Live & Love @ ARTastic

Well here I am after a few months. As I am feeling reasonable atm, scrapping was high on my 'to do' list.

So I have chosen this great challenge for September over at ARTastic

This month we feature this delightful piece by Donald James Waters called Spot on.  

Our criteria is a Tribute to Dad - any Dad anyway you might like to portray them.

I enjoyed scrapping this great photo of my fabulous son in law, & his 2 youngest children..my Pippi & Hudson.

He really is a great man & I love that he loves my beautiful daughter, and all his family.

Thanks for this challenge.

Hugs

 

Missing Scuzzi @ ARTastic

Another great challenge from ARTastic for this month - titled 

The Wild One

CRITERIA - Wood Veneer

A little about Mia Taninaka  - The little girl who once painted a forest all over her bedroom walls has grown up to be a wizard of fine line and expansive colour. Sydney born, Mia now lives and creates in the calm and elemental Bali. Painting predominantly with acrylics, watercolour and ink, Mia currently exhibits throughout Australia and Asia, always looking to expand her horizons. She likes to draw and paint on found wooden objects and panels, creating stunning colourful imaginative works inspired by her Japanese heritage and Australian roots.

 

Here is my digital interpretation.

 

I have used a photo taken in February 2016 of my hubby Pete, and our oldest kitty at 19, called Scuzzi. Poor Scuz had a stroke & died not long after this photo was taken.

She loved lying in Pete's arms like a baby....she was so loved. 

 

 

Thank you for a lovely challenge once again.

Hugs xx

 

 

As every thread of gold @ ARTastic

 

Here is the ARTastic

December inspiration "Merry Christmas" by Alice Ju

A little about Alice Ju ...

Alice Ju’s artworks are best known for her photo-realistic and dramatic colour, emphasising the radiant splendor of both the urban and natural world. She confidently employs dynamic artistic mediums in her works including oil paint, watercolour, acrylic, pastel, charcoal and pencil.

Alice was classically trained under renowned Australian artist, Kay Maloney.

Alice’s artworks have been displayed in various art galleries and public exhibitions including Mosman Art Gallery, Drummoyne Art Society and NSW Transport Public Art Exhibition. Her stunning works are regularly featured in support of charities and other non-profit organisations including the Exodus Foundation and the LEAD Group. Alice is the founder and director of Creative Einstein Education, a private education centre located in Campsie, NSW.

 

Now I decided to use my Art Journal for this one - working on a double page.....I work in it from time to time & intend to do more in 2016.

I choose to use the other bauble colours as well...such a pretty inspiration.

 

 

Here is my 2 page arty journal.

I began with a thin layer of Decorart Old Gold paint...then Finnabair gold crackle paint & a stencil.

 

Then Heidi Swapp stencils &  Colourshine sprays..in Mint, Pink & Aqua

Stamping using about 5 different stamps (I never remember where they are from) & Dew Drop inks

 

 I choose this Old English quote

As every thread of gold is valuable, so is every moment of time.

I certainly enjoyed playing with these pages over the last few days.

Thank you for a lovely end of year challenge.

Will miss the outgoing DT's - always lovely work.

Hugs xx

 

 

 

 

Blessed @ ARTastic

Using this Kaisercraft paper I have taken a real shine to lately I have created this 'vintage' style LO for the ARTastic inspiration for October.

We are working with this beautiful painting by E Phillips Fox called The Green Parasol (1912).

A little about Emanuel Phillips Fox 

Born in Melbourne in 1865 to a legal based family, he first studied art at the National Gallery School in Melbourne before moving to France and England between 1887 and 1892 to study. He spent time at the magical destinations of Etaples and Giverny, as well as St Ives, the open-air painting hub of England. Returning to Australia, in 1893 he took over the lease of Charterisville in Heidelberg, and created a studio in which he taught outdoor painting techniques in the summers. Fox also co-established the Melbourne School of Art, which proved serious competition for the National Gallery of Victoria school over the 1890s. Having taught for nearly a decade, during which his portraits were in demand, Fox left for England in 1901, and lived in Paris from 1905 to 1913. He and his wife Ethel Carrick Fox made many brilliantly-coloured impressionist studies of beaches, striped bathing tents and markets in France and North Africa; of all the work of Australian artists of the period, the Foxs’ paintings look the most French. In 1913 he returned to Australia, marking the occasion with an exhibition of some seventy works. Fox passed away in 1915 from cancer.

 

So using an old wedding photo of Pete & my wedding, with Pete's late parents 

I created this page. 

 

I have used the colours of the 1970's - the venue had terrible coloured walls & curtains that make us laugh now...so with that in mind....

 

 

 

 

I have used lots of scraps from the drawer, Flourish with a Bling, a selection of Prima flowers & leaves & Sharon Lee flowers too. The small sayings are from Kaisercraft too.  My small piece of hand journalling is on package.  So a real scrap page.

Thank you for a great challenge.

