Creativity Every Day - week 2

Yes I know I'm a day late - I was having a lazy day yesterday and couldn't be bothered posting. I could of course lie and tell you how busy I was, but we all have those days so there is no point denying it. This week I have been working on finishing the portrait I started last week and I've commensed the final piece for the NZ Art Guild "Borderless" exhibition in Wellington next month as well as 2 other pieces, one is a gift for my Grandmother's birthday (as requested - don't you just love it when they ask for something easy!) and the other is a piece I intend to swap with another talented NZ Artist Melissa McCreanor (in the same colours as my day~dreamer piece completed last week).

All my days ran into each other last week so I'm not sure what I did when - I know there were a few days when very little in the way of actual creativity occurred. Wednesday I got to do something exciting and different however - I had my first session with the scanning electron microscope for my thesis work - this was amazing and definately creative. Unfortunately since its all for my thesis, which is unpublished, I can't load any images for the time being, you'll just have to trust me that they look good. If I ever win lotto I'm going to buy some SEM time so I can look at various things under the microscope and make artworks from them!

Here's a finished version of my portrait from last week:

"Bugs"

A4 graphite on paper

Not for sale

I am happy to do commissions - email me for details tanya@nzartguild.co.nz

I'm very proud of this one! There are still 2 more to do, I hope to start the next one tonight - if I can get enough writing done I'll reward myself with some drawing :)

None of the paintings I've started have been completed - I've still got 2 or 3 colour layers to add before I can get the black lines on and touch ups done so I've decided not to take photos of them (they always look so much better with the black lines on!). I hope to have them all complete for next weeks post.

Creativity Every Day - week 1

Well this week has been a struggle! Suffering from depression, lack of money and lack of sleep have taken its toll on me, but I am pleased to say that through it all I have managed to find time to fit in a daily dose of creativity... well for the most part!

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday were spent (among other things) painting - putting the colour into one of 3 pieces which will be destined for a NZ Art Guild exhibition "Borderless" being held at the Academy of Fine Arts in Wellington in February.

Wednesday I returned to Uni during the day to attempt to work on my thesis but the evening was spent starting 3 graphite portraits for my friends on Stewart Island who I spent New Years with. I did the outline for all 3 before selecting one to work on first. This is how far I got with that one:

"Bugs" - stage 1

Graphite

A4

Thursday evening was back to the brushes to complete the piece I'd put colour on earlier in the week - here's the finished product:

"day~dreamer"

Acrylic

380 x 760 mm

$440

Friday was the worst day of the week for me, productivity in general was low as were my spirits so I allowed myself a rejuvenating evening of reading. When I'm that low I like to get lost in a book - forget about my world and pretend I'm somewhere else - currently I'm delving back into the world of Harry Potter. Although I've read them all once before, I was astounded when I watched the 7th movie how little I remembered and vowed to read them all again before the 8th one comes out. I managed to finished the 6th book (which certainly wasn't planned as when I started reading at about 3pm I was only 1/2 way through it). So although I wasn't being creative I was nurturing my creative side.

Saturday (yesterday) I dug myself out of my little hole by picking up the brushes again and finishing a piece that has been sitting on its easel for almost months now. I started it shortly after the first blast happened at Pike River and in a way its become a tribute to those who have lost their lives for me, which may certainly explain the lack of enthusiasm to finish it. I've re-done several parts of it as I've never been completely happy with it and am still unsure how I feel about it. However everyone who has seen it in its incomplete form has commented that they love it. It, along with the previous painting, will both be heading to the Wellington exhibition (for which I still have one more to create). Here's the finished product:

"Ascension"

Acrylic

1070 x 1070 mm

$810

Creative Every Day Challenge

While waiting for paint to dry today I came across Creative Every Day blog and thought I'd sign up for it. Its not about creating an artwork every day, or posting on my blog every day (thank god - I just wouldn't be able to find time to do that at all!) - but it is about actively doing something creative everyday - whether it be "cooking, taking pictures, knitting, doodling, writing, dancing, decorating, singing, playing with your kids, brainstorming ideas, gardening, or making art in the form of collage, paint, or clay...or whatever!" and if you remove the bit about the kids that sounds completely do-able for me. A large part of my creativity will probably have to be thesis based, and I can't possibly commit to posting more than once a week (most likely on Sunday which is my schedualed thesis-free day) - although I will try.

