Back to the Future

As the year winds down, what better people to spend one of the last days of 2015 with than two of our dearest friends?

On Tuesday Shane and I visited Leigh Hobbs, Dmetri Kakmi and their dogs Snowy and Lulu at the cottage at Newstead that they occasionally house-sit. Although our previous visit there was only a few months back, it seems like a lifetime ago. It was then that I collected the first of the Eucalyptus leaves that became the basis for the Leaves of Absence archival prints.

On this occasion, I took along the proofs to show Leigh and Dmetri and was gratified by their response. Bringing the work to where it all began was deeply satisfying. It's been quite a journey, and a fitting one to end the year on.

Shane Jones and Leigh Hobbs

Leigh and Dmetri 

Lulu and Snowy

One of many things we have in common is our love of film. Leigh has promised to
lend me this book in 2016

The view from the terrace, enjoyed with a glass of Prosecco 

Gathering more Eucalyptus leaves

Flashback to the first Newstead leaves, July 2015

Leaves of Absence proofs

Season's Greetings

After the recent heatwave and with the likelihood of more to come, I suspect I'm not the only one who is dreaming of a white Christmas. May your days be merry and bright during the Festive Season and throughout the year ahead.

Our Christmas tree at Ballarat, December 2015

Our older, more diminutive, but much loved Melbourne tree, December 2015

Recent adventures in printmaking

Pictured above: the lino block for Cossodes lyonetii Moth Woman. Pictured below: a trial proof pulled this afternoon, followed by an enlarged view of the Cossodes lyonetii white moth, originally sourced from the CSIRO website. (The mask area of the linocut will be hand painted in similar colours).

The completed edition of 33 will be part of Eventide, a portfolio of linocuts curated by Rona Green. Works from the portfolio will be exhibited at Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery in May, 2016. Full details of the portfolio and exhibition will be provided nearer the time.

As mentioned in a previous post, I'm intending to take an extended break from linocuts in order to concentrate more fully on other facets of my work, most notably the ongoing series of Homo-insecta paintings and the Leaves of Absence digital prints, one of which is directly below:

Roundel (work in progress); digital print

Thumbnails of selected archival pigment prints - including alternative variations of two of the works - are shown on the proof sheet below:

Goldfields Printmakers in Bendigo

Goldfields Printmakers at Bendigo Art Gallery cafe last Saturday. From foreground, left: Loris Button, Penny Peckhan, 
Leonie Auhl, Josephine Walsh, Dianne Longley. From foreground, right: Jimmy Pasakos, Jackie Gorring,
Jan Palenthorpe, Diana Orinda Burns (not visible in this view) and Barbara Semler.

2015 has been a particularly significant year for the Goldfields Printmakers. In September, a folio of our work titled Not Born Digital traveled with GP founder Jimmy Pasakos to IMPACT9, the international printmaking conference at Hangzhou, China. During October-November, the same works were exhibited at Ararat Regional Art Gallery in Victoria. Jimmy Pasakos, David Frazer and I were also part of Parallel Prints, a group show/exchange portfolio. Curated by Jimmy and New Zealand artist Mark Graver, it was simultaneously exhibited at the Art Gallery of Ballarat and Wharepuke Print Studios, Kerikeri, New Zealand in early October. (To date, the Parallel Prints portfolio has been acquired by the Art Gallery of Ballarat, Federation University, Ballarat and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart). In late October-early November, two GP members, Dianne Longley and myself, were presenters at the inaugural Mildura BMW Print Triennial.

Last Saturday, December 12, a number of us met for a celebratory gathering in the elegant cafe at Bendigo Art Gallery (where, incidentally, they served the finest scones I've ever tasted).

In fact, our reason for meeting there was twofold. In early 2016 several of the group (myself included) will be part of the exhibition Elemental at Latrobe University Visual Arts Centre (VAC Gallery). It's conveniently located directly across the road, so this was a perfect opportunity for us to discuss the exhibition at length with curator Josephine Walsh and to familiarize ourselves with the gallery spaces. Elemental will run from 24 February-10 April, 2016. 

(Since Saturday's meeting, Josephine has received confirmation that Elemental will also be exhibited at Light Square Gallery in Adelaide between 9 May- 3 June, 2016).

With the Year of Print 2016 nearly upon us, the Goldfields Printmakers are ready and set for another productive year.

Queenscliff Gallery and Workshop

Six of my linocuts from the Moth Masks series will feature in the inaugural exhibition of an exciting new artspace, Queenscliff Gallery and Workshop. Hanging alongside works by the likes of Andrew Gunnell, Anita Iacovella, Anne Spudvilas, Bronwyn Rees, Carolyn Hawkins, Clayton Tremlett, Damon Kowarsky, David Frazer, Deborah Williams, Ellie Malin, George Raftopoulos, Hyun Ju Kim, Jim Pavlidis, Joel Wolter, John Waller, Graeme Peebles, Kate Hudson, Lauren Carter, Melinda Harper, Michelle Caithness, Michelle Zuccolo, Paul Compton, Phil Stallard, Rona Green, Danielle Creenaune, Sharron Okines, Sheridan Jones, Silvi Glattauer, Stephanie Jane Rampton, Tess Edwards, Yvette Coppersmith and Soula Mantalvanos, the Moth Women will be in fine company.

Agathia pisina Moth Mask, 2009, linocut, hand coloured, 15 x 15 cm 

Birthana cleis Moth Mask, 2009, linocut, hand coloured, 15 x 15 cm 

Cyana mericki Moth Mask, 2009, linocut, hand coloured, 15 x 15 cm 

Digama marmorea Moth Mask, 2009, linocut, hand coloured, 15 x 15 cm

Scoliacma bioclora Moth Mask, 2009, linocut, hand coloured 15 x 15 cm  

Thalaina macfarlandi Moth Mask, 2009, linocut, hand coloured 15 x 15 cm 

The gallery opens its doors to the public for the first time tomorrow, Sunday December 13. To visit the website, click on the link below:*  

Queenscliff Gallery and Workshop*

81 Hesse Street

Queenscliff VIC 3225
Open daily 10 am - 4 pm during summertime. 
(Check the gallery's website for updates on trading hours)

Phone: +61 3 5258 4927

Email: gallery@qgw.com.au

Return to Hanging Rock preview

As I mentioned recently, two of my works, A Cabinet of Moth Masks and Vignette Vitrine, have been included in the exhibition Return to Hanging Rock at the National Trust property, Mulberry Hill, the former home of Picnic at Hanging Rock author Joan Lindsay. (To view A Cabinet of Moth Masks and learn more about the exhibition, go to Blog Post Sunday November 8 HERE).

Return to Hanging Rock doesn’t officially open until January 2, but can be previewed tomorrow for one day only at Mulberry Hill’s Twilight Christmas Festival between the hours of 2-7 pm. Unfortunately, I can’t attend because of an unavoidable clash, but am very much looking forward to seeing the exhibition in early 2016.

Vignette Vitrine was originally made for a group exhibition of the same name at Hand Held Gallery, Melbourne in 2012. Pictured below are three of the miniature silhouettes that reside in the small display case. To see inside it and learn about the primary inspiration for the silhouette imagery, go HERE.

Dead Ringer, 2012, acrylic on canvas, 9 x 7 cm

Cocteau's Mirror, 2012, acrylic on canvas, 9 x 7 cm

Through the Looking Glass, 2012, acrylic on canvas, 

9 x 7 cm