Arts & Stuff

When naming this blog Arts & Stuff with Susan Borgas, it became confused with my website because the same name was used. From today my blog will have a new title called Arts & Stuff. Who knows it might end up with another name as the blog grows and evolves with time though will always revolve around my artwork.

If you have visited SnapShots you will know that my daughter also has the Nikon D80 camera. She gave me permission to show you this photo that she took of her dog using the Nikon D80. The movement in this photo it what makes it special. I am sure Ash knows when his photo is being taken because many photos of him are where he is a real poser and a handsome one at that.

technorati tags: SnapShots, photo, sheltie, dog, Nikon D80, camera,

Check out my new blog called SnapShots

For those that have been waiting for the launch of my new blog you can find it by clicking on SnapShots. Have a look and see what you think. Show word verification for comments has been left off all my blogs now to make it easier for those that have difficulty using it. Expect to find comment moderated enabled across my blogs because it is easier to be rid of spam before it reaches my comment page.

Searching for codes and putting everything in place SnapShots was and still is an interesting exercise passing the time in the evenings. The Beta Blogger enables the use of Widgets. If you are able to use Widgets the SnapShots button is very easy to install into your blog. You can see the SnapShots button in the column of this blog, which was installed from SnapShots “LINK TO ME” Button.

SnapShots will not always consist of conversations from me but there will be something for you to view on a regular basis. I do hope you enjoy this new journey with me.

technorati tags: SnapShots, widgets, beta blogger, blogger

Reference photo and watercolour painting

I have great respect for artist that chooses to create artworks how they want rather than what the purest think how it should be done. Maybe even the old masters would have been more forward with how they approached their creative work if it wasn’t for this disapproving sector of the art world.

Well I for one do paint from reference photos and want to share some of my personal ideas with you.

When developing a painting from a reference photo, aim for it to be a piece of artwork that comes from you rather than just a copy of an image. In other words be creative with what you do. In saying this though you may need to consider what a client wants, then decide if you want to go ahead with the painting if they expect a "copy" of the photo.

My observations of painting from a reference image may help those that prefer to work this way. If you have any ideas that can be of help please add them to the comments section of this topic.

• Gain experience from Plein-air painting and learn to draw. It will give you a much better understanding of how to handle the reference photo.

• Best if painting from own reference photo.

• Never use a photo that has copyright.

• Do a sketch from the photo taking note if perspective needs to be fixed, as often point and shoot cameras do distort an image. This is why you need to have some drawing experience.

• Take note of colours when capturing the photo, as often the reference image will be different. There is no reason why you also can't be creative with colour.
  

• Be aware shadows have a lot of varied colour throughout them, not a dark area of black or blue as often is the case in photos.

• Painting from a well calibrated computer monitor is often a better experience to paint from than a printed off photo.

• Same as Plein-air, leave out unnecessary detail.

• Move, remove, shrink, make taller or even add a tree in a landscape to improve the overall design. Trees are not the only items to consider, as there are many changes that can be made.

• Take many photos of the area to help remind you what it was about the scene that inspired you in the first place to create a piece of artwork. This is where digital photos are good, as there are no unnecessary developing costs if you make use of a computer monitor.

• Don’t just copy, have fun and be creative.

Those artist that use reference images, we are in good company.

Some of the old masters that used reference photos are:

• Edgar Degas

• Paul Cezanne

• Paul Gauguin

• Vincent Van Gosh

• Toulouse Lautrec

There maybe more and would be interested to know who they are?

Yesterdays post I said that I would post a photo and a watercolour painting from that reference material. I had a lot of fun playing around with my paints in the comfort of my studio when I painted this one.


Sold

technorati tags: watercolor, watercolour, plein-air, plein air, en plein air, reference photo, photograph

Skilled Truckie

Our farm isn’t really set up to have B Double semi trailers come in to collect our sheep for market. It takes a skilled Truckie to maneuver his large rig in a small area.

I didn’t think of it until the sheep had been loaded to grab some photos. To load the sheep the semi was backed right up to the opening of our shearing shed.

Normally a semi picks up our sheep but this is the second time a B Double has come in on the farm so plans are now in place to make a new track behind our barn. This will mean the driver will come onto the property through one gate and exit through another without having to make any tight turns.

I hope I don't choke up your internet connections with the photos in this post. I do feel they tell the story of the skills of this driver.



Moving forward away from the shearing shed where the sheep were loaded.

Backing up......

and backing up some more..... my son is quick to tell the the driver when to stop before hitting the shearing shed.

Forward once more.
New track will continue on in the direction that the semi truck is facing now. A gate will be put in the fence that is there now.

Backing up around the side of the shearing shed.

Forward once more....

right around now....

Facing the way the B Double came in on the property.

Time to make a mile!

technorati tags: B Double, truckie, photos, sheep, truck, semi

Lightening Strike

What could have been a nasty situation with fire was a strike out instead when lightening hit a tree on the family farm. I have since heard via the two way radio that the storm had left spot fires from strikes as the storm moved further East. There was also a strike between a house and shed in Booleroo Centre, my closes town to where I live.

