Salamanca Market Feb 22, 2020

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

P.S. Tote bags, pouches & prints are available at www.pjpaintings.com

https://www.facebook.com/pjpaintings/

https://www.instagram.com/hopwoodwade/

Lemons or Lemonade???

Yesterday, I turned on the washing machine, went upstairs and merrily got to work getting things ready for the market, while unbeknownst to me, my basement was being filled with water, not my washing machine! When I went downstairs, I walked into a LOT of water. Everything’s under control now and the industrial fans are whirring away.

My lounge room is full of books, supplies and art stuff. My entire art room was flooded but virtually everything was up off the floor, so there is minimal damage. Thankfully, I went downstairs when I did. It could have been worse. At one point, I contemplated going outside to do some gardening.

As a consequence, unfortunately, I didn’t get to the market today, but I did get to do some painting. It was a real treat and fun to paint emus, especially since my emus have been Op-shopping and have purchased so many new, very funky outfits for themselves.

I’ve almost finished another one. My industrial fans and I are still making lemonade!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your weekend is resembling lemonade, not lemons.

The Study of Emu Poo

The Tasmanian Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae deimenensis), now extinct, was endemic to Tasmania. It is reported to have been similar in shape to the Australia’s mainland emu but smaller and darker (Dove 1924; Green 1989; Le Souëf 1904). This subspecies lived in Tasmania’s wild until about 1865, and a captive bird lived until 1873 (Green 1989; Le Souëf 1904). The Tasmanian emus suffered the fate of extinction before the thylacine, the Tasmanian tiger. The bird was hunted relentlessly when Europeans were clearing and deposing Aborigines off their land.

There is little known about the Tasmanian Emu but researchers report that they played an important role in Tasmania’s ecology by distributing seeds across the state. Apparently emus eat just about anything, travel up to fifty kilometres a day and each poo deposit can have thousands of seeds in it.

Photo by Tristan Durham: an emu scant with seeds growing out of it on Wilson’s Promontory, Victoria

A study has commenced on the mainland of Australia, in south-east Victoria, examining which plants emus are eating, by examining their poo, with the intention of studying the current distribution of these plants in Tasmania. Emu poo contains the anticipated native seeds and bracken but surprisingly, whole Sheoak cones are also found in the poo which leads to the conclusion that emus aren’t fussy about what they pick up and swallow whole.

This study is aimed to provide insight into whether the emu should be re-introduced into Tasmania. Personally, I think it shouldn’t. It’s not a Tasmanian Emu and there is bound to be something unknown about the mainland emu that is detrimental for the Tasmanian environment.

In the meantime, my emus have not been wandering around in Tasmania’s wilderness instead they have been visiting the Op-Shops and have purchased some funky outfits.

Original painting titled: “Walking with Flair”

Original painting titled: Walking with Flair II

Wishing you a “walking with flair” week!

Salamanca Market Feb 1, 2020

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.

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 30^th 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

P.S. Tote bags, pouches & prints are available at www.pjpaintings.com

https://www.facebook.com/pjpaintings/

https://www.instagram.com/hopwoodwade/

 

Salamanca Market Jan 25, 2020

Thankfully I managed to fall asleep among the waves of cheering washing over the house, the cannons and loud speaker of the Hurricane’s and the Thunder’s Big Bash game at Blundstone Oval. It was nice to hear that the Hurricanes won the game!

Salamanca Market once again took place under calm skies and moderate temperatures. The tote bags and zipper pouches went well today. Also, the original paintings: a meeting of “platypus and turtle” was purchased by a couple from Wales,

Turtle and Platypus Meeting

a young man from Melbourne bought “Holding Hands”,

Holding Hands (emu -style)

a young lady from Taiwan bought my “colour coordinated emu” (somebody told my emus that they should colour coordinate their clothes. Heaven help us!)

and a young man from London purchased the “emu and butterfly” painting.

A mother bought a “Glamour Girls” print for her daughter that has a salon. She also wanted a print of emus doing a manicure for her other daughter.  She’s a nail technician. Another “Glamour Girls” print will be travelling north of Inverness, Scotland, where this former Hobartian has been living for 30 years now.

Glamour Girls

A French couple bought “Hoo, Hoo, Hoo Merry Christmas!”. It’s for the son of his best friend that lives in New Zealand, which they are on their way to visit. “Christmas Siesta” and “Bunk Beds” prints are travelling to China. I was told I have a very cute imagination and asked to pose for a photo.

