Brooklyn New York Nov 2015

 Brooklyn was as gritty as I hoped it would be, although there was a lot of empty blocks with very imaginative graffiti decorating the ugly fences.  Gradually I think Brooklyn is losing its old character and being replaced with public housing.

This cat looks ferocious, just what you would expect in the hood

exterior of our loft apartment. these where garment making factories.  I am guessing all these empty blocks would have had similar factories.  Would guess they would have been from the 50s and 60s

rather dirty and unkept shops here and there

public housing looked clean, tidy and well kept.

Saw a lot of buildings like this, like something out of the Wild West, very plain, no overhangs, flat and box like. But quite unique and different to anywhere else I have been.

public housing

quaint restaurant that served delicious food, we had several meals here

New York, our gritty New York

BROOKLYN is where we chose to make home for three nights.

Rico.

 our charming host, was great company when we where actually at the loft

the amazing loft, was like staying in an art gallery.

everywhere I looked something would catch my eye

quirky art

vintage bits and pieces

this was our little shut off area

Kirsty had to take the upstairs bed, no way I would get up and down those stairs in the dark

the gorgeous Bogart, very handsome boy

two beautiful old antique velvet chaise's, so unexpected and very comfortable

Looking through to the kitchen and bathroom off to the left

Finally got my laptop fixed so I could share with you, had downloaded my photo's onto here

Albany Workshop 2015

Last week I taught a series of workshops in beautiful Albany, through Icky Finks.  Must say here, those of you living in Albany how lucky you are to have Icky Finks in your area, wish they where in Bunbury or Busselton.  Wonderful range of products for artists. I had wonderful classes of eager students ready and willing to go out of their comfort zone and experiment with Golden products.  Few hiccups at the beginning but nothing to dampen their creativity.  The workshops were held in the Annexe (see below on left) at beautiful Vancouver house, the art centre for Albany I am told. Very lucky here as well.

 First morning I arrived early to get the workshop set up and took the opportunity to take some quick photo's of Vauclause House.

 Had to share this one of a mosaic bench, isn't it creative?

I had to make this photo larger so you could see the wonderful wind towers, these a politician thought where ugly, where is his head at.

Can you see the creativity going on here in the art journals workshop, was not sure if I would get many to do this workshop and was very pleasantly surprised.

newly cut and rolled hay, what a wonderful inspiration for a canvas

such a beautiful golden colour.

Saturday week I fly to New York for three nights and then on to Fort Lauderdale, Miami for the Golden GAEP conference.  I will be coming back bursting with new ideas and there will be lots of workshop coming up in 2016, have my mojo back yehaaa!!!

Garden progress

31st December 2014 just after we moved in, Summer to hot to do much

29th April 2015 putting in retaining walls, nearing Autumn ground still hard

2nd September 2015 winter ground now soft enough to work.

Eastern side of house drainage dug

22 October 2015 Spring and finally finished. Metal grate drainage along front and side of veranda, blue metal on the paths. We had to drain all water away from the house to prevent damage to the stumps of the house.

birdhouse back up after some repairs. Step at end of veranda. Roses starting to flower

Eastern side of house with a retaining wall.  In Autumn will do this side of the house with a dry creek bed and trees and shrubs its 4 metres wide but just a wire fence separating us so doesn't feel closed in.

From the road looking down the bank the trees here are now growing well, flowering plum and grevillea's for the birds and privacy.

Dark grey concrete slabs along in front of veranda, lovely to sit out here now.

Out the back looking down on the landing pad (septic tank) geranium cuttings growing well.  can you see the Queen Annes lace at back between birdhouse and birdbath and dark pink hollyhock behind birdbath. Just trying to create something pleasant to look down on.

and my straw bed vege garden, not much in it yet.

The five year plan is on track and looking nice, very satisfying.

                                     

days 25 to completion

turned it over and dirtied it up. Not comfortable with those colours.

take it right back some interesting colours now coming through

a bit of structure

division

a stencil or three

a bit of light

I have enjoyed this whole exercise, experimenting with shape, form and colour.  The best part was just letting go and having no expectation of where I was going with it. I am happy with the end result and would like to get started with another canvas this style.  Have to put it aside for a little while, 4 weeks until I go to America. I have three markets and 4 acrylic workshops to do in that time. Although I have all my stock made for the markets there is the time factor of loading the van, unloading and setting stall up, then at the end of the market doing it all over again.  It is very tiring,  need a day to get over it.  The acrylic workshops are over two days and we have to travel down to Albany and stay three nights.  There is a lot of prep work involved in workshops,  I will need the two weeks left before going away, to recuperate, and do last minute preparations for trip.  Will be getting back into painting all inspired from the Golden Acrylic Conference in Miami and lots of goodies to play around with.