Salamanca Market, September 10, 2022

Today we had to contend with a LOT of rain but thankfully it wasn’t accompanied with wind, and amazingly, I was able to set up and take down just when there were breaks from the rain. During the downpours, there was a sea of different Hobart hotel umbrellas on view.

A speech pathologist, visiting Tasmania from the mainland of Australia, purchased an A-3 sized “Beachside Chatter” and “Who, Who, Who are You? II” print to hang up in her practice. It will engage children and calm their nerves.

“Beachside Chatter”
quality archival prints available at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/emus

Who, Who, Who are You? II
quality archival prints available at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/emus

Two sisters from Brisbane bought an “Outback Glamping” print and a “Salamanca Fresh” tote bag. They have another sister and when they are together people think that they are triplets they told me.

“Salamanca Fresh” tote bags are available at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/bags

“Outback Glamping”
quality, archival prints of Outback Glamping are available at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/emus

A lot of members from a family from Sydney that are attending a cousin’s wedding in the afternoon, bought a “Bunk Beds” print.

“Bunk Beds”
quality, archival prints of Outback Glamping are available at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/wombats

A couple bought my original painting of the Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery. I drew and painted most of it, sitting on a bench, on the wharf across the street from it. https://friendsoftmag.org.au/  My “Ladybird Parade” original painting also sold today.

The Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery on Davey Street, Hobart

Original painting titled, Ladybird Parade

A Dutch couple that lived in Perth for nine years and then moved back to Netherlands, and then realised, what have we done??, moved back to Australia. They are planning to settle in Tasmania and are looking for a house in Cygnet. They bought some greeting cards to send to relatives in Netherlands.

A Hobart law and psychology student purchased a small, framed print of “Spanish Eyes (Red). Another small, framed print, “Sea Life” this time, sold to a young lady, who has been working one year and nine months in Sydney but is soon returning to Hong Kong. She has a good job lined up but she is leaving her options open if she doesn’t like it because the country has changed significantly since she has left.

Spanish Eyes (Red)
quality archival prints available at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/emus

“Sea Life” archival prints of Sea Life are available at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/whales

Thankfully, I managed to pack up before the next lot of rain started falling.

Art thought for the week:

“If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.” ― Émile Zola

Wishing you creative and fun upcoming week.

Cheers, Patricia (PJ) Hopwood-Wade

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

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Emus Barred from Bar

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.

P.S. Original paintings and prints are available at http://www.pjpaintings.com

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

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More #Inktober2019 days

You’ve probably heard of “tip-toe through the tulips” well for Day 20 of the Inktober Challenge, I did “treading through the tulips” for the prompt word “tread”.

Treading through the tulips!

Day 19 brings the word “sling”. I painted dad doing the school run. In the emu world the dad sits on the eggs for a month without eating, drinking or defecating and raises the chicks for the first 6 months of their lives.

Sling

Day 21’s prompt word is “treasure”. Here’s my unfinished painting for treasure.

What a treasure!

We’re nearing the end of Inktober. we’re almost into November. Yikes!

Hope the rest of month goes well for you. Thanks for visiting, from PJ Paintings

 

PjPaintings at Salamanca Market January 19, 2019

Over the years, I have submitted applications to several art co-op galleries but having a day job has been a barrier to being accepted because it limits the days you can do gallery duty and your flexibility to pick up days when a member is sick or on holidays. Nevertheless, after my fourth time applying to Artefacts Inc Gallery, in the Salamanca Arts Centre, I am very excited that I have been accepted!! I now have the opportunity to display and sell some of my prints, original paintings, pouches and tote bags and do gallery duty. I’ll mainly be doing gallery duty on Mondays. It would be lovely if you could call in and have a chat. It hosts the stunning work of a Tasmanian wood turner, glass maker, jewellery maker, ceramics, leatherwork and watercolour & acrylic painter.

 

When I went by the gallery this morning, I noticed that it wasn’t open. I unexpectedly opened and minded the gallery for an hour or so until the member on duty arrived.

 

Back at the Pj Paintings stall, two girlfriends, one from London, UK, and the other from Sydney, NSW, holidaying together in Tasmania and then driving the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, bought a ‘Mercedes Time’ print for a souvenir of their driving holiday.

Mercedes Time!

