Gaye’s Studio News

The heart of the matter

A new series of paintings is emerging and for now I call it my Heart series but I am working on that. Appropriate with Valentines day looming.

In my last news I was worried about a large commission that had come my way. It was for four paintings for a small business. An exciting opportunity and challenge but with the potential to be an absolute nightmare if the buyer and me the artist could not agree on the outcome. I paint intuitively with joy and passion and would find it hard with a lot of imposed limitations. Thankfully, it is now resolved with the collector choosing four paintings from my stock.

Two of the painting were very recent and the beginning of my Heart series. I called them ‘In a heart beat’ and ‘Trust your rebel heart’; multilayered oil and cold wax. This is they

The other two sold are ‘Inferno’ and ‘Be the light to follow’

The new home of these painting is Franco Tailors in Murray Street Hobart, just up the hill from Liverpool Street. The paintings are visible form the street and I am sure the owners would welcome you in to have a closer look. Take along any clothing alterations you might have. They have been great people to work with.

I have been feeling very creative and have lots of ideas but it’s difficult to find time to paint with all the mounting, finishing, labeling that’s been needed. Two paintings are hanging at the Wooden Boat Festival and I have two almost ready for the Huon Art Exhibition Group’s Annual exhibition. This will be at Cygnet for the first 3 weeks of March. Then there is the Kingborough Art prize not long after.

I have a rotation coming up at my Doctors Clinic’s starting with ‘By the sea’ at City Doctors. I have two new ones to add to this set. Florals will move to Huonville and an Abstract set to Rosny and Sorell.

On the easel are two that were a little lost but starting find there voice. I changed direction at an early stage. Here are two stages of one of them. My intention is to limit myself to warm reds and golds but who knows!

I must finish this little en plein air work done at Snug river mouth last month. As mentioned before I am trying to develop my skill in working realistically on site in oil in parallel with my abstract work in the studio. It’s harder that I thought. Strange things happen. For example, I mix up a colour and hold it up to the scene and it seems a perfect match, then placing it on the board it looks completely different. Don’t know if it it my perception, physics or illusion. I know a colour can look quite different when placed next to other colours but this has me mystified.

It was a fairly dull day. I am yet to add the detail of the moored boats.

I am ready to start a new set in my Heart series and also inspired by hydrangeas and may do some still life. The colours of these gorgeous flowers are fading in my garden now so, I hope I am not too late.

I really enjoy writing this blog and so glad so many of you are reading them and sharing my artist’s journey. I am grateful for the lovely comments I receive.