Bluebird Afternoon

Bluebird Afternoon is currently on display at the Wai Art Awards Show. Head on over and cast your vote for the peoples choice award! Carterton Exhibition Centre, Holloway Road, Carterton.

Tea in the Library

From my spot up here on the hill I have been watching the cruise ships come and go from the harbour. They glide in on the calm summer water like reposeful cows strolling to the milking shed, and then not long later they leave again just as serenely. The sky has been blue for days on end and I am soaking in this summer warmth.

My thoughts have been where most every New Zealanders thoughts are directed right now, with the people of Christchurch. I am so grateful all of my family there survived the terrible earthquake.

Tea in the Library is heading off to Artbay Gallery today along with a few other pieces.

Untitled

Finished! Now I need a cup of tea myself.

Yesterday I spent the day photographing tea cups and today I am beginning preparations for a tea party. Am I addicted to tea, I wonder?

Today's task; honey rice bubble cakes (scroll down for the recipe). I'm not sure these are traditionally served at afternoon teas, but when I was reminded of them by Donna and Christine, well I knew I would have to make them, you know, for old times sake.

Glimpses of her

Ive been working on this piece for so long now it seems. She evolves in stages and each time i set my paintbrush down I never know if she is finished or not. Until, hours later, I hear her calling to me again, just a little more paint over there, that part should be darker, or some other bit of useful advice. Her voice is becoming less urgent now, quieter, and I sense she is nearly ready.

Cutlery for Christmas

Detail of work in progress.

Ive just about completed three new pieces for the NZ Art Guild Xmas show.

Photoshoot

The harbour, flat, blue and bright looks like summer today. A few little yachts drift aimlessly out across the water. They're directed only by a little wind and the ocean's whim I think. Their sailors much surely be reading a good book or snoozing on the deck. At least that's what I would be doing if it were me out there.

I photographed my lovely (patient!) sister piled up with books and teacups today. Luckily she has an exceptional sense of balance.

My intention is to produce a small series like this.

Fielder's Sponge

The Self Help Cookery Book, New and improved edition, (1939) is a treasure trove of recipes and household hints.

The copy I have is fragile, its pages loose, some covered in flour or cocoa. Between its worn pages someone once tucked a recipe, carefully written on a small scrap of paper. I found this little artifact and have given it a new lease of life in my art work.

I haven't tried the recipe, but let me know if you do! Here it is, copied exactly as it was written all those years ago.

Fielder's Sponge

3 Eggs, 2 1/2 oz cornflour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder,
4 Tablesp Sugar, 1 dessert Flour,
Beat whites of eggs till
stiff add yolks, add sugar
gradually, Beat till stiff
& sugar dissolved. Bake
8" sandwich tins
15 minutes

W. I. P.

Work in progress...

Detail

The soft, spring blossom is blown to shreds. A relentless wind tears through the trees and on the harbour, whitecaps charge for the shore. I'm sitting cozy here with the scene and its soundtrack restrained beyond the windows today.

Its been a while since I have written here as I have been occupied writing other things; Artist Statements and the like for a couple of exhibitions my work will be included in. I quite like the process of writing about my art, I like the distillation that occurs as I edit out all the unnecessary words and thoughts from a paragraph. It is a slow process to condense my ideas to their essence, to a nice concise, bite size summary. Something suitable for a passing viewer to read before their attention moves to something else. Its a satisfying journey too, it draws me back into the creative process all over again.

Its an act of faith to edit out much of what I could say about a particular artwork. I have faith that some people at least will get it, despite what I dont explain in detail.

For me much of the enjoyment of looking at an artwork is in its interpretation, what do I think its about? By leaving the final decision up to the viewer, the viewer can take ownership of its meaning, they become part of the creative process. An artist statement can help enrich your interpretation of an artwork. I try to provide an opening for the viewer; a way in from which if you choose to, you can discover more.

Susan posted a video of Squeak Carnworth talking about her work and the part that resonated most with me was when she said

"When people look at my work they should bring themselves, and they should pay attention to what their inner voice says and what intuitive leaps they have, what does it remind them of? There's no right answer."

I hope people will bring themselves to my artwork.

"The Young Brave" was accepted for the North Shore City Art Awards, the exhibition opens in three days.

The Young Brave presents the story of Jack, who at about the age of twelve in 1929 was given an adventure novel, The Long Trail Boys at Sweet Water Ranch, the Mystery of White Shadow.

