Salamanca Market, October 15, 2022

October 15, 2022October 15, 2022 ~ theunfurlingartist ~ 2 Comments

There was sun and rain today, and guess when the rain decided to come??? Correct, at packing-up time.

The first customers of the day were visiting from Central Queensland. They were on a bus tour. They purchased “Glamour Girls” and “Bunk Beds” prints.

A wildlife volunteer from Dubbo bought a “Bunk Beds” and “Devilish Siesta” print. She told me one of her best experiences was bottle feeding baby wombats, that they snuggle right in and wrap their fingers around your finger.

A young lady, from Paris, France, in Tasmania for a research conference with her employment, bought two greeting cards. She’s here for two weeks.

An Irish man, residing in Melbourne, Victoria, bought a “Hammock Life” cushion cover. He was wearing a cool hoodie with a “gym + coffee” logo on the sleeve. He said it was an Irish brand.

Hammock Life
This cushion cover is available at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/cards/products/copy-of-cushion-cover-of-a-platypus

A lady, originally from El Salvador, now living in Maleny on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, purchased a “Hammock Life” and “Friendship Refreshes the Soul” tote bags to take to South America when she visits. She said that there is a creek in Maleny, close to where she lives, that she walks along every day, and she sees platypus there about three times a week. How awesome is that! https://oursc.com.au/lifestyle/adventure-sunshine-coast/adventure-sunshine-coast-maleny-boardwalk-platypus-walk

Two ladies from Argentina, speaking Spanish, with one translating in English, purchased a “The Bun” print. They laughed about the story behind the painting. I told them that the yellow-tailed black cockatoo has the shortest crown out of all the black cockatoos, so when the others are flaunting their crowns, they can hold their heads high and say ‘well, la-de-da, look at my hair-do’.

A man that drove down from Sydney, purchased “Salamanca Saturdays” and “Silent Disco” prints. He’s hoping that he can still get on the Spirit of Tasmania despite the flooding in Devonport.

Two ladies visiting from Perth, WA, bought “Bunk Beds”, “Bunk Beds Trio”, Spiky Bunk Beds”, “Afternoon Siesta”, “Devilish Siesta”, and “Taking it Easy” prints, and a “Lazy Days tote bag.

Art thought for the day:

“If I close my eyes, I see things better than with my eyes open.” Henri Matisse

Wishing you a wonderful and creative week.

Cheers, Patricia (PJ) Hopwood-Wade

Quality prints of my art are available at www.pjpaintings.com

Salamanca Market, September 17, 2022

September 17, 2022 ~ theunfurlingartist ~ Leave a comment

It was nice stepping out this morning to an orchestra of chirping birds, despite it being before 6 am. Spring has definitely arrived.

There is a Childcare Conference taking place at the Grande Chancellor Hotel this weekend and several participants stopped at the stall. One attendee, who is giving a presentation in the afternoon, bought “Iconic Aussies” and another attendee, from Mornington, Victoria, originally from Peru, purchased a “Salamanca Saturdays” print.

Iconic Aussies
quality, archival prints available at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/birds/products/iconic-aussies

Salamanca Saturdays
quality, archival prints available at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/the-world/products/salamanca-saturdays

A couple, from Brisbane, purchased “Double Date V” and “Suspended”. A lady from Kitsilano, Vancouver, also purchased a “Suspended” print. I remember Kitsilano Beach well. If you didn’t arrive before 10 am, it was difficult to find a spot to put your towel down on the beach! https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/canada/vancouver/articles/the-top-7-things-to-do-and-see-in-kits-beach-vancouver/ She said she was an East Vancouver girl. That’s where she grew up.

Double Date V
quality prints available at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/birds/products/double-date-v-superb-blue-fairy-wren-prints

Suspended
archival prints available at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/whales/products/suspended

A grandmother from the Sunshine Coast bought a “Lazy Days” cushion cover and a “All Ears” print for her granddaughter. A lady from Wellington, New Zealand purchased a “Lazy Days” print. An original painting of a wombat was purchased for a nephew living in North Carolina, USA. He is hoping to meet him before he is walking.