 

A couple from Washington, DC, USA, bought ‘Yellow Poppy Fields’ and ‘Do-Si-Do’. They have a relative that square dances. A perfect gift for a square dancer!

Do-si-do

 

A group of four, from Emu Plains, NSW, purchased an original painting of a wombat, a ‘Family Outing’ print and an ‘Under My Red Umbrella’ tote bag.

Original painting of a wombat just hanging out among the gum leaves

 

A lady, who is what is often referred to as “snowbirds” on the North American continent, lives half a year in Spain and the other half of the year in Florida, USA, purchased an ‘Outback Glamping’ print as she had visited Uluru. Her son lives in Alice Spring.

A mother and young daughter, starting grade three in a few weeks, purchased four A-5 sized prints of Tasmanian scenes that I’ve painted. The girl reminded her mother several times that she had to get back to keep working. I asked her what she was working on and she said that she was making a stadium for her 11 year old brother’s birthday. I queried how she was constructing this elaborate-sounding birthday present. It is being built inside a cardboard box with more cardboard, paper, glue, crayons and paints. What an admirable project and unique birthday present. I hope her brother appreciates the effort and remembers that ‘it is the thought that counts’.

 

A young boy and his mother visited the stall. The boy told me that he loves owls. He had to spend his own money to buy an owl print. That’s a huge sacrifice and I feel doubly honoured when a child uses their own money to buy my art. His mother bought a ‘Sleepyhead’ print for herself.

Sleepyhead

 

Another child, a little older than the boy who had just bought an owl print, this one seemed close to the 12 year old range, bought a ‘Thunder’ print. She loves elephants.

Thunder!

 

The day ended with two young ladies arriving at the market, and my stall, after 3 pm, when many have already completely packed up or are well into the packing-up process. They bought a ‘Suspended’ print. They were planning to see the rest of the market. I recommended that they walk really, really quickly, as the market has 353 stalls.

Suspended

 

After packing up, I drove the long way home, as the most direct route to the Tasman Bridge was closed due to the installation of the Remembrance Bridge. It was bumper-to-bumper and a slow ride home.

 

The most popular print this weekend was: Salamanca Saturdays

A thought to ponder: “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Albert Einstein

 

Thanks for stopping by,

from the Pjpaintings stall #30 at Salamanca Market.

Pj Paintings’ prints, tote bags and pouches are available at http://www.pjpaintings.com

PjPaintings at Salamanca Market October 20, 2018

At times, one could think it was snowing at the market. Large trees, lining the street, scattered masses of seed pods throughout the day and thousands floated everywhere.  There was literally a carpet of seed pods in my stall, and surrounding sites, with plenty of sneezing and nose-blowing taking place from all sides.

Two young ladies from Thailand will be taking home with them some 5” x 7” ‘White Faced Scops Owls’, ‘Tu-whit & Tu-whoo’ and ‘Spanish Eyes (Yellow)’ prints.

White Faced Scops Owls

I met a young couple from Netherlands, who are travelling around Australia for a year, from Feb 2018 to Feb 2019.  They are travelling and doing nanny and cleaning work.  I asked what is a male nanny called?  They said an ‘Au Pair’ but that many Australians aren’t familiar with that term so they use ‘nanny’. I replied that I find that surprising with all the controversy surrounding Peter Dutton’s handling of the Au Pairs from France.  In humour, they said that maybe they’ll contact Peter Dutton if they decide that they want to stay longer in Australia. They purchased a 5” x 7” print, titled ‘Double Date’.

Double Date IV

Residents from Emu Park, Queensland bought a ‘Beachside Chatter’ print.  A lady also from Queensland, but from the city of Cairns, chose ‘Duck Crossing’ and ‘All Ears’ prints from the Cheer ‘em Up series.  A couple were really pleased with their purchase of a framed ‘Two to Tango’ print.  It is going to be a gift for their son who has taken up dancing.

Two to Tango

A mother bought a framed tractor print, ‘Hayride’, for their two year old son, who is fascinated with tractors.  She’s made him a tractor room and this will be another addition to the pictures of tractors.

Hayride

Girlfriends visiting from Brisbane, had bought a print earlier in the week from Made in Tasmania, went looking for my stall today and found me.  They bought ‘Outback Glamping’ to give to a girlfriend that recently went to Uluru.

