Wow!!Its December. I couldn’t think of a suitable rhyming word for December so I used it again.

For those of you who I haven’t told personally my paintings were eventually found and delivered to Watercolour NZ’s national exhibition and I was very fortunate to receive the award for ‘Innovation in Watercolour’. I was very pleased to have my abstract work acknowledged by the Judge, Brian Baxter and several prominent watercolourists of national standing. The little voice at the back of my head had been saying “they won’t like it, they will laugh you out of the exhibition, blah,blah,blah…” But they didn’t. I felt so good. Further to that, the five paintings that were sent to the exhibition, only one came back. Thank you to all the buyers who felt the connection with my work and chose to purchase them.

On the 10th November, Karen, another artist at the Beach, and I attended the Creatives Lunch here at Waihi Beach. Usually this event is held in Tauranga so it was so nice to be able to attend locally. Run by Creative Bay of Plenty there were artists of all genre, from visual artists to musicians, and everything in between. Such a valuable time for meeting other like minded artists from the local area. always good to visit the Flat White as well.

I can’t report on the Waihi Plein Air creativity as we were rained out. This month we will do our plein air from the luxury of the tables at the Talisman hotel in Katikati were we shall celebrate a year of plein air. We will start again in February.

The other big event for me in November was the Tauranga Garden and Art Festival. It was such an amazing time. Although the rain spoilt the opportunity for a lot of people getting out and about those that did venture out were very keen to spend the time to talk and meet with the artists.

I had a little cabin which I was able to display my work, and when it rained I shut the doors and waited for the shower to pass. One day my granddaughter came and helped me to arrange and display the work. We were at the Racecourse so she dressed appropriately in her polo shirt.

I had some wonderful conversations with lots of very interested people. The sales that happened were from people who had been ‘following’ me on instagram, seen my work somewhere else and / or recently bought some work on line. All these people knew my work and what I did. That is a real buzz for me that there are those of you who watch with interest how my art develops.

Tauranga Urban Sketchers met at Pilot Bay at Mount Maunganui and did a progressive sketching exercise then had lunch together at a local cafe/ restaurant. Our last get together for the year.

This being the last blog for the year, I would like to wish you all a Christmas of sharing, compassion and understanding of those who are different to you. I wish that over this time of great stress and financial awareness that you can follow the words of my very wise daughter who said, ‘may you live with ease’.

Just a little ‘heads up’. My computer and everything associated with it, will be on holiday for the rest of December and January. I’m going to see if I can do it!!!! I’ll only answer my phone. Talk next year.

Pamela

Kia Ora followers. It’s November!!!

I’m feeling a little anxious as I write this. I told you all last month that we were flying to Wellington for the annual SPLASH watercolour New Zealand exhibition. Well! Literally minutes ago the organisers contacted me to ask where my paintings were as they were hanging the art, judging and literally doing the final set up and my paintings haven’t been delivered 😢. The courier has gone home for the night so I’m waiting on tender hooks till tomorrow to find out where they are. Might be flying to Wellington to look at everyone else’s paintings.😭 I am literally praying they will turn up tomorrow.

On a better note, the remaining 3 artists of Unlimited Palette held a pop_up in the Church foyer down at the village on Labour weekend. Saturday 22nd October. A very successful day with sales and lots of wonderful conversations with interested people, wanting to know more about our practice. This was our first one after 2 years and I realised how much I had missed the one on one with the purchases of our work.

I felt particularly proud when I had return buyers from past years who were interested in seeing how my work had developed and purchasing new pieces.

Many of you may be aware that I have an online shop at pamsart.felt.co.nz . With Christmas coming up have a look for paintings that could be easily framed for gifts.

On the 17th November the Garden and Art festival opens in Tauranga. In the last couple of days I have been informed that I will be one of the artists to exhibit in the Tiny House Village. Several Tiny Homes will be placed in a group and artists will exhibit from this space. So come and find me at Bloom in the Bay at the Tauranga Racecourse grounds between Thursday 17th and Sunday 20th. I’ll have my awesome new flag out too.

Waihi Plein Air painters will meet across the road from Morton’s Garage at 9.30am on Friday 11th November. A beautiful old rustic building at 19 Haszard St Waihi. Come and join us for some sketching/painting practice and coffee afterwards.

Thank you all for following me. Have a great month and if you are in Wellington from the 5th to 20th November, check out the SPLASH exhibition at the Academy of Fine Arts, 1 Queens Wharf, Wellington. Hopefully you will be able to see my work!!!!

Ka Kite Ano………Pamela

I know:) It’s the 9th day of the month and I haven’t done my blog to you. So while the cricket is on the TV I will let you know what has been happening.