Lazy Days
high quality prints of Lazy Days are available at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/wombats/products/sleepy-head-series-wombat-lazy-days

All Ears
quality prints of All Ears are available at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/emus/products/all-ears

A lady from Newcastle, NSW purchased a “House Sharing” and “Home Among the Gum Trees”. A young lady, from San Francisco, USA, bought a “Goldilocks and the 20 Penguins”, “Bunk Beds” and “Spiky Bunk Beds” print.

Goldilocks and the 20 Penguins
This quality print is available at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/wombats

A mother and daughter stopped in and purchased “Spiky Bunk Beds” and “Home Among the Gum Trees”. The daughter has been working at Whistler, Canada for four years and much to the mother’s chagrin, she was leaving to go back to Whistler on Wednesday. I also know Whistler well, as one of my best friends has a cabin there. https://www.whistler.com/au/

Spiky Bunk Beds
This quality print of my original painting is available at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/wombats/products/sleepy-head-series-spiky-bunk-beds-echidnas

Home Among the Gum Trees
Quality prints of this image is available at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/wombats/products/home-among-the-gum-trees-a-platypus-in-a-hammock

A couple that arrived from Singapore in the morning, purchased “Dinner for Five???” and “Sitting on the Fence”.

A couple visiting from the Gold Coast bought three originals, a pair of platypuses and some gum leaf paintings.

We enjoyed a mild and clear day and it looked like people were really enjoying their Salamanca Market experience.

Art thought for the week:

“He who works with his hands is a labourer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.“― Saint Francis of Assisi

Wishing you a creative week.

Cheers, Patricia (PJ) Hopwood-Wade

Quality prints of my art are available at www.pjpaintings.com

Salamanca Market April 9, 2022

April 10, 2022 ~ theunfurlingartist ~ Leave a comment

The first customers of the day had just returned from doing the Overland Track. https://www.taswalkingco.com.au/overland-track/ . They are visiting Tasmania from Rock Hampton, Queensland. They purchased “Goldilocks and the 20 Penguins”, “Hammock Life”, “Meet Me at the Gate” and “Maggie & Maggie” prints.

A framed small original painting of a cute, seated wombat was purchased for a grandson’s bedroom on the Gold Coast.

A “Hanging Out” print is going to make its home in Melbourne with a lady from France, who has been living in Australia for ten years and is a French teacher.

A young lady from Winnipeg, Canada, who is spending a year in Australia, bought some A-5 sized prints. Another young lady bought an A-5 sized print titled “Emu Boogie” for her piano playing sister that lives in New Zealand.

A lady from Arizona, USA, bought a “Lazy Days” tote bag. She’s visiting her son. She’s originally from Australia and has been living in United States for 20 years.

“Lazy Days” tote bag, washable and made in Australia. Available at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/bags

A couple from Sydney purchased my newest print of my original painting titled, “Maggie & Maggie” and a “Tu-whit and Tu-whoo” print.

“Maggie & Maggie” my newest addition to the PJ Paintings collection. This print is squarish in dimensions and pairs up well with “Meet Me at the Gate” with the same dimensions. Quality prints are available at: https://pjpaintings.com/collections/birds?page=1

Three girlfriends discussed which emu they were on the “Salamanca Fresh” tote bag and bought one to use at the market. It went very well with her Australian designed, and made, colourful dress.

The fun and colourful “Salamanca Fresh” tote bag

Another couple ladies bought some cards, prints and an original painting of a platypus looking at a fish. I don’t have a photo of the Platypus painting but it was similar to this one except that they were looking at a fish instead of a turtle.

Another small original painting sold too, which I titled “The Owl Look”.

Thanks for visiting. Now to recuperate for next week (lol).

Until then, take care, and thanks for visiting my blog,

from PJ Paintings

at site 30 at Salamanca Market, Tasmania

Quality prints are available at http://www.pjpaintings.com

Salamanca Market August 28, 2021

August 30, 2021 ~ theunfurlingartist ~ Leave a comment

It was a rather slow-moving day at the market on Saturday but there was a lot to be thankful for. The sun, and not the wind, was out, and there were no driverless vehicles on the move. Last week, a van was left in neutral without the handbrake on and the van rolled into my next-door neighbour’s gazebo.

