Stranger Things - Mixed Media abstract art

Title: Stranger Things
Artist: Sophia Elise
Media: Mixed Media and Acrylic
SOLD
Inspired by: Minstrels - performed by Arthur Rubenstein
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNRDnH2Bwso

Another one that is currently being exhibited at the Melodious Art Exhibition in Howick. There is some fantastic diverse art on display - make the time to go and visit and have a bite to eat in there great cafe.

Dennis Clark is a new member to the NZ Art Guild although he has many years experience as an artist and art tutor - in fact I'm attending an art workshop of his tomorrow at his studio in Torbay and I can't wait! He wrote this fantastic poem that I just have to share

An Artist's Dilemma
Dennis L. Clark

When the memory will not work
And inspiration falls down flat,
Frustration round the corners lurk,
And you don't know where you're at.

That's when you have to search the heart
and look inside your very soul
to find the answer from the start
As you through the remembrance stroll.

Just let your senses play their part
As you reflect upon the theme.
Let the enthusiasm of you art,
Your thoughts, produce a happy gleam.

Just when you thought you have the plot
A blankness fills the space around
The very thoughts you thought you got
Now find their place below the ground.

Don't let the worries of your life
Produce a clouding of despair.
Gather up your paints and brushes:
Paint away your every care

Fill the canvas with colours bold,
Let the colours flow as they may
Producing colours, warm, not cold
As you brush your cares away.

Applying paint with much abandon
And weaving patterns to declare
Fright must fly away, forgotten:
Determination got you there.

12.3.2008

Take a look at Dennis' art and his workshops -
http://paintbasket.com/wordpress-mu/torbay/category/torbay-art-studio/

Melodious Art Exhibition opens tonight - all invited

Title: Life's Crescendo
Artist: Sophia Elise
Media: Mixed Media
Price: $390
Inspired by:
Hebrides Overture (Fingal’s Cave) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0jxiUq9c4k


Tonight's the night and I've been asked to say a few words about my art too at the opening - will feel a bit strange to be talking about myself for a change rather than the Art Guild and it's members.

Am looking forward to seeing all the other creations - several Art Guild members are in it - so if you're in Howick this evening at 6:30 come along to the Uxbridge Gallery - or drop in over the next week or so to see the exhibition.

Melodious Art Exhibition

Well nothing like an exhibition coming up to prompt you into finding time to paint ... and amazingly enough - I had my first "quiet day" all year ... no urgent business to attend, no phone calls, no texts, minimal emails, and no meetings. Seems like the gods were smiling on me.

Over the next few days I will share each of my creations with you.

I actually ended up combining the NZ Art Guild fortnightly challenge with the melodious art challenge.

The NZ Art Guild challenge was to create artworks with the them "Memory"using a limited palette of colour - black, white and two colours (could be any tonal variations of there)

The Melodious art Challenge gave us 4 pieces of music to create artwork to - I just love the innovation of this idea - thanks to Uxbridge Creative Centre in Howick and Melissa their Curator for inviting me to participate in this.




Artist: Sophia Elise
Title: Dance of Life
Media: Acrylic
Size: 30cm x 40cm
SOLD
Inspired by: I walk the Line – Johnny Cash
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7K4jH7NqUw&feature=related
Limited Palette of: Red, Black and White

A SOLDIER'S VIEW OF MICHAEL JACKSON'S DEATH

This is written by a young man serving his third tour of duty in Iraq. Thought you might find his take on the news of Michael Jackson's death interesting ......

Okay, I need to rant.

I was just watching the news, and I caught part of a report on Michael Jackson. As we all know, Jackson died the other day. He was an entertainer who performed for decades. He made millions, he spent millions, and he did a lot of things that make him a villian to many people. I understand that his death would affect a lot of people, andI respect those people who mourn his death, but that isn't the point of my rant.

Why is it that when ONE man dies, the whole of America loses their minds with grief. When a man dies whose only contribution to the country was to ENTERTAIN people, the Amercian people find the need to flock to a memorial in Hollywood, and even Congress sees the need to hold a "moment of silence" for his passing?

