at this level they concentrate on helping you develop your style. Just have to get funding arranged now but have finally got an appointment for a TIA application next week.

Hello Goodbye

Finally received the DVD with my end of Foundation year review on Tuesday. I sat with my jersey half pulled over my face in embarrassment for ten minutes while my tutor Irene and another teacher from The Learning Connexion discussed my work. There were twenty photos of my art including pages from my workbook showing my jewellery and small animal paintings. Irene also showed the cat brooch she bought from me. Both tutors have recommended I go into illustration in the future.

However I still have not received my enrollment papers for Stage One and we're now at the end of week three in term four. I rang Irene yesterday and she found she had not ticked the right boxes to have the powers that be send me the paperwork and the cut off date for enrollments is tomorrow! I should receive everything today and just need to fax my enrollment to TLC but now I can't get an appointment to apply for a Training Incentive Allowance for three weeks! Grrrr.

Anyway yesterday at art group I did alot more work on my painting for next week's open weekend at Otane and finished it off this afternoon. I have called it "Hello Goodbye". Measuring 4"x8" it is in acrylics on box canvas.

Helen was very excited as she had taken my advice and rung the local Naturist club to ask if they would be prepared to life model for the Friday Portraiture Group. The lady she spoke to said she's be happy to sit for us next month and it even turned out they knew each other. Looks like we'll have a constant supply of life models from amongst Hawkes Bay's nudist population. I'm sure there'll be many people who are shocked but I'm really excited at working from the flesh so to speak instead of from photos and my course DVD. I have also been asked to paint some sample cat brooches to be shown to the owner of another art gallery further down the North Island. Will give more details if this works out.

Drawing A Non Wriggler And The Whole Fish Thing

Better session at portraiture yesterday. Our model was Jenny, Gleny's sister in law and although she couldn't achieve any contorted positions like the younger subjects she did keep perfectly still with no wriggling. This was my best effort although once again my pencil work is so cautious that it doesn't translate well on the scanner. Much better in person- that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

There were about seven people at the class which makes it very relaxed. I don't mind joking around in such a small group and they're very good at giving it back as well. Still lots of talk about hiring a nude model and Jacqueline got us fired up by saying her husband had volunteered but we were quickly deflated when she added he'd stipulated that we would have to draw in the nuddy as well. That ain't gonna happen!

After a panic that I have no new work for the open day in only two weeks I began a small painting of stylized fish on Thursday. Took me an hour to work out the design and transfer it to the canvas but I'm charging along now and should finish it by the end of the weekend. Maybe I might get another one done but our entry forms have to be handed in this week and I don't want to push myself too hard as I have orders to complete. Also received my entry form for the Creative Hastings Christmas Sale Thursday so have registered for that. Only a month away and I have nothing finished for it except a few cards. The Madeline Kahn song from Blazing Saddles will be my theme song till the end of December- "I'm Tired".

The Mecca of Art Supplies

Very tired from the big storm we've had here the past couple of days. Art didn't last long yesterday with everyone wanting to get home for a rest after a sleepless night of wind listening. Despite this I managed to complete blocking the background colours in on one of Gleny's commissions which I was happy about. Also picked up two entry forms for exhibitions coming up. Our open day in a couple of weeks for which I have nothing completed and also the Art Hawkes Bay exhibition but work doesn't have to be in for this until late January.

Two big excitements this week were getting a call from Electra on Monday to say that they're happy to sell my handpainted jewellery and rocks! Not only that but when Jacqueline arrived yesterday she told me a pendant had sold already. The other big excitement was a trip to Humanities Books on Tuesday. This Hastings shop stocks fine art books and a whole range of supplies even down to sealing wax! Entering it is almost like having a religious experience as you look up at shelves and shelves of paint, solvents, canvases......you name it they stock it. However I was strong and didn't go for a wander as I knew I would be tempted. Instead I only replaced the acrylics I was nearly out of although I did splash out on a new shade of yellow called Naples. This is a softer buttery shade than I usually use and when mixed with ultramarine and a little white makes a beautiful shade of turquoise which is what I was after. I am definitely going back there but not until I have some cash in hand or a rich sugar daddy- which ever comes first.

Two young girls from just outside Otane were our models yesterday. Very pretty but the smaller one was a bit too little as she found it hard to keep still. Her elder sister at 12 did a great job though. I have begun completing the longer poses on my own white paper in the hopes that they will show up a bit better for scanning but apparently not. I think I'm too reticent when I draw so the lines come across as faint and weak. Sometimes people mistake this for being sensitivity.

Helen has suggested that over the warmer months we hire a life model once a month but it was difficult to think who to ask. I suggested they approach the local naturist club as I'm sure there are a few people there who wouldn't mind letting it all "hang out" so to speak. Everyone has agreed that we don't want beautiful as lovely people are not so interesting to draw. People who have lived life and have the marks to prove it are much more rewarding.

Sent some brooches, pendants and rocks with Jacqueline who is taking them to Electra this morning. If the management agrees that they're what they want then it could be a great sales outlet.

Family Connections

I was so excited about going to art yesterday but after about half an hour there I became very sore and found I'd left my painkillers at home. Not a good thing. However I finished a cat brooch although this cat looks a wee bit evil. However hopefully it will appeal to someone with a bit of a sense of humour. I am trying to get a selection of brooches, pendants and rocks together by Friday for Jacqueline to take to Electra to see if they'll stock them. Also began work on two cat paintings for Glenys who commissioned them for her daughter's Christmas present.

