The time I love most when I’m painting is when I’m working on a series. It’s like a project, something I can really get lost in for some time. And I do. Thing is, I always get a sense of when I’ve done enough to complete a particular series, and then my painting world can feel as though it stops. For how long? That varies, but this time it’s been a while. In between one series and the next I paint single images – ones that don’t necessarily belong with any others – which is satisfying (and of course there’s a lot of painting-related stuff that is ongoing), but for me there’s nothing like that total immersion in what I’m doing when I’m working on a series.
The hardest part, however, is usually coming up with an idea, or a theme. As I mentioned last month, I’ve been getting out and visiting various public gardens recently, which has been great. These visits haven’t been directly responsible for the idea I have for my next series (ie I’m not about to embark on anything flower- or garden-related), but they have helped lead me in what I hope is the right direction.
Of course the other thing is that these series don’t always unfold as I would like them to! So we’ll have to wait and see how this one goes. In the meantime, there’s a lot happening, and it’s such a beautiful time of year, so if you want to get out and see some of my work (and that of many others), read on. ‘Nuns in Sneakers’, pictured above, is currently at the Northern Beaches Art Society’s exhibition in Narrabeen.
Coming up …
Northern Beaches Art Society’s Annual Awards Exhibition, The Tramshed, 1395a Pittwater Rd, Narrabeen (NSW), from Thursday 1 to Tuesday 6 October
‘By Land and Sea’, & Something Else Gallery, 1/8 Belgrave St, Manly (NSW), from Friday 2 to Sunday 25 October
Drummoyne Art Society’s Members’ Exhibition, Drummoyne Civic Hall, cnr Lyons Rd and Marlborough St, Drummoyne (NSW), from Friday 2 to Sunday 11 October
ASMA (Australian Society of Miniature Art)’s National Awards Exhibition, Ewart Gallery, Willoughby Arts Centre, 33 Laurel Street, Willoughby (NSW), from Saturday 24 October to Saturday 7 November
The GCS Gallery Summer Art Fair, Grace Cossington Smith Gallery, Gate 7, Abbotsleigh, 1666 Pacific Highway, Wahroonga (NSW), from Thursday 3 to Saturday 12 December
Gallery 11:11’s Christmas Exhibition, 227 Malton Rd (cnr Malton and Norfolk roads, Norfolk Rd entry), North Epping (NSW), from Thursday 10 to Monday 21 December
‘The Gumleaf Collection’, Marie-France, Philip Mall, Kendall Street, West Pymble (NSW), ongoing
CASS (Combined Art Societies of Sydney)’s ‘Art of Sydney’ Awards Exhibition, Garden Gallery, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney (NSW), from Thursday 21 to Sunday 31 January 2027
Until next month!