Second class citizen.

Today is Tuesday, which means that last night was Monday night and I went to my second painting class. The one where we actually got to paint something. I had such a great time, partially because I made it into the studio without walking into the wall this time. I swear the desk guy was watching me with a here's-that-loser-chick-I-wonder-if-she'll-walk-into-the-wall-again glint in his eye. Hah! Disappointed much, desk guy? 

Mostly though, I had a great time because I was mixing colours and talking about complementary tones and measuring things with my eyes squinted up and my paint brush handle waving around in the air. Just like Fiona taught me. So artisty. And then I learned about triangular composition and breaking objects into simple shapes and blocking in so there is no scary white canvas left. Awesome! This Fiona lady knows so many heaps of things about painting. I like her even if she wears questionable shoes.

So I went ahead and painted my three pears with some fabric and a bit of table and it was unreal and I loved every minute of it. And they were even quite pear like and I was totally chuffed with myself. They aren't finished quite yet, I have to put in my moody mood lighting shadows next week. The thing that is most amazing is that I have had this feeling for such a long time that I would love painting but always told myself that it was a foolish, fanciful delusion that was in no way achievable. But last night I had a little breakthrough and realised that anyone can probably paint if they have someone like Fiona to help them understand the process. I'm in no way convinced that I am capable of producing great art, or even good art, but I can paint a pear that looks like a pear and I can love doing it.

 

Sunny Saturday.

 

Saturday was a beautiful day at my house. It was gorgeously sunny in that it's-not-really-summer-any-more-but-what-the-heck kind of way. On Friday night I had indulged in a toasted cheese sandwich film festival for one, which had kept me up late, so it was a bit of a slow start on Saturday. After noodling around for a while I decided what I really wanted to do was hang out in the sun and paint. I also decided that, whilst I understand the necessity for quality equipment, it is perfectly okay for me to experiment with cheap paints whilst I get the hang of things. I mean really, I cannot imagine that any of the first fifty or so paintings I turn out will be even vague contenders for public viewing so who cares if they eventually crack and yellow? They will be locked in the basement like all good experimental creations. And then if they're really lucky, they may one day be painted over and given another moment in the sun. But they will probably just moulder away down there in a funk of dissatisfaction and lost potential, plotting and scheming to overthrow the heartless wench who consigned them to such an undignified fate.

So I went to the shops and bought an armload of cheap paint. And then I set up a little factory on my back deck and got right down to it. I went ferreting around in the shed and came up with a bunch of board and ply that I prepped and can now paint onto and that was super satisfying. Then I actually made a painting. And it turned out really bad. And no, I will not be showing you a photo of it. But, despite the clear and present badness, it was still really fun. And I don't even care that it is bad. Because I already learned some things from it. And it was sunny and I was happy and it made me feel peaceful and focused and like some really friendly bumblebees had landed in my brain and were making a contented buzzing background noise that lasted all day.

And by the way, speaking of toasted cheese sandwiches (way back in paragraph one), has everyone seen the ultimate toasted cheese sandwich blog which is written by a very committed toastie lover? Check it out, it is such good fun and filled with cheesy, meltedy amazingness.

I spy.

In the closet.

Flying first class.

I went to my first painting class on Monday night at Hazelhurst Gallery. Lots of it was great and some of it was kind of kooky. When I turned up it was all dark and gloomy and I couldn't find any humans and I nearly left before I busted out a single virgin paintbrush bristle. But then I found a good and helpful human and was directed to Studio One, although I had quite a bit of trouble finding the door which was not as straightforward as it may sound. I think the helpful human may have been laughing at me the second time I walked into a wall.

In my class there is a nice lady called Cheryl and a very knowledgeable man called Bob. And there's me. That's all. Just three little squirrels. Bob makes quilts. He's a quilter. Cheryl likes watercolours and isn't too keen on all this modern art business. She likes decorating and last year she went to Egypt. The teacher's name is Fiona and she is cool. She made us cups of tea and told us about the names of the different parts of a paintbrush. And we learned about tonal qualities and how to mix paint properly and clean brushes properly and how to use the colour wheel and we made paint charts, which was equal parts tedious and weirdly therapeutic.

And the best bit was when the previously mentioned helpful human opened up the gallery for us and Fiona took us through the exhibition and talked to us about the paintings and the techniques that had been used in them. Bob and I liked the same painting best. And I got to get all up close and personal with four works by the amazing Tommy Watson. They were just astonishing and beautiful and incredible and amazing. This one wasn't in the collection but is a bit of a favorite.

Next week in painting class we are going to actually paint. Fiona is going to set up some fruits and we are going to paint a still life. I am actually totally excited to paint the fruits. Especially because right at the moment I am just loving the work of Polly Jones who paints still life works that I really enjoy looking at. You can look at her paintings too, on her blog. She does genius things with fishbowls.

So painting class seems like a winner so far. Next week, fruits ahoy. I'm gonna bust out that filbert (that's a kind of paintbrush - see, with the learning) and go nutso bananas on my canvas kingdom.

I spy.

Good morning.

Oh my.

This is hilarious. Yes, it is all crochet. Find it (of course) on Etsy.

I spy.

I am starting to really get into this project of photographing something in my immediate surroundings every 48 hours. I am trying to confine it to the interior of my home at the moment, just to make me think a bit harder. This is my favorite from yesterdays efforts.

And I quite liked these as well.