Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 27 i Artists Drawing and Inspiration

The need to illustrate his surroundings has long been a hallmark of the human. Some claims suggest that our ancestors were drawing on the walls of their caves 35,000 years ago – embellishing the rocks with pictures of the animals that they hunted for food and clothing. Examples of such early artistry can still be found all over the world. Ancient Egyptians are believed to have dramatically advanced the art of drawing. Renowned as incredibly skilled engineers for their work in building imposing temples and the legendary pyramids, the Egyptians decorated their architectural achievements with meticulous and colourful drawings of theological figures and other icons. Their drawing work featured careful detail together with colour and balance. In the sixth century BC, the Greeks became the new representatives of balance in…

• Stepping outside your studio and looking at the world around you is often where you will find the greatest source of artistic inspiration. Lots of quick little sketches – no matter how insignificant they may seem – are great building blocks for larger ideas and final compositions. • Once I have a clear image in my mind and a tonal sketch on paper, the confidence to paint comes easily. • Take the telephone off the hook when doing wet-on-wet areas such as large background washes. • Having chosen and laid out the colours you wish to paint with, do a small rough painting of your idea. This, together with your tonal sketch, can help as a ‘memory bank’ for your final painting. • Keep at least three jars of…

• Carefully consider your subject matter and take your time with the angle of view and direction of any light sources. It’s worth investing some time in this very important aspect. • Make your drawing position comfortable. You won’t go into the zone if something’s bothering you. Loud music helps me clear my mind. • Your drawing should be placed on a board stiff enough to sit flat on a table or easel but thin enough to pick up easily. I use 6mm painted Masonite. Cut a piece 10mm bigger than your paper, and tape paper down around the edges. The drawing then stays on this board until finished. You can move it around easily to find the best position to draw particular lines. • Only you can set your…

• Study the animals you wish to paint at every opportunity. It is valuable to ‘know’ your subjects. • After getting your drawing correct, run a ‘paper stump’ over the lines with a little pressure. This will set the lines in place without fixative, and stop them from smudging. • Don’t be afraid to erase pastel, but there is a secret to doing it well. First, you need to remove the loose pastel with a brush, paper stump or rag; then use a plastic eraser, just like you would on a pencil drawing. You can use a plastic eraser in a holder, like a mechanical pencil – this makes it easy to use and keep clean. • Take particular notice of the shape and size of the pupils in the…

Bette Phillips had a life-changing experience in February 2003 when she attended a Maxine Thompson pastel portraiture weekend workshop at Woocoo Shire Hall, Maryborough. It was there that she learnt the basic techniques of using pastels. She continues to develop those techniques which now define her as an artist worth watching. Bette has her studio at ‘Yeltuka’ (a local Aboriginal word meaning ‘the new place’) at Antigua, 25 kilometres south-west of Maryborough in Queensland. She has carved a new place for herself, with her work easily bringing $1,200 per piece; and currently pushing up towards $2,500. Her commissioned works are held in private collections in the USA and Britain, and across Australia. When you glance at Bette’s art work, you wonder if you are looking at some well planned and…

Janina Jackson was born in 1970 in Geelong – into a highly artistic family. “My dad was art director for a local surf clothing manufacturer and my mum was into anything and everything creative – pottery, sewing, macramé, crochet, painting, herbal medicines and lotions (it was the ’70s),” she laughs. “Now, mum’s into paper maché sculpture and music, and at age 60 she taught herself to play banjo, mandolin, guitar, piano accordian and harmonica. These days she sings in a band as well. My brother showed artistic talent from a young age and was very much encouraged by my parents.” Janina didn’t think she had any artistic talent. She rebelled against the family by getting a ‘real job’ as a nurse after completing university training. “In 2002, I developed chronic…

Drawing has been overshadowed in the modern era – to some extent – by the emergence of forms such as abstract and cubism which really don’t demand much from the artist in areas like realistic representation of the subject matter, or the effect of light and shade. The waters are further muddied by methods like gridding and projecting having gained acceptance in the fine art world; this too must detract from the motivation needed for an artist to acquire the necessary and difficult skills required for freehand drawing. I want to explore the really basic fundamentals of drawing … to give anyone interested in learning to draw freehand a good foundation from which to begin. There are really only two basic drawing techniques, and many subtle variations on these themes.…

This uniquely talented man was born at Redcliffe (Queensland) in 1966. Among his early memories is that of an ever-present burning desire to create things in his own way. “My brain was never going to let me be happy with a conventional life,” Brett claims. He left school after Year 10, and completed a Fitting and Turning apprenticeship in Brisbane – before relocating to the far north of Queensland where he worked at various jobs in the metal and mining industries for some time. “I worked out in the bush and in Cairns, to keep the pot boiling, while continually striving to reach the misty artistic pinnacles I knew were hidden somewhere in my perpetually spinning subconscious,” says Brett. “It has been a very wild ride so far; with extreme…

Born with a fascination for anatomy, Brett Garling gained the nickname of ‘Monster’ at age five due to his early collecting of bones and animal specimens. ‘Monster’ was quickly shortened to ‘Mon’ and the name stuck. Brett is widely known as ‘Mon’ to friends and collectors alike. ‘Mon’ was born in Pambula in 1970. He spent his childhood in rural towns such as Lightning Ridge, Narrabri and Dubbo where his love of the bush and its characters was nurtured. These themes now play a dominant role in his work. Completely self-taught, he takes great pride in the fact that the influences of the modern art world have not clouded or plagued his development. He has used the greats such as Streeton, Roberts and Hoff as role models. Brett Garling’s fascination…

In Issue 45 of Artist’s Palette magazine, we featured some of the work of pastel artist Nola Clark. We also presented a demonstration of pet portraiture. Nola described seven steps for creating her picture of ‘TC’ – a handsome feline who happens to be one of her family cats. Beginning with a simple outline, she crafted a warm illustration infused with character. Nola also created a small panel of cat and dog eyes to highlight the difference between two of the world’s most popular domestic animals. Many requests stemmed from this particular segment and Nola has expanded the theme to include eyes, noses, ears, paws and hands from dogs and cats. She has also included features of the possums who visit nightly at the Clark residence. For those who love…

Now in her sixties, Jocelyn Girle is a latecomer to the fascinating world of art. Seven years ago she was asked to contribute to an art and craft exhibition at Goondiwindi. Life was challenging for Jocelyn at that time … her second husband (who has since passed away) was being treated for cancer …but she accepted the invitation to submit some creative work. “I exhibited about 30 pieces of fine embroidery and about 20 paintings,” she reveals. “The pieces which sold most readily were my pen and ink pictures, using Burnt Umber acrylic ink. My motto, since then, has been: ‘When you’re on a good thing, stick to it’.” Jocelyn and her husband, at that time, had a mixed farming business – broadacre cropping (mainly barley for the local cattle…

I was born, raised and educated in Mudgee, New South Wales. After marrying at the age of 19, I moved to Gladstone in Queensland and I have resided in this area for more than 35 years. My only ‘formal art skills’ were acquired at high school … I guess you could say I’ve been self-taught and I have developed my own style from what I’ve observed in art reference books. One artist who I greatly admire is Claudia Nice, an American. I enjoy drawing specific aspects of the landscape, as opposed to panoramic views favoured by most artists. My inspiration to start drawing again (following a 30-year break) came after I visited a local farm hosting an abundance of subject matter. I began by taking photographs of old wrecked cars…