Quarterly Event Theme:

WINGS

MAY QUARTERLY. 27-5-23

Salisbury Art Members and Missy’s mum met in the Project Room to display our paintings. This quarter’s theme was WINGS.

It is always fascinating to see the variety of interpretation and the imaginative treatment of so many different mediums. Here is an overview of each artist’s work.

Charlie Mace worked on Wet and Dry 1200 sandpaper for his De Havilland Tiger Moth. He finds he can get 4 layers on the surface and it does not eat up the pastel pencils. They are good for the detailed work needed for the plane. The tiny airstrip and buildings with the land stretching to the coast held the plane in mid altitude.

We noted that he loads the matt at the base to avoid the optical illusion of it being narrower that the other matt edges. He recommended Budget Frames on Port Road for framing. ‘Bush- strip’ was the title.

Ellen Wilden used pastel on grey paper to paint an egret. She was attracted to the colour way of an image in a National Geographic. As the bird is preening itself it looked like a ballet movement. The calm water completed a beautiful calming study.

Lynda Fanshaw began her watercolour with no thought of outcome except to play with washes of white, green and blue which were sprinkled with salt. She used Arches 300gsm paper. The fragile dragonflies were added, milling in a circular composition and staying within the framework of the painting. This gives the subject room to fly. She used gouache to make the dragonflies and their delicate wings stand out.

Lorna Lower was determined to enter a painting in the Quarterly even after suffering a fall. She thought out of the square and sought out her fairy among her collection of books. The original was a black and white study, but Lorna added blue to the wings in her pencil study. So glad you are such a dedicated artist Lorna!

Penny Verco found a canvas in an antique shop and loved the swirling pinks,

caput mortum and white swirling patterns of acrylic paints. She decided to use it as a basis for a study, perhaps of a cat, or a butterfly. Feeling lost, she searched her bird books and found a pelican. She had paints that matched the canvas, and proceeded to lay a layer of paint a day to build up a three dimensional image of feathers. She admitted that the beak was difficult trying to get that translucent colour as light shines through the membranes of the beak. Once again Penny used an imaginative approach working outside her comfort zone.

Nikky Levinge has been inspired by Natalie Sienniak’s work with Zen Tangles. So she careful drew a butterfly using some of the principles. Working on black matt board, she first used white acrylic and then added blue and orange. Kim suggested she have the top wings lighter than the bottom wings. She outlined the butterfly with silver pen to sharpen the image.

Joanne Gray had already started her owl before she knew of the theme. Working on an orange acrylic background, Joanne painted a blue owl. The observer is drawn to the appealing eyes of the owl. He is settled on a branch and surrounded by leaves which were Joanne’s biggest challenge. She added flower buds in places. The painting really pops! Joanne is making great progress.

Fay Jeanes has aspired to paint an eagle for a long time. Finding a small photo, she was pleased with the wheeling flight of the bird and drew that up for her study. Then she added the rugged ranges of Arkaroola in the background. Using her new Australian Outback box of pastels, she really wanted to use the amazing colours of the Flinders. But this made the bird blend in and get lost. So with challenges and changes she brought him to the forefront. Still not happy, she got out a paintbrush and swept in a craggy cliff. Finally working that up, the study was completed. Then came the framing!

Missy Polson put her heart on show with a study of her dear cat Akirra who had passed away. A kitten of a stray mother just had to be saved. He provided 19 years of alooftness and comfort, depending on the mood of the moment. Finished the night before, Missy used Boahong 300gsm paper, watercolour and gouache along with a white gel pen. It was hard to get highlights on the black cat sitting on the old green couch. Missy will be using the collar in her framing. A very moving tribute.

Coralie Loftes uses flow medium and we were intrigued to discover her little top knot pigeon in the swirling colours of her painting.

She told us of her early struggles with the flow medium and her contemporary art dreams. She had a case of ‘Imposter Syndrome’ where you think any success is a fluke, you have no real talent and it is all rubbish!

The print she brought along today is all that exists of the original work that got ripped up and thrown in the bin. We can all identify with these feelings

Since those beginning days, she has been learning the technique and avoiding the cracking of the paint as it dries. Today she has successfully been published in Contemporary Art Magazines and won awards.

How much we learn from each other as we share our paintings!

With support, friendship and respect our Art Society is a special place.

PRIZE WINNERS for the

MAY QUARTERLY 2023

Theme WINGS

Equal First

LYNDA FANSHAW for ‘Dragonflies’

FAY JEANES for ‘Wings of an Eagle’