So starting today... I shall be more creative!

If you are keen for the challenge yourself - why not check out the blog and sign up!

More than 1 form of art!

I've been meaning to do  post for a while now about one of my very talented friend who is not a painter, or an artist in the traditional sence, but a writer.

Vanda Symon is a New Zealand serial crime fiction writer who has 3 published novels (with another on the way, to be released Feb next year). She has just been signed to a publishing company (Gregory and Company, of London - YAY!!! Congrats Vanda!!!). I own all Vanda's books (one of these days I'll get her to sign them for me ;p), they are well worth a read.

If you are into crime novels I suggest you go find Vanda's books - you can purchase them through Uni Books online or go to your local library

OVERKILL (2007)

Sam Shephard, a young sole-charge police constable in Mataura, is the main character in a new series of crime novels set in New Zealand.

When a young mother in the town is brutally murdered (it seems to be a professional job), Sam is at the heart of the police hunt to find the killer. But then Sam's past relationship with the dead woman's husband is revealed. Sam is stood down from the case and is now a prime murder suspect.

Frustrated, Sam loses her cool. She can't stop herself making murder inquiries and gets into serious trouble with her police superiors. But then the young constable stumbles onto something. The murdered woman was working as a journalist and had uncovered a local scandal. She'd been killed to keep her quiet. When Sam enters this world she's in real physical danger, until at last a conspiracy is uncovered and the killer revealed. Disillusioned, Sam prepares to leave town.

What will she do next?

THE RINGMASTER (2008)

Death is stalking the southern South Island. And what role does the visiting Darling Brothers Circus have to play?

Sam Shephard is on the bottom rung of detective training in Dunedin, and her boss makes sure she knows it. She gets involved in her first homicide investigation there when a university student is murdered in the Botanic Gardens. Sam soon discoveres this is not an isolated incident. There is a chilling prospect of a predator loose in Dunedin.

Is the murderer in the circus or closer to home?

Sam must find out who's running the show.

CONTAINMENT(2009)

Chaos reigns in the sleepy village of Aramoana when shipping containers washup on the beach and are looted.

Detective Constable Sam Shephard knows first-hand the desperation of the scavengers - she's got the scars to prove it.

Plus a skull in the sand.

And a body pulled from the ocean.

The undercurrents from one morning's madness are far-reaching. Who else will be caught in the backwash? Can Sam stem the tide?

COMMING SOON:

BOUND (Feb 2011)

A brutal home invasion shocks the nation. A man is murdered, his wife bound, gagged and left to watch.

But when Detective Sam Shephard scratches the surface, the victim, a successful businessman, is not all he seems to be. And when the evidence points to two of Dunedin's most hated criminals, the case seems cut and dried... until the body count starts to rise.

Meanwhile, Sam is in big trouble again ...

Sounds exciting! I can't wait to read it (sadly knowing the Author doesn't get me an advanced copy, oh well, looks like I know what to ask for for my birthday ;p)

PLEASE NOTE:

Information in this post has come from Vanda's website http://www.vandasymon.com/ or blog http://www.vandasymon.blogspot.com/

And on a side note - Vanda also personally knows my favourite writer of all time, meaning I'm just 2 degrees of separation away from the Scottish crime novelist Val McDermid!!! Woohoo! LOL ;p

Little rays of sunshine - new artwork

Its a great feeling when you finish a painting that's been sitting round for a while, admittedly this one hasn't been sitting round as long as usual but I have been putting it off for a few weeks! Just completed it now, I don't think the paint has even dried properly.

Little rays of sunshine

610 x 450mm

Acrylic

$420 NZD (excl. postage/packaging)

My latest painting

Colouring inside the lines II

approx 450 x 450 mm (1 canvas)

Acrylic on canvas

Ready to hang

$300 NZD (excl postage/packaging)

If you wish to purchase this piece, or enquire about getting one done in colours that suit your home please email me tanya@nzartguild.co.nz

Kiwi Artists Part 3 - Tash Shackleton

Tash Shackleton

Painter, drawer, cartoonist, illustrator.

