I’m not sure, if I’m finished with concrete & textiles, I was using a few years ago.. I’m thinking of very fragile wafers of concrete, sewn into, like sutures closing a wound, enhancing and protecting scars on delicate skin. Maybe it’s time to play some more…
Concrete & Textiles
January 23rd, 2020Bushfire Donation. 100% sale goes to help wildlife in bushfires.
January 13th, 2020
I am donating 100 percent of the sale of my 2nd painting “Over Land 5 ” to help the wildlife in the recent fires. Normally this painting sells for $600, I am happy to sell it for $400 (Please see details below)
To purchase.
1. Donate $400 to
https://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/…/donate-to-wildlife-vi…
2. Send to me, via private message, or email strazz.au@gmail.com a screen shot, or photo of your donation receipt, plus your address.
I will then package up the painting and send it to you free of charge
Over Land 4.
Aerial perspective over outback Australia.
Winsor & Newton acrylic paint, pigment ink, shellac on deep sided canvas.
30 x 30cm.
Ready to hang.
Signed with a certificate of authenticity
Please purchase this artwork as all proceeds from the sale will go to help rescue and treat the wildlife affected by the recent fires in Australia.
Hot Studio. Paper Collage Making.
December 30th, 2019Too hot to go to the studio today (43 C – 110 F) so I’m working in the house studio. Messing up the the large table, workbench, I just painted for Xmas dinner. It will now become stained and marked until, I paint it for the next event, or next lot of visitors.
Making collage with vintage and rust papers.
The process of tearing and pasting helps me to slow down and be in the moment. Something I need right now after the rush of appointments and Christmas.
I’m using lots of old paper and pages from antique French magazines disintegrated from age and torn from the long trip back in my luggage, from Paris.
So, I have been using them in my mixed media and collage projects.
On one trip to France I bought home a heap of middle eastern cake papers. I think they were $1 a pack. So I got a mix of colours. They are great for adding pattern and texture.
The inside of window envelopes have great patterns for collage. I often use envelopes to make little books and peepholes in the book pages.
Collages finished today.
Collage 1. Delivery
Collage 2. The Carriers
Collage 3. Mardlarking. Thames.
Collage 4. Salvage
Sunday and thoughts in the Studio
November 17th, 2019
Sundays in the studio are usually quite relaxed, but today, I wanted to clean up some painting edges, as I cant afford to frame every artwork.
I also attached d- rings and wires for hanging. Now, when they sell (enthusiastic) I will only have to package and post them off to their new homes.
The biggest problem many artist’s face, is lack of storage space. I’m running out of space in the studio and at home.
Almost time for cleanup and clean out… which can be a bit of a challenge for me these days, given few physical limitations..
But, if I can get more organized in the new year, Id like to try something I haven’t done before.
I’m thinking of opening up my studio to the public on a few weekends. Whenever, I was in Paris, I noticed artist’s randomly open up their apartments, to show and sell their art. Same story everywhere it seems, too many artist’s not enough outlets to promote and market artwork.
Anyway, I hope you are all having a lovely Sunday.
I’d love to hear from other artists who have opened up their studio.
Did you think it was a worthwhile experience?
Giving vintage textiles a new life.
September 23rd, 2019
Recently, a very kind lady donated her mothers doilies to me, for my next textile, art project. Though I have found it hard, rusting and burying this lot, I was re-assured that her mother would be happy to know they were given to someone who would give them a new life.
I’ts been perfect weather lately for rusting and burying.
After a good soak with white vinegar I wrap some with wire.
Mostly, I just lay the the cloth under a slabs of metal sheets, left over from my studio build then stack on top of one another.
I like to get them all dirty by burying them and stacking a heaver tray and rocks on top. I leave them there from 24 hrs. or, many months until I get the look I’m after.
4 weeks underground. Final unveiling just before dunking in a sink of water and bicarb soda, to stop rusting process.
This piece really excites me with the intense rust and black marks.
Such gorgeous delicate lace work crochet in this doily.
Rust n dirt with tiny black marks and colourful hand embroidery.
Rust with the contrast of beautiful hand embroidery peeking through.
A lovely bundle of vintage rust material ready to go for new projects.
Deep Purple on Rose On Cad. New Paintings & Collage.