 

A “Double Date III” tote bag is going to Hong Kong. “Spiky Bunk Beds” and “Lazy Days” (which debuted today) are making the long journey to Edmonton, Canada. They are a gift for their daughter who has just moved out.

“Lazy Days” prints debuted at today’s market

A lady from Germany purchased “Duck Crossing II”, as a present for herself she told me.  It is from my “Cheer ’em Up” series, where I thought of heart warming scenes where the emu saves the day! “Duck Crossing II” debuted today too. 100 A-4 sized “Duck Crossing” prints from a 100 limited edition print run SOLD out, so I painted a replacement.

The first “Duck Crossing” painting. The A-4 sized prints have sold out but there are still prints of the other sizes available at http://www.pjpaintings.com

The new painting “Duck Crossing II”. I painted it brighter, different duckling poses, including one sliding down from the emu legs.

The most popular prints today were the wombat prints from the Sleepy Head series.

A thought to ponder: “Bring your humanity to your art. Bring your art to humanity”. Maxime Lagacé. (I like this! :-))

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

 

Salamanca Market Dec 21, 2019

Today’s market was hosted under sunny, blue skies. It was a hectic day with prints, framed artwork and tote bags trotting off to various places around the globe.

 

A lady from New Zealand bought a “Helping Hands” print. She paints birds too but didn’t have her business card with her. I wanted to see her art too.

Helping Hands

 

A couple from Somerset, Tasmania, bought two original paintings titled: “Holding Hands” and “Mesmerised”.

A lady bought my urban sketch that I did while parked on the main street in Kempton of a house and “Big Hill”. It’s going to Mackay, Queensland.

An original painting of a Yellow-tailed black cockatoo was purchased by a young couple living in Dromedary, Tasmania.

a yellow-tailed black cockatoo

 

The original painting titled “Breakable” sold today too.

 

A family from French Polynesia, purchased some greeting cards and an A-4 sized print of “Hoo, Hoo, Hoo Merry Christmas!” They’re originally from France and have been working and living in French Polynesia for three years. It was fun conversing in French with them.

Hoo, Hoo, Hoo Merry Christmas!

 

A young Annabelle, from Chicago, USA, purchased with her own money an A-5 sized print titled “Sea Life”. A Byron Bay couple bought an A-4 sized print of “Family Outing” for their young son. A “Hanging Out” print is going to Spain with a couple who spoke very little English.

“Emu Boogie” and “Rising Above It” is going back to New York, USA, where they live. I told them that New York is on my bucket list. They said that they didn’t think it was as nice as Tasmania.

 

A young family purchased a framed print of Who, Who, Who are You? III to hang up in her office in Port Macquarie, NSW. She is a General Practitioner (GP). It should help to cheer up some patients.

Who, who, Who are You? III

 

The most popular prints today were the ones that featured images from the Sleepy head series. The wombats were very popular today, along with the owls and whales.

 

A thought to ponder: “Art and love are the same thing: It’s the process of seeing yourself in things that are not you.” ― Chuck Klosterman

 

Wishing everybody a very happy festive season, however you are celebrating it this year. May it be memorable and warm your hearts,

from Pj Paintings, stall #30 at Salamanca Market, Tasmania

Pjpaintings prints and tote bags are available at http://www.pjpaintings.com

Salamanca Market Dec 7, 2019

There was wind and rain today but this time I battened down the hatches in advance and I was able to ride it through fairly unscathed. It was a busy day with six framed pieces, four prints and two originals, plus three other unframed originals, and absolutely heaps of A-5 sized prints trotting off to various locations. There seemed to be many Europeans heading home and these were the perfect size and souvenir for them.

Originals “Legend” and “Orca” are heading to China with the sister and parents of a son who is studying Information Technology at the University of Tasmania (UTAS). He’s almost finished, one more semester to go.

A young boy, between the age of 10 – 12 years is my guess, from central Queensland, bought a framed print of “Bunk beds”, with his own money.

Bunk beds

A group of six German students, here on a gap year, doing volunteer work at Hobart’s Friends School (a private school), bought lots of A-5 prints for family and friends. Two of them were flying back in two weeks. One said she was going back to commence her Medicine university degree.

