'Sandy feet and Salty Hair'

'Sandy Feet and Salty Hair'
detail
Jo-Ann Hunt©

I'm often asked where my ideas come from.

Family photos....that group shot typically with the heads accidentally cropped

at the top, with one kid wriggling and not interested in standing still...

...that's the obvious starting point. But then I'm frequently jolted by seeing

something unexpectedly.

This little button used to drive us crazy she was so tiny and cute....

...now she's driving herself around and preparing to start university...

.....and yes she's still cute!

'Sandy Feet and Salty Hair'
 detail
 Jo-Ann Hunt©

'Sandy Feet and Salty Hair'
 Jo-Ann Hunt©
'The Child Within' Series
 H120x90cm
H47x35.5ins
xxxx

This photo inspired a couple of paintings in my current exhibition.

I've still not been down to see it....four paintings have already sold

and there's only two left. I'm hoping to drive down there in the next

 day or two....say hi if you see me  !

'Sandy Feet and Salty Hair'
 detail
Jo-Ann Hunt

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..good morning it's Christmas.....

'Percy Button's Aspiration' wearing his Xmas finery
Hay Street Mall, Perth
Sculptors Joan Walsh-Smith and Charles Smith 1996

Three days of  Xmas dinners...

.....the first with adults outnumbered by the ankle-biters, 

santa and a summery breeze on the deck .....

.....the next with a new baby and perfect weather for the pool....

and then a table that filled the room and a game of Kubb.

and now to diet! 

after we polish off the leftovers !  :)

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....we are one...

photo:Joosep Martinson/ Getty Images

photo from ABC.net.au

photo: from Yahoo News.com.au

over 100,000 bouquets left in Martin Place, Sydney, Australia 

as tribute to victims and hostages of the Lindt Cafe seige

'Summery Sorrento Exhibition'

It's been hard to get work completed with the news coming out of Sydney,
but I'm finally done.
canvases packed and ready for the Sorrento Exhibition opening this Saturday.
Manyung Gallery, Sorrento......
...it runs from Saturday 20 December until Thursday 08 January.
 I'll be down to see it after Boxing Day...and to get a couple of pics for you....
I now need to turn my creativity to cooking....Xmas is all about food, isn't it.
Will try to lose weight next month!

'Weekend Warriors'

Scouts Raft Race on the Yarra
...too many years ago!

We encourage, we badger, we illuminate, we push, and we love....

....and love some more.... and why?...to grow up independent, 

motivated, warm, balanced, generous, caring human beings. 

 And what happens?

 It works...way too fast! 

they grow up, become independent, and leave !  

 (pity they forget to take all their stuff! )     

                   :)

'Weekend Warriors 2'
detail
Jo-Ann Hunt©

'Weekend Warriors 2'
Jo-Ann Hunt©
'The Child Within' Series
H120x135cm
H47x53ins
Acrylic on Canvas
sold

...this painting is headed for my exhibition at Sorrento...

.....I first mentioned it a few days ago here.....

it's not really as blue as my photo...I really need to learn 

to take better photos and to try photoshop.... sigh ...

'Weekend Warriors 2'
detail
Jo-Ann Hunt©

'Weekend Warriors 2'
detail
Jo-Ann Hunt©

out of focus...I'm shaking with laughter..

I always love a happy ending!

                                              

                                                  have fun today!   Jo   :)

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houses with chicken legs....Perth

'Baba Yaga Houses'
Mahwa Fahmy
2012
photo:www.central.wa.edu.au

I can't resist posting these photos of this sculpture by Mahwa Fahmy,
an Art and Design student.
We drove past them on our way to enjoy a long Sunday breakfast,
and I couldn't get them out of my mind. Baba Yaga houses belong
to Slavic folklore...who knew? What fun these are...you can see them
in Museum Park, Aberdeen Street, Northbridge.

There's better photos and more info here   at perthphotodaily.blogspot.com
(actually now I'm back in Melbourne I could waste days just enjoying
the photos on this blog )

house with chicken legs!
Mahwa Fahmy
photo: www.central.wa.edu.au

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....Perth...Western Australia....

Peter Pan ....by George Frampton, 1929
Queens Gardens, East Perth

two rabbits at the base of  the George Frampton 'Peter Pan '
look, there's even a little snail!

this squirrel made me homesick for my dog!

Perth, glorious, beautiful, stunning Perth.

I've just come back from a way-too-quick trip to Perth to catch up with my son.

wow I love this city.

the beaches are sensational, the views around the Swan River,

Fremantle and its historical buildings...and no traffic!

the city has soul and it is human-scaled.

police on horses in the mall

Friday Night Noodle Market

the waca 

at City Beach....with my kids :)

floor to ceiling windows make the trip to the ladies a real treat....
...Indiana Restaurant, Cottlesloe 

I love it! wondering if I could live there and cope with the heat.

hmmmm  :)

and the art....did I mention the public art....it is everywhere ...

and so approachable, entertaining and totally beguiling.

not too many pretensions here!

a little tourist with 'Kangaroos on the Terrace'
Stirling Gardens
St Georges Terrace ,Perth

'Kangaroos on the Terrace'
Joan Walsh-Smith and Charles Smith
1997

a tourist family in front of the big one.
Kangaroos on the Terrace.....there's a mob of 5

'Kangaroos on the Terrace'.....
fascinating to watch people interact with these life-size lovelies!

....now I need to get back to work.....
....my exhibition deadline is looming and I've still so much to do!

                    Jo   :)

view of Perth from Kings Park


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...in the zone....

Two kids on my easel....

now these two are coming together much easier.

some paintings fight you all the way...others almost paint themselves.

I'm making much faster progress with this one thank goodness!

'touch wood' this will be one of the easier ones.... I need to finish work

for my summer exhibition over Christmas.....and get as much done

before our real Summer heats up...my studio has no air-con!

...thank goodness rescue no longer needed!

Lorne Surf Club 

Lorne Beach

however.... these two gave me a lot more trouble! but think I've almost got them
to the almost-finished phase!
but still in progess! just a little tweaking now ! 

                       Jo  :)


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...and now there are six....

work in progress...slow progress

On my easel.....six kids.....this is the most kids I've ever painted 

in the one space.

it's a bit like having six kids in the kitchen....something is bound to happen!

and there are now six times the chances of me messing up!

I'm already struggling ! 

feel like I'm wrestling with the paint.... a bit like this lovely kitch carving

 on the Rye Foreshore...how many kids would have run their hands 

over its woody, knubbly  tentacles over the years. 

I love it...makes me smile!

Rye Octopus Sculpture
'Octopus Garden'  2003
 Angela Polglaze

carved from a tree trunk with chainsaws
love the orange crab ! 

for more info on Angela...(that's not her!)sculptor and power-carver...
angela-polglaze .com

Update: ... I knew these little people would give me strife.... 

the 2 on the left and the little guy all changed!


                       Jo   :)

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