Currency Creek, Kingsbrook Inn :- watercolour in progress

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The artists studio, watercolour in progress

Much to think about! Some very sound planning is required!!

Costs to me?  17 canvasses, 4 watercolours, framed. Using a local professional backyard framer and stretcher maker. I have found a great price on-line, for a roll of canvas, 10 oz double primed, 10 metres which will cut down on costs enormously.

Maxwell Winery/Gallery will organise advertising, printing, invitations and wine at the opening.  I provide the nibbles.  Excellent!!

My prices must be affordable. I obviously want to sell!…….. I will need to sell 6-8 paintings out of the 21 including at least one large canvas to break even.

Theme/title of exhibition  to be “VINTAGE FLEURIEU”. So the subjects need to be all things old and/or winery related. historic buildings, artefacts, sheds, farming equipment, old vehicles, not forgetting old trees and Yakkas etc for aesthetic appeal.

I must not lose sight of making sure that the historic nature of my subjects must be composed to ensure they are aesthetically appealing. Do I make deep and meaningful historical statements? or keep entirely to communicating the beauty of light and shadow on ‘vintage’ subjects from the Fleurieu peninsular??? something to think about further.!!!

Trips to the Fleurieu peninsular to be planned and early morning and late afternoon photo opportunities to be factored in.

Already trip to Goolwa/Victor Harbor has been quite fruitful. Cockle train,  paddle steamers, old bridges and historic buildings have been photographed. Some of the lighting is not ideal and may have to go back to reshoot at different times of the day.

Now starting on some watercolours while waiting for canvasses to be made.

The process has started.

Winner of “Peoples Choice’, City of Marion Art Exhibition, 2013/14

As I immerse myself in the process of searching for inspiring images for my Exhibition at Maxwell Wines in September, a phone call interrupts my snapping of historic buildings in Goolwa.

“This is Gallery M calling! James your painting in the City of Marion Art Exhibition has won ‘Peoples Choice!”

Trying to remain calm I am stunned into silence.

“James are you there???”

” I didn’t realise that so many of my friends and family came to see the exhibition” I quip.

The winning painting is now to be a feature of the Maxwell Wines Exhibition…displayed with the the award certificate…..hopefully to encourage people to BUY!!

Exciting times within the Green household in the lead up to Christmas and the New Year. Memories of our wonderful trip to the Kimberley Ranges, WA come flooding back with a communication through this web-site from Anthea, indigenous guide at the Mimbi Caves……reminding me that I wanted to try a portrait of her. So,  inspired to make the attempt at capturing her natural beauty, I have completed the painting and am now waiting for permission before posting a photo of the piece on this website.

Wreckollections, Silverton NSW 2.
Acrylic on Canvas, 750 x 500 mm.

I entered the above painting into the 12th Annual city of Marion community Art Exhibition displayed during November and December 2013. As yet not sold, but………….through the viewing of this painting I have been offered a one-man exhibition at Maxwell Wines through out September and October 2014.

An amazing opportunity has been provided out of the blue.

I will have a ready-made audience as the exhibition will be part of the Fleurieu Peninsular Art Trail that takes place every year.

Needless to say I have accepted!!

This will put any major travel plans for 2014 on hold, but that is fine!

More will follow as I navigate the process of working toward a one-person exhibition through out the first eight or nine months of 2014.

……and this while I take on some committee responsibilities with the Marion Art Group.

Busy and exciting times.

A happy Christmas and new year to all.

A good result for me at the Hallett Cove Shopping centre exhibition. The Marion Art Group sold 41 of which 5 were mine!!!. We struggle to sell enough bigger, more expensive pieces to finish ahead at these exhibitions. Much to my delight, my larger canvas, ‘Dairy Country, Bega, NSW’ did sell. See gallery page Hallett Cove Exhibition to view those sold.

Six of my small unsold works from this exhibition have now been consigned to the Marion Cultural Centre art shop. I have ‘upped’ the price a little as this seems to be the practice amongst other MAG members. They are still cheap at $80 each ($68 after commission).

Also coming up in November is the City of Marion Art Exhibition at Gallery M. My entry into this is my ‘Wreckollections, Silverton, NSW’ which I an now attempting to sell for the second time. Fingers Crossed. The opening is at  2.00pm, Sunday 14 November

The Marion Art Group’s last major exhibition for the year will take place at Hallet Cove Shopping centre starting Monday 14th October and ending Sunday 27th . Viewing times will take place at normal shopping centre open times. I am now ready with my contributions to this exhibition and for the first time I have a full screen. I have been busy with small drawings and paintings of subjects inspired from our recent trip away to Western Australia and the far North. Below is a brief sample of what I have been working on.

