September 2017
An autumnal walk painted by Kim. Beautiful colours. Acrylic on canvas.
August 2017
Mel photographed this quaint street whilst traveling in Estonia. The dark shadows in the foreground emphasise the bright sunlight on the buildings. Excellent!
A pretty little watercolour from Jan
Gay painted this stunning view of NZ with a palette knife. The light and shade on the mountains really emphasises their form. Just beautiful!
July 2017
Kirstie's beautiful pastel portrait of her son
June 2017
Our wonderful Sue painted a gorgeous vase of flowers. We had a play with the Prisma app and this is what happened. Lovely, but not as good as the original
Kirstie always blows me away with her work. I love this little acrylic, inspired by succulents
May 2017
Superb acrylic painting by Adele
Sue's still life study in oil pastels
Sunset over The Gap. Palette knife acrylic by the very talented Sue.
Kirstie's beautiful pastel portrait
Magnificent cormorant study in watercolour by Peta
April 2017
Peta's emu in liquid graphite. You can't help but smile when you look at it
March 2017
This South African woman has just finished a hard days work cutting cane. An incredible painting by Sue in acrylic.
Peter has captured our lovely city at night, the lights shimmering beautifully, reflected in the water of the Brisbane river. Acrylic on canvas.
January 2017
Cathy has been busy with the pastels creating this dear little Impala. The blue background really contrasts the warm siennas and ochres.
June 2016
Unmistakably Amsterdam. Gay painted this fantastic piece using acrylic. She used various brushes including a rigging brush for the trees and other incredibly fine detail. Gay has captured the feeling of warmth inside the houses and cold outside.
Working on an oval canvas, Jill used brushes and palette knife to achieve the textures and patterns in this painting.
May 2016
Kim painted this charming Canadian harbour scene using pastels. The mountains recede as they become more distant as Kim used more neutral blues and greens.
Peta painted this amazing kookaburra in acrylic using a palette knife. He's stunning!
Cathy painted this serene beach scene using layers of acrylic washes. This is why the colours appear so rich.
April 2016
Kim used many brush marks to achieve this textured effect for the owl's feathers, each layer giving the work more depth.
March 2016
An exquisite study in pastels by Ken.
Tom painted these clouds in acrylic using rags and sponges. Such a beautiful effect.
February 2016
Adele completed this beautiful acrylic painting of The Brooklyn Bridge. It is a vibrant image with layers of colour which give it richness and depth. This is a carefully executed piece which will be given as a gift. I am sure it will be treasured
This is a fantastic work by Jill. She has used acrylics to achieve the bright colours of the instruments and 'Poska' pens to apply the strings and notes. This is such a vibrant piece. I am sure it will be cherished by it's recipient.
Peta is becoming very accomplished at using the palette knife. This charming little bird is her latest work. She has captured so much expression in the eye and tilt of the head.
Jan used a variety of pastels to achieve this study, the cool greens and blues beautifully adding weight to the form and describing the shadows.
January 2016
Mel combined acrylic and ink to achieve this abstract. There is a lot of energy in this work.
December 2015
This is Kim's beautiful pastel tiger. In this work, Kim focused on achieving the texture of fur - a job well done.
November 2015
Peta sketched this kangaroo in watercolour pencils then sprayed it with water. The process of the paint moving was mesmerizing and it achieved this wonderful effect
Cathy completed this study of a kangaroo in pastels. She learnt a great deal about how to paint fur. Excellent!
Another magnificent pastel painting by Jen
October 2015
This wonderful portrait of a possum was painted by Jen using pastels. Great eyes.
A beautiful, fresh study by Peta using watercolour.
The theme of Mel's surreal painting is the cycle of life. Having just seen Dali's work in Europe, Mel decided to use symbolism in a similar way in her painting.
Carol painted this tranquil image of a boat on calm water using acrylics. The broken lines on the bottom half of the picture combined with two small highlights at the top are all that is needed for the viewer to know that it is water. Very clever.