Set in a North American context, it is an idealised story of friendship, adventure and heroism between the ‘native’ White Shadow and a group of boys. The tale is far removed from the reality of childhood experiences in nineteen thirties New Zealand. Ten years after Jack received the book New Zealand entered the Second World War and he was to face a quite different version of adventure and heroism; that experienced in battle.

As an artist I am interested in the relationship between objects and stories. I collect and re-present objects which connect with my memories, or the collective memories of a group or place. A mnemonic object is a memory keeper. It grants access to moments and emotions long since passed and otherwise ephemeral. Can the potency of a mnemonic object outlast its creator?

Tea and other things

The last several days have been filled with snow and hot springs, a perfect combination for a winter getaway. I've returned home to find the first signs of spring emerging. The garlic has sprouted in the garden, the Daphne is blooming, the sun is hanging around a little later in the afternoon and I'm thinking about planting some peas.

Apart from my plans for the garden, I have lots of other projects afoot.

The Art Show was fantastic and already I have more ideas brewing. I spoke to so many lovely people, many of whom had stories to share about their own heirlooms and mnemonic objects. I particularly liked the story one lady told me about a small community where whenever someone passed away their china tea sets would be split and shared out to friends or family, cup by cup. Then later on, when drinking tea from the cup that once belonged to Aunt Belinda you would remember them. A lovely idea I think. I had so many people asking me about my tea cup series I'm sure I will be making more soon.

For those of you who came to the show and entered my giveaway, the winner of Gathered II is Moana J of Upper Hutt. I hope you find the perfect spot to hang it Moana.

Opening Night

Just outside the window a Starling is singing his song and the rain is gently falling. The scene is glossy green and misty white.

Soon we (my blogless, websiteless artist friend A'sha and I) will head off to the Gala Opening of the NZ Art Show. I am so inspired already by all the art I have seen there. This should be a good weekend.

Hanging

The good news people, is, I have finished. Artworks are dry, labelled, packed and ready to hang tonight! I'm hoping to hold onto what little energy I have left for a few more hours before I collapse into much needed rest. Who knew making a ga-zillion pieces of art, tweaking and updating my website, putting together a facebook page, designing a catalogue, biz cards and a host of other things would be so much effort?

Two days until the NZ Art Show opens!

The Amateur Botanist

The Amateur Botonist and I will be at the NZ Art Show in three weeks!

100 Lovely Things

Three weeks to go until the New Zealand Art Show and things are beginning to come together. This piece is one of my largest yet, 30x40 inches. Mixed media on canvas.

I'm in the addictive phase of my art making process right now, in the zone, the flow. Whatever you want to call it I cant get enough of it. Its invigorating, inspiring, enlivening and now I must go to get my next fix.

Mrs Archibald

Mrs Archibald's photograph came into my possession long after she had left this life and shortly after the photo's slow passage from Canada. She probably never imagined that a trace of her would end up here. Far, far from where her life was lived.

I see Mrs Archibald wearing a thick skirt, layers and folds of fabric dragging and swishing around as she walked. A heavy key always concealed in a pocket deep amongst that fabric. I'm not sure what door the key unlocked. When she could steal a few moments to herself she would escape to the garden with a book. She loved to read, but all to often instead her mind would wander. Inevitably to wind up in the warm glow of distant memories of Brazil, of Physalis and that one wonderful day.

The Russian Caravan

Russian Caravan tea this morning. Its smoky aroma has always conjured an image in my mind of a band of bohemian travellers. A circle of opulently embellished caravans parked up around a camp fire. A old billy brewing over the flames. A dark, starry sky sweeping to the horizon all around and a community of like minded souls singing, dancing, laughing and relaxing before the next leg of their perpetual journey. Turns out the Russian Caravan is really about camels.

My little teacup series is well underway now. There will be ten wee 6x6" sized teacups, and a few more larger ones. I'm looking forward to doing some more work on these this week.

Rain and Bliss

Rain is falling again. A dense mist has absorbed the landscape and left nothing but a grey void outside the window. Inside this afternoon the lights are on, as is the heater and I am marinating in the coziness of the start of winter.

On a rainy day there is nothing better than to be tucked away from the world with a project to do. Preparing for the NZ Art Show is keeping me well occupied. This year my goal for the art show is to make it bigger and better than last year. More artwork. Bigger artwork. Lots of mixed media, plenty of photography. I'm immersed in piles of trinkets, leaves, paints, canvases, books and other paraphernalia of my creative process. Bliss.