How time flies!

Walking the Rawnsley Bluff Trail
Approx 34cm x 48cm
Pastel on Colourfix Paper
Copyright Susan Borgas

Wow I can’t get over the amount of time that has passed since my last post.

Blogger has kindly given us some new templates to play with and hope you like the new look. It took me ages to work out what design to settle with and felt this one gave a nice clean visual, so decided to keep this one. I will tweak the colour to suit my work at a later time.

Even though I haven’t been blogging, painting is still high on my priority list with numerous paintings done throughout the year. Tomorrow is a big day with the opening of the Painters of the Flinders Ranges exhibition opening in Port Pirie of South Australia. I am also working towards the annual exhibition at Wilpena Pound later in the year. The painting above is a part of the Port Pirie exhibition.

An effort is going to be made to update this blog often, although daily will not be an option because I found it does put a lot of pressure on my artwork. I do use Facebook and you are welcome to join me there. Please let me know where you found me so that I know to accept your friendship. I tend to turn people away on Facebook if I think it is a random invite from someone I have nothing in common with.

Take care, Susan

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Technorati Tags: Pastel,painting,artist

Eucalyptus Tree Sketch

Eucalyptus Tree Sketch
Approx 17.5cm x 23cm
Graphite on 110 gram drawing cartridge
Copyright Susan Borgas

Drawing is so relaxing and just wish I had more time to do detailed work similar to the sample above. My time instead is channeled into producing realistic paintings with the intention of selling them. Marketing of course is high on the agenda as well.

Ideally fifty percent painting and the other fifty towards marketing is desired for the serious artist. Now I say 'ideally' although I do find my 'other life' does get in the way and would suggest that be the case with many artist. Setting realistic goals will without a doubt ensure success.

Effort only releases its reward when you refuse to quit. Author unknown

There are many motivational and inspiring writings on the web. Two that I found interesting to read are as follow:

1. Goal setting Guide
   
2. Index list of Newsletter tips by Dr Philip E Humbert

What about you, do you have some tips to pace yourself so that you are able to achieve your own goals?

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technorati tags: drawing, sketching, motivation, inspiration

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Get Out of that Car!

Quenching Water's of Wirreanda Creek
Approx 47.5cm x 68cm
Pastel on Terra Cotta Colourfix Paper
Copyright Susan Borgas

(The blue is not quite right in this image but the best I could get at this time)

I don’t know how many times I have traveled near this spot and never appreciated what is really there. This is permanent water fed by a spring. The surrounding area doesn’t have much in the way of tall trees but there is plenty of salt bush heading off into the distance. I always find the floating algae interesting, especially when it is aging, because of the varied colours and textures that it becomes.

Here in Australia it isn’t unknown to travel quite some distances to reach destination. Time often does not allow us to pull over the side of the road and walk with a sketchbook in tow or a camera bag slung over the shoulder, but instead I have quickly park the car and taken a snapshot from the side of the road for reference to work in a studio. After awhile it isn’t quite so stimulating to paint something that is seen time and again, although these paintings often sell quickly because tourist do recognise those spots and want to take it home as a reminder of their trip.

Walk
"
See what is around that corner!
"

My husband and I are parking our vehicle more often now and walking up or down a creek bed or climbing that nearby hill. It is a good way to find new material to paint, as well of course some exercise tossed in as well.

I am happy to say that I have now sold Water Course, Wilpena Creek.

technorati tags: pastel, landscape, artist, photorealism, water

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Resale Royalties for Australian Artists

After five weeks of no television and radio while working as Artist in Residence at Wilpena Pound, I did hear from someone in passing that Australian visual artist will receive 5% royalties for re-sold works for the value of $1000.00 and above. This is anticipated to happen on the 1 July 2009.

Is this a good thing? I honestly don't know and not even going to try and comment about it. I will though give you some links that you may find useful to make up your own mind.

• The man who is going to make all this happen, Peter Garrett.
• National Association for Visual Art Ltd. pdf
• Research Hub
• Transcript from The World Today
• Aboriginal Art Blog

One thing I am sure of, I don't think I will benefit from this with my own artworks even though I am selling works over a thousand dollars: I won't live long enough but then perhaps I can work towards leaving my grandchildren a legacy to remember me by.

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technorati tags: Royalties, australia, artist, visual artist

Water Course, Wilpena Creek "Completed"

Wilpena Pound's Waterway
Approx 34cm x 48cm
Pastel on Terra Cotta Colourfix Paper
Copyright Susan Borgas

Cripes I have just about forgotten how to use Blogger because it has been so long since I have posted. I also see some new ideas that I can try out with Blogger as well . Hey and I bet you thought you would never ever see this pastel work finished.

I have changed the title of the painting, as the original was not what I really wanted for the finished piece. Anyway I do hope you like it.

For those that have posted comments and written emails to me, please accept this as a thank you from me, as I look more positively towards the next twelve months and years to come.

Links to this WIP:

1. Water Course, Wilpena Creek WIP
   
   
2. Water Course, Wilpena Creek two WIP
   

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technorati tags: pastel, landscape, artist, photorealism

Marbles on eBay

Marbles
Size: 127mm x 127mm
Support: Gessoed MDF board
Copyright Susan Borgas
For Sale

Check out my eBay listing for 'Marbles'

Well I am truly on a steep learning curve here with my first listing on eBay now available for bidding. I am at the moment testing the water to see how it all works and for this reason will only post to Australia. Well that is if I do manage to get a bid.

This painting isn't hot off the easel, but painted some time back with the idea of selling on eBay and ended up confused with the whole thing and shelved the idea. What I mean by confused is art sellers leaving eBay and selling their work elsewhere or privately through their blogs and websites. I am hearing that this has escalated in recent months. eBay fees do gobble up small profit on sales so I am going in with my eyes wide open without high expectations.

It is going to be an interesting exercise; one that you can watch with me or if you are an Aussie and like my work, you could be in for a chance of an original piece painted by yours truly. But first you have to make a bid!



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technorati tags: eBay, oil painting, oil, painting,

Sunset on the Murray River

Sunset on the Murray River
Approx 47.5cm x 51cm
Pastel on Storm Blue Colourfix Paper
Copyright Susan Borgas
Commissioned

Yes I know it has been quite awhile since my last post and I do want to thank everyone of you for your emails and comments that still have been flowing in. I had to prioritize what was important to me and step back from deadlines (blog posts) that where in fact eating into my creative time to the point of destroying my urge to paint. As you know blogs are consuming to write and maintain, so much so that they encroach on family time as well as producing work. My health has improved a lot and after arriving home from a recent two week holiday by the beach I am ready to get stuck into some painting once more. Please don't always expect 'works in progress' as I have done in the past but I will post my new works as they are completed.

This commissioned piece that you see above had me scratching my head quite a bit. I did learn a lot from it and had to really think hard because the reference photo was developed from a film camera and was basically all black in the shadows of the background and foreground. I don't know about other artists but do find commissioned work more stressful to do as I know that it is often expected that the painting look like the photo. Well in the end when it come to the dark areas I put some music on and just went with the rhythm , using the darks pastels that I used in the sky and water and went for it.

The painting was commissioned as a surprise gift from wife to husband. They already have two of my oil paintings, one from my very early days, the second around the middle period. The husband was very emotional to receive this painting, because it was one that he had wanted painted for quite some time. The pair were very happy that I found so much to paint in the shadows and was a real relief to hear. I have to admit I got a real buzz out of it in the end.

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technorati tags: pastel, water, sunset