John McNelley

John McNelley - Quarry

I started painting in 2007 december I think and I got interested in painting by watching Ken Harris on community tv. I attended one of his workshops and found it rather good. Oils tho tend to make me a little ill so I switched to acrylic paint and experimented with different combinations of applying the paint until I found a method that brought some success.

I rather like the Fauve painters Brian Simons of Canada is the current favourite of these
I enjoy Cezanne and the Impressionists and have seen a few of the originals in the various shows around Australia when I can - I would love to go to Paris to see the Louvre and the
Dorsay museum and explore the world of European art a little more. I have tried Plein aire
but have not been all that good at it, or the results have been somewhat disappointing. I
prefer the creative process to the finished product but enjoy it when a plan comes together [ more by accident than design ] to get a harmonious result in an artwork.

Currently I would like to use figures in landscape painting that are bolder than what I have been doing. Perhaps a stylized form of figure painting that might be more cartoon like than natural drawings. I enjoy Chagall in this regard who more painting free flowing emotional energy than anything like form in his work.

In painting, I might start out with a plan but it usually turns out that the plan is just a basic support for a caprice on a theme. The main aim of a painting is a harmonious outcome rather than just to paint what is in front of you wither that be a photograph or a motif out in nature.

http://web.me.com/john.mcnelley/john.mcnelley/welcome.html

When I want to try something different, I usually get to a local quarry - where no one goes, and paint the landscape in some imagined new way - as there is nothing new under the sun, the aim of any painter is to apply paint like no one else has done so. That is called "style".

I find any artist who is successful at making a living from art an inspiration even tho the
art produced might not be to my liking. Picasso I can't stand but he was the most successful artist of the last century. Pro Hart is another artist I admire for making it - he sold every
painting he ever did but some of his works leave me scratching my head as does Ken Done, the Australian Fauve painter. Still good on them, they made it.

I would like to teach painting to improve or refine how I paint. There is nothing like showing others how you paint to discover where you need some work on your technique.

I was born 1953 in Gatton Qld and worked in dozens of jobs, none of which I particularly was suited for. My current job is in an office, its driving me crazy but it keeps me in paints and canvas
and allows me the occasional trip to Sydney Melbourne or Canberra to visit the galleries if there
is an Impressionist or Post impressionist or Expressionist show on. My next trip is to Sydney Harbour to take loads of photos of the water, boats and landscape to get some more material for a few paintings.

My favourite Australian artist at the moment is Nan Peterson who reminds me so much of Renoir in how she paints. I like Colley Whisson's paintings and have seen him demonstrate how he does his work and was most impressed on how quick he can churn out an Australian
Impressionist piece.

http://web.me.com/john.mcnelley/john.mcnelley/welcome.html

Jamie Daddo

There are artists that strike a sensible chord in avery one of us and Jamie's work has done just that today at the

Edgewater Gallery 87 Carlisle Street, Ethelton SA 5015

You must see Jamie's work to understand. You must meet Jamie to be overwhelmed.

I did both. I am blessed.

Betty Anderson

Biography – Betty Anderson

1936 Born: Balaklava SA

1963 Whilst living on a remote Aboriginal Settlement in the 60’s commenced painting in oils A number of moves and work commitments meant that she only painted spasmodically, all without tuition.

1975-79 After Cyclone Tracey, commenced sculpturing in stone – talc, pyrophyllite and other stone – and eventually doing commission work in jade.

2008 Seriously resumed my art interest.

Exhibitions:

1976 Shoalhaven Art Exhibition – 2nd Prize, painting

2002? Rotary Art Exhibition – Blackwood - sculpture

2008 Rotary Art Exhibition – Blackwood - painting
Stirling Organic Market Café

2009 Rotary Art Exhibition – Blackwood
Rotary Art Exhibition – Aberfoyle Park
Coastlands Christian Centre
Stirling Fine Arts Exhibition
Outsiders Exhibition
RSASA

2010 Gallery M -

Veritas Winery, Barossa Valley

My painting is realistic and detailed. I love the play of light with its shadows and reflections and graduation of colour on objects, thus I prefer painting flowers, birds and portraits rather than landscapes. The flowers I paint are taken in their natural settings, portraying nature as it is and not contrived.

My sculpture reflects my preference for people, although I tend toward abstract in my larger pieces.