Hugs xx

This is the Life @ ARTastic

Well I have had 3 days of a health 'reprieve' - no idea why, but it has been brilliant. My red blood cell count is down, and usually I am huffing around, but gee it is amazing...whatever it is - thank you!

So I have scrapped...

Here is the September challenge from ARTastic 

 A little about William Knox

William Dunn Knox was born in Adelaide in 1880.

He studied at the National Gallery of Victoria where he won a coveted prize for drawing. In 1918 he became a member of the Victorian Artists Society and later a member of the society’s council. In 1919 he became a member of the Australian Artists’ Association with whom he held his first solo exhibition.and as a businessman became the. manager of the Eagle and Globe Steel Co.  Knox Plein Aire painting followed the tradition of the Heidelberg painters. Most of his paintings started as sketches or colour notes done on location and were later finished in his Heidelberg studio. In the 1929 catalogue forward to his exhibition Streeton wrote ‘there is something alluring and almost lyrical about many of Mr Knox’s small paintings'.  

Knox became a founding member of the Australian Academy of Art, formed in 1937, an anti-modernist group chaired by the then attorney general, Robert Menzies.  His works are represented in the National Art Gallery, Canberra, the Art Gallery of South Australia, the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria, museums and art galleries of the Northern Territory, Art Museum Armidale, Bendigo Art Gallery, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, Castlemaine Art Gallery

William Knox died in Melbourne in 1945.

 

I was very impressed with this painting & have been waiting to feel well enough to do it justice and scrap it. Plus having a great photo - thanks Jade.

 

Here is my page. 

I have used the sandy colours, the sea, the birdies -  all set at the beach last Saturday.

 

Here is my Pete & Jade's Pete, paddling in the water at Evans Head in northern NSW ( I call it Heavens)...I took one look at this photo & loved it.

 

Added the colours of the sand, plus embellies from Amy Tan & Basic Grey.

 

 

And a couple of closeups

Thank you for a great challenge Jane & the DT's I loved working on this.

Hugs xx

 

Together @ ARTastic

A most lovely inspiration for July is on offer at ARTastic

CRITERIA is to use water (liquid) in some way on your page (ink spray, gelatos, paper crumple, watered down paint, make handmade flowers etc).  Just tell us how water was applied.

A little about Shirley Charlton ...

Shirley Roma Charlton was born in Malawi Central Africa and is now based in Brisbane, Australia. She is an international professional fine artist and her work has sold all over the world. With many art Exhibitions behind her and having judged many art shows, she loves teaching art. Her inspirational watercolours and soft pastels show a love for seascapes while her figure painting show vibrant rich colours with bold strokes.

Proceeds from her work goes back to Malawi to help a village called Manyowe outside Blantyre.  She also teaches art for the unemployed and homeless.

So this is my page using a wonderful photo of my fabulous SIL & my little grand daughter...

Now my background prep is using water colour paper along with a lovely big bursts of water from a spray bottle & Ken Olivers Color Burst puff on glorious powder...oh I am so in love with this stuff! It makes such fab patterns & colours...

I tried to emulate the colours of Shirley's painting..

and just had fun with this one

Thank you for the great inspiration...it was great!

Hugs xx

 

RAD @ ARTastic

Joining in over at ARTastic...I am on holidays til 5th January....& it is brilliant having some calm days at home...

Here is this months inspiration...

Different hey! But so fabulous too...

A little about Fintan Magee ...

Fintan Magee is an Australian street artist known for his murals throughout Queensland and later in New South Wales.

Magee grew up in Queensland and gained a reputation as a graffiti artist before obtaining a Fine Arts degree and moving to Sydney. He now works out of "The Tate Gallery" above the Toxteth Hotel in Glebe. He received national acclaim for his mural depicting Felix Baumgartner in Brisbane. Described as "Australia's Banksy", Magee's work is recognised for its lack of a political message, compared to other street artists, and its humour.

Along with other recognised street artists from around Australia, Magee contributed to Toowoomba's "First Coat" program.

 

This is a free scrap with no set criteria so make of it as you will but don't forget to tell us what inspired you about the painting - the brickwork, the super hero costumes, the little boys, the colours ... whatever you like.

 

So here is mine...

 

Here is my son Ben, with his friend Tim way back in 6th class preparing for the school dance, which was a dress up. Now Benni & Tim raided my jewellery, & 'graffitied' their arms to look like punk rockers....I loved that they had so much fun getting ready...

 

My Benni then & now (aged 35) is definately awesome!!

I used the 'likely lads' in the inspiration, along with the textures of the brick wall to create my page.

 Fun with some buttons & masks & texture paste & mists....ah, to scrap, how blissful!

 

Great challenge...thanks!

 

Hugs xx

    

She is a Dream @ ARTastic

The challenge across at ARTastic this month is

Criteria is Doodling

Using this inspiration..

so sweet little artwork by Antje Collis called Tra-la-la.

 

So here is my page using doodling, water colour paper, pastels..& fun!

I wanted to use this gorgeous photo & just love fiddling with this paper & the doodling on the paint too.

