'WET' is for watercolours, 'DRY' is for Pastels and 'OILY' is for Oils
...just in case anyone was wondering...
 Debra’s journey… for ‘Wet, Dry and Oily’ Exhibition
I had just finished an overseas Pastel commission when Lawrence approached me to be the Pastel artist and I thought what an opportunity.
I had 3 grandchildren under 2 which included a set of twins. Everybody said I’d be too busy but I was determined that I would stay on course and accepted the challenge.
It did mean I squeezed a lot of my work into the wee hours of the morning (I am typing this at precisely 3.51am) after having them visit all day yesterday but I wouldn’t change a thing.
So what made me choose my Theme?
A very small painting that I had recently finished, it was small but it had some punch and it had a couple of Grass Trees in it!
I loved my new colour palette and the mood it created and funnily enough it was already titled “Defiant”

I decided I would like to do several others as I love our unique Australian landscape, flora and fauna.
The next piece I did was the grass trees on the cusp of a hill with the eerie moody sky from burn-offs and without too much thought it was titled “Resilient” (there was definitely a theme starting to emerge)

This then took me on a journey of discovery as I began to research our beautiful grass trees. I found that there are at least 30 different species of Grass Trees in Australia. Our most common in the South Western corner of WA is “Xanthorrhoea Pressii” commonly referred to as “Balga”.
The other most amazing and enlightening discovery was that I had grown up believing that there were male and female grass trees which had different flower spikes but in fact they are known now to be totally unrelated with completely different DNA and although look characteristically the same they now have their own classification and are termed as Grass Trees and Grass Plants!

Having found this out I have taken it on as my mission to educate others of this fact through my exhibition. So the next two pieces are painted as a diptych each with their own title. “Xanthorrhoea” and “Kingia Australis”
Then it occurred to me that they are so much like my new set of twin granddaughters, they may have been born on the same day and both girls but they have their own unique DNA.
 
 

These five plus one more titled “Smoke among the Grass Trees”, which is also very current as we have lived with the smoke haze in recent weeks, make up my themed two metre square panel on our feature wall.
 

You might find that a few more Grass Trees have found their way into a couple of other pieces hanging in the gallery too, but the others show my journey with Pastels through the years. Each has a story to tell and I’m happy to share them with you when you come to visit.
You’ll have to visit to see how my Challenge pieces for Lawrence’s “Bird” theme and Gordon’s “Chidley Point” theme stack up…

This time last year…What an unexpected year 2020 has been but for all the differences and changes I have actually had a great year and would love to share some of it with you

The best ‘good news story’ was the safe arrival of our twin granddaughters which has really thrown the balls up in the air but in the most delightful way.

This year’s studio open will be equally different as 2020 has been.

The collection that I will be presenting has taken me on quite a few tangents.

I have written and illustrated a Children’s Book but the twist is, it has Adult content as well...Curious?

I have plunged into a series of textile mixed media art inspired by our mining history and unique landscape with 4 completed artworks and 1 in the making for you to see in its conceptual stage.

My “Fire” collection has a mixed media piece that has a story to tell along with my Pastel smoky fire scenes.

Then there are some “Conversation” pieces where I get a bit ‘D and M’ where life imitates art.

I hope you will join me and accept my 7th Annual “Invitation to be Curious” at my Open Studio and Garden for each Sunday in November from 10 – 4
(There are 5 Sundays to choose from)

I hope this finds you well and hope to see you soon.

Last note please be aware of new parking restrictions on our street. Parking is only allowed on one side of the street so please use our driveway or park by the river and stroll up to the studio.

My watercolour 'Moonlit Landscape' was selected  by judge Camilla Loveridge for my 'Effective use of colour' in this years MCAA award.
The judge's comments were "Beautifully rendered colour showing sensitivity and restraint"
The painting is a small 9" x 5" watercolour on watercolour canvas, framed  in a natural wood frame to compliment the colours used in the painting.
The scene depicts the tawny light of the moonlight just on dusk . I was happy with the atmospheric qualities that I was able to achieve from a very basic palette of complimentary colours.
The MCAA Awards are held at the Atwell Gallery, Cnr Canning Highway and North Lake Road, Alfred Cove. W.A. open daily until Sunday 25th August 2019.
There are 48 pieces of quality art on display and a very fine collection of Junior art as well.

Moonlit Landscape
Watercolour on watercolour Canvas
Image size 9" x 5"
by Debra Scidone
$275

I am thrilled to announce that I will be the second artist to be represented in the new art space at the Pan Pacific Perth for a two month period ending 23 September 2019.
Pan Pacific Perth gallery space is open 7 days a week  with cafe, bar and restaurants to enjoy as well.

The exhibitions  paintings all having links to destinations around Perth and Western Australia. You could say it gives you a birds eye view with combinations of flora, fauna and aerial views

Find the artworks that relate to Penguin Island, Mandurah, Northam and Herdsman Lake as well as Kalgoorlie, the Pilbara and Kimberley regions.

The "Challenge Piece" is "Australiana" where you are challenged to find all the hidden Australian animals that are hiding among the gum leaves

More details of the exhibition click here

This years awards will showcase 80 artists.  It opens on Monday 27th May to 3rd June.
Opening Night Tuesday 28th May. You are invited to help celebrate the 20th anniversary of the "Awards of Excellence" for the Alfred Cove Art Society in Western Australia.
Where: Atwell Gallery, corner of North Lake Rd and Canning Highway, Alfred Cove, Western Australia