Free Organ Recital 2018

On 28th Dec, "Young Organists Day," I enjoyed an annual and free organ recital in Sydney Town Hall and challenged to capture a majestic grand organ in an hour. The world largest organ installed in 1890 is 11.5 m tall and nearly 6 m deep! The width is nearly equal to the theatre hall. All young selected organists said, "It's huge, so I love it." In my sketch, Emily Thompson plays "Theme and Variations" from Sonata 6, Op.65 composed by Flelix Mendelssohn(1809-1847). Three siblings from the Thompsons played the music. Furthermore, one more family member will join this concert next year! What a music loving family Thompsons!   

A divine music and euphoria. As well as the size, young talents told the reasons of loving an organ were "For God," and "Use a body to create sounds." Their say sounded similar to visual art. When we, even visual artists, get excited, we naturally move bodies and begin to dance. (*I do!). Probably, art is from our excitement and ecstasy. So, we respond to art in a same way.  

Kind Emily offered me time for photos. Interesting to hear about young organists' life. They daily spend five or some hours in practice, win prizes and fellowships. Their enthusiasm is amazing. I hope these talents will grow and become wonderful organists in the world. Nice to listen to a great music and very encouraging to know other persevering gifted emerging artists. I should keep up.  

Now, Friends, a different topic. I'm already working on two projects for 2019. Busy! Hopefully, I will make a public announcement in Jan. Look forward to our good news. 
Thank you very much for your strong support this year!! 
Friends, Happy Painting and Enjoy Your Lives Fully!     

Free Organ Recital 2018

Merry Christmas!

Wish You a Happy Christmas! 
We enjoy carols and sing together in a Town Hall square. 
Have a safe and happy festive season, Friends. 
Thank you for your strong support for this year! 
Best wishes, Sadami 

Merry Christmas!

May peace be on the earth

Merry Christmas. This small chapel is next to a hospital. My work is prayer dedicated for people separated from their loved people. Hope suffering people will find the meaning in suffering. May peace be on the earth. Thank you for your strong support for this year! 

May peace be on the earth

Finalist for 2019 PARAART TOKYO

My work, "Dignity" was selected. 2019 paraART celebrates humanity in parallel with Tokyo Paralympic 2020. Very Happy and honoured. I'm the finalist from Australia. This is their English site. http://www.paraart.jp/en/PARAART/

The "Dignity" is at the left side top in this flyer. Please find the two flyers below.

Where : Toshima Ku, Minami Ikebukuro 2-45-1, Tokyo, Ground Floor. 

When : 1st Feb to 5th Feb 2019

My work got in about 200 works that include paintings and calligraphy from all over the world. The work got through a very narrow gate. 

Hope many people with disability will have dream and hope! Thank you very much for support for ages. 
Friends, let's enjoy life. Happy Painting all the time!  

Finalist for 2019 PARAART TOKYO

Parramatta City Brass Band Plays Xmas Carols

ParramattaCity Brass Band played Christmas carols for us, residents and anyone in Centenary Square. The Band welcomed me. Lovely to see the band playing a wonderful music freebie for music lovers : any races, homeless people, people with disability, and whatever the background is. 

In the band, each different personality interested me. A young very shy man made me smile. His grand ma and a mum were there, too. They should be very proud of the son. “How long have you been playing a trumpet?” I asked. He had played it before a kindy. Aw, me, too. I do not remember when I started to draw. I’ve loved drawing from very an early stage of life such as three or four?  

Each member has a strong feeling to her/his own instrument that is quite expensive. I had a chat with another lady with a trumpet. She spent several thousand dollars in it. Me, too, have had spent similar amount in materials every year. I wondered where she could find a place to practice individually. She sometimes used a mute. My suggestion, “Early in the morning at a beach!” brightened up her. “Beach!” Yes, no one would complain about sounds only waves. I sketched down her in black and white.  

I will colour the lady with a trumpet next time. 
See you at the same place from 6pm to 7pm this Thursday! Thank you very much, Steven O'Brien for connecting me with Parramatta City Band! 

Thank you very much for sharing my posts on FB, Parramatta City Brass Band!

Parramatta City Brass Band Plays Xmas Carols

R.I.P, Kangaroo Kevin

Kevin passed away, the big retired kangaroo staying in my dear friend Margaret Hamilton's backyard of Children Picture Book Cottage Pinerolo. Very sad. Whilst the rescue, I learned about the bone structure of a kangaroo and created his portrait. My tribute. 

