I have an exhibition coming up Feb 26th at G3 in Parkdale. I'm very excited about it and saw the gallery when Jo Linsdell exhibited there. I love its intimate feel and the fact that it's local and connected to my community. I'll have a selection from the work I've been doing recently. And it's my birthday as well so a real celebration (day after, but close enough) Put it in your diaries as I'd love to celebrate with you.

I had the privilege of interviewing Wayne Crothers, curator for NGV Asian Collection for 'Arts Weekly', 3MBS Fine Music - Melbourne on Tuesday (103.5 in Melbourne) yesterday. He was fascinating to talk to and gave a wonderful insight to Takahiro Iwasaki's Reflection Model (Itsukushima), commissioned by National Gallery of Victoria
http://content.ngv.vic.gov.au/col-images/xxxl/EXHI026894.jpg

The Toyota community Spirit Sculpture exhibition will be on till March next year. I have a piece in it which was my first sculpture (in my adult life at least) and most certainly not my last. The judge was William Kelly OAM an wonderful artist and he spoke brilliantly. He said that when he short listed he came down to 20, and then he trimmed the list again and came down to 10... till he came up with the winner.
 I was there with Stewart and his mother Sandra and we were about to leave when i thought I would pause and introduce myself to the judge.
 I'm so pleased I did because he told me that my piece was in his final 10. When I was younger I would never have dreamed of introducing myself. The great thing about getting older is that you simply do far more what you want and if you think someone will be interesting....like William Kelly....then you say hi.
http://www.watcharts.com.au/toyota.html

I'm very thrilled to be having an article in International Artist Magazine coming out in the December/January issue about my painting 'Bari Gotic' which came 3rd in their landscape challenge. Here's a preview of it care of International Artist magazine, www.internationalartist.com”.

Many, many thanks to all who voted for me in the Perth Heritage Prize. Thanks to your support I won the People's choice, and I'm very grateful for your support.

How to tell if an antique is fake: Prior to the first nuclear bomb detonation in July of 1945, isotopes such as strontium-90 and cesium-137 simply did not exist in nature. Pieces of art and bottles of wine created before 1945 can be tested for cesium, if they contain traces of cesium they would almost certainly be fake.

Quirky art fact: Jackson Pollock often used cigarettes to paint. It's beats inhaling I guess!!

I'm currently in Perth at the Heritage Prize for my painting of Trinity Arcade. The Awards night is tomorrow night which is exciting. Also they have a people's Choice and you can vote by going to the link below. Voting closes Friday (tomorrow) at 5pm though, so please vote quickly!!


http://www.blackswanprize.com.au/heritage_prize/finalists.phtml?Photos_Category_ID=59&Photos_Category=2014&ParentCategoryID=7&ParentCategory=Heritage+Prize+Finalists

Quirky art fact: Salvador Dali believed he was his dead brother's reincarnation. There is also a portrait or a silhouette of Dali in every one of his paintings.

I have two pieces of good news to share:

My painting of the Gothic quarter in Barcelona, 'Bari Gotic' has been accepted as a finalist in the International Artist Magazine. Hopefully I'll be able to buy lots of copies!

 It will be printed in International Artist magazine #100, December/January 2015 issue.

And I'm very happy to be a finalist in Toyota Community Spirit Gallery Sculpture14 Exhibition. It opens Nov 14th. My daughter buying a Toyota Corolla must have brought me luck!!

Opening nights are wonderful. Mainly because you get to chat to other artists and in a profession that can be fairly insular - and that's a real treat. I had a wonderful night last night at the opening of  the portrait Artists Australia exhibition. There are some fantastic portraits there and it's on at the Victorian Artist Society 430 Albert Street East Melboirne until October 20. 

Last night I had an exhibit at RAW, at the Melbourne Pavilion in Flemington.
It was great to see all the other artist's work and to see art being celebrated, It was also a good insight to how my works are looking for the exhibition I'm working on and I was really pleased.
I think the thing that thrilled me most though, was the support from friends and family.
Jake came and helped me set up, Danni came even though she had an exam the next day, and Stewart was brilliant helping me pack up. Karin, my very good friend came with huge hangover....now that's friendship. I'm very glad to have so many wonderful friends.

I"m at an interesting time at the moment. It's a time of searching - searching for many things.
On a work level it's a search to  make time for my art. And with limited time what is the priority in my art?
I have commissions that I'm working on and love - and they are definitely most welcom! - but then they take time away from working on my own work.
And even then there's so many choices.
I want to explore the sculpture that I've started.
I want to work more in wax.
 Also, to continue the surrealism that I've started.
Put this all with also wanting to spend time with family and friends that often seem to come after everything.
What a wonderful dilemma to have though!!
So I've decided that rather than be frustrated by it I will just embrace it and enjoy that ahead of me  there is a multitude of fascinating projects waiting to be created.
For today at least that will be my attitude. Hopefully tomorrow too.