watercolour drawings on paper

 

Over the course of the last week I found myself reaching for my paint and paper more than usual. I think the excessive writing and academia has taken up so much of my time that I haven't had the opportunity to relax and be creative. The illustrations that came out of this challenging period are very amusing. I find myself reaching back to my childhood for inspiration, and looking up old Hungarian folk tales and traditional designs. I can't wait to have some time in the summer once uni is all over!

feature friday - XXIII - Melinda Manfull

I find my imagination held completely captive by the watercolor works of LA-based Melinda Manfull. The combination of architectural elements with organic lines and abstraction is wonderful. Currently she has a solo show titled Pattern Constraints, at Taylor DeCordoba, which is on until October 23rd. Describing her own work she says: “Seeking inspiration from metaphysics and mysticism, Melissa Manfull creates hyper-detailed structures that straddle the worlds of reality and imagination… Due to the obsessive nature of her process, Manfull has often viewed the meditative act of drawing as a way to approach her fear of vast, open ended space (the unknown)…

painterly love and fishy prints

I have found myself wandering a new creative path this last few weeks, wherein I crave more colour in my work. Constantly dissatisfied with the pale hues and wooden textures of last year's works, I am finding joy in mixing and experimenting with new colour palettes and application techniques. When I stumbled upon my favourite painting Maya from my solo show at the start of the year I knew I had to make some changes to her. And so I did, adding a zingy background and inky contour to her shapely torso. I am really happy with the result, so happy in fact that I think I'll make a limited run print of it. As for my new creative direction, lets see what this week's camping trip inspires!

feature friday IX - stella im hultberg + giveaway winners

I decided to feature an artist who's work I have cited as inspiration since highschool. She is of course Stella Im Hultberg. Her earlier works from 2006-2007 are my favourites. I love her use of tea-stained paper and watercolours and minimal composition. So so lovely. I cannot wait to have a painting or print by her to add to my slowly growing collection of beautiful art.

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june sticker giveaway winners are:
Cat, Ann, Fashionturd

feature friday VI - lorene taurerewa

These stunning watercolor paintings are from the very talented hands of contemporary New Zealand artist Lorene Taurerewa. She showed at the Helen Gory Galerie in Australia a couple of months ago and has received numerous awards for her work. She takes inspiration from her Samoan, Chinese and European ancestry and weaves these cultural intricacies into her work, She is now working and exhibiting in New York, as well as maintaining an exhibition presence in New Zealand. I really hope her work comes to Australia again, soon. Visit her website for more images.

red opus students' show

Due to the flurry of this past few weeks it is only now that the Red Opus Students' Show is finished, and I forgot to write about it. Either way it was lots of fun showing alongside some really great up and coming Adelaide artists like Jenny Allnut and Piyarat Mukura. The show was curated by a good friend of mine, the wonderful Anna Ficek, who I am not only glad to have had the pleasure of working with but also the pleasure of sharing a city with, as she is a globetrotter like none other!

All up I am really pleased with the experience and happy with the four pieces I put up. The two large woodpanels were (very ) last-minute, and I have to say they are possibly two of my most favourite pieces that I have created. Someone recently made a comment about Agnes (pictured just above) being a great design for a Tshirt. So that is something to think about. Perhaps I'll enter it on Design By Humans or Threadless? Anyone have an idea for me?

new miri and the birds print and feature on art hound

It is the weekend following yet another busybusy (one 'busy' is simply not enough!) week at uni and in the studio, and at last I get to share the fruits of my labours with you. Firstly, I have added a new print to my store. It is a portrait of Miriam, or Miri and the Birds as I named the piece. It sounds more like a band name than anything, but I think its quite sweet. To achieve the dusty effect I wanted to emphasise the flurry of feathers and movement I used a combination of gouache and white pencil and rub-rub-rubbed until the desired vision took shape. Besides Miri there are a few other new things in store.

Secondly I am very excited to be a featured artist on Art Hound, a fabulous curated space by Brooklyn-based blogger Kate Singleton. Her page is so clever and well designed, I could browse it for eternity!

chloe and blue

Chloe - 2010, watercolour, ink and graphite on wood.


BLUE - 2010, watercolour and ink on wood.

I sold both of the above paintings today, which are on show at Phat Coffee right now, in Adelaide. And funnily enough it is to a private client, who hasn't been to see the show. It is a coincidence that she fell in love with them when I was showing her photos of my other works, and they also happen to be exhibited right now. So this little event certainly put a bounce in my step today, as I put up the last ever studio work for assessment. As I now only have art history units left of my degree which I will complete next year. Yay for me! I will share some photos of my cast glass project "Crystallise me" in my next post.

arty update, finished bits and works in progress

finished bits currently on show @ Electric Light Hotel, Adelaide





some works in progress



AndI have two commissions I should be working on right now, a piece I need to frame for tuesday to go to the Royal Adelaide Show AND i have an interview tomorrow in front of my works to talk about myself as an artist and whatnot! And then I have to take down that show aswell. Busy busy busy but there ain't no other way to beee.