The week that was... and coming stuff

So what's new?....

So what's new?....

Well Mike Barr organised an article for all four Amigos ( Mike Barr, Bill Truslove, Alan Louis and I) to appear in the August 2017 edition of Australian Artist magazine and its out.... thanks Mike.(Bruce Weir took the photos .. thanks Bruce.) I am once again chuffed.

Last week's output included these watercolours...all on brown packing paper.

BTW my September/October class at Pepper St is filling quickly...

email me grit@iprimus.com.au

if you want more details.  Numbers strictly limited.

and more stuff...

The sculpture of Brian Cox (see earlier post) has been fired and mounted on a rustic wooden base. I decided to leave it in its terra cotta state without trying to colourize it or simulate a patina. The natural state has more honest integrity and shows up all the texturing well. It will be on show during the Royal South Australian Society of Arts Portrait Prize Exhibition for which it has been selected as a finalist. 
I'll be part of a portrait painting demonstration there on Tuesday 
8 August from 11am to 1pm - bookings are essential, contact RSASA.

What's in store for this old man?
After pushing clay around for a couple of hours this morning this is what I have ended up with. But it's not finished.

If you'd like to see what happens next you can attend a demonstration at ANEAS - ArtsNorth Elizabeth Art Society 7 Judd Rd Elizabeth from 10am to 1pm Wednesday 7th June, where I shall be taking up where I have left off with this bloke.

But I'll also be showing/demonstrating a heap of other stuff in relation to clay modelling.

All welcome.

BTW - Thank you to Clare Rotary Art Show - my little elephant "Dignity" was awarded 1st Prize in the Indoor Sculpture Section.

Dignity

Dignity - Bronze 31cmH x 20cmW x 18cmD Weight approx 8.2kg

This recently completed little elephant is mounted on a black nylon pad and square jarrah base.  It is my homage to the many elephants so harshly mistreated in the name of entertainment.  (Google "Anne - the last British circus elephant" to see what I mean.) Thankfully that era is rapidly disappearing although mistreatment still abounds in other countries. 

The dignity these magnificent creatures appear to display is what prompted my naming of this work.  It is going on display for the first time at the upcoming Clare Rotary Art Exhibition. 

I will be conducting a wide ranging clay modelling demonstration at ANEAS on Wednesday 7th June at Judd House, 7 Judd Rd  Elizabeth from 10am to 1pm.

(See right for details)

The week that was...

Saturday night my little elephant was awarded 2nd prize in oils at Tea Tree Gully Art Show.

I didn't have time to paint until Thursday morning when I did three small oils

all approx 12cm x 18cm .....

The Blacksmith - oil on canvas sheet

Child study - oil on mat board (unprimed)

Head of a woman - oil on primed MDF board

Then yesterday morning I tried a watercolour on some paper a dear friend had given me.

Fisherman - watercolour on Blue Lake handmade toned paper from Mt.Gambier. approx 30cm x 40cm

and then in the afternoon when I went to pick up my work from the Tea Tree Gully exhibition I had a lovely surprise.
My small terra cotta had been accorded, what some artist friends regard as the ultimate accolade, a People's Choice Award.

Winston in the garden - terra cotta and australian oak - approx 30cm x 20cm x 15cm

Perhaps colleagues are right - I really haven't got anything to complain about. 

BTW - the watercolour portrait workshop at Art Stretchers on March 19th still has a few vacancies - contact Angela on 82122711 for details.

Oil, Water and Clay

I am delighted to have been awarded a two week exhibition at the Black Diamond Gallery
after having accrued the largest total of
People's Choice Awards at Port Art Centre Exhibitions during 2014.

Never before has so much of my work been on display in one location.

There will be much that's new as well as work that has been shown before.

I believe there will be something that will interest everyone.

...and if you'd like to see me at work or just come for a chat I'd love to see you.

I'll be there from this Saturday on.

Cheers

Gerhard

The Laugh - Patinated Terra cotta on Jarrah Base
approx 45cm W

This is my winning piece - what a delight - after winning first prize overall last year I was chuffed to get First Prize in Freeform Ceramics as well as Second Prize in the Watercolour Section.

Lookout  - Watercolour on Arches 300gsm 70cm x 50cm

This is the work awarded second prize in the Watercolour Section of the Lions

Tea Tree Gully Exhibition 2014.

Sleep of the innocent

 (Click and drag on image to view from different angles)
If you don't see the animation get your Flash player HERE .It's Free.

Sleep of the innocent - patinated terra cotta - 18cm x18cm x 13cm  NOW SOLD

This little platypus will be on show at the Campbelltown Rotary Art Exhibition  from the 9th - 17th April at which Alan, Hans, Mike and I will be doing a joint demonstration.

(See details at right.)

My sincere thanks to Tyson for getting this animation up and running.

Jimi Hendrix Jamming at Woodstock

Jimi Hendrix jamming at Woodstock 1969 - terra cotta - approx 30cm x 15cm x 28cmH

This month people all around the world are saying "Can you believe it's been 40 years since..."
It's hard to imagine but where has the time gone? This piece is my tribute to those glorious pre AIDS days when we were going to change the world. Jimi's rendition of the Star Spangled Banner has gone down in history and for me all those memories came flooding back while I was working on this piece. PEACE MAN!

Demonstration Clay Modelling

Demonstration at Royal South Australian Society of Arts - Tuesday 4th August 2009

I took a couple of hours out of my day to talk about the process of terra cotta clay modelling, firing and finishing. In between showing some finished sculpture and a flexible silicone mold I was able to get a good way into shaping this little bull sniffing at the air for contenders to the throne. Since it was just a demonstration I finished off by returning the clay to the yellow ice cream container you can see in the picture. That was perhaps not the best thing to do in front of an audience - there were distincly audible sounds of people being aghast at my deed. I do tell students that they should not get too precious about their art - everything man made is impermanent - and nothing should be elevated too highly.

Giant Red Kangaroo Fleeing

Giant Red Kangaroo Fleeing - bronze - approx 30 cm x 20cm x 12cm
$ 2000 Aus + pph

The male Giant Red Kangaroo can reach a height of 8 feet and presents a formidable sight in the wild. The populations of kangaroos can reach numbers which require them to be "culled" - the result is that Australia's animal symbol ends up as dog food or high end restaurant meals.
This little sculpture is on display in my joint exhibition.