Owner: Pastel & Paint: Lesly Finn's Art URL:http://leslyfinnsart.blogspot.com Join Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:44:36 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: This is my blog about making art. Here you can see work in progress, view finished artworks, find art news, art talk, demonstrations and links to other artists. Site statistics:Click here
For Mothers everywhere ....... 2007-05-11 12:12:00 It's Mother's Day in New Zealand this Sunday, and someone forwarded something to me that I thought was worth sharing ............. JOB DESCRIPTION - 'MOTHER'POSITION :Mother, Mum, Mama, Mummy, Momma, Ma, etcJOB DESCRIPTION :Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an, often chaotic environment.Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.RESPONSIBILITIES:The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three s Read more:Mothers
, everywhere
Wanna be in the spotlight? 2007-05-11 07:22:00 Here is an idea from Christy at Christy's Coffee Break ..... it's a meme called In the Spotlight. I thought it would be nice to 'lighten up a bit' and have some fun .... and maybe meet some new people, so I'm going to give it a try!What I have to do is answer a few questions in an 'interview', and then 'tag' some 'favourite' bloggers! You can find all the rules and the list of possible interview questions via the links above.MY INTERVIEWWhen did you start blogging?I started in December 1995.What makes your blog unique?Well, I don't think of it as unique but as it is about me as an artist and is written by me then I suppose it must be!What is your best quality?I am easy to talk to.What is your worst quality?My feelings show very quickly in my facial expression even when I am trying not to show a reaction .... I have very uncontrollable eyebrows! This has got me into trouble sometimes!What do you hope to accomplish with your blog?I started my blog as a sort of 'showcase' f
Robert Lenkiewicz 1941-2002 2007-05-16 03:52:00 As regular readers will know, I love figure painting and once again a newsletter from Robert
Genn at The Painters Keys has led me to search the web for more about a particular artist and I am so excited by their work that I just have to post something!So as an 'aperitif' you can find an excellent written account of the life and art of British artist, Robert Lenkiewicz, with examples of his work, plus a further small selection of paintings here.But for a full 'plat du jour' you need to visit www.lenkiewicz.org, where you will find, in addition to full biography and much more, 656 of his drawings and paintings. These are grouped under 22 headings according to which of his many Projects they relate to.I always find it hard to put my feelings about paintings into words and I think the reason I find his work so compelling can be partly explained by one of the opening paragraphs in the Biography details:"Like most things in his life, Lenkiewicz adopted a unique position towards his own
Tagged by the Queen of the World 2007-05-18 22:20:00 I've just been tagged by artist friend Jo Castillo in a new meme started by Maggie Stiefvater. I don't often participate in memes but here I am joining in with the second one in a month!How it goes is:1. I post seven things about myself that are a habit, unusual or that no-one else knows. I also give the link to the person who tagged me (in this case Jo Castillo) and information on how the meme works.2. I also 'tag' seven blogger friends in a list in this post, and then leave a message on their blogs telling them that they've been tagged (giving the link back to this post).3. These 'tagees' then post seven things about themselves, repeating steps 1 & 2 ........Sound a bit confusing? - It's not really and I am going to do the whole bit here. It should be fun running round looking at people's lists!Participation is entirely voluntary of course ..... But I hope it results in a widening circle of blogging pals for everyone who gives it a go!MY SEVEN THINGS .....1. I did not st Read more:Tagged
, Queen
, World
Thursday! 2006-06-08 12:34:00 Tempus fugitI feel like my body has got totally out of shape, so I got my doctor's permission to join a fitness club and start exercising. I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors. I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down, and perspired for an hour. But, by the time I got my leotard on, the class was over.The nice thing about getting forgetful is you can hide your own Easter eggs.I've learnt how to prevent sagging .... just eat till the wrinkles fill out.And I'm getting into swing dancing. Not on purpose. Some parts of my body are just prone to swinging.I've tried to find a suitable exercise video for women my age, but they haven't made one called "Buns of Putty."I've still got it, but I don't think anybody wants to see it. And my memory's not as sharp as it used to be. Also, my memory's not as sharp as it used to be.It's scary when you start making the same noises as your coffeemaker.I don't think of it as getting hot flashes. I think of it as my inner child play Read more:Thursday
