The Countdown

Today being the 24th of October means I have exactly 8 calendar months till my exhibition opens in Melbourne. I am working on a whole new body of work for this exhibition and as you can already see the work will be with a 50s, 60s and 70s retro theme. I want 20 good paintings for this exhibition so I did some quick calculations. Allowing time for the festive season and organising the transportation and allowing travelling and hanging time etc. etc., I need to do 3 paintings a month. With all my other womanly duties (sexist I know :P) and commitments it means head down and bum up for this little duck hehehe. Its just a little mini freak out, nothing to worry about. Of course any retro ideas or memories you might have would be welcomed. In fact any inspiration at all.

Road Trip to Melbourne

We had a wonderful time in Melbourne. I went with my art buddy Mignon and her husband David. We left Adelaide at 2pm and arrived in Ararat, where we were staying overnight, at about 10pm. We left the next morning before 9am and arrived in Brunswick Street, Melbourne at 12 noon. I primarily went to check out Brunswick Street Gallery where I will be having a solo exhibition next year and also to check out some galleries on Mornington Peninsula. Mornington Peninsula is just out of Melbourne.

the landscape was ablaze with yellow canola fields in full bloom

Federation Square where there is an Australian Art Gallery

Flinders Street Railway Station

Swanston Street

Yarra River

Melbourne has a network of trams

Brunswick Street

Brunswick Street Gallery

Manyung Gallery on Mornington Peninsula where I hope to exhibit one day

Jenny Pihan Gallery on Mornington Peninsula

Anyone who knows me knows that my favourite artist is Jeffrey Smart. He is an Australian artist who now lives in Tuscany. Although born in 1921 before my time, he grew up in my area. I am reading his memoirs again and when he talks about places where he grew up I know exactly where that is as I grew up there too. Anyway I love his work and one of the highlights of going to Melbourne was seeing my first ever Jeffrey Smart original!!! I got rather emotional and couldn't look concentrate on looking at any other artwork after that. I just stood in front of the painting and took in every detail.

The Melbourne trip was a real blast. I met some wonderful people and did some major networking!!! I feel like I'm getting somewhere!

Melbourne

I'm off to Melbourne tomorrow to check out some galleries. Will have some pics to show you when I get back. That is if I don't forget my camera.

A Step Forward

I recently entered a competition through a gallery in Melbourne. Only 50 entries would become finalists to be judged for the prizes. First prize $5,000 and second prize an all expenses paid solo exhibition in the gallery and various other prizes. I received an email from the gallery. Unfortunately blah blah blah, another rejection I thought. I read further and to my surprise it said unfortunately I was not one of the 50 finalist but I was in the top 75 and that they liked my work very much. And here's the best bit, they invited me to have a solo exhibition either this year or next. I have been trying to get into a gallery in either Sydney or Melbourne for awhile now so I am very excited with this development. Next year would be better for me as there is a lot to organise to get an exhibition worth of work over to Melbourne. Plus I have been developing a new series and I want to have time to get some of these ideas onto canvas. I want to use altered paper to create a retro wallpaper look for the background but its still early in the development stage. To quote Laura "I'd better bust a move". I bust a much faster move when I have something to work towards that has a deadline.

Commercial Galleries

We just heard the good news that Bob's son, Peter is getting married to his fiancée Alison in May. As they live in Brisbane the wedding will be there. So we are researching cheap flights and accommodation. That got me thinking. As I was going to Brisbane anyway it would be a good opportunity to check out some commercial galleries to see which I could approach for representation. Its not like I get to Brisbane very often. Anyway while I've been hours on the computer checking out gallery websites to see what kind of artwork they show I thought I might as well keep going and check out galleries in Melbourne as well. I'm not planning a trip to Melbourne but I did some networking with a fellow member of RedBubble who happens to live in Melbourne. She put me onto some great galleries. So now I have two lists of galleries to approach and fingers crossed someone will take me on. Along with entering some of the major art prizes in Australia, another step forward is to get my work interstate. One foot in front of the other, one step at a time .....

I just started reading The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron with my online tribe. Its not the first time but each time I read it it seems like the first. I find something new in it every time. Its this book along with the support of some wonderful women (my tribe, you know who you are) that has helped me develop my art practice. I mean I've had some wonderful teachers along the way to develop my practical art skills but this is something different. This is about confidence and building skills to dissolve the barriers that are preventing your creativity from finding expression. It helps you to start and or stay on the path of creativity. That sounds all a bit airy fairy or spaced out arty farty but it really does work.

This and That

Delivered two collages for the Blackwood Rotary Art Prize and Exhibition yesterday. Julia has entered as well but in the photography section. I used to exhibit in this event quite a few years ago but that was before I started doing 2D work. I saw the entry form lying on the counter of my local art shop so I thought why not enter again. Its good to get your name out there.

Picking Julia up from the airport tonight. She's been in Melbourne spending some time with a good friend of hers. A lot of shopping was done I gather and some much needed girly time.

After gym I'm spending time with my good friend Vanita. Being a teacher and living in Naracoorte I only get to see her in school holidays. Haven't seen her since February and I'm looking forward to connecting with her today. We always say we are going to do something different and end up having lunch and shopping every time hehehe. Lucky I love to shop.

P.s. New eating plan is working a treat. Never hungry and full of energy.