International Womens Day Exhibition 2009 - Gosford Highschool this weekend

This weekend i will be entering 3 coloured pencils artworks in the International Womens Day Exhibition run by the Multi Arts Conferation.

The 3 pieces on display are "Gathering Strength", "Maxys Bubbles" and my newly completed "Willys Bubbles".
The exhibition is open to the public from 9.30 to 5pm on Saturday & Sunday 6/7 March 2009 and is at Gosford High School, Gosford.

These artworks won't be forsale at this exhibition, however, greeting cards can be purchased for $4.20 each or 3 for $12- via me directly, or from the redbubble website. I have in stock "Gathering Strength" greeting cards as well as various cards of other artworks. Email belinda.lindhardt@gmail.com for details.

If your from the central coast area and happen to go along please leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts on the exhibition itself and works from the various artists.

For those of you who are looking at my website at the moment i appologise, its currently down, i have changed my website hosts and having a few issues with my rellocating my website. Hope to have it up ASAP.

Internations Womens Day Exhibition

Gathering Strength - Belinda Lindhardt, coloured pencil on Stonehenge

I am a little annoyed, well alot annoyed but at myself which is even more frustrating.
Part of my inspiration for the above piece "Gathering Strength" was instigated by the fact that i wanted to do something for International Womens Day which is March 8-9. Last year really wanted to enter something which "said" something and so this was my result.

I had been planning to enter it into Gosford Art Gallery - International Women's Day exhibition which was under selection criteria this year. I have had the application for a few weeks. It was required to have statement about the event to go along with the application which i have spent a good part of the morning doing (also putting it off for weeks not sure what to say).
I for some unknown reason had written down the date for the application to be in by the 29th or the 19th Feb (which is today). So as i am filling out the form i see that the date was actually on the 9th of February and so i have missed out !!! I am so annoyed, i was planning on entering another exhibition also for the Multi Arts Society (this application date is the 29th Feb, hence the confusion) so looks like i will only be entering in that. GRRR!

Anyway, with the view not to waste a mornings work i figured i might as well post here the statement for International Womens Day i wrote regarding this piece. So here you go!

International Women’s Day 2009
Last year after hearing about International Womens Day, I remember thinking that I would like to create a piece for International Womens Day 2009. I remember thinking about what it was to be a woman and what it meant to me.

For most women becoming a mother is time when you usually change to some degree, some more than others. From the moment a woman becomes a mother she is forced to start making decisions and sacrifices for her children so they can have the best start possible.

I knew I wanted to do piece about becoming a mother as it’s had such a profound effect on the woman I am. I am a mother of 3 children 1 lost during pregnancy at 5months in 2002, and today i have two wonderful healthy boys 3 and 5 years old.
During 2008, I was challenged by events that were occurring in my own little family, I was going through a separation and an unexpected change of life. During this difficult time, the love and need to look after my children gave me strength. It was through and for them I was able to pull through and just get through each day moving forward. I remember thinking that it would be the same for all of us, especially during difficult times that our children give us strength, they weren’t doing anything directly they were just there and needed protection and love and that is what spurred me on and still does continue to inspire me everyday to help them grow and learn.

So my piece “Gathering Strength” was created. It was to challenge me artistically by being my largest coloured pencil piece to date. I wanted to explore various ways of laying down colour in a way that loosened my style up but also wanted to experiment in new techniques to help cut down on some of the time involved in creating large coloured pencil pieces. It was also to challenge me composition wise as I wanted to convey a story and pull the viewer in to try to see something happening in the piece rather than a standard portrait.

Here is what was written in my online art journal during the works in progress stage:

” I don't choose to see it as a sign of weakness but a sign of strength, that you can come through something difficult with your head held high. The truth is, although this is good in theory its not always easy to find that inner strength. This piece is about how I have been gathering my strength, its through the wonderful support of friends and family but especially through the love of my two boys.

So, for all the mums out there i am sure at one point in your lives you have had to pull yourself together and find strength from somewhere. This piece is about being a mum and the strength that loving your children and them loving you without them knowing it can give you.”

This artwork took over 70hours and 2.5 months to complete.
This International Womens Day I am in a much happier place and more settled place. I know I have an inner strength to deal with all the unexpected changes that life continues to throw up and I will come through doing what is right for me and my children.
This day is exploring and showcasing individual’s journeys and what being a woman means to them. This piece all is about what it means to me in 2009.