The two workshops held over four days were very rewarding. All of the 20 or more participants were enthusiastic, open to new ideas and suggestions and did some amazing art work. Participants discovered a technique they could use to incorporate into their own style of painting. I learnt heaps too!!!

On every day 12 to 3pm until Sunday 16th October. Three local artists. Berys Daly, Pamela Lines and Robyn Betterton. WATER 💦 Check it out its free. The building is historical as well.

Haven’t been doing a lot of painting. Seems to be more teaching than painting at the moment. I did do this little painting though.

I love making these cards. I find little gems of art in my discarded paintings and cut them out to make these. Sometimes I add a hill or some trees or rocks. Each card is signed and would be stunning in a frame for a special person at Christmas time. ( or any time really).

Fun little watercolours from my last class of the year. The three participants had a full day of painting but had lots of laughs as well.

I’m so looking forward to the Garden and Arts festival. November 16th til the 19th. I know the Carlton Gallery in Katikati are selling tickets to this amazing biennial event in the Bay of Plenty. I will be at the HUB at the racecourse where there will be lots of art, gardens, demonstrations, live music and celebrities. Come find me and my new banner.

We are flying to Wellington for the opening of the SPLASH exhibition on 4th November. The highlight of my watercolour year!!!! A whole exhibition of watercolour paintings. Very seldom is there a national exhibition of purely watercolours. Bliss!!!!

Thank you all for taking the time to read my blog. I love to do it, especially when I get feedback.

Ka kite ano. Pamela.

Already I have noticed the days are longer and the temperature is rising. The bulbs are blooming and summer is on the way!!😍

In August we traveled to Queensland to see families we hadn’t seen in 3 years. We spent time in a campervan travelling between homes, so time for the odd little sketch.

In Townsville I used my $3 KMart watercolour paints to do this rather bright Castle Hill.

But now we are back home again and I’m preparing for my workshops in Wellington. The first 22nd and 23rd of September then 24th and 25th September. Classes for intermediate and advanced students through Watercolour New Zealand. It will be amazing!!

On the last week of the month I’ll be catching up with the other artists displaying at the Garden and Art Festival and learn about what we need to do to be in the festival. For those of you going to the 4day event I will be exhibiting at the HUB. Come find me and check out my work.

From the 3rd to the 15th of October visit the Art Gallery at the Waihi Museum ( not open every day) for an exhibition by Robyn Betterton, Berys Daly and Pamela Lines. The Exhibition is titled Water. Which means I have lots of work available under that heading!!!

My last beginners watercolour class for the year will be on Thursday 6th and 13th of October. Contact me if you would like to be part of this class.

Check out my revised and tweaked website. Done by my beautiful, talented daughter, Dale❤️🙏 This month I’m also working on my Felt shop 🙂 pamsart.felt.co.nz If you are looking for gifts for the festive season I have original watercolours, unframed, for ease of postage through my felt shop. My studio is also looking amazing at the moment. If you are handy make an appointment to do a studio visit and come check out my framed works.

Until next time keep healthy and safe.

Ka kite…. Pamela

Kia Ora followers. Thanks for all the feedback. Im loving that. It’s quite a surreal experience writing about my art journey to people I don’t know. So thank you for taking the time to read my blog.

The Tauranga Urban Sketchers met at the Bridge marina to draw, paint and have coffee. It was almost too busy visually to do the scene justice. I did a quick sketch and finished it off with some scratchy colour in my studio.

This is the actual view. My next quick little sketch was the rocks and the beautiful clear water in front of me.

I’m pretty sure I’ve previously told you about my love of contour drawing, especially blind contour. If I haven’t, or you have forgotten, it’s when you put the pen on the paper and take it off when your drawing is finished. Your drawing is therefore done in a continuous line. To do it blind means you don’t look at your page. Just the object in front of you. Consequently if you are doing a portrait, the eyes or nose can end up anywhere. All in a continuous line!!! This style of drawing reminds me so much of children’s art. It has an energy and a certain truth to it that I find exhilarating.

What do you think? You can tell my drawing is of a boat, can’t you?

Last week I went to the opening of the Garden and Art festival.

It will be on for 4 full days . A massive festival with over 70 gardens this year, and lots of the gardens will have artists in them. I have been selected to be at the Hub of Bloom in the Bay. At the Tauranga Racecourse where there will be garden displays, live music, workshops and lots of art. It will be exciting to be part of the action. If you are going to the festival Hub please come and see me.

Thanks to Watercolour NZ for inviting me to take a workshop in Wellington. I’m really looking forward to catching up with old friends and meeting new ones. These participants will be confident in using the medium and I’m looking forward to seeing what they produce.