Phone: 08 8370 3191 (H); 0404 863 633 (M)

Email: bma@primusonline.com.au

Neil Sheppard - landscapes like you have never seen before

Artwork by Neil Sheppard,(alias SHEP) is represented in private collections throughout the world.

Neil was born in the UK in 1956, and migrated to Australia in 1963 with his parents when he was 7 years of age.

Neils’ family settled in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. After leaving High School, Neil spent a few years touring Australia and New Zealand, working at a variety of jobs, then studied and graduated as a teacher.

From an early age Neil always enjoyed drawing, and started his art career working in pen and ink. In 1998 Neil ventured into colour, painting in acrylics, and in 2005 began experimenting with oils.

Neil is on a continual creative journey, exploring new subjects, new styles, new techniques. He is a skilled and adventurous artist, sometimes using bright colours, and at other times soft subdued tones, mixing mediums, or sometimes adding 3-dimensional texture with interesting materials like silver foil or wood. Neil has the ability to alternate his style with ease between landscapes, seascapes, traditional, modern, abstract, impressionism or realism.


Neil lives at Bay of Shoals, Kangaroo Island with his wife, in a strawbale and stone loft home he built himself. He currently works full-time as an artist, maintaining his own gallery, Sheps’ Studio, built adjacent to his residence.

www.visualartist.info/shep

Julie Corfe - a very talented artist and teacher and a lovely lady

ART SALE: Julie Corfe and Students

A wonderful collection of works on scrapeboard. Some oils, some watercolours. Most of them sold at the opening.

A showcase of Julie's passion for art that is clearly visible in her and her student's works.

A must see show

At The Tranquillo restaurant

3/4 Mt. Barker Rd., Stirling

Until 13 february 2010

Robert Brokenmouth by Mike Retter

Robert Brokenmouth from Mike Retter on Vimeo.

Little moon lady

Dedicated to you Stefan
Unafraid to pursue your dreams encouraging others along the way!
This little moon lady has been in my mind for a while.
She represents standing up for your own personal beliefs - no matter how ridiculous they may seem to others, even if it is only your pets and bystanders that give you support in your pursuits - you must keep going to stay true to yourself and gather strength.
This allows us to appreciate ourselves and others and give generously to the world.
Remain open to possibilities as there are no rules!
Best wishes always.
Wendy Olsen

Peter Wallfried - a passion for water in the driest state of Australia

Peter Wallfried was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1952. His family emigrated to Australia in 1955, moving from state to state until finally settling in South Australia. His childhood was spent in the Port Adelaide/Semaphore area. Tertiary studies were completed at the S.A. School of Art (Stanley Street), Western Teachers College and the University of S.A. Peter is primarily a teacher of art but has concentrated more on his own work in the last 8 years, having four solo exhibitions in that time as well as entering various competitions and prize.

His works have very strong tonal qualities and demonstrate a lively observation of nature and its surrounds. They capture the very real image and transpose the viewer into a relaxing and peaceful space. His handling of reflections is entrancing, and one of the most noticeable features of his work.

http://www.peterwalfried.com.au/

Current exhibition:
Reflections on the Murray
2 - 30 October 2009
Pepper Street Arts Centre558 Magill Road, Magill(Corner of Pepper Street and Magill Road)Open Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 12noon-5pm
Contacts: Alex Cornwell and Sally Patterson
Phone: (08) 8364 6154
Email: pepperstreet@burnside.sa.gov.au

Dianne Gall

"Troubled Beauty" 2009 Oil on Linen 30.5x35.5cms

"One of the first images of my paintings from my upcoming show Noir, which opens in Canberra, at Beaver Galleries on October 15th 2009."

Dianne Gall - http://diannegall.blogspot.com/

Brancusi once said: "Nothing grows under the shadow of big trees."

"Australian Artist, Dianne Gall, graduated from the South Australian School of Art over 20 years ago and has had over 14 Solo exhibitions and more than 50 group shows.

