Today’s prompt word for the #InktoberChallenge2020 is RADIO. I have decided to combine Day 4 and Day 27 with this drawing: radio (Day 4’s prompt word) and music (Day 27’s prompt word), by drawing fairy penguins having a bit of a bop to some music they are hearing on the radio.
fairy penguins having a little jig
Fairy penguins are the smallest species of penguin. They nest on Bruny Island, Tasmania and in Victoria, Australia. I have seen them in the wild in all three places and it is such a special, magical sight to see them scurrying up the beach to their young ones who are eagerly awaiting their arrival.
Thank you for visiting and I hope that you are enjoying #Inktober!
Australia’s early settlers hunted emus for food and as a result the emus that were abundant in Tasmania and Australia’s east coast disappeared. Today, only one population remains in existence, aside from the thriving Australian inland emus, the coastal emu. The New South Wales (NSW) Government, in 2002, listed the coastal emus as an endangered population as its numbers were, and continues to be, in steep decline.
The coastal emu. Photography by Stephen Otton
The coastal emu is genetically distinct from the inland emu and an important seed disperser. It travels large distances and plays an important role in the regeneration of native species. Other species do a similar service but not to the same capacity. If the coastal emu is lost from the ecosystem it will reduce diversity and populations of species that depend on the plants, not to mention the loss of another emu species.
The range of the endangered coastal emu population. (Image credit: Coastal Emu Alliance). An estimated 50 Coastal Emus remain in crucial habitat areas of the Clarence and Richmond valleys.
A concerted effort is necessary to save an endangered species with numbers as low as the coastal emu. It is encouraged that sightings of coastal emus and/or nests are reported to The Coastal Emu Register. Identifying nesting sites can help target feral animal control at the local level. Tracking the seasonal movements of the emus, will help build an understanding of the survival rates of adults and chicks, and whether a captive breeding may be required to re-build the number of Coastal Emus found in the wild.
If you are out and about coastal emu spotting, for accuracy sake, please be aware that there are also adventuresome PJ Paintings emus running around.
Family Outing
Bonnie and Me!
Surfing Clifton Beach, Tasmania
Take care and thank you for visiting the unfurling artist. 🙂
Sometimes I paint something that no matter how hard I rack my brain, I can’t think of a title. I know you can go with the title “Untitled” but I’d rather not.
A good friend of mine, from the northern end of Tasmania, asked me if I could paint an ice skating emu so that she could get a print of the painting to give to her daughter, who LOVES ice skating. She regularly travels to Hobart for that very purpose – to ice skate.
This image is available now for purchase: shop now
Thinking of a title turned out to be more difficult than drawing and painting the picture. Has anyone else had this problem?? Some of the titles I came up with were:
Spin- ster
Going for a Spin
Ice Queen
Ice Princess
Unhappy with all of the above, I decided it was time to elicit some help from my Facebook friends. Ideas were proposed and I narrowed it down to “Emu Icecapades”. I think this is an awesome title for the painting.
Thank you friends for helping me name this painting!
The Yaraka Hotel in outback Queensland, Australia, has banned entry to Kevin and Carol emus, and as a consequence gained worldwide notoriety, as the story has gone viral. The world is in need of some light-hearted news during the COVID-19 pandemic and this story seems to be fulfilling some of this demand.
A local Animal Rescuer, Leanne Byrne, found an abandoned emu nest of eggs and raised the clutch of emus. Kevin’s and Carol’s brothers and sisters have moved on, but this pair remained and endeared themselves to the locals and visitors alike.
Leanne Byrne poses for a photo with one of her feathery babies.
A rift developed after Kevin and Carol learnt how to climb stairs to gain entry into the pub.
The inquisitive emus were captured on digital by pub customer and visiting tourist Sam Guzzardi.
The pair caused havoc by eating guests’ food and leaving messy, smelly deposits behind, which the pub owner wasn’t too thrilled about having to clean up each time it happened, and apparently emu toileting needs are frequent!
The emus are no longer allowed in the Yaraka Hotel after a spate of bad behaviour.(Supplied: Chris Gimblett)
In order to maintain a good working relationship, the owner of the pub set up emu barricades, citing ‘bad emu behaviour’ as making this a necessary action.
The hotel has erected barricades and put up signs urging tourists to keep the emus out.(Supplied: Chris Gimblett)
Kevin and Carol aren’t the only emus strutting there stuff around town. I’ve captured other emus in their strutting action too.
Bright & Breezy
Walking with Flair
A Fashion af-Flair
Take care everybody and be careful around misbehaving emus.
I set up the stall in semi-darkness this morning. On Thursday, when it was raining (the rain is very welcome) I was walking to work at about 6:45 a.m., while it was dark, and my left foot stepped into a massive puddle that I didn’t see. The water went over my entire shoe and I spent the rest of the day squish-squashing every time I took a step.
A couple, whose three children, who now have children of their own, bought three prints to post to two living in Boston, USA, and the other in Toronto, Canada. (They are lamenting that their grandchildren are living on the other side of the earth). They are posting: “Emu Boogie”, “Surfing Clifton Beach, Tasmania” and “Lazy Days” prints.
A framed “Duck Crossing” is going to her first grandchild, one year old, Ava, in Adelaide, SA. Wendy, affectionately named ‘Wendy Wombat’, after walking the Overland Track about nine years ago, her reactions and love for wombats earned her this name that has stuck over the years. She’s has a lot of wombat pictures and ornaments but she couldn’t resist the Sleepy head wombat series of prints.
Duck Crossing
A couple, he originally from South Africa and she from Australia, purchased “Christmas Siesta”, “Lost Worlds”and “Rising Above It”. Actually, about four Christmas Siestas sold today. Another “Rising Above It” was purchased by a young lady from Brazil.