Unfortunately Kevin had a terrible growth in his mouth which couldn’t be removed and was rotting -- was the prognosis, when the nice lady from WIRES for Wildlife Rescues took him to the vet. So the best thing for Kevin was they put him to sleep. Margaret and Max agreed with it. It was me that contacted WIRES. It took nearly thirty minutes to get through. So, I was really concerned about Kevin. 

This is the skull of a little kangaroo I found in a bush. This skull is broken and not perfect. A jaw, nose and others are missing though, it helps me understand a kangaroo's face. I reviewed the structure and drew Kevin. When the sad news came to me, I shed tears. But that's life. 

We already miss him. Particularly, Margaret and Max were hugely honoured to have had a wild animal trust them and feel secure and unthreatened. We grew very fond of him. Thank you, Kevin. You made us happy. I could develop a lovely character for illustration. 
Rest in Peace, Kevin. 
Btw, I'm working on the projects and preparing for Christmas parties or end of year events. Already, putting a schedule in 2019. How was your 2018 and do you have any plan for 2019? I hope both years will be wonderful. 
Friends, happy painting and enjoy a life fully! 

R.I.P, Kangaroo Kevin

1) Australian Landscape 2) ASA party = Networking

Whilst working on the projects and art work, I enjoy studying landscapes. I post an Australian woolshed based on Harry Sowden's black and white photo. Colours are from my imagination. Paradoxically, following instinct is much better than being distracted by a real subject. Value is crucial in painting. 

Credit on Harry Sowden

A dry brush technique, waxing and scratching were used in this work. I will explore more about techniques and learn the timing of wet in wet.

Now, a Christmas party season is coming. It's the time for networking in publishing industry. We get together, catch up, chat over projects and exchange information. Here's one upcoming is Australian Society of Authors Christmas party, below. 

If you are interested in Australian publishing industry and if you like, you can pop up my facebook page, too. There, especially, people in publishing industry keep in touch. I'll post photos. 
https://www.facebook.com/sadami.konchi
See you there, in an ASA party! 
Friends, Happy Painting!!  

Location
ASA offices, C1.06, 22-36 Mountain St, Ultimo, NSW, 2007

Date & Time
12th December, 5.00pm - 6.30pm

Prices
Free for members to attend

End of year party, NSW

NSW members are invited to the ASA Christmas/end of year party.

Wednesday 12th December, 5.00pm - 6.30pm

Suite C1.06 22-36 Mountain St Ultimo NSW 2007 Australia

Come celebrate and meet the team! Some information on the team, and pictures so you know who we are on the night, can be found here: https://www.asauthors.org/about-us/our-staff

Register below to RSVP (you must sign in to register).

1) Australian Landscape 2) ASA party = Networking

Featured Sadami in Summer Reading Club

Featured Sadami in Summer Reading Club. "My Dog Socks" is listed. I chatted over the disability as well as my career. http://www.summerreadingclub.org.au/theclub/sadami-konchi/

"Once upon a time, there was a student who always made graphite and cartoons on her notes, textbooks and dictionaries.

Her drawings became so popular among friends, especially her portraits of teachers and famous people in textbooks.
One day, uni lectureres recognised her talent and pushed out that student to become a visual artist. And…today, she enjoys creating picture books, portraits as well as academic book covers – that student is me!" 

SCBWI profile

Sadami Konchi's Creative Tip
Have a dream and go every direction.
Trust in your ability and the potential.
Disability is this ability.

I'm getting so many people's celebration, particularly, in publishing industry in Face Book. Actually, my happy surprise. Thank you very much, Friends, for your strong support!! I hope children will enjoy reading and children/adults with disability will have dream by my post. You, too, have a wonderful time in a winter or a summer.  
My new projects are ongoing. 
Friends, Happy Painting! 

Featured Sadami in Summer Reading Club

Centenary of Armistice, The Australian War Memorial

Armistice Day. I sketched "Fallen Soldier," a statue in St Mary Cathedral with a sketch group, "Drawing Sydney." A lady left a poppy on the soldier's chest. I prayed for soldiers, families and all involved people. Above all, for peace like my previous post on "ANZAC Centenary, Peace Forever." Tears were up in my eyes. A great bonus. A shop's lady gave me the beautiful sketches of the Cathedral and encouraged me (a second photo). Oh, thank you!! I'll keep up!

