'Purple Panache' by Gillian Nix

Here is my submission for the Purple theme - a giant paper mach purple pencil! I've named it 'Purple Panache' and it measures 60cm tall, and is made of paper, acrylic paint and PVA glue. I kind of doubled up projects this month. My Grade 3 Art class have been making these giant pencils and I made this as an example, deciding to paint it purple to fit in with the theme. The students are really loving making their pencils and are excited about naming their colours and writing them down the side of their sculptures!

I am late in submitting this month, because I actually spelled 'Purple' wrong on the pencil and I had to re-do it. A Grade 3 student pointed out my spelling mistake...slight embarrassing!  

My daughter, Alice has claimed the pencil as her own now!

'Artist Tools' by Donna Sadler

It isn't terribly adventurous for my first time adding something here but I submitted a simple photo I took of artist tools 🎨 . I loved the way they looked on the purple coloured paper, simple -and minimal design is best. I like how this arrangement of collected items really places the focus on the object and the colour, 2 things my practice is consistently focused on.

Purple by Lindsey Holden

Welcome to Art Club Lindsey Holden! Here is Lindsey's submission for this month's theme 'Purple'. 

"Hey everyone! This is my first submission and it's for the purple theme this month. A bit of an experiment with charcoal and paint "

'Self Portrait' by Jennifer MacDonald

This is a bit late, and I'm a bit new here. I took this portrait recently when i was in Iceland. I thought about doing a new self portrait but this image is probably the most perfect. It's not retouched, I'm not wearing make up and I've never felt so free and at peace with the world.

'Self Portrait' by Jennifer MacDonald

This is a bit late, and I'm a bit new here. I took this portrait recently when i was in Iceland. I thought about doing a new self portrait but this image is probably the most perfect. It's not retouched, I'm not wearing make up and I've never felt so free and at peace with the world.

'IN BUT NOT OF (YET)' Self Portrait by Laura May Grogan

I live in Mexico City now. As of 5 weeks ago. I don't speak the language, I know very few people and can't walk around alone in many areas of town. It is simultaneously isolating and exciting, scary and freeing, strangely. 

My existence here is very dependant on my partner, a new world in itself. 

This gif is an attempt to showcase these things. I am in these landscapes of Mexico City, but not of them.

Separated by a backdrop 'painted' in much the same way many of the buildings here are - with thick, imperfect white paint. It is also held by my partner, for both logistical and safety reason (with a very big expensive camera in non-tourististic parts of the city) I couldn't even take a self portrait without him.
A gif was needed, because the idea that I could represent myself in just one picture doesn't quite fit with the multifaceted, slightly egocentric view I have of myself. I am a collection of experiences and influences. Currently this city and it's ramifications being the most influential.

You can see the gif and other works by Laura at her website here.

'Self Portrait with Aran Cardigan' by Gillian Nix

For this month's self portrait theme, I knew straight away that I wanted to make an artwork using my beautiful handmade Aran knitted cardigan. I bought the cardigan when I was back in Scotland last Christmas from an amazing vintage store in Edinburgh, called Armstrongs (which I actually used to work at!). 

The artwork is titled 'Self Portrait with Aran Cardigan' and is a limited edition lino print, of 15. The lino block measures 30 x 30 cm and was hand carved over a number of weeks. I started by taking some photos of myself wearing the cardigan, and then used these to draw from. 

I ended up finding out some pretty cool things about Aran knitting - like there are stories attached to different stitches! Cool, hey! I think I will have to revisit some of the beautiful Aran patterns in future work.

The lino cutting took approximately 10 hours and was done is short sittings as it can become a bit sore on my  hands, wrists and arms! I absolutely loved making this and all the tiny cutting. I hope you like it!

The print is for sale here on my Etsy Store.... www.etsy.com/au/shop/PigeonGillian

Gillian x

Editioning...

Self by Marion Power

So new friends... here is my offering. An experimentation with the technique of pinning I've been working on with some of my students. And a visual discussion of self. 
Its white on white - so I'm hoping its reasonably visible.
With thanks,
Marion

'Harriet' by Laura Drever

'Harriet' by Laura Drever

I am a painter of landscape so when I saw this month's theme I thought it would be a real challenge to do a traditional self portrait. I haven't painted like this for 14 years so wasn't quite sure what would happen! While I was painting I used similar methods to my usual practice until my eye made me look that bit closer - my expression, my life lines.

When finished I thought it looked really like my mum so was excited to show hwer - her first comment was "Goodness Laura, that look likes my mum!" Mum's mum sadly died when mum was a young teenager - I have named it 'Harriet' in loving memory of my Granny. xx

Here is the final piece in colour...

The portrait being made...

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THE FOX & THE HARE BY ROBERT DONNELLY

Thanks to Robert Donnelly for his submission. Not one, but two beautiful artworks, titled The Fox & The Hare.

Thanks Bobby!

x

TRANSITION BY GILLIAN NIX

Hi everyone,

Here is my submission for the theme of 'Transition'.

Sunrise and dusk are my favourite times of day and for this theme I wanted to do something around that transition period of night to day/day to night.

