"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home" (Twyla Tharp)

Joyful, joyful ...


It is the most beautiful weather here in Perth this Easter weekend ... perfect to enjoy the garden.


The weather is still so mild - the fragrance in the air is stunning with the last of the frangipani and roses still doing well ....



The exhibition is still on - can you believe I haven't made it there but will be going soon before it ends!  My back is much better now and I am looking forward to the travels ahead.
It is such a lovely time -this time last year I was enjoying Easter with my beloved Gracie ...


Losing our Gracie was incredibly tough and she will never be replaced - however we have been hoping for another furchild in our family and have been waiting very patiently for our newest family member....




Ta dah!  This lovely mama is Sasha and here are her and Rusty's puppies just after they were born.
They are now three weeks old and we have been able to watch them grow - now the time has come to choose our puppy ...



Can you imagine trying to choose from this basket of cuteness?!
Second from the left is our new addition peeping over the edge!
It's little Bailey ... fat as butter and gorgeous!


 She is still with her mama and will be for another six or seven weeks until it's time to come to the Johnston homestead.  Just as well she is not ready to be with us - there is a lot to be done beforehand to puppy proof the house ...and make the most of our garden while it still looks good!



In the meantime we pray for good health, peace and happiness ...

 Blessings to you and yours - Happy Easter everyone!!

"Patience is the key to joy ..." Mevlana Rumi


esordio>debut>beginning ...


 

Everything has fallen into place for the gallery exhibit - except that I had a mishap yesterday and have injured my back so I am working from bed surrounded by heat packs .... Fortunately it happened after getting the artworks to the gallery ....



There was quite a bit to be done before delivery - thanks to the White Room Framing Studios  it all came up beautifully.  I included a page on the back of the frame with a small snapshot and details of the artwork for authenticity.  I also had my business card included so that my contact details were available.

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Once everything was put together it was all taken to the Zig Zag Gallery in Kalamunda ... 

Delivery of artworks

I thought it might be nice to show some before and after pics  - I haven't seen it with all the artworks hung as yet due to being laid up but can't wait to see all the colour on the walls ...

Plenty of light ...

 We are so lucky to have such facilities close by and I hope it is the first of many ...

Beautiful space ...

The exhibition runs from March 22-31 so plenty of time to heal and get there to see it all on show.  I have asked my husband to take photos of the gallery once it's set up so I don't feel like I am missing out :(



"In showcasing rising talent, the Zig Zag Gallery is committed to supporting and developing emerging artists. You are invited to view this wide ranging exhibition opening Friday 22 March.
Opening:6:30-8:00pm

Exhibition continues until Sunday 31 March
Do not miss the wonderful opportunity to view the works of these emerging artists at The Zig Zag Gallery Kalamunda"







Framed ...




Yes, I've been framed.  Well - sort of, in the process of being, at least.  


It's been a busy week and after stretching my artworks successfully and delivering them to the local framers - then came the choice of how to present the five works in a beautiful and timeless way.



After meeting with Andrew and Kiara at White Room Framing Studios - we spent quite some time mixing and matching frames and mats until we were happy with the result.


I ended up choosing a mix of pale gold frames and also classic black - it's something I would be happy with and I'm sure they will come together beautifully. 

There is so much to choose from and you can really get lost in it all but it's important to remember to choose something which fits into most homes. 



Botanicals are such a traditional style - and need to blend into the decor rather than compete with it.  They are a timeless work of art and it's important that the frame doesn't overwhelm or detract from the subject matter - the botanical has the starring role.


Accepting day is not far away and I am grateful for the rush job, thanks guys!
In the meantime I will be working on an Artist's Statement, price list and labels for the exhibition next week. 


I've had some great advice from my artist friends - thank you so much xxxx   


"Choose your friends with caution; plan your future with purpose and frame your life with faith"
Thomas S Monson







Emerging Artist ...


A collage of works to be exhibited © Vicki Lee Johnston


The last few years have been a mixed bag of sorts but at the end of the day if you follow a path you're passionate about and work really hard at it - eventually you start to see rewards.  

