Feeling Lucky

Feeling Lucky

7cm x 10cm

Coloured pencils on Pastelmat

Just a quick little miniature art squeezed in before we head off on holidays for the next couple of weeks. The pastelmat does have a very fine texture, but unfortunately when scanning this size image, the texture becomes enlarged and quite obvious. I might try using watercolour pencils under the regular pencils next time to see if that gives a smoother appearance. Life is never dull!!!

The Big Harvest

The Big Harvest

9.5 cm in diameter

Coloured pencils on wood

Here is another little drawing for the upcoming Miniature Art Exhibition, inspired by my husband's attempts to grow a vegetable garden. Unfortunately our backyard doesn't get a lot of full sun, so we carefully chopped the two tiny carrots he lovingly grew (the only two to sprout) into six small pieces, so all the family could share in his endeavours. It has long been a dream of his to have a fully fledged vegie patch, but I feel it probably won't happen until we move house! :)

A Platter for Two

A Platter for Two

9.5cm

Coloured pencils and pan pastels on wood primed with colourfix primer

I have had one of those weeks one step forward, two steps back, and have had to start a couple of artworks over several times, due to lots of little problems. Anyway time is starting to run out, as the Australian Society of Miniature Art National Awards Exhibition looms closer and closer, so it was high time to get a couple of miniatures done. This was my third attempt at this one, as in my first two attempts, I underpainted with white acrylic, followed by clear Colourfix primer, only to find that the acrylic undercoat simply blended with the primer and created a smoky mess. This hasn't happened before, and so on the third attempt, I primed with white gesso and then the colourfix primer with a much better result. I love working with the clear gesso, but for some reason the tooth and texture gives me a rash where my hand is resting, and so I've gone back to the clear Colourfix primer which doesn't seem to have that effect. This little miniature was done on a timber coaster, which, surprisingly it took me quite a while to find. Again, you will notice that those little mice have trespassed into my artwork - just can't get rid of them!!! :)

I See You

I See You

8cm x 10cm

Coloured pencils and Pan Pastels on Claybord primed with gesso

I am running out of time to get miniatures done for the upcoming National Awards Exhbition, so thought I should buckle down and get a few done, and this first one features one of my nieces, Bailey. Since I am enjoying working on the gesso with the coloured pencils, I thought I'd try it in miniature. I had some Claybord which is a bit too slick for the coloured pencils but primed it with the Gesso and this worked well. I would love to try Ampersands Gesso board as I'm sure it is probably slightly smoother than the surface I achieved by priming myself, but the Ampersand boards are quite hard to come by in Australia and are not cheap either. However, after trying this experiment, I might try and invest in some for future use. The other thing I tried here was to use the Zest-it pencil solvent to smooth the pencil grain down a bit. This seemed to work well and is also something I would like to explore further in future artworks.

Miniature Art - The Philosopher

The Philosopher

10cm x 10cm Including frame

Coloured pencils, Pan Pastels and Acrylic (the frame) on wood

I thought I would try a miniature artwork using the coloured pencils on gesso. And this time I applied two coats of gesso. I think next time, I may just try the one coat again. Unfortunately once scanned the pencil on wood looks more grainy and broken up than it appears in real life, and I think that is accentuated because it is a mini, which I scanned in at 600dpi. The actual pencil area is only 7cm x 7cm (2 3/4 inches x 2 3/4 inches). This fabulous chimp obligingly posed for us a few years ago at Taronga Zoo and when I stumbled across the reference photo a few days ago, I thought it would be the ideal image to try a mini pencil on wood.

1st Prize Drawing Section ASMA Awards Exhibition

A Life Well Spent

6x8 cm

Graphite pencil on drafting film

I often forget to post if I have won an award, but have just come back from collecting my prize for winning the Drawing Section of the ASMA (Australian Society of Miniature Art) National Awards Exhibition for "A Life Well Spent". I wasn't able to attend the Presentation Evening last night, as we were on our way back from Canberra, but had the opportunity to browse the exhibition this afternoon. How inspiring!!! When attending these Miniature Art Exhibitions, I am always reminded of why I fell in love with this genre of art in the first place. This was a timely prize for me also, as the prize was a boxed set of 120 Faber Castell Polychromos, and those of you familiar with my work would know that these are my favourite pencils - some of mine are only about one inch long now. Whilst there, I was happy to learn that my painting "Hush Little Mouse" had sold as well.

