Commissions and Challenges

I’ve finished one commission and I am currently working on another. For the first commission, I was contacted by parents, who wanted an original painting to give to their daughter, at her surprise party, celebrating her graduation from medical school. They requested a sleepy wombat wearing a graduation cap, in a decorated hammock, using safety pins to attach the decorations to the hammock.

the drawing

The painting process has commenced

“Graduation Siesta” finished.

Prints of “Graduation Siesta” have been made as this would be a great gift for anybody graduating/completing any qualification, schooling and/or training. Prints are available at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/wombats/products/copy-of-sleepy-head-series-bunk-beds-wombat-watercolour-1

While I was finishing off this painting, I received a request from somebody who would like to give a friend a painting of her favourite animal …. (I bet you won’t guess what her favourite animal is!!). She has recently left her job as a zookeeper and already has two prints of mine: a wombat and echidnas in hammocks. She wants to make them a feature in the nursery she is setting up, so her friend requested that I paint her favourite animal in a hammock to make it a set of three.

Suspense is over… her favourite animal is the potoroo. I’ve never drawn potoroos. I drew and erased, drew and erased, and drew and erased. I was just about to write an email to say sorry, I can’t draw these little cuties. But something happens when you keep trying and drawing, somehow you start to get to know the curves and proportions in the faces and body and it more or less came together, I think, I hope.

The drawing of potoroos

Adding paint

Adding more paint… and hopefully tomorrow I will be able to add even more paint

Potoroos are a small marsupial. They are a suborder of the kangaroo and wallaby. I’ve seen them in my back yard quite often and most recently while I was walking along the Derwent River in Bellerive, Tasmania, I saw one with its baby in the grass along the side walk. So, so cute!

If you’re looking for a challenge… well here’s one… try drawing and painting these little guy’s noses!

A challenging nose to draw

a closer look at a potoroo’s nose

Thanks for visiting and I hope that life is at a nice level of challenging for you.

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A Love Pack

I painted this greeting card called “Lovebirds” because Valentine’s Day is around the corner.

Lovebirds

The origin of Valentine’s Day is not definite. Historically, February has been celebrated as the month of romance and St. Valentine’s Day has connections to both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. Who was, and how, did Saint Valentine become associated with this day is unclear. This link provides some theories and possibilities about who St. Valentines was and the evolution of Valentines Day. https://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day-2

Through the centuries Valentine’s Day has evolved and changed, and spread across the globe into Australia, and consequently, its spread is now encompassing the Australian emu!

The emu is quite well represented in this Love Pack of greeting cards that I have put together.

Holding Hands

Each greeting card is featuring a love theme. The beauty of a greeting card is that the recipient can get that warm, fuzzy feeling over and over again, each time they read its penned words. Some may choose to frame the cards. It’s a gift that keeps on giving and the recipient could be wearing the smile you gave them for weeks, and in this case all year, if you spread the love pack out over the year. 

Who Says Emus Can’t Fly?!?

Two to Tango

Here’s a link to order your Love Pack of original Pj Paintings greeting cards. https://pjpaintings.com/collections/cards/products/love-pack-of-greeting-cards

I hope that all is well wherever you live. Thank you for visiting.

Penguin

On the coastal road between Ulverstone and Wynyard, on the north west coast of Tasmania, lies a small town named Penguin. It was first settled in 1861 as a timber town. It is named after the smallest species of penguins, the fairy penguins, that come ashore all the way along Tasmania’s north-west coast, but especially at a little beach bluff between Ulverstone and Burnie known as Penguin Point.

Penguin beach and in the far background, a retaining wall being installed to save further beach erosion from severe weather events.

As the name suggests, penguins are a frequent theme in this town. It’s nestled along the Bass Strait and has pretty beach views, walkways, beach decorations and a cemetery.

5 meter tall penguin

More penguin humour

Beach Art

beach themed decoration, a patchwork quilted bikini top

one of the many penguin themed rubbish bins on the main street

Penguin was featured on ABC’s Back Roads show. The cemetery was allotted significant focus and time on the show. It is where apparently many community social activities take place and the best view of Penguin is espoused to be from there. Therefore, I made a special effort to find it and see the view from the cemetery myself. It is spectacular, but I didn’t stay too long because I found it sad. You can’t help but read some of the tombstones that are close to the top circular driveway (the entrance & exit) that are of children who have been lost.

