Salamanca Market Jan 25, 2020

Thankfully I managed to fall asleep among the waves of cheering washing over the house, the cannons and loud speaker of the Hurricane’s and the Thunder’s Big Bash game at Blundstone Oval. It was nice to hear that the Hurricanes won the game!

Salamanca Market once again took place under calm skies and moderate temperatures. The tote bags and zipper pouches went well today. Also, the original paintings: a meeting of “platypus and turtle” was purchased by a couple from Wales,

Turtle and Platypus Meeting

a young man from Melbourne bought “Holding Hands”,

Holding Hands (emu -style)

a young lady from Taiwan bought my “colour coordinated emu” (somebody told my emus that they should colour coordinate their clothes. Heaven help us!)

and a young man from London purchased the “emu and butterfly” painting.

A mother bought a “Glamour Girls” print for her daughter that has a salon. She also wanted a print of emus doing a manicure for her other daughter.  She’s a nail technician. Another “Glamour Girls” print will be travelling north of Inverness, Scotland, where this former Hobartian has been living for 30 years now.

Glamour Girls

A French couple bought “Hoo, Hoo, Hoo Merry Christmas!”. It’s for the son of his best friend that lives in New Zealand, which they are on their way to visit. “Christmas Siesta” and “Bunk Beds” prints are travelling to China. I was told I have a very cute imagination and asked to pose for a photo.

 

A “Double Date III” tote bag is going to Hong Kong. “Spiky Bunk Beds” and “Lazy Days” (which debuted today) are making the long journey to Edmonton, Canada. They are a gift for their daughter who has just moved out.

“Lazy Days” prints debuted at today’s market

A lady from Germany purchased “Duck Crossing II”, as a present for herself she told me.  It is from my “Cheer ’em Up” series, where I thought of heart warming scenes where the emu saves the day! “Duck Crossing II” debuted today too. 100 A-4 sized “Duck Crossing” prints from a 100 limited edition print run SOLD out, so I painted a replacement.

The first “Duck Crossing” painting. The A-4 sized prints have sold out but there are still prints of the other sizes available at http://www.pjpaintings.com

The new painting “Duck Crossing II”. I painted it brighter, different duckling poses, including one sliding down from the emu legs.

The most popular prints today were the wombat prints from the Sleepy Head series.

A thought to ponder: “Bring your humanity to your art. Bring your art to humanity”. Maxime Lagacé. (I like this! :-))

Wishing everybody a Happy New Year,

from Pj Paintings, stall #30 at Salamanca Market, Tasmania

P.S. Tote bags, pouches & prints are available at www.pjpaintings.com

 

Salamanca Market Jan 18, 2020

Salamanca Market took place under calm skies and moderate temperatures today. There were a lot of international visitors at the PJ Paintings stall today. A German couple are taking a “Sleepy Head” print back to Berlin with them. They said that they like its face and that it looked so relaxed. A “Bunk beds” print’s new residential address is Milan, Italy, and “Who, Who, Who are You? II” and “Fairy Wrens” will be making their home in the Alps in France. Sounds so exotic!

Sleepy head

 

Two young ladies from Finland bought some A-5 sized prints and greeting cards and then returned later in the day to buy an “Afternoon Siesta” A-4 sized print.

Afternoon Siesta

A young man bought “Christmas Siesta” to take back to China. A gift for his brother, he said.

Christmas Siesta

 

A couple originally from South Africa, now living in Adelaide, bought four A-5 sized prints. A lady, from California, USA, bought two medium sized zip pouches, “Lazy Days” and “Afternoon Siesta”. She said that they are great gifts that will easily fit into her suitcase.

A “Lazy Days” pouch

 

A young Melbornian, who happened to tell a friend she was going to Salamanca Market while in Tasmania, was sent on a mission. Her friend, a Canadian, bought two wombat prints from me two weeks ago at Salamanca Market and she wished she had bought more. When she heard her fried was going to the market, she put in her request for more prints. So, they did FaceTime and she chose two more prints.

 

A young couple, from California, USA, visited the stall in the morning and returned in the afternoon to purchase an original painting of an orca.

Another original, titled “Holding Hands” also sold today, purchased by a local Hobartian.

Holding Hands

A lady from Melbourne purchased an A-3 sized print of “Salamanca Saturdays” and “Afternoon Siesta”. She said they are going straight on the wall.

Salamanca Saturdays

 

The most popular prints today were the wombat prints from the Sleepy Head series.