August 14th, 2019New collages and paintings now available in my gallery
Collages – created from vintage papers on 300gm thick water-colour paper. Some of the water- colour paper has been dyed and baked to give an aged appearance. Size 29 x 19cm.(Unframed) Signed with “Certificate of Authenticity”. ( Please click on images to purchase artworks )
Sea Scaping
By
Jenny Davis
By
Jenny Davis
By
Jenny Davis
By
Jenny Davis
Paintings – Bright & bold abstract painting’s with splashes of deep, bright colours, with layers of marks and lines. On deep sided canvas. 92 x 92 x 2cm. (Unframed) Ready to hang. Signed by Artist with “Certificate of Authenticity” ( Please click on images to purchase artworks )
By
Jenny Davis
By
Jenny Davis
FREE SHIPPING AUSTRALIA WIDE. Shipping 1-2 weeks Australia wide. Includes Tracking & Insurance.
For postage outside of Australia please request a quote. Please contact me info@outlook8studio.com prior to purchase with your address and I will quote you the extra cost for shipping & insurance to your location.
Delivery Times
Australia – usually within 7-14 days
International depending on country usually within 14-30 days of payment clearance.
Returns – Refunds
Outlook8studio is committed to ensuring the 100% satisfaction of our art collectors. We want you to be completely happy with your purchase. If you don’t like your artwork we have a 5 day cooling off period. Within this period you can return the artwork to us for a full refund. Shipping and insurance of the artwork back to us is at your own expense. We must receive the artwork back in the same condition you received it in order to receive a refund, less return shipping.
Please read our policy page before purchasing for more info.
New Colour. New Paintings.
July 13th, 2019
I’ve spent the past week working on a new series of paintings. A parcel arrived in the post with big tubes of colour, I hadn’t used before. What could be more motivating to get me back in the studio, than, new art supplies, especially after weeks of medical and physio appointments getting in the way.
I didn’t want to open them and make dents in the big chunky tubes. When I finally did, it was quite confronting, to play with colour I knew nothing about. I took the plunge, slapped it on, moved it about, without thinking too much. Enjoying the colour, texture and flow of the paint. The process, I knew would take care of itself. I just had to be present, stand back, look and go back into it.
Quickly, I came up with the first layer which I was very happy with. Of course, I went back in with more layer’s wanting further depth and richness.
I now, look back at the photos, taken at the start of the process and maybe, I lost the freshness, freedom and flow of the marks I had at the start. Maybe, I didn’t need to go any further…
I believe sometimes, the essence of the story is at the beginning and “nothing else” is needed to tell it.
Back to the studio to play more, or leave alone.
Artworks Available. Paintings. Sculpture & Textiles.
June 29th, 2019A small selection of artworks available from my studio. To see the artworks below and more, please go to the Art section in the menu on the left.
FREE SHIPPING AUSTRALIA WIDE. Shipping 1-2 weeks Australia Wide.
For postage outside of Australia please request a quote. Please contact me info@outlook8studio.com prior to purchase with your address and I will quote you the extra cost for shipping to your location.
It’s a chilly weekend in Melbourne, hope you are all keeping warm xox
Searching – Jenny Davis 
Concretematter 6 – Jenny Davis 
Static Searching – Jenny Davis 
Creaky Versallies 3 – Jenny Davis 
Crut 2- Jenny Davis 
Concretematter 3- Jenny Davis 
Crut 1 – Jenny Davis 
1958 – Jenny Davis 
Crut 3 – Jenny Davis
YAVA – New Gallery – Members 11 Exhibition
June 16th, 2019
If your heading into the Healesville area over the next couple of weeks. Check out Healesville’s newest art gallery and arts hub.
YAVA Art Gallery & Arts Hub was recently created by Yarra Valley Arts members so artists/community can show their their work, attend workshops, talks and more…
A very contemporary modern space for artists with plenty of wall space for solo exhibitions too.
Why not come up have a browse of the latest exhibition, grab a coffee or wine and sit out on the gallery balcony overlooking the beautiful township of Healesville.
Latest Exhibition.
