“Alien Contact”.
I just completed my Advanced Diploma Of Fine Arts at Tafe last year. I prefer to paint portraits and I also do a little with sculpture as well.
Filomena Vanzanella
February 6th, 2010Bella Art Supplies
January 18th, 2010Brisbane and Ipswich get a new art supplies store!
Located in Springfield Lakes, Bella Art Supplies is ideally located for the burgeoning demand in the local area for art supplies.
Springfield Lakes, located about 22 klms east of Ipswich and about 30 klms south west of Brisbane is an ideal location for those located in the fast growing western corridor and from what we know, this area has not been serviced by an art supplies store up until this point in time.
Artists living in Indooroopilly can get to Springfield Lakes via the Western Freeway in about 20 minutes, and those living in the Centenary Suburbs, Jindalee, etc can get here in less time. Artists living as far away as Beaudesert, Jimboomba, Boonah to the south, and all of the fast growing areas surround Springfield Lakes no longer need to drive into Brisbane or Ipswich to collect their art supplies. See map below for location.
Bella Art Supplies, servicing Brisbane and South-East Queensland
Located in a small shopping precinct (Spring Lake Metro) with easy access and store front parking, it couldn’t be easier to get what you need. In fact, Bella Art Supplies will even deliver larger orders to you.
Bella Art Supplies also runs an online shopping site which has just been launched. This site has been design for those who can’t get to the shop, and offers attractive discounts. Visit www.bellaartsupplies.com.au.
Springfield Lakes is located in one of the fastest growing regions in Australia. Greater Springfield is Australia’s largest master-planned community and is part of the Western Corridor growth area encompassing the Western Suburbs of Brisbane and the City of Ipswich, and easily accessible from the Gold Coast via the Logan Motorway to the Centenary Hwy.
The Western Freeway/Centenary Hwy has been extended to Ipswich via Springfield to form a new major western arterial out of Brisbane, and to link Springfield and Ipswich to another master-planned city to be built in the Ripley Valley.
Springfield Lakes is easily accessible from Brisbane via the Western Freeway (Centenary Hwy), and from Ipswich via the newly constructed Centenary Hwy extension from Yamanto to Springfield. This places Bella Art Supplies store as an ideal location for the existing population of the area and to service future population growth.
Sanjay Kulkarni
January 14th, 2010- Born in Ratnagiri a beautiful town in Maharashtra in 1977. Sanjay Kulkarni came to pune in1995. He graduated in Applied Arts from Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya, in Pune, in 2000.
Sanjay began his career by working on projects of art direction in Films, Serials, and with Advertising Agencies as a Creative Director, while painting simultaneously.
Sanjay Kulkarni has won some prestigious awards like Cead (Creative Excellence in advertising and design). His achievements includes, an addition in a prestigious School for art, Canterbury Christ Church University Collage in United Kingdom.The first recognition came when he participated in a Nag foundation exhibition with reputed contemporary National Artists.
His style is characterized by contemporary modernist figures, a unique graphic approach, a connection to the philosophical side of life, rendered mysteriously by bright colors, and rich textures.
There is a deep impact of rigorous thinking of the artist, seen prominently in his themes like Krishna, Clown, Mother and child, And Buddha.The themes Reflect Positive approach to life. His paintings have a story to narrate to a viewer.
The Artist lives and works in Pune.
Click here to view more work by Sanjay. If you wish to purchase any of these works, email Sanjay directly at greycellscommunications@gmail.com to check on availability.
Kirsten Bailey Art: Brisbane, QLD (Australia)
December 4th, 2009I am a self-taught artist, working in Springfield – about half-way between Brisbane and Ipswich – Queensland, Australia.
I work mostly in acrylics and watercolours. I draw inspiration from the natural world and from science, and represent it in a figurative and sometimes abstract way.
My Starlight Series of watercolours is a romantic, whimsical series of paintings featuring trees and flowers, with a swirling starry sky as a background. Another series of watercolours is called simply Love. Paintings in this series are figurative and romantic with lots of warm colour tones. I love to paint the natural world and therefore trees and flowers feature predominately in my work, particularly in my acrylics. I like to use bold colours and brush strokes, and to represent the subjects in a contemporary way.
My latest series of works is an exploration of science through art. From microscopic views all the way to outer space, there is a lot of beauty to be found in many scientific concepts, and my hope is to represent this through my art.
