Some artwork from TAFE.
Photo a bit skewed. Set work - make a collage appropriating bits and pieces from other artist's work, photocopy it B&W, do colour studies, tonal drawing using charcoal and then a painting on canvas (which this is). A very interesting process which I'll return to in due course.
A portrait (next set work) of Linsey, Giles and Leah from a photo taken about eleven years ago. Hmm...it's quite a good likeness...doesn't capture anything of their personalities, except maybe Leah's cheekiness...paint handling is too heavy for a portrait of children...the colours are wrong...they look rather sinister. As you can tell I'm not happy with this one!
So, I tried another.
This one's of Leah. The poor girl is only fourteen, but in this painting she looks so much older! I was using a technique that I used with good effect many years ago, borrowed from American painter Alice Neel. Sketch in the outline using thinned ultramarine blue paint. It's a very good likeness, however.
A lousy photo of the most recent set work - landscape. It's been something of a breakthrough for me, at long last. It's the change of palette, the colours I used. It's a view from the top of Mt Blowhard, near Omeo. I took loads of photos from there on the Sunday of Queen's Birthday weekend. We stayed in Omeo that weekend. Clare and Ally were mightily disappointed it started snowing the day after we came home.
You know, everyone should have immediate family with holiday houses. We stayed in my hubby's brother's house at Omeo.
Major works in progress on the house: recladding. Rotten weatherboards going. Insulation followed by corrugated iron happening.
Back of house (south).
Western side.
Back and forth views of Eastern side of the house.
Not yet done: the Northern side, the front of the house. Architraves around the windows and doors are yet to happen. I think the husband is hoping I'll forget about this detail. Noo-oo-oo. Architraves are a "finishing off" thing. The difference between a shed and a house.
I must also add that insulating the walls has made a significant difference to household comfort. Really and truly. The cold, howling wind of the last few days, which once penetrated every crack and crevice of weatherboard walls, made minimal impact with an insulated wall. I think we could've clad with anything, it's the insulation that's made the difference.
If you're re-cladding, building an extension or building a new house - wall insulation is well worth it.
I love all your artwork. Sadly I can draw but paint is never easy for me. Your house looks great and I am sure your house feels so much warmer now in the wintertime.
Posted by: sue | July 04, 2009 at 07:43 PM
Hey! Just cathing up on your blog (been away).
1. LOVE that you're showing the Tafe work- I find this really exciting and inspiring. Love the landscape!!
2. House cladding looks so good. Both modern and "aussie". I do like the "shed" feel of it too.
3. I'm loving winter lettuce out of the garden too.
4. Get a slow cooker.
Posted by: victoria | July 19, 2009 at 07:16 PM