Archive for July, 2009

Art Scene: Charmain Davis

August 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

“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.

Atelier Interactive Paint

Look 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.bellaartsupplies.com.au.

Look out for our reviews and tips soon!