“Developing your skills as an artist is very much a long term process and the more you paint the more you learn to see and appreciate the subtleties of the ever changing light and atmosphere that surrounds us. We are in fact surrounded by beauty that at the right time of day or year can literally sing with life.

I am very much a painter that paints for me, choosing subjects that I find inspiring, whether that might be an old farmhouse or a mullock heap shimming in the hot midday sun. Art enriches our lives and we are all the better for it.”

Eris Fleming’s works are a product of his strong feeling for the Australian landscape, his appreciation for for the beauty in the small, sometimes seemingly insignificant incidents and his abounding curiosity of eccentric personalities and their irregular behavious. There is also an indulgence in some perverse humour.

Russell Foord is a gentleman who is in his 80′s who learnt his art from his travels and experiences with recognised australian landscape artists. he spent a lot of his time plein air pauinting and has achieved a wonderful light in his works.
A traditionalist with work that can be described as having photogrphic detail

Lino print by Katherine Simms

‘Family, Friends and Lovers’ is a personal story of memory and observation
and a yearning to understand the dynamics of these complex relationships.

The artist’s work has been described as a ‘whimsical take on life’.

It draws on personal interpretation of memories and experience to convey the complexity of human relationships and interactions: the apparent façade of reality but also the hidden layers beneath.  There are rooms we left behind, objects we touched; silent witnesses and powerful mementos.  The work conveys this with a gentle mix of love, sadness, understanding, humour and irony.

The medium of choice is linoleum plate – first drawn on paper and then carved to create strong characteristic marks of vitality and
movement that have an almost sculptural quality about them.

Katherine’s exhibition opens Friday 30th September 2011 @ 6.30pm

Canapes &   The Small Winemakers wines all add to a great night.

Canapes & wines on the night.

The show is a combination of oils & acrylics on canvas & on paper; ceramics & lino prints.

Geoffrey Payne’s work revolves around the experience of living on Cox’s Creek Road
Rylstone. His views of the road and the bush around his studio track the
seasons, the flora and fauna that surround him.  There is a special
delight in his landscapes that come, according to him, from the pleasure of
looking year after year at the same places and getting completely new views.Over
the years he has also explored his inner life through his alter ego  Mr
Cactus. Mr Cactus tells the viewer about the world the way he sees it. Wistful, to the
point (spiky even) or philosophical; it’s all a reminder about living in life
rather than looking from the outside.

Virginia Handmer’s lino prints give a strong outline to the events in her life; from
whats happening in the garden to finding reason in this madcap life. She loves
the digging into the surface and working with both negative and positive in the
printing process. Handmer finds the 3 dimensional aspect of prints the perfect
way to ‘go into her subject’, be it a physical view or a metaphysical
discussion. Dealing with life requires belief in existence and a willingness to
immerse oneself fearlessly in it. Works exploring love and grief searingly
exposing her inner workings through humour and saying like it is are her way of
finding truth as much as studies of the beauty of flowers in the garden and the
landscape of her home.

In her exhibition at Fairview titled ‘Journeys’,  the motif of the fig tree
reoccur reminding us of the original archetypal garden. The place where all
knowledge and the beginning of remembering began.

11 photographers from the club have amassed an amazing collection of over 100 photographs for you to view.

Opening night  on Wednesday 6th July was successful and a considerable number of works already sold.

It is always exciting to see a group of relative amateur artists present such a professional and credible collection of work.

Make sure you get out to support this exciting group exhibition.

Exhibition runs through till August 15th @ 5pm.

Kashgar street (China) – Sandy Smith

The Cudgegong Camera Club was formed in 2009 and provides a venue for photographers
to develop their camera skills and join others in sharing their images.

“Visions – art through the lens”

is the club’s first major exhibition and follows their involvement in the M20 Art
Trail earlier this year. Over the past two years members have developed an
impressive portfolio of work from which this exhibition is drawn.

