Coffs Harbour trip

After a frenetic end to the year, we packed the car and made the 6+ hour journey to Coffs Harbour to spend Christmas with our sister Tess and her family. We stayed at a beach house at Moonee Beach and it was a fab location. Lulled by the sea breezes and frangipani fragrance, I relaxed sufficiently to sketch. This is the sketch I made of Moonee beach.


Coffs is tourist mad at this time of year but we avoided the town. Tess lives in Central Bucca which is on the plateau of the range. To get there, we have to drive up these slopes planted with banana and avocado crops. It's very scenic. Then we get to Bruxner Park which is a gum forest, straight and tall. Snakes frequently bask themselves on the road. Finally we get to farm land and it's very lush this year after all the rainfall it received. This next sketch is of the banana coast.

Made Possible Exhibition Night

This exhibition cum Christmas party was held upstairs at Lisa's studio.  The Bakehouse is actually a warehouse where in a previous incarnation, bread was baked downstairs and wheat was stored upstairs.  There is a trap door on the floor to allow goods to be 'thrown?' down.  The venue is wonderful, very high ceilings and Scott, Lisa's husband did a great job in putting up the hanging system, under time pressure. 

On the very evening, it poured, which put a dampener on things.  However, those who came enjoyed themselves.  Several people expressed their interest in my gumnut ceramics.  I think it is one of those things that people either hate or love.  I also had some interest in my waterscapes, which was very nice.  It is lovely to be told to continue painting, that people love looking at my paintings.  I sold one of my little canvases.  Don't believe that many things were sold, so it was quite pleasing.

In any case, it was an enjoyable evening and if the weather was better, and the timing not so close to Christmas, we would enjoy better success.  Another show is scheduled for July, with the theme "Shady Ladies", where we have light fixtures and the like.

Gum trees

A visit to the studios of Piña Bartolo art teacher inspired me to paint these gum trees. Piña had done a series on trees and she said that it was a metaphoric for her mother and her 2 sisters. Her viewpoint was from below looking up, which emphasized the majesty of those trees. Here is my version.

Invitation to the Made Possible Exhibition

Miniature paintings

While its quite true that my social life is a blur, I must admit that the impending group exhibition for the Fri night girls art is spurring me to produce. I was also inspired by Judith Johnson's 9 inches by 5 inches panoramas when I went to her exhibition.


Small paintings are easy to find wall space for and are usually much more affordable. I did these two quite quickly. The first is a landscape of Peel where my artist friend Catherine has a property. The other is a vineyard in Milthorpe. I liked the way the rows of vines converged on the house, which was backed by huge trees.


There is much to do and so little time! But dear readers, the exhibition is at 54 Renwick St Marrickville on the 19 Dec between 6 and 8pm. All are welcome although Lisa requests no kids at that session.