    The Giveaway: In conjunction with Mummified Times Five, I am giving away up to $1000 worth of Maimeri Classico oil paints! Each prize pack includes 10 tubes of Maimeri Classico paints valued at $9.55 each…so with free postage, that’s a prize pack valued at over $100!! And we have 10 packs to give away!! To enter, all you need to do is: -comment on any post ON EACH of Kathy Shell’s blogs (listed in my blog side bar and below): http://mummifiedtimesfive.net/2010/02/01/spotlight-on-kathy-shell-giveaway/ and say why you would like to win a 10 pack of Maimeri Classico paints. (Both steps are mandatory to be in the running to win this prize) Giveaway finishes 15 Feb 2010 This blog post has been illustrated by postcards from the art of Kathy Shell. These can be orderd through the artist's postcards-art web site or purchased 'direct from the artist', in her caravan awning studio      Advance Notice. $1,000 . value of Oil Paint to be given away FREE to my blog readers during February 2010. Not just any oil paint but, quality Italian Maimeri Classico 60ml tubes. These paints are the artist’s daily bread and butter. Anyone – professional or amateur – who picks up a tube of Classico oil paints will find in it just what they need. They contain no waxes or thickeners, and pigment concentration is very high. Bright, lively colours with overall harmony in the palette, these paints from Italy are made with non-toxic, non-polluting pigments that improve light-fastness. They are versatile paints, offering exceptional value for money, but you could own a set plus postage FREE. Watch this blog and http://mummifiedtimesfive.net for further details and be the first to enter this FREE competition.   When I have taught art, a high proportion of my art students were cigarette smokers and I never allowed cigarette smoking in my studio both for safety reasons and my personal dislike of the cigarette smoke and the smell. I first saw electronic cigarettes,advertised two months ago and I know it is only a matter of time before they become common place in Australia and I am wondering what these will be like as a second hand, sensation, for non smokers. Given I have a no smoking allowed sign near me when working out of doors with artist’s materials, will electronic cigarette smokers consider this applies to them? Should it? Also, is there any risk when using these near flammable liquids in an art studio? I would like to know these things and I would be interested in comments on this subject. This does not affect me personally, as I do not use highly volatile thinners, though most artists do and many smoke. I have actually seen an artist smoke a cigarette while cleaning brushes over a large can of open kerosene an obvious risk of fire. Common sense is not always common. Fire Hazards Associated with Chemicals Used in the Arts The fire hazards associated with artist’s materials are often overlooked, yet fire may be the greatest risk artists face. Common art materials that may cause a fire include flammable or combustible solvents, oily rags, chemical oxidizers, and compressed welding gases. Improper use of solvents causes most art-related fires. Artists must be aware of a solvent’s flashpoint and volatility, the two primary properties that influence a solvent’s ability to initiate a fire. The flashpoint, the single most important factor, is the temperature at which a solvent gives off enough vapour to form an ignitable mixture with air and can ignite in the presence of an ignition source such as a flame or electrical spark. The lower the flashpoint, particularly when it is at or below room temperature the more hazardous the material. A substance’s volatility determines how much of it will evaporate and mix with air. In order for solvent to catch fire, it must evaporate and its vapours must mix with air to form the right fuel/air ratio (typically 1-3 percent). The more volatile the solvent, the more readily it will evaporate and the more likely it will create an ignitable fuel/air mixture. Acetone is extremely volatile and if spilled, it will evaporate almost instantly. Mineral spirits, which has a much lower volatility than acetone, will evaporate much more slowly if spilled. To control the risk of a fire, always choose a solvent with the highest possible flashpoint and the lowest possible volatility. Ventilate the area to keep the solvent concentration from reaching an ignitable air/fuel mixture. Remove ignition sources such as open flames and electrical equipment that may generate sparks. Vapours from flammable solvents are heavier than air. They can travel some distance to an ignition source and then flash back to the solvent source. When dispensing flammable solvents, from large metal containers, ground both containers to dissipate static electrical charges. To prevent fires, store rags soiled with setting oils (tung oil, linseed oil) in tightly closing metal containers and have them picked up daily for professional laundering or disposal Flammable solvents