Miniature Painting - Carnivale Juggler

Carnivale Juggler

8cm x 10cm

Oils on Rtistx Panel

This little painting was just the antidote I needed to lift me out of my rut. After months of doing commissions in mostly pencils, it was fun to pick up my fine little brushes (20/0) and have a play with paints again. It was also wonderful to paint freely, without worrying about whether I had created a good likeness of the subject. This little painting was inspired by the mystique of Cirque du Soleil and the detail of the Carnivale masks, and I would like to do a series of paintings following this type of theme. The paint has not yet dried, giving the scan a bit of a blotchy look. so I will repost it in a few days, once it has completely dried.

Tiny commission - Frostbite

Frostbite

2.5 x 3.5 inches

Coloured pencil on drafting film

This was a commission for a wonderful customer who bought many of my ACEO's when I was producing them in a big way. As a way of saying thank you to my customer for all her support, I offered to do her a larger portrait at no extra charge, but she said she would rather have a tiny one. It is funny with miniature art, many of my well meaning friends, and even other artists, have asked me why I don't work larger, or "it is a shame that artwork isn't bigger!" What many of them don't realise, is that in most instances it takes me just as long to produce a tiny commission like this, as it does to produce a larger one. Miniature art reminds me of when I was young and would get a special present for my Birthday that I treasured so much I would carry it around with me and sit it on my bedside table at night. These little miniatures are so small they can be popped in a handbag, or sat on a dresser. Large works of art can be appreciated from a distance, but miniature artworks invite us to come closer to really study the artwork and look with wonder at each tiny brush stroke or pencil line. We can hold them in the palm of our hand like a little treasure. I get mesmerised by looking at other people's miniature art and seeing what they can achieve in tiny spaces.

Miniature Art Group on RedBubble

Our submission for a Miniature Art Group has been accepted on RedBubble and we would love to have any artists who enjoy working in miniature come and join us on RedBubble. There is no joining fee, or obligation to participate, just a wonderful interactive site, where you can share your artwork, sell some prints if you wish, and hopefully get to know other miniature artists. Hope to see you there!!!! :)

Miniature Commission - The Brothers

The Brothers

2.5 x 3.5 inches

Graphite and black pencil on drafting film

This was one of my more challenging commissions. Not only was it small at 2.5 x 3.5 inches but because the upper bodies were to be included too, it meant the faces had to be very small. This is fine, if you are working on a piece such as A Life Well Spent, where it isn't a commission, and so there is no pressure to create a true likeness. In this size commission, you can't afford to be out be even a fraction of an inch, so I feel like I'm going to bed a little cross eyed tonight. (I still love working tiny though, and always love a challenge!!!!)

Latest 4x6 inch artwork - Santa Claws

Santa Claws

4x6 inch

Coloured pencils on drafting film

Christmas is a funny time of year. As the decorations start to appear on the shelves of all the stores, I am filled with a sudden panic at the thought of all that has to be done in the 8 weeks between now and December 25th - shopping, cooking, cleaning, wrapping, cards, the list is endless and overwhelming. But then the inner child emerges and the bright colours of Christmas, the joy of listening to much loved carols, the anticipation of the season to come takes over and I am filled with an urge to kick the season off with a Christmas OSWOA. I hope it brings out your inner child as you all face the weeks to come.

More samples on Rtistx Panel

Fishing at Greenwell Point

7cm x 9cm

Watercolours on RTX300 Rtistx Panel

Celebrating Australia Day

7cm x 9cm

Watercolours on RTX300 Rtistx Panel

I have uploaded these two artworks, which were done last year, to give viewers more examples of what is achievable on the Rtistx panels. They are great for doing smooth washes and for painting fine details. There is actually a panel specifically for watercolours, but it is more like a cold-pressed finish. These two artworks were done on the smoother RTX300 board, and are currently on display at the Australian Society of Miniature Art National Awards Exhibition.

"Mirror Image" ACEO Acrylic Painting

Mirror Image ACEO

2.5 x 4.5 inches

Acrylics on Colourfix Paper

Here is my latest ACEO. I must say I find doing the acrylic paintings much slower than the coloured pencil on drafting film, but it is always good to try new mediums. I am interested whether visitors have a preference for one medium over another with my art. I find it easier to get a crisp, bright image with the coloured pencils on drafting film, but I feel sometimes those buying art value paintings more. This little painting is available to purchase from my ebay store.