I believe in creating art for the right reasons, because you want to create as a method of expression, not to make a dollar. This is why I have always worked full-time in another profession, to support my art, so as not to be in the position of painting for money, I cannot bare that scenario. Nor can I stand myself to just walk up to the easel and blindly paint just because I can. It is not a good way to conduct your art career (except when you are just out of art school and finding your feet), to exhibit just because its your turn in your galleries cycle. You must have something to say, it is for this reason, I sometimes don't paint, it is always on my mind, but I don't see the point of painting to fill an exhibition just because your dealers space needs 30 paintings to fill it. Its just not on, it is better to have 10 large, well constructed images, that are the best that you can do at the time, with a couple of studies on the walls, than more dross for the mill. I also feel that painting is a continuum throughout your life, whilst your subject matter may change over time, it is still this journey, one that I started when I was about 5 or 6 years old in earnest. I've always wanted to paint, I feel unsettled if I don't paint, all those things swimming around in my head just waiting to get out, its almost a cathartic process, that I need to go through."

Dianne Gall - 2009

Working full time, studying full time, being with Jim Thalassoudis full time and painting so profound because she must, when she must - Brancusi was wrong.

Sometimes two giants can live together and create beautiful works together.

You can see their upcoming show at:

Beaver Galleries,

81 Denison Street, Deakin, Canberra

15 October - 3 November 2009

Julie Stephens - Capturing the Spirit of Australian Wildife and Nature on canvas

"I live in Northern Country Victoria , and ever since I can remember I have been interested in art, I have painted in oils on and off for most of my life, and now I am retired I am taking my painting very seriously and paint every day, I also have a passion for Australian wildlife, especially birds, Even when I was a little girl I would spend hours just watching the habits of birds, and still do that today. I now concentrate on painting birds, but I also paint portraits, seascape and landscapes.

You can also view some of my work at
http://julie-stephens.blogspot.com"

Julie Stephens

Amanda van Gils - with an end in mind

With an end in mind - oil on linen

I love her early works and her quest for new expressive ideas.

I admire her willingness to help - her posts on Art Forum and Australian Art Forum are always informative and very helpful.

Talking with Art Interview about her work in 2006 Amanda said:

"My postgraduate was at the Victorian College of the Arts and my undergraduate was at Chisholm Institute (now Monash University) in Melbourne.

I started by creating very abstract landscapes. You could tell they were landscapes but they were not intended to be very accurate representations. I was painting the idea of a landscape. I also played with other things, but I would say that I have always been heavily based in figurative work.

Everything has evolved over time. If I look at the work I have created over the last seven years there has been an apparent evolution of the ideas. What I am doing now is very different from what I was doing seven years ago. There has been a natural progression from one piece of work or from one theme to another. I am currently painting children playing in the sky. That evolved from painting people snorkeling in the sky, which was one of those happy accidents. I just happened to put a photograph of myself snorkeling, while I was on holiday, next to a photograph of one of my drawings and the idea just somehow came to me. It was the first time that I actually worked with figures. I liked that idea and I began playing with the notion of limitless possibilities of being in the sky".

Amanda van Gils - Art Interview - 006

Enjoy Amanda's figurative work and more recent landscapes here:

http://www.amandavangils.com/

Gerhard Ritter - one of my dearest friends

Michael Atchison oil on canvas, 140cm x 75cm

Gerhard grew up in Berlin and in Adelaide attending both Adelaide University and Uni SA, where he received an MBA.

Gerhard is proud to be a fellow and Director of the Royal South Australian Society of Arts.

He has won numerous prizes in painting and sculpture and believes in sharing his experiences and giving back to the art community.

He has been a contributor to Australian Artist magazine and has produced a series of instructional DVD’s.

His popular demonstrations and workshops are filled with examples of his work, frequent anecdotes and an abundance of tips.

For more information you can visit his website

http://www.portraitsinoil.com.au/ or his popular blog

http://ritterart.blogspot.com/

David Arandle - The Extraordinary Tourist

"Generally I describe myself as an Artist but this tends to suggest only one aspect of my creativity. I have a creative interest in so many things. I write stories, poems, comedy, articles. I paint, draw, cartoon. I'm a graphic designer. I design and code web sites, program computers, create animation, video and multimedia presentations. Sometimes I'm a photographer, a model and a problem solver. Sometimes I invent things, design games, build stuff and manage people.
The point is that I'm a creative person. I don't put a limit on where I apply my creativity. You can't put me in a pigeon hole. I'd get bored if you did. It's just who I am.

