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How to paint with Gouache and a palette knife
I wasn’t sure how to use my Gouache paints with only my pallet knife. Diving in was the only way for me and I have to say my results were quiet nice to see. The texture I was able to achieve with this one tool instead of my brushes has left me wanting more. The palette knife has always freed my work up much more (usually when using my Oil paints), but now I’m happy to say so long as I let each layer dry in between, the Gouache is coping well and I haven’t noticed any signs of cracking in the paint. This was an experiment and I’m happy…
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Whimsical funghi on Hannamule Velour Pastel Paper
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Competition giveaway time (1 more sleep)
I have run a competition via my Instagram over the past week or so and I can’t wait for tomorrow morning when I finally get to choose my giveaway winner. And even more because I love bringing people’s homes to life on the canvas. My experience with running any type of giveaway or competition is limited, so I have already learnt some vital steps along the way. Just the fact that I needed to draft the criteria down rather than keep it in my head as things like ‘how will I draw the winner’, ‘how will I paint an artwork of their home, from life or photos they send to…
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Odd little wonders – work in progress
I really do love nature and have always been intrigued by the shapes, textures, colours, smells of our natural world. On my walks during our winter in Melbourne at times I come across these little treasure patches. They seem so whimsical and earthy and it feels like they are dancing in the wind together or standing to attention on a rock face. So I’m enjoying sketching and putting together compositions of these little cute things. I’m working on Hannamule velour pastel paper for this work and am learning and enjoying the challenge. Has anyone used this paper and if so do you prefer to work on this or the pastelmat…
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Just hanging around
www.instagram.com/p/CP98tl7jJ6y/
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Last day of summer holidays
That time has come and I have to go back to work tomorrow. It is always bitter sweet as I would much rather be at home painting and making new art. But I have enjoyed the time I’ve spent exploring with my gouache paints, pastels etc. And I will continue making my little houses as there are so many to capture around my local neighbourhood and further afield too.
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Blossom lake
www.instagram.com/p/CEn05UzjIJn/
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Walks around the neighbourhood
We are tending to take more notice on our one hour of exercise a day structure in Melbourne for now. I keep finding treasure in the many gardens and such adorable little and biggish homes I pass. Homes that must be filled with a vast array of stories that could fill a book. I think these little homes and gardens are exuding warmth, cosy and love in buckets; I feel it as I pass by. I’ve picked flowers (trying to be discreet) from these blooming gardens and have started the process of pressing them in many old books. What joy I am making with my miniature artworks and pressed flowers…
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Flower Pressing on my early Friday’s
I would normally find myself on my early Friday’s sitting to scribble and sketch, mainly to keep my eye/hand in. I like to sketch quickly and mostly from my surrounds (not a photo) on these afternoons. But today I have been playing with the old age tradition of pressing flowers. Oh I have some fab ideas with this traditional craft. http://grimsdyke.com/pressing-flowers-quintessential-victorian-pastime/ So on my walk yesterday I picked some flowers and I’ve started trying this age old technique myself and I think I will combine them with my miniature art gouache paintings. It also would be so cool if you can follow me and join my email list to stay…
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Vincent VanGogh and the Seasons
My fascination with the work and life of Vincent Van Gogh makes pure sense to me and even more so after watching this video from the National Gallery of Victoria. The way he links his art with the seasons in nature resonates with so many of us artists; that is often our learning ground and it is a free resource that we can obtain and learn from at any time. I do hope you take the time to watch this and enjoy if you haven’t already.