 

A thought to ponder: “Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known.” ― Oscar Wilde

 

Wishing everybody a Happy New Year,

from Pj Paintings, stall #30 at Salamanca Market, Tasmania

P.S. Tote bags, pouches & prints are available at http://www.pjpaintings.com

Another day, another bird

Last year, at Salamanca Market, I met a retired university professor from the US and he is an avid birdwatcher. He has come to Tasmania every year for three or more decades (he’s 83 years old now). He bought virtually all the original paintings of endemic birds I painted. He’s back in Tasmania for more bird watching.  He sought me out at the market again and told me that all my paintings are framed and hanging at his residence. He wants more original paintings of birds. “Paint lots!” he said. Yesterday, I painted the Orange-bellied parrot, today it is the Yellow Wattlebird.

The Yellow Wattlebird endemic to Tasmania (thanks to Suart J. Smith for permission to use his photo)

The Yellow Wattlebird occurs only in Tasmania and is Australia’s largest honeyeater. It’s bird call is distinctive and easily identifiable.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope things are chirpy

Lyndhurst Avenue

Yesterday, we had a great turnout, and hence, an invigorating urban sketching session, reinforcing the saying “the more, the merrier” as was such the case. We dispersed, picked our building to tackle and went to work.

I tried this duplex on Elizabeth Street. I took the photo about an hour afterwards, so the shadows had changed somewhat. I still ran into some perspective difficulties, but such is the learning process.

Duplex on Elizabeth Street directly across Lyndhurst Avenue

I sat under the shade of a large fig tree to draw the duplex

Afterwards, we had a coffee and our throw-down at the State Cinema, a very cool, stylishly restored cinema that has been screening moving pictures since 1913. Most of the Hobart sketchers group took on the Lyndhurst ornate house (feature photo). We had two new participants and a sketcher return from “their best holiday ever”, visiting Iran. We took turns perusing her amazing travel sketchbook and photo book. Stunning.

Upon my return home, I found myself still in the painting mode. So, I painted an orange-bellied parrot (thanks to Stuart J. Smith for giving me permission to use his photograph). Orange-bellied parrots are critically endangered with less than fifty parrots thought to exist in the wild today. With all the horrible bush fires, I wonder if they’ve fallen victim to the ferocious flames and if that number is even lower now?

They are not endemic to Tasmania but it is one of only three species of parrot to migrate. The orange-bellied parrot breeds in Tasmania and it winters in South Australia and Victoria.

Last year, at Salamanca Market, I met a retired university professor from the US and he is an avid birdwatcher. He has come to Tasmania every year for two or three decades. He bought virtually all the original paintings of endemic birds I painted. He’s back in Tasmania and sought me out at the market on the weekend. He said that all my paintings are framed and hanging at his residence. He’s 83 years old. He told me that they won’t let him rent a car/drive but some Tasmanian University contacts are taking him birdwatching and he’ll be doing some work there. Anyways, he was disappointed I didn’t have any original bird paintings and asked me to paint “lots” during the week. The Orange-bellied parrot is the first. It’s a start…

wishing everybody a safe week

 

Salamanca Market, January 11, 2020

This is my 300th blog post. I thought this is significant enough to mention. It’s been so much fun writing, I’m surprised that I’m already up to 300 posts.

There was a noticeable drop in temperature compared to yesterday but it was a pleasant enough 19 degrees Celsius with some unwelcome, sporadic wind gusts.

The first customer of the day was a young lady visiting from Ireland. She had some difficulty deciding but she eventually chose “Surfing Clifton Beach, Tasmania”.

Surfing Clifton Beach, Tasmania

Another young lady, visiting from the UK and returning on Friday, zeroed in on the “Outback Glamping” print, as she had visited Uluru in 45 degree Celsius temperatures. She also purchased a “Glamour Girls” and a “The Supremes” print for her girlfriends in the UK.

I had three young ladies stop in. One of the three was from Switzerland and visiting her two girlfriends that are living in Melbourne. All three were doing a Tassie holiday together and they purchased a “Glamour Girls” print, a print of the three of them at the hairdressers.

Glamour Girls

A lady bought a “Lazy Days” pouch to post to her nine year old niece living in Tokyo, Japan.

“Lazy Days” pouch

Then I had visitors from Miami, USA, here in Tasmania to do the 42 km Cadbury Marathon tomorrow. He set a goal to run a marathon in each continent. After tomorrow’s marathon, he only has to run a marathon in Africa to achieve this goal! He ran Antarctica’s marathon when it was a balmy -15 degrees Celsius. He showed me photos. I liked the photo with him running past a yellow caution penguin crossing sign. He’s born in Cuba and now lives in the US, and hence, when he runs his shirt depicts both countries’ flags.

They certainly connected well with the emu-humour. They purchased original paintings “Cascade Brewery” and “Holding Hands” and some prints.

The most popular prints today were the wombat prints from the Sleepy Head series.

