Like easing your body off from the side of a swimming pool into cool water, entering the start of the Gold Creek track at Alouette Park, B.C., Canada was like an instant immersing and encasing yourself into a greenery that awed and fed your soul.
I finished my day off by trying to do an indoor sketch. I didn’t get to finish it, but I am happy I started it. Sometimes a bit of a push is needed, so I’m happy with today’s accomplishment and the enjoyment the green time gave me.
I hope your day allowed you to spend some time in nature.
After seeing a lovely and inspiring art exhibition at the Pitt Meadows Art Gallery, I had a lovely walk by the mighty Fraser River on the Osprey dikes in Pitt Meadows, B.C., Canada, with my sister today.
No rain was forecasted for today so it was a surprise to have rain while setting up. Thankfully it cleared for the rest of the day.
The first customer of the day was from Brisbane, Queensland and heading home tomorrow. She did a bus tour around Tassie. She bought herself a small Bunk Beds tote bag. The next customer was also from Brisbane and bought herself a Family Bunk Beds print. She’s visiting with her Mum, Dad and husband.
A Hobart resident bought a Glamour Girls print for her girlfriend, for no special occasion, just because.
Three cousins, visiting from Sydney, bought a bunch of things, some prints, original paintings and tote bags. One bought a Glamour Girls tote bag. She told me it’s her and her two sisters. She told me that the emus reflect her sisters’ personalities perfectly. They also bought a Derwent River scene original painting, a painting of a pair of wombats wearing red & white gumboots and a little ink drawing of a bird, which is going to be a Mother’s Day present. Her mother’s nick name is “Bird”. It’s a name that has stuck because of a really bad haircut she had when she was in college and her friends said it looked like a Big Bird haircut.
A couple, who had already bought three cushion covers of mine at Peppercorn Gallery in Richmond, Tasmania, succumbed and bought a fourth. They couldn’t resist “Goldilocks and the 20 Penguins”.
An Auntie, living in Melbourne, bought a “Helping Hands” and “Glamour Girls” print for her niece, who lives in Idaho, USA.
A daughter, visiting with her two sons, told me that her mother came here last year and bought some of my prints and has them framed and hanging up in her home in Japan. She bought an original painting, titled “Trio Spotting” to give to her mother. She thought it would go well with her Glamour Girls print.
Thank you for visiting and a happy Mother’s Day for those celebrating the day.
On Edward Street, in the suburb of Glebe, Hobart, Tasmania, a cottage’s lime green exterior immediately peaked my interest.
I drew and inked the cottage on location, and then added paint when I got home.
I decided because I wasn’t drawing the buildings next to it, that I wouldn’t include the shadows that the neighbour’s building was casting on its roof. It would just add confusion.
I was tempted to call this painting “done” and remain in my comfort zone, but I knew that I had to add some sky. I read my card from my daughter, poised on my shelf, ever-ready to provide that push of encouragement that I need, “Art is for the Courageous”, and took a deep breath to try to inhale some courage from it, and then swirled my paint brush around and around in the blue paint.
So, what do you think? Was it the right decision…. to leave or to add?
Well, I succumbed and broke out the thermals today, which I was glad that I did.
The stall holder across from me, Louise, from Church Antiques, New Town, Tasmania, arrived to find, not one, but two cars parked in her site! You can’t set up gazebos on top of random cars! Mind you, the council doesn’t communicate this hazard very well. The signs explaining that you can’t park overnight on a Friday, due to a market on Saturday, are few and far between. While we were assessing this unfortunate situation, a man, without a word, walked into our view, jumped into the parked ute and drove it away. It was like we witnessed a miracle. With one car down, Louise was able to at least start setting up half her site. Louise was my first customer, today. She bought four cards for upcoming events.
A nurse from Melbourne, originally from Tasmania, bought a “Scarlet Robins” print. She’s here visiting family.
