Last week I completed an artist residency at the Glasshouse in Port Maquarie
What is an artist residency you ask? Hopefully this post can answer that question and also give some insight into what I did during my residency.
My new favourite marine critter - the Argonaut.
Recently I was gifted a particularly beautiful shell by a friend who knew that I liked to collect such things. The shell was paper thin, translucent, and covered in rows upon rows of little bumps. I was in love.
This curious specimen sparked a research rampage on my part until I tracked down the original owner of the shell and it’s story.
Ammonites
I have always had a deep fascination with Ammonites. This fascinating group of extinct marine invertebrates have a beautiful spiralled shaped shell that resembles the curved spiral of a rams horn. Most fossil collectors would have a specimen or two of one of these horn shaped stones, I know I do.
Little Ginkgo studies
I love Ginkgo leaves … it's no secret. They have been the subject of many of my artworks over the last few years and they will no doubt continue to inspire my work for years to come.
This new trio of works are my newest interpretation of this golden plant. Each of the pieces are multilayered with overlapping leaves. This creates a lovely layering effect and adds a greater sculptural element to the work.
2014 Workshops
People often ask me if I teach workshops and the answer is … Yes, yes I do - and I love doing it as well!
I have developed a fun two day workshop packed full of techniques such as resin embedding, freehand embroidery and of course my signature sculptural embroidery technique. I will be running the workshop twice this year in two great locations. Both are in NSW (sorry for those that are further out, I will get to you one day) and I am really looking forward to both workshops.
Ginkgo Biloba
I have always loved Ginkgo leaves and have used their delicate fan like forms in several of my artworks. I generally create small Ginkgo leaves but with my newest piece 'Ginkgo Biloba' I felt I needed to go bigger. This piece examines the beautiful internal structure of the Ginkgo while capturing the vibrant yellow/orange that the leaves turn in Autumn.
Australian Art Show - Melbourne
Last weekend's I took part in the Australian Art Show in the Royal Exhibition Building, CarltonGardens, Melbourne. It was a great weekend ... I met some inspiring people and many of my pieces found great new homes. Thank you for everyone who came along and supported me.
Embroidery and resin workshops at NCAC
Since leaving my teaching job a few years ago I have been missing the classroom and when I was asked to run a few workshops through the fabulous Timeless Textiles gallery in Newcastle I jumped at the chance.