I imagined a lot, put myself into this young soldier and worked on this drawing, whilst praying. Although the bone structure of young soldier looked masculine (such as a face), his face expression was full of pain, especially, around the eyebrows on the forehead. How much he suffered on the battle field and died…. So, I focused on his face that would convey the message, “Peace.”     

The dedication for the young soldier is, “To all Australians who died on war,” and the quote, “Their name lives on for all generations. Ecclesiastics, 44 : 14.”  

What did you do on the Remembrance Day? If you do not mind, could you share it? 

Thank you for the little sketch group, “Drawing Sydney.” A nice group!  

Friends, have a wonderful week. Happy Painting. 

Centenary of Armistice, The Australian War Memorial

Government House Open, Sydney Living Museum

Let's go to Government House Sydney. I'll show you a sketch and photos. A part of "Sydney Open 2018,"  Sydney Living Museum!  We accessed very beautiful, interesting, historical and socio-politically important places. The people in pink uniform at the entrance are volunteers in my sketch. Sydney Sketch Club enjoyed a visit! A gothic style reminds me of Sydney uni. https://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/sydneyopen

NSW governors welcome you and me with a chocolate moose at the entrance. Personally, I liked that lady, Prof Marie Bashir who also served Sydney University Chancellor from 2007 to 2012. 

The desk in a study. I imagined a governor sign docs and return them to parliament. 

Full of histories.

Staff and volunteers kindly answered my questions. 

Friends, you have to come! 

Close up of the display

Ante Drawing Room used for intimate meetings and luncheon.

This table setting amazed and amused me!

Drawing Room. Quite decorative.

I hope you enjoyed a short trip of an Australian history with me in the government house. Thank you very much for an organiser and volunteers. Thank you very much for police, too, who worked as security and took a photo of me. When you come to Sydney, let's have fun together. 

Friends, Happy Painting!

Government House Open, Sydney Living Museum

Portia Geach, Female Artists Only Competition

Friends, I'll take you to Portia Geach Award, the most prestigious portrait prize for women artists in Australia. Enjoy some of great finalists work! The level was very high. Delightedly, this year, the taste of judges overlaps mine! My many favourite artists are in. My watercolour study of the winner, Zoe Young, "Drawing Storyboards". Colour use, contrast and composition are lovely and interesting! I've learned a lot. Bruce Beresford, a famous film and opera director is the subject. 

A b&w and value study tells me how to use colours. 

Original, acrylics

It’s a good practice and a free private tutoring by a topnotch. National Trust staff and I enjoyed a chat over the sketch.

Some finalists impressed me. Jeska Valk. 

Esther Erlich

Katherine Longhurst

Jude Rae

Ildiko Hammond

Joanna Braithwait

Janne Kerney 

Seeing is believing. Come and see this great exhibition. 

To see other good works is a great and essential study for me. Subjects, themes and techniques inspire me and encourage me. Also, thank you very much, Sydney Sketch Club!! I sketched the exhibition. Others sketched landscapes. A member gave me a ticket for my birthday present. Wonderful.  

I'll keep up! Have a wonderful week. Happy Painting. 

Portia Geach, Female Artists Only Competition

Catch Up With My Dear Friends in Deaf Festival

We enjoyed DeafFestival 2018 in Parramatta. I did "catch up with" good friends, Riona, Sue and Kristina, my superheros at Accessible Arts NSW, Contemporary Art Museum and peak bodies. We say "Good" in Auslan and smile. *Auslan is an Australian sign language. Face painting was fundraising for Deaf Society at the festival. Children and volunteers were enjoying communication in Auslan. Lovely. Many people were coming and having a cheerful chat in Auslan. Visitors looked so happy. 

I'd introduce my great friends : Riona Tindal, Sue Jo Wright and Kristina Tito. 

Riona Tindal has overcome her difficulty and gained a PhD. She's become the expert of Australian frogs and a visual artist. Her guts and a story encourages me. She could not hear frogs, but her team assisted her and examined collected frogs' data. So, a bonus, her team members, all became PhD candidates! Furthermore, she precisely recorded each frog by drawing and watercolour painting so that they would bear a scientific argument. Her paintings and drawings are very beautiful. Breathtaking. Imagine, even people without disability cry in the painstaking process of PhD research and a thesis. It demands a huge energy. Riona challenged herself, prejudice and has overcome them all. What a woman! Sadami, your leg is not a problem at all!   