The morning started off with “Suspended” being purchased by a lady who informed me that it was going to hang in her boat.

Suspended
https://pjpaintings.com/collections/whales

A lady, visiting from Queensland, bought a cushion cover, “Hanging Out”.

Another visitor from Queensland, Noosa, bought a “Silent Disco” print.

Hanging Out cushion cover https://pjpaintings.com/collections/cards

Fairy Penguins enjoying a Silent Disco
https://pjpaintings.com/collections/musical

Three girlfriends from the northwest coast of Tassie, helped one choose an A-3 sized print of “Glamour Girls”. She wants to hang it above her bathtub. A local Hobartian, who collects fairy wren items, purchased a “Meet Me at the Gate” print. A “Meet Me at the Gate” framed print was also purchased by another Hobart resident.

Meet Me at the Gate
https://pjpaintings.com/collections/birds

A couple purchased a “Bunk beds”, “Hanging Out” and “Devilish Siesta” to hang up in their Bed & Breakfast accommodation in St. Helen’s, Tasmania. At the very end of the day, during packing up, there were two couples buying similar sets of prints, but I didn’t have the opportunity to chat much, but I do know that one was a graphic designer. I was quite keen to depart as soon as I could to get home, unpack the car, and get changed to go see the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra play Beethoven IV. https://www.tso.com.au It was a wonderful concert. 😊

Keep well, Pj Paintings

Salamanca Market July 31, 2021

August 1, 2021 ~ theunfurlingartist ~ Leave a comment

It was a mild start to the day and then the rains came. Thankfully it passed. With various states across Australia in lockdowns, the numbers were significantly down at Salamanca Market.

The first sale of the day was a greeting card by a lady visiting from Brisbane. Then a couple visiting from Queensland bought two medium-sized pouches, one for their 4-year-old granddaughter’s birthday. They purchased a “Salamanca Fresh” and “Family Outing” pouch.

A young man stopped by, freshly off a deep-sea research ship back from exploring/researching Australia’s deep-sea Indian Ocean Territories. The ship that docked a few days ago in Hobart. https://museumsvictoria.com.au/article/investigatingtheiot/ They have identified many new species: some blind and/or faceless species and many new crustations. He showed me some of his photos of the newly discovered species. He purchased a “Bunk beds” and “Sea Life” print.

A couple chose a “Double Date” print for their mother. Another couple, from Brisbane, purchased a “Sea Life” and “Silent Disco” print. Brisbane is going into a three-day lock-down, so they are going to stay longer in Tassie.

A mother and daughter bought a Large “Helping Hands” pouch and a Medium sized “Hanging Out” tote bag. A couple from Queensland are taking an A-3 size “House sharing” print back with them.

Helping Hands pouch available at the market and http://www.pjpaintings.com

A family from Brisbane purchased three prints for their baby’s room: “Fairy wrens”, “Scarlet Robins” and “Weightless”. A lady bought a “Bunk beds” print for a birthday gift for a girlfriend that lives in Brisbane. A lady, from Queensland, bought three prints of the Glamour Girls series for herself and her girlfriends.

At the end of the day, while I was packing up, a daughter and her mother, expecting her third child, chose a “Bunk beds” and “Sea Life” print. She’s having her baby in Tasmania and then they are returning to Fiji, where they live.

After packing up the market stall and then unpacking the car when I arrived home, I got changed into 60’s outfit to go to my friend’s 60^th birthday party. The music was so much fun to dance to!

Wishing everybody a good upcoming fortnight.

Thanks for visiting! All print, tote bag and pouch images shown are available at http://www.pjpaintings.com

Cheers, from Patricia Hopwood-Wade

Salamanca Market June 19, 2021

June 19, 2021 ~ theunfurlingartist ~ Leave a comment

Brilliant weather for Dark Mofo, the AFL game at Bellerive and Salamanca Market today! There were a lot of people at the market today.