Visitors from Sunshine Coast, Qld, purchased a “Salamanca Saturdays” print and a Melbournian couple also purchased a “Salamanca Saturdays” print and “Poppy Fields” and “Yellow Poppy Fields”.
A visitor from Japan, going home today after a very short holiday, is taking back with her two prints, titled “Come Dream with Me” and “Family Bunk Beds”. She said it is hard to take long holidays in Japan.
Then a Japanese couple arrived immediately afterwards and purchased “Friendship Refreshes the Soul”. They heading to Brisbane and then back home to Japan.
I had a New Zealander, who became an Australian citizen on January 29, 2024, buy a “Sitting on the Fence” print. He asked me to write the date of when he received Australian citizenship in the white space of the print. He loves the kookaburras’ unique laugh, which is one of the most distinctive Australian sounds.
A visitor from Yeppoon, Queensland bought two original paintings. Unfortunately, I only have a photo of one of them, which is an urban sketch I did of the back of a house, with a fabulous garden, in Geilston Bay, Tasmania. She said that there is a strong art community in Yeppoon, which is not too far from Rockhampton and Pumpkin Island. https://www.visitcapricorn.com.au/this-is-yeppoon-see-you-soon
A couple from Mexico, visiting their daughter, son-in-law and grandchild that are living in Melbourne, holidaying together in Tasmania, purchased a “The Three Amigos II” print. She sells a dessert that she makes, called Kooka, at a market in Mexico. It is a caramel and pecan slice.
A doctor, from Melbourne, originally from South Africa, purchased an Enchanted Forest III print and my “High Life” original painting.
Another person from Melbourne, bought a “Maggie” print. She loves them and has them regularly visit on her chain link backyard fence which backs onto a golf course.
Thank you for visiting. Wishing you a fun and toasty warm week.
Some paintings you attach more emotionally with than others. This one I love. I think it is such a cutie!
I drew it on location and painted it at home. I finished the painting and then I suddenly thought, Oh no, did I forget to draw the chimneys??? But I didn’t. It’s strange that it doesn’t have chimneys because with most country cottages that is/was their sole heating source.
Oatlands is a gorgeous small town, population 728, located in the midlands of Tasmania. I love all the stone walls and buildings. It has Australia’s largest collection of sandstone Georgian buildings. There are 150 of them and most of them are convict-built. https://tasmania.com/points-of-interest/oatlands/
There was a chill this morning, but it didn’t feel too bad setting up the PJ Paintings stall.
My first customers were locals, three senior women, who were feeling the cold wearing skirts, stockings, hand knitted thin cardigans and overcoats. I’m wearing my woollen socks and they are wearing flat dress shoes with stockings! I think they were in their 80s. I suggested that they go to a café, have a cup of coffee and warm up. One of the women bought a Salamanca Saturdays print.
Two women on holidays from Hong Kong bought four tote bags and eight pouches. I can’t remember what all the pouches were. They bought two “Spotty”, a “Goldilocks and the 20 Penguins” and a “Friendship Refreshes the Soul” bags.
A family, visiting from Perth, WA, purchased a “Southern Flow” print for their summer shack in Albany, WA. https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/albany-wa They told me they often see whales go by there. She said that she visited my stall seven years ago and bought Scarlet Robins, which is hanging in their home in Perth.
A visitor from Adelaide, SA bought a “Meet Me at the Gate” print. Her book club has a wren theme this year and at the end of the year a bush walk and painting a wren session has been organised. I asked what medium they will be painting with. She had no idea. https://pjpaintings.com/collections/birds/products/meet-me-at-the-gate
A family visiting from Dublin, Ireland will be returning to their homeland with a “Lazy Days” print.
“The Three Amigos II” print is going to be a gift for her mother living in New Zealand. She’s living in Sydney and is in Australia as a working volunteer holiday for a year doing renovation work on Jehovah Witness’ Kingdom Halls. https://pjpaintings.com/collections/birds/products/the-three-amigos
Late in the day, I had a visitor from Poland, who is relishing her holiday time in Tasmania. She bought a “White Faced Scops Owls” and then asked if she could take a selfie with me. So, we did.