This print was made using two blocks of lino: the first piece of lino was left uncarved and was used as a plain surface to roll a gradient layer of ink, and the other one was carved with the silhouettes of the trees. The gradient colour was printed first, left to dry, then the silhouette layer printed on top.

Edition of 5. Lino print measures 21 x 21cm , paper measures35 x 50cm.

MOUNTAIN HARE BY BOBBY DONNELLY

Lino print, Mountain Hare in Spring 20cm x 29cm

Well this is a first! A submission for 'Transition' came through from Bobby this morning, even before I had posted the new theme on the blog! Gold star to Bobby for being so prompt and sharing such a beautiful artwork!

WITCHES HAT GILLIAN NIX

Hello, 

I didn't quite get around to making the artwork that I had planned for this month, however, I did make this witches hat for my daughter's Halloween costume and thought I would submit this instead....well, it is handmade after all!

It is made from black felt, some twine and a found magpie feather. Hope you all had a great Halloween!

Gillian 

 Doesn't she look cute in it!?

SCARSA BY LAURA DREVER

Our next submission for the theme Spring/Summer comes from a truly fabulous lady and wonderful friend of mine, Laura Drever, who lives in Orkney in Scotland.  Thanks Laura!

"Here is the painting...it wasn't quite done on the kitchen table, but it's one that I love so wanted to share. I started this painting in April (UK Spring time) after our Spring holiday to Hoy in Orkney, Scotland. Hoy is one of my favourite places in Orkney, infact maybe even the world - its landscape is dramatic and rugged and the light is so unique. The painting is called 'Scarsa' which is a place near the Old Man of Hoy - the famous natural stone stack off the coast of Hoy. (The 'Old Man' is represented in the top right corner of the work). The painting is over 5ft tall and painted with acrylic on canvas. If you want to see the painting's journey, you can look on my Facebook page here." 

You can visit more of Laura's beautiful artworks at her website here.

SPRING FLOWERS DRAWINGS BY GILLIAN NIX

Hello everyone, 

My submission for the 'Spring/Sunshine' theme is a collection of very quick ink drawings that I made a few weeks ago. I had gone out for a walk one beautiful sunny Spring morning with Alice in the pram and Gracie on the lead. I took a pair of garden shears with me, and basically stole a heap of flowers from my neighbourhood which I cut and arranged into many little vases, and filled each room of the house with them. The daffodils are from our own garden, from bulbs planted by previous owners, and have been a lovely surprise each year!

The drawings I made were all done in less that 3 minutes. As you can see, I have the baby monitor with me on my desk, and as fate would have it, I had about 6 minutes of drawing before my little monkey woke up. I did a few drawings with Alice on my lap - she was trying to help me out, however, ink and babies do not mix very well! The drawings are most definitely not perfect or all that good, but sometimes, a quick drawing can be just lovely and fresh. I really like to draw with ink and also to draw quickly, so I don't mind the time pressure of a crying baby.

I had initially planned to make a lino out of one of these drawings, but I just didn't get around to it this month. I have the lino block ready to cut, so it might happen one day!

Gillian 

Can you see the little hand trying to get in on the drawing fun?!

My favourite one, which I have transferred onto lino ready for cutting.

SPRING BUNDLES OF JOY BY AMANDA PRIEST

A bit thank you to Amanda Priest of 'Bright Young Things Photography' for this very cute submission!

Spring flowers and tiny babies! How better to welcome these little Spring bundles of joy! I took this shot to celebrate the first day of spring for my teeny tiny spring clients. No sunshine but lots of spring flowers!

SPRING PALETTE: WHITE CHERRY BLOSSOM & SHARI

Thank you Laura Grogan for your utterly beautiful submission for this month's theme! 

From Laura......

"Here are my 'Spring' submissions; one digital and one analogue. I can't decide which. They are called 'Spring Palette. Series 1 of 1: White Cherry Blossom and Shari.'

They are not a comment on femininity nor fertility. Neither are they about sexuality or strength, just colour. If I was not employed full time I would do a series - everyone I know and their skin tone with spring flowers. This fleeting, precious colour palette documented through human tones. I would like to be a deep maroon magnolia, and I could see Ben as a dusty desert daisy, and you would be daffodils."

JACOB SHEEP RAM BY ROBERT DONNELLY

'Jacob Sheep Ram' by Robert Donnelly.

Thanks to Bobby for the first Spring submission, and this is his lovely drawing of a super cute ram!

"It is a Jacob Sheep Ram, sitting in the spring sunshine near the house. I used pastel pencils on heavy cartridge. Enjoy. "

PULP FICTION FOOD BY LAURA GROGRAN

The very talented and creative Laura Grogan has made some tasty looking Art Club photographs this month, inspired by Tarantino's Pulp Fiction.  

Frome Laura, "Blueberry Pancakes, The Royale with Cheese, The $5 Shake, That Hawaiian Burger Joint, Not digging on swine are some of my favourite moments from Pulp Fiction. Quentin Tarantino's use of food as social commentary are a film technical all is own. Special thanks to Macdonalds & Huxtaburger for providing the burgers, all else concocted from my kitchen."