Josephine Jagger-Manners New Art!

Well last night was a blast! Really! It was a fantastic night with probably 200 people all up! They were spilling out of the Chop Art Shop and all over the pavement in every direction......

The Chop Art Shop Directors, Nina and Tonya, looked very pleased and so they should.....everyone had a fabulous time....the wine from Borrodell was great (as usual!) 17 artists work adorned the walls and plinths, contemporary and new bouncing off the Victorian interior with energy.....

Dinner after at Tonic was good.....the company was better.....Aida is very funny....haha.... and her friend Robyn was a delight. The conversation hilarious as is usual for our lot. Libby and Hugh are always good value. A wandering young girl flashing her rather flat chest at us late in the evening through the window also helped to bring the table to a roaring finish! Noisiest table in the room and not for the faint of heart!

But today.....today we head off out to Molong for Josephine Jagger-Manners new works. This is her first show and is being held at ther home. Her interiors are very intricate and elicate and remind me a little of Grace Cossington-Smith. I think she will do very well with these. It should be another grand gathering and most of us are looking forward to Michael's art in catering....!

So if you're around this way, this is where you'll need to be today in Orange!

CHOP ART SHOP

Ah! Today's the day that Nina opens her new venture at Millthorpe, arty little village near where I live......it'll be a grand opening I am sure and we are looking forward to heading on out in our best pink and purple hair to commune with other arts bores over a vino etc So.....if you care to join us, please do at 6.30 at 25 Victoria St.

Some smart names, Alan Sisley to open the show, always entertaining - all the right ingredients for a good feast!

later we'll head off to Tonic - that very smart restaurant up the road for fine wining and dining of the very best kind.......and arts talk!

Have updated my little online shop of prints etc this morning , added a few more images etc etc.....but my right hand is giving me grief! It has a little tendonitis at the moment....from too much work....yeah yeah I hear you say.....but it's true. Can't seem to pick anything up aaargh!

Maybe a new artform.....left handed paintings - been done before I know but new for me....anyway away! see you another day!

Welcome to my diary!

Found this fellow on a headland just ready to fly. He had a little chat with me about how peaceful it was floating above the earth and sea, like a bird! and WOW!

I dunno about you, but I have found the last few months exhausting......several of my dear artist friends from all over the world are also finding it hard this year! There seems to be so much bad news these days, that for many of us, it is dragging us down.

I love to paint....I am always happiest with a brush in my hand or a forest to sit in....or a beach to listen to.

This last week I have been lucky enough to head to the beach and finding the open air, the fresh sea breezes blowing, the sun shining and the endless call of the sea still there made me feel alive.


I have returned to see last night's TV, all gloom and doom, then a show of some sheila cutting up a body (oh yuckie!)....and it all tumbled in on me again....I think I'll just go on back and sit by the sea.... Now I don't want to beat on the press, but when are they going to realise that we're all so sick and tired of their endless moaning and groaning that we are turning off to them in droves....no wonder Facebook, Twitter etc are winning over the press....it's all a breath of fresh air and most important of all, it's 'real'......good stories about 'real' people! Gotto love the web.....

So a few photos to remind me of what the world is really like....for those who care to take matters into their own hands and head on out and about....

Sat and stared at this wonderful surf over good coffee at Birubi Beach! The dunes just went endlessly to the horizon and beyond, much like the desert that I love......gives you such an awesome feeling of being small in the world! Always good for a big bird like me!

So this morning, I though, I think I'll start an online diary....for anyone who's interested....Thought it might be a bit more fun than Facebook, a bit more personal, no ads etc....so if you care to join me here, feel free to speak easy and from your heart......

Joy