Studio Work ABOUT my art & others

I first wrote (here) about the idea of a #giveaway of small collages to subscribers to my blog who sent their snail mail address and posted the collages out on 3 January 2026.  if you are one of those - let me know what you think about your piece. Once i got into the flow I created far more than required.  A few of the collages are shown below - i will post many of them, individually, on the art gallery site where excess collages will be made available. $35 each +free postage - anywhere. collages available here.

  Spring brings in colour and vibrancy with the waratah in full bloom against a backdrop of forest with wattle and gum trees.  a quick sketch following a few days of walking past the waratah as i head up the hill to grab a coffee.

although its always nice to make and give gifts by hand, it is not something everyone appreciates - i get it, its 'handmade' and as its sketchbook/journals this year, not many use pen and paper these days. 24 page accordion (single sheet), 150gsm surrey drawing paper monoprinted/mixed media covers so, i pick my mark and it is always a pleasure to make and give; moreso when the pleasure is reciprocated in the receiving.  and so it was with these three small notebooks, given as gifts to new friends in our slow stitching group. these books have been created by my students in occasional workshops that i hold.   there is a playlist of many of the books i have created here

  Chilling in the studio - literally - it has got hot. Beautiful days and warm nights.   George is 16 years old now and in excellent health, confirmed by a recent (and only) visit to the vet following what might have been a mini stroke.  He came out of it very well and $500 later the tests show he is in optimum health with all organs, ears, eyes etc in excellent condition.  (good to know). Apart from a single visit as a kitten to get his shots, he has never been to the vet until this, his 16th year.  and even then, he is great! 

COLLAGE   It usually begins with collecting.   A collage creates a new whole by bringing together disparate elements. Familiar connections is disrupted and spaces to play are created from existing materials and remnants collected.   That wrapping paper you kept, cards, a painting by a relative or friend, newspaper headlines, fragments from daily life, magazine arms, legs, lips.   Then, from a new perspective a new life, a special appreciation beyond its own inherent meaning contributes to the overall message of a new work. Viewers search for meaning in the arrangement, and at the same time, their attention is drawn to the technicalities. Collage gives form to the diverse worlds of everyday life in often peculiar fragments emblematic of the chaos of realities and connection, for structure where meaning is individually invented and discovered. Here a few words from Geoff Dobson on my collage exhibition, a few years back. I am currently running a #giveaway of a small fr...

  Dear Reader WELCOME TO SUMMER !   In Tasmania we seemed to have skipped Spring with many cold nights and rainy days, low temperatures.  Finally it seems Summer has turned up. As subscribers to my site has grown this year, I am taking this moment to re-introduce myself and to wish you and your loved ones a MERRY CHRISTMAS - may you enjoy good health, joy and creativity in the forthcoming year Thanks so much for being here and for the support shown to me in word, studio visits and purchases.  Studio visits are most welcome - message me to arrange. As  a small thank you I am sending a small original collage to the first 50 requests - if you wish to receive one, send me your snail mail address and I will post them all out right after Christmas.  numbers are limited. What you may not know about me .   I have, over the last 10 years, been a finalist in 20 curated exhibitions, received awards and commendations in some, held 4 solo exhibitions, been a part o...

With Christmas just a few weeks away, consider supporting a local artist and gift one-of-a-kind artworks to a friend, family member or yourself. I have been working on my site and various blogs this year, with artworks going up recently, so this site is under construction (continually).  let me know what you think. A few artworks are up on blackfisharts tasmania site -  there are paintings across media such as acrylic, oil, pastel featuring abstracts, pears and landscape. and  prints , most being one of a kind monoprints or digital.  Textiles are new to the site - years of slow stitching at night culminate in wall hangings such as these.  The section  Collage includes the textiles due to the way they are worked - a few analogue collages are loaded on the site. .   .  .         

  I love them - not only to eat, to cook but to draw and paint. Love the shapes and stance their presence bring to 'the table'.  :)  I have been doing them for years, for the reasons above but also by way of exploring colour, texture, design and to play with paint/mark making. A few here from over the years (below).  ink, pastel, oil and acrylic as well as ipad drawings, hockney & warhol inspiration.  Over at the art gallery under the heading PEARS you can find some for sale . let me know what you think .... more pears (available) to be uploaded here  

When i began this piece I didnt know what the story was. It evolved overtime and with each decision made, it became. As many of you know I am in the studio every day and it is at night, when I go up to the house, I do slow stitching.  This piece was set aside many times over many months, where each stage brought with it a 'what now?' or a 'what if'. Slowly it became 'Under a Big Sky'.   This is how it went.  I began by creating little squares from my shibori scraps, brought in white and eco printed cotton, silk and linen, ironing the little squares around a template i created. One evening, from the box of 'little squares', i began to lay them out in what was a pleasing arrangment to me.  Sewed the squares together into a single cloth and then i tacked it to a calico cloth backing, extending the borders. After it being set aside for many months, i came to the orange stitching idea - a stacking stitch created within a circle. This image shows the stitched ...

these little pieces on Japanese papers are trials/play in the studio this week - enjoying switching to oils after months of monoprints using acrylic on the gel plate.  see previous posts here and the 'what if' premise, here   

On a recent trip to Hobart and i ducked into TMAG (Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery) to find an exhibition of Oliffe Richmond (1919-77) - a Tasmanian born artist who built a distinguished career in Britain as a sculptor and educator. I particularly loved the sketchbook drawings. and i loved this vehicle in the pottery & ceramics room

I wrote  here  about delivering 4 works to the Out of Hand Exhibition held by Stitching and Beyond.    This year, I have exhibited, for the first time, in the exhibition held by Stitching and Beyond, Hobart.  I have been a member of the group for a few years and have been stitching for many many years; decided for the first time to exhibit.  With over 200 entries in the exhibition I am honoured to have received the Curators Choice Award for this piece 'Conversations by the Creek (Winter) the other 3 pieces are Conversations by the Creek (Summer) and Conversations by the Creek (Early Spring) and Under a Big Sky .