A thought to ponder: “Art must be life — it must belong to everybody” ― Marina Abramović

Wishing everybody a Happy New Year,

from Pj Paintings, stall #30 at Salamanca Market, Tasmania

P.S. Tote bags, pouches & prints are available at www.pjpaintings.com

https://www.facebook.com/pjpaintings/

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Salamanca Market Jan 4, 2020

Thirty degrees Celsius was forecasted today but thankfully a cool change arrived in the afternoon. There were two big cruise ships in today and the market filled with people. One of the ships was carrying very dear friends of mine from Melbourne, who came by and gave me a hand at the stall.

 

A lady stopped at the Pj Paintings stall and bought two “Lazy Days” tote bags for her sisters living in England. Another lady, bought a “Lazy Days” bag to post to her sister living in Greece. She used to live in Melbourne. They immigrated to Australia when this sister was seventeen. She missed her friends and didn’t settle into Australia well. So, after doing a degree at Monash University, she went back, met a Greek man, married and settled into family life in Greece.

Lazy Days small sized tote bag

A young couple touring around Tasmania, purchased a “Bunk bed” print that they’ll be taking back to ‘dreary London’, she said. Another “Bunk bed” print is going to Indonesia.

“Bunk beds” from the Sleep head series

A lady, from California, USA, bought five prints and thirteen greeting cards, she said for her son’s birthday party.

 

“Hanging Out” prints are going to Ireland and Canberra, Australia.

“Hanging Out” from the Sleepy head series

“Double Date” and “The Three Amigos” are going to Holland.

There were many others visitors to the stall but I couldn’t keep up with writing notes. Last week, no pouches moved and this week ten went, along with ten tote bags and one small original painting of a galah.

Original painting of a Galah sitting among gum leaves

The most popular prints today were prints from the Sleepy Head series.

 

A thought to ponder: “Everything you can imagine is real.”― Pablo Picasso

Well, in that case, wombats do sleep in hammocks!

 

Wishing everybody a Happy New Year,

from Pj Paintings, stall #30 at Salamanca Market, Tasmania

P.S. Tote bags, pouches & prints are available at http://www.pjpaintings.com

Last day of 2019

It is the last day of 2019, and among other things, I’ve spent some of it doing something that will hopefully put smiles on faces in the new year.

I did some more work on this commissioned piece for the Rotary Club’s 200th anniversary. They have chosen The Great Gatsby as their theme to celebrate this significant milestone. Seeing this finished will bring a smile to my face and hopefully theirs!

I added the finishing touches to this painting. This is the first painting of a series of three. These paintings will be great for a beach shack.

The title of this painting is: Holding Hands II

My new Sailor Fude pen arrived today.  I couldn’t wait to try it, so out I went and drew this house.  I should have set myself up on the footpath (sidewalk) but I couldn’t motivate myself. The steering wheel really got in the way. I couldn’t really get the hang of making different line thicknesses with the pen but with a bit more practice, I should be able to.

First drawing with new Fude pen

Once again, I got the right side of house’s perspective wrong…. but I’m happy with the liveliness of the picture.

Happy New Year everybody! I hope 2020 provides the world with a lot of things to smile about.

Salamanca Market Dec 28, 2019

Hobart is buzzing today. While writing, I looked out my window, and what did I see??… none other than three Sydney to Hobart yachts coming in.

Yachts racing the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race coming into the Derwent River late in the afternoon on Dec 28th.

Comanche claimed the 2019 line honours at 7:30 this morning, in the 75th Sydney to Hobart yacht race, for the third time in five years.

 

The week-long event of the Taste of Tasmania opened its doors today, the Marion Bay Falls Festival starts tomorrow and a cruise ship is coming in tomorrow. On Monday, the temperature is forecasted to reach 40 degrees Celsius. That is crazy! I’m glad to hear that there will be free drink stations and misting tents at the Falls Festival to try to help people not fall victim to heat stroke.

 

It was hot and busy at the Pj Paintings stall today. A “Lazy Days” pouch, the size of a pencil case, is going to Hong Kong. A young lady from Canberra is taking back with her A-4 sized prints: “Hair Accessories”, “The Bun” and “Poppy Fields”.

 

A couple from Canada, living outside of Toronto, will be returning with “Hanging Out” and “Christmas Siesta” prints. They have a collection of Christmas pictures that come out each year for Christmas and Christmas Siesta is going to join this yearly tradition.

 

A family visiting from the UK, bought an original painting of a platypus, painted on paper made 100% with recycled cotton rags, to give to their 30 something year old daughter, living in the UK, who visited Tasmania about five years ago.