Thirteen Things about LeslyThis is my first try a... 2006-06-01 12:14:00 Thirteen Things about LeslyThis is my first try at the Thursday Thirteen thingey .... don't know if I will be able to do it every week but thought I would give it a go!I am English but I have lived in New Zealand since 1999 ... and like it here.I was once a nurse - and it seems like a lot of ex-nurses are artists. I wonder why.Once upon a time I dreamt of being a classical singer .... luckily for the rest of the world this did not happen!I have been married forever ... he was 17 and I was 15 when we met.I love cats. I have had several ... my current ones are two gorgeous Tonkinese called Oliver and Pru. They are 10 ... and a bit past their prime, like me.I don't need breast implants.I loathe having to clean the shower trap.I am unable to work the video recorder. But I know that does not make me stupid ... just not interested!When I was little I wanted six children ... but I had four and that was plenty!I fancy Colin Firth.I have always been absolutely hopeless at sports.I have walked Read more:Thirteen
Please DO talk about me when I'm gone .... 2007-05-21 22:12:00 I am going to be otherwise engaged for a spell, so have decided to take a complete break from the tyranny of blogging for a little while. I hope that you will still browse the site in my absence .... previous posts, art demonstrations, etc, ... and follow the links!I hope to return with batteries re-charged and firing on all cylinders! In the meantime I'll just leave you to ponder the following (quoted by Alyson B. Stanfield in her latest Art Biz Blog Newsletter): "You only have control over three things in your life--the thoughts you think, the images you visualize, and the actions you take (your behavior). How you use these three things determines everything you experience. If you don't like what you are producing and experiencing, you have to change your responses. Change your negative thoughts to positive ones. Change what you daydream about. Change your habits. Change what you read. Change your friends. Change how you talk."Jack Ca Read more:Please
Not All Black 2007-05-20 06:27:00 At the risk of being labelled a Grumpy Old Blogger (which is a fate that could so easily overtake me .... Darren Rowse's article has some good advice on this!) I must confess to being mildly depressed by the news that my painting 'Delicious' has not been selected for inclusion in the Peter Doig Art Awards in Blenheim. Well, a bit more than mildly, actually. Grrrrrrrrr!However, in the words of the song 'Just pick yourself up, brush yourself off .... ' and all that sort of annoying 'stiff upper lip' rubbish!The sum total of my artistic endeavour this week can be seen below ..... a reworking of some of my 'On Reflection' Series so that they can fit together with my newly started series of black canvases. At the moment I am calling this 'compilation' series 'Not All Black
'. There is an obvious reason for the name (the black canvases) but there is also a bit of wordplay in honour of our national rugby team!As ever, any and all comments are welcome .... particularly constructive
Look out for this missing child ........ 2007-06-07 21:15:00 Yesterday I received an email urging me to forward the contents to all my acquaintances, but at the moment I do not have access to my own computer so cannot access my address book. So the best thing I can do right now is to publish the gist of the message here. Many of you will have heard in the media about the abduction of British child
, Madeleine McCann, while on holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal with her parents, brother and sister. Madeleine McCann's family believe a new picture of the missing four-year-old could play a vital role in the ongoing search for her. As you can see below the photo of the youngster shows her distinctive right eye, where the pupil runs into the blue-green iris. It is this distinguishing mark that could identify Madeleine to those on the look-out for her. So far there has been no trace found of Madeleine and she could be just about anywhere. Please tell your family, friends and work colleagues, and please contact your local police station should you see a
The view from here ....... 2007-06-15 14:45:00 Well, here I am - enjoying a break up here in the Bay of Plenty, which lies the top of the North Island and around 1000kms from where we live. The North and South islands are completely different - like two separate countries and this is a complete contrast to home! The climate is warmer and more humid so many tropical and semi-tropical plants and fruits flourish. Although it is midwinter hibiscus, bougainvillea, roses, lemons, mandarins, graperfruit, kiwifruit, avocados, tamarillos, persimmons and passion fruit are all burgeoning away. The gardens are still all looking very lovely. Back home in the 'deep South' they have just had their first big dumping of snow! Glad that we have missed that. It didn't stay around for long but there will be plenty more to come I expect. In both islands the East tends to be warmer and drier, while the West is more windy and wet. From the topmost tip of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island there is often a temperature difference of seve
an exhibition by Lois Isaacs 2007-06-21 23:24:00 'Rain on my window' by artist Louis IsaacsI am always thrilled when I find a contemporary artist whose paintings inspire and delight me, and today I attended an exhibition that did just that. It is being held at The Art Boutique, Tauranga and the works are by New Zealand artist Lois Isaacs. What I found so fascinating was Lois' preoccupation with things that I am very interested in myself, - particularly the human figure, musical themes, drawing, textural effects and 'lost and found' techniques. Photographs of her work do not really do it justice .... the impact is so much greater close up and personal! For a long time now I have been thinking about how to marry drawn figures with a more abstract approach and so today, when I looked at Lois Isaacs work, I thought 'YES! ... it CAN be done!' Technorati Tags Art, Weblog, Blog, Artist, Painting