Tom likes teasing me about my penchant for working small. I do find it easier for me on a physical level but I also now realise that people equate small with easy and therefore aren't prepared to pay decent prices for my work. I am going to have to bite the bullet and begin to work on larger paintings. One lady I met for the first time at art yesterday (she hasn't been attending most of the year due to ill health) has a daughter who runs Katz Gallery in Carterton. She achieves $1,700 per painting. Strangely I had bookmarked this artist's website a couple of weeks ago when I came across it in a random search for pastel paintings. Small world that I would meet her Mum (another fine pastel artist) at Otane Art Group.

Helen had helped hang the mini exhibition at Electra on Monday and said that Kevin was happy with the standard of work. She told me that he would have happily walked out with my little patchwork rabbit and I was purring about this all day until my cousin Elaine brought me down to earth later on in the afternoon. She and my 94 year old aunt had gone to look at the exhibition and Auntie Kathleen had remarked that my picture would have looked much better just with the rabbit and without all the coloured stuff in the background! Just goes to show you can't please everyone all the time. Family especially.

The Secret

Last week I managed to buy a copy of "The Secret" for just a few dollars so have been reading ten pages a night before I go to sleep. An artist friend had sent me a copy of the movie earlier this year and it had helped me so much while I was looking for a place to live that I wanted to learn more.

Growing up in a negative household where feelings were suppressed, fear was encouraged and lack of self esteem was the order of the day you were never surprised when life dished up nothing but drama and heartache. In fact we were praised for looking on the black side of things as this was being "realistic" and "practical". Money was the root of all evil, rich people got their wealth by screwing over others, it's no wonder my mother's three children have all ended up struggling financially. In the wider family the adopted children were told they had bad blood and brought nothing good into the family- most of us have ended up with major health problems and failed relationships.

Last November I read "Bad Childhood Good Life" by Dr Laura Schlessinger on the recommendation of an online artist friend and it really changed my thinking of who I am. I have never considered myself a victim but certainly I had been put down so often by others that I felt there must be something terribly bad about me rather than something bad about them for degrading me. I ended up thinking how dare they make me feel so bad about myself. I do deserve a good life. Then along came "The Secret" which completed the transformation.

I looked back at my childhood conditioning and saw how my thoughts had impacted on my life and how I had brought the worst down on myself. How being brought up to believe I was inferior because I was adopted and because I was ill I had allowed others to think they could treat me like someones unwanted rubbish. By believing I didn't deserve much in life the universe delivered trauma.

Changing my mindset to a positive one has been so difficult as the little negative voice in my mind still drones on in the background. However I am getting there. If it's a rainy day I don't say "I hope it doesn't flood" I say "Oh great I can get some more painting done this morning". I don't look at a stranger and feel fear that they're going to dislike me, I smile and say hello. If my joints are painful then it's an opportunity for me to rest and take time to read and talk to friends. If you have been reading this blog the past few months then you will have seen how so many wonderful things have begun to happen to me and how I've met so many fantastic people in just the past few weeks so it is working.

And yes there are the nay sayers who say "The Secret" is a rehash of other books. However authors do build on what has come before. There are really no original ideas. I know it has helped me and it has confirmed what I'd always known deep down but was unable to put into words. I have a long way to go but I'm getting there a step every day by changing my mindset and expecting the best from life.

Twosome

Helen's two grandchildren posed for us at portraiture this week. Both were very experienced models despite their age being completely unselfconscious and instinctively knowing what positions would prove challenging to draw. For the first few two minute sketches the children alternated. As per usual I began in charcoal but have decided that from next week I will draw completely in pencil as I have much more control in this medium (ie. the hands don't tend to end up looking like bananas).

For the longer poses the brother and sister posed together which was extremely challenging in both terms of time and also in capturing proportions. As there were only six of us in attendance I moved closer and was able to gain a much more interesting perspective.

This to me is the most pleasing composition as it was very difficult to draw with both children lying down plus it resembled the sitters. I was disappointed with one of my earlier drawings as it made the young man look much older but he was so taken with it that I gave it to him thus continuing my tradition of giving away my clangers!

This morning I had a call from Electra to say that both my paintings have been selected for the mini exhibition. Kevin helped me with the price as well ($65 each) and said that the little rabbit one in particular seemed to be getting some attention with people dropping their paintings in. Those lops are so appealing with their floppy ears and big eyes it's easy to get a reaction with one as your subject. Same as with donkeys.

Patchwork Rabbit No 2

Yesterday winter returned in full force so it was a cold morning at Otane Arts and Crafts. I fully intended to finish my patchwork painting but didn't get much done at all. Instead I put my head down today and finished the work half an hour ago. "Patchwork Rabbit No 2" is in acrylic and on gallery wrapped canvas so the pattern continues round the side. It is four inches square. I am entering this and my tiger head painting (this blog's avatar) for selection for the mini exhibition at Electra Gallery next week.

On the way home from art group Gaye, her two grandsons Alex and Nicholas and I stopped off to visit her friend Esther who has a beautiful property outside Waipawa. After a cup of tea in a sunroom looking down over a beautiful English style garden we went down to visit Esther's three alpacas, Thucis, Winter and Pollonius. I used up nearly an entire roll of film on these honeys as they were so beautiful with their huge eyes and long eyelashes. Thucis is a white Suri Alpaca so looks like he has dreadlocks all over his body while Winter was a fluffy white beast and Pollonius a chocolate Alpaca. I fell in love with the Suri and when he came over and bent his head down I bent mine only to have a soft kiss planted on my lips. Tasted most definitely grassy! Yes I am in love with this fibre breed. Ah to have some spare cash......

Speaking of Electra I received my hardcopy of the newsletter plus my cheque for "Two's Company" (the donkey painting I sold at The Festival last month) this afternoon in the mail. Will be able to pay a bill or two which is always good news. I also have two books to review, one in PDF file which is a pain as I hate reading at the computer, and the other a vibrant art book about Dean Buchanan. I have a couple of piles of books to get through at the moment which is my idea of heaven.