Artist Blogs
South Gippsland Artist's Profile Statement
Author: Gillian Carpenter - Date Wed Jul 2020
Frottage in the Cemetery

Author: Marty Hirst - Date Thu May 2020
"Frottage!" What a lovely French word. You can really feel it on your tongue when you say it. To pronounce it properly, with the deliciousness it deserves, you really have to get every part of your mouth involved. "Ffff" with the top teeth firmly biting down on the bottom lip; "rho", from the back of the throat; "t!" tongue on the top palate; the sighing "ahh" and then "ghgghghg". It is a damn sexy word and sounds a bit naughty.
But enough of that. It's also lovely word in the art world and the fun thing is that it is just that little bit dirty too.
I spent a couple of hours this week in my local cemetery taking frottages from some of the headstones.
These are test pieces for a major work in my print-making class. Because of the coronavirus lockdown school is physically closed, but we are learning virtually.
I'm not sure exactly what my final piece will be, but I think it will have a memento mori theme.
After all, I don't want to waste a trip to the cemetery.
You can see a full collection of my cemetery rubbings here.
Print-making in the pandemic

Author: Marty Hirst - Date Thu May 2020
Author: John Whittam - Date Mon Jun 2020
Love
Author: Frances Phelan - Date Mon Jul 2020
As the moon twinkles down
And touchers her fallen tears
She reaches into her mind
And searches for the divine
As the petals fall so delicately
And decorate the ground
Her heart beats lightly
Quieter than sound
Darkness of her life
Haunting but right
Her spirit so free
Her soul she can't flee
poet Frances Phelan 2012
Watercolour discussion

Author: Szczepan Urbanowicz - Date Fri Jul 2020
A recent watercolour painting of mine. I produced this as a LIVE - REAL-TIME watercolour painting session on Youtube recently. I'm really starting to enjoy landscapes. I am working with colours that harmonise my sensitivities to changing light conditions and this piece is another step along the way. regards szcz
Out of the ashes

Author: Jacqui Reid - Date Sat Jul 2020
Out of the ashes is a work in progress series that honors the wildlife that was lost during the 2019-2020 bushfires in East Gippsland. Our property was effected and the bush that surrounded us was burnt out, a handfull of kangaroos, some birds and a young female fox is all that came out of the bush during the days that followed the 31st of December 2019.
I have used charcoal and ash from the fires in each of the paintings, Iv'e also used matisse structure acrylic paints, inks and dyes. I love to use a multitude of mediums, you never know what's going to react with what.
This image is of a young female kangaroo that was badly burnt, we watched her make her way to the dam, shortly after we decided to go check on her and unfortunatly she had to be put down. This painting is to remember her, rest in peace my little friend.
Hustle and Bustle
Author: Frances Phelan - Date Mon Jul 2020
The hustle and the bustle
of the city and its lights
Of a mind always open
to the colours that bring life.
The sparkles and the dazles
of the flowers and the gems.
The purchase of creations
Wine and food by loving friends.
The traffic and the businesses
cars, people and the tills.
Buses carrying hopes and dreams
to reuions and big chills
Pictures of memoires
kept for everymore.
A moment of nothing
brings forgiveness to the door.
Strangers that dont know
our land or its truth.
But want to learn for keepsake
for stories for their youth.
Dreams are bought
Dreams are sold.
Like a wind it passes through
The hustle and the bustle
of the city and it's tills.
poet Frances Phelan 2016
Hello all
Author: Yuna Rickard - Date Fri Aug 2020
Hello, Im very excited to have round Gallery247 to promote my art work. Ive done some sort of art and crafts all my life and recencly Ive been attending watercolour and pastel lessons - this has not only improved my work but also given me confidence in what I do.
I live in a small farm just outside Orbost in far eastern Victoria. It very rural here but also very pretty with lots of mountains, forests and beaches - lots of inspiration for art works!
As I have lots of animals, big and small, I get lots of practice with all kids of subjects to Im happy to take animal or even landscape commissions.
Most of my art work is sold unframed BUT is supplied with a professionaly cut matt and backing boards ready to put into a A3 frame.
Red Sands.
Author: Frances Phelan - Date Fri Aug 2020
Red Sands. A poem I wrote in 2012 when travelling through Outback Australia.
The land was still, then came the song.
A kookaburras laughter a snake for its tucker.
The vast Plains of desert grass, white gums and weeping bark
An ancient rock dreaming our mystical land.
An ancient rock breathing red sand.
Red sand travelling to The Kimberley Coast.
Red sand travelling to all us folk.
Red Sand Travelling.
The magpies visit The Tamworth Coast
Joining in the chorus, beating hearts before us.
Immigrants from other, sharing this land.
Multi coloured hands castles in the sand.
A journey of a million steps
Walkabout take a rest.
Running from war, poverty and shame,
to a country, where cattle roam free, we all bleed the same.
The land was still, then came the song.
Red Sand Travelling. Red Sand Travelling.
Poet frances phelan