Gallery Girl

Today, once again, I am at the beautiful Gallery One at Bundall, indulging my love of ART and being paid for it! Sometimes I pinch myself that I get to paint, or discuss art, or sell gorgeous paintings all day, and that is my job. I am privileged to have such an awesome job. Don't tell my boss, but I would volunteer for this!! hahaha....no really, keep paying me...please...

Right now I am looking at an exquisite group of landscapes by Katherine Boland, and some dramatic abstracts by Conchita Carambano, and Jonathon Hayde's latest paintings have everything you'd expect from his intricate collection of images, but there is something more in these...layer upon layer of shapes and colours placed in the most interesting but harmonious ways. All of these works could be hung in the latest restaurant or in the most relaxing resort... that adaptability is an amazing quality of abstracts...

If I lived in Paris...

My Photograph - Pont Neuf at Night - taken in Paris in 2006

If I lived in Paris...I would go to Ladurée Champs Elysées tonight for dessert!

I would have peppermint tea and macarrons...

http://www.laduree.fr/



Then I would stroll down to the Grand Palais and across Pont Alexander III and watch the monuments light up one by one across Paris.

http://www.chasingmatisse.com/

Check out this amazing book and the wonderful website that accompanies it. Whenever I am feeling a little lost as an artist, I read James' book. He manages to say so many things that light up parts of my brain, the arty parts, but also the philosophy of why we are driven to paint.

Ebay Sales

Ebay

I have turned to my old friend Ebay to help me clear out the paintings that I picked up from Treasured Interiors that hadn't sold. I posted this one last night and I already have a bid, so that's exciting. It can be found at the address below.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Aqua-Pandanus-View-To-Surfers-Paradise-diptych-canvas_W0QQitemZ130381792125QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Paintings?hash=item1e5b5c437d

I'm also posting an image of my new space. I will be throwing myself into this in 5 weeks as that's how long I have left at the Studio. I will have 12 months to really hook into it! John Squires got ready for his last show in 30 days! OMG! but then that's John Squires and I like hiw work, but I wonder how many people buy it for the celebrity factor? He'd be annoyed at that comment, but it's a fair comment, I think. On the easel is my latest boat. It is going well. It is very different from the last one and so much better. I am very happy with it, although now I look at the last one and I think it is so bad! How could I have thought it was so good? amazing!

my new studio is my old studio is my garage...

recent work - Ultra-Close-Up Kombi!
- prints available on Redbubble.com

There might just be some Arts jobs going on the Gold Coast in a few years.
Sahba Abedian of Sunland Group http://www.sunlandgroup.com.au/ is a huge advocate of the arts and art plays a vital role in all his marvellous projects, (in fact some of my own artwork graces the walls of his projects!) and he has been quoted in the paper discussing the importance for the Gold Coast to develop a more cultural side. Shannon Willoughby followed up on Mr Abedian's Saturday story in the paper (I have NEVER bought the GC Bulletin on a weekday...that must tell you how passionate I am about the subject) today and I wholeheartedly agree, naturally. It starts this way - with intelligent people discussing it..., then next comes the fabulous building (just take a look at the GoMA in BrisVegas!! WOW!)and then down the track, art follows. It might take a few generations but at least the people that are in a position to do something regard art as being a worthwhile pursuit. I will be watching for any developments!

I've moved my painting studio into the garage. it was a move that had to happen as my house was just a mess all the time. The boys didn't mind, but I did. I have erected an elaborate plastic sheeting arrangement to hopefully keep the dust and debris off my work...shall remain to be seen how much dust gets in. I left my newest work (another reflection on the water) done in oil, out in the sun today. What a wonderful thing that was...very dry glaze but quite a number of insects met their demise. I'll upload a photo tomorrow.





God, I want more confidence in my work. I can't even fake it til I make it! I know the better my work gets, the more confidence I'll have, so I just keep on plugging away at it. More painting tomorrow...





I start my B.A. Visual Arts/Art History on the 15th of May and I am gearing up for my exhibition next year. It will coincide with my 40th birthday and will keep me working towards something. Holy Shit...and I am going to Italy and Paris next September so the exhibition will be the beginning of things for me. Now that's faking it til I make it!! Yay!! Go Me!! now back to the books....
see you tomorrow:)

My Zazzle Store - nice to wake up to a couple of Sales!