I think of workshops I’ve been to and it’s the people I remember, more than anything. I remember reading once ( not a scientific survey) that 80% of what you learn at a workshop is learnt at morning tea and lunchtime. That’s when you talk to like minded people who are following the same journey you are.

So what makes a good workshop??? Lots of morning tea and lunch???

What’s the best workshop you ever went to? What made it special? On that note, do you have a worst workshop you ever went to?

Give me feedback so I can make up a do’s and don’ts list for presenting my workshop. If I get a list I’ll publish it in next months blog.

Well, that’s it for another month. I’ll be blogging again in September. We are off to sunny Queensland for a few weeks to get out of a NZ winter.

Ka kite. Pamela

Half way through the year already. How did that happen?

This last month was a month of teaching more than painting. I love it cos I learn so much, but I’m an artist. Shouldn’t I be painting? Maybe the old adage of everything has a season is true for artists as well. You need to rest up and take account of what you are doing and where your next direction is and not to feel guilty if there are days, weeks or even months where you don’t paint. In saying that you may have read my January blog where I mentioned my main focus this year was to be outside doing more plein air. I certainly am doing that, even if I am not painting. These sketches were done while I sat on the beach at the beginning of May.

Tauranga Urban sketchers met at another historical building in Tauranga in May. Whew! Those buildings are a challenge for me. Even when the building is in front of me I can’t get perspective right. That’s where photos can give me a defined angle to work to. I’ll swear I can see an angle going down, then I’ll look at a photo and clearly see that it goes up. I will keep practicing.

A lovely weekend away apart from the rain.

Upcoming events for June include:

Upcoming events for June:

The second workshop with the Waihi U3A group on working with watercolour.

Probus Studio visit. Another opportunity to share my passion.

A five day rest and relax workshop run by Alice Sheridan. I currently listen to her and Louise Fletcher’s podcast, Art Juice, so I’m looking forward to gaining more of an insight into her art journey and how I can help work with mine. Rest and relax…how hard can it be?

Ka kite ano all you lovely followers. Share my blog with others who may be interested and follow me on Instagram @ pamelalinesart.

Talk to you next month.

Pamela

May is the month of my birth so I am taking ownership of it in this blog. Before I start on May I must finish telling you about my April Adventures. After almost 3 years we got to have real hugs with our daughter and grandchildren ❤️❤️❤️ They came from Queensland Australia for a week over Easter. They love being with their older cousins and of course the first port of call was my studio.

I have joined the Tauranga Urban Sketchers. They meet once a month and paint in and around Tauranga. I am enjoying meeting and painting/drawing with a new group of artists. At the end of April we met at an historic homestead in central Tauranga.

In the beginning of May Sharron, from Exclusive tours, brought a group of 7 women on a visit to my studio. They said they enjoyed the opportunity to learn about watercolour from the demonstration that I did and several went away with cards they had purchased. Beautiful day and lovely ladies.

Day 1 of my Beginners watercolour class was held yesterday. They worked hard but we had some laughs as well. I look forward to next weeks class with them.

What’s coming up for the rest of May?

A long weekend in beautiful Nelson. ( I’ll take my sketch book).

A luncheon for our art group Unlimited Palette as we farewell one of our members who is moving up north. 🥲

A workshop on 21/ 22nd in Rotorua for the Geyserland Art Group.

A watercolour workshop for Waihi U3A on 30th May.

Whew. I might need another holiday in June.

Thank you all for reading my blog and for those of you who gave me feedback during my daily April Adventures. I was thrilled that so many of you said that you looked forward to them each day. It made it worth it.

Till next month. Ka kite.

Pamela

I think the adventure is finishing!!! This is our last day of the Women in Art Tour.

It started with a walk around the Viaduct Basin and Britamart.

We visited the Eden garden where I managed to quietly sit and sketch and paint. I loved the light on the bench seat in the garden.

A trip out to Titirangi, lunch and a visit to Lopdell house and Te Uru gallery.

We went down the road to Colin McCahons’s house that he lived in in the 1950’s.

A busy day and then on the road back to Waihi Beach. It’s all over!!! Till next time.

Pamela

Sadly we have left Paihia and the Bay of Islands. We headed for Auckland. A stay in Auckland is never complete without a visit to the Art Gallery.

Albert park gave opportunities for sitting in the sun and sketching. These ladies really are on a roll now.

There was other art forms in the park too.

At the Black Door Gallery in Parnell we met with Sharron’s friend, artist Terry Prince. He talked about his work that is showcased in the gallery.

Another artist exhibiting in the gallery was Ben Young, who has connections with our home area of Waihi Beach. His sculptures are hand crafted from clear sheet float glass, concrete and steel. Stunning.

Several other galleries were visited before we headed for our accommodation. This evening we ate at the Vietnamese restaurant Saigonz

Ka kite

Pamela