Wearing Art

I tend to follow fashion from a distance and not spend a lot of time figuring out outfits, layers or combinations that would go well together.  Although, when I used to sew as a teenager, I would often deviate from patterns, change or add something, and create pleasing end-products.  So, there must be a flair for fashion somewhere lingering in the creative crevices of the Pj mind and soul.

Circumstances have somewhat changed my fashion flair and questionable stylishness to practicability.  The temperature on the thermometer doesn’t always reflect the intensity of the heat in Tasmania, but maybe because of the lack of ozone layer, the sun has a real bite here.  Sometimes it feels like a sauna under my dark blue-lined gazebo on market days.  Forget fashion, wearing something cool is what is of paramount importance.

Lucky me, I’ve found something cool and cool to wear.  ‘Cool’, as in – not warm, and ‘cool’, as in – hip, trendy and groovy.

Wearing ‘Salamanca Saturdays’ at my stall at Salamanca Market

This sleeveless blouse has my ‘Salamanca Saturdays’ painting on the front.  It’s made in Australia by Redbubble, which is an online site for artists to sell their art (www.redbubble.com).  The most direct way to get to my art on the site is to type my full name in the search box (apologies in advance for its length!): Patricia Hopwood-Wade (or copy and paste my name).

I usually wear Small but this is a Medium and it fits well.  It has a little bit of a stretch and has done fine in the washing machine.  Redbubble regularly has 20% off sales, so keep your eye out for those and they are really good with exchanges, refunds and/or vouchers.

What’s your style?  Do your wear art?

During the summer months, I will be wearing my art often.

Another view of the stall and blouse.  Mt Wellington/kunyani is clearer in this photo

Cheers for now.

Thanks for visiting and take care, Pj

P.S. This image is also available as a print, tote bag or pouch on http://www.pjpaintings.com under the Music, Emus and Bags tabs.

 

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A first for the first

A couple months ago, I met a young lady at Salamanca Market that had just moved to Tasmania having secured a dream job, employed to work on the Orange-bellied Parrot Tasmanian Breeding Program. The Orange-bellied Parrot has been ranked as one of the world’s rarest and most endangered species and is on the brink of extinction.

I had often thought of painting this brightly coloured little parrot and meeting her gave me that extra bit of needed motivation.  I drew several sketches and then got distracted with wombats and square dancing emus.  She returned to the stall this week and told me that she had been here for two months already! Meeting her the second time, really spurred me on to apply paint to one of my sketches.

Here’s my first painting of 2019 and the first time I’ve ever painted a Orange-bellied Parrot. (I also finished off the kangaroo and joey today, photo posted above, but it wasn’t the first time I’ve painted kangaroos).

Orange-bellied Parrot water colour painting, painted on paper made 100% from recycled cotton rags

The Orange-bellied Parrot is a migratory bird, which breeds only in coastal south-west Tasmania and spends the winter in coastal Victoria and South Australia. In Tasmania, it occurs in buttongrass moorland interspersed with patches of forest or tea tree scrub.

I wonder how many more “firsts” will occur in 2019??? Did you have any stand-out ‘firsts’ in 2018 or have any planned for 2019?

Happy New Year to all!  Wishing that 2019 is kind to all of you, filled with happiness, smiles, good health and many good ‘first’ experiences are had.

Cheers, Patricia (Pj) Hopwood-Wade

Sleepyhead

It is often said that words make a difference.  They can create and destroy.  Words are powerful, how you say something can make a difference.

One word, from the 2018 Inktober Challenge, “tranquil” has sent me on a new journey, creating a Sleepyhead series.  This is going to be a long series because I have so many ideas for it!

Hanging out for Christmas

Waiting for Santa

I’m not going to have access to a computer over Christmas so I want to pass on my merry wishes a little early.

Thank you for visiting, reading and supporting the unfurling artist blog and being a part of my artistic journey.

From the wombats and I, we wish you a fuzzy-warm, happy and safe festive season.  See you next year!

Festive Interior

I’m relieved to be able to announce that this painting is finished.  It’s taken approximately 50 hours (about 15 hours trying to figure out the composition, drawing, erasing and re-drawing).  I was concerned about it turning out too dark so I put a lot of effort trying to create a light and festive atmosphere in the barn so the emus can kick up their heels and have a blast.

