I hope to get to Brisbane to see in in situ for myself sometime soon!

It is an ink and textures work, featuring the words Townsville people used to describe this city, and an abstraction of the huge rock around which Townsville is built, Castle Hill.

The show at Sarina has been a good one for me, with usually a sale or two, and this year didn't disappoint with the sale of "Tremolo" as well as the award.

Am actually a little sorry to see "Tremolo" go, I really do love that painting and would have been happy to have it around for a long while yet. I guess you can get the girl out of Grafton, but you can't get Jacaranda City out of the girl!

As always, a whole bunch of fun and laughter mixed up with the acquisition of new skills!
These Muslin and Inks techniques will be the focus of another workshop August 15th/16th- there are still some places left in that weekend, and in all the other workshops coming up except for the first clay sculpture one in June, which has booked out already.
It's great to see some students coming along to multiple workshops as their skills improve, and they become confident in tackling the more difficult aspects of the technique.
If you would like to ask any questions about the workshops, please give me a call on 47513336- I am always happy to answer you!

Tuition Costs are $130 per student, and materials will be extra. This varies depending on the size of the work you create, but generally you can expect materials to cost up to $50 per workshop. Everyone can expect to take home at least one finished work of art at the end of the weekend, and have a whole bunch of fun learning how to do it!

The venue is the North Queensland Potter’s Club at 15 Flowers St, Railway Estate.

Please call me on 47513336 to book your place- I take a maximum of 12 students per workshop, and they usually fill up fast. If the places are all taken you may choose to be placed on the waiting list, for notification if someone else drops out.

MAY 16th and 17th 2009- Inks and Muslin. This a fast and furious technique that results in incredibly intense colour developing within the textured surface you have first created. Suitable for beginners and those with established painting skills alike- it’s all new! To see examples of this technique, go to the “Muslin and Inks” Gallery at www.debgillett.com

JUNE 20th and 21st 2009- Landscape /Florals in Oils. This teaches the LINE-TONE-COLOUR-EDGE school of troubleshooting your work. Learn to line blend your palette accurately, and never waste paint or make mud again! Suitable for painters with some experience. Students choose between photo realism or a more painterly approach.

July 4th and 5th 2009- Nudes/Portraits in Oils. Use the Portrait Palette for Flesh Tones and get those tricky flesh tones correct every time. Learn to line blend your palette accurately, and never waste paint or make mud again! Suitable for painters with some experience.

JULY 25th and 26th 2009- Clay Sculpture. Learn the medallion technique to build a hollow fired clay sculpture of your choice. Make a dragon, a nude, a seal, a portrait bust…. whatever takes your fancy. Learn Deb’s fast techniques for faces and figures, hair and clothing. Suitable for anyone who likes the idea of playing with clay- no experience necessary.

AUGUST 15th and 16th 2009- Inks and Muslin.  Yes, again. This a fast and furious technique that results in incredibly intense colour developing within the textured surface you have first created. Suitable for beginners and those with established painting skills alike- it’s all new! To see examples of this technique, go to the “Muslin and Inks” Gallery at www.debgillett.com

SEPTEMBER 12th and 13th 2009- Clay Sculpture. Learn the medallion technique to build a hollow fired clay sculpture of your choice. Make a dragon, a nude, a seal, a portrait bust…. whatever takes your fancy. Learn  techniques for faces and figures, hair and clothing. Suitable for anyone who likes the idea of playing with clay- no experience necessary.

 Nice to be there once again, I was a finalist two years ago and ended up winning the People's Choice Award with "Harlequin Whirlwind". The theme this year is "Embracing the Outback", and this man from the Roper River certainly fits. So fingers crossed... this new portrait technique is really exciting me, and I am currently working on another extension of this idea. It's the textures underneath that are really a thrill- I love the looseness that they force me into. You'll see the germ of this idea in "Tremolo" and "Phoenician Abundance" also, which I have entered into the competition at Sarina this year.  Will let you all know what happens!

The part of the year that is all about entering competitions is upon us.... have sent "Considering the Apology"(after a photograph by Ronald Rockman)

out to Winton for (hopefully) preselection in the Waltzing Matilda Art Competition.

I have recently made a fan page on Facebook- http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/pages/Deb-Gillett/23027889345

You can find facebook at www.new.facebook.com

If you would like to be kept informed of workshops, exhibitions and other developments as they are planned and all other news, get yourself a facebook account (it's free) so you can become a fan, and you will straight away be on the automatic mailing list.

You can also write comments or ask me questions!

Lets hope it stops raining-just for a wee while anyway!! No way can I make any muslin and ink paintings while it's pouring down.