Drawing Practice

 The theme for the Waverley Art Quilters this year is Back to Nature. We have a different topic every month to research and draw. Our topics for the last couple of months have been Insects and Birds.

I have enjoyed working in my sketchbook and I think I am improving with my drawing. At least it makes me do it, otherwise there is never enough time no matter how good my intentions are.

Here are some of my insect drawings. I like using a fine liner pen but I sketch lightly in pencil first until I am happy with the result.

Our most recent topic has been birds and I have found them much more challenging. I wanted to start adding some colour to my drawings. The book is only A5 size and because the drawings are not very big, I have tried using water soluble coloured pencils when I have added colour instead of paint. I've tried Derwent Inktense and Derwent Graphitint pencils.

For the yellow bird below, I bought a mini class from Design Matters TV, about drawing birds with watercolour pencils. Mine is very ordinary compared to Linda Kemshall's bird, but I have to remember that this is new to me and approach it with a beginners mind and not be too hard on myself.

I don't spend a lot of time on my drawing, but I do enjoy them. There is still a couple of weeks until our next meeting, so I think I'll try drawing a few more birds to try and get better.

Bye for now,

Linda

Quilting Arts magazine- Issue 114

 I was thrilled to have one of my quilts featured in a Quilting Arts Magazine article about Contemporary Quilts in the Oceania region. I have been buying this magazine since issue one and have always looked forward to receiving them in the mail.

Quilting Arts Magazine issue 114

My quilt Grief was used as the title page of the article.

Here are some of the other pages in the article.

I know or have met most of the artists in the article and they are all so talented, it is lovely to be featured amongst them.

A couple of my quilts are in touring exhibitions at the moment. Reef Revelations is in Kyabram with the SAQA Oceania Distance and Diversity Exhibition.

Reef Revelations

My Ocean Dance quilt was selected for the Oz Quilt Network- Australia Wide 8 exhibition and is currently on display at the Warrick Gallery in Queensland. If you click on the Oz Quilt Network link there is a You tube video of all the quilts in the exhibition.

Ocean Dance

I suppose that I had better start making some more quilts.

Bye for now,

Linda

 

Victorian Quilters Showcase 2022

 At the end of July we had the Victorian Quilters Showcase and it was very successful. After being cancelled in 2020 and a virtual show in 2021, everyone loved having a normal show again this year. As usual it was held at the  Exhibition and Convention Centre in the city and it was very well attended. We weren't sure whether people would come or not but attendances were back to about four years ago and the shops did really well, so everyone was happy.

We had the award presentation on the first day and here we are setting up the rosettes.

Best of Show went to Robyn Coots for her beautiful applique quilt called Dresden Dancing.

Dresden Dancing by Robyn Coots

I didn't take a lot of photos but here are some that I liked, although the standard was so high this year.

Fuego by Ramona Resurreccion

Fuego is Spanish for Fire.

Nirvana Nouveau by Jan Frazer

William the Echidna by Karen McGregor

The next quilt was a tiny miniature. 

Winter Wonderland by Carole Bosna

The next quilt won Runner Up in the pieced section as well as Best use of Colour. It was called Waves around the Atlantic because Shirley hand pieced the quilt while she was on a holiday cruise.

Waves around the Atlantic

I didn't have a quilt in the competition this year but we also had prize winners from last year's virtual show so my Connections quilt was on display.

Connections-The Teenage Years by Linda Steele

The Profile a Quilters this year was Annette Packett, who had at least 20 quilts on display.

Annette Packett

Annette had such a variety of quilts on display but I especially loved her art quilts featuring trees.

Art Quilts by Annette Packett

I have been the Convenor of the show for a few years now and it is a huge job, one lunch time I had a walk outside the venue for some fresh air and took a few photos. It was a lovely sunny winter's day and I loved the reflections on the Yarra River by the Seafarer's Bridge.

The Seafarer's Bridge

Our beautiful raffle quilt Amethyst Star by Mariya Waters and Desley Maisano was won by a Victorian Quilters member.

Amethyst Star by Mariya Waters and Desley Maisano

I have had such a busy year and not really had much time for sewing or art making that I have decided to step down from being Showcase Convenor. I have enjoyed the experience but I really want my life back where I can be creative again and not be sitting in front of computer spreadsheets.

Bye for now,

Linda