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Deep in the Trees - Solo exhibition 30th March - 30th April
“Deep in the Trees is a collection of artworks inspired by the local bushland around my home in the Yarra Valley - landscapes that feel like old friends.
I'm fascinated by the natural world and have always found it rather magical. I am inspired by the structure of trees, how they grow and how they change over time. I love the way the light plays on the foliage, creating patterns that are so intricately detailed I can spend hours looking at them.
This collection of artworks was a joy to create. I paint intuitively, using reference photos and sketches only as a starting point or for composition ideas. Once I begin painting, I allow my creativity to take over.”
Playing in my sketchbook
Playing around with layering gouache, watercolor and pencil.
Motivational quotes
New downloadable posters are available on ETSY. You can purchase the high-resolution file and print at any size you like. They make great gifts because you can print and frame them for several people.
Back in the Studio
After a bit of a break while I had some minor hip surgery, I am finally back in my studio and ready to get stuck in to the new year.
I have eased myself back into the routine of creating every day by starting with some simple and loose still-life artworks in oil. For me, oil paint is an old friend. I started painting many years ago with oil paint and slowly transitioned to using acrylics because of their flexibility and faster drying time. But every now and then, I have the urge to go back to oils because you really can’t beat the vibrancy of the colours and that beautiful buttery texture.
You can view and purchase this new mini collection in my online store right now.
Find Your Style - online class
New 6 week online class available on Teachable.
You can read more and sign up by hitting the button below
Pretty Little Things - new Art
I have been working on a new art class recently all about finding your own style and part of that has called for me to create some sample artworks. I have had a great time, in between resting and recovering from surgery, creating a series of still life artworks on paper inspired by the French Impressionist movement.
These artworks are all acrylic on paper and are ready to frame and the paper size is a standard A3 paper it will fit into a standard frame. You can purchase then from my website now
New Prints available now
You can now order a selection of made to order prints and products directly from my website. These items are all available for world wide shipping. I will be adding to this collection of products over the next few weeks.
Out Of the Studio
I will be off my feet - literally - for the next few weeks. I am heading in to hospital on Friday to have a minor operation on my right hip. The surgery is to repair a hip labral tear and will be done arthroscopically. This is a minimally invasive surgery in which the doctor makes small incisions (cuts) in the hip and uses miniature instruments to make repair the damage. However, recovery will be a slow one and I will be unable to walk or stand unaided for at least a month. So this will mean no standing to paint in the studio for a while. :(
It will also mean that art deliveries might be a little delayed, so if you do place an order please be patient. I will be back into regular programing including teaching workshops next year, starting with a weekend workshop on the Gold Coast in January with Artable. You can find out more here.
Bluethumb collector sale! Up to 15% off
Bluethumb, Australia’s largest online art sales platform, is having its yearly collector sale. Until the 22nd of November you can receive between 10-15% of all artworks on the website. I have a collection of art available on Bluethumb and I have been selling through them for many years now. They offer a free 7 day return policy, free shipping and they also have framing options available.
There is no code needed to get the discount, it will be automatically added during the checkout process.
Watch my review of the new Ultimate Mixing Set by Schmincke
Tasmania 5 Day Art Retreat - 2022
Five Days of Relaxation and Creativity
For the last few years I have had the pleasure of joining up with groups of artists in Tasmania for a relaxing painting retreat organised by Artable. These retreats are the perfect perfect 5 days of art, food, flowers & the colours of Tasmania. This year we were at a different location than in previous years and the level of luxury was definitly turned up a knotch.
Our accomodation was the stunning cliff front property called The Cove which was absolutly breathtaking. Each morning we woke up to sea views and the sound of the ocean.
On the first day, we all visited the Table Cape Tulip farm and got to know each other on the bus and during lunch. The food for our stay at The Cove was all chef catered and we certainly didn’t go hungry. In between Breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and dessert it’s surprising that we actually managed to find time to paint!
