Paint Party at Modern Country Style...bring nibblies!!

Hi all my lovely friends

Have you heard that Sarah at Modern Country Style is having a party?





And yes, it is not just any party...this is a PAINT party.

Would you agree that this would have to be one of the best parties ever, because whether it be furniture, walls or canvas...you can link something up!

Strangely enough, I mulled considerably over what to link up.  I know...paintings everywhere and nothing to show.   In the end, in keeping with Sarah's latest series on painting furniture, I have decided to link back to an old post about Bella Boo's bed.  It really is a 2-for-1 link, because I painted the bed and the painting hanging above it!

I am not very good with the pillow smooshing and joo-jooing...

I think they call it styling ;-)

Now, a little bit closer at my fine paint splashing, layering and sanding....

Now look away if you don't want a shock....this is the before...

The full post about the transformation is here.

Enjoy the party!!

Hugs

Cath

I am having a blast!!

Hey lovelies

Look at this! I am posting twice in one week?

Sorry, did that feather just knock you over?

I just wanted to share a couple of things with you;

the first is that I finally had my Dahlia painting framed!! 

Let me hear a big Wooo hoooo!

I was so chuffed with the gorgeous aged silver frame that I was instantly inspired.

You have to love when you inspire yourself...

Our bedroom is the haven of the house.  

No, not the haven for us, but the haven for where;

 the washing goes if we haven't folded it yet, or

our three year old stashes her toys, or

our dog hides when the three year old is chasing him with her toys...

You get the picture.

So I bought a gorgeous silver fabric with a pale silver sewn pattern

and mocked up a bed head.

I then changed the sheets

  (domestic duty made this necessary) 

to all our white sheets/ doona cover, etc,

and hung the painting above the bed head.

It wasn't "photo perfect", but it was enough to give an idea.

Do you know what the hubs said when he walked in?

"Oh WOW!!"

That was all I needed to know it was a plan that could be developed.

It's a work in progress - like most things in our house - 

but you know, that's okay because I am

happy,

healthy and

having fun!!

Despite the washing not being folded.

Have a great weekend!!

Hugs

Cath

A quick addition for the wall

Hello dear friends

First, thank you for your sweet comments and emails about my last post.  I am glad to report that this last week has proved considerably quieter on many fronts, and on others the stresses are finally come to a close.

I took some time for myself during this to whip up a couple of quick paintings for our family room walls.

We are slowly decorating.  In fact, I think it is so slow at times I have to wonder if we can call it "decorating" - is decorating an actual concerted effort towards change, or a gradual change that just seems to happen?  Either way, change is the intent, and we are getting there :-)

Anyway, enough rambling.

Believe me when I say this was quick and in context of the room, very effective.

Do you want to learn how?

I have used wall paint (yep, no fancy paints here!) that I have incorporated into my recent home changes;


White
Beige
Aqua, and
chocolate (this sounds so much better than brown)
 
And you know, I can show you how to do the same!

Keen?  Pop on over to my other blog Paint with Me (see the button to the left...no, make that the right!), where I will post a tutorial in the coming week.

Again, you guys are the best!! Mwah!

Big hugs

Cath
xx

Garden party!!!

Hello my sweet friends.

Do you like my dress?  I am going to the lovely Sarah's Garden Party over at Modern Country Style.

You should come along! There is a beautiful display of flowers and some lovely frocks in attendance!  Not only that but Sarah promised us a garden bath: perfect for washing our dirty feet if, like me, you plan to run through the grass with no shoes on!

This is my garden in the spring - it was a painting I did in acrylics in about 3 hours non stop.  It was a bit of a challenge, because while I was painitng in the grass, my little man who was 4 at the time was painting the sky brown!!  Lucky acrylic dries fast!

The painting was done with a palette knife and was primarily a study of the light.

Over at TWC - Paint with Me we are working on our backgrounds for our paintings.  We haven't long to go, so be sure to check back in a couple of weeks when we do our "before and after" virtual gallery showing.  Better yet, there is still time to jump right in and join this session.

Take care and enjoy the champers - it really is a gorgeous afternoon for a garden party.

