Jack’s bean

/ Robert / 5 Comments

This is essentially green yellow brown no. 2. Inspired by a feather from my husband, the split on the left echos the way barbs separate. The shaft is represented by the right hand white curve from base to two thirds up.

The pristine blue ink outline was softened by spraying water onto the still wet Winsor and Newton watercolours.

Early on salt was added to the yellow area resulting in the undulations. After three layers of green and brown, salt was used to develop texture.

I am happier with the way this mixed media abstract painting came out. My husband said it looks like one of Jack’s beans that grew a mighty stalk linking his home with that of the giant.

Port Douglas, Far North Queensland

/ Robert / 7 Comments

Our first visit to Port Douglas was en route from Cairns to a QuickSilver snorkeling boat trip from Cairns to the Barrier Reef in around 1999.

The next time in 2005, we stayed at Palm Cove between Cairns and Port Douglas and went for lunch at Salsa Bar and Grill situated in a classic white Queenslander near the marina.

In December 2006, we came for Christmas, an experience that literally took our breath away with the extreme heat and humidity. Thereafter we came annually in October for about eight years always staying at the Pink Flamingo Resort, managed by Cath, Sam, and Leigh.

In 2013, we were joined by friends for my fiftieth birthday celebration. By that time, Gigi and Andrea were managing the Resort. They moved on to open their own Gunnahdoo boutique holiday property in Rocky Point north of Port Douglas.

The following year we honeymooned at the Pink Flamingo before getting married a week after my birthday. We are thrilled to be back in Port Douglas after ten years.

Sadly, the Pink Flamingo Resort is looking like it needs some TLC.

Green, yellow, brown abstract mixed media

/ Robert / 4 Comments

Quite a while ago, in fact when exactly is vague, I designed a zigzag pattern using a watercolour brush in a painting app on my iPad. Its purpose was specific, the background panel for the title block on this blog.

My husband returned home from walking Stan with the gift of a feather. We think it is from a rainbow lorikeet because of the green and yellow colours. I decided to use it as inspiration for a watercolour.

Being fond of ovoids, I sketched out an idea and painted the first wash. A few more layers followed.

Horizontally, it looked a bit like a misshapen footy ball. In portrait it resembles an avocado. At this point, I sprayed water onto it. A soft outline formed from the wet edge. Rivulets of colour settles in the warped dips of the contorted paper. I added reused salt crystals and left it to dry overnight.

The zigzag pattern remained in the back of my mind during the process.

I added the darker yellow oval, fresh salt and darker areas to the green and brown topped with recycled salt.

I think this is the finished piece.

Work day mask

/ Robert / 7 Comments

When travelling to and from work, I have backpacked: laptop, headset, headphones, compact umbrella, face masks, cotton bags, hand sanitisers, tissues, wallet, keys, key card, pens, pencils, eraser, sketchbook, propelling pencil. When possible, capture moments. The following and sketch above filled fifty minutes.

when one is really quite weary
how dreary dearie
surreptitiously seeking inspiration
questions
no right asking even if strong featured person opposite is known
consciously combined cosmetics for commuting?
muted tones without shading to avoid notice?
only one or one of many masks?

modicum of hope

/ Robert / 10 Comments
local spring sunrise

i feel different
perhaps it is losing weight
being comfortable
in thirty eight inch waist chinos
from a different pre-covid state
surviving the sacrificed shirts
faded frayed familiar
from Brooks Brothers
operations in North America
sadly no more stores in Australia
there is a lightening of mind
of spirit of outlook of something
maybe it is the pink blushed clouds
against a brightening sky
rather than nowhere in sight
there is a modicum of hope
glimmering
against backdrop of self doubt
easier to rest on my laurels
thoughts vacillate between
can can’t worth worthless
i will finish the application(s)
submit ahead of the deadline
i will win the new role(s)
i will make the pertinent decision
it will be interesting fulfilling
enjoyable motivating work
after all Spring has sprung

Harmony in nature

/ Robert / 7 Comments
Harmony in nature, abstract mixed media

Last Saturday, having gazed at the bookcase from my chair, I was inspired to create something using three ceramic pieces modelled on nature. A leaf, a shell adorned cornucopia, and a hyacinth leaf vase.

I arranged and drew around the objects in pencil then ink. I decided on purple for the cornucopia using the colour of mussel shell for inspiration, predictably green for the leaf, and finally orange for the vase.

On Sunday, I thought the shapes I had chosen worked well together as there was movement between them from the colours intermingling. Wishing to add depth and luminance, I added yellow washes to the orange and green and redid the ink outline.

After deciding the abstract picture was called harmony in nature, I added three black undulating lines to ground and orientate the central image.

Airhead connects with Rawr

/ Robert / 5 Comments

This was my first foray into fountain pen ink sketching and an ink wash. The Parker Qink dried extremely quickly. I diluted it, painting onto dry paper.

The ink is from a time of my youth in the 1980s, the Parker Sonnet pen, a gift from work colleagues when we left the UK to emigrate to Australia in 1998.

My naïveté continues to be a theme. I had not considered the inked lines would run when with watercolour was added. I worked with it.

Aging and some of the medication I take have a side effect of shaky hands. I used one of my pencil sketches of a dinosaur. I cut the sketch out, pencil shaded the outline and inked in the outline.

The painting developed as it was created.

Salt was added to the night sky, the background of the ovoid contained figures, and the centre of the seven orange shapes. They represent one thousand miles markers across the Pacific Ocean and the equator from South East Queensland to California.

It is night time where I am, represented by pink Airhead. I engage with my blogging buddy Ra as Rawr the dinosaur through thoughts, dreams, and engaging with each other’s work.

The painting can be viewed with night at the bottom or the top.

Humbled

/ Robert / 3 Comments

My new boss said, it is one thing to record positive feedback in the notes of a telephone conversation and another to receive an email. When one of my clients takes the time to mail a thank you card that is something else.

I feel humbled by the recognition and thankful for being able to make a positive difference in someone’s life.