I met a lady that took a direct flight to Hobart from Perth. She came for Dark Mofo and is going to explore the north of the state for a week. She asked if I had a print of a cockatoo or a galah, her favourite birds. I showed her “Iconic Aussies”, and she bought the A-3 sized print of it.

An adult daughter and mother, rushing to get to their flight back to Newcastle, bought a “Bunk beds” print and greeting cards.

Bunk beds print available at http://www.pjpaintings.com

Two families travelling together, one from Canberra and the other from Sydney, purchased “Lazy Days”. Another lady from Townsville is also taking home “Lazy Days”.

I met a local young couple that bought some cushion covers for a birthday present for her. I haven’t got them on my website yet but they are coming. They are 40 x 40 cm. I have the cockatoos, wombats, Salamanca Saturdays, Scarlet Robins and a few other images on the cushion covers.

A couple, visiting from Darwin, who have been touring Tassie for 2 weeks, going up the west coast to Cradle Mountain and returning to Hobart, purchased a “Sitting on the Fence” A-3 sized print. Two young ladies visiting for Dark Mofo, from Brisbane, both bought Spiky Bunk Beds.

A young from Queensland that saw Fairy Penguins coming on shore at Bicheno, Tasmania bought a
“Silent Disco” print.

A couple from Brisbane, visiting their friends, bought “Hair Accessories” and two prints of “Who says Emus can’t Fly?!?. Apparently one of their grandfathers used to frequently ride his motorbike in Tassie.

Thanks for visiting and I wish you all a great upcoming week.

Take care, from Patricia (PJ)

http://www.pjpaintings.com

Salamanca Market Update, April 3, 2021

April 3, 2021 ~ theunfurlingartist ~ 1 Comment

It was hot today (29C), and windy in the afternoon. A bunch of prints got blown off the table but other than that, I got through unscathed.

A lady, from Sydney, bought a “Tu-whit & Tu-whoo” A-3 sized print a few years ago, framed it and has it hanging in her holiday house in the Hunter Valley region, NSW . She said it looks beautiful and gets so many comments on it that she wants one for her house in Sydney. So, she bought another “Tu-whit & Tu-whoo” print.

Tu-whit & Tu-whoo https://pjpaintings.com/collections/birds/products/tu-whit-tu-whoo

A couple, who moved to Tassie in 2006 from Western Australia, who already have “White Faced Scops Owls“ and “G’Day”, added Lazy Days to their Pj Paintings collection.

Lazy Days https://pjpaintings.com/collections/wombats/products/sleepy-head-series-wombat-lazy-days

A family visiting from Townsville, twin brother and sister, about 10 years old, decided to buy “What the Devil” as their Tasmanian souvenir.

What the Devil?!
https://pjpaintings.com/collections/realistic-animals/products/what-the-devil

A lady, who is going to attend her cousin’s wedding on Steele Island, bought a “Two to Tango” card for the couple and a “The Three Amigos” print for herself. I had never heard of Steele Island until today and it is part of Tasmania. http://www.steelesisland.com/aboutus.html

Two to Tango https://pjpaintings.com/collections/musical/products/two-to-tango

A bunch of European young ladies dropped in, mainly from Italy and Germany, who are on working and/or visiting visas. They’ve been in Australia for over a year, unable to get back to their countries of origin due to COVID. They were saying how Australia is the best country to live with the COVID virus. One, is going back to Germany in three weeks. She got a paralegal job offer that she said she couldn’t resist. All her family caught COVID in the first wave and that Germany is now experiencing their third wave. She bought a wombat print to take back with her.

A “Double Date III” print is going back to Canberra, along with tote bags going to just about every state in Australia and abroad. So many tote bags sold today! I couldn’t keep up with keeping track them.

Double Date III https://pjpaintings.com/collections/birds/products/double-date-iii

Time to put my feet up and enjoy a cup of tea. I’ll be back at the market in two or three weeks.

Wishing you an awesome Easter weekend.