View heaps more at Kirsten Bailey’s website, where you can find out more about this wonderful artist. Visit www.klbaileyart.com/
Review on Brisbane Artist JME
August 18th, 2009
JME is another rising star who exhibits at Bella Art Gallery. Hailed as one of Australia’s leading exponents of the “pop-surreal” genre, JME Pool delivers work which skips around boundaries of good and evil and questions both childhood reminiscences and the adult conscience.
Her sometimes unsettling imagery evolves from a place that is neither adult nor childlike, where creatures of the night creep menacingly from the woods to threaten the viewers own subconscious memories.
JME is based in Brisbane and has studied at the Berkenboom Technical Institute in Belgium and her work is held in private collections in Australia, Belgium and the USA and is currently studying for her Masters in Contemporary Fine Arts. Each one of her pieces are meticulously executed in oil on fine quality gallery stretched canvas. The term “Spooky Cute” has been coined to describe her work (Sally Brown, Rave Magazine) with some of her earlier pieces reflecting a film noir theme. JME’s work elludes to an initial sense of childhood naivity and innocence with her work featuring in Magazines and postcards.
JME spends many hours researching the configuration of her work. She does work from paper, computer, then onto canvas applying pastel, acrylic and then locks in oils. I just love the boldness of her colour use, the colours are just so vivid. Each piece has come from within, her own life experiences are told through her artworks and each piece is given a meaningful name, one of her pieces that I sold was called “Wendy Wondered What was Holding the Others Up” .
To learn more about JME’s works please visit www.bellaartgallery.com.au.
Review on Queensland Artist Kendall (Perkins)
August 11th, 2009“We are now thrilled to be representing “Kendall”, one of Queensland’s most sought after Contemporary Artist” writes Lea Gleave of Bella Art Gallery in Springfield Lakes.
Kendall, originally from Toowoomba, now travels the globe in a blaze of “colour and character”, with a style that is highly individualistic, Kendall is taking the art world by storm. Leaving a technicoloured trail that leads all the way back to her home in Buderim on the beautiful Queensland Sunshine Coast.
Kendall has been painting professionally for the past 15 years, Kendall decided four years ago to enter the export market and has since travelled to South Korea, Singapore, Mumbai, Bangalore, New Delhi, Toronto,Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, exhibiting and painting “live on location” for Tourism Australia, Tourism Queensland, Austrade and The Office of the Australian Consulate General.
From humble beginnings and after being told at school that “no one makes money out of art”, Kendall is managing to create a niche in the art world nationally as well as internationally, selling hundreds of paintings a year.
Kendall’s paintings are housed in public and private collections world wide, and she has already signed with galleries and art dealers in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and America and intends to spread her wings further in the international gallery scene in 2009 and is in numerous commecial galleries throughout Australia. Bella Art Gallery has several Kendall’s currently on display and new works arrive often. To view a range of Kendall’s works please visit www.bellaartgallery.com.au
Art Scene: Charmain Davis
July 31st, 2009August 2009 By Lea Gleave
Bella Art Gallery this month welcomes Ipswich indigenous artist, Charmain Davis to the Gallery. Relatively new to the art scene, Charmain was born in Grafton, New South Wales and now lives and works in Ipswich, Queensland. She is a Goori woman of Gumbangger and Bundjalung descent. This area is in Northern New South Wales. Her family’s totem is Djanbun which is the platypus. She is the new generation of indigenous artist, her works are visually pleasing, introducing bold colours with double dot work which give them a contemporary edge.
Charmain has been painting and drawing since she can remember. It’s in her blood. Every year her family gathers at Lionsville, about 90km’s from Grafton where they have their cleansing/smoking ceremony. This ceremony rejuvenates the mind, body and soul. It connects them to the land and to each other.
Charmain has been exhibiting in Brisbane professionally since 2006 and is excited to be now able to showcase her works in galleries closer to home. She is devoted to her heritage and draws upon her family and homeland for inspiration. With most indigenous works, hundreds of hours worth of intricate detailed (not to mention back straining) work goes into developing the artist journey.