My real name is David Arandle. It is only online that I am known as The Extraordinary Tourist. Most people just call me TET. In chat rooms I use the nickname etourist or some variation of it (as occasionally it's taken).
In April of 1999 I needed a new nickname for a message board, forum style, chat site called 'Whispers'. I was hoping to meet new people and make new friends so I wanted a nickname that would get me noticed.
Two years earlier I had created a character 'The Extraordinary Tourist', a traveler between perceptions. A guy who was different depending on your point of view. The character's name was a variation of a book title "The Accidental Tourist", which was later made into a film staring Gina Davis and William Hurt. I really liked that title and wanted something similar for my character.
To cut a long story short, the character had a cool name so I adopted it as my own. To some degree I have also superimposed the character into my own life - mostly adopting the idea of being 'Extraordinary'. I think it's an ideal worth striving for."

TET is one of my greatest inspirations, as one who has been where I am now.

Enjoy his journeys here:

http://www.extraordinarytourist.com/

Wendy Olsen - raising children and painting

I am Wendy Olsen, a 35 year old mother of three. I am a Gippsland artist who specialises mainly in acrylics and playing around with soft pastel, and the odd mixed media.
I am also self employed painting giftware and selling it locally and online as well .
I have always wanted to be an artist, and somewhere around four years ago it dawned on me that I actually had to create art to be one!
So... I began experimenting with pastels and mixed media and acrylic paints.
I then took 2 years off from painting art to have my third child, resuming earlier this year.
I have exhibited in several local shows and have work in many private collections across Australia and a few overseas. I have several pieces on show at The Town and Country Gallery in Yarragon Victoria.
I recently had a demonstration day showing the public how I create... this generated a lot of interest and I have been booked in to teach a workshop in Yarragon Victoria on saturday the 8th of August, to teach students (experienced and beginners alike) how to paint a realistic bird painting, covering composition, lighting and the small details that bring a painting to 'life'.

I paint wildlife, pets and people. I love creating contemporary portraits with mixed media and pastel, as well as contemporary florals.
I spend hours per day painting, and create at least one to two new works weekly...
I love painting, and I aim for this to show through in my work.
I have a website dedicated to showing some of my works. It is being updated on a regular basis, as new works get completed, I also have a blog, featuring some of my alternative art, and the stories and notes that accompany them.
http://www.wendyolsen-art.com/
http://wendyolsen-art.blogspot.com/

Martin Clarke - where the land meets the sea

"I'm an ordinary bloke with an extraordinary interest in painting. I've been told I'm talented, but I have to disagree. It's not talent, it's a knowledge and love of the subject, it's painting many, many pieces, it's making mistakes and learning from them, it's observing the light and the colour, it's the hope and belief that the next piece is going to be your best piece, it's the constant, unending striving for the perfection you know you will never attain, but for which you reach nonetheless. I'm fascinated by water, the coast and waves, the result of many years of surfing and searching for that perfect wave. Along the way I have picked up a pretty good knowledge of the ocean, and I'm interested with the way light can interact with the ocean, or with lots of objects for that matter. Light plays a major role in my work, the way it shapes and colours form, the way it can reflect and refract, causing a dazzling bright or a warm and mysterious dark.

People ask where my inspiration comes from. Have you ever walked on to a beach on an early Summer's morning, and seen the ripples dance over the multicoloured shallows with a dark ocean beckoning beyond? Have you ever sheltered behind a rock in a Winter's storm and seen the sun rays lancing down to light storm tossed, angry waves? Have you ever stood on the shore and watched and listened to the boom of huge Autumn surf pounding out the back, with the sun glistening off towering wave faces and the spray sparkling like a million diamonds as it's blown off the lip? Have you ever seen Spring's warming waters change colours as the weather changes, from steel greys to dazzling blues, from sandy yellows to breathtaking turquoises? If you have, you know where my inspiration comes from. If you haven't, I hope my work can help to take you there."

Marty

http://www.martinclarke-art.com/

Bob Abrahams - Artist

Paintings by Bob Abrahams are impressionistic in style. Essentially a tone and atmospheric painter, Bob searches for the light, using creative colour and painterly brushstrokes to enhance the effects. Since retiring from a successful business career in 2000 he has taken a more professional approach, painting most days.