acrylic abstract paintings ... on reflection 2007-02-12 12:26:00 On reflection
IV (Acrylic, 12" x 12") Another little abstract finished to add to the series. Golly, I'd better watch out ... my output is becoming prolific! I was aiming for 1o or 12 paintings in the series but after each one is completed I think "Had enough of that!".... But I will carry on. Maybe I'll try some textured effects in some of them.Technorati Tags Art, Weblog, Blog, Artist, Painting, Abstract
acrylic paintings - new abstract series 2007-02-09 20:35:00 on reflection II (acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 12" x 12")on reflection III (acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 12" x 12")Technorati Tags Art, Weblog, Blog, Artist, Painting, Abstract Read more:series
New Year musing ..... 2007-01-06 23:01:00 Everyone seems to be talking about their New Year
resolutions, so I'm not going to.But I did see this quote on artist Terri West's blog which might do!QUOTE:Never again clutter your days or nights with so many menial and unimportant things that you have no time to accept a real challenge when it comes along. This applies to play as well as work. A day merely survived is no cause for celebration. You are not here to fritter away your precious hours when you have the ability to accomplish so much by making a slight change in your routine. No more busy work. No more hiding from success. Leave time, leave space, to grow. Now. Now! Not tomorrow!Og Mandino(1923 - 1996)When it comes to 'frittering away your precious hours' .... I'm damned good.And if I were to make the 'slight change in routine' by spending less time on the computer I might get more paintings done .....The trouble is that I love to write my blogs, read other people's blogs and leave comments .... an activity that can
.... all figured out 2006-10-31 15:56:00 That's about how I feel right this minute .... "all figured out". I've worked with this painting every day for nearly a week and I think its had just about all the attention I can give it. My idea was to try a less realistic style with figure painting. I wanted a quiet, dream-like quality and to keep things very simple in style - but then I thought it was looking too 'pretty' so I weighed in with darker colours. HORRORS it looked really bad! So out with the scrubbing brush and back to pastel shades. (My daughter's comment "Oh well, there may be a market for it, I suppose"!) Other comments, good or bad, are equally welcome! dreams of the dance (Acrylic 36" x 24")Technorati Tags Art, Weblog, figure, Artist, Painting, Acrylic
.... does it figure? 2006-10-27 17:31:00 Trying out a new approach to figure
painting this week. This is another largish canvas at 36" x 24", well larger than I normally use. In fact, it's the largest I have tried so far, but I am enjoying it! I'm determined to go about this one differently but I did start out by drawing in the figures with pastel pencils as I often do, although this time I used more than one colour.Next I brushed over the outlines with medium to 'seal' the pastel. This made it pretty messy (!) but no matter, because I then went over it correcting and refining with diluted gesso. I tried to vary the brushstrokes to create some textures for the paint to come.I know that this is not 'abstract' yet .... it may turn out that way or it may not, I will just have to experiment and see what happens next! Technorati Tags Art, Weblog, Blog, Artist, Painting, Abstract
art and flowers 2006-10-07 14:22:00 This weekend saw a one day Gardens Tour in connection with the Waikouaiti Presbyterian Church, which is in the next village to ours. As part of the attractions they very kindly invited our local art group to display works in the church. The East Otago Art Group has less than 20 members but 45 works were displayed by a dozen members. There was a steady stream of viewers all day and much interest shown. Very luckily the rain held off until close of play! And speaking of the weather it has turned very unseasonable this last week, with gales and snow for many places in New Zealand. However, Spring is certainly in the air and the first of our rhododendrons is fully out .......Technorati Tags Art, Weblog, Blog, Artist, Painting, Lesly Finn, Abstract
WIP finished! - 'Not Fade Away' (16" x 12") 2006-10-03 00:32:00 This is going to be an acrylic painting using collage on canvas 16" x 12" ... a first for me. Trying out something new is exciting .... but it's probably always wise to read the instructions first! As I know nothing about using collage this is real 'learning-as-I-go'. I have a vague idea of how I want the finished painting to look but am expecting to develop my idea further along the way.STAGE 1I start off by playing around with some photographs on my PC. These are of two canvases that I'd started of nudes, with only the underpaintings completed. I print out several similar images of these, four to an A4 page, and cut them out.STAGE 2I am actually working on one of the two original nude canvases which I have obliterated with two coats of gesso. I spend quite a long while arranging and re-arranging my paper images on to the canvas in front of a mirror until I find an arrangement that I like. I fix them to the canvas using acrylic medium. When this has dried I seal over with a coat o