Cheers to all :))

OSWOA - Muhali, Baby Gorilla

Muhali, Baby Gorilla

4 x 6 inches

Acrylic on Colourfix paper

On Monday, we took our youngest to Sydney's Taronga Zoo, and one of our highlights was this eight month old gorilla, who stole our hearts. It was fascinating to watch the gorilla's behaviour and the parrallel's between them and we humans. With four sons, and three of them in their teens, I was amused to watch two adolescent gorillas wrestling with each other and struggling for dominance, whilst their silverback father looked on with mild interest. I lost track years ago of the number of times we have asked our boys to stop wrestling in the loungeroom (usually just as the news started!!!)

Latest artwork!!

Aren't holidays wonderful for fostering creativity - I was so much more productive in the glorious relaxed mode of vacation than I can ever hope to be in our usual hectic life. I think we should go on holidays more often!!!!! These are the 6 artworks completed whilst we were away:

Party Animal ACEO (2.5 x 3.5 inches)

Coloured pencils, ink and markers on drafting film

MacCheeky ACEO (2.5 x 3.5 inches)
Coloured pencils, ink and markers on drafting film.

The Flame ACEO (2.5 x 3.5 inches)
Coloured pencils and ink on drafting film.

Sweet Dreams ACEO (2.5 x 3.5 inches)
Coloured pencils on drafting film.

Fagan Park Fine Art Miniature (6.5cm x 9cm)
Coloured pencils and markers on drafting film.

Cool Relief Fine Art Miniature (6cm x 8.5cm)
Watercolours on Illustration Board

All ACEO's are available for purchase from my Ebay Store. The fine art miniatures will be saved for Miniature Art Exhibitions.

The Little Fossicker

One of the problems I experience as an artist living in Australia is the lack of available materials and resources we can access as compared to the US and UK. When I first started painting miniature watercolours 3 or 4 years ago, I wasn't happy with traditional watercolour papers and so the search was on for a surface that would allow me to produce fine detail, and also allow for some reworking. I stumbled across Fredrix Watercolor Canvas and loved what this surface enabled me to do with watercolours. But paintings done on this surface don't reproduce into prints very well as they tend to have quite a grainy appearance. At that time, I couldn't find a quality Illustration board in any of our local artshops, and whilst I could have ordered some from the US, this isn't always practical when it comes to ordering large sheets.

The other day, I stumbled across some Crescent Illustration Board in one of our local artshops and decided to redo a little painting of one of our boys when they were young (one of my favourites). The painting on top was done two years ago on the canvas, and the one below was done on the illustration board. Some of you may prefer the canvas, but I must admit I was much happier with the results on the illustration board. We head off tomorrow for our holiday and I will definitely be packing the watercolours for more experimenting.

Latest ACEO - Bubbles & Blessings

We have a long weekend for the Queen's Birthday, here in Australia, and sadly, all the boys sport has been cancelled due to rain :) - so that just means more time for art - don't know how I'll cope!!! This is my latest ACEO - the main inspiration here was my urge to try to draw bubbles. I have attempted it a couple of times this week and all works have ended up in the bin. I worked out in the end, that it is much easier to draw bubbles on a darker background than to try to create bubbles on a white background - I guess it should have been obvious. This was my final attempt and the best of a bad lot, so I then proceeded with the rest of the painting. You can purchase this ACEO in my ebay store.

Latest ACEO - Butterfly Kiss

One of the dilemmas I always have trouble with, is whether to do a background on my ACEO's. This week I have had fun experimenting with mediums and backgrounds and finally came up with a combination I was happy with. The effect I was after was something like airbrushing without actually using an airbrush. This background was done on the back of the drafting film. After doing the initial sketch on the front, I turned it over and coloured roughly with Faber Castell Pitt Pens in a range of shades. This was then smudged gently with a tissue. The pitt pens are not permanent on the drafting film, but a spray of fixative solved the problem. I was then able to turn the film back over and work happily from the front. I was quite content with the result! This ACEO is available for sale in my ebay store. Have a great week :)

ACEO Commissioned Pencil Portraits

I have decided to launch a new listing on ebay, etsy and artfire for ACEO sized commissioned people portraits, but it has been quite a while now since I have done any, so needed an updated image to use with my listings. This is our oldest son's girlfriend, Laura, who made the perfect model. She is a beautiful girl and we love her to bits. This ACEO is not for sale.

Oriental Beauty

This is an ACEO featuring our own gorgeous Siamese called Dipsy, who is coming up to 11 years old now. He is the most loyal pet you could ask for, waiting at the door until I come home, follows me from room to room - even sits at the door of the shower until I come out!! I adore him. This ACEO was done with Faber Castell Polychromos, Lyra Skintones and Derwent Drawing pencils on drafting film and is available for sale in my ebay store.