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.

Residency Exhibition

Some shots of the exhibition showcasing the work created by 10 artists during the 44th International Art Symposium/Residency in Győr, Hungary.

Exhibited at the Napoleon House from July 28 - August 30, 2012

My lace and handmade paper pieces, titled "temporary state of being"

I was showcased in a little Baroque room alongside the delicate ink drawings of artist Enzsoly Kinga

Ephemeral wax and paper sculptures of dear friend and fellow artist Laura Jade from Australia.

the end :-)
As usual, more images can be found on my facebook Art Page and flickr account.

I'll post some close-ups of my new ghosts soon. Now I get to prepare for my second solo show opening Friday 10th of August, and then another International Residency the first week of September.

Last Minute

As usual, the artists were still working away right up to the very last minute before the exhibition. Attila was already hanging the show when we were still scribbling/painting/sculpting away, desperate to finish before the opening.

I came down with a fever the very last day, and sat in my little corner - my works half-hung around me, painting my last large piece for the show.

Here is what I was working on - the fever helped.

partially completed... pale and dead looking

and once she was done and hung behind glass.

I guess she's still pale and dead looking, though :-}

Whispers

Residencies are a great opportunity to try new things and experiment with techniques or materials you might not have access to in your normal studio practice. I’ve been trialing working much larger than is possible on my small studio desk – I’m working on a couple of pieces over 100cm in height.

With my new ghosts, I feel it is important for me to steer my usually meticulously tight style towards a much less tangible, looser handling of paint. Using larger brushes keeps me from being able to get too delicate and detailed. I’m actually finding my mind a little turbulent this week - but my mood has actually benefited me – loose washes of fading colours lift out incomplete faces from the white paper – lingering memories and unsettling spirits.

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And as a little peek into my working practice, my friend and fellow artist participating in the residency found my concept sketches pinned to the wall behind me hilarious, so different in style and mood from the final paintings.

Here are my toothy ghosts in the early concept stages.