And even later in the day, I had a local buy two “Love is in the Air” coasters and a bird print.
Thank you for visiting. Wishing you an awesome week with an abundant supply of creative juices flowing.
It felt like it is almost time to break out the thermals, but there was no wind, so all-in-all, it was great market weather today.
My first customer was a couple from New Zealand on a two-year working holiday. They’re living in Melbourne and making a conscience effort to not forget the “holiday” part of their working holiday. They are both Occupational Therapists and are working in their field of expertise. They bought a “The Three Amigos II” print.
A family visiting from Adelaide bought an “Enchanted Forest III” and a “Maggie and Maggie” print and two bookmarks.
A couple from South West Rocks in NSW bought a “Sitting on the Fence” cushion cover. She told me that kookaburras are her spirit bird. There are a lot where they live, and they start their laughing-cackling song at 4 am. There are Yellow-tailed black cockatoos that often frequent their property too. https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/north-coast/macleay-valley-coast/south-west-rocks South West Rocks looks like a stunning spot, including Horseshoe Bay Beach. In Vancouver, Canada, Horseshoe Bay is where you take the ferry to Vancouver Island.
A mother and daughter, visiting from Newcastle, NSW, the daughter working in the ecology sector, bought “Regal” and “Eastern Yellow Robin” prints. We both adore birds.
Friends from New Brunswick, Canada, ended up buying a “Friendship Refreshes the Soul” cushion cover for each other. One decided to buy one for the other because she told her she’s her treasured friend, then the other said, you are my treasured friend too, so I’ll buy you one too. It became a bit of an emotional experience. One also bought a medium sized Salamanca Fresh tote bag.
A visitor from New York, USA bought a “Merry Baubling” print, and a “Three Amigos II” print is going to Maryland, USA. https://www.visittheusa.com.au/state/maryland I asked if he has heard a kookaburra during his time here. He has seen a quite a few kookaburras but hasn’t heard one yet. Tomorrow is his last day in the land of OZ before heading home. He may have to listen to them on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXA0-YAoo9Q Here’s a great sample of their laughing sound.
A family from Dungog, NSW, bought a “Family Bunk Beds” and “Afternoon Siesta” print. They used to live in Newcastle, NSW, but it got too busy for their liking, so they moved to the quiet country town of Dungog. https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/dungog-nsw
While I was packing up, a couple from Switzerland speaking Swiss German purchased four cushion covers. They only have a few days left in Australia after holidaying for months. They will be returning to Europe with “Sitting on the Fence”, “Taking it Easy”, “Hammock Life” and “Scarlet Robins”. https://pjpaintings.com/collections/cards
A rather bleary-eyed PJ Paintings drove out of her driveway at 5:20 am and passed an older man walking two small dogs. What a time, and/or dedication, to be walking dogs in the early morning darkness! At least it wasn’t cold.
Another couple, on holidays from Singapore, chose a small “Lazy Days” tote bag because she is small, she told me. Medium would be too big. The next person chose a small “Goldilocks and 20 Penguins” bag for the same reason. https://pjpaintings.com/collections/bags
A couple from Calgary, Canada, bought a “Lazy Days” print. She grew up in Richmond, B.C, and her husband, is from Newfoundland. https://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/about-this-place They have family living in Sydney, NSW, that they are visiting. They are hoping to visit Australia every five years.
A visitor, returning to the UK today, bought a “Richmond Bridge, Tasmania”, “Lazy Days” and “Dinner for Five???” Are five echidnas going to share an ant for dinner?!
A young traveller, from Sydney, bought “Hot Couple”. She really likes the title, she told me.
A visitor from Melbourne, who came to Tasmania to do the Three Capes Track, bought a “Double Date V” print. She said the hike was better than she thought it was going to be. She had stunning weather, and the scenery is a constant, always amazing. https://www.threecapestrack.com.au/
A visitor from Cleveland, USA, bought a “Hanging Out” print for a friend. She was so happy that she saw and heard a kookaburra in the wild.