Salamanca Market Update, March 27, 2021

March 27, 2021 ~ theunfurlingartist ~ 2 Comments

Rain at 6 am, 7 am and at 3 pm was forecasted and unfortunately, I must report, that the weather was predicted correctly. Rain book-ended the market, wet setting up and wet taking down.

I met many visitors from the mainland of Australia today. A couple who took the ferry from Victoria, and she experienced sea sickness for the first time, purchased an A-3 sized print of “Joyride”.

“Joy ride”
https://pjpaintings.com/collections/emus/products/joy-ride

Salamanca Saturdays was purchased as a souvenir by a couple visiting from Brisbane.

“Salamanca Saturdays”
https://pjpaintings.com/collections/the-world/products/salamanca-saturdays

Another couple bought a penguin card for their Venezuelan son-in-law who is fanatical about penguins.

“Silent Disco”
https://pjpaintings.com/collections/realistic-animals/products/copy-of-down-under-view-koala-watercolour

A couple, who bought one of my prints a few years ago, for their former Argentinian exchange student’s first child, has come back to buy a print for their second child. They’ll be posting to Switzerland, where the family is now living, a “Duck Crossing” print for the second child and a Duck Crossing pencil case filled with crayons and the like for the older sibling . The older sibling has one of my prints hanging in her bedroom and now the younger sibling will have Duck Crossing in their bedroom.

“Duck Crossing”
https://pjpaintings.com/collections/emus/products/cheer-em-up-series-duck-crossing-ii

A mother visiting from Canberra bought “Graduation Siesta” for her daughter who has just graduated and now has a Medical Radiation Science degree.

“Graduation Siesta” https://pjpaintings.com/collections/wombats/products/copy-of-sleepy-head-series-bunk-beds-wombat-watercolour-1

Two international students, studying at the University of Tasmania, accounting and engineering, bought some cards and small A-5 sized prints. A group visiting from Taiwan, only spending four days in Tassie, bought “Hanging Out”. They liked that the gum leaves and gum nuts make sort of the same shape as Tasmania.

“Hanging Out” https://pjpaintings.com/collections/wombats/products/wombat-hanging-out

A lady, visiting from Sydney, chose an “Emu Ice Capades” greeting card. I remarked that it was unusual for somebody to choose an ice-skating card. She said that she and all her children ice skate. Now that’s unusual!! In Tasmania, there is only one ice skating rink for the whole island and the owners have recently retired, so I’m not sure if we still have an ice rink. Tasmanians may have to go to the mainland to have an ice-skating experience now! https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-13/tasmania-only-ice-skating-rink-for-sale-glenorchy/12869448

Are you from the northern hemisphere, I asked? She was born in Australia, and they just spoke German at home, and then they moved to Germany when she was 5 years old. Then they moved back to Australia when she was eight and she couldn’t speak any English when she started school in Australia. Then the family moved back to Germany when she was twelve and then back to Australia when she was sixteen. Needless to say, she’s had an interesting childhood and is fluent in both German and English.

Emu Ice Capades https://pjpaintings.com/collections/sporty-emus/products/emu-icecapades-1

I started packing up early, so that some of the things that had dried, like the sides of the gazebo and table cloths, wouldn’t get wet again.

Time to put my feet up and enjoy a cup of tea.

Wishing you an awesome weekend and I’ll be back at the market next week, April 3^rd.

Salamanca Market Update, Feb 27, 2021

February 27, 2021 ~ theunfurlingartist ~ Leave a comment

After a year’s break, I started back at the Salamanca Market, in Hobart, Tasmania, today. www.salamancamarket.com.au I opted for the fortnightly option to ease back into the routine. I didn’t bring everything I usually do, and regardless of the scaled back version, it took me two hours to set up. Despite the long set-up time, it was worth it as everybody seemed happy to see my art and many people commented on how unique it is.

I sold an A-3 sized print of “Scarlet Robins” to a couple who are going to hang it up in one of the Bed & Breakfast’s units they have in Perth, WA.

A lady bought “Silent Disco” and “Suspended” for her daughter in Berlin. I had another lady buy some wombat cards for her daughter in France. She said her grandchildren will probably be teenagers by the time she gets to see them!