A rather haunting work by Cathy, completed in acrylic with impasto underneath to give the mane and forelock texture.
September 2015
A very calming study by Sue R. Great use of colour in the water combined with circular brush strokes make the ripples really effective.
This stunning oil painting was done by Sue E. The background was painted with brushes, then the leaves were achieved by using a pallet knife. The most extraordinary part is the water. Sue did many experiments with different forms of silicon before settling on this particular one. If you look closely there is a message hidden in the stream of water coming out of the tap. A truly incredible piece.
I love this study of a radish by Peta. She has captured the very essence of the vegetable using watercolour.
Aimee painted night falling over the sea at Bribie Island. The last rays of sunlight are just catching the clouds. Aimee used dry brushwork on the sky and contrasted it with textured strokes for the water. A very evocative piece.
In this mixed media painting Gay combined an ink stained background with bold acrylics for the sunflowers. She used impasto to achieve texture in their seeded centers. This piece is extremely bold. Gay is open to experimenting with techniques which makes her work visually strong and interesting.
August 2015
Kim painted this clash between Captain America and Spiderman in acrylic. This was her first experience with acrylic paint. What a fantastic job!
Adele has produced yet another masterpiece. Enjoy!
Sue finished this serene view of the sea using acrylic paint. It is a very calming piece with unusual colours in the foreground.
This lovely zentangle was drawn and painted by Carol. A very sensitive work, beautifully executed.
This wonderful charcoal portrait was done by Rose. It was sketched freehand from a photograph she had taken on holiday in Mozambique. Rose achieved a true likeness in this study. A superb work!
July 2015
This is the second painting of a horse by Peta. This one is looking inquisitive and you can't help but smile when you look at it.
This was a commission undertaken by Tom. It was a bit of an experiment as he used powdered graphite and liquid graphite on canvas. A great contrast was achieved between the background and the figure.
June 2015
This stunning piece was created by our talented artist Gay. It shows her daughter and a friend on holiday in Thailand. The elephant has a highly textured skin made by applying tissue paper with binder medium under the paint. Just awesome!
This is Carol's tree tunnel painted using the broken colour technique, first developed by the Impressionists. The perspective really draws you in to this sun dappled woodland.
Rose took the original photograph of this gentleman and chose to do a portrait of him in charcoal. I love the way his bushy eyebrows stick out past his face into the darker background. Awesome!
What better way to capture a memory. Beautiful work Jen.
Rose painted this as a gift for her niece who is moving into a new bedroom. I know she will love it, Rose.
You are not imagining things. This is a pastel painting, not a photograph but it is so accurate that you would be forgiven for thinking it was. Jill took a picture of this incredible bird on a recent holiday in Africa. A wonderful piece Jill.
This little possum is a regular visitor to Ann's house, so it became the subject of her painting. The subtle colours in the eyes of this nocturnal creature and the texture of it's fur were challenging indeed. Ann has captured them brilliantly.
Peta is a very original thinker and her choice of subject always surprises us. You have to smile when you look at this piece. Such good fun and technically well done too.
Rose painted this series of reflections in water using acrylic paints. This made a very striking piece.
May 2015
Jan copied a Monet painting, just to get an in depth appreciation of the impressionist style which she is soon to see.
Mel is off to visit Monet's garden, so what else could she paint. This very pretty work was completed using the broken paint technique. It shows the water lilies at Giverny.
This incredible painting of a broom-seller in South Africa was done by Sue. She worked mostly in oils, using a pallet knife to apply the paint. The brooms are made of bamboo and leaves which are bound with wire and glued on. The litter is also 3D and is made by shrinking plastic packaging in the oven.
April 2015
This view of a Scottish loch seen through stone arches was painted by Jen. The photo really does not do the work justice. The sunset is the most vibrant colours. It reflects in the water and catches the texture of the rocks. What a superb little piece, Jen.