‘Members Exhibition II’ : Showcasing Yarra Valley Artists
Artists in show:
Jenny Davis
Jerry Osadczuk
Christine Caferella-Pearce
David Miller
Cathie Berry
Bev Hardidge
Ernst Fries
Agnes Szetey
Amanda Ruck
Contact
252A Maroondah Highway
Healesville, VIC, 3777
Gallery Opening Hours:
Mon: 11 am – 5pm
Tues: Closed
Wed – Sun: 11am – 5pm
T: +613 5906 1149
E: info@yava.org.au
FREE EXHIBITION
New Work. Abstract Paintings
May 17th, 2019I use my work as a way to process whatever I’m seeing or thinking at the time. This can be purely self indulgent and personal, as well as sometimes, tapping into a broader or shared concern.
Static Searching – Jenny Davis Searching – Jenny Davis
I like to let people bring their own thoughts to a piece. My work is the entry point, then people might be inclined to look harder and tease out other thoughts and connections to the work.
Looking Out in Asnieres France – Jenny Davis 
Sick of catching the nightmare trains in Asnieres – Jenny Davis
The life of an Abstract Painting.
February 27th, 2019
It’s amazing how many stages an abstract painting goes through. Ive had the beginnings of this painting sitting in the studio a few months now. Its only recently, I started to photograph the process of painting. Eventually I want to do time lapse video’s while working, but not sure yet, how I will set up my camera.
I wanted to dirty it up a bit
Added some black lines and spaces
The red slowly crept in
More drawing with oil pigments below and the circle was bothering me so I took a risk and blocked it out with red. And that’s what its all about. Taking risks, going along with whatever comes along and using your gut feeling.
I’m pretty happy with the results but will sit with it for a while, before I touch it or, leave it alone. It’s only afterwards, I’ll see connections and links to the context or meaning. Sometimes though this happens when doing, but mainly it’s a play with colour, line and space and knowing when it’s resolved.
Time & Nature
February 3rd, 2019Exploring objects and textiles is keeping me away from painting in the studio at the moment, but that’s ok, because I’m not just a painter…..
Today, I have been working with time and nature but, now it’s too hot to do anything much, as the temp in the valley has reached 39 Celsius and getting hotter.
I get torn between contemporary and lush, extravagant. Old bones, textiles, rusted wires, watch faces, bits of stick with moss , vintage cosmetic bottles and handmade French influenced, embellishments are on my bench.
Memories and feelings keep flooding back from my times spent in France. Especially touched by Versailles palace and other places in Europe and England. Old history feeds my creativity.
Old rusted wire and found textiles are twisted and sewn with gold threads and remind me of couture and Versailles decadent history.
Formed into fragments that will probably be part of something else.
This one looks like a weird kind of bird.
I’ve also had the de-clutter bug lately so its feels liberating to use up stuff Ive been hoarding for ever.
Art & Recycling. Textiles & Mixed media.
January 18th, 2019Art and recycling goes hand-in-hand in the textile and mixed- media side of my arts practice.
My artworks are often created from old, discarded clothing, vintage and antique textiles, papers and found objects. I enjoy making use of stuff that has had a life already; a life that is often purely functional and as far removed from ‘art’ as you can imagine.
I’ve been recycling all my life to make art. As a child, I pulled apart, old clothing and nylon stockings “I used to collect fabric waste from mum’s sewing and knitting basket, making wall hangings out of that.” Nowadays, I cut up my own clothing and others, antique quilts, vintage linens, fancywork and men’s suits.
The process of searching and collecting materials, is also, a very important part of my art’s making. It may take weeks, months, even years, to find a piece that talks to me. Most of the time though, a fragment of fabric, clothing or object, will trigger off the idea. I collect and document many of the pieces I find, by labeling or remembering, its history of when & where it was found. This gives me another layer to work with.
The search for materials has taken me to many weird and wonderful places over the years.
The sometimes, dodgy, back streets of cities, in Barcelona, Italy and France. Markets and charity shops in Australia, France and England. Underground spaces, abandoned buildings, coast lines and vacant beaches. Friends, family and strangers, have also, donated materials to use in my work.
By transforming old, recycled and reused materials, it enriches the stories I like to tell in my contemporary art and gives a new life, to materials destined to be wasted and thrown away.
Rust Dyeing Fabrics
December 28th, 2018Summer in Australia is the perfect time for eco and botanical dyeing outdoors. During Winter, I like to save little bits of fabrics, lace and papers in a box for Summer dyeing. This is how I rust dye my fabrics….