Thanks for a great challenge.

Hugs xx

Cherish @ ARTastic

The October challenge at ARTastic is one dear to my heart...it involves a Jacaranda tree...& as I grew up in the Jacaranda city of Grafton, you know why.

Here is the fabulous inspiration -

This month we are being inspired by this delightful artwork  

Under a jacaranda tree (1903) by R Godfrey Rivers.

So with the Jacaranda Festival at the end of October into the first week in November, when the blossoms are their best, I decided to use a photo taken at the very start of my street, under the approach to the Grafton Bridge...

We had a beautiful Jacaranda in our garden, that overlooked the Clarence River...but I have no photos of it - sad isn't it, so as I cycled past this one daily I thought that is so representative of my Grafton purple memories. You can see the smaller railway line viaduct in the back of the photo too.

I have used some Kaisercraft 'These Days' collectable embellies, with a few little sequins, that I am mad on at the moment, to give that vintage feel.

Thank you Jane & the DT's for fabulous inspiration.

Hugs xx

An ARTastic - CSI Collaboration...

 

I just LOVE this poster....it certainly inspired me to scrap...

This is a collabrative effort for July 2014 between ARTastic & CSI Scrapbooking.

Challenge - striped patterned paper and bright cheerful colours

Fantastic inspiration for me!

I choose this photo of my dear departed mum, my sister & myself as we walked into the door of the club where we arranged a surprise birthday for her..

I think the photo says it all!

My mum had never been given a birthday party before & it was gorgeous to see her reaction....

I loved the colours of my photo & balanced them with a fair bit of background work of inking & stamping & layering.

Here is Prima wire 'scripted' into the word..

I have used large yellow & white vertical stripes on my page..plus plenty of colour.

Thank you gals for a wonderful challenge.

Hugs xx

Family Ties @ ARTastic

With a little time over the weekend, I just had to join in with my beloved ARTastic.

I have been on the Design Team over there for over 2 years, finally saying goodbye in May...but couldn't help myself..I had to play there..

Here is the exciting inspiration..

 

Criteria - Distressing

and here is my page..

 

I used the colours of the inspiration, probably more pastel though, along with a family photo that I felt fitted the bill.

Thank you gals for a great challenge.

Hugs xx

Debi

Beautiful Memories @ ARTastic

This month in honour of Mother's Day which is celebrated in many countries around the world sometime during May, we present to you  Amarys by Robert Hagan.

Criteria - Mother and child

A little about Robert Hagan

"I’ve been pushing paint around for about 30 years and still enjoy every moment of it- so its still a hobby I guess. My boyhood was spent exploring the rainforests of the Tweed Valley in Australia while stepping around snakes that basked in the midday sun. School was as little bookwork as possible and moments of unconsciousness on the football field. A 16 hour steam train trip to the ‘big smoke’ and 4 years later I graduated from University with a bit of knowledge about history, economics and drinking. Painting started about the same time as I started working and it increasingly challenged the latter as the most relaxing and rewarding way forward. It finally took over and traveling the world followed. A number of great relationships later, 2 fabulous boys and painting in USA, the UK and Asia and the years slipped by. A few books about painting then a glancing shot at a TV series and I’m here!"

http://www.roberthagan.com/

So with this wonderful inspiration I have created this page..

This is a photo of my wonderful daughter Jade & I at the headland at Lennox Head a few years back.  I love this photo..says it all to me!

I have to say I have used flowers on this LO, like I never have before!

I do hope you pop across & join in with us...such an apt inspiration!

This is my last month with ARTastic as well...I love the Design Team, they are all so very talented & will miss them.  Thank you Jane!

Hugs xx

All a Flutter at ARTastic!

 

It is March already!!     The year is flying away..just like these gorgeous birdies..

Lyn Butchart "Bluebirds"

Lyn Butchart draws her inspiration from the vibrant, textural and ethereal spirit of nature.

Born in 1951 in Manildra NSW of Aboriginal Irish Swedish descent, Lyn has developed a unique individual style ranging from contemporary to abstract. Her fascination with the ocean inspires intricate underwater scenes, a theme she is renowned for.  She undertakes extremely large works on paper, some of the largest in Australia, and incorporates strong vibrant colours that bring harmony and balance to her paintings.  Lyn is a self taught artist with over 25 years tutoring experience. She has participated in many solo and group exhibitions, and her work is held in private and corporate collections worldwide. Her work has also been featured in numerous national art magazines featuring watercolour and mixed media works.  Lyn lives and works in Grafton northern New South Wales, and travels frequently to conduct workshops in regional areas around Australia.

http://www.lynbutchart.com.au/index.htm

 

So this is the challenge over at ARTastic this month..isn't it heavenly!!

Criteria - Texture

And here is my project....a canvas...

 

I SO enjoyed working on this mixed media canvas...using tissue paper, & leaves & texture paste & gesso , paints & inks & chippies & birdies...ahhhh so relaxing!!

Do come & play along with us - there is always masses of inspiration!

Hugs xx