should be stored in a storage cabinet designed for flammable materials. When using flammable solvents, out in the studio, store them in safety cans. If you handle chemical oxidizers such as chlorates, chromates, nitrates, or peroxides, store them apart from organic solvents and other readily combustible materials in storage units specifically designed for these materials. Some types of substances such as organic peroxides and nitric acid are so reactive they should be stored separately from all other chemicals. If you use compressed gases, such as acetylene or propane, be familiar with all the complex regulations that apply to them. Secure them in an upright position and test the regulator fittings and connections for leaks before using them. Store flammable compressed gases, separately from compressed oxygen. Tile Art. 01/29/2010
 Artist’s can do some incredible tile work. It is worth considering trying working with tiles as a creative medium. I have seen artists use a mixture of modern commercial tiles and broken pieces of patterned English bone china to create beautiful coffee table tops. These photos above are of the tiles in the footpath in front of the gate leading into the garden of the Art Gallery Restaurant, at 50 Emily Street Seymour, Victoria. To see more travel photos and stories, check out my 'gone bush' blog at http://www.gray-nomad.com The photos below are of the flower boxes at SPC Ardmona, KidsTown, Midland Highway, Mooroopna, Victoria.   Steps to writing your artist’s Resume. by Kathy Shell List your most recent activities first (under each heading). Use 10 pt. type or larger. 1. Name Name (in bold or larger font) Address: Phone Number(s): Work, Studio, Home, Fax Email: Personal Website: (if appropriate) Comments: Be sure to list addresses and phone numbers that are current. Make it easy to be reached. The inclusion of such information as place and date of birth is optional. 2. Artistic Education 3. Artistic Teaching experience 4. Grants/Fellowships (Awards/Honors, etc.) 5. Exhibition Record (* solo shows marked by asterisk) 6. Bibliography (Reviews/Articles/Catalogues, Reviews/Articles/Interviews) 7. Publications (Published Writings, Critical Writings) 8. Conferences (Conferences/Symposia) Other CategoriesThere are a wide variety of professional activities that can be deserving of headings. Gallery Representation (Gallery Affiliation) Artist Residencies (Artist-in-Residence) Professional Service (Service) Technical Abilities (Technical Expertise, Technical Skills) Professional Organizations (Professional Affiliations) Exhibitions Juried Exhibitions Curated Collections your work s are included in. Commissions. Website References Using a professional service, to write your resume. I am qualified to and happy to assist creative artists wanting professional help in writing their resumes. With more than fifty years of successful, creating, exhibiting, and international sales in a wide range of creative arts including business writing of resumes. I have been assisting artists to write resumes for the past thirty years. My fee for this is my standard, art tuition time based fee. I am available now, via the contact page, to assist in resume writing for an on line tutorial fee. I begin my art and writing tour very shortly, I know that many people want to see me, speak to me about their art work, ask my advice about their resume preparation, and their creative work, ask for tips. I am happy to assist as many artists as I can and encourage beginners to start in art. There will be a standard fee per half hour, for all professional consultation, work, including constructive critiques, resume advice, art tips, and the best value would be to advance book and pay, a two and a half hour tutorial for $50. As my casual fee is $20. per each 30 minutes lesson time. This fee is per person. I will be touring Victoria through March 2010. NSW April 2010 May will be NSW or QLD. Touring Southern QLD in early June 2010 and FNQ in July 2010. I will be making fewer longer stops in one location during August and September 2010 so tutorials during those months will be at the casual rate or conducted. on line. Wii Fit Plus, Jogging fit, Artist. 01/26/2010
My husband Reg is getting fitter every day. He is working out using the Wii, mostly at the balance games and some on the spot jogging. He has his Wii age down from 75, (which came as a shock as his actual age is 69,) to 59 or -10, his actual age. We were both so pleased with that result and how much more freely he is moving. I was thinking if he could now jog on the spot for 20 minutes it was time I bought him his first pair of good running shoes, since he was a teenager and ran marathons. My man tends to buy $20. Chain store special shoes and having once had a spinal injury, and having a curvature of the spine and arthritis, I believe the difference it will make to his health and movement to be fitted professionally for a good pair of well cushioned and supporting shoes, will be worth far more than the cost factor. These are what I bought him.  