Salamanca Market, March 18, 2023

More perfect weather for Salamanca Market was delivered today.

My first customer purchased a “Maggie” tote bag. She hand raised a baby magpie. She saw the bag and instantly decided to buy it. I debuted the “Maggie” tote bag today and sold out in the first hour of the market. Everyone that bought one had a story about feeding their magpie/s. They visit at a regular time and tap on the window or somehow alert their humans to the feeding time.

I also debuted “Hot Couple II” and “Tickle my Toes” prints today. A couple, the husband originally from Venezuela, purchased “Hot Couple”. He loved it. Another couple, visiting from Japan, purchased “Tickle my Toes”.

Hot Couple II
Prints are available at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/emus/products/copy-of-afternoon-tea-emu-watercolour-prints Tote bags and cushion covers of “Hot Couple II” are also available at http://www.pjpaintings.com

A couple visiting from Sydney, NSW is touring around Tasmania. They’ve been up to Stanley, which is one of my favourite Tasmanian towns. We shared stories about the quaintness of Stanley. They bought a “White Faced Scops Owls” print. Another visitor from Sydney purchased two tote bags: “Maggie” and the the vibrantly colourful “Hair Accessories”, and three zip pouches.

A couple visiting from Sydney, NSW, bought an “Afternoon Siesta” print for their baby’s room.

Another couple, visiting from Toronto, Canada, purchased a “Maggie” cushion cover. They told me it is going on their couch.

A visitor from Denmark bought a “Double Date V” print. A woman from California, USA purchased three prints: “Devilish Siesta”, “Friendship Refreshes the Soul” and “Spiky Bunk Beds”. I asked her what brought her to Tasmania, and she replied that she came here to do the Overland Track. Apparently, you can do it in five days, but she’s added two days so that it isn’t as gruelling. You have to carry all your gear.

I met a Finnish visitor. She’s staying in Australia for a year. She bought two cards, “Visiting Friends” and “Bunk Beds”, one to send to her mother, the other to her grandmother.

Visiting Friends

I ended the day with a couple visiting from China. They purchased a “Bunk Beds” and “Goldilocks and the 20 Penguins” print. They asked if they could see the other limited edition prints I had because they didn’t like 46 out of 500 too much. They were much happier with 30 out of 500.

Goldilocks and the 20 Penguins Prints are available at
https://pjpaintings.com/collections/wombats/products/copy-of-house-sharing-a-wombat-and-fairy-wrens-house-sharing This image is also available as a tote bag and cushion cover.

The threat of rain helped put stall holders into turbo chook speed with packing up. Thankfully the rain didn’t eventuate.

Until next week, take care and have fun being creative.

Warmest regards, Patricia (PJ) Hopwood-Wade

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

Art thought for the day:

“The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless.” – Jean-Jacques Rousseau

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Tickle my Toes

Good evening,

I hope that the week has got off to a good start for you.

Isn’t it special when a butterfly joins you! This print of my newest original painting captures a cute encounter of a wombat and a butterfly.

Tickle my Toes

This print is printed on William Turner 310gsm print version, textured watercolour paper with archival inks, to look and feel like a watercolour painting.  It is available at: https://pjpaintings.com/collections/wombats/products/tickle-my-toes

Wishing you a good week with some special encounters. 🙂

Cheers, Patricia (PJ)

Salamanca Market, March 11, 2023

More perfect weather for Salamanca Market was delivered today.

My first customer was from NSW and on a bus tour. She purchased a Large “Hanging Out” zip pouch and two prints: “Bunk Beds” and Lazy Days”. https://pjpaintings.com/collections/wombats/products/copy-of-sleepy-head-series-bunk-beds-wombat-watercolour

“Hanging Out” zipped pouch, made in Australia with my original painting printed on it https://pjpaintings.com/collections/bags/products/pencil-case-zipper-pouch-hanging-out

A large cruise ship was in Hobart today. I had a customer from Sydney, who was on the ship. She bought a “Glamour Girls” cushion cover.

My next customer from Sydney amazed me. She went to Maria Island and managed to not see one wombat!! She went to the fossil cliffs, campgrounds and penitentiary accommodation area and didn’t see any wombats. When I went there, I stopped counting after about 50 sightings. I saw big wombats, baby wombats, and I had one keep me company when I was sketching for about an hour. Unlike the above’s experience of disappointment, I had a couple from Perth, with her ultimate dream was to see a wombat, and she was over the moon about having seen not one, but six wombats at her visit to Cradle Mountain. They bought a “Hanging Out” print as a souvenir. https://happiestoutdoors.ca/maria-island-tasmania/

There is a large, International Fisheries Observer and Monitoring Conference (https://www.ifomc.aq/ ), approximately 250 in attendance, being held in Hobart. A couple attending the conference, from Alaska, USA, purchased a “The Three Amigos II” print. Actually, another person visiting from Texas, USA, purchased the same print.  Somebody else from the conference, from Oregon, USA, bought four greeting cards to take home and show to his children.