Am I missing something here? ONE man dies, and all of a sudden he's a freaking martyr because he entertained us for a few decades? What about all those SOLDIERS who have died to give us freedom? All those Soldiers who, knowing that they would be asked to fight in a war, still raised their hands and swore to defend the Constitution and the United States of America. Where is their moment of silence? Where are the people flocking to their graves or memorials and mourning over them because they made the ultimate sacrifice? Why is it when a Soldier dies, there are more people saying "good riddence," and "thank God for IEDs?" When did this country become so calloused to the sacrifice of GOOD MEN and WOMEN, that they can arbitrarily blow off their deaths, and instead, throw themselves into mourning for a "Pop Icon?"

I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence IN CONGRESS for Michael Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for every service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. They need to PUBLICLY recognize every life that has been lost so that the American people can live their callous little lives in the luxury and freedom that WE, those that are living and those that have gone on, have provided for them. But, wait, that would take too much time, because there have been so many willing to make that sacrifice. After all, we will never make millions of dollars. We will never star in movies, or write hit songs that the world will listen too. We only shed our blood, sweat and tears so that people can enjoy what they have.

Sorry if I have offended, but I needed to say it.

Remember these five words the next time you think of someone who is serving in the military;
"So that others may live..."

Melodious Art Exhibition

Melodious Art Exhibition

This exciting exhibition brings together music and art. Local Musicians Katharine and Peter Watts have hand picked four pieces of inspiring music for artist to visually illustrate.

Where: Uxbridge Gallery,
Howick's Creative Centre
35 Uxbridge Road, Howick

When: 31 July - 13 August
Opening night: 30 July at 6.30 pm with live music - All Welcome

This exhibition is by invitation only and 4 of our NZ Art Guild members are featured Kirsty Black, Sally Blyth, Sophia Elise, and Helen McNamara


I'm busy creating two pieces for this exhibition - ( I have to confess receiving the advertising flier today with my name on it really pushed me into gear to actually get onto creating the artworks!) I listened to the pieces a few months ago and knew exactly what I was going to paint and to which pieces. Watch this space for photos of them.

Just had to share this - it arrived in my inbox a few minutes ago - Simple Truths is an email I subscribe to (just one of many) - it was the phrase that caught my attention more so than the movie - and sums up what I've said many times before in my blog .....

It almost sounds too simple to feel important, but understanding the power of gratitude can change your life forever. Sarah Breathnach said it best...

"When we choose not to focus on what's missing from our lives
but are grateful for the abundance that's present...
we experience heaven on earth."

So sit back, relax and turn up your speakers to enjoy our new 2 minute inspirational movie from Learning to Dance in the Rain. The words, the photographs and the music are beautiful!

Don't forget to pay it forward by sharing this email with friends, family and co-workers.

Just click here to watch

Keep Dancing,
Mac Anderson
Founder, Simple Truths

Simple Truths, LLC., 1952 McDowell Road, Ste. 205, Naperville, IL 60563, USA
Phone: 800-900-3427 / 630-946-1460
Copyright 2008, Simple Truths, LLC. All rights reserved.

Limited Edition Prints of Ngatahi for sale

Limited edition prints of the NZ Art Guild collaborative artwork Ngatahi are available for purchase. Be in quick as the print run is limited to only 100.

$5 from the sale of every print is donated to the Mental Health Foundation of NZ.

The print run is
- Printed by specialist fine art printers
- Limited to 100 and all prints are numbered.
- Choice of un-mounted so that you can choose your framing orframed by specialist fine art framers.
- Framed prints are suspended in a white, wood boxed frame and covered with glass.
- Printed on archival quality acid free art paper
- Comes with a certificate of authenticity
- Size: 410mm x 410mm unframed or 540mm x 540mm framed
- $85 unframed or $199 framed excl. postage.
- Postage: North Island - $8 South Island Postage - $12 Rural Deliver - $15

Follow this link to view image and to order http://www.nzartguild.co.nz/Ngatahi-Limited-Edition-Print.html or email admin@nzartguild.co.nz

NZ Art Guild reveal Ngatahi

Last night was the opening night of the NZ Art Guild Annual members exhibition "Out of the Blue" as well as a Charity Art Auction to raise funds for the Mental Health Foundation of NZ.