 

Proud grandparents, from Perth, bought an A-3 sized “Duck Crossing” print for their first grandchild. A mother and daughter, whose husband is sailing the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, expected to arrive tomorrow morning at approximately 9 am, bought an A-3 sized print of “The Three Amigos”.

The Three Amigos

 

“Scarlet robins” and “Lazy Days” tote bags are going back to Arizona, USA. They’ve been caravanning all over the USA. They’re leaving Australia in a few weeks to return to Arizona and when the summer months arrive they are driving to Oregon.

A visitor from China bought an “All Ears” print for her four year old daughter who sings. She wants to encourage her to keep singing and she thinks that “All Ears” will help. I didn’t bring enough “All Ears” prints to the market because they all sold! Later in the day, somebody asked for an A-4 size and I couldn’t accommodate their request because they have been too popular today.

All Ears

 

A lady visiting from Singapore, bought a framed print titled, “DefendConserveProtect”. It was painted for 2018’s Sea Shepherd’s fund raising event. I’ve written the words Defend, Conserve and Protect into this painting.

DefendConserveProtect

 

A couple from Western Australia bought two originals; one untitled and the named original “Ancient”. I forgot to take a photo of “Ancient” after I painted it!

 

The most popular prints today were the ones that featured images from the Sleepy head series. Prints from the Cheer ‘em Up series, “Family Outing”, “The Bun” & “Hair Accessories” and the whales were popular today too.

 

I better start unpacking the car now. Groan…

 

A thought to ponder: “The best artists know what to leave out” ― Charles de Lint. How true! and a lot easier to say than do. It is a skill most artists strive for.

 

Wishing everybody a Happy New Year,

from Pj Paintings, stall #30 at Salamanca Market, Tasmania

P.S. Tote bags, pouches & prints are available at http://www.pjpaintings.com

A Bolder Love Affair

Walking on Kunyani, the Aboriginal name for Mt. Wellington in Hobart, Tasmania, for me, is like meandering through an art gallery. For some, the highlight of kunyani is scaling the organ pipes or the spectacular views but for me it is kunyani’s sculptural boulders, proud, bold and sculpted by centuries of weather.

A blossoming eucalyptus on kunyani

my quick sketch of a clump of boulders

a field of boulders, one of many on kunyani

Me at the Municipality Cairn, the intersection point of three municipalities: Hobart, Glenorchy and Kingborough

An earlier painting of kunyani boulders.

I introduced water colour painting, adding salt while the paint is still damp to create a grainy look and using a cotton bud and methylated spirits to create a lichen appearance on kunyani boulders to the Men’s Maximum and Medium Security inmates at Risdon Prison. I told them that nobody can say that you’ve drawn a rock wrong, to help them move out of their comfort zone and give painting a try…. and they did…

lichen growing on a kunyani boulder

… including giving writing poems a go. They were really pleased with their efforts. For the poetry writing, I asked them to write five words (nouns) about kunyani and then put some describing words (adjectives) around those words and then ta-da! – poems emerged effortlessly.

dipped in rust, proud large boulders

stunted bendy trees cling onto rocks

tweeting birds diving

buzzing insects darting

snow, sparkling white

… and who put a whale on the mountain!!?!?

I hope that one day you can experience the kunyani magic.

Warm regards, from PJ Paintings

18 York Street

I’m trying to stick to my goal of drawing Bellerive houses. I postponed venturing out onto the footpath (sidewalk) until later in the evening on the 24th of December to avoid all the foot traffic from the Hurricanes Big Bash game against the Melbourne Renegades at the Blundstone Oval, which by the way, the Tasmania Hurricanes were the winners. 🙂 Often, I’m at the oval watching the game but not this time because my cricket-bud is overseas visiting England.

Anyways, I settled myself on my stool, and no sooner than after drawing my first couple lines, a car, towing a boat, pulled up just behind me, which entailed a lot of unpacking, unloading a dog and consequently dog-barking activity. Eventually, the dog was brought inside because it was not happy with me sitting in front of its house and wasn’t about to stop trying to communicate this to me.

After all the Lamy pen bleeding debacle with my last drawing,

this time I tried a different approach and drew some initial lines with a water colour pencil and then inked it with an Artline pen. Using an Artline pen is nowhere near the pleasure of using an ink nibbed pen. I might give myself a belated Christmas present and order a Fude pen (a Liz Steel, Australian urban sketcher guru, recommendation).  I’m not very happy with this drawing (got the side perspective wrong again) but it is part of my skill-development journey, whether I like it or not. Also, Liz Steel says that one of the most common mistakes people make is draw too much roof. I concur.

an imperfect drawing of 18 York Street, Bellerive, Tasmania

I hope you’ve had a pleasant day digesting and working off Christmas lunches or dinners, or both.

York Street, I’ll be back!