In the studio. The beginnings of my first painting and series for 2020.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 5 … Made a few more changes to the painting today. Still a way to go.
A week later
Finished painting. Minimal flat, top surfaces, with many transparent underlays of colour, marks, drips and splashes. I don’t want the edges of the painting to be contained so, I’m not sure if I would frame this. Untitled for now. 90 x 90 x 2 cm. Acrylic paint on stretched canvas.
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?
My next exhibition,”Spaces Below” is an installation of new & older paintings, linking to found, instantaneous marks, surfaces and fragments. Subconscious notes and messages, snatched from urban and rustic environments when passing through. Also includes, a series of framed images, shot in the city and outer suburbs of Paris, France.
(Please see details of “Spaces Below” exhibition in the sidebar)
I’m still amused and amazed, how one little idea can consume, inspire and provide enough fodder, leading to many forms of expression.
After, a much needed break it’s back to work for 2018. I’m getting all geared up for my next solo exhibition, in April. I’m just waiting on a paint delivery and sorting out the studio, before I start the new work.
During my break, I worked on my website and listed more paintings in my Gallery.
I will also be adding more paintings, mixed media and textile pieces shortly.
“Silver Cad Connections” 1 & 2
A static flow through and within .
“Lemon Under Cad”
It just is…
“Moment 3”
One fleeting moment. A thought caught in a fraction of time.
“Fleeting Moment 4”
One fleeting moment. A thought caught in a fraction of time.
“Fleeting Moment 5”
One fleeting moment. A thought caught in a fraction of time.
Seasons Greetings to you all from Outlook8studio and all best wishes for a peaceful 2018. Many thanks for all your support over the years !
For the past decade or so, I have worked with an amazing group of women artists at the old schoolhouse in Badger Crk. Victoria. We meet up weekly to paint, throw around ideas, experiment and play with new, unusual, materials and techniques. This time is invaluable to me, as it, gives me a break from the usual, business side of making art and gets me out of the studio. We chat about our work, share ideas and discuss what’s happening in the world and our lives. Mostly, it’s just a whole lot of fun, mucking around with good friends who happen to love making art.
Lately at the schoolhouse I have been working on some mixed media pieces with paint paper, cloth and thread.
I use thread and needle to make marks through the artwork.
Each stitch leads onto the next, weaving over the painting.
Found papers intermingle with rotted and rusted cloth.
I like to use off- cuts of textile, paper and patterns and throw it against slabs of paint and marks.
In the above artwork I am enjoying the contrast of the piece of vintage cross stitch, I found in an op shop once.
The stitches wander around and find their own place in their own time. I’m not in control and use the thread, as another tool to make marks.
I don want to make embroidery’s and my mistakes can be my jewels.
All these artworks are in progress and not yet finished. Some may just be experiments for fun and to learn from.
Sometimes, when I’m stuck for ideas making artwork and it’s just not happening, I like to throw a heap of things together and arrange them near my work.
The items, may relate in colour, texture and type or be opposing which, I find much more exciting. Your brain will automatically try to come up with solutions. Expanding your ideas and creating new ones.
The flow on of ideas is sometimes amazing. It can lead to, resolving the artwork in front of you, as well as, give you ideas for a whole new body of work.
Juxtaposition and connections of items together seems to work for me.
I believe there is a creative force that is connected to everything we do.
Crut. New Paintings. Cradled Boards.
3 new paintings, well, it’s actually one painting, a triptych, I did for a recent art prize. Each painting was made with acrylic paint and small areas of oil paint on birch cradled boards.
I love using boards for painting. The surface is much more forgiving than canvas. Perfect for the spontaneous, mark-making and material layering I tend to do. I can scratch, sand, scrape back, engrave and it won’t tear, or break like canvas.
If I could get larger cradled boards and still be able to lift them, I would be very happy. The size of these boards are 50 x 50cm. each. Overall size 150cm. x 50cm.
About Crut
Communication to the masses. Text in the environment can mark territory, give control and can validate those, who don’t have a voice in the mainstream order. Through mark-making in the environment everybody can be heard. I see beauty and at times, desperation in the messages, found in the streets, and in the abandoned, underground and derelict spaces. Layers of tagging, graffiti and found marks on weathered surfaces tell stories about the past, present and future. Aesthetically they can be beautiful, even though they may have been painted illicitly on a wall, or other surface’s. My abstractions are investigations into, marks, traces and messages, left behind, in the urban and rural environment.
Experimentation & New Free Tutorials Page.