We had a fantastic turnout - over 200 people. All 15 auction artworks sold - including the show piece - Ngatahi. We raised in total nearly $7000 for Mental Health Foundation.

In addition to this there were 14 other sales of exhibition artworks. So a great result all round and a really fun evening full of life and fun.

Unfortunately Campbell Live pulled out last minute due to a more urgent news story so if you were waiting glued to your TV last night to see it all I'm sorry. However, if you're in the area the exhibition is on for the whole month at the Bruce Mason Centre so go on down - have a look and buy some fantastic original artwork form our very talented artists.

Now - what you have all been waiting to see ..... We are very excited to be able to reveal the NZ Art Guild 2009 Collaborative Project "Ngatahi"

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS (Left to right):

Row 1: Rochelle May van der Werff, Sharlene Schmidt, Marimba Powley, Silver Dunlop, Paulette Shepherd, Rochelle May van der Werff, Jane Bold, Bobby Shen

Row 2: Helen McNamara, Wendy Matthews, Angela Laby, Cheryl Irwin, Sophia Elise, Carol Winterburn, Gail Boyle, Beate Minderjahn

Row 3: Shan Li Chen, Sandra Toornstra, RifRaf, Teresa Rodger, Christine Dempster, Trish Macready, Jen Longshaw, Sarah Marrs

Row 4: Tessa Birks, Juliet Cryns, Sally Blyth, Viv Hansen, Ronda Turk, Cath Sheard, Jennifer Christiansen, Ron Esplin

Row 5: Victoria Anderson, Rachel Inch, Mandy Hague, Tineswari Maruthamuthu, Melissa Muirhead, Catherine Outwin, Mereana Slade, Sharlene Ngatupuna,

Row 6: Michelle Whitehouse, Fiona Woods, Elspeth Alix Batt, Pam Buffery, Kirsty Black, Helen Sherrock, Linda Lloyd, Jane Santos

Row 7: Sophia Elise, Shelly van Soest, Terri Dangen, Anni Morris, Chris Cruickshank, Sofia Spirtova, Jude Blake, Sharon Burger

Row 8: Melissa Muirhead, Chavah Kinloch, Tanya Dann, Rebecca Shrimpton, Natasha Wheeler, Sue McPhee , Linda Paul, Helen Frost

A Little Motivation and Inspiration

Title: Lifes Battle
Artist: Sophia Elise
Media: Mixed Media
Size: 90cm x 60cm
SOLD

For Auction tomorrow night at the Bruce Mason Centre, Takapune 6:30pm
100% of slae proceeds will be donated to the Mental Health Foundation of NZ
For more details go to http://www.nzartguild.co.nz/

I received this from my dear friend lesley a couple of weeks ago .....

Our journey of life is about progress, not perfection.
It's not about doing one thing 100% better -
it's a matter of doing 100 things, 1% better each day.

Progress is evolutionary not revolutionary,
and most days we measure our progress in inches, not miles.

What matters most is showing up for your life -
whether you feel like it or not.

Ask yourself,
"What two or three little things can I do today that would move me forward?"

You'll be amazed at how much distance you can cover by taking it in increments.

The little things add up; the inches turn to miles;
and we string together our efforts like so many pearls.
Before long, look what you have - a whole strand!

Campbell Live from TV3 to be at Bruce Mason Exhibition on Thursday

I'm very excited to let you know that Campbell Live from TV3 will be filming at the opening of the annual NZ Art Guild exhibition and charity art auction "Out of the Blue" on Thursday 2nd July 6:30pm

They have been in contact with the Mental Health Foundation of NZ (MHF) and want to film the live auction of the NZ Art Guild 2009 collaborative artwork Ngatahi. 61 members have contributed to this artwork from all around NZ. 100% of the funds raised from the sale will be donated to MHF.