My motorbike-riding emus attracted “Auntie Flick’s” eye. Her nieces, nephews and grandchildren love it when she gives them rides on her Triumph motorbike. She’s expecting two more grandchildren that have due dates of two weeks apart from each other. She bought a “Hanging Out’” and a “Spiky Bunk beds” prints for the new arrivals.

A couple came told me that they have a big print of “Bunk beds” hanging up in their lounge room. They love wombats and take care of orphaned wombats. Then she said that she had one with her right now! Wombat “Pip” was so tiny, you would never know that she was carrying her around! She’s been caring for Pip for six weeks now. Pip must have been so teeny, teeny, teeny tiny when she got her.

Baby Pip. I just love their little gnarly feet!

The most popular prints today were the wombat series. I think the most popular greeting card today was “Hair Accessories”.

Art thought for the day: “To my mind a picture should be something pleasant, cheerful and pretty. There are too many unpleasant things in life as it is without creating still more of them.” ― Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Have a good couple of weeks everybody and I’ll be back at the market, stall 30, in a fortnight.

All the prints shown here are available at http://www.pjpaintings.com

Success

January 29, 2021 ~ theunfurlingartist ~ 2 Comments

I am basically a self-taught watercolour artist. About 12 years ago, I started taking evening Adult Ed classes, when I worked full-time. I have kept practicing and trying to improve my drawing and painting skills ever since.

I have submitted applications for local exhibitions, involving submitting a form, including a high-resolution gloss photograph when requested, and a non-refundable payment. I was so often rejected that I stopped applying. Unlike when you apply for a job, you can phone and ask why you weren’t asked to be interviewed and receive some constructive feedback. With the art application process, you usually aren’t allowed to engage with the judges, so you never find out if you were close to getting accepted, on the right track or are able to seek any kind of feedback to help you.

Rejection is discouraging and I think I briefly found myself skirting around the edges of Imposter Syndrome. Thankfully, for me, I focused on the people who do like and connect with my art, rather than those that don’t, and keep painting what I wanted to paint and I was able to avoid getting drawn into this misery. I can understand how Imposter Syndrome could easily suck you in and really damage your confidence.

I also think that my imagination helps me fight against this syndrome and negative art-self-talk because it is such a dominant and relentless force in my brain. It is always bombarding me with painting ideas. It produces way, way, way more ideas than I ever will be able to paint. So, I feel that my brain is forced to analyse, judge, sort and categorise painting ideas rather than dwell on “an internal experience of believing that you are not as competent as others perceive you to be”. This TED talk explains Imposter Syndrome or Imposter Phenomenon well https://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_cox_what_is_imposter_syndrome_and_how_can_you_combat_it?language=en and there are many articles explaining these commonly experienced feelings https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2013/11/fraud.

I realise that many people underestimate how challenging I find art and think that I can draw anything. Myth buster – there are many things that I simply can’t draw!!, which also could feed into Imposter Syndrome. I struggle with composition, drawing and I usually erase whatever I am trying to draw multiple times. I think if people watched me undertaking a painting from start to finish, that they would be seriously surprised. I am a serious believer that drawing can improve with practice. It is about enjoying trying (the journey), enjoying the end-products that are successful, trying to give as little time as possible to dwelling on those that aren’t, (after analysing them to try to avoid the same mistake/s next time) and enjoying the joy that art gives to the recipients.

A friend encouraged me to submit an application form to enter my painting, titled “Goldilocks and the 20 Penguins” in the Waterways Exhibition to be held at the Long Gallery in the Salamanca Arts Centre, Hobart, Tasmania. Reluctantly I did, and success! the painting has been accepted!!

Goldilocks and the 20 Penguins- penguins find a wombat sleeping in their nest

Prints and tote bags of this painting are available at http://www.pjpaintings.com

The Water Ways exhibition will open to the public at 10am on Friday 5th February at the Long Gallery, Salamanca Place, Tasmania and continues until Sunday 14th.

https://www.salarts.org.au/event/water-ways-2021/

I hope that you are able to see the Water Ways exhibition and the original of “Goldilocks and the 20 Penguins”.