1) Playing With Colours 2)CBCA Notable Night this Tue

I'm playing with colours to explore other approaches. I hope this work will open another door to enjoy colours so that I will take off pure realism. It's a great fun to search for colours fit to a drawing. I listen to my heart or instinct, when I choose colours.
Below, I'm wondering if I should stop here or add more colours on a model's shirt. I've suspended a brush in this work. What do you think, Friends? My own watercolour painting rule of thumb is "The lesser, the better." = Don't overwork. My most concern is that busy information will distract a focal point. I will take a break. 

Today, I love colours more than black and white. My mentor Ann James says, "You're a colour person." True, yet, it has taken years to come to my level in a long journey. When I look back, "drawing" has been crucial. It has given me hope and strength to climb up a next step. I've started black and white drawing since high school and loved it so much (*loved drawing since childhood!). I did oil painting for a while and eventually converted to watercolour painting, because my colour use preferred transparent ones. But no one taught me how to do watercolour painting. I got stuck. Instead of watercolour painting, I began colour pencil drawing for some years and learned colour mixture and use. Then, I've moved onto or back to watercolour painting and to the present. Whole through the journey, I've kept on drawing, drawing, drawing. I'm a type of "Practice is more important than theory." I'll learn "how to" from lots of messes. I'm still learning about watercolour painting. You can teach me a lot!    

Now, I'm getting busy with projects and preparing for events. 
See you there, the Children's Book Council of Australia, NSW branch, Night of the Notables.   
27 February 2018, 5.00pm for 5.30 - 7.00pm
Dymocks, 424 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
Little Lunch creators — Danny Katz and Mitch Vane!

Also the incomparably wonderful Margaret Hamilton!! (yes, my mentor in the Pinerolo). 
A FREE ticket is available. https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=332085

Tada~~, only 3 weeks away until the 21^st Biennale of Sydney opens (16th March -- 11 June 2018)! I'm excited and really looking forward to it. I hope I will assist visitors who need help, particularly, people with disability and non English speaking people. I hope all visitors will have wonderful memories. If you come to Biennale Sydney, please let me know. 
Friends, Happy Painting. Enjoy your journey! Play with colours!

1) Playing With Colours 2)CBCA Notable Night this Tue

1.Archibald2014, Most Famous Portrait Prize in Australia 2.CBCA winners

I'll take you to Archibald. The most famous portrait prize in Australia. I'd post sketches of a winner Fiona Lowry, "Penelope Seidler," and intertesting portraits, a winner Fiona Lowry, "Penelope Seidler," and intertesting portraits, Sophia Hewson, "Atrtist kissses subject (Missy Higgins!)," Anh Do, "Father." I've felt 2014 Archibald is different from other years. NSW Gallery staff said, "Yes, the committee has changed. Different judges." I see... 

You can find 

1) more small works in, (but no watercolour), 
2) more "ordinary" models work in, not super-famous people. eg) artist's parents, a son, next door, butchery  -- it has surprised me and encourages me!  
3) some first try artists in. 

In a technical aspect, the finalists show wonderful diversity. An individual approach is very unique that excites me so much. 

Archibald winner Fiona Lowry's work shows the grace, dignity and beauty of old people. 

Fiona was a Doug Moran winner in 2008 -- I remember her self-nude very well, a young lady! Fiona uses a very interesting approach, acrylics and air brush.  I've immediately realised that the model's eyes were clearly drawn, the focal point of the painting. A rest of the work is softly blurred. Air brush works very well. A slight and delicate colour, thin raw sienna? is put around the model that contrasts to the background created in a very, very modest raw sienna plus patchy green? It comes out like a black and white from a distnce. Fiona's tender approach shows women's delicacy and the model displays an experienced career woman's dignity and elegance.  

2014 Archibald Winner, Fiona Lowry, "Penelope Seidler," Medium acrylic on canvas

Sketching finalists' work gives me wonderful insights of technical and psychological aspects of creators. **Please pay attention to gallery visitors' height like a scale that tells how big work is.

NSW Art Gallery

Sketched it before opened. Cold, early in the morning!

Sophia Hewson, "Atrtist kissses subject(Missy Higgins, Australian singer song writer)," has got in. Viewers' reactions to this work are interesting. Men show very negative responses and women look neutral or swinging between acceptance or disapproval. In the sketch, I put both man and woman. Although each painting has a tag that is plain writing for "kids" to help understand work, this work does not have it. 

Sophia Hewson, "Atrtist kissses subject," oil on board

Regarding an entry condition of "model's publicity," the staff emphasised, "It's "preferably," a public figure." I interpreted, "It gives artists room and flexibility. Any model is acceptable?" The staff affirmed my say. Then, the staff encourages me to put work. Thank you. For example, Anh Do, has created his father's portrait in strong strokes and vivid colours. Yet, his colour use is very sensitive that shows a well-organised "value." Anh Do is a multi talented person : a successful comedian, TV presenter, author and fine artist/portraitist. His refugee experience from Vietnam has become a children picture book, too. In our society, if a person keeps a positive attitude, I believe, always nice people support diadvantaged people and it opens doors. That's the beauty of human society.  

Anh Do, "Father," Oil on Canvas

Our faces fascinate me most in drawing subjects. Eyes, eyebrows, mouth, ears etc, etc, "landscapes" in each face tell a story profound, precious and different. Yet, we have commonality and can mutually embrace. My mentor Ann James says, "Your positivity and watercolour and seeing and reflecting people so well is partly because you feel so much." Yes, I feel something that intrigues me to keep drawing people. 

I happily work on portraits.   

BTW, Hooray!!!!! Regarding CBCA book of the year 2014, 

CBCA announced winners and honour books.

Congrats for all the people!

http://cbca.org.au/winners-2014.htm

Also, Crichton Award for New Illustrators is,

http://cbca.org.au/crichton-winner-2014.htm

We celebrated my mentor
Ann James and editor Helen Chamberlin's awards. A lovely author, Janeen Brian and Ann illustrated "I'm a Dirty Dinosaur," has become an honoured book for Early Childhood. (*I once illustrated Janeen's text.)  

Shaun Tan's work, "Rules of Summer" won "Picture Book." Of course, that book was edited by a brilliant editor, Helen Chamberlin! Helen, you're great! 

Friends, Happy Painting!!! 

1.Archibald2014, Most Famous Portrait Prize in Australia 2.CBCA winners