A lady from Ireland bought “Devilish Siesta”, “Hanging Out” and “Spiky Bunk Beds” to take back with her as her souvenir from Tasmania. A couple from Boston, USA, bought a “Hanging Out” greeting card as their souvenir. They drove their Recreational Vehicle (RV) to Florida and then flew to Tasmania. They do extensive RV travelling. Last year, they drove up to Vancouver Island, Canada.

A couple from Hong Kong bought the print “Who, Who, Who are You? II” and the original painting titled “Enchanted”. Melbourne and Sudanese friends bought a “Bunk Beds” print.

Who, Who, Who are You? II

A group of young men from the University of Melbourne, studying a variety of disciplines, purchased “Helping Hands” from the Cheer ‘em Up series, “Sleepy head”, “Spiky Bunk Beds”, “Bunk beds” and “Fairy wrens”.

A lady from Montreal, Canada is going back with “Fairy wrens” and “Afternoon Siesta”, and sisters from Devonport, Tas, here for a wedding, bought “Be whooo you are” and “Bunk beds”. A young lady from California, USA, who has been living in Cairns for three months, and is visiting Tasmania before returning home, bought an “Afternoon Siesta” as her Tasmanian souvenir.

Be Whooo You Are

Then I met some French ladies, working at UTAS, one as an oceanography researcher. She’s returning to France in Jan 2020. She purchased a “Lazy Days’ pouch and her friend a “Sleepy head” print.

An extended family of grandmother, mother and more bought a bunch of A-5 sized prints. They were visiting Emily Mifsud, who plays for the Tasmanian Hurricanes (cricket) and who is hoping to be selected for the Australian side. Go, Emily, Go!

The most popular prints and tote bags today were the ones that featured images from the Sleepy head series.

A thought to ponder: “The power of nature is such that it’s what all art strives to be. The more we can get in tune with the harmony of the planet, the more our art can benefit from that relationship.”  Rick Rubin

Wishing you an awesome and creative upcoming week,

from Pj Paintings, stall #30 at Salamanca Market, Tasmania

P.S. Tote bags & pouches are available at http://www.pjpaintings.com

Salamanca Market Nov 9, 2019

The highlight of today was selling one of my sister’s quirky peacock original art pieces.

Nadine Richoux Art (my sister’s art)

I met a couple caravanning with their 14 month old daughter named Bindi. They said that she’s been really good despite the temperatures the last week being rather cool. I kept my fingerless gloves on all day today! They bought a “Sea Life” print for Bindi’s bedroom in Melbourne.

Sea Life

A “Meet Me at the Gate” and “Double Date” is going to Jamaica and the UK.

 

A couple, visiting from Adelaide, bought about a dozen cards. She said that she put aside $5 notes all year to save for their trip to Tasmania.

A couple from Pilbara, Western Australia (WA) bought a “White Faced Scops Owls” for their daughter living in Perth, WA.

White Faced Scops Owls

A young lady, who’s been in Tassie for five months, leaving today to go back to Ohio, USA, bought an A-5 sized “Salamanca Market” print.

Salamanca Saturdays

“Lazy Days” and “Hair Accessories” tote bags made their debut today and they went as quick as I could hang them up.

 

The most popular prints today was “Spiky Bunk Beds”.

A thought to ponder: “Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art”, Leonardo da Vinci

Wishing you an awesome and creative upcoming week,
from Pj Paintings, stall #30 at Salamanca Market, Tasmania
P.S. Tote bags & pouches are available at www.pjpaintings.com

Salamanca Market Nov 2, 2019

Rain is a good thing, and we needed it, but it would be nice if there was a rule that it wasn’t allowed to rain on Saturdays. It rained while setting up, stopped  and then rained when taking down.

I had a family from Chile visit and they chose three prints to take back to South America with them: “Beachside Chatter”, “Who Says Emus Can’t Fly?!” and “Glamour Girls I”.

An older man, from New Zealand, stopped in for a browse. I thought that his belt buckle looked like First Nations People’s art work and it was. He bought it 36 years ago in USA when he was doing a motor bike ride from Los Angeles to the Grand Canyon on a Triumph, hence, he bought “Bonnie & Me!”.

Bonnie & Me!

An older couple from Nevada, USA, who have spent a month on the mainland, ‘bumming around Australia’ as he described it bought some greeting cards and another American couple from North California, where the fires are burning, bought a “Duck Crossing” and “Sleepy Head” pouch.