“The Three Amigos II”
Prints of these kookaburras are available at:
https://pjpaintings.com/collections/birds/products/the-three-amigos

A couple on their honeymoon bought a “Friendship Refreshes the Soul” print. Another couple, from Gippsland, attending a wedding in the afternoon, purchased a “Bunk Beds” and a “Glamour Girls” print.

Somebody visiting from Yorkshire, UK to attend a wedding tomorrow, bought an “Iconic Aussies” print.

Iconic Aussies

A visitor from western Queensland is taking home with her three prints: “A Spot of Happiness”, “Devilish Siesta” and “Hammock Life”.

Parents bought a “Goldilocks and the 20 Penguins” tote bag for their Canadian daughter-in-law. She loves Tasmania’s fairy penguins. Their son was just going to spend one winter working in Banff, Canada, but of course that turned out to be 9 years and then about 6 years ago, he moved to Burnaby, Canada. The parents are gong to visit the happy couple this year, during our winter, their summer.

Goldilocks and the 20 Penguins

Time passed quickly. I was surprised to see the time and thought, yikes! I better start packing!

Until next week, take care and have fun being creative.

Warmest regards, Patricia (PJ) Hopwood-Wade

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

Art thought for the day:

As I work at my drawings, day after day, what seemed unattainable before is now gradually becoming possible. Slowly, I’m learning to observe and measure. I don’t stand quite so helpless before nature any longer.― Vincent van Gogh

A new tote bag

Hello everybody,

I hope that all is well and that you were able to start your day by hearing a singing bird.

My painting titled, “Maggie” , is proving to be popular as many Australians have a strong connection with magpies (maggies). Australian Magpies are found throughout Australia, including Tasmania, where I live. The distinctive melodic birdsong of the magpie is synonymous with Australia and the Australian bush. It’s a special way to start the morning, hearing their melodious song greeting when you are lying in bed. 

Magpies begin to produce sounds shortly after they are born and the vocal range and complexity of their song continues to improve as they get older. The call of the Magpie is reputedly one of the most complex in the world which sound like a loud musical flute-like call, often performed in groups.

Magpies often establish relationships with people, routinely visiting for a feed, hence so many people developing a strong connection with the bird, becoming involved with each new generation of the bird’s family.

I’ve expanded my tote bag collection with the new addition of “Maggie”. These sturdy tote bags, with the “Maggie” image printed on both sides, are Made in Australia and are 100% polyester, meaning they wash up a treat. Put them in a lingerie bag for extra protection and cold machine wash.  They come in a Small (approximately 33 cm x 33 cm), Medium (approximately 41 cm x 41 cm) size or Large (approximately 46 cm x 46 cm) size.

The days and weeks seem to be flying by so quickly. Despite the speed of life, I hope that you are finding time to stop to smell the roses and listen to the birds.

Cheers, from Patricia 

http://www.pjpaintings.com 

Salamanca Market, March 4, 2023

The mornings are getting darker and fresher, but the day turned out to be perfect, not too hot or cool.

My first customer was somebody here for the 2023 Australasian Newborn Hearing Screening Conference, where they test the hearing of babies when they are in the womb. She purchased a “White Faced Scops Owls” and “Glamour Girls” print. I also had somebody from New Zealand, who bought some of my art five years, buy a “White Faced Scops Owls” print. She searched me out, she said.

White Faced Scops Owls

My next visitor was from Geraldton, Western Australia (WA). She purchased a “Lazy Days” tote bag. https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/geraldton-wa

I had somebody from Sydney, who had just finished doing the Three Capes Walk in glorious weather, buy a “Bunk Beds” and a “Dinner for Five???” print.

A couple from Townsville, Queensland https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/townsville-qld  purchased “A Spot of Happiness” and “Lazy Days” prints. They’ve been enjoying Tasmania for three weeks and are heading home tomorrow.

