Koalas

As the end of the year approaches I felt the need to finish a piece featuring an animal I love. Having lived in my home for over 40 years and before the housing developments encroached on our area, we regularly encountered koalas in the wild. Such is not the case any longer. Sadly our koala population is depleted and in grave danger as their habitat is being destroyed on a monumental scale.
I love to draw them. My piece "Safe with Mum" is now finished and I love this sweet duo......the process.....

And the finished piece......

Of course there always  seems to be a new project waiting for me. I have just begun a new piece of a gorgeous Azure Kingfisher. Captured on the Yellow Water Billabong Kakadu. Prelim drawing done and first layers of pencil going down....can you see him there?

Ahhh! Love what I do.....

As the saying goes...."No tree.....No me!"
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

In My Journal

I have a small collection of watercolour pencils and I love using them with a black pen. I wondered what some little Christmas drawings for some cards that I have in mind would look like.....so my trusty journal was the place to experiment.

I had such fun with them....I might try a few on real cards now....maybe try a couple of other designs too.
I love handmade Christmas!

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Calling it Done

My Scratchboard effort of the young male lion has taken me quite a while and I have decided enough is enough.....he is done! You can see how he has developed from the beginning.

Boy oh boy more practice needed......besides I want to get on and finish my coloured pencil version of him which has been languishing in my art folder. I now need a new (victim) model to go under the scalpel blade.
My other little finish is the otter in pastel pencils. Once again....MORE PRACTICE NEEDED! But I think he is adorable.

Getting my head around what the different tools and pencils are capable of and how to use their particular strengths is proving a wee bit challenging I must say.
My next challenge is to rethink a couple of pieces I had put aside. Particularly this one.....

I loved this rusty old beast but I definitely didn't think how to use it in a composition to advantage. I have done so much work on it that I want to make it work. So thinking cap is on!
Have a deliciously creative day.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

More Pastel Pencils

After enjoying the recent workshop I attended, I have been keen to do more with Pastel Pencils. I have been using lovely Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils. They are great on furry subjects.
I chose a cheeky fellow I snapped at Dubbo Zoo.....a cute little Otter.
Work is progressing and I am slowly getting the hang of it.......I think lol!

Plus I didn't get tooooo dirty.....hate pastel dust!
Whilst at QWASI exhibition last week I snapped this piccie of teeny tiny sedge frogs....hope you can see it in my photo. Just beautiful!

Can you see it on the bud.....about the size of my thumb nail. The other you may not see as it is on the Lily stem....green on green.

I think everyone who visited was captivated by these beautiful lilies......

I know I was.
I wish you all a creative weekend.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Enjoyment Plus

My first participation in a Queensland Wildlife Artist's Society Exhibition has come to an end and I have to say I loved every second.....loved demonstrating and talking to such interesting and nice folks......hopefully encouraging a few to take a chance and have a go.

I had lovely family and friends come to visit.....thank you so much.....your encouragement and support meant so much.
Fiona and her hubby came down from her big hill which was so nice.

The Grandies enjoyed it too.......due consideration in their Viewers Choice Selection paper was an important decision.

My cousin and his lovely wife popped by......a very nice catchup.

These were my exhibition pieces....

My demonstration piece that I was working on was a special project and I am really pleased with how it has turned out...for those of you who saw it in various stages. "Bluefaced Honeyeater in Pandanus"

If someone had told me 4 years ago that my wild and secret little dream to become a wildlife artist was not only possible but would come to fruition, I would have told them to  have their head examined lol! I am beyond thrilled to have lots to look forward to, learning, improving and honing my skills doing something that I truly love......

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Working Those Pencils

I have had a lovely time out at the Australia Wild Art exhibition. Yesterday was spent talking to lovely visitors, working away with very talented friends and exercising my beautiful pencils.....

The very talented Sandra Temple working on doggie portraits in pastel pencil.....just gorgeous!

Such wonderful detailed graphite and scratchboard work from Diane Smith.

Friend Esther had huge interest in her beautiful scratchboard work. I am sure she inspired many to give it a try.

The Botanical Gardens is such a lovely place too. I shall be back there on the weekend. Can't wait!
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Hung!

Today I pitched in and helped hang all the artwork for.....

Everything looks lovely all set up. Fellow artists Sandra Temple, Cathie Howie and Lousie Saunders all set to welcome visitors.

Even though I look a little bushed I am so thrilled to have 4 of my pieces "hung "

I shall be there Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday....working on my latest piece. Lots of other artists demonstrating also in other mediums.
I just had to sneak out and photograph these gorgeous waterlilies.....

Despite the humid sticky day, I am one very happy scribbler.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Scribbling

I have been procrastinating for ages about a new piece I wanted to do for a loved one....trying to find the right reference photos and composition has taken some time. I took SO MANY photos of Pandanas! Finally I chose and cropped this one.

I had to have a feathered friend included of course and so the prelim work has begun.

Not a lot to see yet, but I am hoping it will work out very nicely.....lots of work and layers on the fruit and leaves ahead. I am a bit of a fan of the blue faced honeyeaters and love it when they visit my garden. They love the Jacaranda blossoms.
Over the past weekend as well as stitching I spent time with my journal....it helps me often to do mini pieces for future inspiration or to work out how things look......composition etc.

Sometimes when I am stuck just browsing through will spark some creative memory and send me down a new path to a new project......love my journals!  I bless the day when my friend Janeen introduced me to journaling.....especially art journals!
NOW just a little BIG reminder.....

These brown paper packages contain my offerings.....labeling and protective wrapping to be done.

I will also have a few of my favourite pieces in greeting card form there too.

I am really excited to see the beautiful pieces of art at the exhibition and just a wee bit humbled to have a couple of  my artworks hung along side them.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Ralphie

This little sweetheart is now completed. He was such a joy to draw.

Hope his humans like his portrait.

He was worked in coloured pencils and Pan Pastels in the background.
Back to my lions now.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Three Favourites

Today I would like to share a trio of my favourite artists and pieces I love.
Firstly Australian artist....Ainslie Roberts....RAINMAKERS......Quite apt with the way it is pouring down here at present.

I am always captivated by his work......amazing! You can look and look and still see something new.
The second Michael Parkes....an American artist. I bought my Daughter a print of this as she was born on a Tuesday and was a dancer......TUESDAYS CHILD. Beautiful fantasy pieces, once again with lots of details to explore.

Lastly the lady who inspired me to draw as a child. Peg Maltby. I was gifted her Fairy book and I just about inhaled those gorgeous drawings. Time just disappeard within these pages. I poured over her illustrations and my imagination went wild......one of my favourite pages was this one.

You will also note that there is beautiful stitching in this picture lol! This book was lost to me until a couple of years ago when a dear friend found it in a second hand shop....a much later version but the drawings were all there.....along with some coloured pencil drawings of the previous owner lol! Seemed perfect to me.
Now I am not an afficiando of high art......my knowledge is quite lacking but I know what speaks to me and these live in my heart. All 3 are so different but all have details and secrets to discover.....which I am sure is what attracts me.
How about you?

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx