It should chart your personal journey through the course rather than just be a collection of exercises, but there is no harm if it is both’.

@peterjh

On “M”ness | We are OCA

I caught the bus into the city and the Fine Arts library at Auckland Uni.  Here I found books I could not get in the local community libraries.  Books even in French and German.  Some translated into English… I read and took notes ( from the English written ones), and went to  a lecture on Russian constructivism with my niece who is studying Art History.  So much fun.

It was brilliant to see Daumiers style from simple lines drawings that showed so much, to line and tone to this mad running line that characterised his final style.

I felt really at home with this man and his art style and I want to explore his paintings now.

A woollen knee rug and a scarf.

Rug and scarf

The motif of ducks and fish swimming and walking through the rug was great fun and a practical purchase for damp and rainy NZ winters studying, while the scarf was fresh and cool colours for a spring just arrived here.

It reminded me of my Art lecture at Uni I shared with my niece this month, on Russia in Revolution in the early 1900′s and constructivism.  How Art became this thing that must be practical.  Must become practical.  How of course this was great for textile design but not so for painters.

Joan Taylor, tutor at Mairangi Bay Art Society

Girls from my drawing class

These two etchings I enjoyed for different reasons. The tonal contrast of the black and white figure drawing with its play of texture and markmaking.  A stillness and somber gaze holds the viewer.  The pack of dogs, have a joy of movement which is reflected in the movement of colour. There’s an energy and sense of humour in the dogs grins and decorative markmaking.

Figure Study by Lorraine Morton, Softground etching

Pack of dogs by Merle Bishop, Softground etching

It was special for me too because I found some art that made me smile, that I could afford and knew just where to put it in my home… “Flapping colour”.

Flapping colour by Jill Cahill, colour etching and earthenware

My new purchases' artist on the right talking with a group at the exhibition.

I first watched her demo as she drew on a easel.  Putting a grid in and then outlining in Willow charcoal.  Filling in shapes in block local colour.  Then adding tone.  Looking at counterchange.  Light against dark.  After morning tea we got to work and I did mine within the remaining hour.

A photograph of fruit - still life

I filled in block shapes with local colour

I loved the immediacy of the pastel.  How vibrant the colour and even texture after working   with watercolour for so long. How it ties together shape, tone, colour.  I think I want to buy a set.  A starter set and use this in my life class and elsewhere.  Woke up Saturday dreaming about it…

Covering more of the page. Test colours are below the drawing

A finished pastel drawing