Having a conversation with the endangered Forty-spotted pardalote

A couple from Perth, WA bought a “The Three Amigos II” print. Earlier in the week they had bought a “Double Date V” print from Brooke Street Pier. https://www.facebook.com/TigerInaPaperaUniqueWoodcraftsalamancagallery/

“The Three Amigos II” Prints of these kookaburras are available at: https://pjpaintings.com/collections/birds/products/the-three-amigos

A family from Geelong purchased “Storytime” and “Goldilocks and the 20 Penguins” prints and a “Silent Disco” and “Glamour Girls” cushion covers. They said it easy to come to Tassie with the Spirit of Tasmania leaving from Geelong now.

A couple from the UK bought a “Sitting on the Fence” print for their daughter. She loves birds and has a lot of European birds hanging up in her house. They think that she would like an Australian one to add to her collection. (I’ve recently added Sitting on the Fence to my tote bag and cushion cover collection too.)

“Sitting on the Fence” prints are available at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/birds/products/sitting-on-the-fence

I met Wolfram from Austria who is here for work. He’s here developing something technical to help stroke patients. He purchased a “Salamanca Saturdays” and “Glamour Girls” print.

A couple from St Marys, Tasmania purchased a “Double Date V” and a “Maggie” print. She wants to take her art to the next level.  https://pjpaintings.com/collections/birds/products/maggie-a-print-of-a-watercolour-painting-of-a-australian-magpie https://pjpaintings.com/collections/birds/products/double-date-v-superb-blue-fairy-wren-prints

Double Date V
Australians have voted Fairy wrens as their favourite bird several years in a row.

My final customer of the day was from Nebraska, United States. She purchased three prints: “The Three Amigos II”, “Home Among the Gum Trees” and “Devilish Siesta”. https://pjpaintings.com/collections/birds/products/the-three-amigos

Until next week, take care and have fun being creative.

Warmest regards, Patricia (PJ) Hopwood-Wade

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

Art thought for the day:

“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent van Gogh

Salamanca Market, February 25, 2023

Thankfully the weather wasn’t as dire as forecasted, and it turned out to be an alright day other than being very hot.

My first customers were from Boston, USA. They each have a market stall in Boston. One sells leather bags she makes and the other a game she invented. They are going back in two days. Their visit is fairly short because it is difficult to get holidays with the American’s standard one-week holiday per year. They’ve spent time in Sydney and Tasmania. An “Enchanted Forest I” and “Family Outing” print will be accompanying them. https://pjpaintings.com/collections/birds/products/enchanted-forest-ii They saw my art at Brooke Street Pier https://www.brookestreetpier.com/ and said that they were very pleased they were able to meet me.

Enchanted Forest I

The next visitor to my stall was from Cottesloe, UK https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/20735 She was about to make the return trip home too. She’ll be travelling with “The Three Amigos II”, “Bunk Beds” and “Dinner for Five???”. https://pjpaintings.com/collections/wombats/products/copy-of-sleepy-head-series-bunk-beds-wombat-watercolour

“The Three Amigos II” Prints of these kookaburras are available at: https://pjpaintings.com/collections/birds/products/the-three-amigos

A grandmother, with her two grandchildren bought a card for Grandpa. The young boy asked me if I’ve had a nice day, I said yes and asked him the same question, then he asked me if I’ve had a nice week, “yes” and asked him the same, then he wished me a nice day, and I did the same, then he wished me a nice day for all the days in the week and then he finished by wishing me nice days all the way to Christmas. 😊

Two visitors from Vancouver, Canada, stopped in. One lives in an apartment near Stanley Park and the other lives in Delta. The one living in the west end of Vancouver, near Stanley Park, has a daughter that has been living here since 2011. She got her Australian citizenship a couple of years ago. They bought a “Bunk Beds” print to take home with them.

Bunk Beds

A visitor from Wisconsin, USA purchased a “What the Devil!?!” tote bag and a “Maggie” print. https://pjpaintings.com/collections/birds/products/maggie-a-print-of-a-watercolour-painting-of-a-australian-magpie

A couple from Brisbane, expecting their first baby in July bought “Friendship Refreshes the Soul” and “Hammock Life” to put in the nursery.

Hammock Life

A family visiting from New Zealand settled on a “The Three Amigos II” print. https://pjpaintings.com/collections/birds/products/the-three-amigos

A sister, from Scotland, is in Australia visiting her brother who has been living in Melbourne for 2 years. He loves it here and has applied for Australian citizenship. She bought an “Enchanted Forest II” print.

“The Bun” and “Double Date V” prints are going to Geelong today. She’s been in Tasmania for six weeks helping at the hospital. She’s been working as a contract worker and loved her time in Tassie. Another “Double Date V” print is heading to Orange, NSW. https://pjpaintings.com/collections/birds/products/double-date-v-superb-blue-fairy-wren-prints

Double Date V

“Goldilocks and the 20 Penguins” will be making its home in California, USA.

Goldilocks and the 20 Penguins

A young man from Germany, who is travelling and working in Australia for a year, will be in Tasmania until July. He answered a Facebook ad to work in Corinna, driving the Fatman Barge. https://www.ourtasmania.com.au/northwest/corinna.html It is the only cable driven vehicular barge remaining in Tasmania.

Seeing a former student of mine, Emma, was exciting. She’s very close to finishing her Registered Nursing degree.

Another excitement of the day was meeting Cyprien. There’s something about European’s body language that I usually can pick that they are European before they even speak. I thought he was European but when he spoke, he sounded Canadian but there were a few things he said that I still made me think European. He was visiting from Canada. I said, I lived in Vancouver, Canada. He lives outside of Quebec. I asked him in that case do you speak French, which he did. I said that French was my first language because I was born in Belgium. Now, how’s this for coincidence, so was he!! His parents visited Quebec to see the wildlife and they loved it so much that they moved the whole family there, when he was six years old. My family moved to Vancouver, Canada when I was close to 5 years old. It’s not often that you meet a Belgian in Tasmania, much less one who emigrated to Canada too. I had to get a photo of us. He came back to my stall because he couldn’t believe the odds too. Oh, by the way, the reason I had the privilege of speaking to him in the first place  is because he wanted to pay for a “Bunk Beds” print.

Cyprien and I – two Belgian-Canadians (and Tasmanian for over 30 years)

Packing up started early and with earnest to try to beat the storm forecasted to arrive at 3pm. It’s close to 5 pm and it still hasn’t arrived!

Until next week, take care and have fun being creative.

Warmest regards, Patricia (PJ) Hopwood-Wade

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

Art thought for the day:

“The chief enemy of creativity is ‘good’ sense.” – Pablo Picasso

Salamanca Market, February 18, 2023

It was 37 degrees Celsius in Hobart yesterday. Thankfully it was cooler today, although the rain arriving at packing up time wasn’t great, but we can’t complain.

It was a busy day, and I sold A LOT of tote bags. I couldn’t keep track of what and how many bags passed through my hands. I think putting in a big tote bag order is on my to-do list for this week.

My first visitor was from Queensland, and she purchased a “Salamanca Fresh” tote bag for a friend who is looking after her dog while she’s holidaying in Tassie.

A father and daughter from the UK stopped by. The daughter is living in Sydney, and this is her father’s third visit to see her. Neither have been to Tasmania, so they organised a holiday to Tassie, inside his holiday to Sydney. They purchased an “Enchanted Forest II” and a “The Three Amigos II” print.

Another holidayer from Sydney, who bought two cushion covers from me in August 2022, bought two more cushion covers. She chose “Silent Disco” and “Sitting on the Fence”. Her brother lives here and she dog sits for him when he goes on holidays. I asked her who takes care of her house, while she’s here. She has a 30-year-old daughter who lives with her, so that answers that puzzle nicely.

Fairy Penguins enjoying a Silent Disco
“Sitting on the Fence” cushion cover

A couple from Canberra purchased an original platypus painting, and a “Spotty”, “Maggie & Maggie” and “Bunk Beds” print. https://pjpaintings.com/collections/wombats/products/copy-of-sleepy-head-series-bunk-beds-wombat-watercolour

Maggie & Maggie

A couple decided celebrating her 40th birthday holidaying in Tassie was a special way to enjoy the milestone occasion. As a souvenir, they purchased a “Salamanca Saturdays” print. https://pjpaintings.com/collections/the-world/products/salamanca-saturdays   

Salamanca Saturdays

A Tasmanian, who married an American and has been living in Michigan, USA, for 9 years, is making a short 10 day visit back home, on her own. She has three children, the youngest is five years old. She’s thoroughly enjoying visiting her family, being back in Tasmania and the novelty of being on her own for a week. She told me that they have a large “Salamanca Fresh” print framed and hanging up in their house and that it gets so many compliments. Now she’s going to add a “Bunk Beds” and a  “The Three Amigos II” print.

A family of sleepy wombats

A mother and daughter visiting from Brisbane, Queensland purchased a “Meet Me at the Gate” print and a “Suspended” print. I sold out of “Meet Me at the Gate” prints today. They were a popular choice. https://pjpaintings.com/collections/birds/products/meet-me-at-the-gate

Meet Me at the Gate

“Taking it Easy” and “Friendship Refreshes the Soul” are going to make their home in Germany. She’s been here working as a volunteer at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. https://www.bonorong.com.au/ This is where I’ve taken many of my photos of animals and birds for my paintings. It’s a wonderful spot.

