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/

Salamanca Market Feb 15, 2020

I got up in the dark but by the time I got to the market it was light and thankfully calm. The wind is now howling and gusty.

My first couple that visited the stall was from Belgium, Florence (also my cousin’s name) and Antonin. As per my usual tradition, I asked if they would mind having their photo taken with me. They agreed. I’m so disappointed that unbeknownst to me, there was no storage left, so I don’t have a photo of them! Florence was my height, fine bone and dark hair. I think the younger me and her would have often been asked if we were sisters. They bought a “Lazy Days” print.

Lazy Days

A lively group of four women debated and eventually selected an A-3 sized print of “Afternoon Siesta” for their retiring colleague. They work in a government lab in New Town, Tasmania.

Afternoon Siesta

A framed black & white print of  a wombat that I drew is going for a long journey to Ontario, Canada.

A “Fairy wrens”, “Christmas Siesta” and “Afternoon Siesta” print are heading to Poland.

An “Afternoon Siesta” print is going to Winchester, UK. A “Hanging Out” print is going to New Zealand

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

A thought to ponder: “To be an artist, you need to exist in a world of silence” Louise Bourgeois. My day job is teaching, so this doesn’t apply to me but I accept that this is Louise’s perspective about what she feels she needs to make art. I would think that if I did live in a world of silence, I probably would create more art until I found myself way too isolated and craving noise!!

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/

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 Jan 18, 2020

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

P.S. Tote bags, pouches & 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

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

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

Salamanca Market Jan 4, 2020

Thirty degrees Celsius was forecasted today but thankfully a cool change arrived in the afternoon. There were two big cruise ships in today and the market filled with people. One of the ships was carrying very dear friends of mine from Melbourne, who came by and gave me a hand at the stall.

 

A lady stopped at the Pj Paintings stall and bought two “Lazy Days” tote bags for her sisters living in England. Another lady, bought a “Lazy Days” bag to post to her sister living in Greece. She used to live in Melbourne. They immigrated to Australia when this sister was seventeen. She missed her friends and didn’t settle into Australia well. So, after doing a degree at Monash University, she went back, met a Greek man, married and settled into family life in Greece.

Lazy Days small sized tote bag

A young couple touring around Tasmania, purchased a “Bunk bed” print that they’ll be taking back to ‘dreary London’, she said. Another “Bunk bed” print is going to Indonesia.

“Bunk beds” from the Sleep head series

A lady, from California, USA, bought five prints and thirteen greeting cards, she said for her son’s birthday party.

 

“Hanging Out” prints are going to Ireland and Canberra, Australia.

“Hanging Out” from the Sleepy head series

“Double Date” and “The Three Amigos” are going to Holland.

There were many others visitors to the stall but I couldn’t keep up with writing notes. Last week, no pouches moved and this week ten went, along with ten tote bags and one small original painting of a galah.

Original painting of a Galah sitting among gum leaves

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

 

A thought to ponder: “Everything you can imagine is real.”― Pablo Picasso

Well, in that case, wombats do sleep in hammocks!

 

Wishing everybody a Happy New Year,

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

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

Salamanca Market Dec 28, 2019

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

P.S. Tote bags, pouches & prints are available at http://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 14, 2019

Early this morning, the alarm rang out loudly and rudely, with the relentless noise persuading me to reluctantly horizontally roll myself out of bed. I then peered through the curtains. The wind was howling and I couldn’t see the other side of the river. It looked like a winter’s day when it should be looking like a blue-sky, sunny day, seeing as we are in summer. Thankfully there was no wind when I arrived at Salamanca Place but there was rain.

It was another busy day with tote bags, original paintings and absolutely heaps of A-5 sized prints trotting off to various locations. At the very end of the day, while I was packing up, Gabriella from Mexico bought A-5 sized prints “Nap time” and “What the Devil!?” and a young couple from Germany purchased “Spiky Bunk beds” and “Hanging Out”. I explained the play on words (meaning) of ‘what the devil’. She hadn’t heard of it so the rather clever title was being lost on her. I had another German couple buy five A-5 prints to take with them: “Glamour Girls”, “Devilish Siesta”, “Christmas Siesta”, “Scarlet Robins” and “All Ears”.

A couple visiting from Edmonton, Canada purchased A-5 sized prints: “Hayride” and “Who says emus can’t fly!?”.

A lady visiting from the Shetland Islands, above Scotland, will be travelling back home with a “Spiky Bunk Beds” print.

Spiky Bunk Beds

 

A young man, consulting with his mother, settled on buying “All Ears” for a 17 year old girl that plays the clarinet. The decision was whittled down to either “All Ears” or “39 keys of Life” and “All Ears” came out as the winner.

A mother and daughter bought “Christmas Siesta” and “Hanging Out” prints. They are from Alaska, USA. The daughter is studying at a university in Perth, WA. They were happy to be here escaping today’s forecasted 50 degree Celsius temperature. The mother was saying it was 41 degrees before they left and that was difficult enough to cope with.

A young Melburnian family are taking back “Hanging Out” and “Spiky Bunk Beds” prints. They are originally from New Brunswick, Canada. He’s a biologist and got a job in Melbourne, so the whole family are living there right now.

A few original paintings sold today too. A painting of Cyclamen flowers is destined for Singapore, “Treasure” is going to Alabama, USA, “Misfit” is also going to the USA and “Tasty” and “Sling” is staying in Hobart. (I forgot to take a photo of the finished “Tasty” and “Treasure” pictures). The lady, who bought “Tasty” and “Sling”, also bought five different tote bags to take with her to Romania to give as gifts. She will be visiting her mother, extended family and friends there.

I hope that a framed A-3 sized “Afternoon Siesta” print will have a safe journey to California, USA. He’s hoping that they will let him take it as carry-on.

Afternoon Siesta

The most popular prints today were the ones that featured images from the Sleepy head series. The wombats and echidnas in hammocks absolutely blitzed it today.

A thought to ponder: “Art matters because your imagination can change the world.” Neil Gaiman.

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