22 Saturday Nov 2014
Posted in The artist within
Every Body
The human body is the one thing that we are all familiar with, two arms, legs, trunk, head, hands and feet, simple. But to an artist it offers endless creative possibilities. Mounds and crevices, deep shadows and tantalising highlights.From dewy, youthful bodies to old wrinkly ones with gnarly limbs. It may be our familiarity with the body that inspires.
21 Friday Nov 2014
Posted in The artist within
Intangible
It is a question often asked in conversation, sparking a lively debate on the glorious and fuzzy subject about the definition of art. Everyone has an opinion.
Art and psychology and as a form of therapy.
Sigmund Freud theorised that the artist has an unfulfilled longing for honour, power, riches, fame or sex; he turns away from the harsh reality and transfers his feelings to a creation of fantasy.All this may be true, but can the artist not only paint and create because it gives him pleasure?
17 Monday Nov 2014
Posted in The artist within
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Choosing A Tutor
Brian Simmonds
A few terms I sweated struggled and strove to better my artist skills at the hands of Brian Simmonds, an admired Perth-based artist. By successfully managing to capture the essence of Perth, Fremantle and the West Australian landscape in his paintings he stands out as an artist. His paintings, both in oils and pastels are sought after and in demand. Brian has a devout following; I know quite a few artists who strive to emulate his style. His style of painting is traditional and a bit old-fashioned, but he does add something magical into the mix. There is always a feeling of ‘freshness’ about a Brian Simmonds’ painting and the mix of colours on his palette is true to the Australian landscape.
15 Saturday Nov 2014
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Is it only me? Or have others noticed how an artist can undergo a complete personality change in an instant like Dr.Jekyll and Mr. Hyde especially when it comes to sharing gallery space for a group exhibition! Competition is good, and it is necessary not only for art to be sustained but also for it to grow and to evolve.
It is to the artists who were brave enough to charter new territories, break the rules and challenge the ideals of society that honour has been bestowed on over the centuries, sadly posthumously for the majority.
13 Thursday Nov 2014
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My name should have been Eve because I easily get seduced into painting that forbidden fruit – the apple. It probably says something about my personality, but I would rather not delve into that topic too deeply! There is something warm and comforting about a perfectly rounded, red apple and apples are of course delicious; think apple pie, toffee apples, intoxicating and sweet apple cider, the list goes on.
10 Monday Nov 2014
Posted in The artist within
From Mitzi Smith, who qualified as a graphic artist and who is also a talented ceramicist and painter; I learnt that an artist has to be playful to be able to create. And never to take herself too seriously.
A sense of humour is helpful as was the odd drop of absinthe to the French Impressionists I’m sure … I confess that I’ve tried a modern day version of “The green fairy. ” Of course lacking the primary narcotic ingredient, to help unleash some creative magic – Alas! To no avail!
Mitzi taught me that your journey as an artist has to be one of a student that never graduates. You will never know enough, and you will never achieve perfection.
To appease Mitzi’s adventurous spirit, there will always be new frontiers for her to conquer; her art is alive and forever evolving. Mitzi is continuously trying out and experimenting with new techniques and mediums. She loves to break the rules, i.e. pouring incompatible oil and water based mediums onto a canvas just to see what the outcome will be.
07 Friday Nov 2014
Posted in The artist within
Rainbow Colours
I am passionate about colour, and I love to paint. Splashing colour onto canvas is simply delightful.
The works of the Australian artist and icon Margaret Olley inspire me – She painted ordinary still lives, bursting with colour and life.
