Aka an excuse to bore you with my holiday photos! Due to previously noted medical annoyances, hadn't had a holiday os for a little while, so was looking forward to this, a new place to visit with a little trepidation as you always do when going somewhere new, but largely with much excitement, for travelling has always been my default setting to refresh and reset., so, without further ado, please find my holiday slides for your (but mostly my) viewing pleasure. We visited Tokyo, Kinosaki and Kyoto, and apart from a day spent navigating the main train station in Tokyo (and clocking up the most daily steps in the process), it was completely above and beyond all expectation in so many ways - straight to my top ten on the planet! Absolutely missing those toilet seats that warm and wash too!
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I have been doing a daily drawing for over four years now. As of today, that's 1467 drawings. I can hardly believe it. Me, being so disciplined and all. I labour under the very traditional idea that an artist needs to practice being creative every day. And drawing is the basis of all arts practice, or so I am told. Basically, I got sick of hearing myself whinge about not doing enough art, so challenged myself to do a drawing every day for 30 days. I think I started with my feet, moved on to the chairs in the lounge for a minute, but I kept looking at the dogs, thinking how much I loved them and wouldn't they be a fun thing to draw, but how tricksy because they can move without any notice at any time. But how perfect for an artist - observational drawing from life being the way forward. But those life drawing class costs start to add up, and it's only once a week if you're lucky, and well, the idea is to be making art about something you love. et voila - two dogs sleeping in front of me every day, my own life models for free. and so it started. (My darling cocker spaniel Chardie died a couple of years ago now).
I only draw for as long as the dog stays still - so mostly they are sleeping poses. Occasionally I bribe Lulu with a "goodo" to sit for me, but she does move around. A lot, so they are very quick gestural drawings. Retrospectively, there were several inspirations for this practice already in place. I certainly don't claim this as an original idea - in one of my first art history lessons, we saw a gorgeous doco on David Hockney and his dog paintings - I loved the idea so much, I'm sure I have it written down in one of my visual diaries. (what wouldn't I give to see these paintings and drawings in real life). I also remember seeing a write up of an exhibition an artist was having with a selection of drawings from her daily drawing practice, which was about nine years at the time. I was so impressed and remember thinking how much I would like to have that kind of dedication to my craft. Not that I even consider myself a drawer. Still. That artist is Rita Lazauskas who has an art travel company called Amazigh Cultural Tours Morocco, and Zig Zag Tours Morocco - art trips to Morocco, how very exotic. (Morocco is one of the (many) revisit places for me, oh the colours). She has incredible guest artists on her painting, drawing, photography, jewellery, textile and even yoga tours - Wendy Sharpe, Elizabeth Cummings, Silvi Glattaeur to name a few. We have actually had a few chats over the last year or so, which has been really lovely, very supportive. She even gifted me my current favourite "magic" pencil, which is a multi coloured lead which you insert into a holder. They don't make them anymore, so the gift was doubly special. And I can't leave out A Dog a Day, who I have been following on facebook for quite a number of years now. I bought myself her book for xmas, I just love it, so humerous in her dog poses. I hold it as a goal to achieve. An internationally selling book. I document these drawings daily on my facebook page and more recently instagram, I never sensor the drawings when I post, even if I think they are dreadful, for that is not the point, about how good or bad - that is entirely subjective. There will always be at least one line I am satisfied with, and that IS the point. Practice! I have a massive box of loose drawings, Recenctly, I have learned to contain the drawings - I have a variety of sketchbooks in different sizes, the drawings range from about A6 to A4 size. As this is also the way I get to "play" with various drawing mediums, I now try to stick to the one medium per sketchbook in the hope I learn more about what I can achieve. So on we go. Lulu is 12 now, which is pretty great in Labrador years, so each drawing becomes even more a treasure. I have nervously launched some linocut prints of my daily drawings out into the world recently. I love them, which is all that matters. It will be pretty awesome if others like them enough for their own walls, but I carry on regardless as I must. So, yes, it's been a while since I blogged, but hey, new year, lets see where this goes. I will aim to remember to blog my thoughts out rather than keep them in my head. Time to get honest about this art thing I find myself inexplicably entrenched in and the personal journey along the way, warts and all.
