Jervis Bay

A few months have passed since my last blog, in which I've been very active! I will concentrate this
blog on a week I spent in Jervis Bay on the south coast of New South Wales with my brother Alan. The bay formed 11,000 years ago after the last ice age, so the traditional owners, The Jerringa People would have witnessed the event, as they have had a presence in the area for 20,000 years!

Moona Moona Creek Jervis Bay

I attended a Plein Air course conducted by Alasdair McGregor. Alasdair demonstrated the use of gouache paints to a small class, a medium I have never used before. It was a wonderful way to get a deeper understanding of the Shoalhaven District. We met at the Moona Moona Creek near Huskisson and Alasdair demonstrated the technique then set us loose! Here is my own attempt:

The 1 day course was organised by Alison's Artworks in Jervis Bay and I thoroughly recommend it.

Alan and I stayed in a self contained bush cottage at Worrowing Heights, a lovely little place surrounded by native fauna and flora.

Worrowing Heights Cottage

Throughout spring I have been busy painting. I've completed another picture for my daughter Karlie of an ocean wave. The technique is not dissimilar to painting a flower,  in fact a wave's edges are akin to the edges of a petal:

The Magic of Waves.

My other recent paintings are again taken from nature, whilst having a sundowner at the Huskisson Pub, we watched the treetops change colour as the sun set. The two painting show the last of the sun's rays, then dusk.

Apart from my painting I have kept busy with family, especially  my beautiful grand children.

Until next time,

LotsaluvVal x

Toorak Village Sculptures.

Five kilometers south east of  Melbourne's CBD  is Toorak Village. It was named after the residence of James Jackson who built Toorak House in 1849, The merchant probably took the name from the Woiwurrung language and possibly means 'reedy place' as Toorak lays on the south bank of the Yarra River.

Every year through May and into June, the village hosts a sculpture exhibition, where local businesses link with the arts to present sculptures along the streets and in shop windows. It's fantastic, and if you happen to be near by I recommend a stroll.

I enjoyed just such a stroll last Friday with my Granddaughter Paige. On our way for a bite to eat at favourite restaurant, Quaff.  Paige took control of my Iphone with the following results.

Spooky Witch Woman

This hare looks keen on something in the Chemist!

Very elegant

A Puzzle?

From the Fashion Deli (Paige's favourite shop)

Winter has really hit Melbourne this week, with snow settling on the Dandenongs and an Antarctic blast battering the coastline. I have been quite snug working on my latest painting, 'Windflower' which is really a Japanese Anemone. I plan painting a triptych based on this, for my daughter's home.

  

I will leave you a Wintery thought,

“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” 
― John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America

Do you think this is strictly related to the seasons or does Steinbeck really refer to life itself?

Lotsaluv,

Val x

February in Torquay

From the blue hills of the Dandenongs to the sea side town of Torquay - once the home of the Wathaurong Aboriginal people (for 25,000 years!) and known as 'Spring Creek' to the early Europeans. The area is famous for it's surf beaches of Jan Juc and Bells Beach, and is the start of the breathtaking coastal drive of the Great Ocean Road. Its natural sandstone sculptures are continuously being shaped by the rough seas of Bass Strait, their great work forming the 'Twelve Apostles' which rise like earthy cathedral spires.

photo of the Twelve Apostles

My Torquay view, The Esplanade

Having spent many summer holidays in Torquay the view has inspired me to paint a few scenes..

'Cozy Corner Torquay'

'Cozy Corner Two'

Torquay's beaches are a magnet for families and moving along the Great Ocean Road, adrenalin junkies! Throughout summer a wide section of society congregates, Surfies, Free Spirits,  Mum's and Dad's and of course children.

The American artist Mary Cassatt captures the sentiment of children beautifully in her painting 'Two Children at the Seashore' painted in 1884. Born in 1844 she was the only American and one of very few women who were at the forefront of the French Impressionist movement, I had the below painting pressed from a poster to canvas and it hangs in my bedroom in Torquay, a reminder that the beach will always be a playground for children.

 'Two Children at the Seashore' Mary Cassatt'

That's it for now!

Lotsaluv, Val x

January in the Dandenongs.

On the outskirts of Melbourne lies an extinct volcano, Mt Dandenong. The Mountain Ash slopes, the quaint villages and abundant ferns make it a wonderful place to visit for the day or even the weekend, as I did recently. To wake up to a sun rise over the Warburton Ranges and the calling of King Parrots and Kookaburras, is as refreshing as the mountain air itself.