© Vicki Lee Johnston

 Being a student on the Society of Botanical Artists DLDC has taught me to be patient - either waiting for results, waiting for the right subject or even waiting for washes to be at just that right stage to work with.  There was a lot of frustration in the first year trying to learn more - and it was really up to me to do the study, trial different techniques and work to a fixed timetable.  Once my final diploma portfolio of artworks was sent off I did feel like I had somehow experienced a metamorphosis - I am now more relaxed and patient and I do realise if you put the time and effort in it will pay off.  For now I was happy to say I had achieved a huge goal simply by completing the course alongside work and family commitments. 

© Vicki Lee Johnston

 I was just stopping to take a breath while I waited to hear final results,  catching up on household and work commitments.   Also looking forward to the planning of attending Graduation in London, which made for a nice change from the stress of deadlines.   Just as things had settled down I received a lovely email from the Director of a beautiful gallery  - who mentioned that I had been identified as an 'emerging artist' and invited me to take part in their exhibition launching new artists. 

© Vicki Lee Johnston

 With everything coming up I couldn't see how I could manage it but the exhibition tucks nicely in between completion of the course and travelling to London.  The only thing was that I needed to stretch the  chosen artworks, deliver them to the local framer and have them ready for hand in which is next week!   I will be exhibiting alongside acrylic works,  textiles, glass and sculptural pieces - the photos here are small snapshots of the artworks chosen  to be included in the exhibition.
A lot of my artworks were unavailable to be selected and my final diploma works are currently in London.

© Vicki Lee Johnston

It all fell into place - now I am looking forward to participating in this wonderful opportunity as an invited artist.    This means there are no gallery hire costs and the only expense to me is framing - and of course commission when paintings are sold.  I have had previous artwork exhibited at the London  Exhibition, all taken care of by the SBA  - but this time it's up to me to get it to hanging stage and see firsthand the workings of an exhibition from empty gallery to opening night.  
I look forward to the whole process and will keep you posted...

© Vicki Lee Johnston

"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty"
Maya Angelou


All images Copyright © Vicki Lee Johnston

Sketchbook studies ....


The great news is that my final diploma artworks have been completed and are on their way to the location in the UK to be assessed by the judging panel.

Finally ...

It's been a chaotic household in the last few weeks - trying to complete three artworks and gather everything together.  The postage for this course has been very expensive - travelling from Western Australia to London is an awfully long way and the time taken and costs incurred certainly reflect that.  The sketchbook adds a lot of weight to the final packages being sent.




For the duration of the course we have been following guidelines and examples given by those of former student Mary Ann Scott - features of her sketchbook were published by the Society of Botanical Artists publishing available here

 Interview with Mary Ann Scott here at Making A Mark.




A big part of the whole assignment process is to work from sketches, colour studies and plan compositional ideas in a sketchbook supplied by the SBA -  to be sent on completion with the final artworks.  This sketchbook is also assessed and a mark is given to reflect a student's use of it. 


 



These are some of my earlier sketches and going back through the book made me cringe a little - my way of working is quite crude in the early stages! 





The studio is usually littered with scraps of sketch and watercolour paper with all these observations - rather than working tightly on a spiral bound book  - then all the bits are stuck into the SBA provided sketchbook to show the planning process.



 It's a process that works for me, while the research and observations are recorded, the lion's share of accuracy and enthusiasm is reserved for the artwork once I feel intuitively I am on the right track. 
It's not as pretty as many I have seen but for me it's a personal reference tool rather than for public show.  I'm not inclined to go back over it and try and embellish it,  to me that defeats the purpose somewhat.




Things were done a little differently with the field studies - the sketchbook became a mini journal of sorts that travelled with me to the location ...
 I included this as a separate journal to show the work in situ under very different conditions to an art studio.

Working in the Field sketch journal

Hopefully the judges can see how the sketchbook was significantly utilised rather than assess its beauty ...

For now I will breathe a sigh of relief .. at the massive amount of work completed, at the fact that summer has come to an end on the calendar, even though it's still hot and dry ...
and that there are holidays on the horizon and a season starting to turn ...