So, April is going to be a busy month. It started yesterday with a beautiful group of ladies from the Garden Bloomers club who came to visit my art studio. The eleven women were very interested in hearing about watercolour painting.
Paintings set up in the garage and studio. Demonstration of watercolour
This is the 10 stroke demonstration painting that I did. I think it came out very well and everyone enjoyed the quick gestural strokes that made the little watercolour.
It’s only the 2nd day of April so I haven’t much else to tell you, but tomorrow a group of 10 women will board a bus to take us north for a week of painting, sketching and visiting awesome places. So I’m going to do a blog for you as we travel and sketch. Keep watching this space.
Welcome all my followers. We are enjoying a beautiful long hot summer. The kind I love. Lots of days walking on the beach and swimming in the 22deg.C water. (So I saw today). To immerse yourself in the sea and float on the waves is so good for the soul. I’m not looking forward to cooler evenings and darker mornings for l love the light.
Working hard on new ideas and paintings. 😂
Last month was not productive for paintings. Since my solo show in Hawera in November I have not painted my large abstract watercolours. I feel a little ‘shy’ of them. Preferring to do small sketches and make some lovely cards.
Selling in packs of 3.Not a good photo but a lovely trio. Putting a group of 3 or 4 cards together in a frame would be a wonderful way to have original art displayed. Some of these would go together nicely.
My sketches have been inspired by the art group Unlimited Palette and the 28 day challenge for the month of February. A wonderful discipline to reach for the little sketch book every day and create an image.
Love this little sketch of my friend as she sat on the beach watching the waves. Loose watercolour wash over the line of the pen.
Usually I am a quick impressionist artist. Capturing the essence of the subject in a moment. For the purpose of my daily sketch I have spent more time on drawing the image. First in pencil (2B) then in ink, using the pen to create shading and contour. But then I like to throw the watercolour on, not worrying about line or shape, trusting that the drawing will hold it all together.
On our overseas holidays I have taken many photos thinking “ one day I will paint that”. With the challenge, that ‘one day’ has come and I have used photos to extend on my drawing skills and draw.
Paris.SantoriniVeniceSplit
On the 11th February the Waihi Plein air artists met at the Reservoir in Waihi Beach. It was drizzling so it was decided to go for coffee and catch up.
An enthusiastic little group. I’m looking forward to catching up for our next session at Brighton Park. Waihi Beach. 9.30. Then coffee at the Beach House Cafe. All welcome if you are in the area.
Well that’s it for this month. Love you to give me feedback about my blog. Thank you to those who do . I love it.
Welcome to all my blog followers. I hope I am able to keep you interested in what I am doing and the art journey I am taking. If there is anything you would like me to share about my work , please reach out and tell me.
Self portrait 😂
Our art group, Unlimited Palette, has taken the daily challenge of a sketch or painting for the 28 days of February. The self portrait above was done on day 8. Hilarious and looking old and wrinkly but a fun thing to do.
Day 3 was the hibiscus outside my kitchen window.It was fun to do a still life of my art materials on another day.
Sad to say our art tour up to the Bay of Islands was postponed this month. Re-booked for 3rd April. In the meantime I will practice my drawing skills and continue to support local plein air and sketching groups.
I love January and the promise of new beginnings. Not only is the weather hot and we swim and have lazy days but we make plans for the year and I create ideas and opportunities for my art journey.
Whangamata beach, Coromandel Plein air at WhangamataPlein air in Tauranga.
My main goal for this year is to spend more time doing plein air painting. Going outside and painting as much as possible. I have started by joining the Tauranga Sketchers group that meet once a month. This month we sat by the Hairy McLeary statue park at the Strand. There were cafes, boats, hills, water and a rail bridge, and everything in between.
With COVID-19 shutting most things down for awhile it will be a pleasure to get the Waihi Plein Air group up and running again. We will start the year on Friday the 11/2/22 at 9.30, meeting at the Waihi Beach reservoir car park and paint in the area.