Hugs

Cath

It's a New Year - are you ready to learn?

Hello my dear friends and welcome to 2011!!

I hope you have all had a safe and wonderful festive period.  We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas day with family and friends, as well as a wonderful holiday period enjoying bike riding, walking, relaxing and a trip to the coast for some absolutely stunning weather with my parents before New Years...it was the perfect end to 2010.

As always, the beginning of the year harks the time to make resolutions and to set personal goals. I have one resolution this year that will help me achieve my goals, one of which relates to an original intention for this blog: sharing "How to's" on painting.

For a variety of reasons I have always put it off and I came to realise that what I was doing was procrastinating: I had so many good reasons to NOT start. The truth is, one word held me back: FEAR.

So my New Years resolution is to put that little bad guy to bed. In order to do that I will question him, answer him, then sweep him out the door.

Please feel free to grab a cuppa while I set this little guy straight.

What do I fear...

1. whether there is any value with what I have to share;
2. someone will say that it isn't true/correct/right;
3. failure;
4. lack of interest.

 Erghhhh, isn't Fear a nasty little grey mass of fluff sitting there on my floor like a giant dust bunny!

Well, let me answer all those little taunts that Fear likes to throw at me, particularly in the wee hours of the morning:

Is there any value in what I have to share:
I have had plenty of affirmation over the years from people that what I can do is good. That where others need to work at it, I can do it easily. I have been told that art is my gift.  Whilst I wish for the things I so admire in others, like;

• singing well at all; 
• being less gormless playing sports;
• being extremely organised through a bit hard yakka (work)

I CAN do this and I LOVE helping others enjoy painting: it is something I have done whenever I have had the chance, so why not extend it further. So is there value: yes! For me and for anyone who would like to participate.

What if someone says something is wrong, etc etc etc. Then I will embrace it as a learning exercise like all other times I have been redirected with art. I don't know everything and will never claim to know everything: so it will be as much a learning experience for me as for others.

What if I fail? I will fail only by NOT trying. Failure is Fear's favourite taunt: a big wall that I often throw down before myself; that 'voice of reason' that stops me doing something new, just in case I fail. Whilst I have no measure for this failure,...I can't quantify it; I know it stops me. So, in answer to that question: I will not fail, by just taking a step forward. Then another step...and onwards until that voice can't be heard anymore.

And what if no one is interested? Well, time can only tell. But I won't know unless I try, right?!

Alrighty, that's sorted: excuse me while I take the rubbish out.

And now I am back!!

So, the first lesson will be on painting with a mixture of water colours, acrylics and pencils similar to this painting that I did for my Mum for Christmas.

I would like to get everything together and sorted here at the White Canvas before I go much further - I would like to do some "New Year" cleaning on my blog - then I should be ready to go in a week.

So stay tuned my lovelies - let me know if you have any particular questions, fears of your own or needs in preparation for taking on this exciting challenge. I love questions, so please ask away!!

Big hugs to you all - I am really excited about our year ahead together.

Cath
x

I love a sunburnt country...

Hi lovely friends

How is your weekend treating you? Are you down to all the last minute shopping and preparations for the big weekend to come...or are you more like me and only just writing your list of things to do, having bought absolutely nothing!

Here it is raining (again), so it has made it hard to really get into the swing of enjoying Summer.... This would be a first, but I am really hanging out for some nice warm weather.

At the moment I am getting set (in amongst my other stuff), to do some art painting - the reason why I started the ol' Tigs White Canvas to start with. I think it is due to be frank; I seem to have lost my way with all the other creative ventures that keep tweaking at my implusive and easily distracted self.

In doing my prep work painting and checking against my reference photos, (and dreaming of some warmer weather), I found this photo of two paintings that I had not yet shared.

These two were painted about 10 years apart. The one on the right was painted first: it is an oil on canvas and was done for my Mum, who particularly loved this scene and asked me to paint it for her. It did take a while as there is lots of glazing...the photo makes it appear a little flatter than it is in real life, where it appears to change depending upon the light: the beauty of glazing.

