....'The Rockpool'

'The Rockpool'
detail
Jo-Ann Hunt©

'The Rockpool'
detail
Jo-Ann Hunt©

'The Rockpool'
detail
Jo-Ann Hunt©

'The Rockpool'
Jo-Ann Hunt©
commission
H150x150cm
H59x59ins
Acrylic on Canvas
sold

'The Rockpool' ....and moi    :)

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...struggling.....

a toadfish... commonly known as  'toadie' to all keen snorkellers...

I've been struggling with a gallery commission.
For me as an artist it can be difficult to personalise a commission artwork without understanding the personalities of the children I'm painting - and I like to know a little about the family requesting the commission.....who is it for...what's important ...where will it hang ...and dozens of other questions!
I've actually painted this commission three times!

nothing remains of version 1 except a very bad thumbnail....
but suffice to say the children looked like acrobats flying thru space!

version 2... I thought it was a better version of the supplied photos...or was it?

version 2.5....they look like squashed caterpillars....
...and  too much brown....and what to do with all that space?
and where's the joy?

 I was worried...this painting is of  real children, it's something that will hang in the client's personal space, it's hopefully going to be with them for generations. So difficult when I'm not the one communicating with the person commissioning the painting.....I was struggling....big time......
my insecure, perfectionist-self surfaced...and  I was told ..."it's ok.... they already have one of your paintings....she trusts you"....and then an epiphany...just paint the joy of snorkelling...paint what it feels like to be floating, buoyant, bobbing,  in the clear water of a rockpool....paint the excitement and wonder of a child's view beneath the surface....that confident sense of possession when exploring a familiar space....in other words put into the painting the essence of childhood.

And I'm very pleased with the result. Very happy!
It is a happy painting of a favourite place...and there's a sense of 'completeness ' and a contented peacefulness in the children's faces, and there's enough detail for visitors and small children to ask questions, and to spot a favourite sea creature. I think it's a painting that will become a part of the families connections, and one that will contribute to conversations and memories .

I hope the new owner will be happy too !

                                                         Jo   :)

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'Beach-Hair and Bare Feet'

Seaford Pier, Seaford , Victoria

I wrote about not preparing well enough before I attack the canvas.

I should sketch up my ideas, be more formal with my designs,

but I'm often too impatient...I get an idea and need to get it in paint,

and large, before it disappears. Usually, and I say usually with a big grin

....usually things work out.

...what to do with those pesky feet!...

'Beach-Hair and Bare Feet'
Jo-Ann Hunt©
The Child Within Series
H120x120cm
H48x48ins
Acrylic on Canvas
sold

'Beach Hair and Bare Feet'....just a couple of changes ,

and another problem sorted!

Phew!

Don't you just love a happy ending!

         Jo  x


(PS: Happy Birthday to the new owner of this painting ... his family pooled their resources to surprize him with this after he'd long admired this painting at his sisters house .  I'd love to see where  you have it hanging...  a photo?  Please :)


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'the A-Team'

'The A-Team'
detail
Jo-Ann Hunt

the weather was wild, wet  and windy last night.....

we thought the hail was going to break the windows!

we didn't venture outside to check on things for some 20 minutes,

until the worst of the front had passed.

So to remind myself that summer is just around the corner,

and that there's always help on hand...a flash-back to 2011...'the A-Team'

'The A-Team'
Jo-Ann Hunt©
'The child Within' Series
H122x122cm
H48x48ins
Acrylic on Canvas
sold

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...life got complicated!

It's been a while since I've been aboard here....

relatives sick, dog sick, car sick...you name it ....

it's been a tough couple of months.  Winter....grrrrr!

But I've been busy painting in between dashes to hospitals, vets etc etc

...a girl has to eat! ... and pay the vet bills! ....so I'll update you /backdate you

with what's been on my easel and on my mind.

This little piece in progress started way back on the 6 July is still

a work-in-progress, and now it's Oct!

July 06 2014

 I became side-tracked with a very complicated commission....

but that's a story for another day ...when I'm feeling stronger!

This is almost done but I'm still deciding whether or not I like the faces!

Little girls are always so 'individual',

today
Jo-Ann Hunt©
detail in progress

I'll just let it sit a while and come back to it when I'm feeling less stressed!

Think I'll stretch my wings and go  for a walk now ...sunshine is always the best de-stressor!

and skies are BLUE, bright bright blue  today  :)

North Road Pier, Brighton, Victoria

(this post and a couple of others  backdated from 12 Oct 2014...cheating I know but  :)  had to be done! )

'Flippers and Fins'

'Flippers and Fins'
detail
Jo-Ann Hunt©

'Flippers and Fins'
 Jo-Ann Hunt ©
'The Child Within...Summer ' Series
H120x120cm
H47x47ins
Acrylic on Canvas
sold

'Flippers' or 'Fins?'.

What are they called in your house?  In mine it was 'flippers', but my kids

probably use both terms. Having come through the rigours of swim school

and hours spent 'following the line', 'fins' were a part of their training kit.

But flippers mean more than just rubber for your feet.

remember this fabulous creature?

Do we love dolphins because of their smiling face, or has it something

to do with this? my generation has a huge soft spot for the star

of the 60's TV show, 'Flipper'.

'Flipper' with Sandy ....
....from the tv show 1964-67....plus years of re-runs!

'Flipper' with Bud

a couple of weeks ago , on the TV news on 11 June,  they showed

this huge pod of Bottlenose dolphins surfing the waves

at Observatory Beach, off Esperance, Western Australia.

excuse my screen-capture but how perfect!

researcher Dave Riggs captured this unique footage by drone...

apparently they do it just for the fun of it....usually only

in the bigger waves....just like humans!

 awesome!!

for the link to Dave Riggs 'You-Tube' footage, click here  

...30 seconds of fishy fun!

'Flippers and Fins'
detail
Jo-Ann Hunt©

                          Jo     :)


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....Camberwell Art Show 2014.....

A couple of pics from the 2014 Camberwell Art Show, taken from

the upstairs Exhibition area.

You can just catch a glimpse of 3 of my paintings, bottom right.

It was beautifully hung, (which is no mean feat for such a huge show)

well attended and I'm happy to say, very successful sales -wise.

And three of my paintings found new homes.

now that's very happy news!

Camberwell Art Show

Camberwell Art Show 

....next year will be the 50th Show..... looking forward to it!

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'We are the Navy Blues'

'We Are the Navy-Blues'
detail
Jo-Ann Hunt©

Here's a look at a 2011 commission I did for a Manyung client.

......see....I don't always paint kids in summer  :)

this family were mad-keen Carlton Football club supporters.

I come from a family where everyone of us barracked for a different team....

..... I was almost adopted by the mascot for my team  ......

but gave him back to his mum!

'We Are the Navy-Blues'
Jo-Ann Hunt ©
commission
H122x122cm
H48x48ins
Acrylic on Canvas
2012
 sold

it was challenging to not make the navy jumpers too 'black/dark',

but to still be authentic. Completed  early 2012, Jack, Ben and Alby

were happy with it , mum and dad too.

'We Are the Navy-Blues'
 detail
 Jo-Ann Hunt ©

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