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How to Deal with a Messy House AND be a Productive Artist in 5 Easy Steps.

1. Throw a rug over it...then go back to your easel.
2. Create pathways through all the crap...then go back to your easel.
3. Tell the kids if they don't clean the house, Santa won't come...then go back to your easel.
4. Move out to the shed...and take your easel with you.
5. Your better half cracks it big time so you start cleaning the house together...then after 5 minutes sneak back out to the shed.

Whala, you end up with a clean house AND you've been super productive, nothing to it!!


Finished Piece
Look Ma, No Hands, oil on board, 30 x 30cm (12x12in)
Copyright2010 Holly Hartwell

Detail

If you wish to purchase this piece click here.

Did you know...
I own a $100 AUD paintbrush. It's a No. 26 Da Vinci black sable. Mmmm, black sable, it even sounds cool doesn't it!

What is the most expensive art supply purchase you have ever made??

6 Reasons Why Working in a Studio the Size of an Aeroplane Toilet is not all Bad.

My 'Studio' set-up in the corner of our lounge room!

1. You realise you can produce work ANYWHERE!
2. Smaller works = more artwork, reduced costs such as framing and paint.
3. You become more efficient e.g. taking photos of your still life set-up instead of leaving it set-up for the kids to destroy, painting straight from your computer screen.
4. In some cases increased exposure. My little set-up is close to the front door, the first thing anyone sees when they walk in the door is my latest creation.
5. In some cases, if your set-up is in your main living area such as mine, it's always in sight so if I'm washing dishes or cleaning in the living room an occasional glance can often reveal errors that I hadn't noticed before.
   
6. Close to the kitchen - easy access to copious amounts of coffee.

One major disadvantage to working in a small space... when the dog farts you've got nowhere to run!


First layer of new painting.



Look Ma, No Hands, unfinished
Copyright2010 Holly Hartwell

I'm really having fun with this one, the nice bright reds make a nice change. I'll continue to work on it over the weekend.
In order to make my blog more interesting I'm adding a new addition called 'Did You Know'. Little snippets of useful (or useless) information about painting that you may/may not know.
Enjoy.


Did You Know...
It takes 3-6 months for an average oil painting to cease contracting and expanding before it dries completely. It was common practice not-so-long-ago to wait an entire year!

Want to get the Perfect Gift this Xmas?

Yes, that's right folks, the website is up and running with credit card/paypal facilities for your purchasing convenience. Buy direct from the artist and SAVE $$$.

View available work here.

New Work

Tomato II, oil on board, 20 x 20cm
Copyright2010 Holly Hartwell

To purchase this painting, go to my website.

I'm hanging to do some larger and more complicated works and will be working on sketching out a new series over the Christmas break.

We've had a LOT of rain here over the past week and the local dam rose 10%!!

We took the kids for a drive on Sunday to check it out. Many of the roads that had been closed the day before had cleared and we we're able to drive around safely. The landscape has totally changed and looks a lot greener than it has in years which is great!

Enjoy the website. xxx

Last Chance to See 'Art on the Range' Exhibition

Rusty Frame acrylic
Copyright2010 Anne Gilbert

Yet again Crookwell has shown us just how strong our little art community is with over 70 artists, both local and from surrounding areas, submitting works for the annual Art On The Range exhibition. The standard of work this year was some of the best I've seen and once again the Crookwell Arts Council have done an amazing job of organising the event.


Joker, Drama Queen & Sleeping Beauty
mixed sculpture
Copyright2010 Hank Spirek

Opening night was well attended with the Food on the Range local produce table a huge hit. My kids particularly liked the selection of baked potatoes from local grower Gary Cadwell.

Blue and White oils on canvas
Copyright2010 Lesley Gartrell

Soft Shade wood sculptural light
Copyright2010 Peter Collins


Beckoning of the Poplars
acrylic on canvas board
Copyright2010 Sally Wilson

Art on the Range is open for its last days 10-3pm Sat. 4th & Sun 5th Dec.
If you happen to be in the area, call into Memorial Hall on Denison Street, Crookwell, NSW, Australia. I promise you won't be disappointed.

How to Make the Right Brushstroke Every Time.