Museum of Contemporary Art stall

Sue Jo Wright has already come up in my blog post on Arts Activated Conference 2016 held by Accessible Arts NSW. She was born with no sound, but she's a promising photographer and today, an Auslan interpreter at Museum of Contemporary Arts Australia. 

Kristina Tito advocates the disadvantaged in society. She's been working for access, equality and social justice at peak bodies. She's one of my strong supporters. I have nothing, but good friends. I'm very proud of being their friends. 

Accessible Arts NSW stall

Nice! The friends' smile always gives me energy to move forward. I'm enjoying the projects. You, too, have a productive week and enjoy life! Happy Painting, Friends. 

Catch Up With My Dear Friends in Deaf Festival

Endeavour. Sail to the world.

We, Drawing Sydney members had a great fun time around the museum. I sketched Endeavour that Captain Cook sailed at Maritime Museum. I sketched a front and a side view of this tall ship. "On life's vast ocean diversely we sail. Reasons the card, but passion the gale," (Alexander Pope), my favourite say since a teen age. I've loved tall ships since childhood! The proportion is the key to create a successful ship's image. I enjoyed adding ropes on the ship.

We had a wonderful sketching time in sunshine. Luckily, it stopped raining while we were sketching. This small group offers a very friendly mood. Most of us belong to other sketch clubs such as Sydney Sketch Club and Urban Sketchers. So, we know each other well. Group activities are fantastic to have mutual support. 

Museum staff says they will share my work's picture among colleagues. Wow, pleasure and honour. I hope I will sail to the world and life. Friends, you're my precious ports in storms. Thank you. 
Sometimes, life is not easy though, I want to enjoy this adventure in a positive way. 
Friends, have a productive week! Happy Painting!  

Endeavour. Sail to the world.

Curiousity 1

Have you ever tried machines? Only me picked up the inside of a car engine in Urban Sketchers Sydney meeting. Being honest with myself is my policy and important. To distinguish each part, values and colours are emphasised. I've sketched around the world from curiousity since childhood. I want to draw like a little kid. 

Btw, the three projects are ongoing. They keep myself busy. 

I've joined another sketch club, "Drawing Sydney." See how it goes. Many people seem to join different clubs at once = We bump each other at varied clubs. Balancing my work and life, I want to enjoy group activities. It's lovely to foster friendship. 

Friends, Happy Painting!  

Curiousity 1

Curiousity 2, two value drawing

I've sketched around the world from curiousity since childhood. I so much enjoyed this monochrome sketching in a dark concert room at a fringe festival. It was challenging to define values. I carefully observed a singer and decided to use a two-value drawing technique. Once, I got the "feeling" of sorting out values, it became easy! I chose the grey mixed of French Ultramarine and Burnt Sienna. Then, interesting colours came up naturally. Have fun! 

  

Night scenes and dark rooms require different approaches and techniques. Have you ever tried them? If you know how to do it and share it, please inform me. I want to capture light and shadow. This experiment gives me some idea. 

Now, hope you'll have a wonderful productive week. 

Happy Painting, Friends!! 

Curiousity 2, two value drawing

Fun! Workshop at Eastwood Library

Children, parents, librarians and I enjoyed a watercolour painting workshop at Eastwood library. I'd share joy with you in their great art works. The children drew animals or any creatures from imagination. I demonstrate salt, crayons and bubble wraps techniques. My mission was to bring out each child's uniqueness. I want to create work like these children! 

Here are the masterpieces. They are fantastic!! 

Once, children successfully "geared up" and got on the work, they began to draw subjects freely, beautifully and independently. Ah, they are my teachers! Then, they began to chat loudly, hahaha! Some children were shy. A librarian and I assisted them. 

Each child's interesting concept and vivid colours.  

Wow, a good texture! Quite sophisticated. 

This awl is so cute. It can be a children picture book illustration. 

Not cooking, but a salt technique. It's tricky though, a fun!

Very happy to see their concepts coming out.

Very rewarding. Some children came to me to tell, "Thank you very much," after the workshop. It touched me so much. Oh, so sweet. 

"Enjoy wateroclour painting at home, children!" I said at the end of the class. 

Being an artist and picture book illustrator is wonderful. I'll keep up. 

Friends, happy painting! 

Fun! Workshop at Eastwood Library