Deb Gillett

A night of portraiture

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:44:53 +1100

What fun last night! I was employed as a portraitist circa 1920's Mont Martre. My brief was to attend a private birthday party and draw portraits of as many of the guests as I could in the 3 hours- what marvellous fun! Of course I was dressed to suit- beret, striped and paint smeared shirt. Everyone was such good sports and I ended up doing 12 drawings, all of which were snatched up by their subjects and taken home. I realised that while many people are not so happy to be caricatured, most will happily sit for a kinder image to be created. Another addition to my CV- I do love living in Brisbane where opportunities are everywhere!

A testimonial from Jo

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:08:16 +1100

Here is a lovely testimonial from Jo, one of the many lovely and enthusiastic students from the recent workshops at The Art Shed

During the last 2 weekends I completed two courses with De - 'Inks' and 'Acrylic Textures' and thought I would like to give you some feedback and convey my thanks for these events. Both workshops were amazing!! De is a wonderfully talented and gifted artist and extremely knowledgeable on all aspects of her craft.She was extremely generous with her time and her techniques and I enjoyed both Workshops immensely! She is genuinely interested in your progress and very responsive and encouraging with every student! I was very happy to go away with some completed works of which I am very proud! I would have to say that I learned more from these 4 days than I ever have! A big thank you to the Art Shed and to De!! I trust there will be more of her Workshops soon! Jo Edwards

And here is Jo with her finished painting from the Acrylics, Textures, Spatter and glazes workshop. Good on you, Jo, I enjoyed your company and your passion for making art!

Workshops all done- for now!

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:21:26 +1100

I'm a little exhausted, but proud... Thanks to Manny and Meg from The Art Shed in Brisbane, we have had a marvellous 3 weekends creating up a storm. 42 students @ 2 paintings each, that's a whopping 84 works to problem solve! I'm so thrilled with everyone's results, and delighted to have met so many creative souls and to have had a small part to play in their journey with making art. Particular applause to Jacqui, who traipsed all the way from Tasmania to learn about making ink paintings! So that's all for the moment, workshop-wise, but stay tuned for news on the next round in July, when I will be off to Dubbo to teach as well as offering some art making opportunities here in Brisbane!

Here's a tiny section of the outrageous mess we created in the studio! Oh well, you can't make anything without making a mess.

The Manly Gallery

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:06:19 +1100

I am INCREDIBLY excited to announce that as of January 2012, I am represented in Brisbane by The Manly Gallery, 11 Cambridge Parade, Manly. You can find my page on their website at�http://www.manlygallery.com.au/index.php/our-artists/painters/category/83-de-gillett

or of course you could go along and see the brand new works in the flesh while meeting my lovely new representative�Sharlene Whyte.�I have great plans to keep new work coming into the vibrant space that Sharlene has created!

This is 'Stormdancing' one of the new works I have made especially for The Manly Gallery.

At last some Brisbane Workshops are happening!

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 14:39:05 +1100

Hello all- exciting news for those who have been patiently waiting for a weekend workshop!

Letting you know that I am offering some weekend workshops at The Art Shed, Montague Road, West End BRISBANE during January 2012. Please let your friends know!

Inks January 7th-8th

Acrylic Textures, Spatters and Glazing January 14th-15th

Inks January 21st-22nd

Inks Workshops will cost $225 (inks supplied and included in the price) to create 2 canvases no larger than 900mm square or equivalent (supplied by the participant).�

Acrylic Textures, Spatters and Glazing will cost $180 ( all materials to be supplied by the participant).

If ypu would like to book a place, please phone the Art Shed on (07) 38461330. If you have any questions you can email me at gillett.de@gmail.com or text me on 0408720029 or phone home 38924929. Hope to be seeing you soon! Thank you, De.

Waltzing Matilda Prize!

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:35:17 +1100

Exciting times! My Painting 'Relinquish to the river' has been awarded Third Prize at the Woollam Waltzing Matilda Outback Art Show 2011.

�Lovely to get a guernsey from the Judge Metka Skrobar :) This painting is part of a whole series I am doing about the floods- living in Fairfield as I do I surely was right in the middle of it all.

Skrobar said " Impressive piece of work by Artist De Gillett, as it captures your eye immediately. From the broken rendition of colour and rock formations one suddenly discovers a pair of eyes piercing at you. It is a painting that holds and keeps your attention for a long time because it allows you to participate in the discovery of many hands and patterns held within. It evokes a feeling of desperation and long waiting. Symbolic patterns of the towns and rivers hold the entire composition together".

2011 begins

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 20:49:14 +1100

What a time it has been since I finished my first year at QCA, Floods, cyclones, and painting up a storm. I've been very disciplined about doing life drawing every week over the holidays, and there are some new paintings to check out in the "New works" gallery. It's been great to have a break from uni projects and to focus on some things that are close to my heart for a while....

End of First year!

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 20:43:54 +1100

Okay okay, so I've been incredibly slack about keeping this blog updated! I can't quite believe it was Easter the last time I did this. Two weeks to go until I finish my first year at Queensland College of Arts. It has been a most successful year- I have been awarded two distinctions and two high distinctions so far, and am maintaining a GPA of 6.5. I've decide to major in printmaking for 2011...

Easter Break

Sat, 03 Apr 2010 20:38:01 +1100

Five weeks into my Bachelor of Fine Arts at Queensland College of Arts, and loving it. It's really hard work, and a lot of hours, but boy am I learning some great stuff. At QCA, its not about learning how to paint, it's about learning how to think. Concept is everything, and boy am I on a steep academic learning curve!

I have the most amazing tutors, who are all accomplished artists in their own right. It would be marvellous to have a break this week, but lots of catching up to do to make sure I am ready for week 7- Assessment!

My subjects this semester are Painting, Jewellery and Small Objects, Graphic Interpretations (Drawing) and Modernism and Post-Modernism. I have put up a new gallery- "Studies at QCA" to show you a bit of what I am up to...... and I will try really hard to keep it updated!

New Beginnings

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:44:43 +1100

Finally I have a new address in Brisbane, a new studio space, and an entirely new challenge. I begin this year at�Queensland College of Arts (Griffith University), �to work towards my Bachelor of Fine Arts , having wanted my degree since I was 16. Given that I turn 50 this year,it might be time I actually did it!

It has been an incredibly hectic time since leaving Townsville in mid September. A workshop tour round NSW, teaching in Dubbo and Nambucca Heads, and a whole bunch of figuring out just who I am these days, and precisely what I want out of life.

Not a whole lot of painting has been done these last few months, it's been a time of moving on, reaching out, and way too much partying! However, there are new directions emerging, and there will be new works posted in the very near future, so watch this space!