Two tasks completed

 

Not a lot of photos in the blog post but they do show that I have completed two tasks: a watercolour commission; and the last couple of comfort stones.

The opening photo shows the completed watercolour - though it is not the greatest photo. The following photos show my workplace on the window ledge with light coming in from the west.

I completed the last two comfort stones which can be seen in the photo below.

I now have twelve stones to sell and gift. They have now been packed up for the trip home.

Before heading back to our Maleny home I will do a bit more pierced jewellery work. Couple more pendants and another set of earrings from the melted and rolled metal I brought over with me. If time permits I might make a few pairs of earrings from silver-plate and some pierced jewellery out of pure silver sheet I also brought over with me.!!!

Three finished and one to go - watercolours that is.

 

I have finished the commission I was given after the Pop Up Art Show - see image  of white cottage in the opening photo.

I have about one more session on the other commission I was given before leaving Maleny - a cottage and barn belonging to the father of an art friend - see image below.

I found working on the widow alcove provided good natural light and good for the posture - see images below. And a good view as well!!!

Some progress-process photos follow.

I have also finished doing the touch up work on the other two cottages I had painted when last over here but was not happy with the detail - happier now with the paintings - see images below.

With the community art commitments complete I feel the next few weeks will involve a bit more gentle creating-making.

New workspace in full swing

 

Yesterday I got to have a really good watercolour art time at my new wee work desk in the second bedroom of the cottage. As you can see from the opening photo I can be progressing and finishing several pieces of work.

Following are some progress photos of the two commissions I've have started.

Whilst the sky background and grass foreground washes of the watercolours were drying I went back into a few other watercolours I almost finished here last time - see below.

The stone cottage ruin is now all but complete - a bit of final pen work to do.

What I love of course is that I can leave all the work out and come back at a later time when I can grab a few moments. That is not likely to happen as today (Friday) I'm packing up the tools and doing the final planning for the jewellery workshop I (with Fiona's assistance) will be holding on Sunday.

A start and a finish

 

As a result of the Pop Up Art Show I have a couple of watercolour commissions. I have made a small start on one piece that will become an 80th birthday gift. A wee white cottage with bits and pieces along the front wall. See photo above and below.

I have also completed the sixth wee comfort bird. It just looked gorgeous with the sun shining on it through the workshop window. See images below.

Now that thePop Up Art Show is complete I hope to make a good start on my pierced recycled silver jewellery.

Watercolour work

 

I have finished the two watercolours I started last week as you can see from the opening photo and the one below. Both the bridge and the cottage ruin are located at Latheronwheel Harbour Scotland. The colours of the images are a bit off as they were taken a bit hurriedly.

Progress photos of the work and a couple more of the completed work follow.

Every now and then as artists we need to pause and sort our materials etc. This week I sorted my Daniel Smith watercolours into two tins; and then did new colour swatches to identify which colours were in which tin and on which line. As you can see from the first photo below  I had done this in the past; but with new colours it all needed to be done again.

The last photo below is of some of my watercolour paper that I had tested colours on as I worked - bit messy but interesting in their own right. These sheets were discarded to make room in my watercolour art box.

More for the Pop Up Art Show

 

A mixed bag this week. I managed to start two new watercolours; finished one watercolour; and made two sets of fungi forms.

First the new watercolours - you can see in the photo below I first did the outlines and the opening photo shows I got to setting down glazes.

The following photo shows the finished watercolour of the rusty shed at Kirtomy cove.

And the following images are of the second set of fungi forms I completed yesterday. 

The fungi form bowls are based on fungi that grow on fallen logs in the forest areas around our town

This and that

 

In the lead up to our upcoming trip to the cottage in Scotland I'm busily making product for the Pop Up Art Show in the Armadale village hall (29 and 30 August). 

I want to take a set or two of my fungi form bowls with me. These would be similar to the trio in the opening image. However, I sold the last set this week - so back to the workshop to start making another couple of sets.

As you can see from the photos below I have selected, marked up and cut circles - a good start made. I'm using salvaged silver-plated brass metal from round placemats.

Scotland inspired postcard sized watercolours will also feature in the Pop Up Art Show. On Thursday I managed to finish a couple as you can see from the photos below. 

The barn in the first watercolour is located in Strathy and at the time I took the photo for the watercolour the barn was surrounded by gorse in full bloom hence the rich yellow!!!

I know that jumping from one task to another will be a feature of my art making over the next few weeks - but it is good to be creating and also have a purpose in mind.

Stone bridges and a boat

 I have decided to try my hand at recording a few very old traditional stone bridges in my postcard sized watercolours. But as the title says I have included an unserviceable fishing boat to make up the four you can see close to being finished in the opening photo.

The flooding photo is a close up of the small stone bridge that was part of the original road that goes past Armadale village. These days the bridge it totally overgrown by gorse - very intense and dense yellow flowers.

Some progress photos follow.

I will finish these four in the next week.