Some of my flower painting have  been inspired by the flowers in the Dandenongs, the little bit of extra rain the slopes receive aid the agapanthas the hydrangeas that no amount of watering can match.

'Agapanthus' Mt Dandenong

Work in progress 'Windflowers'

Whilst my two painting above are not natives of Australia they are certainly abundant in the hills!

My latest painting is taken from a photo of a hydrangea, the natural blue comes from the acidity of the soil and not the variety of the plant. In some corners of the garden the hydrangeas are white or pink, my painting is 4ft x 4ft, mixed media oil and acrylic on linen, it's the largest painting I have worked on and the blues and lylics are extremely calming and I find myself looking forward to my time at the easel. 'Bouquet de Bleu' is a real joy to create, its still a work in progress.

Bouquet de Bleu

Throughout European settlement painters have been drawn to the Dandenongs, some very famous like Arthur Streeton who was a keen environmentalist and lamented the enormous Mountain Ash being logged, something that took down some truly huge examples, rumoured to exceed in height the American Redwoods.

An example of Arthur Streeton's work

So impressive are the Mountain Ash, or Tasmanian Oak, that I am looking for an example to paint, hopefully I will find said example on my next visit to the Dandenongs!


Of course spending a weekend among nature goes hand in hand with chickens, fresh eggs, clucking hens and newly hatched chicks!  Here is a sample of cute 'Backyardians.'













Finally here are my grandchildren with their Uncle Andrew at his home on Mt Dandenong, note his pet chicken below. Another painting project?

That's it for now,

Love Val x

Coming up to Christmas!

I'm joining the crowds of those who say 'Christmas is coming!' A combination of moans and groans from some, joy and excitement from others. I take he pilgrimage every year to the Myer Melbourne Christmas windows and that puts me in the space of 'joy and excitement.' This year is Myer's 59th year of decorating their shop front and if you haven't been I highly recommend going, even if you have to put up with a queue.

A scene from Myer's 2012 Window

Having lived in Belgium for many years I experienced Winter Christmas's and I would like to share with you two of my paintings from that time.

'Belgium Winter'

'End of The Day'

Many people in Europe asked me, "Do you have Christmas dinner on the beach?" 

      "No!" I would say, "We have a traditional  Aussie Christmas, including lobster, prawns, oysters, scallops washed down with Tasmanian Sparkling Wine! Then we have roast turkey with wine from the Barrossa Valley, and for pudding, a Pav with Noble wine from the Yarra Valley!"

Here are a few painting of mine, depicting the Christmas in Australia, note - no one is eating dinner on the beach!

Australian Christmas Season

The Great Ocean Road

I'll finish today with some of my needlework, in this scene Christmas is being enjoyed in the outback, note the well dressed men.

Outback Christmas

That's it for now! 

Val x

Anlaby - Art, Fashion and Heritage

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Open Garden at Anlaby Station, one of the very few surviving Merino Studs, dating back to the 1840's. Back in the early days the station ran over 60,000 sheep and 208 bales of wool were sold from Anlaby in the colonies first wool sale.Fredrick Dutton was the original owner, who's story may be followed in the book 'Anlaby, A beautiful Step Back in Time.' by Peter  Hayward, for more details please visit the Anlaby Website.

The weekend consisted of Open Garden, Food and Wine stalls, a wonderful exhibition of sculptures, Fashion in Wool and the Impressions of Anlaby painted by artists from all over Australia who had stayed at Anlaby previously. Yours truly was one of these artists and my paintings, 'The Avenue' and 'Anlaby Pomegranate' have new homes in the area.

The Avenue

Anlaby Pomegranate

The above photos of my paintings were taken by Wade of Ashley Photography whom I recommend highly for his photographic professionalism.


Here is a bombardment of Anlaby photos for you to skim through!

Suzie!

'Smudge' the farm cat immortalized 

Anlaby Flowers

Fashions in Wool

Suzie and 'Ramekin in the Lambykin' The first painting sold.

The Clock House

The B&B at Anlaby

Everyone just loved this outfit

This car was owned by one of the Dutton family

The real 'Smudge'

The five days was a slice of wonderful life, the gardens, fashion and art, the food the pub, all a taste of country life. It was an exciting time, the people and memories of Anlaby have enriched my world...

Love Val x