Mt Eyre Vineyards Art Prize Finalists

Although I wasn't chosen for the final hang for this Art Prize (congratulations to one of my readers, Annabel, who was!) I have to say that this is a pretty good little show and worth the effort of hiking over the wrong side of Oxford St to see. I'll admit, I don't really like the winner or the runners up, but would gladly have seen the prize go to Claude Jones (no relation) for Monkey Magic (Left); Nathan Taylor for his beautiful, Olive Cotton-esque photograph (Untitled II Pictured Right) or a sculpture made from recycled materials that doesn't seem to be listed on the gallery's website or Works for Sale list, but most surely was spied by me (weird!) The sculpture had such "lift" and a sense of touch and each "tower" seemed to be exactly the right height to create tension. I was waiting for it to move for some minutes. It was a conglomeration of beautiful natural pieces such as small shafts of driftwood, wind blown sandstone and rusted coat hanger wire...assembled into babel-like structures of almost nothingness and air! (Enough - you can't see it)

Show just opened and is on till 11th July (Tues-Sat 11-6, Sunday 12-4pm) at Rex-Livingston Art Dealers 59 Flinders St Darlinghurst

In the Media - for those who asked for it

As some of you now know, I was recently given a full page article and photos in the Sydney Morning Herald and I've attached it for your reading pleasure (if not a giggle, especially at the really bad photo of me). Not sure if I have shot myself in the foot, as I am really trying to be seen as a real artist, but hey - they rang me for an interview because of my website addition which they thought was, somehow newsworthy.

And I certainly can't afford to knock back publicity.

And yes...it's not what you know, it's who you know! A friend passed my site onto someone in the media, who passed it on to....etc

Let me know what you think

You can read it at human size here (click on thumbnail)

Joanna Logue -King St Gallery

Image: Joanna Logue, Essington Field III, 2010; Oil on Linen 122cm x 183cm

I must own up to the fact that Joanna is one of my "Besties", but even so, this is a cracker of a landscape show. Her soulful work is quite well known on the art scene, having won a number of art prizes including the Country Energy and People's Choice Paddington Art prizes.

This show takes it one step further (or should I say, away) as many of the works are of landscapes viewed through the frosty windows which are part of living in the Oberon High Country, rather than directly immersed in the environment. And she has moved more towards abstraction - which obviously appeals to me - in her execution of rough, intuitive brush strokes which give, for a second time, on closer inspection (the first being the overall, dream like quality of her work viewed from afar).

Take a look - it's on till 26th June.

More Art Classes

Image: Gabrielle Jones, "the One" 2010, 122 x 152cm, Oil on canvas

I am adding an extra day for my Art classes - now on Thursdays and Fridays. You can find the dates and information here and some testimonials from past students here.

I really enjoy the classes - it makes me articulate what I believe about art, to break down what works and why, and I love to see the "aha!" moment when students have a break through. As well, I have learned that if I hear myself repeat something too often, that it's my subconscious telling me what I need to hear for myself! Consequently, I have recently had my own "Aha!" moment in the work I have been struggling with for my Goulburn Regional Gallery show. I am very excited about it, and it seems to bring together my realist/abstract bent, my love of paint and it's processes, and the obsession with lines and movement that had been taking over of late. It's still landscape, and still in it's infancy, so there won't be any pics until I am confident of the quality- (stay tuned).

Better still, my students tell me they have learnt more with me in a few weeks than they learnt in a couple of years of community based courses (aren't they nice? See, that's why I love them). I teach to students needs, so at any one class, there may be people working on different elements of painting. I also structure classes to provide core remedial work, and engaging projects which include still life and landscape (and possibly figure work in the future).

So... if you're in the market for some tutoring in art, join the class - I'd love to see you!

Bouquets for the Vanguard

Image: Jeff Buckley

Haven't been to a music venue for ages - what was I thinking? Had the great fortune to be gifted tickets to the Vanguard in Newtown, to see a Jeff Buckley Tribute show (and yes, the word "tribute" filled me with misgivings). Nice, intimate venue, great food and service, and wonderful sightline to the stage. Sound desk earns their money, too, with a good balance between vocals and guitar - not always the case.

PJ Wolf started the line up: with an amazing voice and heartfelt performance, I was blown away and sure that everything had to be downhill from here. But, apart from two performers who I thought were "just good" the rest were outstanding and I wondered, not for the first time, how much talent there really is out there that we don't hear about (forget "Idol"). The Bill said that this was a performance by Sydney's top singer songwriters - and I have no doubt that it was.

Each artist had a little story about why they were singing this particular JB -and I didn't know there were so many bootleg recordings!- which was a nice, personal touch, paying tribute to the legacy and huge influence of this beautiful, young man. The sheer vocal range -from operatic high notes to deep and throaty -served to renew my interest in JB as a huge talent and sad loss to this world. Needless to say, he's on high rotation (again) on the ipod at the studio.

The upshot was: art feeds on art and I need to get out there more! I am now on the Vanguard's mailing list - I'd hate to miss something that good again.