It used to happen all the time. I’d look at a fantastic painting and wonder just how they got the paint to come off the brush in just the right way? A single brushstroke and BAM, behold a fabulous painting!

Today I’m reviewing a book that I actually bought years ago but has given me so much guidance and taken my brush skills to a whole new level that I’m ashamed I’ve kept it a secret for so long.

Brushwork Essentials by Mark Christopher Weber.

Purchase direct at www.markchristopherweber.com or at any great online book sellers.

Seriously, if you think your brushwork needs some TLC, just buy it!

As well as being a great artist, his knowledge of brushstroke technique is invaluable. Now you might be saying to yourself ‘How hard is it to pick up some paint and put it on a canvas?’ If I had of been taught just HALF of these techniques when I was at art school, I would be strokes ahead. And not just in my golf game!

Mark uses water soluble oil paints for all his painting demonstrations but obviously the techniques would apply to any painting mediums. Some of the topics covered are:

• 1. What to look for when purchasing a brush
  
• 2. Brush care
• 3. Brush shaping and paint loading
• 4. Brush angle and pressure
• 5. How to avoid paint ridges
• 6. Blending variations and rendering careful detail
• 7. Numerous demonstrations on still life’s, landscapes and the figure.

The mastery and skill shown in Marks paintings is testament to a thorough understanding of a paintbrush’s potential. And the worn and torn book cover on my copy of Brushwork Essentials is testament to how much I rely on these basic but much under-estimated skills.

And Now For My Latest Piece...

Piggy oil on board 20x20cm

©2010 Holly Hartwell

Lots of smooth surfaces in this one, a real challenge... which is why I paint really!!
If you wish to purchase, please e-mail. Thank You.

Taking the blog places.

With a commitment to building a more vibrant blog, I signed up for the 4-week Blog Triage class with Cynthia Morris and Alyson Stanfield. Today’s assignment is to describe the people I want to visit and read my blog.

Link to Cynthia’s: http://www.originalimpulse.com/blog

and Alyson’s: http://artbizblog.com.

My ideal reader would be any age or background, live in any part of the world, have a interest in art and a keen sense of humour in order to laugh with me at all the shit life can throw at us, be comfortable with the format of my blog and willing to comment on/ share their own experiences and give constructive criticism of my artwork.

What do I want to get out of blogging?

Connection. To facilitate interesting and thought provoking discussions with like minded people on the subjects of art and life. I want feedback on my work and in return I want to give constructive feedback on others work, I want to learn and grow through reading others opinions and obviously I want my blog to give my art exposure to the world. I also want to become more comfortable and confident writing and talking about my own artwork – I think that’s the hardest thing for an artist to do, to analyse where inspiration comes from, ask why we create the things we do and then put it into words!

Any thoughts/comments about your own experiences with blog’s/blogging are welcome. Or if you have a link to a particularly interesting artist/general blog please share. I’d love to hear from you!

Sneak Peaks

Ahhh, there's nothing like taking a break to make you appreciate all the little things about being an artist... like when your computer crashes and you have to re-write your entire blog post, or when your husband knocks a wet painting off your easle and it lands face down, or when your mid-brushstroke and the phone rings but its just someone trying to sell you windows awnings, or when you put a painting outside to dry after varnishing it and it starts to rain!
Here's a sneak peak at what I've working on this week. Try to pick which one got dropped onto the floor!

Takin' a break.

Yes, it's been awhile. Just taking a break for a bit, I tend to work really hard for 3 or 4 months and then have break, let my creative energy build back up and then go again. I temporarily pulled the plug on the web-site, the printers let me down (they still hadn't gotten anywhere after 10 weeks - and I only wanted 10 prints!!! Thanks alot Arthead!) and it was a case of 'the straw that broke the camel's back'. It really pissed-me-off in other words! And I see no sense in pouring money into a website if it's not generating any. Right, all that shit is off my chest, see you in a few months, hopefully with a more positive progress report.

Banana

SOLD

Banana oil on board 20cm x 20cm

© 2010 Holly Hartwell

Slow

Slow
oil on linen on board
30 x 30cm (12 x 12 inch)

Hello, yes it's been awhile. Have been working on this piece and getting my website up and running.
Check it out at www.hollyhartwell.net.au
I wasn't going to launch it until I had some prints for sale but what the heck!
Enjoy.