Do-si-Do (this image will be available as a high quality print at http://www.pjpaintings.com soon)

Now my thoughts can turn to further exploring some of the drawings and ideas that came out of the Inktober Challenge.

Cheers and take care, from Pj

Barn Interior

I was hoping that by today I would be posting the finished painting but with drawing, erasing, re-drawing, making more changes, and things just generally taking longer than I thought, (I always underestimate how long it will take me to paint something!) this is what I got done today.

Do-si-do

Cowboy boots crossed that next time I’m able to post the finished painting.  Until then, take care, from pjpaintings

… and now we have a square

I’ve finished the easier part of the commissioned painting for the 60th anniversary of the Australian Square Dancing Convention to be held in Deloraine, Tasmania in 2019 …

Do-si-do!

and now, as I step out of my comfort zone, I need nerves of steel to tackle the background…

Tricky paper lanterns and reflections

I’m trying to keep the background light.  I can always darken things up if I need to.  I hope I can maintain a light, festive mood.

I’m echoing the colours of the costumes and paper lanterns 

Hopefully with my next blog post, I’ll be able to show the finished painting.  It’ll be a relief to finish it.

Until then, take care.

 

Allemande left, then Allemande right

More progress is being made on my commissioned piece for the 60th anniversary of the National Square Dancing Convention that will be celebrated in Deloraine, Tasmania, 2019.  The emus are the fun part.  I’m a bit nervous about painting the barn.  I will have to try really hard to not let the painting get dark when painting the interior of the barn.

Here’s couple one and three:

… and here’s couple two

One more couple to do and then I have to start painting the barn.  Yikes!!

Thanks for visiting and I hope that everybody’s week is going well.

Do-si-do

Over 500 heel-kicking and do-si-do-ing dancers will be descending upon Deloraine in April 2019 for the 60th Australian National Square Dance Convention. I’ve been asked by the Art as Mania Deloraine Gallery (a very supportive, large, community-spirited and awesome gallery) to paint some square dancing emus for the occasion.

Some commissions are harder than others.  This one is challenging too but I’m having lots of fun.  I’ve done some research and I get the impression that the costumes are an integral part of square dancing.  I’ve decided that I’m going to make each couple in the square wear a different colour but the pattern will be the same across all four.  I have literally spent all day painting the first couple.

first square dancing pair

I better ‘Allemande’ myself back to painting. Thanks for visiting.  Have a great week.  Cheers from pjpaintings

Emu Friends

About half of my paintings are emu themed. I have the privilege of displaying them at Salamanca Market in Tasmania, which on average has 20,000 visitors on any given Saturday.  As a consequence, I hear quite a few fascinating pet emu stories.  For example, one that grew up with a herd of goats and acted like it was just one of the herd, another who thought it was a dog and would immediately drop onto its back for a belly scratch when it saw its owner and another who thought it was part of the human family.  Emus seem to take on characteristics of those they grow up with, whether animal or human, and develop steadfast bonds.  I have had several former pet-emu-owners shed tears when they told me their stories about their pet “Priscilla” or “Jasmine”.

Another case of unusual-emu-bonding was recently discovered in North Carolina.  An animal shelter rescued some animals from a property whose owner suddenly disappeared.  Among those rescued was a male donkey and female emu.  The shelter tried to house them separately but the donkey started distress-braying and the emu became extremely anxious. They quickly ascertained that the donkey doesn’t like the company of other donkeys.  The emu and donkey have an inseparable bond and they even cuddle and sleep together.  Therefore, they have to be adopted together.

Introducing Jack and Diane at the Carolina Waterfowl Rescue. A story where two creatures with different looks, backgrounds and even breeds learn to stand together, protect each other and love.

I’ve also recently discovered a special animal-emu bond.

Have you seen an unusual bond between animals?

Wishing you a great upcoming week.

Special thanks to McPhocus (Averil McPhedran Hall, photographer extraordinaire) for alerting me to the story.

Pop!

I have found that putting my prints in a black frame makes them pop.

If you’re struggling to decide on what to give for Christmas, could one of these help?       They are available at my Salamanca Market stall, site 30 ($55).

Scarlet Robins and White 

Hope your week has got off to a good start.  🙂