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Resourses for artists, working with Artist's soft Pastels.
This information is for existing pastel artists. For those who have not begun working in pastels. my advise is, DO NOT DO IT.  Beware of inhallation poisoning from the fine talc dust and pigmets..

Instructions for Handling and shipping Pastels.

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Today's photo opportunity. White Australian Ibis.
No one knows what artist was the first to use a camera obscura. Aristotle described the technique in the 4th century BC. and  in the 15th century AD Leonardo da Vinci wrote a description of the camera obscura, though it is not probable he used such as an artist. It has been suggested (though not proved) that 15th century Flemish painters used it. Some claim, the camera obscura was not invented until the 16th century. We do know that Jan Vermeer and other Dutch artists used this early version of the camera, in the 16th century.

I love to have my camera with me to take advantage of those moments when birds and wildlife come on the scene, moments you rarely can pre arrange. When this happens, an auto focus, with a zoom lenses, compact camera that you have on you, right then and there, like today, when coming home from Christmas dinner, my neighbours the White Australian Ibis were a few meters from my home, presenting a great photo opportunity and a good subject for addition to one of my photos.

All my photos are of course copyright to me as art my art images, I show them for your viewing enjoyment and to illustrate post and encourage artists who wish to have birdlife to add to art works to get themselves a camera that will do the job well.  My choice was a Cannon IXUS 990 and I love it.

I don’t personally use a camera as an aid for subjects I can post, like people and flower studies nor for my en plein air, (on location landscape painting work.

 
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The latest postcard I have made from four recent paintings completed using my photos as a guide. The originals and the postcards will be available to purchase direct from artist, during my 2010 tour.
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I have been sorting out my acrylic paints for the 2010 painting tour.  I plan to use acrylic paint within the caravan in the evenings and I want a small compact kit.  Most of my acrylic paints are in either 1 litre large bottles, or 500 ml jars or a few old and hard to read the description or colour, tubes.  They need a good sort through.

I began at the supermarket and I bought tight fitting lidded, plastic containers, 100 ml empty bottles, sold as travel shampoo and conditioner storage. The small plastic pots are sold a as mall condiment containers and are idea for small amounts of paint also.

I decanted 100 mls of paint from the larger bottles into my smaller bottles until I had one well-packed set of many colour paints in one container.
 
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I made a stay-wet pallet for painting the landscape, when I travel, by putting the grids from two smaller containers in the bottom of a shallow square container.  I cut wettex sponges to fit over this grid, and then I covered these sponges with wet strength paper towels with part of the paper towel going under the grid to the base of the container.  When in use I will have a shallow layer of water under the grid, I will have the wettex sponges damp, the paper towel will remain damp and the paint goes on top of the wet strength paper towel. The air tight lid will then hold the moisture in and any unused acrylic paint left over from a day’s painting session should stay wet until the next painting occasion.
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250 ml jars of several brands of acrylic paint fit perfectly in the plastic sewing totes sold in many sewing craft stores.  These crates are also flat topped with a recessed handle, so they stack well, on top of the other to save space in the studio. Being plastic, they are waterproof and any spills are easy to clean up.
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June Gover is an amazingly inspiring lady and an artist. The picture above is of a painting of a tree at the entrance to Brachina Gorge, Flinders Ranges, South Australia.

I had the enormous pleasure of meeting and getting to know June Gover and her family on visits to Western Australia.

June is 81years young, and she has refused to give in to her rheumatoid arthritis despite being told about 35years ago that she would be in a wheelchair in 5 years.  She is the mum of one of my very best friends, who tells me with great pride in her mother, that her dad used to call her mum,  a "Pig headed Aussie Bitch" with affection of cause , and this is why she drove a car until recently, displaying with humour and pride,  the number plate,  PHAB.

 It was June’s determination to not be beaten, that saw her, even though severely affected with this dreadful rheumatoid arthritis, walk the Busselton jetty much to the admiration of onlookers and the intense pride of her family.

June Gover, had always wanted to learn to paint (not an easy task when you cant hold the brushes properly) and her family, and myself, are very proud of her efforts.

June’s children and grandchildren mean the world to her and it is reciprocated, I am told that they feel she is a good friend as well as a good mum and knowing the family, I can vouch for the closeness and love you feel within the close family. June’s daughter tells me that her mum is generous in spirit and actions, as she has been known to go up to strangers, particularly young frazzled mums and give them $50 to treat themselves when she could ill afford to do this.

June has a young outlook on life and no topic is off limits, I know, because I love spending time with this ‘young’ spirited woman. June used to enjoy a nightly nip, not so often now (darn medication) but is allowed to occasionally still have the odd one.  June loves to read, enjoys quirky things in the garden (she is looking for a skeleton or mannequin for a bath in the garden at the moment).

I think June’s landscape painted in Vegemite, shows outstanding artistic talent, the light and shade and composition are excellent.  Absolutely inspiring work, June.

June actually offered to give me this work, and I was so touched by such a generous offer but declined, not because I did not love the work nor value the generosity of the gift offering, June, but because I did value it so highly that I would not take such a beautiful work away from you or your family, it’s something for you all to treasure , as I will the photo I took of you with your painting you told me was inspired by my work of Brachina gorge, Flinders ranges, South Australia.  June it took me a lot many more years of experience than you have had, before I could paint as well as you can. J.   I think your fantastic and I treasure all my memories of meetings with you and your family.

Here are some other examples of Vegemite art work.

Steph Chad’s Vegemite queen & Queen, in Vegemite.

Vegemite on toast, speed painting

Peter Browne Vegemite Painting

 

 
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