Studio time

A short little blog post on where I spend arty time when I get the chance and some paintings I've recently finished.

 

This is where I create. I LOVE this space. It is actually the garage outside, but I park my car in the carport and have this amazing space to use for art & craft. There was already a long piece of timber running along the garage, so we've put nails along this so I can hang my canvas and paint, paint, rotate, paint, paint ;) Love it out here!

 

 

 

 

 

Here's a painting I've recently finished, I think it's titled Dove Love. Meh, I'm so hopeless at naming a painting. I have completed this during the course time of Flora Bowley's Bloom True e-course, which I've already blogged about here and here. Just loved it. Happy with how this one has come together. From memory it's roughly 24x24" square?

 

 

This last painting is mixed media and 8x8" square. Love the quote I've

graffitied over the girls face. Just-be-you (tiful)  xx

 

 

 

That's all for today. Hope you like my art.

 

Mel xxx

Painting hung!

A quick little post to show you my first completed painting following Flora Bowley's Bloom True e-course. I'm so sad the course is over but also happy to take what I've learnt from it and mould into my own style :) I've loved having the course to login to each night and listen to Flora talk, watch her paint or read some wisdom Flora has so willingly shared with us. It's been such a great time, and I've still got access to all the class material for another 6 months which is so handy. I'm also now a part of a private online community of artists from this class (from all over the world), it's so great to have others to bounce off and share what we're all doing. It's such a supportive group, and full of inspiration, love it.

Here's a picture of the new painting. I'm happy with how it's turned out, love the transparent gold in the bird and the dreamcatcher like shapes flowing in the background. I might even enter it into the Forbes Arts Society Expo later this month if I'm game!!

Anyway, enough rambling, I must get back into my paid work :/ haha.

Hope you're having a fabulous day,

Mel xx

Flora Love

I have been very busy lately, between looking after my darling children, work, moving house and I'm also trying to fit in a little me time.

My past art teacher from the coast, Julie Sydenham, introduced me to an artist called Flora Bowley, so at Christmas, having no art classes in my new town I ordered Flora's Book. I received the book and read from start to finish in one sitting, I was just in love :)

I've recently enrolled into the AH-MAZING online art course with Flora Bowley. It's only a short 5 week course, but I'm just loving it. Flora Bowley is just so very talented & I love her intuitive style incorporating so many layers. It is quite abstract painting, incorporating many layers, which is such a forgiving process and relaxing, as I'm able to just get into the flow not worrying too much about the outcome in the early stages. We also have our own online group from all over the world, where we share our layers and where we're at in the course. It's so nice to have such a supportive network of artists around the world and it provides so much inspiration. It is safe to say I'm very much enjoying this course!!

Here's a couple of photo's of where I'm at.... I'm up to about layer 6 in both of these paintings.... no idea where they are headed, but having fun!!

 

 

 

They may look a little wild.... but that's okay by me.

Here's a video share of Flora Bowley at work. Love this clip :)
http://vimeo.com/58224937

Anyhow, better get out and into some more layering.

Until next time,
Mel xx

So Ribbiting

Another artwork finished, 'So Ribbiting'

 

 

This was a special request from my Aunty for Christmas, she wanted something bright & a frog for her new bathroom. I gave it a good four coates of glossy sealer to help protect it from the steam. Below photo shows some of the steps through the process.

Not the best of photo's, I must get better at that!

Mel x

Holidays & Art

We're back from our holiday in Tassie & I've just started another painting. I've only spent a couple of hours on it so far, but thought I'd share a sneak peek of the under layers.

I love that my kids love painting and crafting with me. We have so much fun together!

I just love this photo of my babies looking out the plane window. Such a hard/busy trip but oh so exciting for the kids. Luckily I had Nan join me for a set of extra hands and company.... We had a lovely week :)

Hope you've enjoyed the summer weather and had a break away too xx

Smokey

One of my fave paintings from last year, 'Smokey'.

Named after my little scooter that blew that much smoke when I first brought it, that the smoke over took me at a give way sign!! Ever since that first ride, my scooter was called smokey haha. I loved that scooter, it was even the same vintage as me! I've sold it on now, but this painting makes me smile of the fun times I had on smokey :)

Mel x

Work in progress

We have had a great weekend.. Some quiet family time, swimming lessons with our babies, date night out, and and some creativity inbetween.

Yesterday I whipped up an apron for Will as he is always trying to wear mine, which is way too big. I've used some navy drill and a softie panel from the my material stash. We do not need more soft toys around this house so out the doggy panel is now an appliqué pocket on the from of apron for some decoration. I've also left the top of puppy's head open so Will can keep cooking utensils in (the kids love pockets and stashing things!) I've also made the tie around the waist with velcro, much easier for Will to get in and out of!

I'm happy with how it turned out, I should have made a pattern out if it. Might do that and make another for Hannah. Here's the final product:

 

 

I've also made a start in the layering of a green tree frog requested by my Aunty. My first request, how exciting :) this is still a work in progress, but thought I'd put a little preview so you can see the layers building.

Now it's Monday, back to the day job of Accounting. The joys ha!

Until next time,
Mel x