However, paint we did. We had access to a studio space that we could use as often as well-liked. The groups of artists at these retreats are usually a mixed bag of painters that are interested in broadening their skills, learning new techniques, spending some important studio time alone without children crawling around their feet and new artists that want to get a jumpstart on their skills and others that just want time away to relax and be surrounded by inspiration. There is no pressure in these classes to complete a certain amount or level of art, you can put in as much or as little effort as you like. It is really more about giving yourself the time and space to be creative while enjoying the company of other artists.
If you would like to see more of this years retreat, I have put together a Vlog that you can watch on my YouTube channel here.
If you are interested in joining us next year, you can read about and book in to next years retreat here on Artable: Acrylics and Tulips in Tasmania 2023
You don't want to miss this!! - 10 Day Artist retreat in Greece
Ok...so I am just a bit excited!!!
If you have been following me for a while you will know that I have been working with the amazing Gillian from Artable for quite a few years now. We have held some awesome workshops and retreats together all over Australia. Well, now that the world is opening up again Gillian is bringing back what she does best and what Artable is most known for....overseas creative retreats!
I am super stoked to be one of her teachers for the first series of luxury art retreats in 2023 and we are heading to the beautiful Skopelos Island.
Skopelos is a very special island full of artistic inspiration and colour everywhere you look. There is the most incredible turquoise coloured sea nestled behind spectacular white-washed villages with multi-coloured rooves. Combine that with the brilliance of the local bougainvillea, lemon and olive trees and you have an artists' haven.
I have never been there before but Gillian has spent a lot of time there and knows exactly what we need to see. She has put together an incredible 10 day retreat full of food, inspiration, relaxation and art.
PLACES ARE LIMITED SO SECURE YOUR SPOT WITH A DEPOSIT ASAP
Each day will involve a new painting location where you will work with me, I will demonstrate some useful techniques before tackling your own artworks with plenty of down time to shop, swim in the crystal clear waters and enjoy the Greek hospitality.
We will be using mostly watercolour and gouache so that we can keep things nice and portable, with a strong focus on capturing the colour and mood of the locations we visit. We can work in sketchbooks as well as loose sheets of paper. I will show you how to work loose and fast to capture the essence of the island without getting bogged down in details.
In addition to daily instruction from me and staying in gorgeous water view accommodation, you will also be enjoying:
- Dinners with a local Greek grandmother cooking & George's homemade pastries and incredible fresh Greek breakfast each morning
- A sailing trip to soak in the incredible turquoise waters surrounding the island with painting in the old village on Alonyses
- A Day trip to see St Johns Church made famous in the movie Mama Mia
- Visits to local tapas bars & restaurants
- Visits to local beaches where you can swim between painting sessions
- Plenty of shopping time for authentic Greek ceramics and more
The full package includes accommodation, art classes and some planned tours. Breakfast is also included each morning with some lunches and some dinners included in the price (others allow you to choose & pay for your own meals at a variety of restaurants and tapas bars). Flights are not included in the package which gives you the flexibility to plan a longer visit if you would like.
This workshop is open to anyone worldwide so if you are based in Europe or the US and you have always wanted to join in on my workshops then this is a great opportunity to learn from me.
Artists will have painting sessions with me either morning or afternoon and you can choose how much or how little painting you do each day. (Non-painting partners are welcome to join us at a discounted rate as well and will have plenty to do).
What if I'm just a beginner?
You don't need to feel as though you are a good painter to do this trip, I have taught many beginner painters before and what better place to be inspired and learn the basics than the Greek Islands.
Watercolour and Gouache are very easy art mediums to pick up and learn for beginners. And a lot of techniques used with gouache are very similar to how I use acrylic paint, so you can transfer what you learn at the retreat over to acrylic paint when you get back home.
What if I don't have someone to go with?
No arty friends? no worries! Based on past experiences with these retreats I know that by the end everyone is great friends. You will be with a group of creative people that are just as excited as you are to talk about paints, materials, techniques and more. The accommodation is based on twin share rooms and Gillian will match you up with another single traveller.
