My novel writing remains  my primary creative focus at the moment and painting with words is my current medium.  My studio is still filled with oil paint, watercolours and pastels and I see these with fondness every day, however it is the iMac computer that draws me more than brushes and my ever changing art work garden I am admiring more than creations I painted and hung on the wall.

My art works are selling along with my prints as a result of my opening my eBay store. The prints and art print gifts i mail to customers world wide, the originals are for clients by appointment direct from my Mooroopna studio.

Here is the synopsis of my current art work in progress.:-

Synopsis Dreaming Billabong

About the series of novels

The dreaming spirits assist two children end a violent and corrupt payback culture that has harmed four generations of their families and their inland town.

Book two forces the inhabitants of Fife Springs to face the terrible forces of nature and the repercussions of the payback culture.
Those who love a thief are in danger of having their sanity stolen.
Can the friendship of Emily and Jarrah survive?
Is the Emily the child of the thief, delusional or fey?
Can Jarrah come to terms with the payback culture that has been destroying his his family since the time of European settlement?
Will the revelation of the secret of the wattle to the cattle king, destroy the mountain dwellers land and the last of the Woggan-Wandong clan?

Excerpt Synopsis if the Dreaming Billabong Series of Novels.
Book one NaNoWriMo 2010 - Book 2 NaNoWriMo 2011

In early European settlement of Australia, many groups of people interacted harmoniously and with respect of each other’s culture.
Many bitter altercations did however take place. One such conflict was between the Woggan-Wandong people, and the Fife clan settlers on the huge Mimosa Downs Station. They had, at first coexisted. Misunderstandings led to violent, confrontations, which, in 1882, resulted in deadly conflict. Both groups believed the other had begun it and brutal payback resulted in spilt blood.
A conflict of this intensity is not short lasting. In the first of the series of Woggan-Wandong novels, three young children, Jarrah, Emily and Harry, all great grandchildren of the first European settler of the district, Jane Fife, return to Mimosa Downs Station to find that repercussions from those early conflicts last for generations.
Jarrah is an orphan boy caught between two cultures. He learns he is a descendant of the Scottish settlers who had arrived at Fife Springs a century before. As such, he is a possible heir to the massive Mimosa Downs Cattle Station. The early settlers had begun the Massacre of Jarrah’s other family, the traditional lifestyle living, Woggan-Wandong. The Woggan-Wandong had in payback, massacred most of the Fife clan. His Uncle Ian offers to be his benefactor and to protect him. Jarrah’s, Uncle Kanga is guiding Jarrah to a traditional initiation into manhood by teaching him about country, and the dreaming legends.
The demands of two families conflict with Jarrah’s own dreams for his future. He befriends Harry, and Emily. Emily is a disturbed and gifted child who creates her own inner world to escape the one her parents have made. Her troubled mind enhances her sixth sense, fae ability. Jarrah in turn, is developing his own dreaming time legend powers. Together the duo strives to end the terrible cycle of payback that has plagued the people of Fife Springs for more than a century.
The novel opens in the mid 1900’s, with the second rush of Australian settlement taking place with migration from Europe following World War 2 and the ripping apart of indigenous Australian families by a paternalistic society bent on perusing a white Australia policy.
The great grandchildren of the early colonial settlers are finding their lives are still affected by terrible payback crimes that began with the British colonisation of Australia. These crimes have continued in varied form though to today.
This is the first of a series of novels of a family saga, covering a time span of over a century. It deals with issues of intolerance, greed, racism and sexism, all just as relevant today as they were a century ago. The main characters are children and teenagers, with adults as supporting characters.

Woggan-Wandong, means The meeting of the Spirit Ghosts.

I am gradually moving all my art print sales from this website and over to my Australian Art Gifts store on EBay and I am beginning to list all my Art Print Gifts there at wholesale prices. 

Pop in and have a look.

I have listed most of my 11" x 8 1/2" prints, some handcrafted art bookmarks and I am working though the listing of my over-sized postcards (which also look beautiful when framed,) at this moment.

The next item I will list will be some pre-loved non fiction and art books and my large fridge magnets...these are ideal for locker room use and many contain humorous or motivational messages.   Because I do not want to over sell the quantify I have in stock, I have removed from this website those I already have listed in my EBay store and I will gradually transfer my full stock to the EBay store, at least until mid Autumn 2012 when I will reconsider the situation. 

I have my novel writing on hold at the moment.  I am not a negative thinking person but the year would have to be one of the worst times in living memory for a new novelist to strive to get a book published and frankly I am selling my essay length and novella length work and I am not content to settle for a poorly marketed presentation of my novel...I simply want the best for it...so I have held it back for another full rework and edit to simply keep polishing it until I feel the climate is right to present it.   

Right now, life is good and full of opportunities even if I am incredibly busy.  The family are well...what greater riches than that could we want?

When Pottery is Fine Art.

This magnificent piece of fine art pottery by William Moorcroft has been in my possession for a decade.  I was fortunate to attend an auction that was poorly attended and won this exquisite piece for the reserve price.  I would be interested in downsizing this piece now.  At the time I purchased it I had it valued at $1,800. I have seen vintage Moorcroft vases this size listed as buy it nows from $3,800.  Most of the cheaper ones are only 5 1/2 inches high...I see few this tall.  Remember this is a RARE large vase of the Coral Hibiscus design.
I am considering genuine offers. Freight can be arranged though Pack and Send Shepparton, Victoria, Australia. All pack and freight costs paid by the purchaser.

