Quick update for October
Hi all,
I decided to hop on and have a go at this travel blog I’ve been yarning about. It’s nearly been a month since we got back from New Zealand and the post holiday blues have hit hard and now hopefully passing by. Being on holiday seemed to take my painting back a notch somehow too. I’ve been in my head about it, feeling insecure and like I’m not good enough. I was going to do a quick update in this post but then I started writing about art and realised that there was so much to write that I might as well just do two seperate blogs. This will suit those who are more interested in just the travel or just the art.
Canvas Update
I’ve been working on a few canvases. The big ish one I have mostly finished - of Lake Pukaki in New Zealand, has given trouble. I’ve been unable to solve problems with composition, colour, light - nearly everything and I’m also wondering if its also me feeling off about art at the moment too. I’ve very much at the finishing touches of this one, but Its hanging on the wall in our lounge room at the moment so it might not be up for sale for a little while. I need to call it finished at some point. The old artist dilemma. It is a lovely painting, and I may just be too close to it at the moment. Regardless, you can check it out on my Instagram soon.
The other two canvases I’ve just started are acrylic paintings inspired by the Empyrean series of fantasy books by Rebecca Yarros. It’s dragons, magic, dragon rider college and teenager love life. It’s great haha. I love how she writes dragons and magic, its so wonderful. I’ve read her big book so fast its a little bit worrying. The first canvas is square and it will be a black dragon (Tairn or Andarna) flying out of a storm cloud with lightning all around. I’m really trying to capture a moody stormy calm yet electric magic vibe. It’s giving me some trouble, but I won’t be giving up.
The second canvas is the same square shape and will be a vibrant galaxy starry night, with a black dragon flying with the stars. This one is very peaceful. I found a good technique for starry skyscapes with my whales canvas. I’m quite proud of that one - its two whales reaching up to the surface of the sea with a strong metallic sky above them. I’ll put up photos soon but you can see it on instagram in the mean time @artbybreige.
Watercolour class & Workshop
During struggle with art I think it a good approach to take a step back and add some input. I expect myself to always be producing, outputting, creating things that are useable. Rarely this is the case and the pressure of needing to produce (especially when I work fulltime and have to be productive there too) is too much. I’m sure everyone can relate there. Pressure sucks.
So I’ve been looking at input. The online class by Laura is something I’ve wanted to try for a while now and so I finally just did it. I’ve been doing the Laura Horne art class online in watercolour - Painted Horizons, visit https://www.laurahornart.com/ for a look. Laura is a lovely gentle teacher, and I’ve been a fan of her podcast for sometime. Her class has helped me a lot with getting back into things and with loosening up with painting. Highly recommend Laura for guidance and encouragement.
The other input I’ve found is a watercolour and ink workshop at the Woolgoolga Art Gallery. I’ve never done a workshop like this in my adult years and have little to no experience with ink, so I’m pretty excited. I even have a few friends who have decided to come too. Check out WAG https://www.woolgoolgagallery.com.au classes if you’re interested and local to Coffs, of just passing through!
Coasters
I’m thinking of getting some coaster sets finished! I started ages ago and then lost interest. I’ll do a whale set and finish of the gallah set I got 70% done. They’re both on Australian hardwood from a local collector. Stay posted.
Well that’s it for now. I’d better get started on all of these things I’m yakking about. I’ve you’ve read this far, appreciate it.
Peace,
-b.