The club meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7pm upstairs at Club Mudgee. Guest
speakers are arranged for most meetings to display and discuss their work and demonstrate
various photographic techniques. The subjects discussed vary from portraiture, to
macro, sports, underwater and travel photography. At other meetings members
bring along their own images for discussion.

The club organises excursions to various locations where members can learn
how to compose an image and to use different photographic techniques. This
year’s outings have included a night photography shoot, an excursion to Newnes
and a daytime shoot in the local area.

The club encourages photographers to display their work by staging an annual
photographic exhibition as part of Gulgong’s Henry Lawson Festival as well as
co-ordinating the photographic section at the annual Mudgee Show. It also
encourages members to enter other photographic competitions such as that run by
the Western Districts Association of Camera Clubs (which the club won with
their first entry in 2010).

The club also invites all members of the community to extend their digital
photography and computer skills, by attending the popular ‘Getting to Know Your
Camera’ sessions.

The Cudgegong Camera Club is a friendly, supportive club which always welcomes new
members.

It has been over a year since the very successful exhibition of Phillip Drummond and the excitement of his return is palpable.

Phillip has delivered some amazing works for exhibition this time – more painterly and richer in colour.

The still life images are rich and enticing and the koi simply jump off the canvas.

Following another successful show at Monsell -Wicks  in Paddington Phillip’s works are even more collectable.

Those who purchased works in the last exhibition will be well pleased with their investment and be even more excited about seeing the evolvement of this very strong artist’s work.

I would suggest an early viewing if you are interested in a purchase as they will not last long.

The exhibition runs from Wednesday 1st June – Monday 4th July

Opening night Wednesday 1st June at 5.30pm

Wine by Small Winemaker’s Centre  & Pate and cheese platters.

Michael (Garmarroongoo) Huddleston

Birth Place: Sydney
Year of Birth: 1947

Background:
Michael is an internationally renowned Aboriginal Artist from the Ngardi language group in the Roper River region of East Arnhem Land.. Michael’s paintings are based on their custodial country and the stories associated with it. They depict in the traditional Raark or crosshatch design, totems and spirits relating to “real life” activities such as hunting, fishing, singing and dancing. These images form the teachings of the ancestors on survival and social infrastructure. The regions wildlife is integral to Arnhem Land myths, lore and art. Crocodiles, dugongs, turtles, birds, lizards, fish, kangaroos, wallabies and snakes are often depicted alongside “Mimi Spirits” celebrating abundance and connection to the land.

 Micheal’s career as an artist and cultural ambassador has taken him to all parts of Australia and overseas. In 2001 he travelled to Switzerland and exhibited alongside Michael Nelson Jagamarra. Michael Nelson is famous for a work that was reproduced as a tile mosaic at the entrance to Parliament House in Canberra, and painting a BMW car on display in a Munich museum. Following his successful showing, he returned to Switzerland in 2002 with well know Sunshine Coast artist and friend, Joanne Currie.

Michael’s passion for his culture, talent as an artist and affable personality shows strongly in his work. His life has been one of learning and teaching. The artwork he shares with the world will continue to inspire and help us cross cultural bridges.

Themes:
Acrylic paint on canvas

Education:
Attended Penrith High School to Year 10.

Solo Exhibitions:
- Gosford art gallery 2007
- Red Dessert Gallery Germany 2000
- Australian Dream Space � Lasuanne 2001
- Spirit Australia Gallery QLD � 2004 � 2005
- Red Dessert Gallery � Eumundi QLD � 2006
- Flinders Gallery Townsville QLD 1996
- Hervey Bay Council Chambers QLD 1997
- Artist in Residence � Katherine High School NT 1997-2001
- Red Desert Gallery � Rotterdam , Netherlands 2000
- Australia�s Northern Territory and Outback Centre NSW 2001

Opening night Friday 25th March 2011

7pm at Fairview ArtSpace

Exhibition runs till 25th April 2011

Wine by Small Winemaker’s Centre & Canapes by Lesley Byfield Papworth