This beautiful portrait was painted by Gill. We all shared her sense of achievement. The human face is so subtle - the skin tones, the features, the expression. Very difficult. Congratulations on completing it Gill.
March 2015
Cathy finished this dramatic painting by adding some texture with tissue paper and binder medium. It added to the volume of the costume and gave the piece even more visual impact. Just brilliant!
February 2015
Tom decided to work in acrylics to produce a painting of this beautiful Carltonware figurine. The texture helps to put distance between the figure and the background.
David used charcoal for the first time to create this study. Superb!
Peta has developed the technique of using watercolour paints and pencils to produce a 'crackle effect' on her work. This is a gopher frog and Peta has not only captured it's volume but also it's pattern and texture. Great shadow, too.
Jen painted this alluring portrait of a kangaroo in pastel. Those eyes!
An unusual subject for a watercolour, Peta chose this sea snail. The animal casts a net to catch small fish which it can later eat at it's leisure. Fascinating!
December 2014
Peta was in the festive spirit when she drew this zentangled reindeer in poska pens. She has such a lovely free style.
In the style of Jane Crisp, Cathy painted this little robin on a teacup. Acrylic was the chosen medium. The ellipses were a challenge but she persevered and succeeded. Great highlights on the saucer.
Jen's sad dog. Pencil.
Emma's micro-organisms. Acrylic on canvas.
Peta's racehorse. Watercolour.
This is the fourth in the series that Adele has painted. This one has so much depth and contrast. Superb Adele! I love the colours too. Acrylic on art card.
November 2014
Carol's pastel beach
Jill's flower acrylic and mixed media oncanvas
Tom's nude -oil on canvas
Mel's bay - oil on canvas
This leafy lane painting was created from a photograph taken by Sue. This subject is great for teaching colour mixing. The more distant the objects the more neutral the colours should appear.
I love the subject of leafy lanes and tree tunnels. Jen did an awesome job of painting this one, which can be found in Holland. she painted it in the Impressionist style. What a gorgeous effect.
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October 2014
Jill used watercolours to paint these poppies. What a charming little work.
Gaye's beautiful pansies were created using acrylic paints. A watercolourist, Gaye made the transition to acrylics effortlessly. The water droplets especially demonstrated her skill.
Sarah's diver took several sessions to complete. During the time it was in the studio, I got really fond of it and loved coming in to see the colours of the pulsating jellyfish. I really miss it.
Emma's amazing abstract. We were all wowed once again by this very original work. Each part is covered in uni-cellular organisms, which is entirely appropriate considering that Emma is also a scientist. In my opinion, you are a true artist too Emma.
208 Waterworks Road, by Carol. Love it!
Jennie's abstract. Based on a photograph of the earth, taken by NASA
Cathy's pastel. Wonderful for a first attempt.
September 2014
Determined to improve her drawing skills, Mel produced this work. She was inspired by a woodcut of M C Escher's but Mel used a series of graphite pencils to create the harbour scene. The contrast she has achieved is amazing and gives the drawing real depth. This work was drawn freehand and rendered section by section. I think it is truly outstanding.
August 2014
My photograph of Emma's work does not do it justice. The painting is the size of a door - huge. The colourful splashes are full of uni-cellular organisms achieved by using 'poska pens' on top of watery acrylic. The effect was amazing. This piece is really special. I totally love it. Well done for producing such an original work.
Tom is a very accomplished palette-knife artist but he wanted to achieve a smooth blend. Well Tom, I think you did that alright, How beautiful is this wave?
Cathy completed this bright and colourful study of tulips using acrylics. This picture truly reflects her personality. Gorgeous!
This study was inspired by a photograph Jennie took on her phone. It is the lake at Mount Coo-tha botanic gardens and the painting was done using acrylic paints. Jennie achieved depth in the foreground by using shadows under the lily pads and the eye is taken past the pink blossom onto the bank beyond. Lovely work.
This is Jennie's first attempt at doing a portrait in water colours. The eyes are stunning and the ruched fabric looks real. Superb work!