WIP: Abstract - Stages 1, 2, 3 2006-10-02 14:04:00 This is going to be an acrylic painting using collage on canvas 16" x 12" ... a first for me. Trying out something new is exciting .... but it's probably always wise to read the instructions first! As I know nothing about using collage this is real 'learning-as-I-go'. I have a vague idea of how I want the finished painting to look but am expecting to develop my idea further along the way.STAGE 1I start off by playing around with some photographs on my PC. These are of two canvases that I'd started of nudes, with only the underpaintings completed. I print out several similar images of these, four to an A4 page, and cut them out.STAGE 2I am actually working on one of the two original nude canvases which I have obliterated with two coats of gesso. I spend quite a long while arranging and re-arranging my paper images on to the canvas in front of a mirror until I find an arrangement that I like. I fix them to the canvas using acrylic medium. When this has dried I seal over with a coat o Read more:Abstract
, Stages
A wonderful weekend workshop! 2006-08-21 23:09:00 'Wharfside at Oamaru'Artist: Ben Woollcombe (2006)Well, I just have to write something about the watercolour workshop I attended over the weekend, tutored by professional artist Ben Woollcombe. The workshop was hosted by the North Otago Art Society and based at their premises, The Old Customs House, in the historic town of Oamaru, Otago, - about an hour's drive from where I live. Nine 'wannabe' watercolourists attended, all of us very much novices in the medium!Day One began with Ben giving us a demonstration on stretching watercolour paper. He stretches all his paper regardless of weight, and his method is slightly different to that given in some books:1. Wet paper on both sides under running water or by emersing in water. Do not soak.2. Place on clean board (watermark uppermost), keeping edges parallel to board edges.3. Leave for several minutes to give the paper fibres time to swell.4. Wet cut lengths of brown gummed paper tape by dipping quickly in water and fix paper to boar
some thoughts on creative self 2006-08-10 04:51:00 When I was a small child I started piano lessons and these continued until I left school. I was expected to study progressively for different Grades, which were tested by practical and theoretical examinations. In addition to these ordeals my mother liked me to enter Music Festivals .... terrifying events which involved numerous children taking turns to play the same 'piece' up on stage, in some large auditorium or other, in front of a panel of adjudicators. I was never a winner and I hated it. I play the piano still but only for my own enjoyment ... and never in public!How different it was for my favourite aunt, who had learned to play the piano 'by ear', could bash out anything at all and was delighted to do so. When young she would go to see the lates West End shows (London) and musical films, come home and delight the rest of the family with renditions of the songs and music she had heard! For her playing the piano was a creative
joy to be shared.The point I wish to make here i Read more:thoughts
Exploring Color & Creativity: Watercolor with Ink Line 2006-08-08 21:36:00 I have just been reading a post on artist Nita Leland's blog . In it she speaks of her latest tuition session with her class using these media together. I have only had a couple of attempts at doing this, but found it immensely absorbing and very enjoyable to do! Very relaxing, in fact. The main focus for mine was in the ink drawing with just a light tinting of colour, rather than the watercolour being the main event (if you have been reading my recent posts there will be no surprise for you there!). I have posted both paintings below. Each is a scene from a favourite place in France. Before emigrating to New Zealand from UK we used to visit La Belle France as often as we could, enjoying many wonderful holidays there. I have hundreds of wonderful photos - rivers, seascapes, ancient villages and towns, hills, mountains, pastures, markets, beaches ..... The first painting is a view from the camp-site in the riverside village of Belcastel, in the Avreyon region. The second is from the ri Read more:Exploring
, Color
, Creativity
, Watercolor
.... waving not drowning! 2006-08-01 15:17:00 I have been doing a bit more research into FREE watercolour tuition on the Net, - looking at my original sites more closely plus a few new ones. Then yesterday Lisa Call left a message on my previous post which got me thinking I needed to maybe add a little more here about my findings. Lisa is an extremely talented artist who designs and makes beautiful quilts ... each one is a real work of art so do look! Anyway, she had this to say: "Your post is great timing except I started looking at Bruce MacEvoy's website and I quickly got overwhelmed - wow - he has a lot of great info but maybe not the best place for beginners.On further inspection I realise that Bruce MacEvoy's site Handprint Watercolor is very technical and would have to agree with that comment ... but what I particularly liked was his A-Z of colour and his analysis and comparison of watercolour paints from 17 manufacturers. Very, very helpful if you want to assess which are the best value for your particular needs. In each Read more:waving
