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I have never adapted to using my mobile phone for internet use. In fact, I have never even learned to send text messages on my mobiles phone. My main excuse for not doing that is that the keyboard on my several years old, mobile phone is too small to allow for easy texting. 

I intend to upgrade to an Iphone or a full keyboard phone, I am not sure what I want. I am currently looking around, trying to decide what phone to get. 

Many of my friends are buying an unlocked phone so they have full choice of internet provider and I am unsure if I want to do this or to get a phone for a discount price along with a two-year plan with a phone and internet provider.

When any of my friends chat, about their new phones, I am ‘all ears’.

I am letting everyone know ‘I will be in the market for a new phone soon’, as I want to learn all the advantages of the different types, so I make the best decision for my own use, one that will give me additional use, especially ease of texting, but will not greatly increase my monthly expenditure.

I hope to learn more from my own friends, before I make this decision. 
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Tinnies. 02/27/2010
 
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I thought these tinnies, laying above the high water mark at Phillip Island, were great material for an artist to paint so I am putting them here and letting my readers know they are welocome to use them if they wish.

Remember though that unless I give permission for you to use them, other pictures on my website are copyright to me and should not be used.
 
 
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Wedding Day, portrait in oil pastels by Kathy Shell
I am often, asked, to tell people when I first became a portrait artist. 

I had been studying life drawing and figurative clay sculpture at Swinburne Technical College in the evenings and I was working as a housekeeper and carer for three young children during the day to earn my night school tuition and wagging secondary school so I could do what I wanted to do.  I was twelve and very determined that I was going to be a professional artist and I was not going to waste my days learning algebra, geometry and French, which I never intended to use

I had chosen to do an Intermediate Certificate and a Commercial Art Certificate through, International Correspondence School and had been able to select my own subjects, something I could not do back then in the traditional day school system.  On what was my last ride home from secondary school on my bicycle, I was wild with excitement, singing, ‘no more schooling, no more books no more teachers, dirty looks’ as I approached the crest of the hill for the final downhill stretch to the turn off to my home.

I was in a state of euphoria, that I had cheated the truant officer, of the joy of hauling me back, to a bricks and mortar school, where art, was suppressed. I wondered what it would be like to sail down that hill without doing what I had always been instructed to do, ‘apply the brakes’. I decided to find out.

I reached our street corner, swung into it at full speed, streaked across the road, hit the curb, somersaulted off my bike through the air,  flew over the nature strip and footpath, over the fence and landed plonk in the middle of someone’s recently softly  turned cushioned earth. 

I came out of my stunned state, with the understanding of ‘well that is what happens, when you don’t apply the brakes’.

I remember someone coming to my aid. With pride always having been my greatest sin, I brushed their concern away by holding back my tears, brushing myself off and collecting my bike, saying something stupid like, ‘ Ha- ha, I meant to do that’, and getting my wounded self and bike, home without letting on to anyone the pain I was in.

I have no idea how I walked home, because after that I could not walk for months. My housekeeping job was gone, all I could do was watch over my three child charges in my child minding job.  I also needed to keep the three children I cared for, near me, so I could watch over them, so I spent all day, every day, for weeks, drawing these three children playing near me or sketching solo portraits of their faces, which they loved and sat posing for time and again. I had adults dropping in to see my work and buying it from me. Horray! No more housekeeping jobs.

The children were disappointed when their full time sketch artist recovered enough to improvise for myself a pair of crutches from old sporting equipment found in a shed and I could begin to get around again and back to my usual routine. That is my usual routine that no longer involved dodging truant officers thanks to my portrait art income now being able to pay for my correspondence schooling lessons and a routine that now did not include testing out what would happen if I did not apply the brakes when advised to. J    Now I think of it, I still flaunt that rule slightly, just not when out on the highway or when driving. J

Well that was life back in suburbia in 1958. No convenience of mobility products to help the average injured child get around, or places where you could research the best product for disability needs, such as mobility compare , back then, or if there was, it was for the rich kids. 
 
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Artifacts seller, a pastel pencil portrait by Kathy Shell
 
 
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Medium:pastel, Blue and gold: portrait of Dorothy Sutherland (1908) by Jane Sutherland.
 One of the artists whose work I most admire, is Jane Sutherland.

Jane Sutherland 1853-1928 was an artist and art teacher.

At age seventeen, her father George Sutherland, who was a drawing instructor and artist exhibiting with the Victorian Academy of Arts, encouraged her to enrol in the National Gallery Schools. She studied  under Thomas Clark, 1871-1875, Oswald Rose Campbell, 1877-1881. Eugene von Guerard in 1877, and  George Frederick Folingsby, 1882-1885.

