Belle Arti at Chapman and Bailey

I have put the finishing touches to my submission for the Chapman and Bailey Belle Arti exhibition.

This is my entry.

It is titled 'This is her final Resting Place" and it was a picture that I had to paint. 

I used Winsor and Newton alkyd oil paints and really enjoyed them.

It is the first time that I have painted on such a luscious canvas. I think it will be hard to go back to lesser quality canvas.

The exhibition runs from 12 December to Saturday 26 January 2013.

Here is the info about the prize from the Chapman and Bailey web site.

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The Belle Arti Prize 2012 will be returning to our fantastic Melbourne Gallery space in Johnston St, Abbotsford.

The art award is in its fourth year and is an exciting venture between two fine art companies. The Italian company P.E.R Belle Arti is a preparer of some of the world’s finest linens and cottons. Chapman & Bailey Gallery are very excited to be hosting this prize as we acknowledge the depth of talent that exists in the arts community in Australia and we are very pleased to support it in this way.

Over 200 entries from across  Australia were recieved for the 2011 Belle Arti Prize. The result was a floor to ceiling contemporary salon hang, and a veritable world of multiple artistic visions.This year we hope for just as big a snap shot of the richness and diversity of arts practice in Australia. All entrants will be given an identical 35 x 35cm canvas, a limited time frame, and total creative carte blanche.

The award is a $5000 acquisitive prize.  Judges to be announced. Previous winners of the Belle Arti Chapman Bailey Prize are Jackie Stockdale 2009, Lewis Miller 2010, and Marie Hagerty 2011.

Judges to be announced.

Opening and announcement of the 2012 winner to be on Wednesday 12th December, 6-8pm at  Chapman & Bailey Gallery, 350 Johnston Street Abbotsford. 

View photos from the Belle Arti Chapman & Bailey 2011, 2010 and 2009 Art Awards here

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Abstract Drawing with Charcoal

This was the result of a class with Marco Luccio on Sunday Dec 2nd.
We used stencils and masking to create layers. It is always fun working with Marco - and this is an approach I would not have attempted without his class.
These are on Velin Arches paper - and are good examples of what is possible rather than outstanding finished pieces.

Secret Life of Space

Every second year, the 69 Smith St Gallery holds a competition. The theme starts "The Secret Life of....." . In past years it has been The Secret Life of Numbers, or The Secret Life of the City. This Year it was The Secret Life of Space.
Here is my entry - a digital photograph. I was on a ferry in Greece at sunset and the world seemed to extened for ever. I titled the piece 'Eternity" -  a theme that is about timelesssness, and resonates for me right now. It is not the best photo in my oeuvre, but it is the one that is most significant at present.

More Works for Contemporary Art Society Show

These are the last two works I completed for the show. They are very bright and cheery - I needed to work with happy colours and subject matter. They are mixed media - but mostly acrylic glazes.

There are many many layers of glaze in the wings which took a long time to complete.

Works for Contemporary Art Society Show

I have been working on paintings and mixed media works for the Contemporary Art Society annual show at Burnley. 

Details are here:http://www.contemporaryartsociety.org.au/

This is a larger work - 120 cm x 120 cm or around 40 x 40 inches

 These too are smaller works 20x10 inches

I am very pleased with them

images inspired by Darebin Parklands

I have been back in the studio after a close to 9 month break. These works are around oil on canvas, 20 x 30 cm and are inspired by my walks around Darebin Parklands in a time where I needed peace and tranquility.

Darebin Parkland

I draw strength and inspiration from walking around this superb, serene place

final paintings for Year 2 NMIT

These are the final versions of the paintings I am submitting today for my Year 2 Painting folio for NMIT Visual Arts Diploma.
It has been a great year of painting.

acrylic abstract

part 2 of abstract works

After the acrylic preparations, I worked on the canvases with oils

abstract preparations

 Acrylic undercoats

More abstracts

inspired by collage

Collage fragments

Looking for something to paint... and started looking at small parts of my collages.

Gardens and the beach

Stepping into the Treasury Gardens and walking at Mentone beach - such freedom and joy - spans the decades and generations.

Walking in the park

Brings back memories of childhood. I remember being here and enjoying such perfect days as a child, as an adolescent and a young adult. These gardens give me a sense of time suspended.

 And a trip to the beach ... and below... Mentone beach - was there in the 50s and nothing has changed....

Collage workshop with Marco Luccio

Spent a very absorbing afternoon with Marco Luccio where he helped us learn how to construct a collage.

These are the outcomes for me. It was good to just be free- to just move colour and images and textures around.

'I have been using fragments of these images to explore new directions.

I highly recommend Marc's classes if you need a kick start and some inspiration

Walking around Richmond

Walking down Bridge Rd Melbourne, there was this lovely gate in front of a place that was being demolished. Hope the gate survives.