If you are able to make it to the opening night - 6:30 July 2nd Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna it would be fantastic to see you there - the more the merrier - bring family and friends.

If you can't make it be sure to tune in to Campbell Live TV3 on Thursday evening at 7pm.

You're invited to be one of the first to see Ngatahi

NZ Art Guild and Mental Health Foundation of NZ proudly present
"Out of the Blue"
Charity Art Auction and Exhibition

Opening night: Thursday 2nd July 2009 at 6:30pm – Free entry – All welcome
Venue: Bruce Mason Centre, Cnr Hurstmere Rd and the Promenade,Takapuna, Auckland
Exhibition Open: 2nd - 30th July 2009. Mon to Fri 9 - 5 & Sat 10 - 4

Featuring the NZ Art Guild 2009 Collaborative Art Project
“Ngatahi”a fantastic, single artwork created by 61 artists which will be revealed on opening night and auctioned off at this one of a kind, not to missed charity event

Well known NZ artists - Nancy Frazer, Sophia Elise, Tanya Dann, Beate Minderjahn, Jennifer Christiansen, Julia Dungan, LisaSarah, Natahsa Wheeler, Alison Mulgrew, Jane Bold and Terri Dangen - have also donated fantastic artworks which will auctioned.

100% of the proceeds from the art auction will be donated to the Mental Health Foundation of NZ

To coincide with this event 42 artists from around NZ will be having a month long exhibition of original, diverse artworks depicting "Our Country, Our People, Our Culture"

We would be delighted if you would join us in the opening celebrations of this fantastic charity event - please forward this invitation on to your friends, family, colleagues or anyone else who may be interested.

For full details about this event and to view the auction catalogue go to www.nzartguild.co.nz and click on the MHF Charity Auction button.
Or take a virtual tour www.gallerycentric.com (sponsored by Gallery Centric)

SAFE - For the love of pigs

'Pigs, kiwis...and a king! Join Mike King and other stars at a special event as SAFE launches an exciting new initiative to help end pig suffering in New Zealand. Includes music from Flip Grater and a charity art auction.

7pm, 23 June 2009, The Events Centre, Auckland Museum, $25.

Visit http://www.lovepigs.org.nz/Join-the-party!/ to find out more and book online.

"Out of the Blue" Charity Art Auction and Exhibition

Don't miss - July 2nd 6:30pm - Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna, Auckland

The NZ Art Guild and the Mental Health Foundation would like to formally invite you to

"Out of the Blue"

Charity Art Auction and Exhibition
Opening night: Thursday 2nd July 2009 at 6:30pm - Free entry - All welcome
Venue: Bruce Mason Centre, Cnr Hurstmere Rd & the Promenade,Takapuna Beach, Auckland
Exhibition Open: 2nd - 30th July 2009. Mon to Fri 9 - 5 & Sat 10 - 4

Featuring the NZ Art Guild 2009 Collaborative Art Project
"Ngatahi"
a fantastic, single artwork created by 61 artists which will be revealed on opening night and auctioned off at this one of a kind, not to missed charity event

Well known NZ artists - Nancy Frazer, Sophia Elise, Tanya Dann, Beate Minderjahn, Jennifer Christiansen, Julia Dungan, LisaSarah, Natahsa Wheeler, Alison Mulgrew, Jane Bold and Terri Dangen - have also donated fantastic artworks which will auctioned.

100% of the proceeds from the art auction will be donated to the Mental Health Foundation of NZ

To coincide with this event 42 artists from around NZ will be having a month long exhibition of original, diverse artworks depicting "Our Country, Our People, Our Culture"

We would be delighted if you would join us in the opening celebrations of this fantastic charity event - please forward this invitation on to your friends, family, colleagues or anyone else who may be interested.

For full details about this event click <<>>
For Auction Catalogue click <<>>

Thought of the day

TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING THROUGH THE DESERT. DURING SOME POINT OF THE JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN ARGUMENT; AND ONE FRIEND SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE IN THE FACE.

THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED WAS HURT, BUT WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING,WROTE IN THE SAND:
TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE.