, drowning
...water, water, water colours! 2006-07-29 22:20:00 Hmmmm! Have nothing new in the way of a picture to post .... altho' I have tried three paintings in the past two weeks with no success! All three were acrylics on canvas but two have now been gesso-ed over to pristine white again. I am still trying to finish the third one - so it may get posted here in due course. But don't hold your breath!To be honest my mind has been pretty taken up with the forthcoming Watercolour Workshop (or 'water
color' if you spell it that way) next month with Ben Woollcombe. I am really excited about it but not a little daunted as my ability in that medium is pretty nigh zilch!So in preparation, and so as not to appear a complete and absolute wally, I have been doing a fair bit of studying on the Web these past couple of days. There is an abundance of information out there on using watercolours - just Google on the words "How" and "Watercolour painting" and you will see....However, I have looked at around 20 sites and found several that I would recommend t
there have been better week's but ..... 2006-07-20 17:05:00 Well, its been a pretty horrible week with both of us succumbing to a bad bout of 'flu. I am on the mend but poor old John is still laid low. I've always felt that I was tough enough to cope with the illness and have never considered protection with 'flu jabs ...... well, not any more! That's all changed after this week, and next winter I (we) will be first in line ..........!Of course, being a bit poorly is nothing compared to the horrors that many people are going through this week, as national and international news reports bear witness. We are so very lucky to be who we are and where we are right now. I feel guilty that I could even think to moan about anything. A bit of special news for me has been that my painting "Marlborough Wine Country", which is one of three I submtted to the Southern Pastel Artists Exhibition in Invercargill, has sold. Mixed feelings there because its always a bit sad to know that you will not be seeing one of your favourite pieces again, but it is love Read more:better
back with a bump ..... 2007-06-26 17:07:00 Well its nice to go travelling .... but its "Oh so nice to come home"! We had a great time house-sitting, meeting up with old friends and seeing all the changes since we left 4 years ago. We thought for a while that we would be unable to get back due to the heavy influx of snow and ice down South ... but all was well and it all cleared in time for our journey back. Its very, very cold though!First thing I did was to get out this painting for a last working before it goes off as an exhibition entry. I had just put it up on the chest and was giving it a critique when I stepped back and tripped over the suitcase lying on the floor behind me! Landed on my bum on the metal frame .... Oooopah! Now hobbling like a real old lady .....Anyway, I've worked on it some more and hope that the changes are by way of an improvement - although John still can't see what it is about so I hope others will! It has also been renamed - changed from 'Dreams of Dance' to 'Past Performance'. Its hard to g
Look inside the artist's studio ...... 2007-06-19 20:45:00 Ralph Serpe at Creative Spotlite has just published an e-book called "Inside the Artist's Studio" .... the book comprises painting demonstrations by five artists, and includes one of mine (!). It comes downloadable in ".pdf " format and it is FREE. You can get your copy here! Technorati Tags Art, Weblog, Blog, Artist, Painting, painting demonstration Read more:inside
new acrylic painting started 2007-07-02 16:50:00 It's a good job that a fractured coccyx does not affect ones ability to stand at an easel But, in fact, it is more comfortable to stand than to sit.....I have sent off an entry form to the Edinburgh Art Awards 2007 (nothing to do with Scotland) which is a new award open to any artist residing in the South Island of New Zealand. As I have yet to complete a painting to enter all I put on the entry was 'Untitled' (Acrylic)! Entries have to be in for the jury by 15th July so I had better get a move on AND get it right!This is on archival quality canvas 24" x 36", and my intention is to try and keep it loose by painting with 1.5", 1" brushes throughout. My reference is part of a photograph from the artists Reference Library at Wet Canvas. Yesterday I made a start and drew it up with pastel pencil then painting in a washy under-painting to indicate shapes and shading. New acrylic: Stage 1Technorati Tags Art, Weblog, Blog, acrylic, Painting,
Ben Ho - New Zealand artist 2007-07-06 21:06:00 Next weekend I will be attending a painting workshop with New Zealand
Artist Ben Ho. More of his work can be seen online at Fishers Fine Arts. Although he works mainly with oils or watercolour this particular workshop will include acrylics. On the first day we will be painting a landscape and on the second the subject will be the human figure. I particularly like Ben's figure paintings, - for examples see one in oils here and in watercolour here. As figures are my very favourite subject my main interest is going to be in Day 2.Of course, if we get a lot more snow we may not even get there at all! Read more:New Zealand
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