After night rain

 

There was quite a shower of rain over night; however dawn was cloudy but rain free. I really like the freshness of walks on mornings like that. The tendrils of blossoms holding water gives a sense of nature's vitality.

A butterfly that seemed to be taking up moisture from the grass beside the path - I'm not even sure that is a thing they do.

A rainbow lorikeet bathed in sunlight and checking me out before flying off.

Random flowers beside the paths.

A new gorgeous coloured orchid emerged in G's orchid house.

A photo from Sunday - bees so busy among the blossoms outside the studio.

The sun appears to be rising a little later.

A mixed bag

 

There are different ways to describe the diverse material in this blog but a mixed bag seems to cover it. Above - fire colour on a larger copper leaf.

The photos below show an anvil that came into my possession a few weeks ago - part purchased and part gifted - an anvil used by a deceased fellow artist - grand that his legacy can live on a bit in its use.

I was commissioned to make three stamped larger (19cm long) patinated copper leaves for three couples to celebrate a significant wedding anniversary.

Whilst I was doing the commission I decided to start making 24 other leaves that will form some sets of three and seven leaves on stalks for the open studio on 13 March.

These melted metal hearts were delivered to Maleny Additions in time for Valentines Day - maybe too late to see but....

I have started the process of creating a letterpress piece I have planned to do for the last two year - print a limited edition of a prose-poem I have written myself (with editorial assistance from Fiona) - but more on that next week.

Always a bit strange to look back over the incidental bits from a busy art week.

Small post sculptures

 

I committed myself to finishing the three small posts that make up a garden sculpture. As you can see from the photo above I achieved my goal - yippee.

During the week I had sanded and oiled the posts (rough sawn 100mm square hardwood). The height of the posts are: 650m, 700mm and 800mm - a bit of difference to give the trio a little movement so to speak.

Before attaching the etched plates they needed to be polished with a steel wire wheel. Each post has 5 etched 2mm thick aluminium plates - the top plate is  9cmX9cm and four side plates are 9cmX20cm. The plates are attached to the timber with copper nails.

A few photos of the finished posts in a couple of different settings.

This trio of posts will be part of our open studio on 13 March.

Not all about blossoms

 

OK - whilst the blog post does feature some gorgeous blossoms there are also images of a messy bee and early sunlight capturing trees etc. The photo above was of a peeling sign on a large fire hydrant cabinet - as is the 'o' as in booster below.

But back to that messy bee; and micro bug on a rose. I loved how the bee was so covered in pollen so early in the morning.

Blossoms - including cut flower in the house, Fiona's favourite pink and white micro grevillea and  crisp white lilac.

Sunlight

Berries on a native lilypilly bush - gorgeous colour

First two in the patriarchy series

 

I continue to be appalled by the fact that we are now in the 21st century and patriarchy is still so solidly entrenched.  I have decided to do a series of posters that will 'explore' some different takes on why patriarchy remains an entrenched system that so strongly discriminates again women - and now, in this modern era, is also discriminating against so other genders.

The picture above shows the second in the series but printed on a tea towel - very fitting given the subject matter - women's place is in the kitchen as we know!!! Hanging on the hand rail at Deckled Edge Press studio-gallery

The first in the series is in fact below - patriarchy is not going to suddenly dismantle itself -it serves males very well thank you -it will need the influence of all of us to be dismantled.

I wonder why males work so hard to retain patriarchal systems and processes - I just wonder if deep down they are afraid of other genders who are their equal - maybe they are fearful and too weak to handle equality.

Over the next few weeks I will be printing more in the series - using the same two sets of wood type, two colours, A3 landscape and probably an edition of 5 each. I will print tea towels for the first poster in the series as well.

Finishing

 

I have managed to complete 4 more small indoor tabletop sculptural pieces in preparation for our open studio on 13 March. Above are the four finished pieces on the kitchen bench. To give one an idea of size - the two pieces in the centre are 15cm high and 10cmX10cm square

A bit of a peace influence on a couple of the pieces. One has the peace symbol etched into the metal whilst the other has the metal etched away leaving the symbol stand out.

I have now started preparation for etching plates for a three post outdoor sculptural piece - the plates have been cut, ground clean and block out design painted on the aluminium.