As a gallery owner, I really appreciate indigenous work, for me they are spiritually active and I have utmost respect for an artist who can sit there spending hours and hours intricately weaving thousands of little “exact” dots to make a story that has been channeled through family stories, some of which are thousands of years old. I have known Charmain for the last couple of years and have watched her development unfold, she is pure professional all the way. Charmain has been a part of NAIDOC and has also attended many aboriginal festivals in NSW. She recently won a grant to run her own Exhibition at the Ipswich Community Art Gallery, her works are bold and fresh and the quality unsurpassed. Her works are extremely well priced for the hours given to painting each piece and she has priced them at entry level. They would certainly make a statement in either an entrance way in a home or commercial office.
Her latest series of dot paintings represent the journey of her and her ancestor’s lives, as well as representing the mighty Clarence River which is in Grafton where she is from. “Charmain’s ethos is that everything has a beginning and an end. Like the river and our lives it meanders here and there and takes us on a journey of discovery”.
Charmain works are produced on high quality hand made Manelli of Noosa canvases and she only works in professional quality atelier acrylic paint, each piece is finished in varnish ensuring its longevity.
Fantastic Book for Beginners to Acrylic Painting
July 29th, 2009“The Weekend Artist” by Australian art shop assistant Gerard Smith
“The Weekend Artist” is a superbly written book for the absolute beginner to the painting scene. Written by Sydney art shop assistant Gerard Smith, it is a step by step practical guide into everything you ever wanted to know about learning to paint decorative art pieces for your home in an easy to understand, entertaining, humorous and unpretentious read. In fact, the book itself is a good read even if you don’t intend to ever pick up a brush!
The Weekend Artist
Includes looking into acrylic paints (just what are they, why are there so many different brands, which are the best), choosing colours (what are primary, secondary and complementary colours, what colours look best with other colours), tools of the trade (brushes, palette knives, easels etc what do I need to get started), cleaning up. This is an essential tool for anyone wanting to start their own art projects, but don’t have the time or the funds to get to classes.
As soon as I started reading this book, I couldn’t put it down. The 224 page book covers absolutely all facets of painting. Not only do I recommend it as I am now “the girl in the art shop”, but because it was such an entertaining read. Gerard covers all those questions you always wanted to know, but thought too basic to ask, like “what does the word hue mean on a tube of paint?” What is a medium and how are they used.
This book is fantastic for anyone wanting to delve into the world of painting decorative pieces for their home, but maybe not so interested in becoming the next Picasso (although it is a great start for aspiring Picasso’s – always great to be armed with as much knowledge as you can get before entering the academic art field). As the title indicates, it is possible with the Weekend Artist to start and finish an art project, all of your own, in a weekend.
Gerard has several home projects that can be easily achieved and will look great on the wall. He tells you which paints and materials you will need to get and then teaches you how to apply step by step with lots of photo illustrations. I have achieved several of his projects, very easily and without too much frustration and have even managed to put some up around the house.
The book retails for around AU$39.95 inc GST. (Purchasers outside of Australia will not have to pay GST on the price. Price excludes shipping.)
If you would like to order a copy, email us at info@bella-arts.com.au
Creative inspiration, techniques and simple projects designed to unleash your inner artist.
Cut Price Art Supplies (servicing Brisbane & SE QLD, Australia)
July 22nd, 2009
Cut Price Art Supplies is an online art supplies website that services the Brisbane and South East Queensland area. If you live in this are, you can order art supplies online and have them delivered to your door, or you can pick up your order from their Brisbane outlet.
One thing we have noticed is that prices are cheaper than most retail outlets, and they also offer the option of collecting your order from a retail outlet that they are affiliated with, rather than have it delivered to your door, adding a touch of personal service.
The retail outlet they are affiliated with is located in Brisbane, so for art supplies in Brisbane, art supplies in Ipswich, the Gold Coast, and art supply orders as far west as Toowoomba, and up to the Sunshine coast, order at www.cutpriceartsupplies.com.au
Atelier Interactive Paint
July 7th, 2009Look out for some upcoming tips on the Atelier Interactive Range.
To compliment this Acrylic Range of paints, there is a range of products that can be used which we will explore. We will also dig deep into the techniques used by artists we know.
In the meantime click this link to download their acrylic colour chart.
Interactive_Colour_Chart_RGB_April_2008
This chart is also available from http://www.chromaonline.com/chroma/products/atelier_interactive
Chroma Online’s website also has a list of retailers where you can buy the Atelier Interactive Paint (Australia Wide) or it can be purchased online at www.cutpriceartsupplies.com.
Look out for our reviews and tips soon!