One of the views from the cemetery

I left the cemetery and continued with the next leg of my road trip. Penguin is a quaint and lovely place to stop, relax and enjoy. https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/penguin-tas

My latest work in progress, titled “Goldilocks and the 20 penguins” featuring the endearing fairy penguins. Just imagine the surprise that these penguins have experienced after their evening fishing session, to come home to find a sleepy wombat in one of their nests!!

Goldilocks and the 20 penguins

I hope your upcoming week isn’t too hectic and that you are able to take the time to relax.

Painted Inktober pictures

The month of October has past and so has #Inktober2020. Most of my Inktober drawings tell a story. I have started the process of painting them. Here’s a few that have been painted.

Awwww, there’s nothing like reading a good book in the fresh air and warm sunshine… that is until the neighbourhood wombat decides to start building its home next to you and flicks up dirt onto your book!!!

This picture was drawn for the prompt word “dig” -DAY 24.

Run! A storm is coming.

This picture was drawn for the prompt word “storm” -DAY 17.

Who would have thought that people (and emus) would be buying brand new jeans that are ripped!

This picture was drawn for the prompt words “rip” and “float” -DAY 23 and 28.

Thank you for visiting and journeying with me on my unfurling art journey.

These original paintings are for sale at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/original-paintings

The Edge of the World

After staying overnight at Arthur’s River, on Tasmania’s northwest coast, and before making my way to Corinna, I was almost blown off the “Edge of the World”!!

beaches littered with logs at The Edge of the World, Tasmania

The Edge of the World is a wild and bleak place with relentless, grey-blue, angry waves, as evidenced by large amounts, and large-in-size, debris littering the beaches. It is beautiful to stand, feel and see the power and ruggedness of the ocean and its shores absorbing the constant mercilessness of it.

The view at The Edge of the Word, Gardiner Point, Tasmania

The ocean from this point to Argentina is the longest uninterrupted stretch of ocean on Earth. Inscribed on a stone plinth at the Edge is a poem written by tourism pioneer Brian Inder (Dec 1930- Aug 2019) describing the feeling of standing at this spot, being in awe of the surroundings, and reflecting that we are all little more than a speck in the spectrum of time.

Brian Inder is a well-admired in the Tasmanian northwest tourism industry, best known for founding Tasmazia & the Village of Lower Crackpot. https://www.tasmazia.com.au/ He was also pivotal in establishing Mural Fest, The Edge of the World and Mount Roland cableway.

The calmer side of the beach

This region is known as the Arthur-Pieman Conservation area. It was home to four Aboriginal clans: Peerapper, Monegin, Taskinener and Peternidic. We do not know how many people lived here before Europeans arrived. Within just 40 years, most tribal Aborigines died of European diseases while others were killed or exiled to Flinders Island.

The largest middens are in the northwest of Tasmania. Aboriginal shell middens are distinctive mounds that contain a rich history of past Aboriginal hunting, gathering and food processing activities. Discarded shells and bone, botanical remains, ash and charcoal tell the story that the Aboriginal feasted on different type of shellfish and seabirds. The women gathered shellfish and food plants, dived for abalone, lobster and were experts at hunting seals. They dug themselves hiding spots in the cobble beaches, where they hid and waited until they saw the opportunity to pounce on an unsuspecting seal and clubbed it to death. In the early 1800s, some European sealers and whalers took Aboriginal women to help them catch seals. Some of today’s Tasmanian Aborigines have descended from these women’s relations with the sealers and whalers.

At the viewing platform there are informative information plaques

There were many little birds darting around in the bushes along the path back to the car park.

A male Superb fairy-wren

Resting place for displaced logs at the Edge of the World, Tasmania

Thank you for visiting.

Trowutta What?!

This is the response you get from most people when you mention Trowutta Arch, even to Tasmanians who have lived on the north-west coast all their lives. It is mysteriously overlooked despite being a geological wonder.

The Trowutta Arch is a rare naturally occurring arch that was created by the collapse of a cave resulting in two sinkholes either side of the arch formation. One sinkhole filled in with soil and was eventually covered by trees and ferns, while the other filled with water.

