I am painting little weeds that I pick in the garden.
“A weed is but an unloved flower” - Ella Wheeler Wilcox
![IMG_9975[954].JPG](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56a7093b76d99c0af26a4a61/1562137360969-6YOXPTPRX1Q35QR10KXL/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kEpVg-ILAPna1wRh-xAJ9fRZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpwEv36x-EUL2-BSQ5feDhwGCbXuJBFqZ-erYzVouT8yOb9TwqchglLQOCYTRn7ZGxI/IMG_9975%5B954%5D.JPG)
garden meadow
A May garden
Beautiful in May
The rain is falling, the Salvias are flowering and the garden is full of birds and bees.
“And the secret garden bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles.
”
Sharon's Garden - Begonias in the rain
Painting Begonias from Sharon’s garden on a rainy Autumn day .
“An ordinary visit to a beautiful garden always creates an extraordinary time!”
Susan's inner city garden
Susan’s garden is hidden behind a high gate on a busy street. What a lovely surprise it is. Macadamia trees, Pomegranates, grasses, flowers, an assortment of shrubs and a huge Pepper tree.
“All art is but dirtying the paper delicately”
Suzanne's succulent garden
The prettiest succulent garden perched on the edge of a concrete driveway.
Those colours - a mix of lilac, sage green, grey ,the blush of pink……
I will be busy here for a few more weeks. Happily.
dream bird
studio friend
paper and ink
geranium in ink and geranium in paper
Geraniums in ink and paper for the Et,Al Christmas sale at Side Gallery, Redhill
Opens this Friday 7 December.
side gallery website: http://sidegallery.com.au/
kate's garden
Kate’s garden is a profusion of colours, plants, dogs, chickens, weeds and love.
For the month October Kate welcomed me into this incredible garden and let me paint flowers and plants. A happy place. Thank you Kate.
katewall.com.au - Have a look at her website and the wonderful workshops she offers from her home and garden.
Joy's Garden
Flowers picked in Joy’s Garden.
Joy lives at the end of our road. I always walk past her house and see her tending her small garden. She was delighted when I offered to paint her garden for a couple of weeks. I was delighted too. It was a wonderful couple of weeks.
The studio smelt of Nasturtiums.
Grevillea 2. Back to Nature - Collaboration
Another great collaboration with Sarah of Sustainable fashion for RANT clothing . They have used the same Grevillea print they bought last Summer but have used a natural cream background this year instead of last year’s charcoal. The fabric looks beautiful. Light and fresh and perfect for summer. The range is called Grevillea 2. Back to Nature.
Press on the link to view the range on line https://www.sustainablefashion.com.au/
Photographs by Todd Hunter Mcgaw
Sustainable Fashion is an online eco boutique showcasing sustainable design from Australia. Aimed at women who share an enjoyment in wearing comfortable designer clothing and an appreciation of the environment around them. With a commitment that extends beyond fabric selection alone, Sustainable Fashion aims to provide the ultimate in desirable garments while minimising the footprint of your wardrobe.
Rejoice in a sustainable choice for fashion.
little things
I am delighted to have two little insect paintings selected for the 'little things' exhibition in Sydney.
Finalists exhibition will be held at Saint Cloche Gallery, 37 MacDonald St, Paddington.
29 August - 9 September, 2018.
Gallery hours Wed-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm.
Little Things Art Prize was founded by Marnie Ross in 2015. Artists are invited to submit creative expressions of the ‘Little Things’ that make them happy or feel grateful. The science of Positive Psychology emphasises the benefits such focusing of our attention contributes to our health and happiness. As well as inspiring community creative engagement, the resulting finalists exhibition is a celebration of the artwork displayed and a shared positive experience.
under the paw paw tree
Lesley Kendall – under the pawpaw tree ,Winter 2018
Observing the decaying leaf a landscape emerges. The brush traces fine lines on the watery surface.
The essence of drawing is the line exploring space – Andy Goldsworthy
Art works by Lesley Kendall displayed at the Woolloongabba Art Gallery, Brisbane, 7 - 18 August
http://wag.com.au/
winter flowers
winter flowers in the studio....
“I must have flowers, always, and always”
endings and beginnings
The art exhibition last week was a lovely ending to two years working in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens as artist in residence. The exhibition was held in the Richard Randall art studio nestled in the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Garden . All the watercolour and ink paintings were done in the garden during 2017. Sculptures of birds, insects and plants made out of paper, ceramic and natural materials were also on display.
I will miss the beautiful Brisbane botanic gardens. They have been my inspiration for two years.
Now to clean my studio and get ready for a new project working with nature.
2017 draws to a close
Have a wonderful holiday.
Thank you for your support this year.
See you in 2018.
Les
Apron off.....
Endangered Species - Eucalytpus infera
For the past couple of months I have been painting specimens from the Eucalyptus Infera. Jason Halford from the seed bank (which is situated in the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Garden ) has been supplying me with specimens. We are hoping to make a trip next week to see the trees growing in their natural habitat. I am looking forward to meeting the trees I have been painting.
The Eucalyptus infera is listed as a vulnerable plant species.
Collaboration with RANT clothing - 'Grevillea' fabric
I had the wonderful opportunity this year to collaborate with Brisbane fashion designer Sarah Garrett-Hodoniczky of the fashion label RANT clothing.
Combining the artwork of selected Grevillea specimens at the gardens and digitally printing them on pure cotton, a range of comfortable summer styles have been designed by Sarah at RANT for the new range.
To view the range please go to RANT clothing website - www.rantclothing.com.au
All garments are 100% made in Brisbane.
(Photographs taken in the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Garden by Todd Hunter Mcgaw)
ink workshop in the botanic garden
Photos of students wonderful work from the Ink workshop in the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Garden last weekend. They created wonderful inky images from botanical specimens.
I will be doing another ink workshop on the 6th September ( see 'workshop' page of the website)
bird call
Birds I have encountered in the botanical garden......... more sightings to come
The birds are made using recycled materials in the studio.
“I hope you love birds too. It is economical. It saves going to heaven.” Emily Dickinson
bodhi tree
fluttering leaves
For the month of June I am working in the City Botanic Garden, Brisbane.
I discovered a huge Bodhi tree in the garden. It was blessed by the Dalai Lama on one of his visits to Brisbane. Thank you Lyn ( volunteer guide) for showing me the tree and telling me all about it.
The free garden tours led by the volunteer guides at 11 am and 1 pm each day are informative and well worth attending. A great way to learn about the garden.