Adele completed this, the third, in a series of four paintings. The eyes were one of the last things that she painted and it was interesting to see the work come to life when they were added. It just shows how important they are as a focal point. Congratulations Adele on yet another very successful work.
July 2014
Peta was inspired by the work of Del Kathryn Barton when she drew this birds head. She then went on to apply the technique to a number of works, including studies of fish, which were brilliant. To achieve this technique it is best to work in pen on shiny printer paper.
Carole painted this fantasy landscape which reflects her happy disposition. The work really came to life when she added the shadows. I love the little houses.
June 2014
Rose has worked with amazing dedication on this huge portrait. Large scale pieces really do bring new problems to the artist and Rose had to find ways of achieving many different effects using new techniques. Congratulations on completing this masterpiece Rose.
Mel was inspired by the colours and textures in an opal for this abstract painting. It is really striking and highlight's Mel's emerging style.
This incredibly beautiful piece was created by Imogen. She was inspired by the sea and the movement of jellyfish. So awesome!!
Sarah enjoys working with pen. This portrait is a result of her natural ability to doodle images freestyle. Really interesting Sarah!
May 2014
This Afghan woman is the very well known face of National Geographic magazine. This was Rachel's choice for a pastel portrait. Very striking Rachel.
Jan is very fond of ducks and geese, so this subject was a good choice. A lovely study in pastel Jan.
Jill painted this posy of flowers in watercolour, the hardest medium to master. I think the final result is charming and I know that Jill learnt a lot from this piece
This is Mel's pastel portrait of an arctic fox. It was a challenging piece necessitating the use of blues, greys and lilacs for the shadows and modelling of the head. Very difficult. Well done for rising to the challenge Mel.
Mel finished this little jewel tonight. It is based on a birds-eye view of mountains. Mel added texture by binding tissue paper with medium, then painting it with acrylic. She then highlighted areas with silk threads and seed beads. The final result was beautiful.
April 2014
Jan did a magnificent job creating this collage of a little village and fantasy landscape. Embellishing the work with buttons and beads was such fun. The finished piece is an absolute joy to behold.
This is Jenny's first study in pastel. It is of a young girl, possibly from Peru. I think the bead work on the hat is amazing and Jenny has captured the child's wistful expression.
March 2014
Completed tonight, this is Jill's first charcoal study. This beautiful nude is focused by strong light and shadow. Jill has captured the folds of the skin really well. An excellent start, Jill.
Aimee is continuing to work through her blue period. This is a very powerful study of a breaking wave. Not only has she captured the beautiful colours but there is an energy about this work. Well done Aimee!
What can I say. I love it Peta. You are so creative. Your vision and your technique are improving all the time.
This is the second in the series Adele is planning. I have really enjoyed watching this painting through all it's various stages and the final result is just stunning.
February 2014
Peta did this amazing charcoal drawing of a funnel web spider rearing up. A very dramatic image and technically well executed.
December
This is the first of two anime works that Adele has plans to paint.
I am very proud of her striking achievements and look forward to exhibiting a selection at the opening of the new studio in January.
November
This is Ben's painting using acrylic. It is an abstract based on an aerial shot of bushes on red earth. He focused on using complimentary colours and then added shadows underneath to create depth. Love it Ben
September
This is an original work by Adele. It presented many challenges and Adele found herself making decisions not only concerning the composition but also the techniques she used to apply the paint. Adele is one of the most patient young artists I know and always resolves her work. This is a great achievement, Adele.
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June
Amy has chosen to use her new marker pens to produce this amazing image of one of her super-heroes, Flash. I think the result is very striking and the use of speed lines adds drama to the work. Markers are hard to master Amy, so I think you have done incredibly well. Great work!
May
Sorry about my blurred photography Peta. I think I was giggling so much the camera wobbled so I haven't done your painting of 'Bill' the shoe-bill justice.
