Wednesday, September 23, 2009

A Little Gem Known as Maleny Artworks

In the blissful town of Maleny where I live, we are blessed with a charming little art gallery called Maleny Artworks.  This is run by Ken Munsie who is a much respected member of the art community here.






Ken mainly works with paper and clay often combined with wood.

He says he always been fascinated by clay and the tactile sensation he gets when working with it; the smoothness of this most pliable material. He uses a homogeneous mixture of paper pulp made from shredded office paper and recycled clay to create the paperclay with which he composes sculptures inspired by shapes and forms of both nature and man-made edifices.  He enjoys translating these concepts into sculptures, giving them shape and form, and perhaps a life of their own. When everything comes together, it is truly satisfying to see and feel, he says, and creating his art fills him with good emotions, energizes him and reinforces his confidence as a sculptor.


Ken feels his work doesn't have to look pretty all the time. Sometimes, it evokes different emotions and feelings. That's OK. If the viewer feels something, then he feels he has communicated and is happy. His sculptures convey a story that reflects a  balance of newly acquired knowledge, intuition and uncertainty - all producing individual and unique works of art.



Ken has constantly changing exhibitions at his gallery of a stimulating variety. He founded the Collaboration of Maleny Artists,COMA, and is always keen to promote emerging and local artists who are  worthy of his support . Paintings, pottery, sculpture, jewellery and much more are always on display at Maleny Artworks which makes it a most pleasing place to visit. See Ken's website for much more information about his activities and work and the artists happily supporting his gallery.www.malenyartworks.com

Saturday, September 19, 2009

My Talented Photographer Friend

My friend Margi Parton,  margiparton.com has been staying with me. She is a very talented photographer of many parts. She started her photographic career filming peoples' pets and being fond of animals she has a way of capturing them in a charming way. See Truly Scrumptious wearing all her bling.


Margie then went on to do stunning landscape photos of central Australia and other bush scenes depicting the mind boggling colours that the Australian landscape presents.




Added to that she has a marvellous eye for seeing beauty and style in what many would consider just rubbish -  an old piece of rope, a bit of rusted wire, a battered wooden door and much more. In all her photos her eye for colour and design, her sense of beauty and the quirky, together with her technical knowledge, all go to produce the most wonderful, eye catching and often unusual photos.
They have great appeal when mounted on canvas and gracing a wall.  I am sure Margi will go far, she deserves to, she is very dedicated to her art. Look at her website and see what I mean, and also her blog  margipartonphotographer.blogspot.com






I have to say Margi is a bit of a party girl, this is her on the right drawing on her "weed"  but she is normally a glamourous blond!  I am our hippie friend's other companion, as we all are playing it "cool Man" at a 60's party!

Friday, September 11, 2009

Burning the Midnight Oil

I am off to Tasmania for the first time early in October so am frantically trying to create as many Images de Plumes to take with me. Being an Owl by nature I keep on working until well after midnight having got a second wind at about 10.30pm. Mind you electric light I find is not the best light to work in, so I keep thinking I will have to change my lifestyle and get up earlier and go to bed when most bodies do. I am going to Tasmania to expand my market, but it is an unknown quantity so that makes it both exciting and nervewracking.. However I have great hopes as people keep telling me that Tasmanians will particularly like my more classical form of art,  that is it is not the large, bright canvasses that are so popular in sunny Queensland.Well we will see!
Here I have used the feathers of a Macaw and a
Guinea Fowl