Impressions Newsletter

October 2008

Greetings and welcome to our October newsletter. You may remember that I went to Australia last month on holiday. I have met with seemingly many people who also chose to go overseas during spring that I almost wondered if there was anyone left here in New Zealand! I’m pleased to say that apart from two nights, the weather was either overcast and mild, or sunny and mild. Conversely I left NZ in the pouring rain, and returned to pouring rain.

The change of environment provided plenty of inspiration – I came away with the over-riding impression of Australia as the land of the big sky. We often camped in bush areas with low scrubby vegetation which accentuated the vastness of the skies.

The Land of the Big Sky

The night-time was a source of wonder as with no light pollution and low horizons, the sky seemed to envelop us. I was delighted to spot a shooting star one evening – a small but real highlight after a pleasant evening around the campfire before retiring to my sleeping bag.

On the gallery front, I enjoyed visiting the little Desert Gallery in Kalgoorlie which sells artwork produced by the local Indigenous communities. I got into conversation with the fellow minding the gallery and he generously showed me paintings he had completed in his studio out the back which were compelling portraits in the European style – his art training in Italy very evident. Of special significance was the art gallery at the Benedictine Monastery town of New Norcia in Western Australia. They hold a large collection of precious religious artworks from the centuries-old to the very contemporary. The gallery deserved much more time than I had available and I recommend a stop-over for anyone contemplating a visit to that part of Australia. Finally, we visited the Geraldton Art Gallery which was exhibiting portrait Paintings and Photographs from one of Australia’s most lucrative art competitions. Hence we were privileged to see some very fine work.

We drove something like 6000 kms from Brisbane to Perth and up the coast of Western Australia. Whatever the actual distance covered, we really did get an opportunity to appreciate the vastness of Australia. The changing vegetation was more varied and prolific than I had understood it to be. And I’m very pleased to have had the chance to drive and camp on the Nullarbor desert. The original inspiration for the trip was to see the wildflowers which we did in a range of settings. The visual effects of swathes of massed everlasting daisies in white and pink – huge meadows of yellow or purple wild-flowers really have to be seen to be appreciated. So too do the vast fields of yellow canola flowers occurring like dollops of sunshine between equally vast fields of green wheat plantations.

So I have lots of images in my head and on CD beckoning as ideas for paintings...

Nelson Arts Festival 16 – 27th October

October in Nelson will be buzzing with the activities of the Arts Festival. I hope you have succeeded in booking to see one or more of the wonderful line-up of performing arts scheduled for the eleven days of the festival. We plan to mark Nelson Arts Festival month by featuring the: -

1. Nelson Quilters Guild

See our window during the first week of October for a sample of what will be on offer at their annual show 4-5^th October at Nelson College for Girls.

2. Mapua Painting Group

Members of the group will be painting in-store on Tuesdays and they invite you to join them while they paint: -

14th Oct 10am – 12pm Heather Drake and Lisa Chandler
21st Oct 10am – 12pm Sally Reynolds and Maureen Ryan
28th Oct 10am – 12pm Richard Bullock and Lisa Chandler

Works by a few of the members will be displayed in our windows from 10^th October – 4^th November.

This group was started this year by artist Lisa Chandler, and has enjoyed keen interest from the local community of both experienced and novice artists. Members get together weekly to paint together and share their knowledge and companionship while painting. You can view Lisa’s website at www.lisachandler.co.nz

HintTop Oil Painting Tips

Here are a few tips to help you get the most from your oils.

If you always lay your oil paints out on your palette in the same order you'll develop the ability to pick up the right colour automatically.

The proportion of oil (medium) should be increased for each subsequent layer in an oil painting – known as painting fat over lean– because the lower layers absorb oil from the layers on top of them. If the upper layers dry faster than the lower ones, they can crack. Pre-mixed mediums are available to ensure you use the best proportions of oil and solvent to pigment.

Premixed Oil Mediums are Available

Avoid using Ivory Black for an underpainting or sketching as it dries much slower than other oil paints. Pigments containing lead, cobalt, and manganese accelerate drying. They can be mixed with other colours to speed up drying and are ideal for under layers.

Linseed oil is the oil of choice for an underpainting or in the bottom layers of any oil painting done wet on dry as it dries the most thoroughly of all the oils used as mediums.

Never leave your oil paintings in the dark to dry. This may result in a thin film of oil rising to the surface, which may cause yellowing. (This can be removed by exposure to bright daylight.)

New Products

This month we have added horse and hand manikins, leather bound artist journals in handy pocket or bag sizes, and art sets suitable as Christmas presents for aspiring artists.

Female and Male Hand Manikins

Focus Group

The inaugural Impressions Focus Group will meet at Impressions at 7pm on Thursday 16^th October.

We are looking forward to input from our customers about what they would like Impressions to provide as well as assessing how we are doing in meeting their needs. The focus group members have been randomly selected from Impressions Art Club members who have indicated an interest in being part of the group .

Exhibitions

“Alchemy” until 21st October – four local artists (Laura Richards, Daniel Allen, Lane Collins, and Ian Longley) explore the elements of fire, water, air and earth through photography, jewellery and sculpture. Reflections Gallery, 95 Quarantine Rd, Nelson. Open 7 days 10am – 5pm.

“Arrival” by Mark Fa’avae, Maria Middlebrook-Wells and Shannon Walker at The Suter Art Society McKee Gallery, 208 Bridge St, Nelson until 12^th October.

David Kemp will be exhibiting for the first time the complete exhibition of 'Rooted in Tasman' at the Home and Garden Show (at the Richmond Showground due to the Trafalgar Centre upgrade building) 10-12 October ,stall 474 in the Redwood Hall. Based initially on his maternal line arriving in Nelson in 1842, there is much more to them than that. Heavily textured, and representing local beachscapes with bold forms, they provide food for a lot of reflection. You are invited to view these 'blokey expressionist ' works and discuss them with David.

Diary Note –

Next Impressions Art Club Member Evening

Our next Impressions Art Club evening will be held on Thursday 6^th November.

We have lined up a very special artist to present the educational session, so if you are an Impressions Art Club member; make a note in your diary to keep the evening free. More information will be sent to members closer to the date.

Maternity Leave

La Verne, our Guild Commended Framer, left this month on maternity leave. We all wish her and her family all the very best and look forward (as I know she does) to the happy arrival.

That brings me to the close of another newsletter. Dare I say that it’s now less than 3 months to Christmas? Don’t leave it too late to get those paintings framed ready for the Christmas market. I know that sales have been slow this year for artists in general, so it is even more important that if you want to sell your work that you are ready with work to sell. Take advantage of the longer evenings to enjoy your art.

Best wishes for a pleasant October,

Glenys, Lewis and the Team