The painting on the left was painted earlier this year as a gift for friends of my folks who own the land in both  paintings. It is an acrylic on canvas and involves no glazing whatsoever (phew!!) so didn't take so long to paint.

What we all found amazing was that while the two paintings had been painted at different points in time, from different reference photos, they lined up really well next to each other. 

So there it is - I have shared some art, and if nothing else have inspired myself to wriggle my bones into action and get some more painting done!

As always I love your feedback, even if it is just to say "hi!"; it really makes me day.

Take care of yourselves in this week leading up to Christmas.

Big hugs

Cath
xx

Sweet dreams...the bed reveal

Hello my lovelies

After much rain and great impatience on my behalf, I present to you Isobelle's new big-girls bed.

Now, remember our starting place...

the 1930's double bed from the bedroom suite I won on Ebay.

I sanded this lovely back with help from my gorgeous boys.  The immediate results for sanding those parts of the bed that weren't timber veneer was just remarkable. 

Next, came two layers of undercoat with another zap from the sander.  Then, I used two sample pots that I had on board from one of my numerous trips to the Bunnings paint section:  a beautiful blue and a whimsical pale aqua green. To be honest, I just blended those two colours together on the bed as I went along. I really loved the result from this in itself, but onwards I strove.

The top layer was a coat of pure white, mixed with one quarter Dulux Duck White - I wanted it to be a pure white, with the edge taken off, just a little. 

Then came the part that killed my arm - sanding by hand. I had never done this before ever, and my, I have got to ask you lovely ladies that do this all the time - how do you stop your bicep on one side getting too much larger than the other? My arm killed for days after I had finished...but I have to tell you, the results were so worth it and I am ready to do it all over again.

The bed was placed under a painting I had done for Isobelle before she was born and then topped off with a very pale blue quilt cover and a quilt that Isobelle's Gran made for her on Isobelle's first Christmas.

I wish I could bring you a "whole" of bed photo, but until the sun starts to shine again a photo from the "dark side of the room" just looks dark, no matter how I try to pretty it up.
So what do you think of my first foray into breathing life into an old piece?

I hope you are having a beautiful week.

Hugs

Cath

xx

A hung painting...and exciting news!!

Good evening all my lovelies

Okay, I am busting at the seams and I can't leave my exciting news until last...

The gorgeous and wonderful Kristin, over at an Uncommon Slice of Suburbia chose my little ol' printed fabric label as one of her favourites at her Link Party!!

I am beyond excited - Kristin's was my first peek around the corner at a Link Party: I was the shy chickie in the corner, holding a plate of Anzac cookies and wondering who to talk to.

Well, Kristin just made me feel enormously welcome in a very talented group of ladies. 
Thank you Kristin for the honour!! You are an angel. :-)

So, onto my painting....

Remember the abstract painting I did for my gorgeous sister in law (read about it here) - it is now hung above their fireplace.

My sisters home is warm and inviting, with lovely little details that just make you smile. So it certainly feels odd to walk in and see my painting hanging in the middle of their main living area.

Unlike most other paintings I do, where I see the improvements I can make the more I see them, this one perplexes me: there are elements I like...and whilst I don't dislike it, it challenges me visually. Perhaps this is a good thing!!

Anyway, they love it and that is what counts!!

I hope you have a truly wonderful day and to make it better I am sending everyone super hugs...big squishy ones.

Did I tell you I was excited....

Cath

Complete! Re-newed Water painting

Finally it is completed...the "re-newed" Water Painting, in oils :-)

Lots of glazing,

lots of layers,

lots of waiting for the paint to dry ;-)

And here she is!

( The whole painting is in the middle, third down...)

It was very difficult to photograph, due to the reflections and all the glazing in different light throwing off...I need my Dad to photograph this one for me properly, and at the moment he is (last heard) at Uluru.

So, to try and compensate for the "whole" poor image quality, I took photos of the various parts that make the whole.

Hopefully you can see the different colours, the glazing...the drips! I am new to drips, but I kind of liked it.

Please let me know what you think!

Cheers

Cath

A brief stop in...

Good evening lovelies,

I have just returned from a couple of hours puddling in my art room, working to rectify the "ruined" painting of water.

