Shorty-nk at
Cannery Arts Centre
Kimberley has helped me organising everything so smoothly for today's short workshop that I can't wait to be there! Waking up with the sun, I rumble with my cup of coffee until it is finally time to go.
This workshop is a shorty, 3 hours to play with inks, it is intense and action packed, there is no time to loose.
We start experimenting with a few backgrounds before playing with the silhouette of a few native plants... we are ready for the big leap! There is just enough time left to create a personal work that will combine the favourite background technique with the painting of one's preferred plant.
The result is stunning and each personality shows through the final work, what a bliss. Thanks Cannery Arts Centre for supporting this creative moment!
Floral ink at
Vancouver Art Centre
Vancouver Art Centre welcomed my first floral ink painting workshop of this West Coast series... and oh it was fantastic!
A total of nineteen highly enthusiastic participants joined me on the day. One by one they arrived with arms full of flowers and native plants. Brushes, watercolour paper and pots of all shapes were carefully placed on the tables... the workshop could start.
After a few background techniques experimentation we learned how to deconstruct and reconstruct the design of a plant. Each person studied a couple of flowers before moving on, in the afternoon, on their personal work. Working on handmade textured paper or watercolour paper, the creativity run wide.
Thanks to everyone for making this day full of fun and experimentation!
Two days in Denmark
DAY 1
The day started with a gentle rain which quickly stopped before I even reached Denmark, in WA. I parked at the back of the Old Butter Factory Studios, in the centre of town and brought in my many boxes and artworks in the studio. I was welcomed by Helmie who very kindly organised this two day abstract ink painting workshop.
During day one, Paul, Rob, Nikki, Cynthia, Alison, Helen, Ann, Kathy, Andrew (and his lovely dog Lexie) joined me for a full six hours of learning, experimenting and waooing!
Though the techniques learned in the morning were the same for all, each participant showed a distinct personal style in the afternoon when working on their own art. Sometimes gutsy, other time poetic or abstract the variety of work was much inspiring. Watercolour paper sheets were covered with fantastic creatures, ink veins and salt crystals. Roses were used as stamps, illusion of gelatin photography was created... it was so exciting to see all these great ideas taking life!
We ended the day with a short exhibition of everyone's work. That is one of my favourite moment in the workshop, when ewe all gather and share ink tricks with one another.
DAY 2
Today we talked about inspiring ink painters such as Fabienne Verdier, Gao Xing Jian and Tony Smibert. Ink painting is under represented in Australia and I hope this workshop will contribute to the promotion of such great medium.
It was very still in the afternoon and everyone was quietly absorbed by the making of their art. This time the styles varied from mark making to landscape or graphic design inspired art. Hearts, circles and even dogs appeared on paper! Gold leaf seemed to be more popular than the day before and white ink was well used too.
Thank you Hilary, Bronz, Catherine, Sue, Barb, Mel, Helmie, Kylie, Georgie and Lhasa for making this day so special!
Ink at Merredin
2019 has only just began that the new series of workshops on the west coast opens with a highly creative session at Merredin.
The evening before the workshop, I was warmly welcomed by Margaret Teasdale, the president of Merredin Fine Art Society. After a lovely diner, crowned by one of Margaret's famous cake, it was time to get some rest as the following day was going to be quite busy.
We met with the participants before ten on Wednesday at the Harling Memorial Library. This luminous, high ceiling, full of light creative space would make any artist jealous! In the morning, many techniques were explored and discussed. The afternoon was open to personal works and interpretation of the techniques discovered in the morning.
Many thanks to everyone for making this day so fun, creative and full of surprises!