Taking it Easy

I tried to pack up the stall as fast as I could to beat the rain. I wasn’t quite fast enough, but it was a good effort because only a few things got wet.

Until next week, take care and have fun being creative.

Warmest regards, Patricia (PJ) Hopwood-Wade

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

Art thought for the day:

“An artist is not paid for his labour but for his vision.” — James McNeill Whistler

Off with the Birds

Birds give me such joy. I currently have three birdbaths in my garden and plan on adding more.

Birds can spot a safe mode of travel, as evidenced by this painting, where they spotted a fashion-conscious, large bird, wearing a bird-friendly patterned dress and shoes, and immediately knew that this was just the right kind of vehicle to embark on!

Off with the Birds

This original painting is painted on Khadi Mill paper, made from recycled cotton rags, painted by Patricia Hopwood-Wade. It has my full name and signature on the back of the painting. The painting is approximately 20 x 20 cm.  It is available at https://pjpaintings.com/collections/original-paintings/products/off-with-the-birds 

I hope that you are able to enjoy birds wherever you are.

From PJ Paintings 

All my images are copyrighted.

Salamanca Market, February 11, 2023

It doesn’t take long for the days to get shorter. This morning, I drove out of the driveway in darkness. It’s no longer light at 5:20 am.  I set the stall up in drizzly rain. Thankfully, full sun soon arrived for the day.

There were a lot of people about with a cruise ship docking in the morning and the Wooden Boat Festival taking place. Usually, I sell around thirty greeting cards at Salamanca Market, but today I reckon it was close to 100 cards! I ask everyone if I can re-use the packaging and the majority said yes, which is great being able to package next week’s cards in this packaging and not having to fight the pull-strips’ static that sticks to everything. 😊

My first customers were from Melbourne. They purchased six cards. He really like the original painting, titled, “Burnt Landscape”. He was tempted but she didn’t love it as much as he did.

The texture in this painting was created by laying glad wrap on wet watercolour paint. https://pjpaintings.com/collections/original-paintings/products/burnt-landscape-an-original-watercolour-painting

A “Bunk Beds” print is going to Singapore and another “Bunk Beds” print is going to Estonia.

A couple visiting from NSW to attend a niece’s wedding in Huonville, purchased “Bunk Beds”, “Supportive Nestworks” and “Morning Melody” prints. They said that they are being proper tourists and going to MONA this afternoon. https://www.discovertasmania.com.au/things-to-do/arts-and-culture/museumofoldandnewartmona/

Supportive Nestworks
Morning Melody

Two friends, one from Flinders Island, and the other from Cairns, bought “Glamour Girls”, ”Time for a Swing”, “Supportive Nestworks” and “Fairy wrens”. She highly recommended that I visit Flinders Island. She said that they have wombats and wombats, ‘wombats on steroids.’

A grandfather with his adult granddaughter, visiting from Perth, bought her a “Salamanca Saturdays” print.   He is originally from Tasmania and is here visiting friends.

“Silent Disco” and “Double Date” going home to Bruny Island. Both birds live on Bruny Island. https://brunyisland.com.au/about/activities 

Fairy Penguins enjoying a Silent Disco

“All Ears” will be travelling to Adelaide. The new owner told me that she loves ‘the positivity of my art’. She’s originally from the Ukraine.

“Bunk Beds” and “Taking it Easy” is going to New Zealand with their new owner, and “Enchanted Forest II” and “Lost Worlds” will be going to their new home in Baltimore, USA.

Lost Worlds

A novice sailor crossed the Bass Strait from Adelaide on a small wooden yacht for the Wooden Boat Festival. She got very seasick and told me she vomited 28 times! Thankfully she is returning on The Spirit of Tasmania, a large ferry https://www.spiritoftasmania.com.au/ . She purchased eight greeting cards and an original painting, titled, “May all Your Dreams Come True”. You probably weren’t aware that there are emu fairies. This painting is evidence that they do exist!

A family, who knew that they were coming to Hobart in February, decided they would do their Secret Santa shopping for Christmas 2022 at Salamanca Market. One sister was from Lismore, the other from Coffs Harbour, and the parents from outside Newcastle, NSW. The first sister I met is studying Regeneration Agriculture. She told her family she liked my art, so her mother bought a “Bunk Beds” print for her. Happy belated Christmas wishes.

…. and soon packing-up-time arrived.

Until next week, take care and have fun being creative.

Warmest regards, Patricia (PJ) Hopwood-Wade

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

Art thought for the day:

“A line is a dot that went for a walk” Paul Klee