Having Fun and experimenting with Paint, Pencil, Pen and Texture again….

Collage experiment using different papers, acrylic paint and pen

Mark making with pen and watercolour pencils on hand made paper

Pencil on calico

Share logo design for Pink Noise Art Zine….

Katie Robinson from Pink Noise Art Zine
has created an online artist promotion project which is all about sharing, links and promotion of the art world. Pink Noise is a multi-leveled artist promotional project. It’s a place to show work and let everyone know where to find you online. It is also an artist resource, to make all those interesting places out there easily accessible. While wandering around the Pink Noise website (as one does) I spied a challenge and being right into challenges I leapt in (as I do) : – ) This is the challenge:
Why not design a share button/logo/image for Pink Noise?
. . . anything with the words “www.pinknoise.co.nz“
A design with a special little bit of “you” in it!
So here are some of the logo/image designs I came up to share with others and help to promote Pink Noise Art Zine and the terrific work that Katie Robinson is doing : – )

All created on hand made paper with pen and water colour pencils and one has wire added. Which one do you like?
Thanks for visiting!
Deanna Gracie

Having fun with paint again…May 2010

I bought a few sheets of A3 size watercolour paper – 300gsm and have been having a play with watercolour paints : – ) It’s great to experience and try out different things. I love the watery/blended effect you can achieve with watercolours but also love texture – so I’ve tried to give the impression of both in this river scene.

River Scene - Deanna Gracie ©

and this was the second attempt at watercolours:

Landscape - Deanna Gracie ©

This was the first attempt on run of the mill cartridge paper

Flower - Deanna Gracie ©

Thanks for visiting!

Deanna Gracie : – )

Pencil, Graphite, Charcoal Drawings March 2010

During my exhibition, when it was quiet – I had fun creating some pencil, graphite and charcoal drawings from my collection of found objects. People were calling it my nature table and one lady wanted to buy my natural “treasures”. To me my treasures are “priceless” – here are some of my drawings : – )

Drawings by Deanna Gracie ©

Thanks for visiting : – )

Deanna Gracie

Art Exchange 2010

Art Exchange
Early this year an artist friend from Hastings in the Hawkes Bay asked if I wanted to take part in an art exchange.
This is how the Art Exchange works:
The Art Exchange is a one-off opportunity to expand your arts & crafts networks while actually getting GOOD stuff in the mail. To participate please make (or select from your stash) one work of art/craft and send it to the person whose name is listed in the #1 position below.
It can be anything – a drawing, a print, a zine, painting, an ATC, a collage, a music CD, a small OOAK object/ephemera, a photo…. whatever fits your niche and can be dropped in the mail within a week.
Then copy and paste this note into a new email (whilst adding whatever personal commentary you desire). Move the second name and address from the #2 to the #1 position while deleting the current #1 name. Add your name and address in the now vacant #2 position. Only your info and mine should appear in this list when you send out your emails. Finally, send this to 6 artist-friends. If possible, send it to people who don’t know each other so it doesn’t get stuck going around and around to the same crew.
You should receive 36 works of art! The turn-around is fast.
Having said that, it should be fairly obvious – this is about creating a new network of followers, hopefully opens up new possibilities, friendships, collaborations and it may just bring people to your websites (if you have one).
It isn’t a pyramid scheme, or anything of the sorts. It’s an opportunity to expand your network, and get involved in what might be an exciting outcome. Don’t forget people blog, post and write. Your part is sending one thing out to the artist on the top of the list.

I thought what a great idea – so I sent off my six emails which actually turned into eleven as some artists weren’t able to participate and sent off my piece to Ingrid in Germany and waited.
This is the piece I sent to Ingrid  who kindly took the image for me – I forgot to take one before I sent it away!
“Into the Blue Nowhere brooch” – hand made in sterling silver, 18ct gold and moonstone

The first piece from A Frater – a Wellington artist arrived very quickly

It is made from electrical tape and wire and was created in 2007

Next I received the most wonderful painting from an artist in the United Kingdom – Alan Malzard

I feel very, very privileged to have been sent “Centre Stage” and I will treasure it always – thank you so much Alan!

Here are a couple of links to some more of his fabulous art

http://photopeach.com/album/q95jvb

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/alan-malzard.html

I’m sorry about the image – I’m not used to taking photographs of large pieces

and an image of the detail

The last piece I received is a beautiful framed work from the Swatches series by a weaver and feather artist from Wanganui – Leonie Sharp. I will also treasure this work always! I love feathers and found objects so Leonie’s work really resonates with me at a profound level. Thank for sending me such a beautiful piece Leonie : – )

Here are a couple of links so you can view her wonderful work

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZgKkAvvAE

http://www.southpacificart.com/artist/leonie-sharp

Please excuse the photograph – because it is behind glass it has reflections

and it came beautifully packaged with this card explaining the ideas behind the Fabric Swatch series

Was the Art exchange a positive experience – YES!

