July, July

Posted bypamlinesartPosted inArt

Couldn’t think of anything profound to rhyme with July so it’s July, July!

Welcome to my new followers. Mainly friends and family who have had their arms twisted to follow my blog. Hope you all enjoy reading about my art journey and don’t unsubscribe after reading this blog!

It’s been a month of registering for exhibitions and Open Studio dates.

This painting has been registered with the Venice Watercolour Festival.

Not only the Venice Watercolour Festival coming up but an exhibition with Nina Milburn in November at the Imprint Gallery Tauranga, titled Woven Connections.

Strips of watercolour paper woven into a new whole.

I tried it also on a card I made for my brother and his wife’s 50th wedding anniversary.

I like that each little square creates an image of its own but altogether creates a pleasing art work.

I have also been accepted for the inaugural Bay of Plenty Open Studio weekend in February 2024. Keep a lookout for more information about that if you are in the area in February next year (23rd to 25th Feb.)

The Bay of Plenty Garden and Art festival is being held in November next year and are already taking artists for that event! ME TOO!

Watercolour inks and pencil was used in this landscape titled Winter Solstice which has been entered in Watercolour NZ’s winter challenge this month.

I don’t often buy books nowadays, preferring to read online or use libraries where I can enjoy a book then take it back for someone else to read. But I have just bought a book on sketching that I will read and keep going back to.

Mindful Sketching by Peggy Dean is a book that resonates with my philosophy on sketching. No line is ever wrong, it just shows you that perfection is boring.
For an artist it is the journey that teaches, inspires and creates the feeling of absolute joy when you are immersed in the creative process. It’s not about doing it right or wrong. It’s about doing it. This quote from Peggy Dean’s book is very insightful, as the end product is not the important bit. It’s the emotional response to making that work that fills the artists ‘tank’ of their soul.
The Unlimited Palette challenge for the month was creating a painting from one colour. Here I used one of my favs, Paynes Grey. For those of you who don’t know watercolour, there is no black or white paint ( technically). So the amount of water used determines the intensity of colour. The white of the snow on the mountain is the paper. The trunk of the tree has very little water, hence making the blacks and the whites.

So! I know you are all excited about hearing of my artist residency coming up next month?? It’s all about ME!

Several artist friends have asked “what will you need to pack for the residency?” of course I can’t leave home without my paints, but of course I can’t take all 48 tubes with me. So I have whittled my selection down to 11 that will fit in this ‘wee’ bag. (I’ve been practicing my Scottish😁) Hopefully I’ve got the right hues for the highland landscape.
I’m also taking my favourite brushes and a A5 sketchbook.
Another ‘wee’ bag to hold my on the road sketching materials.
A little A6 sketchbook for notes and scribbles on the run, ( notice the art on the cover) a small Windsor and Newton paint box, a 0.4 waterproof sketch pen, and a brush that has a little ‘tank’ of water in the handle. All of which will fit comfortably in the cosmetic bag and taken wherever I roam.

You may have noticed the lack of paper! Just a sketch book! Don’t worry I will follow my instincts to an art shop and stock up on paper over there.

The 3rd August is the date we leave New Zealand so anytime after that I will post sketches and photos of our adventures. I start my residency in Cromarty on 15th August so keep watching for the emails!!

Thank you for taking the time to register and read my blog. I hope I can keep the interest up. Don’t forget to give me feedback. I enjoy that. Please share with others who my be interested and if you want to get my blog by email click on the follow button that pops up on pages on my website http://www.pamlines.com.

Til August. Ka kite ano.

Pamela

Published by pamlinesart

I am a full time watercolour artist living in the beautiful village of Waihi Beach in New Zealand.

9 thoughts on “July, July”

  1. Thanks for mentioning me (I’m in the “friends and family who have had their arms twisted to follow” category)
    Just kidding, I love getting to see what you’re up to, Pam Lines!! I’m very excited for the August/Scotland posts

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  2. Going to be an exciting 2nd half of 2023 Pammy,
    Have fun and look forward to seeing your sketches/ creations from the Northern hemisphere

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Great blog Pam. Thanks for mentioning Nina. That helps make it real.
    You are getting organized early – you’ll be all good to go by the 3rd.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. You are a busy woman Pam, love the woven image, have you tried different widths in the same piece? Looking forward to seeing your Scottish artworks!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. I love your Paynes Gray piece Pam, really interesting. All the very best for Scotland. I like your minimalist packing!

    Liked by 1 person

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