Tuesday 24 March 2015

Sculpture by the Sea

 
 Sculpture by the Sea has become a wonderful annual art event at Cottesloe Beach here in Perth. I was disappointed that I had missed seeing it this year because of other commitments - or so I thought! On Sunday night I was excited to discover that it still had one more day to run. I had to meet up with Mum and Dad by late morning but there was just enough time to drive down to Cottesloe beforehand and spend just one hour there to admire as many of the works as possible.

 
 
 I knew I wouldn't have time to see everything, as I wanted to do a sketch while I was there. I had already fallen in love with these beautiful flamingos by Wendi Zhang and decided they would make the perfect sketching subject in the half hour or so that I had left. There weren't many people around when I first arrived so I had plenty of space to sink into the soft sand and sketch. This time I took my watercolours along.

The lack of time forced me to be quick and loose and I loved every minute of it - I was thoroughly engaged in the process. I enjoyed chatting with a few passers-by who took an interest as I was nearing the end. By the time I left, the morning autumn chill was lifting and people were arriving en masse to swim and to enjoy the sculptures. So the timing had been perfect!


 
                                                 Tony Davis - primordial
 
                                                     Sally Stoneman - boulders
primordial
                                               Yuko Takahashi - way of the wind
Russell Sheridan sisters 
                                                        The lovely Cottesloe Beach

                                                       Andrew Burton vessel
Brad Jackson wanderers conventus
                                                     David Cerny babies three pieces
 
I met up with Mum and Dad afterwards at Hillary's Marina and enjoyed a lovely lunch. The London Plane trees are beginning to look autumnal with the leaves becoming rusty. Swarms of white cockatoos decorate the trees like ornaments while taking their morning nap. 

 
 
                                                             View from our table
 
It was such a lovely way to spend a perfect autumn day.
 
I hope you have made it this far, as lastly, but certainly not leastly, I want to say how thrilled I am to be a recipient of Canadian artist, Barbara Muir's Happy Art Award.
 
 Barbara is an exceptionally talented artist and my spirits always lift when I visit her colourful blog. Both her art and words are pure sunshine and joy and she is very generous with her insights on art and life. Luscious and luminous are just two words that come to mind when I think of how to describe her stunning portraits and still life. She has also recently done a series of epic cloudscapes inspired by her latest sojourn in Nova Scotia.
Click here to visit Barbara's inspiring blog.

 

21 comments:

  1. Dear Wendy - this is an awesome sketch. Just love it. Such a joy to see all the beautiful art too and that beach looks gorgeous (especially to one who has a skiff of snow on the ground today). Congratulations on your gift. I am going to visit Barb's site. Great pics of the cockatoo - we have them only in cages in my part of the world. They are lovely birds. Thanks for making my day as always dear friend. Hope all is well with your folks. Hugs

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    1. Thanks so much Debbie!
      We are lucky to have many different parrots and cockatoos in the wild over here.
      I hope you get some lovely spring weather soon!

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  2. Wendy your watercolour sketch of the sculptures is wonderful! How magnificent it must have been to enjoy these sculptures in person on that beautiful beach setting! gorgeous! All of the sculptures look fun and interesting!

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    1. Thanks Sally, yes, it really is a spectacular setting for beautiful sculpture. It was such a pleasure to sit in the soft sand with great sketching fodder all around me.

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  3. Absolutely gorgeous watercolor sketch Wendy!! I love the subject, very unique. Congratulations on the the award, it couldn't go to a better person! This is an incredible event. I have never seen anything like it! The beach backdrop makes it even more special.

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    1. Thank you Celia! It is a great event - it is also held in Bondi in Sydney - and in Denmark too!

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  4. Hello Wendy! Love the beach sculptures! Great idea! Glad you were able to see them! I love the all! I especially love the bright red flamingos! Love your loosely done watercolors! Nice! I so love your photos! So much sunlight and warmth! Much needed and wanted in New England USA! Shoulder still hurts! May try painting with my left hand? Fun to see what happens! Maybe large finger paintings? Take care Wendy! On The Mend Michael

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    1. Thanks Michael. I hope you are getting some sunshine now. I hope too that your shoulder heals soon you poor thing! Finger paintings sound like a great idea in the interim. Look after yourself!

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  5. What a lovely thing to take a stroll on the beach while admiring these incredible sculptures. Your watercolor is gorgeous and makes fully justice to the beauty of the original works !

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    1. Thanks Jane, Did you know that Aarhus in Denmark also hosts Sculpture by the Sea? It came about through the connection with Crown Princess Mary. They had enjoyed the exhibition in Bondi in Sydney - I read about it on the Sculpture by the Sea website that I link to in my post.

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  6. What a wonderful art event...and I just love the red flamingos on the beach. How great that you didn't miss it and had time to sit and paint the scene too. Thanks for sharing this bit of joy from Perth.

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed the post Joan. Maybe you will see it yourself one year!

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  7. Great sketch Wendy! I really enjoyed all the photos, thank you for sharing!

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  8. Hi Wendy,

    What a lovely watercolour and great post. It's so strange to think of you on the other side of the world going into autumn as we head into spring! Thank you very much for your kind words about me. I am so glad I have met you through the blog world. I love your work.

    XOXOXOXOXOXO Barbara

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  9. Thank YOU Barbara for the Happy Art Award! Such a lovely idea of yours!
    I too am so glad to have met you through the blog world - it's such a great way to meet like-minded people! Happy painting!!

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  10. What a great art event on the beach. I like Brad Jackson's wanderers conventus! I wish I could have one.
    And so great you were able to make it there and do a sketch, with watercolor. Very cool Wendy! Looks like a very pleasant beach.
    Keep sketching and painting...

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    1. Thanks David! Yes, it is a great event. It's a shame some of the pieces can't stay there permanently - they look fantastic!

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  11. What a wonderful interpretation and painting from the beach sculptures. I love your painting. :)

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  12. Thanks so much for visiting Alexandra and for your very kind comments!
    I love your illustrations!!

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  13. What a great post starting off with your fabulous watercolor. I got a kick out of seeing pink flamingos on a beach. Bring culture to beach is a great idea and hopefully some young kids will be influenced to love the arts in future years,
    At first I thought the white cockatoos were another installation. I failed the IQ test!

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