Midland Open Studios

Hello,

Looking forward to our open day on Sunday and sadly my last in my studio in Midland, so come on over and cheer me up!

Like Tweet Forward This Sunday: A rare glimpse inside the artists' lair Artsource is inviting you to go behind the scenes at Midland Open Studios this Sunday 25 August, where you will discover a labyrinth of creative spaces for sculptors, painters, printmakers, jewellers and photographers. Ahead of the open day, we chatted to four of our studio artists, Robert Dorizzi, Julie Hein, Melanie Diss andShelley Piang-Nee, who gave us a peek into their sketch books and divulged on their inspirations and the things that have shaped their studio practice so far.  Read the artist interviews onlinehere.   EVENT DETAILS When: Sunday 25th August, 11am - 2pm Where: Artsource Midland. 1 Old Great Northern Highway, Midland. RSVP on Facebook here   Images (from left): Robert Dorizzi, Julie Hein, Melanie Diss and Shelley Piang-Nee. Photography by Eva Fernandez and Christophe Canato. Disclaimer: This email is intended only for the use of the individual addressee. If you have received this email in error, please notify us immediately on (+61 8) 9335 8366 and destroy the original message. Thank you Edit your subscription | Unsubscribe Artsource Level 1, 8 Phillimore StFremantle (+61 8) 9335 8366 info@artsource.net.au www.artsource.net.au

Getting Better Rather Than Being Good

I read this somewhere...and in the context of my art career... it seemed to fit.

“If you focus on growth instead of validation,

on making progress instead of proving yourself, 

you are less likely to get depressed

because you won’t see setbacks and failures

as reflecting your own self-worth. 

And, you are less likely to stay depressed, 

because feeling bad makes you want to work harder and keep striving.

You get up off the couch, 

dust off the potato chip crumbs, 

and get busy getting better.”

Moving in, Moving out.

Back from holidays and now I have to get my head into gear ready to move to my new studio. Not sure if I'm coming or going!

Yesterday I gathered some boxes and started packing some things. Also hanged a few larger canvases on the walls in the hallway at Midland for our Open Day on 25th August.

Not getting much painting done but last night I worked on some mini collages.

Collecting Marri Resin in SW Region

Natures Textures Call Me Once Again

I am having a relaxing holiday in Balingup and Mullaylyup. Today we went for a bush walk around Greenbush. I was unable to resist the textures that captured my attention. In particular, the way there are layers of texture that are formed naturally in nature. My first thoughts are how I can depict this on my canvas in a contemporary abstract expression. Maybe I will find some answers in the cold wax and oil that I plan to experiment with once I am set up in my new studio. I really can't wait!

        

    

Moving to new studio in Northbridge

So much has changed for me in the last week or so. I am moving to a new studio! Artsource who I currently rent my Midland studio from, alerted me to a studio that is only about 10k and 10 mins from home. I checked it out about 2 weeks ago and met with two of the four artists who work and share the complex. One is a male sculptor, the other three are female painters. The building is opposite a group of tennis courts and smack bang in the middle of a beautiful green parkland only 5 mins from the city of Perth. In fact the studio complex is owned by the council to which this little group of artists pay rent. It is only $160 month compared to $252 that I am paying now. Though it is half the size of my Midland Studio I think I can manage to scale things down.

So, I met with the other artists and really liked them and their amazing work. The environment is a typical artist working studio space with art stuff everywhere.

I didn't really expect to hear back from them, so I put it out of my mind. When I received the offer I was really surprised and honoured to be working alongside such established and mature artists and sculptors. I have given my notice to Artsource and my last day in my Midland studio is 31st of August:( I move into Robertson Park, Northbridge on the 1st September, a nice way to start Spring.

Inside building

In my studio that is currently a storage space

Good Advice

A few days ago I sent an email to one of my favorite artists who lives over in Washington. She has never met me or spoken to me before. I asked if she would share the techniques she uses because I adore her work.

As I expected, she didn't reveal any of her secrets but gave me something far more important . She gave me some advice. Unknown to her, the advice she gave mirrored my life as a working artist, and was the advice I give to all my students, but I wasn't ever sure if it was Kosher as I have never studied art formally and I make loads of mistakes! I have often felt like an imposter in the art world and wanted to give up but those experiments and failures are what got me to where I am now. After 5 years of showing up daily to the studio, I am still trying to find my own voice. I still keep learning new techniques and every new painting is quite different to the last and, I love transforming an old painting into something new so there is very little consistency to my work. I'm more like a chef in the kitchen than an artist in studio and I rarely use a recipe, instead I continually ask myself the question, what if....?

Well it was so comforting to know my process is normal and there is a lot of hope for me if I 'keep on keeping on' the way I am going....I will one day (probably in 10 years time) have my voice in the art world and it will be unique and when asked how, I too will pass on this wonderful message.
Thank you to this fellow artist who responded with the following words and a couple of helpful web sites for me to research.

"I am a self taught artist and think of myself more like a mad scientist in my studio - I'm curious about so many things and just try, try, try different things - I make huge mistakes in the process and those are my best friends because they have taught me so much. Any technique I have obtained is a result of showing up every day and working. I've been at this for over 20 years and just in the past couple of years do I feel I've found my voice through my art. I'm a strong believer in paying attention to my own curiosisty and satisfying that instead of what is going on in the latest class or book. If I could give you any advise it would be to just work everyday and pay attention to what the work is telling you. Embrace mistakes, and just keep at it. "