Back to Work

I am now ready to mount the latest piece. Following on from the previous piece which I mounted on to a canvas backing with painted borders, I set out to select the colour for the border for this new piece. I purchased a couple of paint test pots but neither proved suitable. A third choice however seems right.

To help make my colour choice I paint a L shape on to a piece of canvas then place this under a corner of the completed work. Standing back and viewing critically I can refine my choice. Eventually I will probably have quite a collection of these corners, some rejected, and others chosen!

My selection of painted corners so far.

I rejected this colour as too 'cold'.

This one looks much better and is my choice, so I invested in a one litre tin.

Here is the prepared canvas with its first coat of border paint. It looks rather wrinkled but this will be ironed out before I mount my piece on to it.

Exhibition Visit

My exhibition Fibre Reactive Expressions is now open at the Art Gallery Papakura. It will be there until August 7.

It has been a busy few days. I arrived in Papakura earlier in the day of the opening. I had not ever been to the gallery although I had seen images of it on the internet. And I had not met the Director, Emma, in person, so it was great to be able to do this. Emma has done a great job in displaying my work and I am delighted with how it looks, and the way the pre-exhibition communications have been handled. Because the gallery space is smaller than that where the work was first displayed (Expressions, Upper Hutt) three pieces didn't get hung. This is okay and, as I have said before, it pays not to be too precious about things as, at the end of the day, does it really matter - no! The opening that evening went very well, and there was a good crowd for my talk the following day, many people coming from quite some distance.

This has all been a most satisfying exercise. Thank you Emma and the Art Gallery Papakura!

Outside gallery window announcing the exhibitions, Art Gallery Papakura.

An exhibition view.

Opening function, me, third on the left.