Big Hearted Business Virtual Conference 2013

Latest wip - Lowlands Beach 40cm x 40cm

 

Have any of you heard of Big Hearted Business?

 

Big Hearted Business is the brainchild of musician Clare Bowditch (clever, clever lady!) and was established not so long ago with the intent to help creative people learn about business "in ways that make sense".

 

BHB have produced some wonderful podcasts that are available on their site - talks given by successful creative types sharing their stories and artistic career advice.

 

They even had a BHB Conference in March this year with more presentations by successful creative business types (more clever, clever people!), and happily, they filmed it all and recently released it as a Virtual Conference for paid subscribers.

 

And, oh, how marvellously fabulous it all is!

 

I listen as I paint. There are videos, too.

 

It's like having my own private cheer squad in the room. Hooray!

 

 

 

Do you listen to podcasts?

Can you recommend some good ones?

I'd love to hear.

 

 

Have a brilliant weekend.

 

xxx

 

 

@samanthadennisonartist

 

Albany has no commercial gallery. So to have my paintings on display and for sale at the Albany Visitor Centre is a Very Good Thing. They went up yesterday. Hooray!

 

 

To celebrate this step towards my dream life as a professional artist, I have decided to change a few things.



One of these changes is to my instagram name - a clarification and declaration - to @samanthadennisonartist.

 

Labelling myself as an Artist does not come easily. For many, many years I have been a Teacher, and I still am, with the work I do as the Education Facilitator to a group of determined young mummies one day a week. But with painting taking up more of my creative time, and with my painting now in a public arena, it seems a good idea to make it more official.

 

I am a Teacher. I am also an Artist.

 

My family tell me it was always so.

 

Life is good.

Scary, too.

 

xxx

 

 

Thanks, Robert, for the saying.

I'm choosing not to change my blog name yet, but I will be changing a couple of other things about it soon.

I have also changed my Facebook address to coincide: facebook.com/samanthadennisonartist

I like to knit, too. Obviously.

These last two weeks - November 24

 

 

1. I finished some Christmas presents - two knitted boy beanies, and three crocheted cotton washcloths inspired by onecraftymumma's dishcloth swap;
2. We had visits from three cheeky frogs who found themselves in a supposed Shangrila, aka our girls' toilet. So ensued the 'frog check' routine, which soon lost its charm, especially at 3am. 
3. I finished another painting, "Mistaken Island";
4. Miss M's soccer wind-up was held on a magic day at Frenchman's Bay - heaps and heaps of kids of different ages, all playing together and helping each other in the water - truly awesome.
5. I finally got a much needed haircut;
6. The blue tutu-ed twins experienced their first ever concert week of dance extravaganza rehearsals and performances - all 3 and 1/2 hours of it - with great energy, excitement and success (not to mention relief on Mummy's part), and;
7. I had two of my paintings accepted for display and sale at the Albany Visitor Centre. Yay!

Busy, busy. As ever.

Life is good. Hope all is well with you.

xxx

This month





 

This month.....

• included two weeks of school holidays,
• we went on a family holiday and stayed at a divine cottage in Nornalup for three nights (thank you, Aunty Jan!)
• the girls all had their first fishing expedition - it didn't last long but it put smiles on their faces!
• we visited quite a few artists who were showing their work as part of the Southern Art Trail (it was awesome!!) These paintings are by Serena MacLauchlan at Hotchin Gallery.
• I got a crocheting bug - three cowls later.....
• I managed to finish another little oil seascape painting - yay!
• my love affair with the Schoolhouse Tunic entered its seventh episode, this time with a gorgeous purple linen,
• my football team did NOT win the Grand Final, but I still love them!!!
• Miss M started to learn how to use the sewing machine - she has yet to earn her learner's permit (which means she can use the machine without me having to constantly supervise), but she is almost there,
• I experienced my first ever blogger/insta-meet - I bumped into Kate from 2littlebanshees while we both happened to be browsing the fabric racks at Albany Spotty at the same time.
• we celebrated Miss M's birthday with a BIG party and the most decadent ice-cream cake of all time!! Happy Birthday, my girl!!
• I have (obviously) had a break from my blog.

And it is good to be back.

 xx



Artist/Teacher

 

I had it all worked out.