2017 was an interesting year - I can now acknowledge out loud that I have had some big health issues since late 2016,stemming from t2 diabetes which I ignored for a while (which I take absolute personal responsibility for and which is now absolutely under control). This brought about ongoing chronic pain, a nerve transposition operation on both arms, dramatic weight loss (omg I loved the new clothes I had to buy, but hated feeling unwell and having saggy baggy skin) and subsequent weight gain once the t2d got back under control (and now back on the oh so familiar fat shame/blame game). Pleased to say that I am well on the way to recovery and now very focussed on getting health back to as normal as possible moving forward in 2018. Oh, and I've been off the fags for 6 months and going strong........ In the midst of all that we had a major kitchen renovation. It is wonderful. I think I love the dishwasher most of all. And now my health is improving and the pain is well under control, I feel my cooking mojo coming back. Yay. Our little beach shack is becoming sweeter by the day. Artwise in 2017, I managed to maintain my daily life dog drawings - this was in fact my saving grace and serenity each day. I have no plans to stop at this stage, although I may just add another type of drawing practice in to the mix. I often find this "artist" label quite a struggle, I am always anxious about my work - but I do know many others feel the same way - am I good enough, is it good enough, am I doing enough, particularly as I am working on a new series, but on the good days (and really, there have been a few I am so delighted to say) - well, I had a very impressive second half of the year, being awarded "Best in Show" for Art and Craft in the Melbourne Royal Show, also winning first and third prize. Other major majors included being a finalist in the Geelong Print Prize(major!!!), and being selected for the Edging Forward: New prints 2018/Winter exhibition at the International Print Centre New York. (49 artists selected from 1300+ entries). I was also very thrilled to be a part of "Imaginings", a Print exchange folio and exhibition, curated by the ever wonderful Rona Green who is so supportive of her fellow printmakers. and - printing an edition of 66 prints was no mean feat. I always say this I know, but it is such a buzz to be hanging alongside long admired print heroes and inspirers, including two of my former lecturers. Had a fabulous year working at the Print Council of Australia. I do so love my job and am fortunate to be working in the area of my life I am most passionate about. Such fun to connect with my fellow printmakers. So for 2018? Looking forward to kicking off the exhibiting year at Editions 2018 (super pleased to have been selected with my new series from my daily dog drawings) at the new Tacit Contemporary Art gallery space in Collingwood. I have a couple of exhibitions scheduled later in the year. A holiday to Japan in March, and a holiday to Europe in September. Creating some veggie/herb beds, and a deck out the back. Pleasantly busy and creatively focussed. A happy new year to you all, may it bring everything you wish and work hard for. I can almost say this has become a habit, my day does not feel complete if I haven't done a drawing of one of the girls. I enjoy the process, am bemused and amused by what gets the most likes on my daily facebook post, intrigued by what happens on the page on any given day. Sooooo, here we are at 100 (+) drawings in 100 days. Feeling rather pleased with self. Still struggle occasionally to get to it, but it does get done. I even did a couple of days ahead as I was going to Perth for the weekend and only access to one dog for one day. (Now that was interesting, Millie is a blondie, and mine are both black. Colour brings new challenges!) My self imposed rules are that these are life drawings as opposed to from a photo - hence very few are complete, those girls fidget!! I note that it is beginning to feel quite a precious thing to draw my old cocker - she's just turned 14, so, you know.
As you may or may not know, I have recently had a show of my body of work "Love Letter" at Latrobe Regional Gallery in Morwell. I was utterly delighted with the exhibition which was extended out to three months instead of the original six weeks. AND, I was hanging alongside an amazing collection of prints from the Print Council of Australia, the completely wonderful "Familiar/Unfamiliar" touring exhibition, followed by a retrospective of Ray Arnolds' work. Pretty thrilled all round really. What I was most chuffed about was the speech Julia Adams, the Director gave about my work. Which sums it all up perfectly for me.
"As you can see Sharron’s subject matter is sourced from her partner’s employment as a linesman – a dangerous, but essential pursuit for all of us who wish to turn on our computers and TV’s, charge our mobile phones and literally turn on the lights. These works are driven by a sense of admiration and gratitude for the work these men do, but also a certain fear of the risk involved toward the man she loves. Printmaking of any kind requires adherence to a process -and a respect and valuing of that process – there is no room for sloppiness in technique, just as there is no room for lack of attention within a relationship. These prints are lovingly crafted and presented. The lines that Sharron’s partner works on, are literally connecting one to another but they are also metaphorically connecting husband to wife, parent to child, friend to friend, town to town, country to country. Being connected and belonging - that most important of things – that human beings need." Julie Adams, Director Not quite ready to move on from drawing my girls. Available "life models" part of the fun is capturing them for as long as they stay still - no timing here!! So far I find I enjoy fineliners or biro as my favorite mediums. Love the immediacy of it, sometimes it is only a few seconds and always different. Wonder how far I can continue, its almost becoming a habit! Shape, line, form, training my eyes. With a normal life as well as being an artist, I find it difficult to maintain drawing practice, which really is a base essential, and ideally, they say, should be practised every spare second. So in amongst all the other life essential maintenance, I made a small commitment to do a quick drawing every day for 30 days. Success. I did it! and along the way decided that I would continue, each 30 days with a different theme. Also a great opportunity to give different mediums a bit of a go. I usually fit it in after dinner. Here are the first 30 days - random, whatever is in front of me. Some days there is even more than 1 drawing. Oh, and loving my Moleskine sketchbooks - if its good enough for Vincent........ So, here are all the prints ready for the Christmas Exhibition. I am turning some into "bunting" to be hung in the "Blue Room" as well as framing them in the more traditional way. We just had a progress meeting and I am blown away by the incredible talent of the other groups that are participating - the beaders, the weavers, the quilt makers, embroiderers, painters, carvers, stitchers, ceramicists, the list goes on, I think it will be an amazing show.
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Sharron OkinesVisual Artist - printmaker, painter, inspired by the Impressionists, Expressionists, Fauvists, Henri Matisse, Burlesque, Vintage 50's & 60's, black doggies, exploring the unseen familiar, propoganda art, my domestic surrounds...... Archives
March 2018
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