More questions??
Feel free to contact Gillian at Artable (INFO@ARTABLE.COM.AU) to answer any of the questions you may have regarding the retreat itself, if you have any art-related questions or concerns about the trip then you can contact me and I'd be happy to answer as best I can.
Online Classes - Which is better? Skillshare or Teachable
If you are an artist and you are interested in learning some of the techniques that I use to create my paintings then I do have a number of online classes available on both Skillshare and also through Teachable.
I often have people ask me what the difference between the two platforms are and whether they are the same. The answers is yes and no.
The classes and content available on Skillshare and Teachable are the same (with only one exception). Same videos, same information, same format etc. The difference is that for Skillshare you need to pay a monthly membership to get access to the classes and you need to continue that membership if you want to rewatch or revisit any of the lessons. On Teachable, you pay a one off fee for each class that you want to watch and you only have to pay once. After that you can rewatch anytime as often as you like (even months later).
Which platform you choose is totally up to you and both come with positives and negatives. Skillshare is a monthly subscription, however you also get access to all the other content that is available on the platform (including all my classes and every other class created by other teachers). So you do get a lot of content for your monthly subscription.
Teachable is good for those that don’t want to commit to a monthly subscription, or maybe you are only interested in watching one particular class. You can also watch one class on Teachable, see if you like my style of teaching or not. If you do, then it might be benifitial to eventually subscribe to skillshare and watch them there instead.
Unlocking Abstract Landscapes - Online Class
New Online class available on Teachable only. In this in-depth class I will take you through the steps to loosen up and create your own expressive abstract landscapes.
Join me on a journey of creativity. Learn how to break down complicated landscape scenes into beautiful and expressive abstract artworks.
In this course, you will be taken through a series of projects designed to help you see the landscape in your own unique way and expresses your creativity.
We will be using acrylic paint and other water-based media to explore how subtle shifts in value and colour can depict distance and details without needing to worry about perspective.
Nature and Nurture Exhibition - 4th June- 3rd July 2022
"Nature. Nurture" is a collection of contemporary artworks inspired by tranquil landscapes and serene environments in the home. From the subtle portrayal of still life scenes to the bold, vibrant exploration of abstract bushland, i have created these artworks to explore the beauty of the environment by inviting the viewer to consider how the home reflects nature.
My work always echoes nature's tranquillity, peace, and calm: a visual connection to the natural world. My artworks are expressive and imaginative, with a solid painterly approach and a whimsical twist.
Arty Stuff Vlog
2020 Dulux Colour Trends
Dulux recently released its colour trends for 2020 and they are gorgeous. We are moving away from the soft baby pastels and heading into colour schemes that have a bit more depth and strength to them which is lovely. As a long time cool tone colour lover I am very happy to see some deep blues and greens coming back into fashion in the Cultivate palette , but I'm also quite partial to the warmer tones of the Indulge palette.
I have had some fun creating a few little mood boards showcasing some of my artwork within these trending colour schemes. I don't usually create artworks specifically based on trending schemes, I usually just create what feels right to me. But it was interesting when I looked though a few recent works how many of them actually fitted in with these trends naturally. Which one is your favourite?
Seaview Gallery
I will have several works on display and available for purchase at Seaview Gallery in Queenscliff from the 7th-22nd of December.
Skillshare - Abstract landscape Tutorial
If you have always wanted to come along to one of my workshops but you live to far away then Skillshare might be a great alternative. I will be adding full tutorials up onto my Skillshare profile over the next few months that you can watch at your own pace.
The first video available is a tutorial over 30 min long showing the steps that I take to create an abstract landscape based on a photo reference. It has already received many positive reviews and I will be adding more over the next year.
You can subscribe to Skilshare on a monthly basis and that will give you access to not only my tutorials but also thousands of other videos created by other people.
You can find out more by following the link below.