Artist Diary 5

It is that time of the year - busy - as Christmas approaches. This blog post is a week overdue. I have been busy with commissions and still have some to complete. The weather has been terrible - heat wave conditions for over a week now - most days about or over 40c. It has been a dry heat with hot winds - unusual for Queensland where late spring and summer are usually uncomfortably humid. Bushfires have been raging around our area - there have been evacuations affecting family and friends - thankfully damage has been limited by the tiring, dedicated work of firies from all over Australia assisting our local fires brigades. It is not over yet but slowly the fires are coming under control. Our air-conditioning has been running more than usual to keep the heat and smoke at bay. A cyclone has formed 1000km east of Cairns so we wait to see what course it takes and how it will effect our weather conditions. Otherwise, life continues as usual, albeit rather busy in accordance with the Christmas season. I will be taking a break from blog writing until the New year as I am finding my time being stretched a bit too far.

My diary continues -

Tuesday Nov 13th

I scanned all the EastAus Flying Art School stuff (drawings from the 1970s) & prepared some information ready for a video chat at our local council art gallery. Uploading of recent drawings to social media was caught up with, then, I slept the afternoon away - still a bit tired from the long trip to & from Tweed heads on the weekend. Last blog post has details of Tweed Heads trip & gallery request for material relating to EastAus Flying Art School. 

Wednesday Nov 14th

Craft morning - tidy house - art lesson in the evening. The students are still enjoying working with soft pastels.

Thursday Nov 15th

Watched some jewellery making tutorial videos - prefer written tutorials but sometimes they can be hard to find.
Started a commissioned charcoal drawing of a horse - A3 size - cannot share any details as it is a Christmas gift.
Went into town for meeting at the Gladstone Regional Council Art Gallery - loan to gallery of EastAus material  - general chat with gallery director about the 1970s era of EastAus Flying Art School (later to become Flying Arts) - video chat undertaken. Very enjoyable meeting with lots of laughs about old times and the characters from those times.
Did some other shopping while in town & grabbed some groceries on way home.

Friday Nov 16th

Completed horse commission. Washed Santa suit ready for hubby to be Santa at a couple of functions. 

Saturday Nov 17th

Started pen & watercolour drawing of Grand Hotel, Many Peaks - a sort of loose commission from the hotel owners - they were after an artwork of the hotel but weren't quite settled on medium. My plan was to do a pen & watercolour followed by an oil painting & they could choose.
Art lesson in the afternoon.

Sunday Nov 18th

Worked on Many Peaks hotel drawing. A3 size.

Monday Nov 19th

Completed Grand Hotel, Many Peaks with the addition of watercolour. Posted to social media.

Tuesday Nov 20th

Printed greeting cards & postcards & worked on new jewellery for my market stall. Owner of hotel contacted me to organise purchase of Grand Hotel drawing.

Wednesday Nov 21st

Craft in the morning - more jewellery made in the afternoon - caught up books for Nagoorin Progress Assn & prepared financial report for meeting on coming weekend - art lesson - pastel work continues.

Thursday Nov 22nd

Attended funeral for dear friend - one of hubby's musician mates - he was much loved & will be missed. Spent rest of day with friend at our town studio.

Friday Nov 23rd

Spent Thursday night in town so that I could catch up with a few things in the morning. Checked out an exhibition by a friend at the gallery at the botanic gardens & then had to rush to meet up with hubby & some of his family for lunch at the Calliope Bowls Club. Then back into town to finish a bit of shopping for some art & craft stuff. 

Saturday Nov 24th

Washing - pack ute for stall - art lesson - then Boyne Valley Lions Christmas BBQ (hubby was Santa & arrived on fire engine - sadly, I believe they accidentally run over Santa's reindeers - at least that was the story according to 'Santa')

Sunday Nov 25th

Off very early to set up market stall at Kirsten's Cottage, Builyan. Very hot day - start of heatwave & exacerbation of some of the local fires - quieter day than usual. Some of my family came out & we enjoyed coffee in the air-conditioned comfort of Kirsten's Cottage before finishing packing up the stall. Hubby was Santa for an RSPCA function.

Monday Nov 26th

Photos taken for another commission - 3 individual A4 watercolour drawings - surprise gift that cannot be discussed yet. Lot of smoke about from the fires - very hot day. Started first of the drawings from a photo provided by client. Went for a nanna nap about 1pm & didn't wake up until about 5pm. Woke up with sore left arm.

Tuesday Nov 27th

Into town - spent some more time chatting with my friend at her exhibition - we had a lot to catch up with as it had been many years since we last spoke - illness had taken a bit of a toll on my friend over recent years & socialising, artwork & exhibiting had been put on the back burner. Many years ago I had a shared exhibition with her & a chap who has since departed this life.
Groceries were grabbed on the way home. More work was done on the first drawing.

Wednesday Nov 28th 

Morning tea at craft but no craft undertaken - my left arm (mainly near the elbow) was aching & movement was restricted with a repetitive strain type injury. Tidy house - more drawing then art lesson - final art lesson for 2018.

Thursday Nov 29th

More photos taken for commission for set of 3 watercolours. Photos uploaded to computer, processed in Photoshop & print-outs taken for drawing references. Worked on drawings.

Friday Nov 30th

More work on drawings. More afternoon sleep. The hot weather & smoky atmosphere makes me very tired - even with air-conditioning.

Saturday Dec 1st

Washing - drawing - 60th birthday party for friend.

Sunday Nov 2nd

Drawing - cooking for function - Nagoorin hall community Christmas party - enjoyable night. Another commission was picked up at that event - again a surprise that cannot be discussed - all will be revealed eventually. Left arm is starting to feel much better with less restricted movement.

Monday Nov 3rd

Off to Rockhampton for radiology appointment for hubby - home by 1.15pm - lunch & you guessed it - a big nanna nap until after 6pm (I had done all the driving - a couple of hours each way) - dinner - some TV & now writing this blog post.

As I discussed in the opening paragraph, this will be the last blog post until the New Year. I hope everyone has an enjoyable Christmas & enters the New Year with renewed vigour, good health & a bright future outlook. Stay safe.​

​Until next time
Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year
Anne

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