Make your mark…colourful….
Following the theme from “Kimberley’s Curtains” – I revisited a favourite composition previously used in oils and ink. Some of my students will recognise this still life arrangement. “Summer Table” is soft pastel on textured brown paper. As I am really enjoying this style of working, my weekend goal is to set up further still life arrangements so that I can continue to grow this collection.
Really enjoyed working on this piece and satisfying my love of bright colour. I used charcoal for the initial sketch and worked the image in soft pastels on textured brown paper. Final work is approximately 600 mm sq. Reference photo’s were taken this summer.
A little weekend therapy with inspiration from my talented niece and her wonderful ability to arrange the most stunning flowers – thank you sweetie! Work measures: 29″ x 21″ is a mixed media piece using ink, acrylic and pastel on pre-textured paper.
I have come to realise the importance of playing, failing and discovery. Here are some of my experiments from the weekend. Some worked, some didn’t, but what was important is that I rocked up to the easel and was ready to fail; because I now realise that within that failure is inevitable discovery!
There are times when I enter the studio with one focus; to choose the brightest colour paint or pastel and producing something bright and gestural. The energy from using bright colours is almost tangible. I come away feeling alive, my mood lifted and my confidence boosted. I found this link The Benefits of Painting and believe it is worth a read. Although not solely referring to colour it does describe the benefits of creativity.
This small (7″ sq) pastel piece has been painted on primed textured board. You will find it listed for sale on the website, just follow the link.
Beginners workshops in flower drawing with NZ artist Gill Allen.
Saturday September 21st and Saturday September 28th 2019
10.00 am – 2.00 pm. (Beginning with morning tea at 9.45am)
Venue: Levin Venue TBC
Cost: $100 ($50 per day – including some materials)
Spring is here and with it the promise of a burst of natures’ colour. These workshops will give you a firm starting point to grow your love of drawing flowers. Our first day (21st Sept) will begin with pencil and work through to charcoal, with step-by-step tuition you can’t go wrong. Our second day (28th Sept) we will experiment with scale and colour, producing some large colourful work using soft pastel – an opportunity to be bold and vibrant!
Morning tea and some materials supplied. You will need to bring with you: 2B & 4B pencils, A4 drawing (cartridge) paper, scissors, charcoal, kneadable eraser.
To register for this workshop (max 6 attendees) please email me at gillsartspot@gmail.com or send a message via my Facebook page – NZ Artist – Gill Allen alternatively message me via my contact page on my website. Very much look forward to hearing from you!
Another painting being exhibited at my September show. I have indulged my love of ink drawing with this acrylic work. With lots of movement and colour I am sure it will bring much happiness to it’s viewers as it has for me creating it!
I am pleased to be able to say after weeks of work this large central exhibition piece is finished! I have rekindled a real love for plants and flowers over the past month or so, not to mention the use of colour. I have not settled on a title for this piece but believe it will relate to new beginnings and also reflect old ways of working – it’s been like revisiting a favourite place after many years away – warm and familiar. Over the next month or so I will be posting the work that will be hanging in my September exhibition at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō here in Levin, New Zealand.
Have been busy in the studio working towards a September exhibition at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-po here in Levin. With only 8 weeks to go I have lots happening in the studio. These are a few working shots of my most recent piece. With the embers of intuitive painting still warm I have carved out this floral composition – something which echoes back to my artistic beginnings. I am very much enjoying the process and trying to maintain a freshness of movement and colour as I work.