You know I love the work, he's got real character, so I hope you forgive me. x
This is Emma's charcoal study of a rhino. I do love the way the skin was tackled. Emma used an eraser to remove charcoal which achieved the white lines and then applied willow charcoal to get the black ones. I think this method worked really well.
Adele has completed another work for her collection. She will soon have enough for a solo exhibition. This work is highly stylised and proved most challenging to paint, especially mixing and applying the skin tones. It depicts two characters from Adele's favourite game. Well done Adele!
Rose discovered the joy of working in pastels when she tackled this unusual composition of salsa dancers. The pastels gave her the softness she needed for the woman's legs and the sheen on the dancer's shoes. I think she has achieved a strong three dimensional feel to this work. I love it!
April
I love this composition. Rose worked from an original photo she took when on holiday in Mozambique. The buildings are such wonderful colours and what better way to remember them than to paint them. Excellent work Rose.
February 23rd 2013
The fact that beauty spans generations was never so evident than when Amy (18) decided on Audrey Hepburn as her subject for this charcoal study. She worked on brown paper which immediately gave a medium tone for the background. Amy competently added the highlights and shadows to create this gorgeous portrait.
October 11th
This was a monumental work for you Rose , full of hidden challenges. I think you learnt a great deal from tackling something so large. She's impressive!
August 23rd
Peta, you had great fun sketching this elephant in pen and ink and soon you will be able to draw them from life. I hope this is the first of many inspired drawings.
Just beautiful Kate!
August 10th
Peta used acrylic to lay a foundation of yellow to watercolour paper. She then proceded to paint straight on to this with inks. Believe it or not this beautiful abstract was inspired by a slice of mouse brain. Really interesting work Peta. Look forward to more in the series.
Rose decided to go for a large painting and then discovered, like I did, that there is a host of problems associated with big works that you don't give a second though to before you start. The most obvious is that you need vast quantities of paint as you have to cover massive areas sometimes.
We all think it looks great Rose.
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Kirstie painted over a study of a face she had done the previous week. This painting has a lot of promise as she is using her 'impressionist' style of mark making to apply colour and texture. Love your work Kirstie. The colours are great fun.5th July
Rose finished her 50's women tonight. This was a hard exercise in mixing skin tones and getting textures for the hair and dress fabric.
The next will be similar as she wants to hang them as a pair. Can't wait Rose....................
28th June
Kirstie is back in action. She painted this striking composition using acrylics on board. The centre of the flowers proved tricky but Kirstie's understanding of form enabled her to finally achieve success. I love the strong diagonal lines of this composition.
This is the second in a series of abstract works Peta is producing based on the theme of trees. This canvas was much bigger than the last but presented no problems for Peta who is used to working with stencils and painting freehand on ceramics. I love watching Peta work as she is completely uninhibited and I find her enthusiasm infectious.
There are so many ways of developing this work. Changing the background hues and shapes would completely alter the mood. I can't wait to see where it leads.
3rd May
2nd February 2012
Kate is working on this still life in the style of the impressionsists. It is something she finds easy and it is wonderful to watch her paint. In this picture it would be possible to have two light sources, one from inside the room and one from outside.
A week or two passed before Kate was able to come to Art. When she showed us the painting it had completely changed. She had reworked areas and added detail, such as the gum leaves. The lemons did not need retouching as they simply flowed off the brush when they were first painted and just looked superb. The background texture echoes the leaves in the foreground. A really interesting and engaging piece of work. I took a picture of the detail.Peta finished her pencil study of this fish. We created graphite powder by scraping a graphite stick with a pencil. The powder gives a smoother application which is perfect for this subject.
Rose W also used acrylic to paint this lovely design of a teapot.Below, the finished article. Well done Rose!!!
Kate had lots of fun painting with watercolours and achieved this pretty landscape
Rose W created this design for a friend. If approved, the painting will be repeated much larger and will be hung in a room with the Chinese Lanterns. This effect was achieved using acrylic. The finer lines of the grasses were added using marker pen. On a larger scale they will be painted too