She is an artist of the same era as Tom Roberts and Frederick McCubbin and painted with them at the Box Hill artist Camp. See:- her work 'Obstruction, Box Hill' in 1887.

She exhibited in 1878 with the Victorian Academy of Arts and  the Australian Artists' Association. She later exhibited with the Victorian Artists' Society.. She also exhibited works in the federal exhibitions in 1899, 1903 and 1906 at the South Australian Society of Arts, and along with Clara Southern, and May Vale, exhibited in the First Exhibition of Australian Women's Work held in the Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne, 1907.

Jane Sutherland, Clara Southern, May Vale and Jane Price also exhibited together in a 'Private Exhibition of Pictures' held in November 1905 in Frederick McCubbin's home, in Shipley Street, South Yarra.   Fredrick McCubbin was ‘gentleman’ artist of whom I have a great deal of respect.  Many of the male artists. One in particular, went out of their way to strive to prevent private art galleies hanging the work of the great woman artist’s of the day and this makes Fredrick McCubbin’s efforts to strive to put right, the professional disadvantage these women artists struggled under, even more noticeable as he himself was ridiculed by his male counterparts for both this and his own devotion to his family.

Jane Sutherland and her close friend, Clara Southern, were pioneers of the plein-air movement, and  they sought to advance the professional standing of women artists. Jane Southerland was considered the leading woman artist of the Heidelberg School.

Jane Sutherland Biography

Jane Sutherland - Obstruction, 1887
Jane Sutherland - Girl in a Paddock, c. 1890
Jane Sutherland - The Mushroom Gatherers, c. 1895
Jane Sutherland - Daydream, c. 1895
Emanuel Phillips Fox - A Love Story, c. 1903
Jane Sutherland - Portrait of Margaret Sutherland as a Young Girl, c. 1905

Heidelberg School Background

Around 1904, Jane Sutherland suffered a mild stroke, after this, she stopped painting large on location landscapes and adapted to painting small  oils and pastels, of her garden local surroundings and portraits.

It was during this time she painted the beautiful 'Portrait of Margaret Sutherland as a Young Girl', c.1905. She continued painting, exhibiting and teaching art, with the assistance of a family member, up 1911.  
 
 
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I went to a market at Cowes in Phillip Island today.
I did buy some beautiful strawberries at a great price but in the under cover area, there was a stall that looked more like the tip shop than a market and it was a rare  hooch potch seemingly put together by someone with little idea what they had.
I bought 8 DVD's for $60. Highly likely they might be copies as the covers looked very tacky. I did not think of that at the time, I was just pleased to find some quality movies at one of these stalls.
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There semi hidden by the plastic stacking chairs, second hand childrens soft toys and old armchairs was a weaving loom.
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I asked how much they wanted for the weaving loom and I was told he thought $100.
If I was a collector or reseller instead of a downsizer I would have purchased this piece of history.  I can remember learning to weave when I was in my teens and my sister in California took up weaving prior to changing over to quilt making.
I do not know the age of the weaving loom but I did think it needed a new and better home. I see beauty in the craftsmanship, involved in making a functional piece like this. 
I have been told that the owner of the loom for sale is Geoff Trigg Ph 0422749964
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Cowes Market
Don't let first impressions fool you, there were a few gems to be found in this clutter, for someone with an eye for a collectors item.

Organisation name: Cowes Market Address: Lot 59 225 Settlement Road (Melway ref. 634 C1) Suburb/Town: Cowes Postcode: 3922 Phone: (03) 5952 2894
Description:
Every Sunday 9am - 2pm. (8am - 2pm in summer). Sells art and craft, plants, fruit and vegetables, cakes, food to eat, trash and treasure.
50 stalls in winter, 100 stalls during Christmas holidays. Some stalls undrecover.
 
 
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Fridge magnet featuring the copyright art work of Kathy Shell
Kid's colouring pages

Print out and colour in!

Phillip Island artist and Phillip Island Nature Park Ranger, Vicki Nelson, has drawn some amazing Little Penguin adventures for you to colour in! Please click on the links below to download Vicki's Little Penguin adventures.

LIttle Penguins swimming

Little Penguins catch some fish

Little Penguins at home at night in their burrows
 
 
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Phillip Island, famous for its Fairy penguins and Koalas.
Artists and creative people do not forget that you are the most important work you are currently developing; It is so easy to neglect yourself in a passion of artistic emotion.  This is my plan that I intend to work on each day and it takes priority over any other creative endeavour. 
 