 

My plan was that, once everyone was settled into new jobs and school, I would paint when the girls were in Kindy for their two and a half days.

 

It is part of my personal truth that I only have so much brain space available for creative pursuits once the rest of that space is taken up with caring for my family (which I love doing!). With the twins at school for a little bit longer than last year, I suddenly found myself with the space, energy and motivation to paint and be an Artist again. And that is what happened - I set myself up and began painting some of the beautiful places we have experienced since we arrived in Albany.

 

All was working really well - I finished four little pieces, and had started on a fourth, larger work - until two things popped up to block my path.....

 

1. I started a short term part time teaching contract,

 

and

 

2. I discovered instagram.

 

As always, and I hate to say it, but painting has been the first thing to be dropped while I find my way through these changes. And with that shift, another consequence has been a flagging attention to this blog. I'm a realist. Blogs change as their owners do. What to blog and what to instagram? I'll work it out.

 

And I'll work the painting thing out, too. I expect that next year there may be more time to venture forth with my painting goals. In the meantime, I will still dabble here and there; just not in the way I imagined.

 

But the most interesting shift for me has been my teaching job, which has been more rewarding than I expected. I have been working with young mothers to support them as they work on TAFE qualifications online, and I have enjoyed it so much that I have applied for the job on a permanent basis. One day a week, I have been utilising my Literacy Education teaching skills, and I love it!

My instagram bio states that I am an Artist and Teacher. I am both.

Except, right now it seems the emphasis is more as a Teacher.


I hope I get the job!

xx

Painting Groove

Little Beach II
12.5cm x 12.5cm
oil on paper
 

I've been doing a bit of painting of late - the seascape, oil painting kind of painting - and, consequently, I have been having a lot of fun!

 

It has been some time since I did so much painting; 10 years ago I had an exhibition in a well known Perth art gallery and sold really well. But since then, marriage, full time teaching and children have used up all my brain space and energy so nothing was left for painting.

Until now.



Not quite finished yet, but it's a painting of Green Pool near Denmark.
 

 

Miss M is at school full time, the twins are at Kindy for half the school week, and this means there is some time, not much, but some that has become mine again. And I have also found that moving to such a beautiful part of the world has also helped. Of course it has - being surrounded by so many awesome beaches and landscapes have made me itch to paint again.

 

My first painting was not good. At all! Not surprising given that it has been at least two years since I last got the paints out. But the last four little paintings have been much freer, happier. Maybe because I am happier?

 

Some of my photo gathering field trips have been conducted alone, some with a companion, and most with my family. And all of those trips have refreshed my soul with beauty and joy. Maybe that's why these little paintings have come together for me so readily.

And Yes, I paint from photographs - mine! For me, there is no artistic integrity in working from someone else's photographs. I need to have experienced the landscape, to have taken my own shots, to paint from my photos in order for my paintings to have authenticity. It works best for me that way.

And there is more painting to come! I have once again found my painting groove, probably more than ever before, and I'm not ready to give it back just yet. I paint when the kids are at school, and I knit (or crochet) at night. And my house is messy.

Life is good.

Yay!


xx

watercolour

Typical! I put my apron on to try and sneak in some more painting, and the twins decide that now is the time for some painting of their own!

 

And then they produce beautiful watercolour wet-on-wet pieces like these and I really can't complain any longer. 

 

 

 

 

Except I'm glad I took a photo - the paintings don't look like these anymore! Boo hoo!!

 

 

xx

New Painting

 

Little Beach 2

Oil on Paper

125mm x 125mm

 

 

I've been working on a series of three small paintings since my visit to Little Beach a couple of weeks ago, and this is the first to be finished, even though it is second in the group.

 

And....oops....there's my surname for the first time on this blog..... Oh well. There's no need to be shy (me? shy??) if I am looking to exhibit and sell my work again!

 

The next step in this process is to research framing options, which I will sort out when the other two paintings are also finished. In the meantime, I'm leaving this one to thoroughly dry.

 

 

Sam xx

Easter Outings

 

If we weren't painting the front room* this Easter weekend, then we were playing with friends, new and old**, eating chocolate, or spending time at the beach.