THEY KEPT ON WALKING, UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS, WHERE THEY DECIDED TO TAKE A BATH. THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE MIRE AND STARTED DROWNING, BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM. AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM THE NEAR DROWNING, HE WROTE ON A STONE:
'TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE'.

THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND ASKED HIM,
'AFTER I HURT YOU, YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW YOU WRITE ON A STONE, WHY?'

THE FRIEND REPLIED
'WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN IN SAND WHERE WINDS OF FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY. BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING GO0D FOR US, WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE WHERE NO WIND CAN EVER ERASE IT'

LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE.

DO NOT VALUE THE THINGS YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE, BUT VALUE WHO YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE !

Great Art Blog

There's this really great art blog I've been following- has lots of interesting articles with very real and achievable ideas for artists - check it out Tony Moffitt's Art World - www.tonymoffitt.blogspot.com

You will see that one of my paintings is featured on today's post - Tony is giving all artists the opportunity to have their art and website promoted on his blog - he's a lovely guy too - very supportive of artists and friendly.

Also - you will see on the right hand side of my blog that I am now on twitter - I read an article which was basically twitter for dummies really and I've started - slowly getting the hang of it ... please add me if you're on there.

Also been frantically busy with lots of events - can't wait to blab about them all on here - will do so in the next week ..... all very exciting stuff!!

Second water colour painting

While I was doing the wash over the first one - thought I would do a second one wtih blues .... it's on a different paper ... and I quite like the effect of this one ...

I'm planning on using a piece of this in my artwork for the NZ Art Guild Collaborative project Ngatahi which is under way at the moment.

Take 2 with water colours

After Kays suggestion of another wash over the top of the water colour below here's the result ... not too sure about this - kind of looks a bit blah to me .... but its still fun playing around ....

Having a play with water colour paint

A year ago my wonderful nana passed away. She painted watercolours for many years - hundreds of them - landscapes still life but predominantly flowers. I'm lucky enough to have two of her beautiful flower water colours.

The other day I got her left over watercolour paint, brushes, paper and books. Having never used watercolours I wasn't sure where to start. So I read one of the books with basics - and still felt horribly confused esp as I'm an abstract artist. So I thought right - I will just get stuck in and have a play. This is what I did yesterday in a few minutes.

The colours a bit wishy washy - and the paper isn't flat (although I went through the process outlined for prestretching etc) hmmm maybe too much water involved! I wanted to do wet on wet to get the flowing effect of all the colours marbelling together.

Thanks to all my friends on facebook who left a message of support and also telling me how much they love watercolours themselves - I'm quite excited to see where this leads.

And Kay - Just for you I'm blogging about it ;-) hehehe

Creative Process

At the deepest level, the creative process and the healing process arise from a single source. When you are an artist, you are a healer; a wordless trust of the same mystery is the foundation of your work and its integrity. - Rachel Naomi Remen

Funny - it's been said a few times to me lately that going from nursing to art as a career seemed poles apart - maybe not so much afterall .......

Friends are soul food

Sorry really bad photo of my latest abstract painting - another one done specifically for the Easter Show Art Awards . This kept me up til the early hours of the morning and I had to admit defeat eventually and go to bed before I had finished it.

Title: Love's Divide

Artist: Sophia Elise
Media: Acrylic - white, black and grey hand painted dots on a red background
Size: 36cm x 46cm
SOLD

Today I caught up with a very dear friend of mine for lunch. It has been a couple of months since we really caught up properly - other than emails and phone calls and sadly at the funeral of her father a few weeks ago.

I can tell you though it was absolute soul food to see her. I have a couple of friends who just the thought of seeing lifts my spirits more than words can express. What treasured friendships those are.

She also gave me my Christmas present that I had accidentally left at her house - a gorgeous little daily diary with a new quote for every day - cos she knows how much I love them. And take a guess what the quotes were about - friendship.

So very fitting that I share them with you here .....

"A friend is someone who, upon seeing another friend in immense pain, would rather be the one experiencing the pain, than to have to watch their friend suffer"- Amanda Gier

"Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand" - Karl Augustus Menninger