Calligraphy Class was all about playing with Paste Paper, which is essentially any paper coated (in a wide variety of methods) with a mixture of cooked flour paste, with paints or pigment added. Above is one of mine with combed colurs in the background and then metallic powders sprinkled on top. Once dry,the paper can be used as background for calligraphy work, or in collages.

Here I used a woodgraining tool through the paste.

Here our esteemed teacher, Gaye Godfrey, demonstrates how to blend paint and paste in correct quantities.

Then swirl it on with a simple household sponge (brushes, rollers etc will do nicely also).

Then she writes back into the paste with a calligraphy pen. You can also do this with a skewer, chopstick etc.

And voilà! The finished product.

We all got stuck in, and produced lots of pieces reasy to be transformed into calligraphy works. Below is a detail of the metallic effects that gives a matte piece of paste paper a little sparkle.

At the end of the lesson Gaye teased us with what’s in store for the next class. I can hardly wait!

For those that are interested in Calligraphy, I highly recommend joining your local Society or Guild - it’s a great way to acquire some beautiful (and fast disappearing!) skillls.

Below I am testing Winsor & Newton pigment density (student quality Cotman colours versus artist’s quality)

Other busy work was going on in our household over the weekend. Can you guess what the boys were building?

A Quarterpipe!

Yet another one, this time much, much smaller and no steel welding or huge skate park area required.

Blue Iris feeling fresh in the morning.

Candy Cane Frangipanis scent the air.

Looking down the throat of the Leopard spotted canna lily reminds me of the 1960’s show ”Time Tunnel”.

The hibiscus are madly flowering their heads off, and it’s magic watching them unfold right before your eyes in the morning - from tight bud to full flamboyant bloom in minutes.

Insects are out and about in the dawn light as well. Fly for breakfast anyone?

And of course the bees never stop.

Morning always reveals surprises.

Other winged creatures show up out front at first light.

Then stay for a seista on my front door mat. Gives the Postie a surprise sometimes!

Throughout the day more visitors come and go.

These long beaked Corellas can create carnage to a lawned area in mere minutes.

Watching the blue dragonflies hunt and dance can be quite hypnotic. They look you straight in the eye as well.

Now we have four turtle doves instead of two.

I can feel some botanical drawing/painting urges coming on…

Quite a change from my usual bird paintings!

It rather matches some of the paintings and drawings I did for the Rainbow Catcher (see last 2 posts)

Lots of critters hiding everywhere in my house!

This “Values” package was essentially about 20 creatures who each represented a value. Each creature had their own story to tell and asociated workshop/exercises to accompany it.

It was a lot of work ( 20 x everything), but such a joy to collaborate with such creative people.

These are just a few of the mutlitudes of black and white images. There are just as many images in colour, so when time permits, I’ll scan and upload some more.

Rainbows

Rainbows.

They seem to be everywhere in my life this week.

This is the interactive CD cover of a project I worked on a while back. I came across the original artwork whilst clearing out the Studio. More about that later. A couple of days ago I was driving home from Drawing Class when I saw this out the side window.

I told Jez to grab a few photos.

After 5 minutes it slowly vaporized.

With not a single drop of rain to tone down this excessive heat.

Back to the Rainbow Catcher. It was a collaboration between a few of us  (writers, artist & musician) to create a “Values” package for Early Childhood. A lot of work but a lot of fun. There is a heap of artwork that was associated with this, when I get the time I’ll scan and post them. The ship is called The Rainbow Catcher and is home to 20 creatures that each represent  a Value (eg Love, Courage etc).

I had a lot of fun with watercolours, metallic inks and holographic glitters.

I’m off for a swim now as I’ve melted all over the computer chair…….”Cooling down” to only the high 30’sC tomorrow!

I enjoyed the large scale format so much that I have quite a few canvases (much bigger ones even!), stacked against the wall awaiting their appointment with the big brushes. Quite ironic when I consider  I’m working on miniatures for admission to the Australian Miniature Society!

On a different subject altogether, we seem to be “blessed” with scaly visitors. Not the Pythons of the Far North this time, but something more sinister.

This is a Dugite (Pseudonaja affinis), which can grow up to 2m, and can be fatally venomous (they are of the Brown Snake family). I picked this fellow up out of the gutter, but he had already met an unfortunate end.

And no, those aren’t my hairy legs, they belong to Jez! I’ve buried the snake in the garden, and look forward to unearthing a nice clean specimen skeleton before winter.

One morning I found our songster haveing a quick dip in the pool.

 Chlorine and frog skin is not a good mix (even the human touch is bad for them), so I fished him out and rinsed him off.

He was back in fine voice late that night.

Two night ago there was a different sounding song under the kitchen window. Something similar to this:spotted-thigh-frog.mp3

He (She?) certainly looked different to the Motorbike frog, but maybe just juvenile. Perhaps it is the Spotted Thigh Frog? (Any froggie experts out there?) At least they aren’t in my toilet at night (see  this post and this post for past scares in the “wee” hours)

Frogs in the garden are a good indicator of a healthy environment, so I’m happy that my “rev head” guests are here.

The  deadly Dugites are another matter entirely…..

The only restriction was that the dimensions were under 10cmx10cm - Australian rules for miniature art. Painting done with 4 colours, then finished off with ink. A very loose style which I’m quite unfamiliar with, but which I found very enjoyable.

Digging through some old artwork I found another piece that I’d forgotten about.

This was from a Botanical Painting Weekend workshop through Uni Summer School - fabulous company and so, so inspiring. Maybe it’s time to get those teeny tiny brushes out again tomorrow!