A couple, with a very articulate four year old daughter, bought some prints. I was so impressed with this little girl’s communication skills and confidence. She just struck up a conversation and chattered away with me. Her vocabulary was impressive.

A couple from Victoria, bought a “Bunk beds” print. It was his birthday gift. I wished him happy birthday and he told me it was yesterday, the same day as my mother’s birthday! He said, ‘she’s probably the same age, 71’. Not so, he’s a spring chicken compared to my mother’s age!’

Bunk beds

I met illustrator Marsha Wajer, who bought, “The Bun” and “Christmas Siesta”. An urban sketcher visited my stall, too. We did a Liz Steel workshop together a few years ago. She was on a girls’ weekend with a large group of her girlfriends.

A lady, who told me that when she was a kid, an emu stole her vegemite sandwich (definitely an Australian emu!), which after that incident, she was scared of emus. She must have gotten over it because she bought “Joyride” for her partner and “Spanish Eyes (Red)” for her sister.

Spanish Eyes (Red)

A couple of ladies from Brisbane, bought a large “Salamanca Saturdays” tote bag for a friend who paid for their Tasmanian accommodation. A young lady bought a “Fairy wrens” print to send to her mother in the UK.  A couple, who did a direct flight from Perth to Hobart, bought “Bunk beds” and “Afternoon Siesta” prints.

Near the end of the day a young lady from Poland bought “Afternoon Siesta” for her parents. She’s been in Australia for six months and is returning to Poland on Tuesday.

Afternoon Siesta

As the market was coming to a close and people were heading up the street, I heard a boy, I’m guessing that he was about 10 years old, asking his father, ‘dad, dad, how’s my behaviour now, dad?’ I hope he achieved a gold star.

The most popular prints today were the wombats.

A thought to ponder: “I am not strange. I am just not normal”, Salvador Dalí

Wishing you an awesome and creative upcoming week,

from Pj Paintings, stall #30 at Salamanca Market, Tasmania

P.S. Tote bags & pouches are available at http://www.pjpaintings.com

Salamanca Market, Aug 24, 2019

Salamanca Market Aug 24, 2019

It was a rather mild day with a few scary wind gusts but things thankfully stayed intact. Today, “The Bun”, “Hair Extensions” and “Hair Accessories” debuted, and they did well but not as well as the Sleepy Head series.

“Hair Extensions” and “The Bun”

There were heaps of people dressed in the Kangaroo and Demon colours. They were doing the market before the AFL game at Blundstone Oval, Bellerive.

A couple from Melbourne, to celebrate her birthday, flew to Tasmania for the day, not even spending one night here. She purchased “Devilish Siesta” and “Afternoon Siesta”.

Two girlfriends, one from Cairns, the other from Townsville, both wearing the same plum coloured beanies with a beige pom-pom, bought “Spanish Eyes (Red)”, “Hayride”, “Afternoon Siesta”, “Devilish Siesta” and “Spiky Bunk beds”.

Hayride

A lady, from Melbourne, having a weekender on her own, bought, and started using, a “Sleepy head” tote bag. A couple from Western Australia, purchased a “Salamanca Fresh” pouch for her to use at university.

Salamanca Fresh small pouch

 

I met the sister, from Adelaide, who travelled to Tasmania with her family, to celebrate her sister’s 40^th birthday.  Her sister is doing psychology/weather thesis, which involves visiting Antarctica.

I met a family, living in a small Western Australia town. She’s originally from Seattle, USA. They bought a wombat and “Double Date III” print.

Double Date III

A group of young people from Hong Kong bought a variety of prints from the Sleepy Head series. Two ladies, visiting from Melbourne, bought a kookaburra print. Another couple from Melbourne bought a “Helping Hands” pouch. She said that she has so many tote bags that it was nice to be able to get something a little different that also can serve as a souvenir.

The most popular prints today were the Sleepy Head series, featuring Wombats, Echidnas and the Tassie Devils.

A thought to ponder: “It doesn’t matter how the paint is put on, as long as something is said.” – Jackson Pollock

Wishing you a week full of emu antics and joy,

from the Pjpaintings stall #30 at Salamanca Market.

P.S. Prints and tote bags are available at http://www.pjpaintings.com