New Zealand artist Natasha Shackleton has been passionate about art and creativity her entire life, excelling in artistic fields for as long as she can remember. Her artworks can be found brightening up homes and offices throughout New Zealand and the world. Her artistic diversity means she can work from nearly any medium from acrylic paint to photorealism style coloured pencil drawings, any subject from landscapes to vehicles and many styles from cartoon to realism.

Most recognized for her "Moonlight Bay" series, distinctive kiwiana, and realistic portrait, her artworks are recognizable for her use of vivid colour, dynamic tones, lighting and strong contrasts

(profile stolen from her website ;p)

I have 3 pieces of Tash's pieces

  One of the Moonlight Bay Series by Tash Shackleton

I can't remember if I purchased or swapped this piece, but I know that I ended up getting one commissioned for my mother in the same style.

Adam and Eve by Tash Shackleton

I won one of these peices in an NZ Art Guild swap but just couldn't separate the pair as they work really well together so purchased the second one.

I still have to get one of Tash's kiwiana series - just love those native birds!

You can check them out on her website

http://www.tashart.co.nz/

Tash also has her own tattoo business based in Oamaru - Negative Space Tattoo

Her paintings are often available direct on TradeMe 

Kiwi Artists Part 2 - Philina den Dulk

More art from my walls...

Philina den Dulk

I've known Philina for about 5 years, we first met when I purchased this first piece off of her. At the time she was living just out of Dunedin. I remember her telling me this piece was inspired by a stained glass door they had in the house they were living in.

 "Believe in me" by Philina den Dulk

Phillina is now a full time artist based in Balclutha, she exhibits regularly around New Zealand and can occasionally be found selling pieces on TradeMe 

Her styles have evolved somewhat over the years, however highly textured acrylic works feature prominantly throughout the evolution of her art.

I particularly love her poppies (featured below)

You can check out on her website http://www.philinadendulk.co.nz/

Poppies by Philina den Dulk

I was lucky enough to be gifted this piece when I helped her out at her last exhibition here in town. 

Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)

Recently I was involved in a couple of ATC swaps.

ATCs are small works of art  2 ½” x 3 ½” (the same as a regular playing card) which are to be exchanged only and not sold.

This was the first time I'd made ATCs and I forgot to take images of my peices before I sent them. (Denita Tizard received one of my pieces which you can view on her blog post)

The first swap was organised by Collette Fergus via a Facebook Group

We each sent in 4 cards and 4 random cards were sent back to us - here are the amazing pieces that I received:

 Top L - Original Painting by Noleen Sommerville

Top R - Artwork by Gerda Smit

Bottom L - "Souldance #02" by Beate Minderjahn

Bottom R - "Cheesey Kitty" by Collette Fergus

The second was an individual swap



"The Dancer" by Erika Husselmann

I definately want to do more of these, they are so much fun. I'm planning on framing them up (I'm not sure how yet) when I get some $!

Introducing Kiwi Artists - Part 1 Zoe Cromwell

As I'm not painting or creating as much as I would like at the moment (due to an increasing work load), I've decided to keep up with semi-regular blog posts by introducing some talented kiwi artists. I'm going to start with those whos amazing work adornes the walls of my house. There are a few of them ;p I'm fast running out of wall space - but that's the benefits of owning your own home, I can just put another nail in the wall!

Most of the pieces I have, have been collected in artswaps but there is the odd one that I have purchased. The first piece I ever owned I purchased off TradeMe back in 2004 for some rediculously low sum. It started it all and was the inspiration behind me begining to list and sell my own work on the same site. It is still one of my favourite pieces and sits proudly in my hallway.

"Under the surface" by Zoe Cromwell

One of the things I love about this peice is the texture. Unfortunately it doesn't show so well in the photo, but I assure you its there. The detailing on the shells is amazing and Zoe's use of colour and underpainting is delightful. I have never felt such a strong attraction to a piece as I did when I first saw this work, it was on that I just absolutely had to have.

Zoe has been quiet on the art sceen in recent years but you can check out her work on her website http://www.zoe.net.nz/ .