 

I gotta tell you, I've been thoroughly enjoying this landscape painting, material collecting, research caper! And while the weather holds, I am planning some more field trips this week. Yippee!

 

Hoping that you have all had a wonderful weekend.

 

 

Sam xx

 

 

* It looks amazing! Shame about the furniture.

** Loooved seeing friends from our old Mundaring stomping ground.

Painting Again

 

 

Being surrounded by all these beautiful places has inspired me to paint again.

 

 

"Cosy Corner"

Oil on paper

20cm x 20cm

 

 

Sam xx

 

 



My Creative Space - Name Painting

This week sees me completing another Name Painting, this time for our good friends to gift to friends of theirs!

"Ark"
Artist's Gouache on Canvas
8x10"

More clever crafters and their Creative Spaces here.

Sam xx



On my desk today

My computer is on the blink and I am Very Frustrated! I must admit, it's not all the computer's fault. It's actually mine. So it is having a holiday with the Computerfixitman and will arrive home by the end of the week, I hope!

As a result I have to do battle with the rest of my family to get access to the other computer - the one that isn't mine - the one that belongs to G! And suddenly I understand his own Frustration when he can't get to his own computer. Oh. I'll be a bit more understanding next time, I promise!

Not having so much computer access is not all so bad. I have been doing some more painting instead, this time working on a Name Painting for a neighbour's new baby boy. It's a good feeling to have a paintbrush back in my hand. I keep sneaking away to my work table to check the painting out and have another play with it. I was a bit stuck on the pattern colours for the background but I think that's sorted, now. Just as well - the baby is already 5 months old!

Have a good week!

Sam xx

'The Art of Silence'

Oh me, oh my! I saw a beautiful painting exhibition, The Art of Silence, at Linton and Kay gallery when I was down the Hill on Monday; exquisite still life paintings by the Melbourne (?*) artist, Julie Davidson. Ms Davidson is truly a talented and skillful artist. Her abilities continue to develop, and so does her market - this show is almost sold out, with most sales taking place before the official opening!

I'm not sure if I am allowed to do this but, because it is promoting the artist and her work anyway, I just have to show you my favourite artwork from this show:

Still Life with Loquats and Drapery II, Oil on Linen, 153 x 122cm

If you live in Perth and have a weakness for Still Life painting as I do, Go. And. See. It!! But make sure you end up at the right place - Linton and Kay have a few premises. This exhibition is in the gallery on the corner of the Nicholson Road traffic lights, right next to the Subiaco subway. Given that the gallery puts artworks in the huge windows that front on to this intersection, I don't know how they haven't had more car accidents!!

Sam xx

* I think she is from Melbourne but she is somewhat elusive, dealing exclusively through her galleries.

Painting Day

Another Painting Day! Hooray!!

"Little Blue Dress"

This time I made sure to stretch the watercolour paper - anyone who says that 300gsm paper does not need to be stretched is telling porkies! It was all soooo much easier to work with. Washes went where they were meant to go and behaved!! Hooray!

Definitely having fun!

Sam xx

On my desk today

......I'm playing with colours for another illustration sample.

And on the couch* is Shaun, being cuddled by Miss E, who is finally on the mend after a week of being Not Very Well. 

Sam xx

* the couch is a new secondhand addition to our back room, thanks to the generosity of my Mum and Dad! Brilliant!! Miss E is resting on it while I paint so both of us are very content, right now.

On my desk today

I think I have finished, and then I find myself discovering something else that needs refinement. That is why I like to put my paintings away for a day or so (or weeks, sometimes), and then take them out to look at with "fresh eyes".  

Since taking this image I have lifted some of the colour out of the boy's hair so it's not so helmet-like.

I am liking the painting a whole lot better, now.

Okay. Time to put the painting away before I fiddle with it too much!

Having fun!

Sam xx

Have another go!

So, there I was on my 'day off', merrily painting away when......

Arghhhhhhh!! What happened there?!!!

Oh, bother! I didn't mix my wash properly - small particles of pigment were still floating about in it, waiting to cause havoc.

Oh well. It just means that this is another practice and, to be honest, I wasn't totally convinced that the background wash was working anyway. I'll have another go, try another technique.

Ah! There you go - much better!

I'll show another peek when it is finished.

Having fun!

Sam xx