Bob’s interest in art became serious when he completed an Arts Diploma at Perth Technical College while working full time in a demanding business career. As an artist specialising in landscape and still life, he spends much of his time painting from life and on location in and around the city of Perth. He has also made regular painting expeditions to the north west of the state and other regions. Recent works can be viewed from his Resident Artists studio at Ellis House Community Art Centre in Bayswater

Many paintings have been sold through local and regional art galleries, Artisan Gallery Subiaco, Monet Gallery Guildford, The Mill Gallery York and community exhibitions by WA Society of Arts, Riverside Painter’s, Ellis House and other. Successful exhibitions have been held at Dalkeith Dome with Bernice Wright and at the Old George Gallery with Maureen Silc and Panisca Carnaby, and with David Hinchliffe at Ellis House. A growing list of Bob’s painting awards such as the Presidents Selection and Laurie Bennet plein award at WASA and the hundreds of happy art collectors on E-Bay are a good indication of the quality of his work.

Bob’s E-Bay Painting Store
http://stores.shop.ebay.com.au/ABRAHAMS-ORIGINAL-PAINTINGS__W0QQ_armrsZ1

Bob’s Every Day Painting Blog
http://abrahams08.blogspot.com/

Ursula Theinert - the power to start again

"Werner and I are a small part of the whole of Victoria
affected by the Black Saturday Fires. We all felt that
we were under siege and that we had to deal with
what life had dealt us.
The stresses and hardships varied from person to
person, but what was shared was the bonding of that
terrible summer and that soul searching day. Out of the
darkness of the fires came the great spirit of the
community to help and heal each other.
Werner and I feel incredibly lucky and will never
forget all the support and kindness, and we will carry
all of these experiences into our future.
Thank you."

Ursula Theinert

http://ursulatheinert.com.au/

staging.rav.net.au/storyboard/assets/black-saturday-callignee-7th-feb-2003.pdf

Adam Bogusz - a family man

Our favourite spot - Adam Bogusz

"My passions in life are my family, my wife Sarah and my two awesome kids John and Sophie. I love painting and the freedom it gives me to work at home. I wouldn’t change it for anything."

"Bosusz says becoming a painter was partly a
quest for identity.
The artist concedes the other inpetus to
becoming a painter was financial. He wasn't
making a living from music and was still
living at home. However, Bogusz says it is
hard to be true to the creative impulse when
commercial considerations come into play.
"It's like this monkey over your head all the
time," he says. "When a gallery phones and
says, ''We could have sold that painting 20
times over', a part of me wants to rush off to
the studio and reproduce the work - almost
like rubber stamping. I've done that in the
past, but as soon as you do... something dies.
You don't know it is happening, but it's no
longer fresh."
Bogusz feels the best work results from
spontaneous moments. "The best way I can
describe it is when a piano player is able
to stop looking at the keys and just play
the music," he explains. "It's the same with
painting. When you're not thinking about
it and it just happens. There's such a sense
of magic and you have no control over it."

Affair - Arts and entertainment
I love Adam's almost naive style and his contrasting colours - there is so much life in his paintings.
The two works I own are two of the happiest places on my wall. Take a look at his impressive collection. Enjoy!

http://www.adambogusz.com.au/

Mike Barr - always loves a challenge

Walkerville Art Show

Walkerville Town Hall, 66 Walkerville Tce, Gilberton, July 16-19

10 paintings in 3 hours -painting challenge

During the show on Saturday July 18 Mike will set himself the challenge of painting 10 paintings from 1pm - 4pm.

These small demonstration paintings will all be for sale as soon as they have left the easel.

They will be nicely finished and ready to hang.

All demonstration paintings will go for $150 each.

Come and see art in the making and chat to the artist at work.

http://www.theartofbarr.com/

Murray Edwards

Distant Light - Murray Edwards

"There's more to life than art - but not much more.

Painting in a distinctive style with a strong use of colour, I use all mediums, mainly in landscapes and figure works with an occasional still life. Impressionist technique and style with emphasis on communicating my response to subject matter. More involved with concepts, moods and personalities of things than with realism. " - Murray Edwards

If in your travels you ever come to South Australia, you must go to Clare to see the Corella Studio.

The experience is well worth the trip. The views are magnificent, the man is a blessing to talk to and his art is an inspiration for anyone who loves colour and landscapes and art.

Corella Hill Gallery studio is usually open to the public seven days a week, from 10am to 5pm. It is closed only on Christmas Day.
The studio offers a glimpse of personal and intimate aspects of the creative side of being an artist. It's located 2 kilometres out of the small village of Watervale in the Clare Valley wine region. Only about 1.5 hours drive North of Adelaide.

http://www.murrayedwards.com.au