What started off as an offer to lend a painted horse called "Neddy" and casually enquiring about a Sat Pop-Up gig at Coolalinga Central... in 3 years.... grew in to a 4 day a week retail outlet with demand for more. I try to balance my time in the studio to keep painting professionally and being an illustrator....which does and doesn't work most weeks. I need an extra day in the week for home chores/ maintenance of our property AND every once in a while catch up with friends & family! Balance is the key to staying happy, not to mention letting complaints that my shop isn't open 7 days a week wash over me. I can't be everywhere at once...not if I still want to create beautiful artworks : ) If you know you are doing your absolute best then there is nothing more that needs to be said.....right? You shouldn't have to justify yourself to people....but I constantly have to. I wish more people understood what it takes to create and the time needed to do so. I suppose I should just be happy the demand is there, but I have a deep desire to please everyone.....and lately I realise that is an absolutely IMPOSSIBLE task.
A bit about my POP-UP SHOP.
I get a lot of feedback of disappointment that my Pop-Up Shop aka GALLERY is not open 7 days a week. It is wonderful that there is such an interest in my work. I do apologise for any inconvenience if you are there when I'm not. NOTHING in my shop is imported, I make everything myself, which includes continually creating fresh new artworks...arranging printing of my work and stretching, assembling all of my prints. To do this I need production time in my studio. These days are Mon - Wed. My Pop-Up Shop OPEN HOURS 4 days a week so that I am able to able to achieve all of the above: Thurs 12 -5.30 pm Fri 12 - 5.30 pm Sat 10 - 5 pm Sun 10 - 3 pm *** CLOSED / "STUDIO TIME" Mon - Wed If you need to place an order please go to the "SHOP" tab to fill out the form and I will respond ASAP. Thank you for understanding the time it takes to make art and then staff, manage your own shop : ) Cheers Marnie 'Hurtle the Turtle" written by Mick Palmer and illustrated by moi was printed at Xmas as a personal gift from Mick to his grand kids and family. The positive response was overwhelming and we have been inundated by requests for this cute little book SO we are doing another print run to sell to the public this time. We are looking at having this book available after Easter some time so stay tuned.
What a busy time it has been! My exhibition is up and now running til the 16th December at Paul Johnstone Gallery. The Tactile ARTS Waterfront Craft Fair was wonderfully cool and a huge success. Marrara double weekend Craft Fair was cranking and full of good vibes from both stall holders and the crowd. I must say the 'crafties' work ridiculously hard to not only make all their stock but to physically set up their stalls, then deck it out in the best way possible. It is hot, hard and often heavy lifting work and yet then find the energy to man your stall for the day. A lot of tired, exhausted stall holders yet the friendliness and helpfulness you'll receive is something I really admire.
Now it is back to studio time to complete the illustrations for Mick that are to be in a little book for his grand kids at Xmas. 'Hurtle the Turtle' is a very well written and funny little story about a turtle who accidentally ends up in Pop's belly after a trip to the beach. (This explains the beer gut!) A diet of beer and jellyfish is not acceptable and just keeps Hurtle growing...but after a trip to the doctor a diet of just beer is ok ...but definitely no jellyfish. This is the plan to reduce Hurtle to get him back to the beach. Love it! Thank you Judith and Patrina from the NT News for coming out to visit me at Bird House for the first art trail of the season. It's interesting to see how other creatives work in their field.
Judith was so chilled out that it was easy to chat and not get stage fright for a change. Patrina, the photographer quickly scoured the room and made an arrangement to capture as much art as possible, whilst still looking natural. Note: the desk I am at is the one I studied at for long hours to pass my Matric (year 12.) I just can't throw it out and it is my favorite painting desk : ) It was also pretty funny talking about how I structure my day more on a Spanish siesta kind of system. We live in a similar climate so it makes sense right? Just seems to be how I am most productive. Up early, off to work, back for late lunch & rest in the heat of the day. Refreshed, it's back to work in the arvie til sunset. Ahhh the beauty of working for yourself and having your own hours : ) A big thank you to my Dad for making these for me! He made them out of concrete and I painted them. These are to add to my collection of magic mushrooms that greet and guide you to the studio.
A little history behind why these are special to me: When I was a kid I used to have an after school carer called "Gloria." For some reason she reminded me of Father Xmas's wife. A rosy face, big belly laugh and always with a bun in her hair. She would take me down to the Botanical Garden after school to play and roam around the gardens. There used to be a massive mushroom there like one of these and I would get extremely excited to visit this. She told me about the fairies that lived in it. At midnight the fairies would come out of the mushroom (kind of like a gateway to the underworld) and they would sing and hold hands, dancing around the mushroom. When dawn broke they would go back through an invisible door to below and sleep til night time...when they would all come out again. I've relocated most of my stock to Northlakes Medical Center. They have originals from 10 x 10 cm ($50) up to The Termite Kingdom for $1850. They have my most recent work: "The Barn Owl" ($385), "The Visitor"($380) and "Billy the Buffalo" ($350). They also have prints: "Crocodile Dreaming" 20 x 30 inches $160. "Red Dog" 20 x 20 inches $125. "Gouldian Finches" 12 x 12 inches $75 and 'The first Rains" 12 x 16 inches $85. I bought this book years and years ago in the Blue Mountains and my husband was cleaning his gallery "Is this years?" "YES!" Delighted to look at it again, it provided a boost of inspiration from Egyptian art to moon and star symbols to iconography of religions. At uni I studied semiotics and loved it so it awoke something within me and out it flowed on to these little wall hangings I had all made up and ready to paint : ) I've had a few requests for curlews lately so here is a combo of my love of the powerful moon symbol with the ever curious curlew. Athena's owl. Guardians. What does the symbol of the owl conjure up for you? Lotus Lily. Inspired by looking at the hieroglyphics of Egypt and that all the flowers are starting to bloom around the studio and billabong. There's those curlews again.
I am currently finishing these works off for this weekend. They will sell for about $175 each. I have a stash of beads I have been hoarding for about 20 years. It is now their time! |
Happy Snaps
Growing up in Darwin. Dress ups with Nelson, rebuilding our house after Cyclone Tracy, favourite swing at Botanical Gardens, camping & Emma's bday party at Blake's house.
Last day of Skateworld, 2005. Pete the infamous DJ with L-R Claire, me, Matilda (front) Aya, Sean & Paul.
My 1st roller skates
1st date with husband at Museum & Art Gallery NT for exhibition opening "Emerge"
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