Trance™9 From the pr blurb on the Brooks Running Shoes, web site:- Quote:- 'You’ve come to expect big things from this shoe. The Trance™ 8 introduced BioMoGo to the world, and the Trance™ 9 unveiled our improved Progressive Diagonal Rollbar (PDRB®), delivering unsurpassed cushioning and effortless but supportive heel-to-toe transitions. Jam-packed with premium plushness (say that ten times fast), the Trance™ 9 remains worthy of your highest expectations. Width DSupport Category This category represents the shoes best suited for the majority of the running population.' Now for unique gifts for her in this day of retail therapy, I have been watching one of my favourite dress stores, a little country town boutique, I drive past regularly and noticing the20% off Sale, on the window, ever since Christmas, but I have held out and waited until today, the 50% off sign was finally up. I pulled over and out of four dresses I tried on three looked fabulous on me. Oh it is so nice to be out of the big girls clothing department and able to shop in boutiquesJ. It is three years since I was a size 22 to 24 and I LOVE the healthier fitter, me, even more than I love the being able to walk into any regular sizes dress boutique and find clothes that fit me. I selected the most practical dress for me, the one I will get the most use from, a day dress, sun frock. This dress is ideal for the coastal tour we will be enjoying this year. This is what I love, buying, well-made, non mass-produced quality, when it is at chain store price. But.Drum rolls........... The very BEST gift, I got was this morning when I did the fitness test in the Wii fit plus and it said my Wii age was down from my start of 62 years which was minus one year, from my actual 63 years of age, to ..........drum roll again J. 35 years Wii fit age. J I am pleased with myself. I feel it tooJ, I’ve never felt fitter or healthier in my life. In this last three years of gradually increasing fitness activity, I am certain I have added over thirty years to my life. What better gift could you give yourself?  Works on Paper, Touring Art Studio, Set Up. 01/25/2010
 We moved into a large onsite van with seven attached rooms, and began renovating it, last summer. This is not our main home, our main home is our Eco-tourer caravan and out troop carrier, Toyota, land cruiser work mate, car, I refer to as ‘troopy’. I needed this summer home to have room to store my lifetime supply of art materials, left over from the art supply shop we had connected to our Buninyong Gallery. Each year we return in the springtime and I am able to top up my travelling supplies from the store and enjoy the freedom of spreading myself for a while. I am packing my 2010 art supplies into the car, now, and we went looking at fridges and freezers that we could use in the car as additional food storage, but would not take up too much of my art supply space. We found a chest fridge that runs on 12 volt, from the car or 240 volt, it’s big enough for the fresh vegetables but it will not take up too much of the studio space I need, inside the car and the flat top will be handy, It can double as a seat. Always handy to have things serve two roles, when you pack for a long tour. I always compare prices on line these days and look for the best shopping deals as it pays to compare shopping prices. I will never have to shop again for watercolour papers. I have more left over from the art supply shop, we closed, than I could use in three lifetimes at the rate I am going now. I am beginning to use the textured acid free watercolor papers for my pastel sketches and I will pack some acrylic paints this year and try these out on the papers too. I tend to vary what medium I take away with me on tour, each year. Some years it is oils, others watercolors, and this year, based on my enormous stack of artist, quality watercolor paper, I think I will do ‘works on paper'. I have bought some of those office paper, storage systems at Big W; they hold A4 size paper and will be great for storing 9” x 12” paintings while they dry. They were $20. each. I bought 5 of them. I hope to have the opportunity to paint prolifically this trip and I don’t want, the not knowing where to store part wet art works, to slow down my enthusiasm. Now, when I do travel with oil paint that stays wet for weeks, I will have an adequate storage system for my on site paintings, as we travel. Artists are always wondering how to transport wet paintings and the narrow draws, made for scrap booking and office papers in lightweight plastic storage containers are ideal for this job,. This is a sponsored post. All opinions are mine.   Funny Open Hour, Signs! 01/24/2010
