Normally today I would be running my Pj Paintings stall at Salamanca Market but due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, like most of the world, it has closed down. The Hobart City Council launched a Salamanca Market online shop, attached to their website, to try to help stallholders with their income losses: https://salamancamarketstore.com.au/. It looks great! I have a few items on view in the new Salamanca Market Store and all my images at http://www.pjpaintings.com
Instead of my usual Saturday activity, I got my sketching stool out and plonked it down in the kitchen…
my urban sketching stool
…. and drew what was in front of me….
my view – the counter top was pretty much at my eye level and the rest I was looking up atI drew some rough lines with a light blue water colour pencil and then inked it up with an Artline penand then I added paint
I had the car packed on Friday, ready to go for Saturday’s Salamanca Market, but at the 11th hour I decided not to go because of the Coronavirus. I imagine that it will be officially cancelled next week because Prime Minister Morrison of Australia announced that starting tomorrow, gatherings of over 500 are to be cancelled. I’m not sure, but that is my guess.
In the meantime, it gave me some time to paint and finish off some of the paintings that I have started.
I’ve started a “Down by the Seaside” series. I think I will name this one “Footsies”There’s a hole in my stocking, dear Liza, dear Liza!!…. and I’m trying to paint some baby wombats
I set up the stall in semi-darkness this morning. On Thursday, when it was raining (the rain is very welcome) I was walking to work at about 6:45 a.m., while it was dark, and my left foot stepped into a massive puddle that I didn’t see. The water went over my entire shoe and I spent the rest of the day squish-squashing every time I took a step.
A couple, whose three children, who now have children of their own, bought three prints to post to two living in Boston, USA, and the other in Toronto, Canada. (They are lamenting that their grandchildren are living on the other side of the earth). They are posting: “Emu Boogie”, “Surfing Clifton Beach, Tasmania” and “Lazy Days” prints.
A framed “Duck Crossing” is going to her first grandchild, one year old, Ava, in Adelaide, SA. Wendy, affectionately named ‘Wendy Wombat’, after walking the Overland Track about nine years ago, her reactions and love for wombats earned her this name that has stuck over the years. She’s has a lot of wombat pictures and ornaments but she couldn’t resist the Sleepy head wombat series of prints.
Duck Crossing
A couple, he originally from South Africa and she from Australia, purchased “Christmas Siesta”, “Lost Worlds”and “Rising Above It”. Actually, about four Christmas Siestas sold today. Another “Rising Above It” was purchased by a young lady from Brazil.
A couple bought a “Glamour Girls” print for her sister who lives in Germany and is a hairdresser. A young Scottish couple, both doctors who have finished one year of working at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and are heading back to Scotland, purchased a “Sea Life” print.
Then I met Arianne from Saint Julienne, Canada.
Arianne and I at Pj Paintings, site 30, Salamanca Market
Once again, I took the opportunity to try to haul out my French from the crevices of my long-term memory. I told her it was easier to maintain my French speaking skills in Canada, where everything you buy is written in English and French. I used to read the products’ French instructions and blurb daily, which went a long way to helping me retain my French. In Australia, virtually everything is presented only in English. Arianne said I should have my prints’ back information in both French and English, reflect my heritage. I thought this is a great idea and could help people in the same situation as me, trying to keep ourselves from losing our first languages totally. She gave me a little Canadian pin. “What the Devil!?”, “Christmas Siesta” prints and a “Lazy Days” bag are now accompanying her on her travels and adventures.
While I was packing up three original paintings sold: “Fancy Pants”, “Walking with Flair”, “Blue Whale”, and earlier in the day, the framed original painting of a blue butterfly sitting on an emu’s beak sold.
The most popular prints today were from the Sleepy Head wombat series
A thought to ponder: “Art is the concrete representation of our most subtle feelings” Agnes Martin
Wishing you a creatively happy upcoming week,
from Pj Paintings, stall #30 at Salamanca Market, Tasmania
Wind was not forecasted but it presented itself nevertheless. The update on the weather app said gusts of up to 54 kmph, so I had to unexpectedly batten down.
I tested my collapsible stool that I bought at Bunnings yesterday, on special, for $17. It serves a dual purpose for me, to stand on to help me reach high gazebo-spots and to sit on for urban sketching. It is light weight but sturdy. My next door stall holder loved it too (she borrowed it for most of the day to sit on).
collapsible, sturdy, lightweight, with a convenient carry-handleA sturdy seat
In the morning, a couple from Perth that became quite enraptured with my art, ended up buying seven prints: “Entanglement”, “Family Outing”, “Hayride”, “Bonnie & Me”, Spiky Bunk beds”, “Devilish Siesta” and “Afternoon Siesta”, and a “Lazy Days” tote bag. A couple, from the Hobart suburb of Sandy Bay but soon moving to the mainland of Australia, bought a “Lazy Days” print.
A lady visiting from South Africa told me that she visited my stall two years ago with her granddaughter who bought a zipper pouch. Her granddaughter instructed her to buy a PJ Paintings print for her. She’s taking home “Who, Who, Who are You II” for her. She’s just turned 13, about to start high school at a boarding school in South Africa. A man from London is taking six prints back with him.
Who, Who, Who are You? II
I met a young lady from Newcastle, NSW, wearing her water polo team jumper, but she was visiting Hobart with her year 12 art class, not her water polo team. She purchased a “Bunk Beds” print and a “Beachside Chatter” tote bag.
Beachside Chatter tote bag
“The Three Amigos” and “Double Date” are travelling to Holland, and “Who, Who, Who Are You? II” and “Hayride” prints to Taiwan. A couple from Nelson, New Zealand, top of the south island, are new owners of a “Salamanca Saturdays” print.
Salamanca Saturdays
A couple on a three month holiday from the UK bought an A-4 sized print of “Bunk beds”. They want “Bunk beds” to be the centre piece and put photos of their Australian trip around it.
Bunk beds
A young lady doing environmental studies at the University of Adelaide, from Rhode Island, USA, bought “Glamour Girls” and a lady from Colorado, USA bought a “Lazy Days” zipper pouch.
Lazy Days zippered pouch, Made in Australia 100% Polyester
A couple that visited the stall last week, returned after their tour of Tasmania, and bought a small original painting from my Op-shopping Emu series. She told me that her and her daughter op-shop together and this is for her.
Hip Emu
“Sea Life” is travelling to Cairns, and grandparents bought an “Afternoon Siesta”, “Devilish Siesta”, “Hayride” and “Bonnie & Me” prints for their four grandchildren. She said you can’t take money with you when you go. True.
Sea Life
The most popular prints today were from the Sleepy Head series, Hayride and Who, Who, Who are You? II.
A thought to ponder: “A beautiful body perishes, but a work of art dies not” Leonardo da Vinci.
Wishing you a creatively happy upcoming week,
from Pj Paintings, stall #30 at Salamanca Market, Tasmania
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
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
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 30th 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
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.comThe 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
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