My blog updates have been scarce lately, as, Ive been studying a couple of arts business and creative courses. This week I created a new “Free Tutorials” page, where I share some of my favorite, creative ideas and things to do.
I’ve also, been experimenting with shellac and acrylic paints in the studio
and plan to create some textile and sculpture pieces too.
After working on many creative projects and group exhibitions, here and overseas, the past couple of years
I really think it’s time, to get back into a gallery and start exhibiting again in 2016.
So, I’m looking for suitable spaces in Melbourne or Sydney, that aren’t too expensive.
My favourite thing to make, at Free Tutorials is my large studio easel. I created it when I built my studio in 2000. I wanted something big, so I could work on many paintings at once. It’s a bit slap happy, (I’m no carpenter) but, works perfectly for me.
Early Morning in the Studio.
It’s amazing how much I achieve early morning in the studio.
I recently, added more items to sculptures that have been sitting on the workbench for years…
Played with shellac and wax and resolved all the paintings I did at the encaustic week- end workshop.
I also managed to clean-up small areas of studio to make room for new art supplies arriving.
I’ll have to get up early more often…
Started this painting at Jane’s studio
Sat and watched it today
Still a way to go with colour oil pastel & paint
It’s been good getting back to larger paintings… 140x120cm.
Fresh from the studio…
Touching Gaudi’s curves in Barcelona.
Acrylic paint, ink and sealer on gallery wrapped canvas
12″x 16″ X 1-3/4″ (30x40x4cm)
Signed by the artist
Ready to Hang
Sitting with Catherine at Tuileries
Little wooden chairs dotted around .Sitting enjoying the Tuileries garden after the Louvre.
Acrylic paint, Oil pastel and sealer on gallery wrapped canvas
12″x 16″ X 1-3/4″ (30x40x4cm)
Signed by the artist
Ready to Hang
Touching Gaudi’s curves in Barcelona.
Acrylic paint, Ink and sealer on gallery wrapped canvas
12″x 16″ X 1-3/4″ (30x40x4cm)
Signed by the artist
Ready to Hang
Playing under the arch in the Tuileries garden after the Louvre.
Acrylic paint, Oil pastel and sealer on gallery wrapped canvas
12″x 16″ X 1-3/4″ (30x40x4cm)
Signed by the artist
Ready to Hang
ABOUT THE ART – Red Orange Float.
Pure abstraction. A play with color, movement and line.
Acrylic paint, Oil pastel and sealer on gallery wrapped canvas
12″x 16″ X 1-3/4″ (30x40x4cm)
Signed by the artist
Ready to Hang
I find Frottage rubbings are fun to do. I did the rubbings, when I was an artist in residency in Spain. The rustic farmhouse was over 200 years old and once a winery. It had amazing textures throughout and the studio’s. were very generous in size.
Wherever I go I like to have all my art materials in one place encase I need to jot down an idea, or for when I get that creative burst.
So, when I found this old case I knew exactly what I would do with it. I made myself a personal art kit for when I go out and about. I keep this case in my car and it goes everywhere with me. I also have a smaller kit for when I travel overseas. This kit is much lighter so I can collect art materials along the way
It has everything I need for drawing, painting, collage, photo transfer, stamping and writing
In Transit series of collages
Acrylic paints and ink in a pouch my daughter gave me
Chalk in a vintage medical tin
Water colour paints, coloured pencils and double sided tape
Brushes for painting, pens for drawing and writing, felt pens, graphite pencils, knife, scissors and glue stick for collage
Paint swatches
Collage papers in a plastic pouch. Mixed lot of vintage and newer papers
Hand- dyed coffee filters, vintage wallpaper, labels and book pages
Stained printed matter and newer papers
Old music prayer book
1932 school book full of hand drawn world maps
1960s New Idea magazine for cutting
Old advertising
Vintage encyclopeadia pages sealed with a layer of translucent gesso paint
A book of hand-made French paper
Small canvas boards and palette, matt and gloss medium for collage, painting & transfers
Mini stamping kit in old cigar tin
Stamp pad, tiny rubber text stamps in matchbox, stamp holder and tweezers
I also carry a selection of my hand made artist books in progress to work in.
My books are made from found papers, junk mail, advertising
used envelopes, cereal boxes and food packaging
Embellished with used clothing labels, tags, stamps, stickers, pen ,ink and found fabric scraps
sewn with thread or wire and filled with whatever else I find in my travels
It’s amazing how much I can fit into the case
Do you have a portable art kit ? Whats in your art kit ?