 In my touring Caravan. Cardboard display rack of hand crafted, bookmarks created from the images of my art works. Sign on my touring caravan door. "Open Hours: Open most days about 9 or 10. Occasionally as early as 7, and sometimes as late as 12 or 1. We close about 5:30 or 6. Occasionally about 4 or 5, and sometimes as late as midnight, or later. On somedays we're not here at all, but lately we've been here a lot, unless we're not here." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sign on my Summer Studio Retreat Door. ‘Closed’, I will meet friends in face book, the park or the shopping mall for a coffee. I am very busy continuing to work toward our 2010 tour of Eastern Australia. I have organized cardboard displays, which I love, for the small handmade art cards and bookmarks we will have for sale direct from the artist, available only from our caravan, while on tour, on request. We will not be showing any of these items to people from our summer studio retreat as this is my creative time, not our interacting with people time. I know other creative vocation artists; will understand the need for a creative retreat, a time for an artist and writer to isolate themselves away with their work. My sister who is a writer and artist living in California lives in a log cabin in wilderness adjacent to a National Park, up the North Coast, past San Francisco. She mixes with people only at exhibitions and the theatre, this is how artist writers need to live, and even with this isolation, she tells me she is two years behind in her work. Somehow, I too, need to create this barrier of isolation during my time here in Victoria. I need this time to create, while I have access to larger studio space where I can spread out my work. I do not want to offend or reject offers of friendship, but my summer home and studio, is private. The only address, I give out is that of one of my daughters, I cannot broadcast the address of a place that I advertise as being vacant for six months a year, while we tour. I have no address on my business card. Our address is listed officially as ‘Highways of Australia, and in summer that’s opposite an oat field, near a lake, in the Goulburn Valley on private property, doesn’t even have a street that is listed on the map of the town and we are not ‘in’, for visitors, we are ‘in creative retreat’. It is not quite the ideal for the artist writer, log cabin, retreat, in the wilderness, my sister has, but it is ours and we love it and the privacy we seek for it. I hope my friends will understand my need for creative retreat time and place.  Art Bookmarks, in cardboard display unit, in our touring caravan.  A wonderful meeting with Western Australian friends, during our West Coast tour. I need to begin making up a map showing where all my friends live so I will know when I am in their area, as I would love to meet more of my internet friends, and my blog readers while I am travelling in their area during 2010. It is a busy time right now, organizing the tour. Once I am nearing late Summer I know I need to get moving on completing all the maintenance jobs, the car is booked for service next Friday, We just had the air conditioner service, and the caravan service comes next. Then it’s the personal check ups, off to the dentist and the Casey solar clinic for our annual skin checks and then the dentist though I am getting to the stage where I could do with the implant dentist Plano. I tend to forget about it but someone commented the other day about the gap where I have a tooth missing. I never did anything about it, when I lost that tooth, not wanting to spend money on things that were not terribly relevant to me Well I just reduced the price on our on location holiday van for sale, Site 43, at Goughs Bay Caravan Park, if it sells, I might treat myself to a better smile for when I get to meet all my internet friends on our tour of east coast Australia, coming up fast. J.  Meeting Internet friends, with the view of South Perth, WA, in the distance. On Location Oil Painting Studio Set Up. 01/22/2010
 Reg has installed a 12-volt chargeable battery run, bright LED light in the inside cabin of our ‘troopy’, car and I have a 240-volt florescent light fitting mounted high on the cargo barrier behind the driver’s seat. In the cabin, of the troop carrier, we have removed the eleven passenger seats to make a small room and I have mounted a table across at the back, tied to the cargo barrier. Underneath this, I will have plastic lightweight draws containing my oil painter’s art studio equipment. I have removed the comfortable seat and back from a conventional swivel stool we found at the tip shop and I place this on top of a plastic crate, which doubles as storage and the base for a comfortable seat. Not much is needed to be added to my touring, on location, oil painting, studio. J. I just need to shop around for the auto insurance quote to make sure my car art studio contents, are covered in the car insurance policy. Can you tell, J how eager I am for our next painting and writing, tour? Safety note: I do not use thinners or flammable liquids when oil painting or cleaning brushes so no dangerous materials are carried in the car. | Kathy Shell on Facebook What is RSS
Kathy Shell, Australian
|
RSS Feed
