Studio

I'm still preparing for my solo exhibition 'Forest + Feather', which means painting lots of mushrooms, leaves and rocks. My little studio has been filled with feathers, clumps of moss, stones and mushrooms for inspiration.

Today I'm having a little time off to have lunch with family and hear about their adventures travelling to the centre of Australia and along the southern edge of the country.

xx

Weekend

After a massive week of commissions, painting and a very exciting photo shoot, I'm taking it easy this weekend to catch up on orders for cards and paint for my exhibition. I have so much to be grateful for right now, and even though life has been a bit of a whirlwind lately, I'm so happy.

Harley made this delicious rhubarb crumble and included his favourite ingredient, campari so it's a lovely balance of sweet and subtle bitterness, which sounds weird but is really nice.

Hope you had a lovely weekend! x

Forest + Feather // Art Exhibition

My art exhibition "Forest + Feather" will be held at The Corner Store Gallery in Orange, September 4-21. The opening night is Friday Sept 5th from 6-8pm. All are welcome and I would love to see you there! 

The exhibition is a collection of my watercolour and gouache artworks, featuring lots of birds, mushrooms and other plant life. All pieces will be for sale on the opening night and the weeks afterwards.

Here is a little excerpt from my artists statement for the show:

"Working primarily with watercolour and gouache, I create colourful artworks with a botanical theme, depicting flora and bird life in an illustrative style. Preferring to work with fine tipped brushes, my aim is to create intricate works of detailed patterns and lines. 

I am interested in the life cycle of plants, and the natural process of life, death and renewal. I am awed by how a mighty oak is born from a tiny acorn, the way that bees and other insects pollinate flowers which then turn into fruit, and the fact that all living things will eventually die and replenish the soil. In nature, nothing is wasted. Every creature and plant has a significant role to play within its fragile ecosystem. My art has been influenced by my growing acknowledgment of the need for sustainability in a disposable society."

Forest + Feather An exhibition by Amelia Herbertson

The Corner Store Gallery

382 Summer Street, Orange NSW

Opening night Friday, 5th September. 6-8pm.
Show runs 4-21 September 2014

Thu/Fri - 10am-5pm
Sat - 9am-4pm
Sun - 10am-4pm

Today

Today I gave myself the morning off. I walked Harley to work, then walked home via the park. I picked some flowers from the garden to brighten up my studio, and picked some peppermint leaves to make tea.

It was a nice morning, and spending time not doing much at all reminds me how important it is to unplug from technology, stop stressing about things that really don't matter, and just be.

Peaceful Dove

Peaceful Dove // Water colour and gouache on paper
An artwork that will be featured in my exhibition "Forest + Feather" at The Corner Store Gallery, Orange in September

Cold

I am not a winter person. Every year I try to get excited about cozy days indoors, curled up with a book and a hot chocolate, but every year I eventually accept the fact that I really, really hate it.
This week I've barely left the studio (or house), in preparation for a solo art show in September.

I've been feeling a little stir crazy from being inside for so long, so this week, I plan to make time each day to get outside, to either go for a walk or visit the park.


This pattern on this leaf reminds me of catterpillars.


I have been taking a lot of photos of mushrooms to use as references in my new watercolour paintings.


This cactus is about 30 years old. I remember it from when I was very small, and my parents brought it with them when we moved house. It grew and grew and broke the pot it was planted in, then it kept growing taller until it stood 7 feet high or so, and finally tipped and landed in a heap.

On the operating table in the potting shed


And repotted to grow tall again.
x

Lately

My little strawberry bush is going better than ever.


Beautiful billy balls, an extra birthday present from my wonderful boss.


Mum is framing photos. I love having old photographs around, and have always loved to sit down and pore over the boxes of photos handed down to Mum from her grandmother.


Pears from my favourite produce store. I'm not sure what it is, but there is something wonderful about buying fruit in brown paper bags. That might seem strange but this is coming from a paper fanatic.


My nephew loves to take photos. He had pink hair on this day for a fundraising day at school.


A fragrant bouquet of herbs


Mums collection of broken china and ceramics. Many of these shards have been found when digging in the garden of both the houses I grew up in.

Have a great weekend!

A new watercolour painting // Magpie

Magpie. Watercolour and gouache on paper

I've been working on a new painting of a magpie. I used to dislike magpies (possibly as a result of being swooped by several of them walking home from school) but now I think they are one of my favourites. You see at least one on every residential block around here, usually strolling on the nature strip.

While I was researching them, I found out that they are very intelligent and playful birds. My sister has a family of magpies that live in her backyard, and she would often see the baby rolling around in the fallen leaves. I guessed it could be a sign of submission but she said it seemed to do it for fun. Apparently adult magpies will play with the juveniles, chasing them and play fighting.

I spent all weekend painting, and I moved my things upstairs to be near Harley while he worked at his desk. I had the desk by the window and it was drizzling outside, and it was so lovely to just sit there and work together in silence on our separate projects. I have so many projects on at the moment, but my favourite is a big water colour painting I am doing for a lovely lady in a nearby town. I am used to doing small works, but I am getting there. It's good to be so busy!

Very Rustic Flower Arranging

When out on a drive recently we decided to stop the car and pick some foliage from the side of the road next to Harley's parents house. I needed some different leaves to use as a reference for some new paintings. I'm not sure what those little yellow flowers are, most likely a weed but they are pretty!

Painting

I spent this afternoon looking for inspiration for some new paintings. I still can't seem to move away from painting plants though. My studio is in chaos, and I'm working on a big painting that won't fit on my desk so I've moved out onto the dining room table. I'm looking forward to spending the rest of the weekend painting while listening to back to back episodes of 30 rock. Have a lovely weekend!