WALTER MOORCROFT CORAL HIBISCUS VASE

This vase is decorated with Walter Moorcroft's Coral Hibiscus design 1968 in coral colourway on an olive green ground. It features three different Hibiscus flowers.

This piece dates from the late 1960s or early 1970s.
It has its original Moorcroft Royal Warrant paper label on the base. The design is very detailed with a vast covering of tube lined decoration.

A very substantial piece at approximately 8 1/4" in height.

In lovely condition with no chips, cracks or restoration There is a little light natural crazing to the glaze consistent with its age.

C1953- 1978

Moorcroft Royal Warrant Paper label transferred to Walter Moorcroft in 1946 and stating
'BY APPOINTMENT TO THE LATE QUEEN MARY'.

The Royal warrant expired in 1978 on the anniversary of Queen Mary's death.

Offers from $999.00 (Vase only packing and freight at cost is buyer's expense) considered.  Contact Kathy Shell   Note, $999.00 is below what I paid for this vase and below the valuation I received at the time.   Vases of this size and era by one of the original Moorcroft potters, are extremely difficult to find. 
I am in no rush to sell, I would prefer this to go to someone who will love it as I did than to a reseller or agent.  I purchased this out of appreciation for the work of the Moorcroft potters and this design with the beautiful coral and green remains my favorite.

Read more about Moorcroft Marks | Collecting Moorcroft Ceramics - by www.antique-marks.com

You will find the art print and art gifts of Royal Hotel Birdsville,  Art of Kathy Shell, Print Postcard in the Landscape Gallery pages pf this website.
The Royal Hotel.
Almost 130 years old and classified by the National Trust it is now listed for restoration. It ran as a Hotel for 40 yrs before being converted to the Inland Mission Hospital.

The Birdsville Track leads from Marree to Birdsville. It is a dirt road, easy negotiable in dry weather with 4WD. It is usually closed in wet weather.  Birdsville, is renowned for its hotel (the Birdsville Hotel), the Birdsville races in the first weekend of September and the pretty high summer temperatures  of 50°C. The track itself is not so spectacular, in terms of scenic beauty, as some other tracks in Australia are.  Marree is considered the beginning of the Birdsville  and the Oodnadatta Track.

The writing 'Copyright Kathy Shell' is not on the postcard itself.
This lovely postcard features the print image of the original oil painting of the famous old Royal Pub in Birdsville as painted by Kathy Shell.
The original is in the artist's own private collection and you are welcome to view it if collecting your print postcard of the work. The artist's summer studio, is not a public gallery so collecting of purchases is very much, 'by appointment only.'
Unlike many artists, Kathy Shell actually traveled into the outback to Birdsville to be able to paint this work as she takes her creative inspiration from nature and real life in the true tradition of the en plein air artists and not from photos and prints in a studio setting.

I post by Australia Post within 2 days of your payment clearing in my account.
I will combine items to save you postage so feel welcome to check out my gallery items.

The old Buninyong Dairy is the oldest inland dairy in Victoria and possibly the oldest dairy in Australia. it is on private land and when I asked if I could paint it they wanted to get the gardener to come and 'clean up the surroundings,' lol, I had to protest I wanted to paint it complete with blackberry growth and wild native grass all around. lol, how one person sees weeds and the artist sees beauty...Isn't that 'life'?

Check out my Landscape Gallery pages as I have made prints, fridge magnets, cards and postcards from this art work.  I also have the originality in my private collection, inquiries welcome

Royal Hotel Birdsville and the Buninyong Dairy www.art-en-plein-air.com
EN PLEIN AIR. PAINTING FROM LIFE - painting based on direct observation of the visible world

Sharing a lovely vintage watercolour that is a century old.

I have a few of this artist and her famous brother, Harry Goodwin's more than a century old watercolours I am going to downsize. Ideally these should be sold in England (or so I am advised), I just want to see them in a good home and being appreciated as the lovely old works they are. Reg framed this work years ago.:-)  Contact me with an offer if you are interested in a lovely pick up only collectable antique watercolour.



Kathy Shell

Floriade in Canberra is open once more and it isn't only about flowers.
Mind you I consider garden design as a painting...you paint with plants and produce a beautiful balanced harmony of light, dark, colours and contrasts in a wonderful composition.

I am sharing my latest downsizing listing as this has always been a favorite of mine.

One of my favorite English china designs is this Hampton design.  It a is simply stunning design. Made from 1937 by Alfred Meakin it is the latest of y collectable vintage china that I am listing in my EBay store...see the link to the Downsizing SALE at the top right hand corner of this blog.


 HAMPTON pattern - ivory body with a cobalt band at the edge, overlaid with gold tracery pattern; red-brown swags of leaves; orange flowers and green leaves.   Backstamp, printed in red-brown shows "Hampton", a crown symbol, and "ALFRED MEAKIN ENGLAND" inscribed in a ribbon.

I added a link to my blog that features those items I am downsizing from my studio though EBay.  Check out my Downsizing blog if you prefer buying on line though an international company like EBay to buying though my own galleries above. 

Next week I will begin to add more fine art and even a collectable investment Moorcroft vase to the galleries in this website.
Tonight I finished creating all the shopping carts in the print gallery. I have been two years getting around to doing this job and I know many of my clients have been eager for me to make it easier for them to order.  Now the print galleries are in place I can begin to list some of the originals into the galleries as well. I hope you will enjoy browsing.  The galleries are accessed from the links above and each main gallery has many sub galleries.   Please feel welcome to contact me with your inquires.