The other night, after I had a few days to mull over my course of action, I decided to really "let it all go" and whipped out my Sennelier oil sticks and just started to draw on it.

Wow, talk about tapping into the ol' right side of the grey matter!

I had held back against the oils, only due to the drying time and I am impatient by nature: I want results now thanks!! However, I had forgotten how much I love working with oils for the purity of colour that can be achieved in blending and glazing....I love glazing....sigh.

The reason I decided to do attack the painting with the oil sticks, was because I had done this many years ago on another "flat" acrylic painting that seemed to be going nowhere: I had layered colour...I used a palette knife to bring in texture...I pulled off colour to create interesting effects in the background...but to no avail, it was lack lustre. So, I decided to whip out my oil sticks and just scribble all over it. This led to some more oil, a bit of glazing.... and the result was really satisfying and became my lovelies favourite painting: the Tulips.

It is about 1.5m x 1m in size, with lots of layers of colour (acrylic and oil), glazing and texture. A photo just does no justice to it at all.

So, all being well, my water painting will return with a vengeance and my renewed love of the oils will lift this painting...fingers crossed I can bring a "work in progress" update very soon.

Have a lovely evening,

Cath

x

Disaster has struck

Good evening fair friends,

I had hoped to be able to bring back the final of my water painting, only I went and did something called "experimenting" LOL I decided I wanted to put some depth and punch into the water shading, and instead made a bit of a mess.

I find for me there is no quicker way to let go of the rigid "shoulds" and move to the "what ifs" and freestyle (painting without thinking), than to experiment. Often, this happens after I have made a mistake: this time I created one LOL...never fear, I hope the water painting will be back to near completion very soon.

In the name of feeling productive, and since I know I still have my little band of lovely followers checking in on any updates, I thought I would share another painting that is almost finished.

This was painted from a photo taken at Wilpena Pound in Central South Australia. It is painted on a framed stretched canvas in acrylics.

I can promise that, given I have been working on this for ages, I will not be experimenting on this one. There is only a little way to go and it shall be done.


The photo is a bit average, I took it this morning when our family room was full of light, but due to the size of it I do need to stand a fair distance away.

Have a super evening and I hope to be back with you soon!

Cheers

Catherine

A quick peak

Hello and good evening!!

I spend maybe 2 hours a night in my little studio - after the kids have gone to bed and before I have to go to bed in preparation for my working day.

Tonight I have finally got my latest painting going in the direction I would like...still going, but maybe closer now to complete.


It is a terrible photo, taken by the light of two fairly average lamps with my phone lol. The bottom left is the shadow of my ever faithful cup of coffee - and yes I do drink it cold.

Have a super evening!

Catherine

First time abstract

Hello and welcome to Saturday evening!

A couple of posts ago I mentioned the first ever abstract I had completed for my lovely sister-in-law (SIL). Well, yesterday we had the chance to go down Bredbo way for a visit and for the first chance to see the painting at home.

Whilst it isn't hanging up yet the first thing that struck me was how small the painting seemed at her place: now, no question, my studio is tiny by anyone's standards, but I love it as it is all mine and I have never had such a glorious space for my art before. In my studio, the length of the panels on end reached from the base of my stand, to the top of my ceiling: side by side, they took up the length of my "painting wall". Perhaps this will give you an idea of the space in which I work. :-)

Anyway, here is a first view of it - given I was taking the photo against the window light, it was very difficult to get the colour balance correct. I can't wait to take a photo of the painting hanging above the glorious fireplace: SIL assures me it is perfect for the space (phew!!!!)

While we were stopping at the shops on the way to Bredbo I saw these devine roses! I have no idea what they are, but they were the most unusual colour I have ever seen; dusky mauve with a beige base! If anyone has any idea what these are called, I would love to know! I picked the roses up for my SIL - who doesn't love flowers for no reason!!

Have a glorious Saturday evening!

Cheers

Catherine

Quick snippet

Evening lovely people!

I have finally finished a three panelled "square" for my lovely sister-in-law and family, to go in their recently updated family/kitchen area that has beautiful high ceilings painted white, freshly painted walls in hogs bristle (quarter I think), and a stunning glass double-sided Cheminees Philippe fireplace with a rendered chimney going all the way up to those gorgeous beamed ceilings.