Trowutta Arch

The water is a bright green, almost fluorescent. The colours and atmosphere make it feel quite surreal. The water-filled sinkhole is geomorphologically classified as a cenote – a steep walled water-filled sinkhole. The Trowutta Arch is considered one of the world’s best examples of a cenote. It is more than 20 metres deep and is an important habitat for invertebrates.

water filled sink hole – Trowutta Arch

Trowutta Arch is about 25 kilometres inland from Smithton in Tasmania’s far north west.  It’s a short, easy walk through spectacular rain forest to get to the arch. Along the way to the arch, I found the mirror image of the ferns’ dead and live fronds, visually very cool.

hour glass ferns

I love fern fronds. A few years ago, I went for a walk and took photos of lots of fronds. When I got home, I discovered that I took over 50 photos of fronds! I tried to use some restraint this time.

unfurling fronds

If you are visiting the north-west of Tasmania, it is well worth seeking out this gem.

a fern frond with the path to the arch in the background

Thanks for stopping by and I hope that the upcoming week serves you up many joyful moments.

What a combination

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!

The Inktober Challenge

It’s Day three of the Inktober Challenge and so far I’ve managed to keep up with the pace of producing a drawing a day. For me, it’s about quantity, and quality is secondary with this challenge. What’s important for me is exploring new ideas and being creative. The idea/concept can be refined and reproduced as a quality piece of work later on.

Day #1 – for the prompt word FISH, I drew the critically endangered Tasmanian spotted-handfish

Water coloured inks and watercolour paints were used to paint this picture of the Tasmanian spotted-handfish

Day #2 – for the prompt word WISP, I drew a waft of steam.

A steamy wisp of steam

Day #3 – for the prompt word BULKY, I drew a “bulky” load in a small hammock

ink drawing for the prompt word “bulky”

Bulky painted

Tomorrow’s prompt word is RADIO. Do any ideas come to mind for that word??? I’ll post my drawing for Day #4 – RADIO tomorrow.

Until then, take care and thanks for stopping by.

It Snuck up on Me!

I was surprised that today is October 1st already!! and that means the Inktober Challenge is off and running! The Inktober Challenge provides a prompt for each day of the month of October. It challenges people to produce a drawing a day. I’m going to take up this challenge and I hope you enjoy the strange and wonderful items that will be drawn.

The first word on the list is: FISH

I used an ink pen and water soluble coloured inks. I thought that when I add water on top, it would produce a nicely, merging coloured effect.

The Spotted handfish is a rare, bottom-dwelling Australian fish and is classified as Critically Endangered. It is endemic to Tasmania, Australia, and is found in parts of the Derwent Estuary, Frederick Henry, Ralphs and North West Bays.

It is a small, slow moving fish which looks like it is walking on its pectoral and pelvic fins rather than swimming. They live in shallow waters and eat small molluscs, crustaceans and marine worms.

The Spotted handfish is one of the most endangered species of fish in the world. I’ve attached a couple links below if you’d like to read about the conservation efforts, support the handfish and/or learn more about them.

https://www.threatenedspecieslink.tas.gov.au/Pages/Spotted-Handfish.aspx

https://www.derwentestuary.org.au/species/spotted-handfish/

I added water and lost a lot of the detail which I subsequently went back and added

and there it is … my first Inktober drawing of 2020

Thanks for visiting, from PJ Paintings

An Early Birthday Present

I’ve started celebrating my birthday a week early by meeting up with friends to sketch, followed by lunch. I was royally spoiled by receiving a painting of hedges (special significance because a while ago we went around photographing hedges of substance in New Town) and a smooth flowing, beautiful handling fude pen.

My birthday treat: urban sketching, a painting and a pen that will be treasured. I used it to sketch today and it was soooooo nice handling.

We went to Bedford Street, New Town, Tasmania to sketch, which apparently was named after Eleanor Bedford, who was the wife of somebody who subdivided the land in the 1840s. For an interesting read about New Town’s street name history check out this article: http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/05/20/3222620.htm

This house was built in 1905.

One of the many substantial houses on Bedford Street, New Town and the house I chose to draw

Roseville, on the other side of the street, is a huge, ornate house.

Roseville, Bedford Street

It is rare that I draw and paint a picture in plein air. Usually I do the drawing outside and the painting inside, but this time I did it all outside in the breeze and while the birds tweeted the entire time. The tweet-tweets from the birds helped to make it feel really relaxing.

my sketch of a house built in 1905

I have planned a few other events that involve drawing for my birthday . Fun-fun, here I come!

Take care and I hope you’re able to carve some fun activities into this week.

Cheers, from PJ Paintings http://www.pjpaintings.com