“Gathering Strength” – by Belinda Lindhardt.
Prismacolor and Polychormos coloured pencils on Stonehenge paper.
Frame size = 71 X 83 cm
Artwork size = 41 X 55 cm

071 - Light Summer, Oils on Canvas

"Light Summer", 18 X 36", Oils on Canvas, by Belinda Lindhardt

I know i already posted this one last week or so. But i wanted to get a better photo of it and so i have. To go along with it also have included a detail shot of the grasses for Rose :) I used ultramarine blue in amongst the grasses to get the shadows and the darker areas happening. In RL the colours on it are quite subtle its really nice. I really like this one :)



This week, i am gettting a few paintings prepared for a local exhibition, so as i varnish and apply hooks, get name tags prepared etc, it always amazes me how much time these little details take :) But i also enjoy the process as it gives me time to reflect on what others will take from my work and to think about what to do in the future. It's an important part of the process. Makes me feel like a real artist.
This piece, along with a couple of others will be exhibited and for sale in the exhibition run by the Central Coast Art Society at Gosford. Details to come.

Monet, Sketching, Sales - a catchup

Well I have been busy. :) arent we all ?

Let me start by talking about Monet. I had a wonderful day with a wonderful friend :) and to see Monet in real life was just amazing. The subtelty of colours, the vibrantcy of the colours, the brush strokes, the sizes, the physical presence of something so famous that was created so many years ago yet it being right there in front of you, it was just great.

The photos in books don't really do an artwork justice do they?

I am inspired as often i am when visiting great works and again it reminds myself that i need to get out and visit such exhibitions more. Standing at one end of the room studying the works and then walking to the other and seeing the strokes up close you trully understand why he was a master and why the others at the type were sceptical of him.

So, to cut it short, if your around Sydney i definately reccommend you make the visit. I will be going again before the exhibition closes in January, i mean how often will i get to see all those pieces again ?

Now onto me.

I have been doing a bit of sketching of late, nothing spectacular just forcing myself to get into the habit. Something I keep trying to do but never seem to stick to. Then when i do i wonder why i dont ... i think its necessary for me, it great. I just need to slot it into the long list of stuff i am already doing and make it a priority.

Finally, there is only 1 day left on my print and greeting card sale. IF you are interested in snatching one or a couple of these up make sure you visit my for sale page ASAP.

http://www.belindalindhardt.com/forsale_calcards.asp

Off to see Monet

On Sunday i am taking a much awaited day for myself and going with a very dear friend to see Monet at the Art Gallery of NSW.

Here is my original post about the exhibition

I am so excited and feel very lucky to be able to go. I plan on having totally unscheduled day of travelling on the train, looking at art, having a coffee in peace and most likely some lunch, followed with some more looking at art most likely and the most dangerous part of the day looking in the gallery gift shop (they have fabulous books there) mix all that in with a wonderful friend and most likely a bit of gossiping and talking i just cant wait.

Will post all about it next week, meanwhile here is the link to the exhibition: http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/coming/monet

Michael Reid at Murrurundi

Apologies for not posting on the blog lately, i had a bit of a break over the past few days and over the weekend i went on a bit of a holiday to my favourite country town Scone, NSW. The family have a B&B there and i have really grown to love the town and the countryside and the drive through the Hunter Valley (Wine Country of NSW, for those of you who are from overseas ). This visit was the first time going up there on my own with the boys and we had a great and relaxing time and we always get so spoilt when we come which is lovely.

While i was there i went to Michael Reid at Murrurundi exhibition. I had visited the gallery on a previous occasion but didnt get to go inside so i was glad to make it there this time :)

I really loved the gallery space it was just beautiful and the work was inspiring. This is really my type of artwork, I love the textures and the choice of palette, it was even better in real life than it shows on the websites. The colour combinations which really pop. I love how the background colours are muted or subdued and then there is that brillant explosion of colour with fruit which draws the eye in. A trully inspiring vist one i would reccommend. I will definately be adding the links to my list of favourite artists :)

Examples of the work here: http://www.michaelreid.com.au/current-view?eid=32

The gallery info here: http://www.michaelreid.com.au/galleries-info?gid=2

The Craft Shop Exhibition

Saturday 23rd February 2008, 10am - 2pm.

This Saturday some of my artwork will be on display and for sale this weekend at The Craft Shop's Art Exhibition in Woy Woy.
The exhibition will be outside the shop undercover, which is at Shop 6, The Pavilion 29-37 George Street Woy Woy.
I will also be including another artwork i think maybe my "Lovely Tomatoes" (everyone loves that one), so if you are in the area come take a look at my artwork plus other artists from the local area.