Thanks to everyone who took part in it – I appreciate each and every one of you : – )

Thanks for visiting!

Deanna Gracie : – )

Moana Whenua Exhibition March 7 – 15 2010 on set up day

Wow it’s been an awesome week! Thanks to everyone who was able to come to  Moana Whenua – it was fantastic to see you all and for those that couldn’t make it here are some images of the exhibition on set up day….

Thanks for visiting!

Deanna Gracie

Me in front of the huge exhibition poster © Deanna Gracie

Moana Whenua Exhibition set up © Deanan Gracie

Moana Whenua display © Deanna Gracie

Old and New - Moana Whenua Exhibition © Deanna Gracie

Poster and Painting - Moana Whenua Exhibition © Deanna Gracie

Distorted view through the glass display © Deanna Gracie

The rings lined up in their little boxes © Deanna Gracie

Moana Whenua Exhibition – Cloisters Gallery – Christchurch New Zealand….March 2010

Not long to go now…….. Moana Whenua at Cloisters Gallery
in the North Quad of the Christchurch Arts Centre
You are invited to the Opening on Tuesday the 9th March at 5.30pm
for drinks and nibbles : – )
Thank you for all your support
Deanna Gracie : -

and thanks to Robin Raymond from Pegasus Bay News for the interview and article!

Editorial – Metropol February 2010

Hans from Metropol came around to my studio and interviewed me for an editorial about my upcoming exhibition Moana Whenua.

Thanks Metropol!

… and thanks for visiting!

Deanna Gracie : – )

Press release for Moana Whenua

Moana Whenua Exhibition

Moana Whenua

A celebration of Aotearoa through creativity

Deanna Gracie invites you to her exhibition of artworks created in beauty and with sheer joy….

Christchurch artist Deanna Gracie brings you Moana Whenua – an exhibition of jewellery and paintings, which express her deep love of Aotearoa – this wonderful land we live in. She has done this by the creating, and now the sharing of her artistry. You are invited to the opening, to be held Tuesday 9th March at Cloisters Gallery, North Quadrangle, The Arts centre of Christchurch from 5:30pm-8:30pm. The artist welcomes one and all to share in a joyful evening of beautiful visual art and jewellery.

For this solo exhibition Deanna has created precious objects by combining gorgeous gemstones, sleek silver, glistening gold, richly coloured indigo blue titanium and subtly patinated copper, finished with soft textures and tactile surfaces. Exhibited alongside these will be beautifully detailed paintings that reflect elements of her jewellery designs, all of which are alive with the colour and movement of nature.

Deanna creates her precious objects in a small studio-workshop in her garden, quite near to the sea at Southshore Christchurch. These objects quite often take on the form of a natural organic shape, with lots of texture and colour. “Jewellery making for me is quite a serendipitous process – sometimes I never know how the piece is going to work out until it’s finished. I need to hold the materials in my hand as part of the creative process” says Deanna.

Moana Whenua – which is Maori for Ocean Land, is also the exhibition theme. “I like to live near the water so that I can embrace both the land and the sea,” she says. Koru designs, feathers and fern shapes are recurring themes in her work, which range from lovely rings, pendants, bracelets, brooches and earrings to the exquisitely detailed paintings.

“I find joy in the most simple of things; the perfect shape of a ginkgo leaf, the ebb and flow of the tide, patterns left on sand by wind and rain, the gentle call of a gull as it soars in the air. These experiences fill my soul to overflowing and I race to my studio to start the next piece.”

Deanna will be available at Cloisters Gallery every day from 10am to 5pm to discuss her work with visitors to the exhibition

Opening: Friday 9th March 5:30pm – 8:30pm
When: 7th March – 15th March, Open daily 10.00am – 5.00pm
Venue: Cloisters gallery, North Quad, The Arts Centre of Christchurch

”Made from my heart and by my hand no two pieces of jewellery can ever be exactly the same.” Deanna Gracie
http://www.Deanna.co.nz

Moana Whenua Exhibition 7-15 March 2010 – Deanna Gracie

I’ve just finished creating the poster and invitation to the exhibition!

Next job is write a press release – which I will need to do really soon – I’ll keep you posted : – )

Thanks for visiting – Deanna X