My painting is 1.2m square and will be hung above the fire-place. A real honour!

I have to admit that being abstract in style, this was completely out of my comfort zone. But I admit, once I got the hang of it, I had a blast!! No idea if it is any good, but Sal says she likes it which is the most important thing.

My brief was to do it in mostly beiges and similar tonings (very neutral), with some red to bring colour into the room. Beige....neutral...red. No peachy colours thank you ;-) Oh, and Sal loves a very special tree outside of her kitchen window, so I popped that in somewhere too. I can't take a decent photo of the paintings, despite trying. So no complete photos will be taken until they are finally settled in their chosen hanging space.

Until then, let me tempt you with a teeny snippet of one of the panels.

Trust me when I say that the colours are off - that peachy colour is actually less so...more beige neutral. I hope.

Cheerio!

Catherine

Full-colour seeing

Welcome back to my small band of followers - you know who you are and I am pleased to see you back for post number 2 ;-)

Have you ever had the chance to stand up close to an artwork of an artist you admire?  If so, did you get right up (security permitting) and look at the strokes; wonder how the colours were put down and in what order?  I love the notion that the artist also stood that close to create that individual stroke, and each other one to create the whole.  It is amazing to think that, in essence, you could be standing in their feet.   Do that with one of the greats, like Monet! Wow!

I bought a really great book by the Founder of the School of Light & Color, Susan Sarback, titled "Capturing Radiant Light and Color, in oils and soft pastels".  I can certainly say that this book has changed the way I see colour when I paint.  "Full-color seeing is the vision of Impressionism" - love it! 

I am also a huge lover of Monet, whose painitings were often studies of objects at different times of the day, in different weather conditions and different seasons.  Monet's paintings are a colour feast for the eyes.  So when a friend saw a study that I had done, based upon the full-colour - I will save that for a different post -  she asked me to do a painting for her home.  She loves Impressionism, beautiful greens and blues with water reflections: kinda points to Monet, don't you think?!  She did initially present me with a newspaper clipping of Gustav Klimt's "Church at Cassone sul Garda", to which I kindly said I don't think so!! no. When I suggested instead the Waterlilies (or a representation thereof), she was just as happy.

I am very proud to say that she loves it - and I am pretty happy with the results, although have already started thinking upon improvements for the next time I do something similar.

Bye for now, I'm off for a coffee.

Catherine

Starting on a White Canvas

You really would think that by starting a blog I would have something inspirational to share: something that would stir you from within and launch you onto a great moment of creativity. Maybe not immediately, but perhaps over time as we get to know one another.

Let's just say for now that this blog will be an avenue by which I will pour a little of my creative juices and perhaps inspire myself :-)

Well, what have I got to share? My paintings. I dabble in most things involving colour and mess - pastels, oils, pencils, ink but my big thing at present is acrylics. I am loving these right now as they force me to work fast, and think less. Thinking about what I am doing is just a great way of making me stop :-) But as soon as I stop thinking and just "feel" my way,...ahh, step back, have a cup of coffee and then look at what I did. Sometimes I even amaze myself :-)

My experience: I have been drawing and painting with passion for the past 20 years. I have attended various classes over time, both private for a couple of years and at Art Schools. I have purchased and commissioned works held in private collections. I have lots more stored in my own home. :-D

So, the aim for my blog is to post completed paintings on here as I go along, either as "Works in Progress"

Or as the completed piece:

And maybe if I get really clever, I will see if anyone is interested in a few lessons on how to do stuff. We'll see. :-)

In addition, I will bore you with inspirational images, some that may have nothing to do with painting but they will tick the "lovely!!" box for me.

OK, this is coffee. Coffee inspires me. Alot.... However, this photo also says winter, warm, crackling fires, rain on a tin roof...I don't know how red wine came into a photo of coffee...but anything that makes me remember those really cosy, comforting moments....they are my bliss.

So, thanks for stopping in...let's see if we can get some colour down on this white canvas.

Cheers

Catherine