Paddle Pop Sticks.

Paddle Pop Sticks
oil on linen on board
20 x 20cm (8x8in)

This one's been sitting on the easel for a couple of weeks, just needed a few finishing touches to the shot glass and my new signature. Painting on linen was lovely, not as slippery as painting straight onto primed board.
If you are interested in purchasing this work, please e-mail
me at: bartonh1@optusnet.com.au.

Eggs with Blueberries

Eggs with Blueberries
oil on board, 20 x 20cm
SOLD

What a week! Started designing my own website, thats always fun! Met with builders to draw up plans for studio. We're going to convert half of our 6x6 shed to studio space complete with 2 huge skylights, insulation, work benches and a toilet and sink. Driveway guys coming tomorrow to bitumen our 200sq metre driveway, had builders here last week replacing roof on house and shed from the hail storm back in September and now hubbies talking about putting an extension on! No more!!
I finished this piece awhile ago but decided to start having work scanned at the art shop (rather than me take terrible photos) and get it framed at the same time. This piece along with 'Onion' and 'Puppy Love' are destined for Maleny Country Antiques and Collectibles in QLD where the owner is helping me find them good homes. Hope you like it!

Check out this guy!

This guy never fails to amaze me. He lives on the south coast of NSW, exhibits locally and internationally and his work is just, just...well, bloody fantastic!
I saw a show of his at the Nowra Art Gallery a few years ago and to see them in the flesh was awe inspiring. His technical mastery of acrylics is beyond belief and would turn hardcore oil painting purists to blubbering, jaw-dropping acrylic fans overnight.
His use of light and his beautiful compositions are just some elements of his work that keep me inspired and striving to do better in my own work.

Check out his website www.therealsteveharris.com.au

Here's a good quote that I regulary use to keep me going.
"Even if your on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."

No. 3 - Tomato

No. 3 - Tomato
oil on panel, 20cm x 20cm

If you wish to purchase this piece, e-mail me at bartonh1@optusnet.com.au.

Well its been a big day helping hang 120 works for the exhibition this weekend, all with my four year old in tow. He was so well behaved I took him to the toy shop.
I put the finishing touches on this piece this morning. Let me know what you think everbody, its always great to get comments, feedback is good.

Anzac Day Exhibition/Auction

It's that time of year again for Crookwell's annual charity art auction and exhibition in aid of the Crookwell District Community Trust (CDCT). 40 works are up for auction and a further 80 for general sale with a percentage of each work sold/auctioned going to the community trust.
The CDCT helps people in the district financially who have experienced extreme difficulties due to personal trauma or natural disasters.

The auction is Saturday 24th April at 2pm and features some great artists including Margarita Georgiadis, Cherry Hood, John Dawson, Hank Spirek, Adam Cullen and myself (of course!) to name just a few.
A selection of works for the exhibition can be viewed at
www.upperlachlantourism.com

It's a great cause and the auction is always entertaining so if your in Crookwell this weekend, check it out.

Puppy Love

No. 2 'Puppy Love', oil on panel, 20cm x 20cm.

If you wish to purchase this work, please e-mail me at bartonh1@optusnet.com.au

This is one of the kids toys, it's only about 7cm high. I think I'll have another go at painting this a bit later. Although you may not be able to see it in the photo, my brush work isn't as smooth as I would have liked. Try, try again.

Paint, Paint, Paint...

I was told many years ago that if you want to discover your own personal style and get good, paint 200 small works. So, that's what I intend to do. A number of things may happen by the end of the 200 paintings, 1. I'll be a really quick painter, 2. I'll be blind and have RSI, 3. I'll have 200 flops on my hands, or 4. I may actually improve and create something that I consider worthy.
So, here's No. 1.

No. 1, Oil on panel, 20cm x 20cm

Please e-mail bartonh1@optusnet.com.au if you wish to purchase this work.

Back to reality!

Dan and I, Mollymook Beach.

Well, the wedding went swimmingly, the honeymoon was divine and now it's back to reality with my nose to the easle. I was working on this before the wedding and finished it today. If you are interested in purchasing this piece or others on my blog, please contact me at bartonh1@optusnet.com.au.

My daughter's gumboots.
Oil on panel, 20x20cm.