Many years ago, I collected heaps of metal junk to use for sculpture. As, I no longer weld, I now use the rusty bits and pieces that are scattered all over my property, for my dyeing projects.
The gathering of the metal objects, wrapping them with the fabric spraying with vinegar and binding with rope and wire is quite relaxing. I call it mummy wrapping.
Rust Dyeing Fabric
MATERIALS:
Fabric: cottons silk… work best
Rusty metal objects: cooking pans, car parts, rusty nails, screws, pipes, copper objects
Wire, string, wool or rope just something to bind the fabric to the rusted item
Plain white vinegar
Rubber gloves
Plastic sheet or bags
METHOD
1. Gather all the items together wet your fabric and spray with vinegar.
2. Wrap the fabric around and around the rusted object as best you can.
3. Make sure it’s tightly bound with the string rope or wire. Cover with plastic so it stays moist.
4. Leave and wait for the magic to happen.
5. This may take an hour or 2 or if you want deeper textures of rust a week or 2. Then un- wrap your beautiful rusted fabric.
6. Once the fabric is dyed to the depth you want, soak for 30mins in warm water with a couple of tablespoons of salt to make the rust dye colourfast.
7. Wash gently in warm water with soap powder rinse dry and voila!
I also rust papers and larger pieces of fabric using a different method that I will share in a future post.
To see more of my free tutorials please go here
Christmas Greetings!
December 18th, 2018
To all my family, friends and followers. I wish you all a very “Happy & Joyful Christmas”
May the the “New Year” ahead bring you happiness, kindness, peace and good health with plenty of creativity. To those struggling, may your healing journey be short and you find your inner harmony, peace & renewed physical health swiftly. Jenny Davis 2018.
Thoughts in the studio today. Stacks, towers and painting.
December 1st, 2018A bit of colour in the studio today. How many colours and layers can I stack up on top of one another?
They remind me of Claude Courtecuisse’s “Hacking Objects” sculptures I saw in Paris at the Georges Pompidou Museum in 2007.
He erected towers and stacks of common objects.
Image photographed from original 2007 catalogue. Copyright Georges Centre Pompidou Original photos Copyright Claude Courtecuisse. 2007
Balance, colour, repetition, scale and transparency is what I took away from that exhibition.
Copyright Jenny Davis
As a child, I too, would build little towers of objects in my bedroom.
Still today I play and stack with my vast collection of vintage objects.
The towers have been getting higher and higher over time and eventually, I aim to make huge, tall one’s, up to the roof or even higher.
Now back to the painting…I’m not sure if I’ve resolved it yet, as something about it is still annoying me. Maybe that’s a good thing?… as sometimes things that are a bit odd are more successful.
I think I will sit with it a bit longer.
Focus, Simplify & London.
November 15th, 2018Recently, I’ve been unable to focus fully on my work. I feel I may have too many things going on in my life and need to simplify. I’ve also been procrastinating too long, putting off a few decisions, I need to make, regarding my arts practice. I know, I just have to get on with it, if I only knew what “IT” was ? Also, its been hard lately having to divide my time, between creating and dealing with with other life circumstances that have been cropping up. I know as an artist, my main focus is to create, or nothing will get done, but more important, my inner- self will suffer.
In the meantime, my daughter and her partner (xox) , gifted me a trip to London to visit them. After not seeing her for a few years, it was so nice to catch up and do stuff together again. We managed to fit in some very interesting exhibitions. The Anni Albers (1899-1994) textile exhibition at Tate Modern, was excellent. She was student of the Bauhaus art school and like other women at that time , was discouraged from becoming a painter. Instead, she enrolled in the weaving shop and made textiles her means of expression. Albers rose to become an influential figure, exploring the technical limits of hand-weaving to pioneer innovative uses of woven fabric as art, architecture and design.
Other exhibitions on at the V&A Museum.
Fashioned from Nature, explores the complex relationship between fashion and nature from 1600 to the present day.
A Frida Kahlo exhibition of her belongings. There was also huge jewelry exhibition and video game exhibition on. The collections are immense. I particularly enjoyed Asian textiles & objects.
The “Censored! Stage, Screen Society at 50” exhibition was brilliant. Especially as I can remember most of it happening when I was a teenager.
