summer equation

A few weeks ago I realised the pattern that I was creating this summer.
And it goes something like this...

Sun = beach
Rain = studio

pretty simple equation.

A lovely one actually - which doesn't truly describe the start of 2016 for me.

But when I think back to some of my favourite moments from the the past few weeks I can kinda put them into these two camps.

hazy days by the beach 

one of my favourite local walks.
Its my hideaway...

Can you see the whale? 

make hay while the sun shines

November and December are always a big time on the art calendar. 

Along with the big end of year exhibitions at the private galleries, you also have the graduation shows at the the art schools. AND then you cant forget the emergence of the Summer blockbuster shows at the big art institutions like the MCA and the AGNSW.

Every few years or so I catch the art frenzy bug that infects the local community and I try and see as many exhibitions as my body and brain will allow. 

This year the sun was shining and I saw some beautiful works - and that also has to include my trip to the APT8 in Brisbane (which I talked about in my last post). 

Here are just a few images from some of my favourite artists and exhibitions. 

Zoe Veness and her beautiful and intricate folded paper jewellery pieces
were on display at Studio 20/17 last month in her solo exhibition entitled
'Autonomous Jewellery'

The amazing Stephen Bird just exhibited his new collection of ceramic pieces
at Olsen Irwin Gallery in Paddington. Mad and amazing...

One of my favourite painters Elizabeth Cummings has her solo show on now
at King st Gallery on William. This piece is entitled
'Granite Country 2015'

Gemma Smith and the amazing polished concrete floor made a great combination
at Sarah Cottier Gallery. 

This a view of the main gallery floor at Roslyn Oxley Gallery
and on display a couple of weeks ago was this amazing exhibition
by the brilliant Australian artists' John Wolseley and Mulkun Wirrpanda.

On Sunday I had an hour to kill before hearing Grayson Perry talk at the Opera House,
Unfortunately the attendants at the MCA informed me that this HUGE Summer exhibition
needed longer than an hour to view.
Fair enough...
So I went down to see the permanent collection
and found this beautiful work by Rosalie Gascoigne entitled Tiger Tiger 1987

The Tenderness of Rain 2011-12 by Lindy Lee
was also on display at the MCA. Loved the texture and detail in this work on paper

Finally... I had to include this street find.
I found it on the weekend in Redfern and its by Baf Cat -
who is a Fine art student from Wollongong

o n e

One moment.
One colour that dominants the November sky.
One image to remember the month.
One story to reintroduce myself back to this tiny blog.

Its been a while...
x

street sweeper

^wayside. kings cross^

Collecting colour.
One of my favourite things to do.
Just walking and looking
At everything
and nothing.

Especially as the seasons
and the light starts to change.
Happy April everyone//

^besser blocks. surry hills^

^mural project by ten thousand paces. Surry Hills^

^zap. Newtown^

^fading facade. Newtown^

last few moments of summer....

^fading pink light on the MCA rooftop terrace^

^land of the long shadows^

^finding botanical inspiration^

^pixilated^

^beautiful yellow bamboo at the Royal Botanical Gardens^

^the last of the Bougainvillea before Autumn arrives^ 

^stop.unload.wave.bon voyage.repeat.
Cruise season is in full swing!^

s u m m e r * b l u e

^Luna Park... always brings back childhood memories^

^reading between the lines^

^swimming between the lines.
North Sydney pool^

^Warm balmy nights and a harbour bathed in pink light^

^the board-walk^

^the view^

switching my gaze

^entranceway to the Royal Botanical Gardens -
one of the most beautiful places to visit in Sydney...
whether you're a tourist or a local^

I have over a hundred photos.

Two poems.

Two tired feet.

And a whole lot of new artwork ideas from my walk through The Royal Botanical Gardens in Sydney last week. 

And even though I don't live that far from it, I have to say that it had been a while since my last visit. 

And I have no idea why I take it for granted. 

It is truly one of the most beautiful walks in this city. 

And Im always happy to play tourist.

I started my massive walk at the Opera House and then made my way through the woodlands, the Palm + Oriental gardens, the edible beds, the bamboo forest and European ponds - all the way to Mrs Macquarie's point - which is on the tip of the Gardens and a great spot to watch the ferries go by.

I then headed to (Boy) Charlton Pool for a coffee and a break before finishing my walk in the amazing succulent walled garden, near the entrance to the Art Gallery of NSW.

So yes - no leaf was left unturned as I wrote, took photos and absorbed all the colours and textures of this amazing natural space.

Any why? 

Well - Im starting a new series of works for a group exhibition early next year, which will feature five local artists and a whole lot of plants! 

Its been interesting switching my gaze from the stars and the universe, back down to the ground again.

But that's the fun of it.

New project. 

New colour palette. 

In a new studio.

For the start of 2015.

^This beautiful spot greeted me as I started my walk from the Opera House^

^You have to have your eyes everywhere...
from the ground to the sky^

^ne of my favouite spots in the Gardens.
Reminds my of Monet's beautiful garden at Giverny - with an Aussie feel to it^

^a quiet spot on a very busy day^

^the complete beauty of an Artichoke flower^

^green - in all its glory...^

^reaching for the skies^

^Jacaranda season... and everything is painted with lilac^

^succulent choir^

^rusty shadow play^

collecting colour

^ November and the streets are paved in purple from the flowering
Jacaranda trees^

^ One of the hottest days this month
and Im in Newtown asking for an extra hot coffee.
Im mad. I know^

^Bondi Icebergs - and the official start to
The Sculpture by the Sea arts festival.
No swim for me that day but I loved seeing all the artworks this year...^

^new mural by Nico Nicoson in Camperdown^

^And its time to say farewell to another Camperdown institution.
Pigeon Ground - a great clothing and record store which opened in 2004
will soon make way for....??
 Not sure I want to know....^

(plus one)

^my favourite time of the day in one of my favourite places in the world^

Oh I love playing tourist in my own hometown.
Especially on a beautiful spring evening such as this.

It was a random Sunday and I was at the beach enjoying the freezing cold water when I got a message from a dear friend who was in a little bit of a jam, as she had a wedding to go to that evening and her plus one couldnt make it... so could I fill in?!

Now - how could I say no to a wedding on the harbour?

All had to do was run home, find a frock, and get myself to the wharf to meet my mate and all the wedding guests in an hour or so... and the rest would take care of itself.

Needless to say it was a pretty lovely night...

Warm, glowing, colourful, fun.

And I remembered how beautiful my city is...

pretty perfect really.

four moments.

Mrs Macquarie's Chair.
With a little bit of luck I was able to capture this beautiful moment.
Sydney in a nutshell!

^Stalking the streets of Chippendale.
In this tiny inner city suburb new galleries and art spaces have been popping up
everywhere.... and while I was on my latest gallery hunt I found this lovely tabby^ 

^newtown.
in a nutshell.
old. rusty. soulful.
and full of character^

^hello Pedro.
you cheeky cactus you!
Found him while trawling the back streets of
Camperdown this week^