The local community have a fair at the beginning of January and this year I held an Open Studio (garage) on the day so I could capture an audience as it passed by. It turned out to be a very quiet day as people walked past my sign on the way to the fair. Those that did come in to see me were great to talk to. I’m going to try again on the Saturday of Auckland Anniversary weekend and hopefully meet more people who want to view and talk about my art.
Open studio in January
Our little artist group, Unlimited Palette, have the use of the Waihi Accountants window. We love to display our works in there and we are getting good feedback from locals who enjoy seeing the art and know when we have changed it around and put new works in. The photo below is a side on view so looks a bit messy but people do stop to look and see the art.
Art in the Accountants window.
I’m getting excited about the Women in Art art tour up to the Bay Of Islands in February. I’ll be able to post lots of paintings and sketches of our time away when we get back. All fingers and toes are crossed in the hope that it goes ahead and no pandemic gets in the way of creativity.
Tools of the trade.
Just a fun thing to finish up with. My brushes here are so special to me and each one of them has a story. My most favourite brush is this one shown. It’s a Robert Simmons no.14 round and was given to me by a very dear friend, Dot McComb. Dot is the most amazing watercolourist who took me under her wing when I first started painting watercolour and shared her vast knowledge and understanding of this most wonderful medium. Of course I think of Dot every time I pick up this brush and use it in my work.
Thank you all for taking the time to read my monthly blog. Check out my postings on pamelalinesart on Instagram and pamsart.felt.co.nz which has my shop for sales.
Another trip to Hawera where we dismantled my watercolour exhibition. Beautiful gallery, beautiful people and I’m so pleased that I did it.
Part of the weekend was also spent painting outdoors with the Watercolour NZ artists at the paintaway weekend in Oakura, Taranaki. It rained most of the time but most people were able to find a dry spot to paint.
Cape Egmont Lighthouse, Taranaki Reference photo of Cape Egmont Lighthouse Sugar Loaves at New Plymouth from Oakura Beach.
On the last day we painted as a group in the Okato hall. The most amazing watercolour artists and all so open and giving of their knowledge. We displayed our work as a little pop up for locals to visit.
Artists working and displaying their art.
One of my philosophies about art is that when I sell some artwork of mine I like to support other artists and buy their art work. With sales happening in Hawera I have recently acquired some glass artwork by Waverley artist Lisa Walsh. Every time we go through South Taranaki we stop at her studio and see what she has. This time I bought some. Check out her website.
The other art work I have recently acquired is called Coastal Honey by Ron Hall. Ron uses old beehives for his works and they have amazing texture and colour . They have history and tell a story of their past. Ron has a website and is on Instagram.
In the new year we will start up the Waihi plein air painters again. Have an Open Studio Ramble at anniversary weekend, and I’m looking forward to taking a group of enthusiastic watercolour artists to the Bay of Islands.
From Corbett Rd Oakura.
Thank you all for following my blog. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and I will reach out to you again in 2022.
I have often wondered how good it would be to have a solo exhibition. Now I know. It’s a lot of work but so rewarding, especially when it’s held in Hawera, the town of my birth. Monday night 8th November was opening night for my Watercolour Reflections, Past and Present exhibition. I have been preparing for this exhibition since February and it was a great opening night with lots of my whanau (extended family) there to support me.
Solo exhibition opening night.Official opening speech.There are two rooms to the gallery with over 45 paintings hanging.So exciting to see my name up on the gallery window. Almost like the lights of Hollywood.!!!
While we were down in Taranaki I used some time to find a beach and sit and do some plein air drawing.
This is Waihi Beach Hawera. Different to Waihi Beach Bay of Plenty. The wild coast and black iron sands are so different to where we live.The mouth of the Waiongongora River, Ohawe. Whitebait fishermen at the mouth of the river at Kaupokonui Beach, Taranaki.
Such a relaxing time soaking in the sun and atmosphere of the region of my birth. On the road trip back home we called in to the Lockwood show homes in Rotorua which are currently hosting an exhibition of art within the show homes. It was lovely to see work from local artists and my own work.
Not a very successful photo with all the reflections but it did look nice on the blonded timber walls of the house.