See my store at Zazzle

I have sold 100 of these cards (personalised by the purchaser!) in Zazzle. How exciting to wake up and find an email telling me I have sold something! Nice! I wonder if they will be used as invitation for a wedding? How lovely...

what do I really want out of all of this?

the arch - oil on canvas

A very wise friend of mine recently reminded me that we need to let the universe know what we want so that we get what we want...now I am not 100% sure that we get what we want, but I do know for certain that we get what we need...what we need to learn, to grow, to be fully what we decided we wanted to be before we forgot...

but just in case we are meant to get what we want...I have been asking myself, what do I really want from my art, a career? a diversion? to leave my mark? fame? I have always been an artist, but for a long time I was a painter that didn't paint, and a writer that didn't write...then one day, the pain of not painting, and not writing, got worse than the pain of actually doing those things...so I sat down and wrote my novel (18 months of hard work, and it is 1000's of words long, but needs an epic re-write and editing session...) and I picked up that paint brush...

what I can say? What I can say unequivocally, is that painting, no, art, is my passion...I can't descibe the drive that makes us paint... is it primeval? is it the ultimate arrogance that we think others want to see what's going on inside our heads...make them see what we see when we open our eyes? Is it why I am here? to paint the reflection of boats on the water...the way sunlight hits the Arc de Triomphe in the August heat? Can it really be that simple?

Well, just in case we really do get what we ask for, I am going to tell the universe right here and now what I want from my art, from my life. I have a wonderful husband and a fabulous son, family and friends, my health and a home and I am already an artist. I am so blessed!

And now...I want to take this ride as far as it will go! I want success as an artist...and I define that by the number of paintings I am making and selling to those who want them. I am not trying to make statements or to be provocative...I just want to make pictures and sell them to people who love them!

I want the whole box and dice here...I want to travel with my art...to France...to the USA...to Spain...I want to sell a lot of paintings and be sought out by collectors...I don't want to be rich and famous, but I want enough money so I can do all the things I want to do and help my family. I want to do the work that I want to do...make the art that comes bubbling out of me...and I want to be a role model for other women and for my son...to live out his passion for music and take that ride as far as it will go.

so there you have it...is that my prayer? my offering up to the universe a shopping list for success as an artist? This is the first time in my life that I have had the guts to really ask for something! and I really believe that this will happen, that it is already happening. this year has been such a rush of firsts and achievements. In April I was miserable working in a Bathroom showroom...doing a great job but in a funk. I didn't have time to paint and it was driving me nuts! I decided enough was enough and left and within the last 7 months I am now a full time artist earning a living from my art...and now I just gotta think...bigger...!

The Taupe Kombi van...aaahhh...

This week I painted another Kombi van, just for something different... This time inspired by my employers' search for a kombi. I have painted a few kombis now, but this one was a pleasure to paint! I love this colour and coupled with the experience of painting a sign for my employers' holiday rental property I had a change of plan with the colour scheme - from bright Aqua coloured van and blue blue sky, I went to the light side - taupe for the van and a dusty dirtied-off sapphire blue for the sky with a pandanus palm masquerading as a pony tail palm in the corner. I think I still need to deepen the shadows...and I just spotted a little error somewhere that I need to fix before it goes to the gallery, but I am not going to tell you!!

45 cm x 90 cm - gouache (acrylic) on canvas

A recent Oil on canvas done of the Currumbin Alley for my friends, Paul and Louisa. I have recently touched up the clouds but other than that this is the finished product.

below is some info on the Cite des Arts residency programme in Paris that I hope to be eligible for in a couple of years.

http://pagesperso-orange.fr/citedesarts/cite-internationale-des-arts-english-presentation.html

I am getting my passion back! I am dreaming about Paris every night (must be the books I am reading!) and my painting is going very well. Not only am I painting at work, but also painting at home. I am completing a few realist paintings (kombis etc) but I am about to embark on a new phase of landscapes and impressionist style work, keeping the super-real stuff for my boats. I am intending on entering the Brisbane Artists Academe scholarship show. I just have to get in and get stuff in shows...

My son is going very well with his cello, so I am sure when the time comes for me to head to Paris for my residency, he will be able to accompany me and attend some classes etc.

I finally have a zazzle shop!

Check out my new Zazzle shop for all your Christmas present buying!

At left is a mouse-mat you can buy for your computer with my charcoal drawing Two Hands/One Heart printed on it.

There are so many other items available too - from t-shirts to cards, to key-rings and even hats!

Enjoy!!

http://www.zazzle.com/writerpainter

so much has happened...

