Playing Around

I do not consider this one of my best paintings but it really wasn't about that. I have been playing around with new techniques I had seen while visiting some artist's studios during the SALA Festival. I had such fun just losing myself in the fun of play and not concentrating on the actual image. I love the technique and I also like the layers achieved.

The Fairy Ring

mixed media on canvas

60.9x50.8cm (24"x20")

This Year's Goals

My goal for this year was to enter some major art competitions, experiment with new techniques and to try my hand at some portraiture. So not a great deal of finished artwork has happened but I have leant a lot both at the easel and away from it. I also have entered quite a few major art competitions but as yet I haven't got into any of' them. I am getting used to the rejection hehehe. There are always so many entries and only 30 or so places. Its really like winning the lottery.

The SALA Festival is well and truly over. Its been great seeing so much art. Some inspiring and some not so hehehe. The thing that takes most of my time is the whole promotion thing *add groan here*. I know art is meant to be made for art's sake but in order to move forward I need to continue to get my art further and further afield. Searching for the right galleries, the ones that suit your style of work, is many hours of research. Trying to get the galleries to respond to your enquiries is hard enough let alone accept your work. A simple "thank you for your enquiries but we are not accepting any new work" does not take that long to email people!!! The energy it takes to stay positive and retain confidence is really hard going. Most of the time I am ok but sometimes I slip and feel sorry for myself hehehe.

The other day I thought I'd better pull my finger out and actually finish a whole painting. I still have a passion for still life painting so more mundane everyday objects will become my models I'm sure.

Mushrooms

mixed media on canvas

50.8x60.9cm (20"x24")

SALA

The SALA (South Australian Living Artist) Festival is on again. The SALA program boasts there are 3000 South Australian visual artists exhibiting their work in throughout 500 plus metropolitan and regional galleries, wineries, cafes, hotels and other unique, colourful and collaborative spaces. Woo!!!!!!!!!!! Its been such fun. I have been going out with my art buddy Mignon to view as much as we can possibly fit in. It feels like I am eating, sleeping and breathing art and I love it. The sad thing is the 24 day festival is nearly over and we have to wait a whole year before its on again. This is SALA's 13th year and there is literally art everywhere!!!!!!!!! I have spoken to so many wonderful artists who are willing to share their techniques that I have learnt sooooo much. After being out viewing some absolutely mind blowing art today I need an early night so I am fresh and bushy tailed ready for tomorrow's outing of ..... you guessed it ..... more art!

Promise of Spring

The other day we had one glorious day. The sun came out and I revelled in its warmth. Its been a long cold winter. The day had the promise of spring in the air. I headed out to the garden and started pulling up weeds. Sour sobs everywhere. They were easy to pull up as the ground was still soft from all the rain. I even planted a new ground cover my sister had given me. I didn't get all the garden done on that day but I have been out in between the showers since. The peach tree has some little buds on it. Won't be long before it flowers. Hopefully I get a good crop of peaches this year. I have a hankering for some home made peach jam. Not much going on in the studio lately. After the long winter hibernation I need to catch up on some chores. Won't be long though. I have some ideas brewing.