'Off to the Beach'

I've gone back and revisited some of my old reference photos from a few years ago.  I re-discovered the photos from a day trip to Bribie Island, that my daughters and I did back in early 2008.  I've now painted quiet a few from this 'outing', and they have all sold....hopefully I'll be lucky and this one will go to a nice home too.

'Off to the Beach'

Oil on Stretched Canvas

61 x 46cm

My 'under-painting' for 'Off to the Beach'

Moreton Bay Region Art Awards - 2010 'Opening Night'

I attended the opening of the 'Moreton Bay Art Awards' last night....it seemed to lack a bit of 'party' atmosphere...didn't have the same 'feel' as previous years 'opening nights', but that's not the point, the art was amazing!

The winner of the 'Photography/Digital' was Shane Fitzgerald for 'Tempest:After Streeton' (centre top in the image on the left).  The winner of my section - 2D works, was Barry Fitzpatrick for 'Self Portrait as a Cuttlefish' (image above right)

Local artist, Dona Norwood, was successfull in having entries sellected in the 2D and Photography/Digital sections.  Her entries were -left image above-2D 'The Naked Truth:Global Economics VS:National Independence'  and right image above at top - Photography/Digital 'Yesterday's News'.

Winner left, of the 3D works - Ann O'Connor for 'Moving House'.

A couple more 3D entries from local artists....top left-John Marshall's entry 'Escape from Ennui' and Belinda Green's 'Not Just Skin & Bones'.

The 'Local' artist award went to Todd Whisson for his entry 'Fleeting Light Scott's Point Margate'

The awards are at the Strathpine Community Centre and the Pine Rivers Art Gallery, 199 Gympie Rd, Strathpine.  Open daily from 10am to 4pm till 30th June.

Historical Picture Quilts of the Moreton Shire - 1st Draft/Plan Completed

Well we've now completed our first rough design plan for the 'picture quilts'.

This first part of the quilt is about -  the first landing at Skirmish Point (Bribie Island) by Captain Matthew Flinders - native flora and fauna....pandanus palms, melaleuca(paperbark) trees, mangroves...animals and birds....emus, kookaburras, dingoes, kangaroos, echidnas, carpet snakes....the ocean and rivers...fish, turtles, dugongs, crabs. - Aboriginal History....their annual 'trek' from the coast to the Bunya Mountains, how they live....their homes, food, hunting....and how the arrival of  'white man' changed their lives and home forever.

This is the second part of the quilt, which joins up and flows on from the first one above.  This quilt is more about the history of Redcliffe.....the first landing by Captain John Oxley - the 'Red Cliffs' of Redcliffe - Aboriginal history.....further images of their 'way of life' and especially the unusal connection they had with the dolphins in the area....the dolphins would help the Aboriginals hunt fish - the dolphins would herd the fish into shore, where the Aboriginals would be waiting to catch the fish in nets.  The Aboriginals would take their share of the catch and they then would feed some to the dolphins - Amazing story, heh? 

So 'us artists' have done our 'bit' for now.  The 'quilters' will have a look at our 1st design drawing and will let us know what changes are needed.  So I'll 'keep ya posted' on the progress of things....

Padua College - 'Artscape' Opening Night

My artwork on display at Padua College's 'Artscape' Art Exhibition.

Exhibition runs until 3pm this Sunday 16th May.

Padua College - 'Artscape'

This weekend - 14th May to 16th May - is the 10th annual 'Artscape' art exhibition, held at Padua College.  As it's their 10th year they won't be having just one feature artist, this year they have invited all the feature artists that have displayed over this time.  I was the feature artist for 2009.
These are the works that I will be exhibiting........

Historical Picture Quilts of the Moreton Shire

I've been asked to help out on a 'community project' run by the 'Artisans Guild of Caboolture'.  They are constructing 4 large historical picture quilts, covering the period from the settlement of the Moreton Shire to the present time. 
The first of the  picture quilts, will tell the story of the first landing at Redcliffe and Skirmish Point (Bribie Island), aspects of Aboriginal History from the local area, as well as flora and fauna.
These quilts are not your average quilt..that's for sure.  The quilts will be like a huge painting, but of course instead of paint, fabric will be used....the examples of quilts that I've seen are amazing.  They will measure 2.5 x 1.5 metres - each.

Now, those of you who know me, are well aware that I'm 'no sewer'...I'm flat out sewing a button on a shirt..hehehe...so, I'm assisting Dawn Gallagher and Robyn Cutler (2 other very talented artists from the shire) in the drawing and planning of the quilts.

   

I'm certainly learning alot about the history of the area...its quiet interesting.  We meet again next week... so hopefully we will have finished our first colour draft, to present to the quilters and  the group for approval.  I'll post the results next week.

'Fruit Pickin' - Figurative Oil Painting by Amanda Russian

'Fruit Pickin'

Oil on stretched canvas

71 X 56cm

I'm pretty pleased how this work turned out.  When I first started I wasn't 'real keen' on it....not sure why....but I quiet like the shade and dappled light on the figures.  I think it might be a 'good one' for a competition....I'll have to see what's coming up.