When I need some colour therapy....

Before I take these off the easel and forget about them......I started them a few weeks ago, they are not finished pieces, but I want to start another - I have the painting bug, sometimes when I am working with print and copper I really miss using colour. (I may have to work this into my prints!)
I have been really busy lately working and doing other things so there hasn't been enough "creative sanity time" carved out.

Here are my photos from the 'introduction to Studio Lighting' course I did recently. It was only a very short course, 12hrs in total. (Through the Centre of Continuing education, ANU, here.
Featured in the photographs is my beautiful friend and fellow artist Sonja, you can read her blog here. Sonja was an absolutely amazing model, I photographed  for 1 hour- mostly in the 1st position and then a few impromptu snaps at the end. It is intense when you don't really know what you are doing, we were really just experimenting. I had an image I was trying to work towards from a book, I found it hard to capture the exact lighting but I am really happy with the result.

Drawing,Making...

 I have been making little books and cards out of some of my old prints and left over paper and bits, and have been playing with my camera and props.
I also involved myself in a short photography 'studio lighting' course, I will post my images soon.
I really enjoyed it and learnt a bit about portraiture.
Happy Friday!

Earth Skin Heart

Golden Hair,Golden Roses

I have hair envy of my beautiful daughters hair. No surprise there as mine is fairly short! Getting her to sit for me to take photos like this is usually short and sweet -literally on both accounts, bribes are necessary.

Windflowers seeding

These are from my mums garden, she calls them Japanese windflowers, or they were flowers in spring! Often called Chinese or Japanese anemone, thimble weed or windflower, Anemone hupehensis are flowering herbaceous perennials (Ranunculaceae family) native to China.



I vaguely remember them looking something like this 

but I never really noticed them
I love what they are now as they are transforming and self seeding. I love the whole process and transformation, it makes me think about our lifecycle, what happens to us as we go through the seasons and years, the struggles to keep pushing through things, growing in our personal and spiritual self, I could go on but it might be getting a bit deep....

Back in the studio

I finally made it into the print studio! bet you didn't think that was going to happen....

I didn't get to print all the plates I have but it was really nice to familiarize my self with the equipment again, there are lots of little processes and tid-bits to help thing flow smoothly that crept back to me as I went further along. I've really missed doing this and I felt elated for the rest of the day- or maybe I was just light-headed from the slightly toxic inks...

I was just playing around with some dried flower arrangements, ideas for a drawing project

little leaf plate

 This is my small leaf plate-half finished

Finished, ready to take to the print workshop and get my hands dirty!

I haven't printed for a long while, I have quite a few little plates to print.

leaves

I love how these leaves from the tree out back shrivel so much. I'm not sure if they are supposed to be like this or if the tree isn't very healthy (I will have to look into that)

I have started a new plate, I will post an updated image of the plate soon

An unfinished work I was playing around with

Well...i've sort of missed posting the whole christmas/newyear period...it just goes so fast.
We did a few home renovations over this time which meant packing up most of my art things unfortunately.

I have just moved back into the front room of our house which will now be my office/art studio/creative and gathering place for tea and coffee.  I have a makeshift desk but desperately need to get some furniture.
Maia can never get enough painting in her life! she loves messy painting and getting it all over her self as much as possible.
Cheers (very late) to an exciting new 2013! Hopefully full of creativity and fun.