See Jenny’s portfolio here
Back to “Free Tutorials”
Fresh from the Studio
Sensor Ship 2 & Sensor Ship
Surface quality is very important to me and my paintings consist of many layers of paint and line making. During my process I continuously scrape, wipe and sand back layers until only a trace remains of my previous mark making.
Sensor Ship 2
Jenny Davis
Acrylic on Canvas
120 x 60cm
In both paintings you can see little tears and pockets of bright grainy colour pushing through to the top layers. I wanted the ghosts of my past marks and texture to sit just below the surface, still and silent. Waiting to be discovered.
Sensor Ship
Jenny Davis
Acrylic on Canvas
120 x 60cm.
My favourite artist of the month is Anselm Kiefer. A German artist who creates paintings and monumental installations with crusted surfaces, incorporating, lead, concrete, ash, acid, earth, glass and gold, broken glass, oil, emulsion, shellac, acrylic and raw materials from nature.
I particularly like Kiefer’s ambitious project of transforming an old derilict silk factory in La Ribaute France into a monumental studio art complex where he created his monumental works. He dug out underground chambers, tunnels, to create living and working spaces set amongst strange, reinforced, concrete towers and bunkers, woods and caves. There was even a crypt, an amphitheatre and underground pool.
A trailer from the movie “Over Your Cities Grass Will Grow” about Kiefer’s last days at the studio.
Robert Hughes on Anselm Kiefer
A record of an assistant’s time with Anselm Kiefer from his studio in Barjac. This was in 1999 -2000.
My son is very creative and extremely passionate about Gaming.
I think he was born with a game controller in his hand…
Website Obscure Creations
You Tube Snakelet
He spent many years studying at University to learn the skills of 3d animation, rendering, modelling and animation (2D and 3D), game theory and practice, as well as, subjects in computer-generated design.
After University unfortunately, he was unable to find any work in Australia in the Gaming industry and today, works full- time in Melbourne designing for another company.
He spends all his spare time, gaming and creating mods and games for others to enjoy.
I believe, with all that creative energy and passion inside he will one-day run his own studio where he can create games full-time.
Textural Surface Paintings I did in Spain.
In 2005 I was artist in residence at the Can Serrat International Art Center in Barcelona, Spain. During this time I completed several series of works; which developed as a result of solitary expeditions into the surrounding areas.
Textural oil paintings on linen, linked to ancient Catalan architecture.
My little paintings are rubbings from actual surfaces around the Barcelona, Spain.
Ancient markings weathered , subtle & chalky
I added colour to my work with pure powder pigments and oils, hand mixed in my studio.
See more of my artwork at Outlook8studio on Etsy
Today I had to say goodbye again to another best friend, Charcoal .
3 years ago a very special, wild and free spirit walked into my life . A beautiful big black fluffy cat, I later named Charcoal. He just turned up out of nowhere and walked into my studio. I was still feeling pretty down after losing my other mate, Rebel a few months earlier and didn’t want another cat but, he was just so determined, he wasn’t going to allow me to ignore him.
I tried for 6 weeks to find his owners but in the end I couldn’t deny the connection between us. We just clicked and then, inseparable. He was so frightened at first and looking back now, I think he may have been a feral cat, or had fled from the big bushfires we had that year.
He had never been inside a house before and freaked out so much, I made him a little bed under the studio. He stayed there the first month. Slowly I coaxed him inside the house. By 6 months he allowed me to rest my hand on him when he sat next to me. Eventually, he let me pat, then cuddle him.
Charcoal gave me so much love and was a funny cat with strange ways. He would always take the lead when I walked with him and he would sleep on my knee with his head pointing up to the sky.
He was also a free spirit, very much like me, and full of curiosity. Once my brave boy even chased away a snake that was near me. During the day he would be in the studio with me or just around outside.
Every morning, just like Rebel, he would bug me to go and open the studio. He would even brush by me several times and bite my knee,until I opened the studio for him. A little brat cat:) As soon as he heard the rattle of the keys he would come running over. He slept with me on a special leopard blanket and would take up most of the room,laying on his back like dog with all his 4 legs up in the air.
Today, I celebrate and thank you my dear friend, for the short magical time we spent together though, way too short. I’m lost today without you and you will be forever in my heart, my Bubby Charcoal
Love you so much…
I just love this story …inspires me to keep working on my art projects which link back to my own treks of working in underground spaces below Paris over the past 5 years.
Thirty years ago, in the dead of night, a group of six Parisian teenagers pulled off what would prove to be a fateful theft. They met up at a small café near the Eiffel Tower to review their plans—again—before heading out into the dark. Read full story by Jon Lackman …
