Bookbinding - Make your own Sketchbook 22nd February 2015

Bookbinding – Make your own sketchbook

For my first class back at The Art Room for 2015 I will be teaching a very special class on making your own sketchbooks! Bookbinding is a skill that is essential to my creative practice and something that I call on constantly. I am so please to be able to share these techniques with you in this class.

Keeping a sketchbook or journal is an important part of the creative process for many artists. In this workshop you will learn how to make your own unique and personal case-bound sketchbook from beautiful paper and cloth covers. 

Students will learn the traditional techniques of sewing pages together for their books and how to glue and attach covers. Being able to make a book yourself enables you to choose the size, papers, colour and feel of a sketchbook. Bookbinding is an excellent skill to have especially when you go to buy a nice sketchbook and you are faced with so many factory made books that often contain poor quality papers and bindings that fall apart quickly and easily. 

These sketchbooks are perfect to fill with your note making and sketches. Anyone can make a book, you do not need to have any previous bookbinding experience to participate in this class and you will leave the class confident and equipped to make many more of your own books.

Sunday 22nd February 2015
10-3pm
$195 full fee or $170 student (cost of class includes a full materials kit)

To book visit The Art Room

The Design Files Open House December 2014

I was so pleased to have two of my paintings included in The Design Files Open House at the end of last year. If you weren't able to visit the house here is a little peak at the works in situ. Photos of the room are by Eve Wilson and taken from TDF blog.

 "In the Sunroom I", acrylic on linen, 30.5 x 25.5cm, SOLD 

 "In the Sunroom II", acrylic on linen, 30.5 x 25.5cm, SOLD

 Photo Credits: 

Master bedroom. All furniture by Jardan. Paintings on left hand side (including circular paintings) by Numskull, small paintings above right hand bedside by Elizabeth Barnett. Artwork on right hand wall by Kirra Jamison. Bedlinen by Frank and Mint, throw by Shilo Engelbrecht. Rug by Armadillo & Co. Flooring – French Grey Herringbone by Royal Oak Floors. Wall colour – Dulux Mirage Blue. Photo – Eve Wilson. 

Photo Credits: 
Bedroom details. All furniture by Jardan. Paintings above right hand bedside by Elizabeth Barnett. Ceramics on bedside by Sarah Schembri. Artwork on right hand wall by Kirra Jamison. Bedlinen by Frank and Mint, throw by Shilo Engelbrecht. Flooring – French Grey Herringbone by Royal Oak Floors. Wall colour – Dulux Mirage Blue. Photo – Eve Wilson.

Sanctuary exhibition opened

Last night we opened 'Sanctuary' at Long Division gallery at Schoolhouse Studios Rupert Street. It was such a lovely night. For those of you who will miss the show, I have uploaded all the images of the works in the show on my website.

Sanctuary - A sneak preview

Sanctuary, acrylic on linen, 41 x 35cm

So excited to finally properly share some images of the paintings that will be in my exhibition opening at Long division gallery on Thursday 2nd October 6-8pm. For more in progress pics of the work please follow this link to my instagram. Hope to see you Thursday evening!




Bedside II, acrylic on canvas, 122 x 103cm

 Weekend, acrylic on linen, 67 x 67cm

 Gathering, acrylic on linen, 67 x 67cm

New Works 'Sanctuary' at Long Division Gallery, Schoolhouse Studios

Heidi Barrett and I are having an exhibition of our new paintings opening 2nd October 6-8pm. The opening will be followed by a lovely folk gig at Schoolhouse Studios (see below). It'll be a lovely night, hope you can come. I'll post more soon about the works themselves and and a bit of an artist statement.

See the Two Bright Lakes website for more details about the gig.

Printmaking without a Press class at the Art Room 10th August 2014

Printmaking without a Press class at the Art Room 

10th August 2014

The first in my series of Illustration classes Printmaking without a Press will introduce students to a variety of non-toxic printmaking techniques that don’t require a printing press. Students will be able to continue using these techniques at home or in their studios to incorporate into their illustration work.

Techniques we will cover are stamp making and relief printing, stencils and mono printing. Students will begin the day by drawing a collection of things from nature in preparation for creating prints, so please bring your sketchbooks and favourite drawing tools. 

Barham Illustration Workshop in Pictures

What an amazing workshop we had up in Barham on the weekend! Such a lovely group of students who were really engrossed in their work. The day began with collage paper making and nature drawing before we made some stamps and finally created collaged bouquets. Here are some photos of the things we got up to in Wendy's beautiful studio.

Developing Your Illustration Voice Photos

On Sunday I held my class Developing you Illustration Voice. We had a lot of fun making collage papers, rubber stamps and creating portraits. Here is a little peak at our day in The Art Room. Stay tuned for more classes coming up soon...

New Prints June 2014

 My new series of etchings and drypoints... These will be exhibited at Rathdowne Galleries from June 17th to July 6th 2014. The opening will be on Tuesday 17th at 5.30pm. The gallery is open Tuesday to Friday 11 to 6 and Saturday noon to 5. 310 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North. More details on my website.

Sneak Look at Developing Your Illustration Voice Workshop

A little preview of one of the projects we will be working on in the Developing your Illustration Voice: An Introduction to Illustration workshop that I will be taking on June 15th. This project combines a few of the different techniques that we will be playing with; stamp making, collage and portraiture. Still a few places left in the class. Visit The Art Room for more details.

Back to the Press

I want to make a concerted effort to update this here blog a bit more now that I am back in the studio part time. Two weeks ago I got back to my beloved press and printed a few proofs of two new plates that I am working on. Tomorrow I will edition the plates that last Friday I went and aquatinted at the Australian Print Workshop. Fingers crossed it comes out ok.

Recent Paintings

I have been painting lots of these little house paintings lately. These three are available through Kinder Gallery. They are 31 x 31cm, acrylic on linen, $380 each. 

'Everything Familar Up Close' Exhibition Hang

I thought I would blog some photos of my works in situ at The Art Shop Gallery. The Art Shop and Gallery is a beautiful 16th century building that stands in the heart of the main street in Abergavenny Wales. I think the work looks really lovely in the space. The exhibition runs until 15th June if you find yourself in the area! x