Well the time is nigh and we are all madly getting our gear together for the weekend at Meroo.  I really look forward to my time getting involved with all that this weekend offers.  The committee for the Combined Art Societies of Sydney have put in some ungodly hours to pull this together year after year.  This is the 20th year and a time to celebrate the success of the venture.

Why go? 

1. The tutors are brilliant and there are so many from which to choose.
2. You get to meet the artists whose work you admire.
3. The camaraderie is such great fun and the new friends made are an absolute bonus.
4. A weekend is easy to manage and just long enough to get one totally motivated to paint up a storm.
5. The venue provides so much space and one is able to wander through all the workshops to see what is happening across the board (and to plan for next year’s workshops).

For me personally my work has improved so very much as I have been able to refine my own techniques and learn a bit extra to expand my repertoire.

This year I have the good fortune of working with Shirley Hagarty and Ken Taber.  Beauty!!!

See you there!

Someone asked me how long I have been painting and where did I learn to do what I do.  I guess that I have been learning all my life.   I have always wanted to be an artist.  As a child I drew on anything  I could get my hands on…..old cardboard from shirt boxes, cardboard boxes, my school exercise books (often ended up in strife for that), in the dirt and the sand on the beach.  I made pictures with leaves, flowers, paper, scrap fabrics and anything I felt would work for me.  I drew pictures for my friends and made cartoons of my teachers (sometimes they were done in a positive light). It all gave me a great deal of joy. However as there were no opportunities to attend art classes I taught myself.

Then as life is want to do, the most amazing opportunities presented themselves beginning an exciting journey of self discovery and adventure.   I won a number of scholarships and accepted a primary teaching course.  I never, ever wanted to be a teacher!  The plan was to teach for a while, get rich (because teachers are always very well paid) and then go to Paris to become a famous artist.  Simple and easy….very naive!

I loved teachers’ college.  Not becoming a teacher but becoming me.  It was fun and challenging.  I met wonderful people who remain some of my dearest friends to this day and some absolute idiots who were totally forgettable!  I also met the love of my life.

I became a teacher.  I started with my first class of 45 students in 1974 and I loved every aspect of the job from that moment.  Children are the most forgiving, understanding and honest people with whom I have associated.  What a career to reflect upon……lots of laughter and success for both my students and me.

I married the love of my life and we started a new adventure together.  We  have 3 beautiful children who have become successful happy adults in their own right.  With 5 gorgeous grandchildren who bring us unending joy life is sweet.

After thirty odd years I retired from education and have taken on my art.  Questions of doubt ….. do I have any talent?  Who am I to put myself out there for the viewing public?  How will I know?

I set myself a target…..10 years should be a good timeframe in which to find out the answers.  I joined an art society.  A great move as the art community was welcoming and encouraging.  In 2008 I hopped in boots and all. I now belong to 6 art societies, set up a website, have had my first exhibition, sold a number of paintings including commissions (both nationally and internationally), been invited to run demonstrations and workshops and am a part of the art community.   How exciting it has been.

A little aside:  when I started painting seriously I would spend hours on an artwork.  Pleased with my achievements I would call the love of my life to have a look and comment (meaning ‘tell me how clever I am’). He (silly man) would comment (truthfully)!  Why did you put that there?  That colour is strange… and so on.  I would ‘calmly’ tell him he had no idea of art and he would walk away.  I reflected ‘calmly’ and realised the ‘So and So’ was right!!!   He is almost always right and I have improved.  He is one of life’s most patient men.

As yet I am not rich and famous (a work in progress) but I am one of the lucky ones.  I have it all.

It is a busy weekend for me as I have paintings hanging in 5 Sydney venues at the moment. 

The success of the exhibition of “13 Women Artists”  has meant that I will be exhibiting at the Artists’ Exhibition Centre, 46 Edward St, Summer Hill on a regular basis.