Outback Glamping

An American, with his Australian wife, who has been living in Melbourne for over 12 years, are taking a ‘Who, Who, Who are You? II’ back as their Tasmanian souvenir.

Near the end of the market, two ladies bought two prints each of ‘Lost Worlds’.  One lady said they were gifts for her sisters, one living in Ontario, Canada, the other in New York state, US.  Somebody else bought one earlier in the day too.

Lost Worlds

The most popular print this weekend is: Lost Worlds

A thought to ponder:  “When I say artist I mean the one who is building things … some with a brush – some with a shovel – some choose a pen.” ~Jackson Pollock

Thanks for stopping by,

from the Pjpaintings stall #30 at Salamanca Market.

PjPaintings at Salamanca Market March 24, 2018

Rain was predicted for today and I’m happy to report that they predicted incorrectly. We did get a little but not the amount that was forecasted. All-in-all the weather was great, not too hot or cold.

A bus tour group from New Zealand was at the market today. I met one lady who has fifteen grandchildren and thought “Scarlet Robin Rescue” would be the perfect gift for her granddaughter who is turning thirteen years old.

Scarlet Robin Rescue

A man from the same tour group purchased “Outback Glamping”. He said that he did a lot of work in the outback putting in telecommunications.

Outback Glamping

A grandmother bought three prints from the Cheer ‘em Up series (“Duck Crossing”, “All Ears” and “Helping Hands”) for her grandson who is having his first birthday soon. She is going to frame them up for his mother.  These are part of my Cheer ’em Up series.  I thought of heart warming scenes where the emu comes to the rescue.  They are all available for purchase on my website: http://www.pjpaintings.com

Duck Crossing

All Ears

Helping Hands

Sisters, on holidays from the UK, bought a platypus with turtle, kookaburra and Yellow-tailed black cockatoo little original painting.

A lady originally from Tasmania, but now living in Tennessee, USA, for over 20 years, is taking back with her a “Scarlet Robins” and “The Three Amigos” print.

A Melbourne artist bought a “Fairy wrens” print. A young lady from South Korea, travelling with her friend living in Melbourne, deliberated for a long time before settling on “Surfing Clifton Beach, Tasmania”. She’s only visiting for a week and she wanted to also see Uluru and Sydney. Her friend told her that she can only do Melbourne and Tasmania. She’ll have to plan a few more trips to Australia. She had troubles deciding between “Walking the Dogs”, which has Sydney’s Opera House and Harbour Bridge in the background, “Outback Glamping”, which has Uluru in the background, and “Surfing Clifton Beach, Tasmania”. The prints of Salamanca Market were also in the mix. What a dilemma!

I didn’t have any wombat paintings with me today, so of course I had people specifically asked for wombats… Murphy’s Law. I met a group from Belarus and a mother and adult daughter from Perth on a ten day holiday together. The owl prints caught the attention of a mother and son. She has a collection of over 4000 little owls! One has to wonder if they get dusted, and if they do, by whom??!

Near the end of the day, grandparents bought “Joyride” for their granddaughter living in Adelaide.

Joy ride!

This week’s most popular print is: Duck Crossing
A thought to ponder: “This is why art is important. It makes us FEEL.” ~Cherie Haas

P.S. My website is back up (www.pjpaintings.com). Not all the images have been loaded but hopefully they will be soon.
P.S.S. One more market and then I’ll be away the four Saturdays during the month of April. I am hoping to post lots of travel drawings and stories here.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope that your upcoming week is great,
from the Pjpaintings stall #30 at Salamanca Market.

PjPaintings at Salamanca Market November 4, 2017

It could have started with a disaster, but thankfully luck was on my side this morning. I loaded a few last items into the car, which fills the car up to the ceiling, and then headed up the steep driveway incline. At the top of the driveway, I noticed the warning light telling me that my boot (trunk) isn’t properly closed. It wasn’t closed at all!! It is amazing that the framed original painting didn’t slide out and smash on the driveway or street.

My bicep curls and side arm raises with bags of groceries and knapsack must be paying off because for the first time ever, I was able to get the 27kg gazebo set up 100% by myself. After getting high fives from neigbouring stall holders celebrating such a feat, I went about the business of setting up and apologising to customers enduring my neighbour’s music choice, but I suppose knowing when to fold ‘em, walk away and so on is an important life skill (lol).

