The Sketchbook Project.

A while back I joined 'The Sketchbook Project'.  It's a collaborative project where artists from all over the world submit a small sketchbook to be included in one large exhibition.  Each artist chooses a theme from the list provided or they can have a theme chosen for them.  My theme is 'It's Summer where you are'.  The sketchbooks are quite small, approx 5" x 7" and have thin paper, although they can be rebound with different paper if you like.  

The project was initially started so that artists could have a window into how other artists work, their processes and thoughts, and to also have an opportunity to be exposed to the sketchbooks of artists from all over the world.  Some people have turned their little sketchbook into a real work of art, some have just used it as a notebook and other sketchbooks have been completed by children.  The exhibition will be travelling to several different countries including Australia (Melbourne) in 2012, before returning to be housed in it's permanent home, the Brooklyn Art Library.

This last week I've kept my little sketchbook with me the whole time so that I can capture a week of Summer.  I've decided not to stress about it, but just to document one week of a Summer life in Geraldton as best I can.  I've jotted down notes, a few quick watercolours (not the best paper for water media though), and generally just used the sketchbook as I would use the regular notebook/journal that I always have with me.  I've had fun jotting down bits and pieces of a summer life, including our ridiculously hot weather this week, and the fact that all I seem to do is eat.  This somehow wasn't apparent until I started to document my days.........how come I didn't know that before?  Any wonder I'm 'The Comeback Queen' at Weight Watchers.

As far as I can see on the Website, (the Sketchbook website not Weight Watchers!) there are no other submissions from Geraldton WA (yet) but maybe we'll have more submissions from our beautiful little spot on the earth next round?

You can find out more about the project on their website  here or on their facebook page here.

Here are a few of the pages of my sketchbook.....but be warned, there are a lot of them.  I don't think they're all that crash hot, but as I've been told several times......it's all about the process and the experience.  Isn't that right?

I had to put this last one in.  It was pretty exciting to receive my own little sketchbook, all the way from America!

The finished sketchbook has been posted off this morning, back to the Brooklyn Art Library.
Safe travels little sketchbook.

Now go make art

Last night a group of us went to The Provincial for drinks and dinner.  A farewell dinner for me from my colleagues.

The gorgeous Rox from the 'Prov' made a special sweet for me............it had a sparkler in it but we were a bit slow with the camera.  It was such a ridiculously hot night, as evidenced by the runny writing (and the blurry shot.....someone had been drinking)

Farewell Fran now go make art!!  Good one Rox.

Sunrise

This is what greets me when I get up at 5am to go to the pool.

It's so worth it.

My mornings.

This is what some of my mornings are like............................ Beautiful isn't it?

I never tire of being at the beach, especially when it's so deserted and serene.  

I feel incredibly guilty though, being at the beach when everyone else is working.  It feels very weird.  I sit with my sketchbook, breathing in the beautiful clean air, listening to the sea, watching the odd surfer catching a wave.  

Sometimes I can't relax enough to sketch.......I feel as though I should be doing something more productive.

Quickie Christmas Journal.

I have put together some of our Christmas cards and a few mini-photos into a 'quickie' journal.  Nothing elaborate, just enough to keep our memories of a happy time & fun few days together as a family, safe and in one place.  

It's so quick and easy to do....just a two hole punch and a couple of large rings from Jackson's and you're done.

I peeled the labels off some of our drinks (like I'm ever going to forget what to buy).

Our menu when we get together is often quite odd.  We have a 'rule' that everyone gets to pick one thing that they'd really like - I make it (that doesn't change!) and we take pot luck whether we end up with dishes that 'go together'. If they don't, it doesn't really matter because each person gets one of their favourite things.  I wanted something 'lemmony' & refreshing which I found in the freebie Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.  

Oh look, there's our little happy dog again.

One of our daughters made some yummy flavoured syrups for us to put in our coffee.  Gloria Jean's has nothing on our family. 

Boxing Day fun down the beach, trying out our kayaking and paddle boarding skills, of which there were many..........especially by the male contingent with their skylarking and jumping in the water right by our kayaks. Oh very funny. (We still didn't fall out).

And New Year's eve....the girls in all their finery and ready to party.

So, there you have it............goodbye Christmas..............until next year.   

Christmas Journal.

Today I'm starting a journal with the basket of  'stuff' I collected over Christmas.  Time to document another fantastic festive season before this year begins in earnest, and time gets away from me.

There's a cyclone hanging round up north, so it's very hot and humid at home today, not sure how much art I'll be doing inside.........and how much swimming in our new (but as yet unfinished) pool I'll be doing.
What a hard life I lead.

Looks like lots of goodies in there to play with.  Can't wait.

Bali journal completed

Just a few more shots of my Bali journal which is now complete.
Who would have thought that a one week holiday would fill a whole 8" x 5" Moleskine?

Most of the later pages are filled with photos.  I wanted to cram as many as I could in, so I could remember the great fun we had.....(not that I want to document ALL of it though!)

There was never enough Batik for me.  Aren't the fish amazing?

Goodbye Bali...........we're homeward bound.

Am I the lucky one?

Look what my two gorgeous daughters gave me for Christmas.  An absolutely beautiful, fully restored Singer treadle sewing machine.

Am I not the most spoiled and lucky mum in the Southern Hemisphere?

Ok, so this photo is blurry, (tell me something I don't know)............maybe I was trying to focus on the decorative woodwork?

Day one

Day one of my new artistic life.

Some things never change.

Full Time Artist

This morning I am a full time artist.  Yesterday I was a full time employee in a community services role.

Last night I had drinks with my favourite people............and took a photo of the sunset.  Which by the time I found the camera and actually managed to focus, the sun was gone.  Blame the red wine.

This particular sunset however, (or what remains of it!) represents a new beginning........new horizons and all that.
I keep looking at it and wondering what the next year will bring?