Drawing with kids

I am in the midst of running drawing workshops at an eastern Melbourne primary school.
The focus of the class is learning to draw a face using guidelines to help with placement and proportion. For this exercise I have given the children one of two critically endangered animals to draw, the Amur Leopard and the Sumatran Tiger. The lines on the template show where the top of the eyes go and also the top of the nose and the centreline of the face.

On Monday I was working with children in Grades 3 and 4. They only had 40 minutes to complete the lesson on an A3 sheet of paper. We did it step by step so each child was working at the same pace, with some classes drawing the leopard and the others drawing the tiger. Below are some of the wonderful drawings they did. The children were really pleased with their results and were excited to know that they could use this technique to draw other animal faces as well.

 

I am absolutely in love with the children's drawings. They all have their own unique personalities and are incredibly gorgeous. I am looking forward to working with the younger children to see their results. Well done kids.

Melbourne Art Fair 2014

I spent today at the Melbourne Art Fair. It is always a wonderful thing to see what other creative people are doing. The range of work was unbelievable. Here are some of the works that got my attention today...

 

 

 

 

 

The Melbourne Art Fair runs until August 17. For information, ticket prices and more visit: http://melbourneartfair.com.au/

 

 

 

Mixed media painting process...

With all of my new studio space I have recently felt the urge to do a work on canvas and thought I would share the process with you.
I tend to paint like I create any other piece of work, with a basic idea in mind and then letting it all come together organically. I like to add layers and textures in my work and the colour choices happen as the work progresses. I never have a colour palette in mind when I start.



Initial sketchbook drawing



Base colours laid down on a recycled canvas.

Home made stencils are used to add pattern to the background. Torn sewing patterns are collaged onto the hair. The facial details are highlighted and the base colour for the skin is applied.

Work is done on the skin tones.

 

Texture medium is added to the flower and collage elements are placed on the hair. A white wash is rubbed over the face to tone down the skin tones
 

Facial details are highlighted again, flower is repainted, more collage elements are added and a white wash has been rubbed over the background.

A blue wash has been rubbed over the hair and stripes have been added to her top.

Blue ink has been brushed over the hair. Flowers have been added to the background and more line work has been done.



Finished piece.

Highlighting done to some of the collage elements and colours rubbed onto hair. Lips and eyes also highlighted and line work is touched up where required. I have also widened the neckband on her top.

As the painting progressed my lady started to change her pose. I decided I wanted her to be turned a little more towards the viewer, while still looking away. She also became softer and more vulnerable looking.

 

I hope you enjoyed seeing a work in progress.

If you have any ideas for a name for her please feel free to leave a comment. There will be a little prize for the best name. Prize drawn 10 August.

 

 

 



In the news

Welcome back.
It has been a busy term so (in between program planning and proposals) I am looking forward to hanging out with my kids and playing in my studio.

I found myself in the local paper this week. They were writing an article on the facility where I teach Recycled Art and so my lovely friend David and I had our photo taken.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/north/preston-hub-offers-life-skills-and-support-programs-for-most-vulnerable/story-fnglenug-1226960273891

The classes finished today and everyone is looking forward to coming back next term. If you would like to join us, we would love to see you. The classes run on a Tuesday morning during school terms. Anyone can join. If you have no artistic ability, have created art before or would like to try something new, this is the class for you.
Please note that from Term 3 the class has been renamed Mixed Media Art.

Contact Preston Neighbourhood House for dates, cost and any other information you require.  218 High St, Preston VIC 3072.  (03) 9484 5806

We spent today creating Angels and Big Cats.
Here are a few samples of the great work the group produced.

Angel (demonstration piece) 

Red Cat and Growly Lion

Tiger and Angel

 

 These pieces were made using recycled cardboard and papers, vintage book pages,  oil pastels, acrylic paints, stencils and stamps.

My New Studio

Happy days,
for the first time in years I have a studio in the house. No more traipsing out to the garage when it is wet and cold. No more having to put ice packs with my materials in the Australian summer heat. I am doing cartwheels I am so happy.
I thought I had better post some photos while it is nice and clean - before I start working and it looks like a teenagers bedroom!

 

 

I will stop pinching myself to see if I am dreaming and get to work enjoying this space.

Till next time....

Happy days

Hi there.
Well its back to work after a lovely Mothers Day. I got spoilt with some lovely presents and dinner with my beautiful kids and husband. My favourite thing every year though is the cards my children make me. The gorgeous drawings and the funny things they write just make my day. To all the mums (or dads doing it on their own) I hope you had a wonderful day full of love.

I went to look at my new studio space yesterday. I am so excited to be getting an indoor studio! My current one is a garage, so space wise it is amazing but its either too hot, too cold or leaking. Only a few weeks now and I will have a beautiful space to work in. Happy days.

If you are out and about in Preston on Wednesday morning I will be at the Preston Neighbourhood House Open Day. Pop in and have a play with a quick workshop I am running from 10:30am-noon based on recycled art. There will also be some samples of my work on display. 
Additionally I will be around from 12:30-2:30pm running the Drawing and Painting Class. So pop in and say hi, try Tai Chi and maybe even win a door prize. The opening is at 10am.

Preston Neighbourhood House:  218 High Street Preston VIC 3072 

Ph. 9484 5806     office@prestonhouse.org.au      www.prestonhouse.org.au

© Kelly Gatchell Hartley

I am feeling exceptionally excited at the moment. I have booked my tickets and will be in Mexico for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
 I plan to go to Mexico City, be in Oaxaca for Dia de los Muertos and then head up to Guadalajara.I can't wait!
I know I am going to need a BIG suitcase for all of the treasures I will be bringing back as I love Mexican folk art.
If any of you have been on a Mexican adventure, I would love to hear all about it.


Until next time, have a fantastic week
Kelly xxxx
 

 

s being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

So what are Altered Books?

I love a good book, which led to my love of altered books. Any art form that allows me to reuse and repurpose unwanted  materials excites me immensely. I have used it as a creative outlet over the years, firstly as a way to do personal works to help me through the bad times and focus on the good (art therapy I guess you would call it). Now I use books as frames for my assemblage art works and pages to draw illustrations on.

I have just finished running a two day workshop on Altered Books and thoroughly enjoyed being able to share this art form with others. For those who are still wondering 'What is an altered book?', take a quick read of this ....

If you live in Melbourne (Australia) would like to take a look at my altered book/assemblage art in the flesh, pop on down to my exhibition. This is the only solo show I will be having this year. Opening Friday 28 February. 6-9 pm.
I would love to see you there.