Visitors from Thailand, with their ten-day Tassie holiday ending tomorrow, bought a “Family Bunk Beds” print.
Another couple, from the mainland, purchased a “The Three Amigos II” print. She showed me some of her acrylic paintings. Painting is on the back burner for her because she is doing her first year of university study. She is doing a music degree, specialising in the French Horn.
A family from the north of the state, Launceston, purchased a framed “Piggyback” print for their B&B.
Two friends, who met while doing university studies in the UK, bought one of my original small paintings, titled, “Splash Down”. It will be going to Seattle, USA, where one of the two lives and the other moved to Tasmania.
A couple visiting from Newfoundland, Canada, bought two large sized tote bags, “Salamanca Saturdays” and “What the Devil!?”. She got to hold a devil at one of the Tasmanian wildlife parks. They were finding it difficult to choose one for his mother, so they decided to buy two, let the mother decide which one she wants, and they will keep the other one.
Two Saturdays in a row, I met a couple from Israel. This couple is on a working holiday, currently residing in Melbourne, Victoria. They love wombats, so they bought four wombat greeting cards.
And once again it was time to call it a day. I felt a few drops of rain, which helped spur me into action. I didn’t want to take a wet gazebo home! It ended up “raining” about ten drops in total.
Painting thought for the Day: “My father taught me to paint when I was young with watercolors and so I learned at a very young age the essential elements of the value of light and composition.” Matthew Modine
Perfect market weather was forecasted and delivered. My first customers, from Melbourne, were a mother and young daughter on a two-week holiday. The daughter loves to draw. They chose to buy a couple of cards.
Hobart is hosting the 2024 Hockey Australia U16 Championships this week. https://www.discovertasmania.com.au/things-to-do/festivals-and-events/hockey-australia-u16-championships/ Parents of under sixteen hockey players, that is grass hockey for northern hemisphere readers 😊, from Geelong, Victoria, with their hockey emblems on their track suits, purchased a “39 Keys to Life”, “Family Bunk Beds”, and “Morning Melody” print.
A couple from Melbourne purchased a “Meet Me at the Gate” print. He proudly announced that Mel is running the half marathon (21 km) tomorrow https://hobartmarathon.com.au/event-information/ I hope that she goes well. It’s drizzling this Sunday morning. I suppose that is better than a hot, sunny day. Once they cross the Tasman Bridge, I think it is a fairly flat run to the airport, but it may feel not-so-flat when you are running it!
A recently retired visitor from Bunbury, WA, taking full advantage of her retirement status right from the start, did a four-day watercolour course, which she loved, and now has enrolled in a pottery class. She purchased a “Salamanca Saturdays”, “Wombat Adventurer”, and “Lazy Days” print. https://www.bunbury.wa.gov.au/live/your-council/about-bunbury
A couple on their honeymoon from Tel Aviv, Israel, bought a “Devilish Siesta”, “Taking it Easy” and “Hammock Life” print. The husband is from Australia and moved to Israel five years.
A visitor from Singapore bought a “Bunk Beds” cushion cover and a “Spotty” print.
A family of two adult children and their parents, visiting from Germany, had a hearty laugh when they saw my “Glamour Girls” print. They bought a “Glamour Girls” coaster and a “Tropical Feelings” print.
A young couple from Latvia bought a “Family Bunk Beds” print. They are here for a three-week holiday.
And once again it was time to call it a day. I didn’t sell as many tote bags and framed prints as I usually do, but I sold a lot of cushion covers. It is different each week, which keeps it interesting… and the fresh, custard-filled sourdough donut surprise from a fellow stallholder added a delicious difference this week too! Yum-yum. 😊
Thank you for visiting. Wishing you a great week…. with a custard-filled sourdough donut – maybe??? 🙂