It took a bit of getting around the V&A building, as its built around a very large inner courtyard. The signage wasn’t brilliant and quite confusing. I only saw a small portion of the collections and if I get another chance Id like explore it some more.
Another exhibition, I particularly loved and related too, The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art & Natural History.
A “Kunstkammer” of cabinets full of weird and wonderful curiosities. Extraordinary dioramas displayed in a dark underground cellar, reached only by going down a very steep, spiral stair case.
I also managed to do a brief bit of mudlarking on the Thames. I found a handful of bits & pieces. A handmade nail used to secure sails to the masts of sailing ships and a few shards of pottery and I think part of a Tudor terracotta tile.
I’m home in Australia now and slowly getting back into studio mode. Having spent time with my family and inspired by new adventurers, I’m feeling more nurtured to just get on with “IT” and not think too much.
New Collages on Vintage Paper. Ochre Pigments, Acrylic Paints and Ink.
September 15th, 2018Just finished another series of mixed- media collages on good quality thick papers. I prefer to use a thick water- colour paper base for collage, as it doesn’t tear and buckle when I load on papers glues, paint and inks. I use vintage, antique and or any papers laying around.
1958
Tannica
Farmlands Water
Ordovician
Knowledge in Depth
Taxonomy
Mixed Media Collage. 3 New Works on Paper.
September 2nd, 20183 New mixed- media collages on 300gsm watercolour paper (Unframed).
I like to create new visions, by recycling and dissecting vintage papers that I may, or not hand paint with acrylic paints and inks.
Process – On a background of strong 350gsm artist water- colour paper, I add layers of acrylic paints, fragments of vintage papers and random marks, using French ink pens.
Earth Renewable
Recycled Polyhedron
Recycled Symmetry
Homemade Gesso Update!
August 14th, 2018Homemade Gesso!
Update 2018! Since writing this recipe in 2014, Ive been using this homemade Gesso recipe, for 14 years now and haven’t had an issue, with ageing, layers coming apart, seepage, changes in colour etc. on any of my artworks. I use it with both oil and acrylic paints. I also seal my papers with it when, making books, sewing on paper, paper for collage, painting with paint, inks etc. As to the quality, I find the homemade isn’t as white, but just as good quality, as professional artists Gesso. I also use store bought gesso too, if I’ve run out and for convenience. My version is more gritty, than store bought, but if you sandpaper in between coats, I find it’s not an issue. For me, this recipe is just as good as, the store bought and if you use archival PVA/Elmers glue, it will make it all the more stable, for longevity.
I love Gesso paint and use heaps of it in my work. It’s gritty, chalky and can be applied to artwork to give a translucent or opaque look. It’s also very expensive so I decided to make my own.
Gesso is used for many things such as a primer for canvas or on paper to give a good base for painting, drawing or mixed media work. When making collage I use it as a gluing medium to stick on papers, in-between, painting and drawing layers.
The recipe below makes 2 litres of Gesso paint
( If not using straight away, this Gesso will last approx. 4-6 weeks)
Homemade Gesso
PLASTER MIX
1 cup Plaster of Paris or fine white plaster powder
1 cup of PVA or white glue (archival if available)
1 cup hot water
PAINT
3 cups white acrylic paint
UTENSILS
Container, cup and mixing stick or spoon
RATIO: 1-3
Plaster Mix 1 – Acrylic paint 3
Method
To make the plaster mix. Add the plaster to the hot water and stir ( Safety purposes: always add the plaster powder to the liquid, not liquid to plaster, as it will blow up into your face and always wear a dust mask)
Dust Mask
“Plaster of Paris” and cup
Hot water and mix
Next add the PVA or white glue, stir.
Finally add the white acrylic paint and mix. ( I used some acrylic powder paint I had and made it up with water) You can use any kind of acrylic paint or colour .
Result
I was very happy with the result. The gesso is translucent with the gritty bits I like. You can also do several layers of gesso to give a more opaque appearance. It covered my canvas very well with only 1 coat. When adding more than 1 coat you can sand in- between to give a really smooth surface for detailed work .
2 litres of Gesso
Gesso on stretched canvas
Gesso on paper
© 2014 – 2018, Jenny Davis. All rights reserved.