Dancing is passion, movement and looks like so much fun!

I am very privileged to have now been introduced to a number of wonderful dancers who practice their craft at MarShare Dance studios in Langwarrin. The Dance Studio facebook page can be found at this link;

https://www.facebook.com/MarShereLangwarrin

These wonderful new friends have invited me into their own facebook albums and given me permission to source a group of photos that i can use for inspiration for my upcoming artwork. For this i am truly thankful.

Here's just a handful of the many many beautiful, stunning, passionate dance photographs from only a few of my new dance friends:  a handful of photos that have sparked my interest and ignited the flame inside me.... can't wait to hit the canvas with my paints!

Over the next few months, i will be commencing a range of artwork pieces, all dance inspired, for the exhibition scheduled for December in Mentone.

Excited! We're having an exhibition in December.

Well it's official.The exhibition is on!

Our art class has decided to hold an exhibition from 14th December to 16th December 2012 in Mentone Victoria, so now the fun really starts. There about 15 of us, who under the tuition of our teacher Clive Sinclair, will be showing our artworks.
There will be a collection of different artwork types on show. Watercolors, oils, pencil drawings, and my favourite- acrylic.

Talk has already started about the amount of space each of us will have to show our wares, framing and how to showcase unframed artwork that won't fit in our official wall space, opening night festivities, and most importantly, what our group will call itself (the sinclair suspects and the wednesday night wankers have been names already suggested).

For those of you who have been following my blog for some time, know that i have used other artists artworks to cut my teeth on, while painting in class. Learning tones, brush-strokes & techniques by copying the old masters work, and taking inspiration from many current artists have resulted in class being an absolute pleasure. Current artists like Karrie Evenson and Fabian Perez have inspired me immensely. For example- the painting shown here, is my version of Fabian Perez's flamenco dancer.

But now, with a proper exhibition in the pipeline, the time has come to step up and paint Caroline Martin originals. HOW EXCITING!!!

So i gave some thought as to what i would like to fill my space with???
i want to paint passion, movement. love and fun - so dance won. Dance is passionate, dance is intimate, dance is downright sexy and dance is simply beautiful.

So with the help of a good friend Jodie-Anne Blair and her wonderful dance friends, i will be collecting a number of photographs of couples and individuals dancing, to use to inspire a whole range of artwork pieces. Those who provide photos for me to use for inspiration, will be most welcome to join us on opening night to view my masterpieces and socialise with our painting class.

i would like to thank those dancers, who have already been welcoming to me, who have accepted my facebook friend requests, replied to inbox messages, have confirmed that they would be comfortable with me using their images from photos that other people have taken, have consented to me checking out their photos for more dance inspiration and for the encouragement.
i hope you will like the artworks that your passion, movement and fun inspire in me.

So i look forward to posting the odd hint of a painting over the next few months, to entice people to come visit us at the exhibition.

SHOREHAM RETREAT - MAY 2011

Swan lake (donated to charity function)

In May 2011 we headed off to Shoreham to a Craft Weekend Retreat. Most of the ladies in attendance scrapbooked to their heart's content, and i got to paint all weekend after i purchased a little desk easel, so i wasn't off in the corner all by myself.

During the weekend, I and painted and drafted a few more ballet paintings to keep me busy ( and to replace the one above that was sold recently at the market) and more exciting, i had a few volunteers who posed for portrait practice.

Sandy, seated. (gifted to Sandy)

Sandy was one of the first to brave the cold weather in the name of art- as it is winter here in Australia in May.

The rest of the weekend i tried my luck at painting animals- cats and dogs belonging to the other ladies at the craft retreat.

The women were so excited to be gifted the finished products to take home with them.



Duchess (gifted to my niece Amy)



Bella (Gifted to Sarah)



Sandy's mate (gifted to Sandy)



Brewster the pup (Gifted to Peter)

TANGO PASSION NOW HANGS IN MY BEDROOM

Tango passion

Tango Passion

Well i ended up out in my paint studio at home today, couldn't wait until next tuesday's art class to finish my artwork piece. I know, impatiently little bunny, aren't i?

With the sun shining in and with my ipod blaring my favourite tango and pop songs, i picked up my brushes and went to work.

I added alot more light and dark shades to the background, and worked on those tricky skintones.

I hope you like the finished product.

RON MCDOWELL'S TANGO REBORN HAS INSPIRED ME

My pencil draft of tango passion

In my neverending quest for stunning Tango paintings to practice painting in class, i stumbled across an artist called Ron McDowell
(Ron is another artist who has an online store with fineartamerica.com.-
i can be found on this site too- the link to my fineartamerica website can be found on this blog- you can then type in Ron't name in the search engine on the site.)

I simply loved his artwork piece called Tango Reborn, so i have decided to complete an artwork piece of my own, inspired by this painting in class over a two week period called Tango Passion.

Below is Ron's original painting- Tango Reborn

Ron mcdowell's tango reborn

I just LOVE the lines of the bodies in this painting- and the shine in her patent leather shoes is stunning- soooo want a pair of red shoes like that!





So whilst away at the Weekend Retreat in Shoreham, i set aside time to pencil in my initial drawing based on Ron's painting one evening.

First week back in painting class, i set about creating my own version of this painting- based on my favourite color schemes.

So this is what i finished in my first 2 hour class on Tuesday night. I painted the background in a range of dark burgandy to lightened red tones-