Oatley 101 Fabulous Fakes Gallery Weekend is on from Saturday 5th to Sunday 6th May and is fantastic.  The details are: 101 Woronora Pde, Oatley West.  It opens at 10am and closes at 4pm both days.  I will be there all day Saturday.

Nepean Art Society Gallery Weekend is on from Saturday 5th to Sunday 6th May and is fantastic.  The details are: the Cottage, North Street, Penrith.  It opens at 10am and closes at 4pm both days.  I will be there all day Sunday. 

Parramatta Art Society  is running an exhibition of artworks with a floral theme for the month of May at the Art Gallery, shop 11, Connections Arcade, Parramatta.  The work is outstanding.  It is open from Wednesdays to Saturdays.

The Art Gallery at Kurnell is certainly coming into its own with many clients returning to add to their art collections.  The gallery is opened on weekends from 10am to 4pm. If you are interested in a private viewing contact any of the artists.  The details are on the Art Gallery Website.  (Check the links page).

Admission to these exhibitions is free.  Worth a browse at the very least.  Worth investing in beautiful art at the most.

If you drop in and I am on duty please make yourself known to me.  I am the chatty one.

I am heading out to the gallery this weekend (Sunday 22nd April).  I always enjoy painting in the gallery and chatting with the many visitors who pop in to check out the art on display.  I have met some truly interesting people and have made a number of very dear friends in the process.  Many of my artworks have found new homes and it is so nice to be able to talk with the buyers and give them a little background on the art and me.  I also love to chat about my fellow artists and their beautiful paintings.  We all have such different styles and skills.  A bit of a smorgasbord of fine art.

If you get a chance and want an enjoyable day out I do recommend a trip out to Kurnell and a browse through the gallery.  It is becoming a very sort after place to visit.  Hopefully I will meet you there.

This is always one of the best openings of an Arts and Crafts show.  There is always plenty of everything…..good fresh food and drinks, fantastic range of art and craft and the quality is amazing.  It is also a gathering of artists, buyers and appreciators which means lots of arty talk.

My 3 artworks are well placed and I am pleased to say, look good amongst some wonderful pieces by other amazing artists.  It is nice to think one can be proud of one’s own achievements in shows of this kind.

I caught up with so many outstanding artists – Gail Rutland as we chatted over her beautiful tattoed dancer, Joe Cartwright and the Harbour Bridge painting, Anne Horder and  her Jamboroo Dairy, Rob Reid and her lovely gum tree. Trish Bennett, Diana Garth, Paul Kirwan, Jan Schuster-Callus and Freda Surgenor all sold works on the night.  To name but a few.

It would be lovely to sell again as I did last year. I wait with baited breath.

Friday and the opening night of this brilliant exhibition went off without a hitch.  Over 100 people came through the doors.  All enjoyed a feast of food, drinks and art. I was asked to  open the show, speaking on behalf of the 13 Women Artists.  I like to think it is because I am a great orator but I believe it is because I am tall and can’project my voice’ ……….. all those wonderful teaching years.  Apparently I did a good job.  Some works sold on the night and a number of enquiries have resulted.  All in all it was a great success.

Andre Khalil (owner of the Artists’ Exhibition Centre) has been very supportive of our exhibition and is on deck from Wednesdays to Sundays, 10am to 4.00pm, until the end of this exhibition on 29th April.

I believve he has already had a number of investment buyers in discussing a range of purchases.

I am so pleased to be a part of the exhibition as it has shown me what I am able to achieve if I just give it a go.

The Southern Cross Art Group’s Art Show at Sutherland raises a lot of money for the hospital.  It is the focus charity for the society and is very well supported by the members of the group.  For this show Jean Murray has donated one of her extraordinarily beautiful watercolour paintings and tickets are on sale at the hospital until Saturday.

Waiting in the Wings - Acrylic

Yesterday, while we were setting up the show, my painting “Waiting in the Wings” was sold.  The buyer said that she thought it was so very beautiful she had to have it.  It does the heart good when people connect with your art.

The wonderful pieces of very affordable art at the show make one spoiled for choice.