I did a pen and wash workshop with Ron Hindmarsh at the weekend. It was very challenging and an exercise in precision and realism mainly in drawing buildings. It was good to learn more and practise using perspective and drawing accurately. It is a completey different way of working from my usual style so I enjoyed being out of my comfort zone a bit.

I started painting last weekend in ernest after a long break. I had been sketching constantly and still am but I have started oil paintings. I am becoming more aware lately, however, of the health hazards of using oil painting mediums. I am painting scenes from my trip to Tasmania where the skies and stretches of sea were really beautiful. This is a quick sketch of one of the boatshed that line the beach at Bruny Island. Two of my sons and mysel spent four days there at Dennes Point at the northern end of the island.

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." George Carlin

I have applied for a couple of artist residencies lately and have my fingers and toes crossed tightly. It would be wonderful to have a clear stretch of uninterrupted time in which to practice my art as well as participating in a vibrant artistic community. Meanwhile I am enjoying my small drawings and have started on a couple of oil paintings. I am going to have another sale of my much older work. This time I will hold it in Armidale. I am clearing out my art storage area.

I have just returned from a trip to Tasmania. I went with two of my sons to Hobart and Bruny Island to catch up with friends and family. Although cold it was a lovely trip. Tassie is still untouched and relatively undeveloped. Northern Bruny Island has a small strip of shacks along a long sandy beach. I was able to take many photographs and do some sketches. I am looking forward to paintings based on the incredibly beautiful skies and sea of the area.

Had a beautiful day drawing and painting trees. The trunks of the trees were smooth creams with patches of tan and orange. Some trees had these smooth trunks where the bark had peeled down. Others had the rough  bark striped up the trunks. The upper branches writhed at odd twisted angles. The birds were singing. A picnic lunch with family, a billy tea, charcoal and new rag paper sketch book. A perfect Saturday. Some photos of the area:

Hills near home. Watercolour sketch on paper

I will be having another sale of my old work next Sunday in Armidale. I had a sale last week in Tamworth and sold a lot of work. I am downsizing and don't want to have to store much work. I would like, also, to think that the paintings are on someone's wall where it can be enjoyed. I probably sold quite a lot because they were very inexpensive. The prices were mostly less than the cost of the frames or other materials. I was aiming to clear my art out rather than to make a profit or put on an exhibition. As the work is that done up to two years ago it is work that I wouldn't now put in an exhibition. I am thinking that I might investigate having an online auction if there is sufficient work left to warrant it. I will have to look into how this is done. I imagine it would be done via Paypal. I would rather that it is just of my artwork rather than being on ebay. I am not sure if that can be done on a Blog or via another site on the internet.

Flowers. Watercolour on paper

Gorge. Ink and watercolour on paper

I will be having a sale of my older paintings and drawings at my house this coming Sunday. Because I will be moving house it is necessary to make more space. There will be works from the previous twenty years for bargain prices as the object of the exercise is to do away with the need for a store room.
This is another of my journal sketches.

Trees. Ink and watercolour on paper.