Life certainly takes us in all sorts of interesting places, and it is with great excitement that I tell you about my new work with a great firm here on the Gold Coast. Well, I can't say too much, but I am very excited to be working for an Interior Design firm, creating artwork for their projects. I will still be doing my own work, but I am viewing this as an apprenticeship of sorts, so in a way I am being paid to learn. Jobs like this come around once in a blue moon, and I have to that the wonderful Colleen Sutton at Cutter's Art Supplies on Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin, for putting my name forward to my new bosses!

thanks Colleen!!

I have been doing a little bit of work. Terrible photo but it shows the gist of what I am doing here. Was thinking of entering the John Flynn Show with this one. I have to enter by Wednesday so better get moving on that!

Below is a widget for the Gold Coast group I am co-hosting on Redbubble. Check it out! You can buy prints, cards and t-shirts designed by amazing GC artists and photographers.

So there you have it! You are up to date. well, kinda...have a great week:)

http://www.redbubble.com/people/christinebetts/calendars/3285669-2-gold-coast-icons

I have created a number of calendars over at Redbubble.com (see the link above) They cost $26.40 plus postage from Redbubble, but orders of 4 or more calendars (same or different style, even different artists) attract free postage I believe!

Exciting news this week. I sold a t-shirt on Redbubble. My first sale! See the image at the top!! woohoo!!

My paintings hanging in Treasured Interiors at Currumbin

I am so excited by the lovely display of my artwork
at Treasured Interiors at Currumbin on the
Esplanade.

They are right above the desk and unmissable.
It is so great to have my work out there for people
to see and buy!

The ladies at Treasured Interiors have the most
wonderful taste (and not just because they have my
paintings hanging in there...). They have incredible
homewares and furniture but can renovate your whole house or apartment for you! Amazing I know.

I went to the Coolangatta markets on the beach front today to do a bit of 'recon' and I think it would be a goer to take some of the small paintings, cards, t-shirts, and the laminated prints would be great.

I have been working on a large oil and it is coming together beautifully. It is important to approach these things fearlessly...it's only a painting after all!!

Fingers Crossed that the other shop will have had the other 6 paintings hanging all weekend and they've all sold!
Have a great creative week, everyone!
;)

welcome to my new 'followers'

hey hey, how exciting. four people want to know about my art!! Thanks so much for your interest!
So, today I wandered in and met the amazing Pelita at a wonderful little place in Mermaid. Now the chop next door is The Mermaid Beach store of Sea-life, an amazing place (also at Palm Beach) that has sea-inspired home and gift wares and hopefully my paintings hanging there by the end of tomorrow! wish me luck!!
I am being choosy about where I put them as I think they will work in certain shops and I want 'work' with like minded people who won't rip me off. I am folowing my instincts every step of the way with this.
But having said that, I was having a minor panic today as the car service etc has cost me over $1000 in the past week. These things have to be done and the car has had no work other than services in the 2 and 1/2 years I've had it, so I can't complain too much, can i? But I have to get moving on this and will begin markets sooner rather than later. although I might be putting the cart before the horse on this one, as my goal was to commence in September. I don't like the markets on the coast and the early start times just don't agree with my delicate constitution and my love of all things doonah!! anyway, will pop down and see the market at Cooly on Sunday and see if it is for me???
Happy Art-ing Everyone!!!

One of my latest paintings. It is 30cm x 20cm and acrylic on canvas. It along with many others are available at Treasured Interiors at Currumbin Beach. The phone number is 5536 5233 and they are located on the esplanade at Currumbin, right next door to the Deck Cafe which has lovely coffee, awesome vegetarian turkish bread and a great view of the beach. Just pop in and see the lovely girls there and they will help you.

well people, I sold a painting today...very happy! Thanks to the gorgeous Deb down at Treasured Interiors at Currumbin. Deb is an amazing woman who doesn't take no for an answer and is blazing a successful trail even when others are closing their doors and crying in their beer. She is a role model for me.

I have also uploaded some great new works onto Redbubble so check them out:) http://www.redbubble.com/people/christinebetts

don't want to go the way of Vincent

just watched a dvd on Vincent Van Gogh...and oh boy, the idea of trying to get a group of artists happening and getting my own career happening scares me....it is what I want most in the world is to be a successful artist, and I have to put aside this fear. I think what held Vincent back most of all was his mental illness, not his ability as an artist. Also, I am the most boring house wife, I'd never be tempted to cut part of my ear off and send it to a prostitute...mmmm....