Rose Quartz

Rose Quartz, Watercolour, 50 x 60cm

The first painting for 2015 - Rose Quartz is a representation of a few of my inspirations right now: crystal formations, spores, dried flowers, pastels and artist-made dolls. 

As opposed to most of my other watercolours here I was able to try out a new product that my art store recommended to me, canvas specifically treated to take watercolours. This opens up greater possibilities for watercolourists wishing to work on a larger scale I feel, it was interesting to work on but I think it is still not quite the same as working on paper (less absorbent, the paint stays on the surface level and cannot "sink" in to bond with the fibres.) I tried some of the "drippy" techniques I was able to learn at the Cherry Hood workshop last year, I don't plan to make it a trend in my work, but I do wish to lean towards a looser handling of paint this year, VS my older rigid works.

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If you can, please visit this link, as she is in the running for the Yen Australian Female Art Award, voting for people's choice is super simple - the grey button near my entry for people's choice! I am lagging quite far behind, and will need about a-hundred vote's to make it to the lead, so each little mouse-click will be super appreciated!!

VOTE FOR PEOPLE'S CHOICE HERE

Cherry Hood Workshop (part one)

This last weekend I participated in an intensive portraiture workshop with Australian Archibald prize winner Cherry Hood. An amazing artist I have admired for a very long time, it was a true honour to watch her work and receive artistic guidance from her at her fantastic studio in NSW.

Over the two day period I created two portraits in her style, working with very watery drippy paints on a far larger scale than I have ever painted. For my subjects I chose my own photographs of two sisters - thus further challenging myself to not only paint a good picture, but achieve a likeness as well. 

It was a highly enjoyable experience, and I can't wait to paint in this scale using my own approach and subjects. Seeing her huge studio has made it imperative for me to find my own place in which I can throw some paint around.

For more photo's from the workshop, Cherry's studio and the paintings, visit FourFinger Photo

Time to be a Unicorn

My cute 3-colour illustration "Time to be a Unicorn" is available though the FTAC collective for auction.

With a super low starting bid of just $15, head over and nab this adorable Unicorn Girl before the auction ends in a few days time!

BID AWAY DARLINGS

ps... she's going to become quite famous soon, as she will be included in a fabulous new art zine... but more on that later... for now, the original is available to one lucky bidder!

Available Original Paintings

I have updated my Etsy shop with  all the original paintings I currently have available - these are beautiful gallery-worthy pieces, some measuring A1 in size, some tiny little postcard-sized. Some are framed with elaborate Baroque frames, some are on loose professional watercolour paper with affordable shipping fee's.

Head to the shop for a browse.... grab a glass of wine and it's like a digital gallery opening ;-)

~browse~

Original Paintings

Pearl - Vote for People's Choice

Hello dear one's! It's time for my annual attempt at being one of the selected artists for the YEN Young Female Australian Art awards. I've not made it before, but they say third time's a charm... right?! 

What I need YOU to do is to please click this link and VOTE for People's Choice - it would be unbelievable if I got close! You don't need to sign up to anything, leave your email address, nothing, just hit the button!!

Vote here!

November Auction

It's that time again! The Femme Thou Art Collective is hosting it's monthly original art auction again, where you have a week-long chance at bidding on some gorgeous artworks by a small group of talented female artists. Each month a given theme is reflected upon by the group in their own style - this month it was birthstone's, and the resulting artworks will be compiled into a 2014 calendar available to purchase later.

I was paired with June - Pearl. I was instantly inspired by recollections of swimming in the sea and snorkelling trips to the Great Barrier Reef and Turkey, as well as the beautiful natural South Sea pearls I used to admire at Victoria Buckley Jewellery.

The original watercolour is available to bid on till the 25th of November

Bid Here

Pearl - Birthstone for June

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A little visual evolution of Pearl.....

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Thanks for Looking!! Happy bidding....

Magenta and Teal

Here is a colour-coded post today with some of my recent arty projects.

Silk fabric printed with my watercolour illustrations

vintage plate with my "mousetoinette" illustration

Framed prints and canvases in my shop

My new inspirations blog: www.thelonglostwoods.tumblr.com

Cor Meum Tuum Est

My heart is yours

A new large piece in slow, methodical progress.

Petite Portraits

"now's the only time" (I know)

"miss goldfish"

These and other originals for sale in my et-et-etsy shop: monika viktoria art

Or commission a little portrait of your own, details here

Boudoir Pinups

With the thriving rockabilly scene in London, and some upcoming alternative markets I might be taking part in, I've been painting a few pin-up babes to add some spice to my portfolio!

The originals are for sale, or canvas prints can be made upon request.

"alone tonight"

"alone tonight" (detail)

"call me"

 

"the persuasion"

A gorgeous mess of chaos

A gorgeous mess of chaos (and you can see it in her eyes)

watercolour on paper

Tea and Porcelain

37 x 52 cm / watercolour on paper

Now on display and a part of the permanent collection of the Szalai Restaurant in Győr, Hungary.

(Who helped support me during my year-long stay in Győr as my benefactors.)

The Revelation

The Revelation
Acrylic on Canvas / 90 x 70 cm

Here is how she progressed from start to finish....

Art Residency

Between the 4^th and 18^th of September I am one of the invited artists participating in the Novák-falva International Art Residency in Hungary. With artists from South Africa, Himalaya’s in India, and Switzerland amongst others (I represent Australia) this is the fourth (and last) residency to close my year and a half spent in Europe.

This time I veered away from my usual watercolours on paper, and am instead working with acrylic on canvas. I was still determined to achieve the same transparent layers I so love, with a very limited palette.

Here are some shots of my ghosts emerging, revealed from the white fog of the canvas.