Vlamingh Head Lighthouse, Exmouth WA

‘Black Kite, culinary choices’

‘Azure Kingfisher’

We are now back from our trip clockwise around Western Australia, Northern Territory and back home down the middle of Australia. Two and a half months of adventure, fun and inspiration in an incredibly diverse countryside.

As a result, some black and white brush,pen and ink illustrations of the strikingly handsome, elegent, streamlined….. and profuse, top-end Black Kites are now in the process of creation. These to be included in Marion Art Group’s next exhibition at Hallett Cove Shopping Centre in October….(along with other pieces not sold at earlier exhibitions this year.) Also for this exhibition my unconventional interpretation of the theme of ‘SPRING’, a small acrylic to attract the men buyers???

….watch this space to see what I come up with………..

I am now also a member of the Marion Cultural Centre’s art group ‘Red House’ which entitles me to contribute to several group exhibitions through out the year. Coming up in November is the 12th Annual City of Marion, Community Art Exhibition. I will enter my ‘Wreckollections, Silverton, NSW,’ left unsold at the last Rotary Exhibition. Hopefully this time the right person will spy and buy it.

Before the end of the year I also want to complete a major acrylic of a dramatic scene from our Kimberly Ranges adventure and also, my first ever major portrait of one of our indigenous guides. (media undecided)

So many images in my head and hundreds of photos to inspire me……….

Below some pieces recently gifted:

‘Old Leather’ : Brush, Pen and ink.

(From one of my many photos taken at Dubbo Zoo visited 2012)

‘Wallaroo Rocks’ acrylic on canvas board.

( From a family camping holiday early 2013)

The Westfield Marion shopping centre exhibition for MAG was quite successful for some of us. I sold  two small unframed pieces which was OK for the first time I have exhibited with the group. The general shopping public were reluctant to spend money on art and in the main it was the cheaper pieces that were sold.

My two were both pen/brush and ink drawings.

Abandoned Hut, Silverton ‘Yakka, Flinders Rangers’

I have a number of unsold framed watercolours and acrylics to consider their method of distribution. Several opportunities should come up with MAG before we go on our big trip early June.

I now need to finish off my three pieces of work for the Lions Club Glenside exhibition on 23rd to 28th May at the Burnside Town Hall.

My first exhibition with the Marion Art Group at Westfield Marion Shopping Centre is now fast approaching. Viewing dates are Monday April 29 to Sunday May 5…..during normal shopping centre opening hours. I will be one of approximately 25 artists exhibiting and will be contributing four paintings with two in reserve and four to be included in our ‘unframed’ basket for people to leaf through. For the first time the pieces are  predominently watercolours and all rely on the beauty of the subject and the way light plays on surfaces and between shadows…………no optical twists!!!! It will be interesting  to see how sales go.

New experences coming up. Handling an EFPOS machine whilst on caretaker duty; keeping paintings on reserve to replace sold paintings which are taken immediately; dealing with hundreds of members of the public waking past in disinterest or?????

I am also nearly ready for the Lions Club of Glenside Exhibition at Burnside Town Hall which takes place 22 – 28 May. Two acrylics and I think my best watercolour so far!!!

Photos of work will be posted after these exhibitions.

The beginning of this year brings a new direction for my art. No longer do I have the  benefit of an exhibition at Rawnsley Park for the ‘Brush with Art’  in September every year.

Consequently I am now the proud member of  Marion Art Group, which operates out of a wonderful facility (community hall) in Marino. MAG is an extremely well run group of artists who regularly exhibit together in various venues in the southern suburbs. Monday morning sessions involve working on own work and participating in various activities including workshops, demonstrations, excursions and a three day trip away working ‘plein aire’. Some members have been part of the group for thirty years and still love every minute of their involvement.

The dedicated committee is strong in numbers and consists of office bearers and sub committees to deal with the various activities. They work very hard to ensure that their systems ( reviewed and improved over many years), are  professional  and efficient, so all members have opportunities to exhibit and/or participate in the actvities of the group. I have been very impressed from the first Monday morning session when I was greeted by friendly and knowledgable people.

I have already become inspired and am currently working on watercolours and acrylics which I can hopefully exhibit at ‘Marion Celebrates’ late March and then at Marion Shopping centre late April and early May.

 Some photos of this work will be posted soon.