A couple bought a “Glamour Girls” print for her sister who lives in Germany and is a hairdresser. A young Scottish couple, both doctors who have finished one year of working at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and are heading back to Scotland, purchased a “Sea Life” print.
Then I met Arianne from Saint Julienne, Canada.
Arianne and I at Pj Paintings, site 30, Salamanca Market
Once again, I took the opportunity to try to haul out my French from the crevices of my long-term memory. I told her it was easier to maintain my French speaking skills in Canada, where everything you buy is written in English and French. I used to read the products’ French instructions and blurb daily, which went a long way to helping me retain my French. In Australia, virtually everything is presented only in English. Arianne said I should have my prints’ back information in both French and English, reflect my heritage. I thought this is a great idea and could help people in the same situation as me, trying to keep ourselves from losing our first languages totally. She gave me a little Canadian pin. “What the Devil!?”, “Christmas Siesta” prints and a “Lazy Days” bag are now accompanying her on her travels and adventures.
While I was packing up three original paintings sold: “Fancy Pants”, “Walking with Flair”, “Blue Whale”, and earlier in the day, the framed original painting of a blue butterfly sitting on an emu’s beak sold.
The most popular prints today were from the Sleepy Head wombat series
A thought to ponder: “Art is the concrete representation of our most subtle feelings” Agnes Martin
Wishing you a creatively happy upcoming week,
from Pj Paintings, stall #30 at Salamanca Market, Tasmania
We were lucky again today. We had a sunny and windless day. I replaced my 37 kilogram gazebo with a 24 kg one and it was so much easier to set up.
My first visitors to the stall were two from 120 delegates attending a conference in Hobart. They purchased “Bonnie & Me”, “Hayride”and “Outback Glamping” to present to some of the speakers.
I had a lot people from North America visit Pj Paintings today. One lady from California, USA, bought “Red Ute”. She thought her husband would get a kick out of the title.
Red Ute
A mother and daughter, from the same state, bought a set of Cheer ’em Up cards. Another mother and daughter but from Vermont, USA bought four prints to hang in her bathroom she said: “Family Outing”, “Hayride”, “Joyride” and I can’t remember the fourth.
A couple visiting from Parry Sound, three hours north of Toronto, Canada, living in the bush, purchased “All Ears” from the Cheer ‘em Up series.
“All Ears” his friend needs a listening ear and even though it’s hard work, and his beak is getting crumpled, he’s sticking to the task.
A couple from Trail, B.C., Canada, purchased “Double Date”. Another couple visiting from Prince George , B.C., Canada bought “Lazy Days”, “Spiky Bunk Beds”, “Devilish Siesta” and “What the Devil!?” for their four grandchildren. One of their children lives on Vancouver Island, in the same neighbourhood as x-royals Harry and Meghan. Their son has seen them going for walks in the neighbourhood and on trails around his house. He’s told his parents that the community is really good about respecting their privacy.
What the Devil!?
Girlfriends, visiting from the Gold Coast to attend a country wedding taking place today in Huonville, bought “Allemande Red” for the couple.
Allemande Red
A couple bought my “Flame Robin” and “Yellow Wattlebird” original paintings. They said that they are going to a Californian retro bungalow in Perth.
A young man, visiting from Japan, bought “Family Outing” and “What the Devil!?” as his Tasmanian souvenir.
The most popular prints today were the wombat prints from the Sleepy Head series, prints from the Cheer ‘em Up series and Hayride.
A thought to ponder: “If I close my eyes, I see things better than with my eyes open.” Henri Matisse This is true for me too – sometimes!
Wishing you a creatively happy upcoming week,
from Pj Paintings, stall #30 at Salamanca Market, Tasmania
On Friday, Hobart got to 40 degrees Celsius. It was hard work packing the car in that heat. The night was hot and uncomfortable, despite some rain falling during the night. Saturday morning, the gazebo was set up in muggy heat but thankfully as the day progressed, a breeze helped to cool things down.
A couple from Launceston, Tasmania, who had “Who, Who, Who are You? II” searched me out to buy more.
Who, Who, Who are You? II
They arrived with their gorgeous 11 week old St Bernard puppy, named Lady Marmalade. They ended up buying five A-3 sized prints and an A-4 sized print of “Duck Crossing II”.
eleven week old Lady Marmalade
An x-Tasmanian, now living in Queensland, bought “Hair Accessories” and “Hanging Out”. When she was in Tasmania she took care of Tasmanian Devils and Wombats. In Queensland she looks after Flying Foxes, Kangaroos and Wallabies.
Hanging Out
A student, doing his final year of Occupational Therapy in Adelaide, bought a “Bunk Beds” print. A couple from Poland, who spoke very little English, purchased a “Hanging Out” print to take back to Europe with them.
Bunk beds
A group from Amsterdam purchased “Family Outing” and two young women from France, both bought a “Richmond Bridge, Tasmania” print. A couple from Toronto, Canada purchased a “Salamanca Saturdays” print and a tote bag with the “Hanging Out” image printed on both sides.
A “Lazy Days” zipper pouch and a “Hanging Out” tote bag is travelling to Taiwan. A “Taking a Dip” print is going to be a 30th anniversary gift.
Taking a Dip
An Orange-bellied parrot and a Flame Robin original painting were purchased. One will be making its home in United States, the other in Hobart.
The most popular prints today were the wombat prints from the Sleepy Head series.
A thought to ponder: “An artist is not paid for his labour but for his vision”. James Whistler.
Wishing you a creatively happy upcoming week,
from Pj Paintings, site #30 at Salamanca Market, Tasmania
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
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
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
The Unfurling Artist: journalising creative journeying 