Well another exhibition has been canceled for this year. Franklin Arts exhibition will now be held from the 4th -13th March 2022. Hopefully those dates will be successful ones for Auckland.
EVENTS coming up early next year will include an Open Studio at Auckland Anniversary weekend.
The Art Tour from 14th – 19th February, to the Bay of Islands and Franklin Arts now in March.
Thank you all for taking the time to read my blog of what has been happening in my art world.
Although springtime usually motivates me to paint, I haven’t. I can share some work with you though. While sitting on the beach the other day I did some plein air painting.
Rocks on the BeachSeaview
One thing I’ve noticed about plein air painting, it always seems lighter when you come inside!! The sea, sand, tides and waves are my constant inspiration.
On 24th September I had an impromptu open Studio. Always a lot of work setting it up but it was so enjoyable. I had 33 people sign in and wander around my studio and into the extended space in our garage.
Open Studio Garage space well used.
Rotorua is hosting the Bay of Plenty 2021 Artists Exhibition. This will be open to the public from Monday 8 November to Sunday 12 December 10-4pm @ Lockwood Show Homes, Fairysprings Rd. Rotorua.
Rotorua ready!!
Franklin Arts have rescheduled their exhibition this year. Due to lockdown they are now opening to the public from Friday 26th November until Thursday 2nd December.
A little seascape for Franklin Arts exhibition.
After my open Studio I assessed and catalogued my work ready for my solo exhibition in the Lysaght Watt Gallery in Hawera. Still work away being framed but basically on track for opening night on Monday 8 November. It will run through til 4th December. Lysaght Watt Gallery Union St Hawera.
Still more spaces for the art tour up north. Itinerary and pricing available on request. It will be a non threatening, low key art experience for women of all artistic abilities.My morning on the beach.
Thank you all for joining my blog. I love your feedback.
I thought when we went into lockdown this time I would get lots of painting done and all the household chores that are constantly waiting for me. Instead the motivation left the household and we preferred to sit about, reading, watching tv and making melting moments. I did do some paintings of the beach for the Watercolour NZ 5 day challenge, which helped a little.
Towards Bowentown Beach Access
Maddox Jewellers in Katikati still has the Visual Haiku in their gallery. Unfortunately no one can see it until we go down to level 2.
It was very cold at the beach last week so I did some plein air from my covered deck. Always good practice to do this. Not always with good results.
Bird bath in my garden Claire’s front door.
My favourite day was when I had a session of wet on wet painting fast and loose and then putting a land mass across the horizon. What do you think??
In February 13th to 19th I am taking a group of women artists( beginners to advanced) on a painting holiday to the Bay of Islands. A fabulous opportunity for concentrating on your practice. If you would like to know more about this trip please make contact with either myself ( through this blog) or Sharron Hickman on 0274732934 or email sbhickman@xtra.co.nz. Sharron is the tour guide through Exclusive Tours Ltd.
Once again thank you for taking the time to read my blog for the month.
My work is available on my Instagram account waihibeachart , pamsart.felt.co.nz , Waihi Beach Gallery and by appointment at my studio.
Kia Ora. Thank you for checking in to my blog this month. It’s a beautiful time on the beach in August. High tides and crashing waves make walks along the beach quite exciting.
Full tide at Waihi Beach
The exhibition by the Unlimited Palette artists is hanging in Maddox Jewellers on the Main St in Katikati. Visual Haiku exhibition is a series of work 300x300mm all the one price. Each piece corresponds to a haiku poem either from the Katikati Haiku pathway, the artists themselves, or other sources.
A haiku from the Katikati Haiku walkway paired up with one of my reconnected art works.The four artists of Unlimited Palette. Robyn Betterton, Pamela Lines, Berys Daly and Sally Thrush.
Other venues where my art is currently available include the Waihi Beach Gallery, online Felt shop, pamsart.felt.co.nz and through my studio at Waihi beach.
Thank you for your interest in my work and please give feedback and/or suggestions for including in my monthly blog.
Pamela Lines 