Just what are ‘Art Happenings’? It is just something I dreamt up because I was tired of Art News and Art Newsletter, but a newsletter it is because December is nearly upon us!

The first art happening is the Lennox Arts Collective Annual Christmas Exhibition – Come celebrate with us!! Great to get together, find some ‘arty’ stuff , support a local business and have a glass of vino.

Opening night 29th November 5.30pm and the exhibition is on until the end of December.

Each year Lennox arts Collective holds an exhibition where the items on sale cost $300 or under. These make wonderful Christmas gifts or you can buy something for yourself at a bargain price from your favourite artist!

Paintings by Mark Waller, Narelle Bretherton, Sharon McIlwain and Christine Read. There are prints and unframed originals for sale. There are beautiful handmade books by Sharon, screen printed tea towels by Christine. Julian Jett has is magnificent photographs  and his ever popular Lennox local hand screen printed tee shirts and photos printed on birch board – brilliant gifts! Jen Banks has gorgeous jewellery – vintage tin earrings, silver rings and earrings and exciting new gemstone pendants. Jenny Schirmer is our wonderful new ceramicist – get in quick for her bowls, cups and planters! Frankie Sharman has her eternally delicious Mug Cakes as well as solargraphistics, solar graphic kits and a brand new line – hand carved timber spoons!

The second art happening is a new workshop timetable. Yes, 2020 is almost here and I have now updated the workshop program which you can link to here but I have also summarised in this blog post.

I do have one more workshop timetabled for 7th December 2019 on Travel and Pen and Wash sketching. Please note that the workshop is full and I am keeping a wait list.

Saturday 25 January: Painting Water. Do you find it challenging to paint water realistically? Come and learn to paint waves at the beach, still water in a river and water in a glass. This workshop is for all levels. 9.30 – 3.30pm    $70.00                     If you have art materials, please bring them along.

Saturday 15th February: Artist’s Tool Box – Acrylic and Gouache Come along to find out about the differences between acrylic and watercolour mediums. Gouache  is watercolour but is a mystery to many, so let’s experiment and play with all these great painting media. 9.30 – 3.30pm    $70.00                     If you have art materials, please bring them along.

Saturday 14th March: Exploring Colour Do you have difficulty mixing or matching colours? Do you understand complementary colours, colour harmony and colour value? This workshop is bound to be creative and vibrant! 9.30 – 3.30pm    $70.00                     If you have art materials, please bring them along.

Saturday and Sunday 28/29 March: Studio Weekend at my Home Studio

Come and work with me in my home studio in Lennox Head, it’s in a rural setting – work en plain air or in the studio. Full program TBA 9.30 – 4pm Catered for morning tea and lunch and with a glass of wine to finish!

Saturday 11th April Creating a Landscape Painting and drawing the view around you is a favourite artists’ subject. Have you ever wished you could take a memory of a landscape with you – and not just in a photograph? To really absorb and experience the view, making an artwork will help you to really ‘see’ the scene. 9.30 – 3.30pm    $70.00                     If you have art materials, please bring them along.

Saturday 23rd May: Drawing Skills. Is drawing your ‘thing’? Do you just want to learn a few drawing skills? Want to try ‘creative drawing’. Come to this class and learn to make artistic ‘marks’. 9.30 – 3.30pm    $70.00                      If you have art materials, please bring them along.

Saturday 13 June: Botanical Delights Delight in flowers and interesting plants? Come and practise the art of drawing or painting a ‘green thumb’! 9.30 – 3.30pm    $70.00                      If you have art materials, please bring them along.

Bookings are essential for the Saturday classes. Mob 0415230470 email christinereadart@hotmail.com

Art Happenings also include ‘Paper Process’ with Sharon McIlwain….read on below

Paper Process Possibilities – 15th December

Artists books have a traditional book structure with a cover and sequential pages, or they can be sculptural objects or elaborately folded constructions. Come along and experience a new way of developing aesthetic ideas and telling a narrative through creative use of paper. Join Sharon McIlwain

Limited to 5 places….book early

When: Sunday 15 December, 3 – 6.30pm Cost: $75 including paper & most tools

Call Sharon 0424279800 or email sharonmcart@gmail.com

Now, a couple of other art happenings…. not necessarily in December. Hopefully you will be aware that I had an artist residency at the Tweed Regional Gallery a couple of weeks ago. Some people are keen to hear about it so I will be organising a time to give some feedback to those who would like to hear about it and to see what I did. I have not set a date, but probably in February 2020.

Something I have organised is the French Art Retreat, which will be in September next year. You can read all about it here. I already have three bookings and have places for up to four more.

Last but not least, have a wonderful break over the Christmas holidays!!