As I type this the storm is building up again.

My husband actually saw the lightening hit the tree and can’t understand why it never started a fire as the tree lit up like a Christmas tree with a fireball exploding up and out. Periodically Malcolm and our son Shaun check the tree and surrounding area to make sure no spot fires start up.



The photo above shows the distance where I was still finding timber that had exploded away from the tree.



The bare branch that can be seen in this photo shows how it is stripped of bark and limbs. We can only find a fraction of the missing timber that has been ripped apart from that trunk on the tree and of cause that is a concern as we don’t know if there are any hot embers lying around the stubble paddock.

If you click on the image for a larger photo you should then be able to see the farm dog is trying to help out as well..... no I don't mean she is watering the tree...Chuckle.

technorati tags: Lightening strike, tree, storm, dog, blog, photos

Australian Artist, Sir Hans Heysen

A few days ago I had the opportunity to travel on a bus to Hahndorf in South Australia to visit one of Australia’s greatest artists, Sir Hans Heysen.

I have always been a huge admirer of his landscape paintings and wasn’t really aware of his other works until I made this trip. His oil Still Life paintings just blew me away. He stopped painting these when his daughter Nora took up Still Life painting, presumably for their work not to be compared. Hans’s graphite and charcoal drawings are something that I can only ever hope to aspire too. They are rendered by a true master.

The Heysen’s family home was purchased in 1912 where he remained until his death in 1968 at the age of 90. Hans and his wife Sallie had eight children. “The Cedars” as his home was named, had extensions added to it as his family increased.

While the tour was being conducted we were told that photos were not allowed to be taken inside the house. The house is like walking back into time. One lady that traveled on the same bus as me asked do I feel something about the room that we were in. I knew straight away what she meant with a spiritual feeling permeating me as if there was a tangible presence to the whole house. It was partially noticeable in the master bedroom where more than one birth and death had occurred. The strong sense of history was very real in this home. This probably comes from the many Paintings, drawings, prints and books that remain on view along with the solid wood furniture and Persian rugs scatter throughout the house.

Before I move on there is a Still Life called Zinnias and Autumn Fruit that I viewed over the mantle piece. This work Hans painted is nearly as wide as the large chimney that it hangs on. The painting was never for sale as it was a gift to his wife. Anna Pavlova, a visiting Russian Ballet dancer saw this painting and offered Hans a blank cheque for it. Anna was quite insistent that she buy the painting and “put out” that Hans would not sell her this painting. He offered to paint her a similar still-life though not an exact copy, which he did. When the painting was delivered to the Russian dancer she returned it saying that if she couldn’t have the painting that she wanted she would have no painting at all. That painting Anna didn’t want was soon purchased by another buyer and became one of Hans best.

Hans studio also had the same feel as the house though with a much more open airy sense due to the massive glass window at the end of his studio. The enormous window was imported from overseas and traveled from Adelaide by horse and cart, which would have been a feat on it own but did arrive safely. The glass has a frosted look about it so that there was a defused light into the studio. The studio was left as if Hans himself had just finished a day of painting. You can see by the wear on the large Persian rug where Hans worked in two areas at his larger than life easel by moving it into a different position as the light moved. Once more photos could not be taken but do regret not taking a photo of the window from outside.

At the time of his death it was instructed by Hans himself that all unsigned works were to be burnt. His family respected that and the big burn did happen, which in same ways saddened me as so much history literally went up in smoke.

The surrounding gardens are a delight to investigate. Hans never farmed his property; instead he planted his beloved gum trees throughout the land. This property still remains in the care of his family.

Even though the day was overcast and drizzly, I was please to get the opportunity to take a few photos in and around the Heysen grounds.




The Heysen Home



Studio



Car Shed

technorati tags: Hans Heysen, artist, history

Where has the moisture gone

It is hard to believe that by the old Aussie measurement we had a little over sixty points of rain yesterday, with the moisture disappearing quickly because it is soaked up greedily by the parched earth. Yes the drought that is happening in Australia is affecting our family farm as well. What there is of harvest is nearly finished; what was a good start to the season the rain is just too late now.

Farming families learn to roll with the punches if they want to survive in their business as we have for two generations. The third generation is now home to work the farm. It is an exciting time with a very positive attitude towards the future. The rain will come again as it has yesterday. Hopefully a bit more often than it has over the last few months and a must to fall at the right time. It would be lovely to have a tap at the bottom of the sky to switch on and off as needed but then again the rubber washers to stop the tap leak would just be to expensive to buy…wink.

This photo was taken on the way home from the evening walk with my husband. The remains of this water at the edge of the rubble road will soon be gone; though there is still more moisture forecasted for tomorrow and that is another day where we will look to the skies as we have for so many times over the last few months.

technorati tags: drought, rain, photo, walking

Emu and his eight chicks

This is a common sight to see dad wondering around the Wilpena Resort lawns feeding his chicks. Any tourist staying in these units in the background would have hardly believed there eyes with a treat like this right at their back door.

Like the Kangaroos the Emu has to be respected. If threatened, the Emu will kick out swiftly with their powerful legs. Thankfully the Emus that visit the resort and camping area are comfortable around humans and cause no problems, but just in case keeping ones distance is a good idea.

