Gaye’s Studio News

Revisiting the coastline

28 October 2022

Inspired by my recent large painting of Tasmania’s north east coast, featured in my last newsletter, I embarked on another two in this series. A return to realism for a short diversion. It’s a great way to freshen up and review progress. Sometimes looping back to a previous inspiration is rewarding because you bring all that you have learnt in the meantime to the process.

Nicholas Wilton from Art2Life posted an interesting thought this week and I quote a segment:

“Art making always seems to reward you with something substantial even if you arrive exactly where you began. It even sometimes gives the unexpected that tantalizingly hints at the possibility of things that are coming but can’t yet be seen.”

This is my almost finished painting. It measures about 97cm x 67cm.

This next painting is of Safety Cove on the Tasman Peninsula, visited in September. Still in the early stages. There will be grasses to break up the foreground and more layers in various parts.

At the Lady Franklin Gallery at Lenah Valley this week is a show titled In the stillness My entry The poetry of time shown below has sold; a very pleasing outcome.

My exhibitions at four doctors practices will change next week. A new abstract set Flourish to the city, the Imagined set from the city to Huonville and my By the sea set will be split between Rosny and Sorell Doctors. Quite a bit of work behind the scenes with labelling, record keeping and logistics.

Recently I enrolled in a floral abstract class in oils which I enjoyed and picked up some new techniques. It was on impulse and seemed inexpensive but I then found what I thought was AUD$ was actually US$. Oh well!!

Finally two in my shapes series are done(I think). It was a struggle to size these up X 6. Yet to be named! There are lots of lovely layers and I love the colour scheme.

And its mate

I love the idea of plein air oil painting and am enrolled in a four day(one a week) plein air workshop with Rick Crossland; a local artist who had a sell out show at Lady Franklin Gallery earlier in the year.

I have been doing outdoor sketching regularly for years but finding it less inspiring and quite uncomfortable hunched on a chair to work. You are less constrained in arm movements but I need to have greater control.

So, again on impulse I researched and purchased a wizz-bang easel on a tripod . I can stand up to work which helps in that you can step back and view the work more objectively.

I work with oil most of the time but have moved away from brushes, using silicon tools to apply paint. My brush skills need attention! So my challenge in this workshop is to find the tools which best suit me and this style of work.

Coming up next week on Saturday 5 Nov is the Government House open day. I joined a plein air group in the grounds a few weeks ago and this is my contribution to a little exhibition the Art Society is organising in the old Stables at the venue.

Summer is slow in coming and we are water logged at the moment. Looking forward to some sun!!! Thanks for taking the time to read my news.