We had rain, wind and sunshine today. A gentleman bought “Salamanca Saturdays” and emu Christmas cards to take to Wichita, USA. He’s going in December, a rather cool time of the year to visit.

Salamanca Saturdays with Mt Wellington in the background

A father, who bought “Hayride” four years ago for his son’s bedroom, came by to buy another print to go with Hayride. He asked if I had another rural scene, which I really should have, but sadly I don’t, but it has started the rural creative juices flowing…. He settled on “Outback Glamping”.

Outback Glamping with Uluru in the background

A couple, from Gosford, NSW, whose daughter’s name is Bird, bought “Beauty Queens IV” for her. A lady, visiting from Mackay, QLD, that had a tough time deciding which print to choose, settled on “Red Ute”. A Texan, USA couple bought some emu Christmas cards. A mother from Mornington Peninsula, VIC bought “Rising above it” for her daughter. She said that her daughter loves the colours in the painting. A couple from Sydney, NSW, bought a small ink and watercolour original painting of a platypus. They pulled out a brand new $10 note, hesitated, gave it a second look and commented they hadn’t seen one before. I thought that maybe they weren’t Australian then, asked where they were from, because I’ve seen heaps, (but I would, working at a stall) but they were Australian. We had a good laugh. It was funnier in real time, trust me.

Rising above it

A long-time friend of mine sent me a photo of friends that were visiting her from Melbourne with their A-2 sized “Poppy Fields” print they had got earlier in the day from me! Hobart is a small place.

Poppy Fields

Today’s most popular print was a tie between: The Three Amigos and Who, Who, Who are You? II

The Three Amigos

A thought to ponder: “You don’t make art out of good intentions.” ― Gustave Flaubert

Wishing you many happy, creative moments, from the Pjpaintings stall #30 at Salamanca Market 

Thanks for stopping by.  🙂

PjPaintings at Salamanca Market October 14, 2017

Ahhhh, there’s nothing like a cup of tea after the market!  It was a slow start today but it got much busier as the day went on.  I think people saw that it was a nice day so they rolled over and stayed in bed a little longer.  The wind picked up slightly in the afternoon, which rattled the nerves after dealing with three weeks of upending-tables-type-of-wind but thankfully it behaved itself today.

The stall holder from up the street was making his mark early in the morning.

There were a few expectant mothers that visited the stall and three of them had Christmas due dates!  Uncanny!  I had the same due date for my middle child but he decided to arrive on January 5^th, consequently putting on weight that extra week, weighing almost 10 pounds at birth.  Yikes!

A popular print for the baby’s room

A grandmother from Darwin chose ‘Story time’ and ‘Who, Who, Who are You?II’ for her grandson’s bedroom.

Story time

Some visitors from the UK, which visited the stall last week, said that they have come back to admire the large, framed original painting of elephants, titled ‘Thunder!’  They decided to take back to UK an A-2 sized print of ‘Thunder’ and some smaller pjpainting prints.  They were lovely and returned again with friends to show them my art work.

 Thunder! 

Two ladies stopped by and one said that she had two pet emus, named Pinhead and Boofhead.  They got them as chicks.  She said it took them ten years before they found out that they can eat emu eggs.

A couple from Adelaide bought ‘Black & White + One’ for their music room.

Black & White + One

A man visiting from New Zealand purchased ‘Beauty Queens’ to take back with him.  An original Tassie Devil and Koala is travelling to China.  ‘Suspended’ was thoughtfully chosen for a gift for a boyfriend.  It involved a couple visits to the stall and quite a lot of deliberation.

Suspended

‘Outback Glamping’ was bought for a gift for a partner.  They had not long returned from visiting Uluru.

Outback Glamping

The Christmas cards attracted more attention today, especially ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Emu’. We are creeping closer to December.

Today’s most popular prints were: Scarlet Robins, Suspended and Who, Who, Who are You?II

Scarlet Robins

A thought to ponder:  “At the end of the day your ability to connect with your readers comes down to how you make them feel.” ― Benjamin J. Carey  I think that this applies to all art.

Wishing you many happy, creative moments, from the Pjpaintings stall #30 at Salamanca Market

All prints are available for purchase at http://www.pjpaintings.com

Thanks for reading 🙂