shiny happy art | Shiny Happy Art

Mooloolaba Surf Lifesaving Club – four ways

March 9, 2021 | Art Holiday, Drawing, Watercolour

What’s better than one #mooloolabasurfclub ? FOUR.

The first was sketched on our first morning at the beach (fun),

the second from a photo that night (a bit staid),

the third on the beach (while my students may have been taking bets on how long it would take me to finish it – 17 minutes), and

the fourth from a photo as a demonstration painting in our main room with (mildly) spherical perspective and only four paint colours.

There’s so much to be said for painting a subject multiple times – and if it’s a subject you love, that’s even better.

Danny Gregory of #artb4bkfst says, “Warhol’s Law: if one drawing of a thing looks okay, ten look AWESOME.”

I agree.

And I think I’m done now.

Anna

Dragonfly practice video

June 1, 2015 | How To

Pretty much anyone who’s been to a Shiny Happy Paint Along knows I love my dragonflies.

They add a little “somethin’ somethin'” to a flower painting and fill in simple backgrounds quite nicely.

They add movement and detail and sometimes a bit more colour.

And the best bit? YOU ONLY NEED FIVE LINES.

Watch the video and download the practice sheet to have a go yourself. 🙂

Downlands Collaborative Painting

April 4, 2015 | Group Paint Alongs

In my other life I’m the marketing manager at a wonderful high school here in Toowoomba, Downlands College.

A Missionaries of the Sacred Heart College, we are regularly offered retreat days, and just before Easter all staff (teachers, admin, cleaning, cooking, grounds and maintenance… everyone!) participated in a ‘mind, spirit, body’ themed day. I was asked to run a collaborative painting workshop throughout the day, so I was in my happy place.

I ran it in three sessions and each group grew in numbers as people saw what was happening and wanted to be a part of it.

And look what we ended up with! This is a special mural canvas with eyelets in the corners, so will be hung in the staff dining room for everyone to enjoy.

If you would like to engage me for a collaborative group painting project, either on one large canvas or multiple canvases pushed together and painted as one, feel free to email and I’ll see what I can do!

With results like this, and the longevity of the project, it’s a great thing for morale!

Way out west with art

March 29, 2015 | Group Paint Alongs

Downlands College sent me and my colleague, photographer Catherine Mims, out to Charleville, Quilpie, Cunnamulla and Wyandra in late March, to run a series of collaborative group paintings with each community.

Every session started off in a similar way, but the end results were all very different – and totally wonderful!

And while we were painting, I learned about the districts and we talked about all the educational options available to people in the bush. It’s been a terrific way to promote the College in a genuine way and I have to thank Deirdre Williams, Downlands parent and Wyandra local, for organising and accompanying us on the trip! Deirdre is now a dear friend and the dinner she hosted for us in her home on the last Thursday night was just wonderful.

I’ll also be keeping in touch with Charleville artist, Donna Reynolds, with a view to her visiting the Shiny Happy Art studio and running a class or two! Believe me, it’s something to look forward to.

A new mural

March 9, 2015 | Murals

A couple of weekends ago I got to paint a mural (at Kate’s Place childcare centre, Middle Ridge) and documented the process – after 10 hours of painting I swear these old bones were creaking, but oh, what a wonderful way to spend the day!