Link for Emu:

Wikipedia for Emu

technorati tags: Emu, wilpena pound

Kangaroo wanting Breakfast

On the morning that my husband and I were packing up the caravan to travel back home from Wilpena Pound, this lady thought she could join us for breakfast. She also had a Joey about half grown that was exploring near our van. It isn’t unusual for the mum to have a Joey in her pouch at the same time as a young one on the hop.

Even though this kangaroo was very friendly; most are not and don’t like to be near humans. Many kangaroos in the camp grounds often can be seen foraging for food that has been dropped by the tourists or begging for food from a holiday-maker, which is discouraged as these animals are in fact wild and human food is not good for them plus without warning the animal can inflict damage to a human body. In saying this though I had to laugh one morning when I saw a circle of campers facing a campfire having breakfast, including a kangaroo. Not something one sees everyday.

Links that you may find interesting are:
Wilpena Pound
Kangaroos, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

technorati tags: Kangaroo, wilpena pound, photo, photos

Spring is in the air

There was plenty of wildlife at Wilpena Pound during my stay with more photos yet to come.

This pair of Dragon Lizards were how can I put it……a little frisky towards each other. This photo isn’t “adults only” but does show them having a cuddle after a courtship dance.

I didn’t hang around after these snaps were taken, as the mosquitoes where driving me nuts and had to get away from the area.

technorati tags: dragon lizard, photo, photos

Bunyeroo Valley

My work as artist in residence at Wilpena Pound wasn’t all work and no play. My son and his partner came for a visit and my husband and I took them on our favourite scenic drive.

This photo that I had taken gives you a good view from the Razorback Lookout of the road that we travelled. At each end of this drive there is a gorge. One is Bunyeroo and the other Brachina.

I rarely miss travelling this route when in the Central Flinders.

technorati tags: Wilpena, Brachina, Bunyeroo, Central Flinders, travel, tour

Flinders Sunset

Gee I miss posting to my blog regularly. I have been so busy with bookwork for the family farm that by the time evening comes my brain just isn’t in the mood for story telling.

Today was different though with appointments and shopping at Port Pirie, one hours drive away. The sun was nearly setting when we pulled up at our back door to unload the groceries. I was watching the sky for colour and knew that it was going to be a spectacular sunset. Like a mad woman I ran inside my home, grabbed the camera, back outside and ran over to the paddock west of our house. Thankfully I did not full flat on my face.

I loved how the suns rays were reaching for the sky between the clouds with this one.

Click image for a large view.



Technorati tags: sunset, blog

Eucalyptus River Red Gum

If these old Eucalyptus River Red Gums could talk what stories they would be able to tell us. I took this photo about two years ago near Melrose of South Australia.



Technorati tags: tree, artist, photo, image, photography

Wood Duck Dam

This is a nice little picnic area a short drive north of the T Junction turn off into Wilpena Pound. It isn’t far off the main rubble road and yet after many visits to the area, it wasn’t until my last trip to Wilpena Pound that I visited this tranquil spot.

The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom.
- James Allen

Willy Wagtails

The watercolour painting that I am working on isn’t ready to be posted here yet so yes you guessed it, another of my photos for show and tell.

This one of the Willy Wagtail chicks being fed was taken on the 25/10/05 looking through my kitchen window.

If you look to the right you will see the nest that they were reared in. They are such active little birds that it was hard to get a good photo of them.

Be like the bird that, passing on her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing that she hath wings.
Victor Hugo

Fire without rain!

Last night I snapped this photo about a hundred meters from my back door looking across a paddock. Not sure if it is because I have interest in taking these photos that I notice more now, or that there is actually extra colourful sunsets in my area the last few months.

Either way the clouds are teasing us as to will or will it not rain. I do hope there is some rainfall on the horizon soon that we may sow are wheat and barely.

“Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.”
- Langston Hughes

Fishing boats at Port Broughton

This photo was taken in the late afternoon from the Port Broughton jetty on the same day as the two previous sunset photos that I posted on my Blog. It has it own appeal and thought you all might enjoy it.

Port Broughton Sunset

I don't have a painting to post today nor will I for the next couple of days as I am in the thick of bookkeeping on the farm.

I would like to share with you another sunset photo that I took at Port Broughton during the Easter period.

There will be a photo tomorrow and so on.

"Old Bakery" at Stone Hut

If you happen to be passing through the tiny town of Stone Hut in South Australia I can recommend the Old Bakery’s huge chunky meat pies.

My husband and I dropped in there for the first time on our way home from our Easter break at Port Broughton. We had heard so much about the food at the Old Bakery that we thought it was time to sample their creation. We were not disappointed.

The word certainly has traveled as you will see by the number of vehicles parked. There were more visitors than people living in Stone Hut. The bakery shop is the two peaked roofed building to the left in the photo which has a nostalgic atmosphere inside and out.

Click image for larger view.

Wanderer Butterflies

There are a large number of these butterflies in my garden at the moment giving me plenty of opportunities to snap them with my camera. Two examples are below.