'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 "

Purple Day of the Dead Face Painting by Laura May Grogan

The flowers are from the streets and markets of Oaxaca City, face-paints were left over from Halloween in New York City and it took me longer that I care to admit to put this together in a small hotel bathroom.

Here are some photographs of the very touching, very intimate celebrations at Panteòn General cemetery. Locals are very proud of the decorations they create on their loved ones graves, Ben and I drank moonshine mezcal with a guy next to the grave of his father, mother and son. He joked and laughed, sang along with the mariachi bands playing amongst the tombstones. It was a surreal and beautiful way to celebrate life rather than mourning death.

MONTH 27 'PURPLE'

Hi all,

This month's theme has been decided and it is....'Purple'! I hope the theme inspires you this month.
Submissions due on the 15th of November. Email or Facebook me to get your submissions on the blog!

Happy making!

Gillian

'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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SELF PORTRAIT MONTH 26

'Self Portrait with Thorn Necklace & Hummingbird', Frida Kahlo.

Hello Art Clubbers, 

Thank you to Marion and Brenna for kick starting this month's theme and selecting 'Self Portrait' as the next theme. It has been a wee while, but if you are still keen, we are!

Same as before. You have a month to respond to the theme in a creative way....anything....drawing, singing, dancing, baking, imagining!  Email your submissions to myself via Facebook.

Deadline for 'Self Portrait' is the 21st September.

Happy creating!

Gillian x

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!

MONTH 25 TRANSITION

Hola Art Clubbers!

Thank you Laura Grogan for kick starting the theme this month! We are going with 'Transition' and hope you will join in!  

Submissions due 28th March. As usual, any creative outcome/activity is the intention - so hopefully this theme inspires something and you feel like sharing! Email your submissions to Chris or myself.

With love, 

x