A New Series

Today I ‘released’ the first butterfly painting from my new series – Butterflies and Flowers.

Beyond the Cocoon – Pen and Wash on 300gsm Arches Hot Press Cotton Paper, 42 x 30 cms. More detailed images and information are available at BlueThumb Online Gallery .

I am so thoroughly enjoying working on this series. The paintings will be available online at Bluethumb. As it will not be hung as a complete series in an exhibition or gallery I have taken the liberty of creating the works in a variety of sizes and mediums, but maintaining the theme of butterflies and flowers. I hope you enjoy viewing them as the come online.

Over the years I have created quite a few Series of artworks. The first one was in the early 80’s and was part of my first solo exhibition. They were uniform in size, frame, and style; Pen and Wash paintings under the themed title, Life Wasn’t Meant to be Easy – famous words partly quoted from PM Malcom Fraser’s comments. They were all from my personal experiences and observations. I had my first three children under three years, so this little painting was definitely a personal one.

The last series I did was in 2015 – Whispers From My Soul. A Solo Exhibition, Window Installation, at the Pine Rivers Regional Gallery.

The complete series of eight oil paintings on canvas/board (Individual sizes: 25.5W x 30.5W cms) is available here at my website, unframed. More information about my Art for Alzheimer’s visit Share-Time Pictures.

Money Savers – Paint Tubes

To save or use the very last skerrick of paint, try the following hints:

The tips for metal tubes below are really only suitable for adults to perform.

  • ACRYLIC PAINT – When a tube of acrylic paint is finished there are two solutions. If it is a soft plastic tube then squeeze some air out of the tube and then place tip in water and allow the water to siphon up into the tube. If a stronger tube, spray some water into the tube using a water spray gun set on  direct stream. With either method shake vigorously an use the paint for washes or for mixing.
  • WATERCOLOUR AND GOUACHE TUBES – A hardened, or seemingly finished, gouache or watercolour (image above) tube can be carefully cut open (see Oils below) and the dried pigment placed in a small jar or into the palette. Add a little water and the pigment will soften.
  • OIL PAINT – There is usually quite a bit of oil paint remaining in a ‘finished’ tube. Wear rubber gloves, and apron or smock. Cut the base seam off the tube and with an old pair of scissors carefully cut up the sides of the tube and roll open. Cut the tube prior to a painting session as the paint will only be usable for a day or so.

A Little Spelling Tip – How many different spellings have you seen for the paint ‘gouache’?  The easiest way I found to remember the correct arrangement of the vowels is to think about what a pain it is to remember LOL!! Go – you – ache … you’re welcome 🙂