Saturday, 6 July 2013

Kata Tjuta

                   Pastel on paper 74 cm x 55cms (approx 29 x 21 inches)circa 1995

While my paintbrushes lie temporarily dormant, I have been scraping the barrel of my very small body of work prior to 2012 to find something to post . It was hard to get a good photo of this one as the reflections from the glass have added a few rather lively details - including my head - but hopefully it is clear enough to get the gist of it.

In the early 90s I first began to paint - initially with oils and then with pastels. This was my second piece in pastels. I worked from a photo I took while visiting Kata Tjuta in the Northern Territory in central Australia. Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) is in close proximity to Uluru (Ayers Rock). It is a very special part of the world where the sense of sacred timelessness is tangible. This particular visit was during spring, when the red earth comes alive with wildflowers (if the winter rains have been good). In the foreground is a Mulla Mulla bush which has very striking tufty lavender cone-like flowers.

The reason why I haven't been painting much of late is due to establishing a line of greeting cards based on my paintings. It has been very time consuming but I am up and running now and will soon post a link to my new publishing blog
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19 comments:

  1. Anonymous7 July 2013 at 01:32

    Wow, Wendy, this is really great!! Wonderful, I love everything about this pastel, the colors, the beautiful pink flowers in the front, the mountains in the back and the overall soft quality.
    Impressive work, you're full of surprises, maybe you can use this pastel also for your greeting cards. Congratulations with your new blog and your greeting cards. Hugs!!

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    1. Wendy Barrett8 July 2013 at 18:00

      Thanks so much Hilje, I really love the effects that can be achieved with pastels but I found them very tricky to work with. They are so easily smudged and I always feared the "fixing" process - owing to what further changes it might bring. But maybe those issues aren't a big problem when you get used to the medium.
      I got my husband to spray this one for me. I couldn't look!

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  2. Robin Rosenthal7 July 2013 at 11:16

    I have to agree with everything Hilje said in her comment. What a really interesting painting. Every time I look at it I see something new. Can't wait to see your new blog and greeting cards. Beautiful!

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    1. Wendy Barrett8 July 2013 at 18:04

      Thanks for your lovely comments Robin! I've really enjoyed seeing your recent plein air pastel work. Maybe I should consider revisiting pastels some day. Ah! So many mediums, so little time!! Or should that be media?

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  3. art by Michael Perchard7 July 2013 at 16:15

    Wow! is right!
    Love it Wendy!
    Just as I always pictured beautiful Australia!
    However, as soon as you mentioned your head being reflected in the glass I had to enlarge the photo to check that out! Looks great! A very creative idea to add your portrait to your work!
    Back to your wonderful work!
    I love, love the colors and textures! Magical! The scene reminds me a bit of our South West States, Arizona and Utah! Great desserts in that area of US! Similar burnt sienna colors to your awesome Northern Territory!
    This pastel is almost surreal! Magical and more!
    Good luck with your new venture. Can't wait to see your new blog!
    I am starting a new venture also! Writing and illustrating children's books! Writing is so much work for me!
    Again good luck Mate!
    Oh, I love all the Australian geographical terms!
    USA Cobber!
    Michael

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    1. Wendy Barrett8 July 2013 at 18:17

      Hi Michael, Thank you for the rave reviews! They are always lapped up!
      Yes, there are very strong similarities with our desert landscapes and those of Arizona and Utah from what I've seen in photos and film. I would love to visit those states and see the wonderful giant cactus that have been immortalised in cowboy movies and Road Runner cartoons.
      There is something magical about these sort of places - as if time doesn't exist. But I guess that is due to being so wholly enveloped in nature.
      Good luck with the children's books. Will look forward to hearing more about it as the venture unfolds.
      Love your night ocean painting!
      Your Art Cobber,
      Wendy

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    2. art by Michael Perchard9 July 2013 at 10:49

      Oops!
      I meant "desert" not "dessert!"
      Even though Utah and Arizona do have great desserts too!
      Michael

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  4. Unknown8 July 2013 at 02:24

    Beautiful Colour Scheme, I like the softness of the painting, Feels like lucid dream world....

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    1. Wendy Barrett8 July 2013 at 18:24

      Thanks so much Satpal. I love your palette knife paintings!

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  5. Dave Wessels8 July 2013 at 18:30

    Hi Wendy, love the colors in this one. The browns of the rocks and the twisted branches create something magic, surreal. It reminds me of some of Dali's paintings. You can definitely tell there's something going on there, Ayers Rock is an amazing site! Good luck with the greeting cards!

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  6. Wendy Barrett8 July 2013 at 18:43

    Thanks so much Dave for your very generous comments. Love your cartoon work!

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  7. Unknown8 July 2013 at 18:59

    HI Wendy,
    Wow! I love this rendering of Khata Juta. I went there with Dave in 2000, and while we were there the desert flowers were bursting forth as well, as there had been good rain, I guess. It was magical. You have captured it beautifully! I loved that region, Uluru too. It has such an ancient energy.

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  8. Wendy Barrett9 July 2013 at 07:02

    Thank you Sally! I'm so glad you got to visit the area while you were living in Australia - and that you got to see it in spring.

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  9. Virginia Floyd10 July 2013 at 05:41

    I love the colors in this! The whites are outstanding against all the warm colors surrounding them.

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  10. Helen Cooper11 July 2013 at 02:49

    Wow this is lovely Wendy! Beautiful colours and of course I love the landscape ....very Aussie !!! All the best with your cards and new blog!

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  11. Karen Johnston Daily Paintings11 July 2013 at 16:08

    Love all the earthy colors Wendy! It has a restful feeling. Lovely Australian landscape! I'm heading to Karratha in October for 10 days, so I hope to get some photos and sketches for painting when I return!!

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    Replies
    1. Wendy Barrett14 July 2013 at 05:11

      Thanks so much Karen. I imagine you will get some great art reference when you go to Karratha!

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