 
Today was our last day in residence in our summer studio in Northern Victoria.
Today I completed the packing and set up of the back of our troop carrier, making it a working artist's studio.
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The photo shows the l shape table set up. the larger table is a light weight one, tied securely to the cargo barrier. Underneath it are lightweight, stacking, plastic draws filled with paints. On the table anchored in place is another draw filled with office supplies. My pastel pencils and my brush stand. To the right of the chair is the extra chest three-way fridge. I also have pastels, papers and canvas stored in there. 

Three lighting, 240 or 12 volt plus long life battery powered lighting means i will  be able to work in my own private studion anytime, while on tour. This will be 'my area ` my space. :-). 

The items for sale will now go in the front part of the caravan where I used to tr to paint and I always had trouble, as it was hard to paint in a shared space. Artists will understand what I mean lol :-).

The lower pictures show the set up of this space.
 
 
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My wide brim hat, long sleve shirt and high neck T Shirt and slack or long skirt, is my sun smart, outdoor outfit. I sometimes add a scarf and many seniors add cotton gloves to this lot. I do have sun exposure, before 10 am and after 4pm to get some Vit D. It is a balancing act, enough but not too much sunshine.
Reg and I will be making our annual visit to the Casey Solar Skin Cancer Clinic for checkups, in a couple of day’s time.  They have been looking after us, taking photos or to be more precise, using the SolarScan® technology to keep a record of our skin spots and occasionally removing suspect skin lesions, not an uncommon, occurrence for people in their young senior years in Australia.

I usually need to have something removed from my face or neck, and Reg has had a lesion removed from his hand. Last year they removed a non cancerous lump, from my back it probably would have responded to something as simple as back acne treatment but it was driving me ‘nuts’ as it was under my bra strap and it was easier for me to have a quick cut and a couple of stitches and finally be free of the irritation. It was all bulk billed. J, no expence.

I would not ever miss my annual solar Skin Cancer Clinic, it is reassuring knowing experts help watch our skin for changes. J..

SolarScan® is a device, which takes high-resolution images of lesions and stores and compares them to existing images of malignant and non-malignant skin lesions. The computer will also compare images taken of a patient’s mole or lesion with future images to identify any changes

Diagnostic and treatment centres, operating out of several Allied Medical Group clinics in Australia. Doctors provide accurate diagnosis of skin cancer lesions with the assistance of latest SolarScan® technology.

This comparison is one of the main features of the system in monitoring lesions that are not clearly determined to be problematic. The aim of this device is to assist in early and accurate detection of Melanoma. For all enquiries relating to Solar Skin Cancer Clinics Website: www.solarskincancerclinics.com.au

 
 
 
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An Original Artwork - Ford Customline in Paddock, all proceeds go to the Hope From Ashes charity to assist those rebuilding their lives after the Toodyay Fires of December 2009

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Original-Artwork-Ford-Customline-in-Paddock_W0QQitemZ300396816772QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Paintings?hash=item45f10ba984

Original Artwork - Ford Customline in Paddock VERY HAPPY TO POST AT BUYERS EXPENSE

Original Artwork - Ford Customline in Paddock.  

Ford Customline. Signed Artwork on Canvas 61.5cm x 91.5cm 

The Artist cannot be named in  Public Auction.

The Hope From Ashes auction will run online starting on the date of the benefit concert with new items being put up daily over the next week.  This online auction will raise awareness and funds and give people the opportunity to contribute and help Toodyay people who are rebuilding after the fire.

We have tried to gather together a range of diverse and high quality items and services that in some way reflect the diversity and creativity of the Toodyay community. In finding a gift for yourself you will be giving to the Toodyay community and we hope the excitement and high energy of the auction will be uplifting and inspiring in its way.

The auction has the Hope From Ashes flavour celebrating and demonstrating the generosity, positivity and support that has flowed so readily for and within the Toodyay community.

As well as people from Perth many local Toodyay businesses and individuals have also contributed to the auction, some although deeply affected by the fires through loss of home or workplace. Artworks, craft items, trips away, fantastic meals and even life coaching sessions, massages, motoring items, clothing and collectors plates are just a few of the amazing items we can offer you. The list grows every day so “no napping” or you may miss a fabulous item…which is just what you need!

We hope you will enjoy the items on offer and we hope you have fun whilst you bid big as we pull together to raise much needed funds for the survivors of the Toodyay Bushfires.

If you wish to make a donation in person, please use the following Bendigo Bank details. Thank you.
Hope from Ashes
BSB: 633 000
Account: 139 064 364

It is amazing what I find in these charity auctions and on EBay. I have bought everything from the complete spa bathroom with granite bench tops through to acne scar removal.